By Lawani Mikairu & Daniel Eteghe

The International Civil Aviation Organisation , ICAO, said   Nigeria was given a pass mark after a thorough audit of the nation’s aviation industry which just ended   because the audit team discovered there have been massive improvements in the security systems at the airports..

Disclosing this development to newsmen, leader of the team of the ICAO auditors, Mr. Steven Neu said that Nigeria performed excellently in the 9 days audit conducted on the nation’s aviation security system.

Neu noted that Nigeria scored a pass mark of 90 percent stressing that he was very impressed with the National Security Programme as there were very minimal “open items to be closed”.

He   said, “Nigeria surpassed our expectations. We reviewed the 2008 audit before we commenced this exercise but we discovered there have been massive improvements in the security systems at the airports.” ‘’To Nigeria’s credit all the minimal open items were closed immediately. The audit was focussed on the eight critical elements”. he added.

According to him, Nigeria is one of the first countries in the world to go through the Universal Safety Audit Programme ,USAP, Continuous Monitoring Assessment ,CMA, Audit.

While applauding all the security agencies at the airports across the country, the likes of the Nigerian police airport command, DSS, Port Health Services, Air Force, Nigerian Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Quarantine services, The ICAO boss stressed that the USAP CMA activity had been completed while draft findings and recommendations would be provided to the Regulatory Authority.

“After 60 days ICAO will forward the USAP CMA audit report to Nigeria. In 30 days, Nigeria will submit its comments on the audit report if any. Within another 30 days, the country will submit to ICAO its Corrective Action Plan (CAP)” he said. Meanwhile, Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman appreciated the auditors for conducting a very thorough ICAO audit.

Capt. Usman revealed that he was happy that Nigeria performed better than she did in 2008 adding that the country would not rest on her oars but will continue to ensure that our air transport operation is secure and safe. “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA , will soon commence preparation for the ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) coming up in November, later this year”.

“While the USAP takes cognisance of states’ security at the airports, the ultimate goal of USOAP is promoting global aviation safety through regular audits of safety oversight systems in all ICAO member states” Capt. Usman affirmed.