DANA crash: Reps want NCAA boss sacked for negligence

By The Citizen

The Director- General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, must be sacked for professional negligence in the case of Dana Air crash, the House of Representatives said on Wednesday..

The House position was sequel to the recommendation of both House and Senate committees on Aviation, which recommended the sack of the Director General.

The House approved the report submitted to it by chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Honourable Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
Both chambers had mandated its committees to investigate the June 3 Dana crash in which over 158 persons died.

The House,  also approved the recommendation directing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)to recover 'the N35.5 billion which was extended to Air Nigeria through UBA, but was diverted to other uses.'

The House also recommended that MD83 aircrafts should be completely phased out of  Nigeria as NCAA had  no certified engineer in Nigeria to handle its maintenance.

The House also asked that a ceiling of age limit of not more than 15 years should be placed for acquisition for passenger aircraft and 20 years for cargo aircraft.

Other key recommendations approved by the House includes: 'Dana current AOC should be revoked because it was not issued in compliance with Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Civil Regulations Guideline 2009.

'NCAA inspector, Engineer Suleiman Akwuh who did pre-arrival inspection on the ill-fated Dana Aircraft without pre­requisite professional qualification should be dismissed from service
'The tenure of the current Director General of NCAA has expired 3 months before Dana crash occurred on 3rd June, 2012.

'So the current Director General of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren should be removed from office for professional negligence and incompetence.

'The staff strength of NCAA should be totally overhauled with a view to inject technically and  professional  qualified personnel to enhance its regulatory role to meet the international best practices.

'The   investigation   report   of   Bellview Airlines   and   other accident investigation reports should be revisited.

'NCAA, should compel all airlines, involved in accidents to settle all outstanding insurance obligations and ensure that current operating AOCs have reliable insurance cover as required by the Civil Aviation Regulations'.