The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has inaugurated the National Facilitation Committee expected to serve as a vehicle for carrying out the National Facilitation Programme.
This is in pursuant to the recommendation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) stipulating that each contracting state shall establish a National Facilitation Committee.
At the inauguration, held at the NCAA’s annex conference facility, Adamu Abdullahi, the director of Consumer Protection, who represented Benedict Adeyileka, acting director-general, says the committee is composed of the heads of government of agencies and the chief executive officers of the national organisations representing the aircraft operators and airport operators.
However, Abdullahi states that for the purpose of carrying out the work of the committee, the members may designate one or more middle-level management staff in their respective organisations to represent them in meetings at the working group level.
The primary responsibility for the National Facilitation Committee is domiciled with the NCAA in Nigeria.
The purpose of the National Facilitation Programme is to implement the Chicago Convention mandate that contracting states shall provide for and facilitate the border-crossing formalities that must be accomplished with respect to aircraft engaged in international operations, their passengers, crews and cargo, he says.
He continues by revealing that membership of the committee, which will be headed by the NCAA director-general, shall comprise of the following, Aviation Ministry, Customs, Immigration, Police, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Agriculture/Environment, Security and Narcotics, Public Health, FAAN, NAMA, Tourism, International Airlines, and National Aviation Security Committee.
Similarly, the corresponding Airport Facilitation Committees shall be headed by the airport manager and the representatives of these agencies – Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, State Security Service, NDLEA (Narcotics), Port Health, FAAN, NAMA, Tourism and International airlines.
The responsibilities of the National Facilitation Committee is to designate Customs airports in Nigeria, develop procedures through which operators of scheduled and non-scheduled services may request permission to land or depart from customs airports and arrange for border inspection services at the customs airports.
Develop programmes for control of security problems such as documents fraud, illegal migration, smuggling and touting. Support interested border control agencies in the establishment and maintenance of effective inspection systems at the airports and in their efforts to rationalise their respective procedures.
He adds that, it shall also coordinate preparations for clearing large numbers of passengers, especially during pilgrimages. It shall also establish, review and amend as necessary the national policies regarding prevention of the spread of contagious diseases by air, especially aircraft disinfection, public health related quarantine programmes and screening measures to be applied in a health emergency.
The Nigerian National Facilitation Committee (NNFC) shall meet bi-annually, except in cases of emergency. Venue of the meeting shall be determined by the chairman of the committee.
In corollary, the Airport Facilitation shall meet every quarterly and the NCAA shall serve as the secretariat of the NNFC.
He expresses happiness that the committee has finally been inaugurated as it had been signed into law since 2007.
All constituted members of the committee were fully represented, including Justus Wariya, the director of Air Transport Regulation, Polly Okoronkwo, company secretary, Anthonia Vincent, general manager, Economic Regulation, and the staff of the secretariat from NCAA.
