THE recent certification of  Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, after many years of operating flight operations without International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, certification is a sign that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, is making efforts to make travellers in and out of Nigeria  experience improved services at the nation’s airports. The airports authority was established in 1976 as the Nigerian Airports Authority (NAA) and later became Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN. FAAN was set up by the Nigerian government with Decree 45 of 1976, to oversee the operations and maintenance of all Federal airports.

Mr Akin Olateru, the Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), has emphasised the need for members of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) to discharge their duties professionally.

The aviation industry in Nigeria is not at the level we should have expected it to be, but it is still growing. There is a lot of improvement needed in the industry. When I was coming in, I was warned about the harsh environment under which Nigerian airlines were operating. I dismissed such warnings with a wave of the hand, but now I have seen it all.

The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, yesterday released a report on the Accident involving Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Bell 427 helicopter with registration 5N-POL at Kabong, Jos South LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria on the 14th of March, 2012 that killed a serving Deputy Inspector General, Operations, and said the flight crew, including the pilot, were not qualified to fly the aircraft.

The Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance), Mrs. Folashade Ode has enjoined the company’s staff to be  dedicated to their duty as that is the only way to ensure efficiency.