A Nigerian, Capt. Musa Nuhu has been elected as chairman, steering committee of the Comprehensive Regional Implementation Plan for Aviation Safety in Africa and Indian Ocean (AFI Plan) Region.
Nuhu, who is also Nigeria’s representative on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) council, was elected in Montreal, Canada during the 40th Session of ICAO general assembly.
He succeeds Mr. Halidou Moussa who headed the group since 2013.
“This is a huge responsibility being given by the steering committee and it comes with challenges.
“It is also a rare opportunity to serve the continent in this capacity and to continue to build on the good works done by former chairpersons of the steering committee including the pioneer chairperson and current president of ICAO Council Dr. Benard Aliu and the outgoing chairperson Mr. Halidou Moussa.
“The task ahead is great, but I believe working together, we will progress on the mandate given,” said Nuhu in his acceptance speech.
He said AFI Plan was set to improve aviation safety of African aviation service providers adding that the scope had been expanded to include some other aspects of aviation.
“The initial focus areas of AFI Plan included, enabling States to establish and maintain a sustainable safety oversight system; assisting states to resolve identified deficiencies within a reasonable time; and enhancing aviation safety culture of African aviation service providers.”
“AFI Plan has been expanded to include navigation, airports, and aviation infrastructure development,” he said.
Nuhu is the current chair of the ICAO Council’s Implementation, Strategy and Planning Group (ISPG) that is saddled with the responsibility of restructuring of ICAO secretariat.
He is also a member of several ICAO council committees including the Human Resources Committee (HRC), Air Transport Committee (ATC), Finance Committee (FIC) and Working Group on Governance and Efficiency (WGGE).
He is also the current coordinator of AFI Group, an informal group of African and Indian Ocean states with resident missions at the head office of ICAO in Montreal.
He is also an ex-officio member of the African Civil Aviation Commission Bureau by virtue of his position as the Coordinator of AFI Group.
He had previously served as the second vice president of ICAO Council.
It would be recalled that the AFI Plan was adopted by the 36th ICAO Assembly (Assembly Resolution A36-1) to address the concerns expressed by the ICAO Council on the safety status of aircraft operations in the AFI Region.
The Council recognised that the problem facing the states in the AFI Region and many other states are similar in nature.
AFI Plan was established in 2008.
