Captain Chris Najomo, the Acting Director General of NCAA, emphasized the caution in response to a weather report from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) predicting the propagation of dust haze.

NiMet’s weather outlook forecasts moderate dust haze with horizontal visibility ranging from 2km to 5km over the North.

The agency anticipates similar conditions over the North Central, with localized horizontal visibility potentially dropping to less than or equal to 1000m. Dust haze is also expected over the inland areas of the South and the coastal region during the forecast period.

The advisory from NCAA emphasizes the need for airline operators to stay updated on weather reports and forecasts from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.

Passengers are urged to exercise patience and understanding during this period, prioritizing safety.

This cautionary message from the regulatory body follows the recent suspension of Mattini Airline Services Ltd’s permit after a runway excursion incident involving a Challenger CL 601 aircraft.

The NCAA has initiated investigations and a safety and economic audit of all private jet operations in Nigeria, underscoring its commitment to safety and adherence to global best practices.

The announcement was on Thursday made during the comprehensive presentation of the administration’s achievements in the West of Lagos at the Lagos West Senatorial District People’s Town Hall Meeting.

The state government is also preparing to kickstart the construction of a new airport in Lekki.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the idea to have a state-owned airport has been in deliberation for several months. He said the state is in the final stages of determining the financing model for the project.

Asked why a state as big as Lagos does not have a commercial airline yet, Sanwo-Olu said the plan is in the works.

“Over the last five months, the Deputy Governor and I have been working to put a concise plan together for the establishment of an airline, but we did not make the plan open because of the need to get adequate knowledge about the operational procedures of airlines.

“The business plan is viable and there is no issue about financing. The conversation has gone to an advanced stage but we need to get the proper information on operations before we go ahead to implement the plan,” Sanwo-Olu said.

This was as the aviation fuel marketers have failed to convince the House of Representatives on why the prices of the product are hitting the rooftops on daily basis.

At the moment, the airlines are buying the fuel at N670 from normal price of 190 recently.

The airline operators are demanding operational licenses from the federal government to begin importation of fuel, following the recent fuel scarcity across the country.

Airpeace Chairman, Allen Onyema, gave this warning while speaking at a meeting of oil marketers and Airline operators at the National Assembly.

‘We have only three more days, all airlines in Nigeria will shut down. We are not threatening this country, it is a fact”, Onyema said.

‘I have the mandate of all airlines to demand that Airlines begin importation of fuel, if we can buy planes of millions of dollars, we can also import fuel ourselves. Let NNPC give Airlines licenses, we want to import ourselves,” Onyema insisted.

He said that if they were to continue flying, an average Nigerian will spend N120, 000 for an economy ticket.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Government’s agency, Mr Babatunde Irukera, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Domestic airline operators had increased airfares by 100 per cent with effect from March 1.

Irukera said the interim order was in line with Sections 17(a),(e),(l),(s),18(3)(a), 157 and 158 of the FCCPAct.

Irukera said that the commission’s investigations revealed that airline operators in supposedly association meetings discussed multiple industry-wide issues; particularly challenges experienced by their members.

He said that credible information revealed that while attendees at the meeting did not arrive at a consensus, the meeting ended in a resolution that encouraged or consented to the coordinated conduct.

According to him, the FCCPA prohibits conduct or any coordination between competitors including on the platform of trade associations.

“Specifically, Section 107 (1)(a) forbids competitors from fixing prices, while Section 108 prohibits any conspiracy, combination, agreement or arrangement between competitors in any manner that unduly restrains or injures competition.

“Coordination in increasing prices otherwise known as cartel is an unambiguous infringement of the FCCPA.

“The current and prevailing Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Air Transport Economic Regulations) in Regulation 18.15.2 (i) and (iii) expressly prohibits airlines from engaging in any contract, arrangement, understanding, conspiracy or combination in restraint of competition.

“This includes directly or indirectly fixing a charge, fee, rate, fare or tariff and any collusive action.

“The commission in addition to engaging the relevant stakeholders is entering and dispatching interim orders under Sections 17(a),(e),(l),(s),18(3)(a), 157 and 158 of the FCCPA.

“Prohibiting the performance or continuation of any agreement or arrangement associated with, or resulting from discussions, deliberations, debates, argument or resolutions of/at any meeting.

“Regarding any increase in airfares and or any conduct not necessarily directly in compliance, but in response to changes in the market on account of compliance by others,” he said.

Irukera enjoined scheduled domestic airline operators to ensure strict and prompt compliance with the interim order pending the outcome of the commission’s investigation.

Speaking during the daily COVID19 briefing of the Presidential Task Force, PTF,  the minister for aviation, Hadi Sirika, said that the aviation sector was misled because the flight was approved for a different purpose entirely.

According to the minister, the aircraft was meant to be used to fly an Appeal Court Judge, Justice Adefope Okogie, from Lagos to Abuja but instead, it was inappropriately used for conveying Naira Marley.

Sirika explained that the company and the flight captain has been suspended indefinitely for providing false information to convey the singer to Abuja for the show, adding that they will not escape the arms of the law.

He, however, promised that more strict regulations will now be put in place to ensure that there are no loopholes in the aviation sector.