THE Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman, has assured the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) of unflinching support.

Usman gave the assurance when he received a NAPTIP delegation led by its Director-General, Dame Julie Okah-Donli on an advocacy visit to NCAA headquarters on Monday in Lagos.

The NCAA boss promised on behalf of the authority and other aviation agencies to assist NAPTIP in achieving its mandate to stop the menace.

Usman also gave an assurance that the NCAA would ensure all airline operators adhered to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) at all times.

He promised to review and validate the documents he received from the agency.

Earlier, Okah-Donli said it had become very imperative to embark on the visit to the NCAA as the regulator of the aviation industry in Nigeria since young Nigerians were lured out of the country through the airports which were  major exit points.

She said: “This visit will enable the two government agencies chart a course to successfully stamp out human trafficking from Nigeria.

“We therefore implore  NCAA that during its oversight responsibilities over all aviation agencies,  it should ensure that airlines are mandated to fulfill part of their obligations under the Trafficking In Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.”

The NAPTIP boss had earlier presented some of the sensitisation materials developed for the aviation industry for review and validation by the authority before its implementation.

She added that a workshop to engage relevant operators in the industry was underway.

Okah-Donli also paid an advocacy visit to the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Hamisu Rabiu Yadudu, in order to seek areas of collaboration between the two agencies.

Yadudu, who was represented by the Director of Security Services, retired Group Capt. Usman Sadiq, also promised to work with NAPTIP in achieving its mandate.

-NAN

BE

– June 11, 2019 @ 09:27 GMT |