The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, has dismissed criticisms against the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over the recent ratings of Nigeria aviation at the recently concluded International Civil Aviation Organisation which conducted the Universal Security Audit Programme-Continuous Monitoring Approach.
In its security outcome, ICAO, the apex international regulator of global civil aviation operations rated Nigeria to have scored 71.04 per cent, a rating which had been tackled by some aviation experts.
In a strongly-worded report by Public affairs analyst, Iliyasu Gadu, berated the minister for the ratings saying, “ From an all-time high score of 96.03 per cent when the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conducted the Universal Security Audit Programme-Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA) in June 2015 to 71.04 per cent in the recently concluded audit in March 2024.
“This precipitous 25 per cent drop in the ratings is bound to raise serious concerns among stakeholders in the aviation sector with severe consequences for this critical sector of the nation’s economy.”
Reacting on Tuesday, Achimugu stated that Nigeria would have scored 30 per cent if not for the ‘leadership skills and dexterity from both Keyamo and the Acting Director General of the NCAA, Chris Najomo.
Achimugu further described as mischievous, comments by commentators that both the Minister and DG, NCAA were responsible for the alleged ‘poor ratings’ of the country.
He explained that the duo of the minister and the NCAA acting DG, came into office some months ago and went to work immediately to improve on the deteriorating infrastructures and poor remunerations of workers they met on assumption of office.
Achimugu said, “Six months ago, we met a dilapidated industry with poor infrastructure. The security and safety issues did not start in the last six months. Had it not been for the tireless efforts of the Honourable Minister and the DGCA, what we met on the ground would not have scored 30% in the audit.”
“Going by what was on the ground when Keyamo and Najomo assumed office, the current score is a substantially good showing, a miracle if I must say. The narrative being pushed out is just part of the larger strategy to push out Keyamo and Najomo from office. It is the handwork of paid mercenaries who have just one task.”
He further stated, “The ICAO auditors praised our performance during their final briefing at the NCAA. They even mentioned a scenario where they complained about an absent infrastructure but, to their pleasant surprise, it had been made available the very next day! They said that only Nigeria moves at such a pace in the face of criticism. If the ICAO experts were pleased, who are these puff puff experts to try to deceive the people?”
The NCAA publicist, however, added that he is aware of a team in the media with the mandate of ensuring the minister is either removed from office or moved to another ministry.
He then insisted that he would resist every attempt to deceive the Nigerians.
Speaking further, the Director explained, “We have actual Intel about a media team being commissioned to cause continuous chaos until Keyamo is either removed or moved elsewhere because certain people want to take back ownership of the contracts they were busy allocating themselves and family members while critical infrastructure was growing dilapidated.”
“Keyamo did not become one of the starboys of this administration by doing nothing. He spent his first six months unbundling the rot in the system. Sadly, the rot runs so deep that six months are not enough to scratch the surface.
“They know this and it is why they are relentless in their fight. But the Minister and the NCAA will do everything to sanitize aviation. We are working and it is evident.” The NCAA image maker further stated.