The Federal Government has constituted Inter-Ministerial Taskforce committee to tackle the growing incidents of illegal operations through illegal private charters.
This is in an effort to stem, the practice of illegal chartered operations including illicit activities raising security and safety concerns culminating to significant financial losses to the Federal Government.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN while inaugurating the committee, noted that the operations of private aircraft owners have remained largely unchecked and unregulated going by the security reports on the spike in money laundering, drug trafficking and other illegal activities through the use of private aircrafts in Nigeria.
The Minister who highlighted his 5-Point Agenda which encapsulates Safety, Infrastructure, Support for local operators, Human Capacity Deployment and Revenue generation, said the 5-point agenda serves as a guide in discharging the mandate of Mr President.
Keyamo explained that he was compelled to take decisive action after meeting with the regulators and stakeholders within the aviation industry by setting up the Ministerial Task force, according to a statement by Odutayo Oluseyi, Head of Press & Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation.
The Minister urge, the Task Force members to work diligently to restore confidence in the aviation industry, to eliminate illegal operations also to ensure that every flight in the country’ skies adheres to the highest standards of safety and legality.
The Task Force members who were carefully selected from within and outside the aviation sector were charged with the following Terms of Reference: To take inventory of all Private Non-commercial Flight (PNCF) holders and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders; determine why the practice of illegal charters by PNCF holders persists in the country despite regulatory controls and to call in all professional licenses of pilots and crew in the country and determine their authenticity and validity.
Others include: To recommend to the Minister any additional measures to be taken by regulatory agencies to stem the ugly tide; recommend appropriate sanctions to be imposed by the regulatory agencies on defaulters and to recommend additional measures to further monitor the operations and activities of private aircraft in Nigeria.
Responding, Chairman of the Task Force Committee, Capt. Ado Sanusi appreciated the Minister for the opportunity given to the committee and promised to get to the root of the problems at hand.
The members of the Inaugurated Task Force are as follows; Capt. Ado Sanusi – Chairman; Capt. Roland Iyayi – Vice Chairman; Ag. Director of Air Transport, FMA&AD – Secretary; Theresa A. Babayo (DAYR-NCAA) – Member; A nominee from the National Security Adviser – Member; Capt. Daniel Quansah- Member; Capt. Patrick Ogunlowo – Member and Obafemi Bajomo (SA-HMA) – Member.
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