ACTING DIRECTOR GENERAL OF NCAA, RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT THE INSUFFICIENT AIRCRAFT CAPACITY 12-07-24
By Sadiq Aminu The Acting Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Captain Chris Najomo
has raised concerns about the insufficient aircraft capacity to meet the growing demand for domestic air services in Nigeria.
Captain Najomo voiced his concerns during a courtesy visit from the President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mr. Yinka Folami, and his Executive Council in Abuja on Thursday.
In a statement, he attributed the rising domestic airfares to these capacity gaps and stressed the urgency of bridging them to reduce fares and encourage high-quality service by attracting more investment into the domestic airline market.
According to him, addressing these gaps to manage the increasing domestic air traffic will require the involvement of investors and key operators with the necessary capacity and technical expertise.
Captain Najomo assured that, the Ministry of Aviation is in talks with aircraft manufacturers, Boeing, Embraer, and Airbus to support investors in the domestic airline industry in addressing capacity gaps and facilitating the growth of Nigerian flag carriers on international routes.
Regarding regulatory enforcement, Captain Najomo reaffirmed the NCAA’s commitment to addressing sector infractions.
He stated that offenders would be tracked and punished according to regulations, in collaboration with agencies such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
At the request of NANTA’s Immediate Past President, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, he agreed to establish a Sector Monitoring Committee comprising representatives from the NCAA, FCCPC, and NANTA.
NANTA President Mr. Yinka Folami commended the NCAA for fulfilling its operational responsibilities, expressing confidence and support for its leadership.