Yemisi Izuora
The Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Captain Fola Akinkuotu has said that the Nigeria Police Force remains a dependable ally as the agency embarks on the implementation of the Federal Government Executive Orders.
Speaking while welcoming the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Mr Basen Gwana, who led a delegation of the command on a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters in Lagos, Capt. Akinkuotu stated that the role of the Police in protecting critical infrastructure of the agency across the country makes the force indispensable in the overall safety of air navigation in Nigeria.
He said “given that most of our critical assets are not only located at the airports but in remote areas all over the country, the role of the Police Force in ensuring that there is no breakage into these expensive navigational aids is quite commendable,” stressing that the agency would continue to promote operational harmony with the command as this would make for safe, efficient and effective service delivery. Earlier
in his remarks, Mr Gwana said their visit to the agency was to ensure that the Airport Police Command has direct interface with all stakeholders in the sector where issues of mutual interest would be addressed.
Meanwhile, in a bid to key into the recent executive order by the Federal Government on the ease of doing business in the country, the NAMA has begun its immediate implementation with the Managing Director, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu driving the process.
In a statement, Akinkuotu noted that in order to beat the June 8 deadline for full implementation, the agency has already updated its website showing the requirements, conditions and procedures for doing business or obtaining services in NAMA including all fees and timelines necessary for the processing of applications for the services.
He also disclosed that the agency shall be organizing workshop sessions to adequately enlighten and sensitize both staff and industry stakeholders on the essence and imperative of the executive orders adding that the agency shall also be collaborating with other aviation agencies with a view to harmonizing processes in order to achieve the single user interface at the airports as directed by the federal government.
Capt. Akinkuotu also hinted that in compliance with the order, the agency was working out modalities to increase local content in its procurement process as this would boost locally manufactured goods in the country. While charging staff to ensure strict compliance with all stated directives within the stipulated guidelines in the order, he enjoined them to ensure that the element of transparency permeates the entire systems and processes within the agency’s scope of operations.
It would be recalled that the Ag. President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had on May 18 2017 signed three far-reaching executive orders expected to ease business, fast-track budget submission and promote made in Nigeria products,