Barring any last minute hitch, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos would be certified on July 21 by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Western and Central Africa Region under its implementation of the Africa-Indian Ocean Plan Aerodrome Certification Project.
Before now, no airport in Nigeria had been ICAO certified, a scenario experts said is a big minus for the industry in Nigeria.
This was revealed by the Director of Operations at Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Rabiu Yadudu, on Thursday.
Yadudu, who spoke during the Quarterly Breakfast Meeting of the Aviation Roundtable in Lagos, said “the certification of airports in the country would improve infrastructure, procedure and safety”.
The certification, among other things is meant to address focal areas which are: to establish and maintain a sustainable oversight system (infrastructure/capacity building) and assist states to resolve identified deficiencies within a reasonable time.
He also disclosed that the plan also aims to enhance aviation safety culture of African aviation service providers.
“Once we certify Lagos, we will continue with that of Abuja Airport which will take place after another five weeks.
“We are also targeting the certification of other airports like Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt within the next few months,” he said.
He said the approval of the AFI Plan was adopted by the 36th ICAO Assembly to address the safety status of aircraft operations in the AFI Region.
