Aisuebeogun
A former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Richard Aisuebeigun, has emphasized the need for stricter regulations to ensure the quality of aviation fuel, also known as Jet A1, in the country.
Speaking at a Colloquium on “Aviation Fuel Business in Nigeria: The Scenario and the Metaphor” in Lagos, Aisuebeigun stressed that the leadership of the sector must ensure collaboration and unwavering support for quality products.
“The leadership of the sector must ensure collaboration and unwavering support for quality product,” Aisuebeigun said, adding that the regulatory agencies must work together to ensure that the quality of Jet A1 meets international standards.
Other stakeholders at the colloquium also canvassed for stricter regulations, citing concerns about the proliferation of fuel marketers and the risk of contaminated products being sold to airlines.
Managing Director of CITA Energies, Thomas Ogungbangbe, called for a dedicated regulatory framework, saying a Jet-A1 specific regulatory directorate under the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) or Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) would ensure policy enforcement and sector monitoring.
“The issue of product quality, monitoring and regulations is the main thing now and no longer availability,” Ogungbangbe said, adding that the industry must handle Jet A1 delivery to airlines with established international and local regulations to avoid compromise.
Former Managing Director of Arik Air, Chris Ndulue, also urged the PPPRA to extend its surveillance to the marketers and not only fuel depots, saying the gap in monitoring should also be filled by the NCAA.
Meanwhile, Ogungbangbe called for the restoration of the pipelines that supply fuel from Atlas Cove to the Lagos airport, saying this will keep away over 100 fuel trucks from the roads.
“Government should revisit the restoration of the 98 kilometers pipelines running from the Atlas Cove to the airports, there’s also the need to have hydrant pipes around, if this is done, it will keep away not less than 100 trucks from Lagos roads daily,” he said.
