The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo, has directed the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to immediately suspend Dana Air’s operation, pending the outcome of a comprehensive audit of the airline.
The directive was issued a day after one of the airline’s aircraft veered off the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos runway. All the passengers on board were evacuated safely.
According to the minister’s directive, the comprehensive audit of the airline will encompass all aspects of safety protocols, maintenance procedures, and financial health to ensure full compliance with the aviation sector’s regulations.
The minister’s letter to the NCAA Director-General titled ‘Immediate Suspension Of Dana Air Pending Safety And Financial Health Audit’, explained that the audit became necessary to ensure safety and the airline’s compliance with regulatory guidelines.
“As the supervisor overseeing our nation’s aviation safety and regulatory compliance, it has come to the Honourable Minister’s attention that recent incidents involving Dana Airline have raised serious concerns regarding both the safety and financial viability of their operations.
“In light of these incidents, arid with the paramount priority being the safety and well-being of our citizens and travellers, the Honourable Minister has directed that you immediately initiate the suspension of Dana Airline’s fleet until a comprehensive audit can be conducted.
“This audit should encompass all aspects of safety protocols, maintenance procedures, and financial health to ensure full compliance with our aviation regulations,” Keyamo stated.
The minister noted that the recent incident involving the airline, underscored the need for swift and decisive action to be taken to safeguard the interests of all stakeholders involved.
“I trust in your expertise and diligence in carrying out this audit thoroughly and expeditiously. Please keep me informed of the progress and any significant findings throughout this process,” he added.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), following the incident on Tuesday, temporarily shut down runway 18L/36R at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos for flight operations. The runway was reopened on Wednesday morning to flight operations.