The Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt Chris Najomo, has disclosed that in one year, it has approved five Air Operating Certificates, signalling the commencement of five new airlines in the Nigerian aviation industry.

The NCAA boss said this during a stakeholders’ meeting, headed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in Lagos on Friday.

An AOC is an operating license for airlines venturing into air commercial transport.

The approval of AOC by the NCAA implies that five prospective airlines have been approved to commence commercial flight operations in the country.

Najomo said during the process of approving the AOCs, he ensured the applicants did not cut corners and all safety demands were met before handing the certificate over to them.

Speaking on aging aircraft in Nigeria, he said it is not how new an aircraft is that makes it safe but how well the aircraft is maintained.

“The NCAA is carrying out surveillance on all aircraft operating in Nigeria to ensure these aircraft are maintained. Brand new aircraft still take offering and crash. So, the age of an aircraft doesn’t determine how safe it is,” he explained.

Speaking on the scarcity of jobs in the aviation sector, Najomo explained the NCAA is doing its best to ensure airlines bring in more aircraft, adding that the presence of more aircraft would mean more jobs for the industry. (Courtesy, excluding headline, The PUNCH)