Is CPC hijacking functions of NCAA?

STAKEHOLDERS across the country’s aviation sector are currently uncomfortable with what is termed as the sudden assumption of statutory roles meant for the aviation authorities particularly those of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC.

In the recent times, the CPC had taken some steps which should have automatically be taken by the NCAA in line with the laws which established the NCAA as the only regulatory body for the aviation sector.

To say the CPC has overstepped its bounds may not be an exaggeration after all, in view of the speed at which it now issues statements over incidents involving aircraft operations. It is well known that CPC has the right to protect passengers’ rights by ensuring that their rights are not infringed upon in times of crisis by any airline.

It is also known that the only government agency that has the right to issue statements on any incident or accident as soon as it happens is the NCAA and subsequently the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

But the way the CPC rushes to speak on issues that fall outside its purview in the past weeks has aroused the attention of key players in the sector who are now calling for restraints on the part of the consumer protection body. Among such controversial actions taken by the CPC was a statement it issued when an aircraft belonging to Dana Air which took off from Abuja and heading to Port-Harcourt overshot the runway on landing. Even though, while the airline was able to evacuate all the crew and passengers without any injury, the CPC took over the role of the NCAA by issuing a statement where it declared: “Dana Airlines Flight 9J0363 operating from Abuja to Port-Harcourt on February 20th, 2018, landed at approximately 19:30hrs and overshot the runway. Cause of incident still unknown but under investigation. Aircraft damaged, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) notified and already in control.”Similarly, in what seemed like an usurpation of NCAA’s function, the CPC again rushed out another statement when Med-View Airlines flight from Abuja to Maiduguri was cancelled due to safety reasons. A statement issued by the CPC through its Director-General, Mr. Babatunde Irukera partly declared: “At approximately 1400 HRS, while attempting to depart Abuja to Maiduguri on the final segment of the sector, the flight had a Ramp Return, that is, return to base after commencing taxiing on account of a safety issue. Specifically, an indicator lamp signifying a minor disorder emerged.

“The Captain, exercising the appropriate abundance of caution and in compliance with applicable safety standards aborted the flight and returned to base for technical assistance.

“All passengers disembarked in an orderly manner, returned to the lounge and were attended to by the airline in accordance with relevant Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations regarding treatment of passengers during delays. Engineers are presently concluding minor repairs so that the aircraft can become operational”.

For goodness sake, this is the function expected of the NCAA or the AIB and not that of the CPC. What qualifies the CPC to speak on a damaged aircraft, incident investigation or calling for calm?

Presently, the thinking across the sector is that of ‘a sheer hijack’ of the statutory function of the NCAA and those of its personnel who have been trained in line with international standard to act and speak in such times.

There is the need for the CPC to limit its role to protection of passengers’ rights and not poking nose into safety and technical issues as this may subsequently create panic and confusion among the flying public.

Above all, the NCAA should take its stand on such issues as no one will forgive the authority if it allows a wrong agency to speak on sensitive issues like incidents or accidents in view of the negative impression this action is creating in the sector.