The House Committee on Delegated Legislation of the National Assembly has called for stronger aviation regulatory oversight, stressing the need for sustained cooperation with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to strengthen compliance in the sector.
The Committee made the call during a familiarisation engagement with the NCAA at its Corporate Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, where discussions centred on aviation regulation, legislative oversight, consumer protection and the Authority’s rule-making process.
Welcoming the Committee, the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, stressed the importance of continued engagement with the National Assembly to ensure Nigeria’s aviation regulations remain responsive and consistent with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
He said the Civil Aviation Act 2022, Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 and other regulatory instruments provide the framework for the NCAA’s safety, security, economic regulation and consumer protection functions.
The Chairman of the Committee, Rt. Hon. Olufemi Richard Bamishile, described the engagement as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and deepen the Committee’s understanding of the NCAA’s rule-making process.
Bamishile also raised concerns over outstanding statutory remittances by airlines, calling for legislative amendments to allow the immediate deduction and remittance of applicable funds to the NCAA.
A member of the Committee, Hon. Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, sought clarification on recurring flight delays and cancellations, as well as measures being taken to prevent their recurrence.
Responding at the instance of the DGCA, the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu, said inadequate aircraft capacity had previously worsened flight disruptions.
He explained that when one aircraft serves several routes, its unavailability could leave passengers stranded, adding that more aircraft were being introduced through dry-lease arrangements.
Achimugu also disclosed that a system was being developed to enable affected passengers to be rebooked on other airlines when disruptions occur.
Responding to the Chairman’s call for legislative amendments, the Director, Legal Services, Mrs. Mary Tufano-Eche, disclosed that the review of the Civil Aviation Act was at its final stages with the Ministry of Justice.
She said the proposed amendments would be further updated before being presented to the National Assembly.
The visit ended with both institutions agreeing to sustain engagement on delegated legislation and regulatory reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s aviation regulatory framework.
