TheCable

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) have signed a deal to enhance flight operations between both nations. 

The agreement was signed by Musa Nuhu, NCAA director-general and Poppy Khoza, SACAA director, during the African Aviation Summit in Abuja on Thursday.

Nuhu said the single regulatory regime would unlock opportunities in aviation and enhance the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) project.

He said SAATM was launched in January 2018 to give fresh impetus to the goal of liberalising air transport across Africa.

He added that SAATM is projected to create 508,750 direct jobs and leave a $4.2 billion impact on Africa’s 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,” NAN quoted Nuhu as saying.

“This is the first step of a long journey.”

Also speaking, Khoza said the deal will strengthen the relationship between the two agencies.

“This is a technical cooperation agreement. We will be exchanging on aviation safety and security in particular,” she said.

“The minister of Nigeria has indicated that one of his plans is to ensure that he upholds the highest-level standards of aviation security.

“It is the same plan for my minister. Therefore, there are synergies between both ministers.

“So, we will be cooperating a lot. In fact, we are already cooperating.”

On his part, Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, said he is highly pleased with the deal, adding that both countries would benefit immensely from the pact.

“This is an exciting day for us. You can tick this as one of my deliverables under my first plans,” Keyamo said.

“We need to learn from one of the countries in Africa ahead of us in safety and security standards.

“South Africa is doing 92 per cent in terms of ICAO standards and Nigeria is doing 70 percent. By cooperating with South Africa, we are sure to close that gap and even exceed it.”