NCAA warns airlines against debts

Director-General, NCAA, Capt Usman Muhtar

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has warned airlines against indebtedness, adding that it will come down hard on its debtors.

The Director-General, NCAA, Capt Usman Muhtar, was quoted as saying this in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the NCAA would not hesitate to penalise airlines indebted to it.

“The DG has warned all operating airlines who are indebted to the authority to commence the remittance of outstanding and current payments or appropriate sanctions will be applied in full,” the statement said.

A few months ago, the NCAA had announced plans to clamp down on airline operators found defaulting in the payment of the salary of their workers.

Muhtar however gave kudos to all the airline operators in Nigeria and the foreign carriers who equally ensured safety and security in their operations.

He noted that the volume of traffic was on the increase and therefore advised the operators to ensure compliance with the NCAA’s safety guidelines and regulations.

“While the primary safety lies in the purview of the operators, the regulatory authority will continue to provide the framework that will increase their value chain,” he said.

Muhtar said that training and retraining of workers remained one of its major priorities for 2015.

According to him, the authority will not rest on its oars but ensure greater efficiency and sustenance of a robust regulation.

While stating that the year 2014 was an accident free year, he added that complacency would have no place in its regulatory functions.

He urged all operators to adhere to their maintenance schedules and train their workers to allow for symmetrical working relationship with the NCAA personnel.