How a number of unauthorised aviation fuel (Jet A1) suppliers gained access into the Nigeria aviation industry and carry out businesses is raising concerns in the sector as authorities are currently investigating the situation.
Being one of the most regulated sector in the world, the recent discovery of a large volume of water inside the fuel of a Max Air aircraft that caused the airline to abort one of its flight from Yola to Maiduguri leading to the subsequent suspension of its entire domestic operations by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) left the country embarrassed.
At present, the NCAA and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) are looking into the quality of aviation fuel otherwise called Jet A1 supply to airlines across airports in Nigeria after investigation revealed that fuel suppliers with no authorisation have been carrying out businesses in the industry, the director general, Civil Aviation,Captain Musa Nuhu, told journalists.
Speaking to aviation correspondents at a zoom meeting, Captain Nuhu stated that, “Investigations are ongoing. We are in collaboration with the NMDPRA and we have gotten the list of all companies that are approved by them. Unfortunately, we find out that there are some companies that find their way into aviation that are not approved by them and immediate action is being taken.”
The managing director of an airline confirmed to our correspondent in Lagos that the issue have become worrisome for a long time when they discovered that different aviation fuel suppliers appeared on the tarmac of the airports supplying the products to aircraft.
The NCAA helmsman affirmed that the agency will communicate to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and ensure companies without approval are barred from supplying the commodity until they meet necessary requirements.