The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has attributed the delay in the certification of the Yenegoa Airport in Baylesa State to the absence of adequate perimeter fencing at the number one gateway airport.
Revealing this during the week, the acting director-general of the NCAA, Captain Abdullahi Sidi, declared that the lack of perimeter fence had prevented the regulatory organisation from issuing the airport the required certification.
He, however, assured that once the perimeter fences were perfected, the NCAA would not hesitate to issue it certificates for commencement of operations, but maintained that the government would not compromise security.
He used the opportunity to explain why full commercial flight operation was yet to commence at Yenegoa Airport despite its inauguration six months ago.
“That perimeter fencing is the only thing remaining for the Bayelsa Airport. There is no politics about it. That is the requirement. And anything security is taken seriously. It is a security issue. If we need to close an airport because of security issue, we will, until they comply.
“Somebody called me on the issue of Bayelsa Airport, then, I did my investigation. Perimeter fencing is number one requirement for any airport, which is safety. Someone said the government has done about 60 per cent of the perimeter fencing and said the other side of the airport is creek, but I said that is not acceptable to the aviation industry” he said.