Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) have signed a landmark deal to signal a gradual movement towards unified civil aviation regulation in Africa.
The deal will see the two aviation regulators share safety and security best practices with each other and streamline regulations to foster smooth flight operations between both countries.
The deal was signed, yesterday, at the African Aviation Summit at Exhibition in Abuja. Director General of NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while the Director of SACAA, Poppy Khoza, signed for South Africa. The signing was witnessed by the ministers of both countries.
According to Nuhu, the deal is unique as it will enhance regulatory harmonisation between Nigeria and South Africa, as well as boost flight operations between the two countries to almost be like domestic flights.
The NCAA DG is one of the firm promoters of single aviation regulatory regime in Africa as experienced in Europe with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). He believes that a single regulatory regime in Africa will unlock opportunities in aviation and enhance the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) project launched in January 2018 to give fresh impetus to the goal of liberalising air transport across Africa and to fully implement the Yamoussoukro Decision.
Khoza, on his part, said: “This is a technical cooperation agreement which is very technical in nature. We will be exchanging on aviation safety and security in particular.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, expressed excitement over the deal.
