The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said it is carrying out an economic and financial audit of eight of the domestic airlines operating in the country.
The airlines are Air Peace, Arik Air, Max Air, Green Africa, United Nigeria, Overland, Azman Air and Ibom Air.
Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, who spoke to journalists at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, said the audit became necessary in order to determine the status of all domestic airlines operating in the country.
He said the regulatory body was already carrying out intensive financial and economic audits on at least three other indigenous airlines, while the remaining five would be done in batches, even though he did not mention the three airlines.
“I will sit down and discuss with the management of the airlines on the way forward. Like I said, we have a financial crisis and we don’t want it to cross over into a safety crisis.
“We need to manage the situation. For now, we remain focused, while working to address the solution to the financial difficulties in the airlines. This cannot go on forever. So, we are working around the clock to find a solution to the problem,” Nuhu stated.
While acknowledging that it was a very difficult situation, he said NCAA was working together and collaborating with others to address the situation in the industry.
