The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the operating licence of a ground handling company operating at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, citing repeated safety violations identified during routine audits over the past two quarters.
In a statement, the NCAA said the suspension follows a pattern of non-compliance with ramp safety procedures, including inadequate use of chocks and cones around parked aircraft and lapses in staff certification records, despite prior warnings issued to the company.
Pattern of Non-Compliance
The regulator said its Flight Standards Group had flagged the violations during two separate audits this year and had issued formal notices requiring corrective action, which the company failed to fully implement within the stipulated timeframe. The NCAA said the suspension will remain in place until the company demonstrates full compliance with its Ground Handling Operations Manual and undergoes a re-audit.
"Ground safety is as critical to the integrity of our aviation system as flight safety," the NCAA said. "We will not hesitate to take regulatory action where operators consistently fail to meet the standards required to protect aircraft, passengers and ground personnel."
Impact on Airlines
Airlines that used the affected handler at the airport have been directed to transition to alternative certified ground handling providers with immediate effect. The NCAA said it does not expect the suspension to cause significant disruption, given the presence of other certified handlers at the airport, including NAHCO Aviance and SAHCOL.