Aviation safety in Nigeria has further received a boost as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Mr. Festus Keyamo, inaugurated the National Executive Safety Committee (NESC) to enhance aviation safety in the country.
The Committee, which was inaugurated on 23rd April, 2024 in Abuja, is in accordance with the safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Annex 19.
Keyamo, who stressed the critical role of the committee in aviation safety, listed its responsibilities to include monitoring safety performance, identifying strategic risks, and ensuring effective safety management processes.
According to Keyamo, the mandate of the Committee includes overseeing safety policies, conducting risk assessments, and providing strategic direction to enhance safety performance in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
In addition, the NESC will prioritize safety improvements by effectively and efficiently allocating resources based on risk assessment, guiding the Safety Improvement Advisory Committee strategically. It will also oversee State Safety Programmes (SSP) development, review safety policies, monitor performance against objectives as well as identify emerging safety risks.
The responsibilities also include ensuring effective safety oversight, approving policy changes, and handling escalated SIAC issues as well as approve SIAC’s Terms of Reference for safety projects and demand periodic safety progress reports.
In his reaction to the development, the Acting Director General of Civil Aviation, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Ona Najomo optimised that the Committee would enable Nigeria prioritize safety while effectively deploying aviation resources.
The the Director General Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Capt Alex Badeh appreciated the Minister for the opportunity given to them to serve in the Committee and promised to do their best.
Members of the committee include the Ag. DGCA, Chief Executive Officers of NSIB, Federal Airport of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT,), Nigeria Sir Force (NAF), Technical Advisers and Director of Air Safety Administration, NSIB. The SSP Coordinator will serve as the National Executive Safety Committee Secretary.
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