The Federal Government (FG) has said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will conduct a comprehensive audit of all local airlines.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo disclosed this in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.
He said beyond the suspension of Dana Airlines and the ongoing audit of the airline, all other carriers in the country would be audited to guarantee the safety of passengers and the health of the civil aviation industry.
Recall that Keyamo had come under criticism in the last 24 hours over what some civil aviation players called “external interference” in the autonomy of the NCAA.
On Wednesday, Keyamo directed the NCAA to suspend Dana Airlines, saying recent events of the local carrier raised serious concerns regarding both the safety and financial viability of their operations.
The NCAA Director General, Chris Najomo enforced the suspension of the airline immediately, until a comprehensive audit is conducted.
The suspension of Dana Air was enforced 24 hours after one of the airlines’ planes skidded off the runway at Lagos airport.
Speaking on the suspension, however, Keyamo said the law empowers him to direct the NCAA to do the right thing “in matters of national security.”
The minister said, “a series of incidents had happened two years ago that the airline is not healthy.
“Let those aviation experts take their wives and children to board that airline that was declared unsafe.
“Everyone is an aviation expert. People who have sold puff puff at the airport will tell you that they have been at the airport for a long time and are aviation experts.
“Would Nigerians have preferred that I keep quiet and be part of the cartel, all in the name of I am not supposed to interfere? What am I doing as minister?” he said.
Keyamo further stated, “You see regulators, who are supposed to be public servants, buying big houses and driving big cars.
“They are endangering the lives of Nigerians by cutting corners and falsifying reports… we are going to bring down that system of corruption,” he added.
Meanwhile, Keyamo said the audit of Dana Airlines could be as quick as possible.
“Like I said, do the right thing, return to business.
“We must do the right things for the safety of Nigerians. Not only them (Dana Airlines), we will carry an audit of all of them, all of them. Let Nigerians be safe when they fly our airlines.”