NCAA Suspends Four Unlicensed Aviation Marketers Over Fuel Contamination
- Sets up 35-member probe panel
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), yesterday, announced that it has suspended about four unlicensed aviation fuel marketers from the airports in its quest to rid the country’s aviation industry of fuel contamination.
NCAA disclosed that collaborations among aviation agencies, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Department of State Services (DSS) led to the identification of all non-licensed marketers and those with expired licences as well as their suspension from Nigerian airports.
According to the Authority, of the 46 licensed aviation fuel marketers in the country, only 36 are with valid licence, five with non-valid and five with expired licences.
It stated however, that after thorough investigations, four marketers were suspended from the airports.
The development was sequel to rampant aviation fuel contamination cases, especially the Max Air fuel incident in Yola, Adamawa State that raised a lot of concern in the aviation industry.
NCAA Director-General, Captain Nuhu Musa, said while inaugurating a 35-man joint audit committee of all aviation fuel activities in Nigeria, yesterday, in Abuja,that the members were drawn from Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, (NSIB), NCAA, FAAN, DSS, NMPDRA and the Aviation Fuel Marketers Association of Nigeria (AFMAN).
The DG NCAA, represented by the Director, Operation and Training Standards, Capt. Ibrahim Dambazau, revealed that All Operators Letter (AOL) had been issued mandating all operators to comply with all requirements for fuelling, noting that the authority also heightened surveillance to ensure full compliance.
According to him, the joint committee was mandated to conduct a holistic review and audit all marketers, fuelling facilities and equipment from the initial source of the fuel to the point of fuelling into the aircraft.
The committee, he said which has a 60-day timeline, was also mandated to identify causes, proffer solutions and recommendations that would improve the level of safety in the aviation industry in Nigeria, stressing that the terms of reference include touring the country to ensure compliance with all regulator and safety requirements.
On his part, NCAA Director Airworthiness Standards, Abatan Gbolahan, reiterated that the surveillance would be continuous to ensure operators maintain standards.
Chairman of the Committee, Christopher Kwasar, pledged that they would work assiduously, diligently, and harmoniously to come up with report that will form a roadmap for future endeavours regarding aviation fuel for the benefit of the country.
