The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to global aviation safety standards with the commissioning of the Flight Data Centre by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.
The facility, located at the Authority’s headquarters in Abuja, was officially unveiled during a one-day training workshop for frontline managers who will oversee its operations.
Capt. Najomo described the Flight Data Centre as more than an infrastructure project, emphasizing that it symbolises Nigeria’s renewed focus on proactive safety management.
He noted that its commissioning by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, underscores its national importance.
“This initiative is not just about technology; it is about safeguarding lives and securing the future of Nigerian aviation,” Najomo stated. “We are investing in your competence because this is more than a training programme—it is an investment in our collective future and a statement of our commitment to excellence.”
The DGCA explained that the centre will enable the NCAA to collect and analyse flight data in real time, thereby identifying potential safety deficiencies before they escalate into incidents or accidents.
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He stressed that the authority must evolve from a compliance-based oversight model to a performance-based, predictive system that prevents risks rather than merely responding to them.
Acknowledging the contributions of his team, Najomo commended the Director of Special Duties, Mr. Horatius Egua, for his dedication in ensuring the project’s completion. Egua recalled that the project had been stalled since 2016, but was revived under Najomo’s leadership.
He added that the facility would play a crucial role in advancing Nigeria’s Safety Management System while providing hands-on training for managers tasked with overseeing its operations.
Among the benefits of the centre are improved safety oversight, better regulatory compliance, enhanced incident investigation, risk management, and trend analysis.
The facility will also foster stakeholder collaboration, reduce operational costs, and enhance Nigeria’s credibility in the global aviation community.
Dignitaries present at the event included the Executive Director of the Banjul Accord Group Safety Oversight Organisation, representatives from the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, APS facilitators, and other key industry stakeholders.
With the Flight Data Centre now operational, industry experts believe Nigeria has taken a major step toward aligning its aviation standards with global best practices, while ensuring that safety remains at the heart of its operations.
Crediblenewsng.com
