Bayelsa airport not certified for flight operations-NCAA
Despite the inauguration of the Bayelsa International Airport by the state governor, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says the airport will not be opened for flight operations pending the resolutions of all safety issues
In an interview with the general manager, public affairs NCAA, Mr Sam Adurogboye, said the management of the airport has not met the safety requirements to operate the airport as the there was no perimeter fence.
Adurogboye explained that the airport may have been commissioned by the government but has failed to meet safety standard adding that NCAA inspection team had earlier visited the airport where some open items were discovered and told them to close the items before coming back for inspection.
But while commissioning the airport Monday, Governor Sirike Dickson called on the federal government to direct NCAA to license the airport to commence commercial flight operations.
“The airport can not be used because the Bayelsa government has not complied with the regulations. Everything we do in the NCAA is based on safety. Once open items are closed, we will send our people to the airport for inspection” Adurogboye said.
The N60 billion Bayelsa International Airport has been inaugurated twice, the first was on February 15, 2019 where it welcomed its first flight and the last was Monday this week.
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The aerodrome may not operate until it resolves pending International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) security requirements to function
Director of Operation and Training and currently Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Abdullahi Sidi at a recent media chat in his office explained that the issue was safety-related and has nothing to do with politics Captain Sidi said a perimeter fencing around the airport was a non-negotiable security feature for the airport’s functionality stating that until they comply, the airport will remain so.
