Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamoa, has announced a collaboration with the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to enhance security measures at Nigeria’s airports, including the acquisition of 1,000 body cameras, while also addressing the pressing challenges of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in the region.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Keyamo announced that, amid recent developments in the aviation sector, his office is collaborating with the National Security Adviser and has secured 1,000 body cameras.
He described the bodycams as being similar to CCTV cameras, stating that “they are not going to be subject to playback. They are going to be on live transmission to a command center, so a command center has been built for this purpose.
“We have shared those 1000 cameras between Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), immigration, customs…
“The training is going on now,” he added.
The aviation minister said, “We are moving with the speed of light in that direction,” asserting that Nigeria will soon take pride in the upcoming aviation reforms.
As part of ongoing improvements, the aviation minister also announced that his office is actively addressing the challenges surrounding MRO, which has been a significant issue in the aviation sector.
“We have also signed an agreement on PPP (Public-Private Partnership) to establish an MRO in Abuja,” he stated. “That has been signed, and it’s only by way of PPP.”
Keyamo stated that there are currently no major MRO facilities in West and Central Africa. He emphasised that efforts are underway to attract investments in MROs in the region, stating that “the market is ripe… It is a big market.”
The aviation sector has been witnessing recent developments with Nigeria’s aviation rating experiencing a substantial boost, climbing to 70.5, as a result of the country’s full adherence to the Cape Town Convention (CTC) regarding the dry leasing of aircraft.
With the signing of the CTC Practice Direction, the Cape Town Convention is now fully operational in Nigeria. This development is set to lower insurance costs for airlines, boost investor confidence in the country’s aviation sector, and allow domestic airline operators to dry lease aircraft, among other benefits.
Keyamo noted that upon taking office, the administration identified key issues plaguing the aviation industry, including the lack of access to financing for local airlines and operators, challenges in acquiring aircraft, and a decline in investor confidence in the Nigerian market. He also mentioned that the Aviation Working Group (AWG) indicated Nigeria’s non-compliance with the terms.
He highlighted that in the past, when aircraft were imported into Nigeria, some “unscrupulous businessmen”, possibly in collusion with government regulators, would resort to legal action to detain these aircraft, preventing creditors from accessing them. This situation contributed to a negative perception globally that Nigeria was an unsafe destination for bringing in aircraft.
The Federal Government, last month, officially signed the CTC Practice Directions, a significant step that allows domestic airline operators to dry lease aircraft. The Practice Directions were signed by Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. This initiative is expected to reduce the operational costs for airlines in the Nigerian aviation sector.
Frances Ibiefo
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