December target attainable for national carrier – NCAA

NCAA

The Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mukhtar Usman has said the December 24 target set for the take-off of the national carrier is feasible.

Usman made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday.

He noted that it would only take 90 days to get an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC).

Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had said the national carrier would commence operations in December and set up a committee to work towards actualising the target.

Usman explained that the presence of the agencies inside the committee set up by the aviation minister is to ensure that things are done properly. He said the committee was not midwifing the process in the real sense but guiding it to ensure that it is done in line with international standards and best practices in the area of safety, security and also comfort of the passengers.

He added, “This time around, the government says we should go and ensure that even before take-off that nothing is short-circuited, due process is followed so that they can come to stay.”

Usman said there will be no special treatment as it renders the same service to investors.

He said, “The same service we have rendered to every operator beginning from when they come with the intent of operating; it is one of the stages in the issuance of the Air Operators Certificate, to the time they want to do formal application.”