The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace has collaborate with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to checkmate the high incidence of contamination of Jet. A1 fuel.
The move is against the backdrop of complains by airlines operating in the country to the International Airlines Transport Association (IATA) on aviation fuel contamination
The Permanent Secretary Mr Emmanuel Meribole during a courtesy visit his counterpart in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources Nigeria, as a signatory to the Chicago Convention of 1944, must abide by the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in ICAO Annex 19 which are intended to assist States in managing aviation safety risks.
He said the Annex 19 supports the continued evolution of a proactive strategy to improve safety performance which the advocacy visit intends to achieve.
Meribole stated that it was the responsibility of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace to ensure that the necessary safety measures were put in place to prevent mishap in the air, thereby making flight to be safe for passengers and cargoes.
While mentioning that definite instructions has been given to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the civil aviation Regulator in Nigeria, on how to stem the problem of Aviation Fuel contamination, affirming that NCAA was already collaborating with the Agencies in the Petroleum Sector and Airline Operators to nip the problem in the bud.
In his response, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador Aduda underscored the importance of Aviation to the economic development of any Nation and agreed that everything must be humanly done to ensure that the value chain in the importation and supply of Jet A1 to the airlines was not compromised because of its attendant consequences.
He also harped on the need to forestall the problem of Jet A1 contamination, which if not nipped in the bud, could bring bad image to the country in the international arena, as it might make foreign airlines not to refuel in
Nigeria, thereby dwindling the resources that could accrue to the country.
He suggested that an expanded meeting be held to include the relevant stakeholders in the value chain supply of Jet A1 and the end users in the aviation sector to discuss the issue within the shortest possible time.
