The Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman, on Tuesday ordered immediate comprehensive audit of all the airlines operating in the country.

Usman, who gave the directive in a statement issued in Lagos by NCAA's General Manager, Public Affairs, Fan Ndubuoke, said the directive was in line with the authority's regulatory and oversight responsibilities.

He said that the pockets of incidents that had occurred recently were being viewed seriously by the authority and the wholesale audit was one of the measures taken to forestall further incidents.

According to him, the audit is to ensure the sustenance of the confidence of air travellers in the industry.

Usman said that the directive would forestall complacency among airline operators and ensure that they all continued to demonstrate absolute compliance to NCAA’s regulations.

The director general said that the authority's Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) would continue to intensify routine ramp inspections.

Usman further said that it had sent out a stern warning to all pilots to take precautionary measures during all adverse weather conditions.

“In other words, there should be strict adherence to states’ weather minima and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).”

Usman assured Nigerians that the NCAA would continue to ensure that its regulations were strictly complied with.

“Airline Operations in Nigeria will continue to be done according to the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) thereby ensuring safe and secure operations.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Bristow helicopter that plunged into the Lagos Lagoon on Wednesday might have prompted the NCAA to order the audit exercise.

NAN reports that the air mishap claimed six lives out of the 12 people on board. (NAN)

•Photo shows crash scene