BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
In compliance with the safety requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) annex 19, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Wednesday, April 23, inaugurated the National Executive Safety Committee (NESC) of Nigeria’s State Safety Programme in his office in Abuja.
The Minister at the event charged them to discharge their roles and responsibilities in a professional and appropriate manner to determine the safety risk picture of the aviation industry within the Nigerian State.
He further said that the NESC shall ensure the development, periodic review and policy making pertaining to SSP activities, such as safety policy, safety indicators, enforcement policy, safety data protection and sharing, SMS regulatory requirements, integrated and internal coordination of internal SSP review and findings.
The terms of reference of the committee as follows; Endorse the priorities and ensure that appropriate resources are allocated to drive the desired improvements in safety performance, based on risk assessment, and give strategic direction to the Safety Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC); Ensure the development, periodic review and decision and policy making pertaining to SSP activities, such as safety policy, safety indicators, enforcement policy, safety data protection and sharing, SMS regulatory requirements, and internal SSP review and findings are carried out in an integrated and coordinated manner; Monitor safety performance against Nigeria’s safety policies and objectives; Assess and accept the picture of the aggregate risk within the aviation industry in Nigeria and Identify new and emerging strategic safety risks.
Others are; Direct and monitor the effectiveness of the SIAC; Ensure the effectiveness of the safety oversight of regulated organisations and personnel; Review and sign off major policies, rules and interpretation changes; Handle escalated issues identified by the SIAC; Approve Terms of Reference as recommended by the SIAC for projects, new entities and other safety activities as determined by the SIAC; and Ensure the effectiveness of the organisation’s safety management processes demanded for a periodic progress report on a quarterly basis for consideration.
In his Speech, the Director General Civil Aviation Authority Capt. Chris Najomo said by fully implementing of an effective SSP, Nigeria will posses a clear understanding of its role and contribution to safe operations that will enable it and the Aviation industry prioritise and address safety risks and more effectively manage its resources for the optimal benefit of aviation safety .
He said such implementation will enable Nigeria systematically address operational safety risks, improve safety performance of each service provider and collectively improve the country safety performance.
In his remarks, the the Director General NSIB, Capt Alex Badeh appreciated the Minister for the opportunity given to them to serve in the Committee and promised to do their best.
Other members of the Committee include as a minimum, the Director, Air Safety Administration of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Director General of the NSIB, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Managing Director, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Director General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Directors of the technical directorates of the NCAA, the person responsible for safety management in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Director of Special Duties, NCAA and the Technical Adviser to the Honourable Minister. The SSP Coordinator will serve as the Secretary to the NSEC.
