The Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA), Captain Musa Nuhu, has said that the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and Benin Republic on Aeronautical Search and Rescue (SAR) would further enhance air safety in the region, especially between the two countries.
Nuhu who signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria on Thursday in Cotonou, Benin Republic, stated that the partnership on air safety between the two countries was long overdue, adding that Nigeria would also go further by signing such an agreement with its other neighbouring African countries.
Going forward, he informed that the country would sign a similar agreement with Togo and Tchad on Friday, while Cameroon would follow shortly.
He said: “Nigeria is keen on improving air safety in the West African region. Apart from the region, we also want to ensure that African airspace is safe at all times.
“We need to consistently improve our relationships on the continent, starting from the region.
“Nigeria also intends to sign the same aeronautical agreement on Search and Rescue with other neighbouring African countries.”
In his comment, the Director General, Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC), Benin Republic, Mr. Karl Legba, who also signed the Mou on behalf of his country, lauded the Nigerian Government for always playing leadership role in civil aviation in the region and the continent as a whole.
Meanwhile, Nigeria is also considering signing a bilateral technical agreement between it and South Africa.
The meeting between the two countries’ Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs), happened on the sidelines of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) meeting, which comprised the continent’s CAAs Directors General meeting in Dakar, Senegal.
Also in attendance were officials of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace, Directors; Captain Talba Alkali, Director of Safety, Hassan Ejibunu, Director of Air Transport Management, Captain Ibrahim Dambazzau, Director Operations, Licensing and Training of NCAA, Abubakar Saraku, Director Air Transport Regulations and Mary Tufano, Board Secretary/Legal Adviser also of the agency.
Also in Team Nigeria was Engineer Mahmoud Ben Tukur, Representative of Nigeria on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council and the current second Vice President of the body.
Poppy Khoza, the Director General of Civil Aviation, South Africa led the South African team to the meeting with Nigeria.