Anthony Omoh
23 December 2011
THE Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, has said that no oil marketer or individual can import Jet A1 otherwise known as aviation fuel without the knowledge of the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
Responding yesterday to issues in the aviation industry with particular reference to the adulterated (Jet A1) fuel being sold by a particular marketer, the NCAA boss dismissed it as false adding that aviation is safe and secured.
According to him, “I want to put your mind at rest that aviation is safe and secured but let me say this I can assure the public that there is no danger in all our flight operations and we will keep it that way.”
The director general added that despite that the regulatory body was investigating the issue.
He added that there are very stringent measures which aviation fuel has to pass through before it can get into aircraft, stressing that no oil marketers can import fuel without the Knowledge and certification of DPR.
In his word, “We have the stringent measure before aviation fuel can get into the aircraft, and we don’t start from the airport, it start from the refineries, because it is a procedural thing. Nobody can import any fuel here without the DPR. There are a lot of certifications”.
He continued, “However, NCAA has summoned all the oil marketers and looking into the allegation. We are investigating the as we have in place stringent measures, which fuel marketers must comply with to supply Jet A1. We have external diagnosis such as International Air Transport Association. We want to assure that safety is not compromised in any way.”
Meanwhile, the management of Sahara Group, one of the oil marketers, said that it has been importing aviation fuel for many years including supplies to Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAM), adding that it also service major international airlines operating in the country.
The entity further explained that since 2009, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) audits and certifications have been regularly conducted by major international airlines.
Sahara gave the names of the airlines to include British, Qatar, DHL, and Air France among others, adding that all its audits are available on request on IATA web site.
The oil marketer further informed that all the products supplied to both domestic and international airlines by SO Aviation, strictly complied with Jet A-1 specifications as determine by AFROJOS and DESTAN standards.
“We state categorically that none of our customers, national or international have ever stopped using our services due to a concern about quality of our product, processes or facilities” Sahara Group said
It would be recalled that the major oil marketers allegedly petitioned a particular oil company for allegedly importing and supplying adulterated aviation fuel to the airlines.
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