The US Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, has given Nigerian airlines a 65-day ultimatum to resolve specified security issues or risk being barred from flying to its country.
A team of US FAA officials who recently carried out an audit for the renewal of Nigeria’s category one safety status gave the ultimatum on August 24.
The US FAA periodically check foreign airports with which it has bilateral agreements to ensure they meet set standards. The checks include having effective and efficient aviation regulations, operational state civil aviation systems and safety oversight functions and technical personnel qualification and training.
Others include the provision of technical guidance, tools, provision of safety-critical information, licensing, certification, authorisation and approval obligations. John Ojikutu, member of aviation industry think-tank, Aviation Round Table, ART, and CEO of Centurion Securities, said he doubted if Nigeria could attain the category one safety status without having its major airports certified.