2019, Public Lecture/ AGM of the Nigerian Society of Engineers Aeronautical Division tagged ‘’ Local Content Development In The Aviation Industry’’ was held at NCAA Ikeja Annex. In an interview with Engineer’s Forum, the National Chairman of the Division Engr Patrick Achurefe reveals the plans of NSE Aeronautical division to advance the aviation sector.
We would like to know what effort the Aeronautical division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers has put in developing the aviation sector?
Well, the effort that is on the ground is the duty of converging all the engineers in the related parastatals. This is because the Aeronautical division of the NSE comprises of all engineers in these parastatals. So the first thing to do is to gather together to be able to brainstorm for and assist the aviation industry. And this effort would mean giving out our time, and advice, to help the aviation industry to move forward.
The problem of the Industry’s dependence on other countries for training and other forms of infrastructural management has persisted over time, why is this so?
Everything still boils down to the government, in our country. Even the so-called autonomy that they granted the agencies cannot be seen because the government controls the agencies. Based on that it is very difficult for this to be addressed, except there is a standard policy that would help them to ask of and monitor what goes on in the aviation industry.
What must be done to address the loophole in the aviation industry?
What must be done first is the need to assemble the experts and engineers in all the related parastatals to work together towards the progress and effectiveness of the aviation industry, because if they are together they would be able to proffer professional advice on principles and policies that would govern the affairs of the industry.
At the moment, are there laudable government policies set to advance the industry?
Government policies are now coming on board, in the aviation industry, we now have the technical adviser and the technical coordinator who are engineers and can advise the government. These people also give professional advice to engineers to enhance and further the industry. They can address the needs of the industry because all of these chosen engineers are part and parcel of the workflow. And this gives a duty for each of us to work positively towards all the policy laid down by the government.
The Local content Act for the Aviation Industry, what does its provision entail?
What it entails is the using of our local content and our people for the production of most of the things we engage in. Why bring an expatriate to do the work an engineer can do? Why are these jobs not given to our engineers? Expatriates shouldn’t handle a job that a Nigerian Engineer can handle.
How is the Industry ensuring that there is strict compliance with the Local Content Laws?
That is the work of the regulatory authority that is the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, who mostly happen to be members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. In ensuring compliance, there is a policy laid down principle which they follow to do surveillance and oversee the implementation of this local content across the Industry.
Lastly, in line with the theme of today, what are the plans of the current Administration of the Aeronautical Division of the NSE to re-engineer the Aviation Industry for enhanced safety?
The plan is to ensure that we do our possible best to encourage those who can engineer local content in the Nigerian Aviation Industry, by lending sound advice and assistance.
