NCAA Uncovers illegal Fuel Suppliers at Airports

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, says it will check the activities of unapproved aviation fuel marketers involved in the supply of contaminated Jet-A1 to unsuspecting airlines.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in collaboration with the Nigeria Mainstream Petroleum Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to withdraw access of some aviation fuel suppliers into Nigeria airports.

This is coming on the heels of the ongoing investigation into fuel contamination discovered in some aircraft engines about a month ago.

The measure is intended to protect flight safety in Nigeria and stop the trend in its tracks, said the Director General of NCAA Captain Musa Nuhu during a virtual conference with aviation correspondents.

He described the issue of fuel contamination as a “stand alone case” albeit alarming; hence the need to critically examine the entire process of the supply value chain, starting from outside the sector.

“Investigations are ongoing, we are in collaboration with the NMDPRA, we have gotten list of all companies that are approved by them, unfortunately, we find out that there are some companies that find their way into aviation that are not approved by them and immediate action is being taken”.

Captain Nuhu said it was the responsibility of the operators, pilots and engineers to make sure that contaminated fuel did not get into the system.

The aviation body had in July stated that it would commence the review of licenses of fuel suppliers to airports across the country to ensure that the suppliers meet its requirements and standards for safety.

Speaking on the recent Jabiru J430 plane crash in Lagos, he urged stakeholders and professionals to exercise restraint and wait for the outcome of the investigation by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and “stop commenting on the probable cause of the accident”.

“Anybody that speculates of the cause of the crash is just making mere speculation and we should avoid that and wait for NSIB to release the report and be sure shortly”.

He said the safety record of the Nigeria aviation industry would continue to be enhanced, adding that the signing of the civil aviation Masterplan with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and its forthcoming audit in Nigeria between August and September this year are ways to boost air safety.

He also assured his audience that before the end of this year, some Nigerian airlines would open up more regional routes as well as fly intercontinental.

August 05, 2023