APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) have signed a landmark deal to achieve unified civil aviation regulation in Africa.
The two civil aviation authorities signed the agreement during the African Aviation Summit in Abuja on Thursday.
According to local media reports, the deal will make Nigeria and South African aviation regulators share safety and security best practices with each other, while also streamlining regulations to foster smooth flight arrangements between both countries.
The Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Ms Poppy Khoza, Director of the SACAA signed on behalf of South Africa.
Speaking on the deal, Capt Nuhu explained that the deal would enhance flight operations between both countries and unlock aviation opportunities to enhance the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) project, which was launched in January 2018 to give fresh impetus to the goal of liberalising air transport across Africa to fully implement the Yamoussoukro Decision.
According to Musa, SAATM is projected to create 508,750 direct jobs and a $4.2 billion impact on African GDP in the long term.
“We will remove all the barriers and obstacles of operations between both countries. Going forward, we hope other countries will join us to see the successful implementation of SAATM.
“This is a first step of a long journey” he said.
In her remarks, Khoza said that the agreement would strengthen the relationship between the two technical agencies.
According to her, the agreement will be of great assistance to both countries and the African continent in terms of elevating safety and security posture.
“This is a technical cooperation agreement which is very technical in nature. We will be exchanging on aviation safety and security in particular,” she said.
GIK/APA