TSA Rates Nigeria’s Aviation Sector High

The United States Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) has rated Nigeria’s aviation sector high. TSA inspected  the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos ahead of the yearly audit of the International Civil Aviation Organisation in May.

The TSA team led by Mr. Ray Montgomery, said the facilities at the MMIA were in order and observed that the passenger check-in procedure, hold baggage screening, catering and cargo acceptance  procedure and security arrangements  in place are pleasant.

The team, Mr Montgomery added, was impressed with the ongoing construction of perimeter fence at both airports, saying that there has been remarkable improvement in the lest two years.

The report of the team may help the country in the ICAO audit, which is aimed at identifying and correcting lapses in the aviation sector. During the May audit, ICAO is  expected to certify  some of the country’s 22 airports including the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, if they meet standard. The  last audit was in 2006.

ICAO expects every country to expedite action on its emergency plan to include procedures for conducting self-inspection programme as well as procedures for airport conditions  reporting and procedure for identifying, marking and reporting construction and other unserviceable areas.

Meanwhile, in a bid to reduce traffic  congestion during peak periods, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is to partner Limou Sine  Shuttle  Operators (LSO).

The newly-elected  chairman of LSO, Mr. Bashiru Atewogboye stated that the FAAN usually carries out regular vehicle  inspection to reduce the number of buses on the road and also get rid of buses that are not road worthy.

Atewogboye noted that the airport  authority has already concluded arrangements to reduce the number of buses on the road from 150 to 100 to facilitate easy passage of buses and vehicles  at peak hours, pointing out that every year, the management usually caries bus inspection to ensure that buses that ply the airport  road are in good order and those  that are not up to standard are delisted from the body.

He called on the airport authority to carry out immediate repairs on the limousine garage to address the challenges being faced by drivers, adding that last year, 130 limousine vehicles were approved and 100 may be approved this year.