Nigerian CAA Halts OmniBlu Aviation’s AOC Process Over Conflict of Interest
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken the step to suspend the fixed-wing scheduled airline certification process of OmniBlu Aviation (O7, Lagos) due to a conflict of interest involving Akin Olateru, the Director-General of the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB). The Daily Trust newspaper reported on this development, revealing that Olateru is a shareholder in OmniBlu Aviation, leading to a violation of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act of 2022.
The Act prohibits employees within the aviation sector from having financial interests in aviation enterprises, and it mandates the full disclosure of such interests. In response to the discovery, the NCAA, through an October 3 letter, informed OmniBlu Aviation of the suspension of Phase Two of its five-phase air operator’s certificate (AOC) process.
The airline is reportedly taking corrective measures to address the conflict of interest and aims to resume the certification process once the issues are resolved. The Daily Trust cited the specifics of the conflict, emphasizing the need for transparency and compliance with aviation regulations.
As of now, neither the NCAA nor OmniBlu Aviation has provided a public comment on the matter.
OmniBlu Aviation, as per the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, currently operates a single dedicated B737-200C freighter with registration 5N-IZB (msn 23292). The airline’s portfolio extends beyond fixed-wing operations, encompassing helicopter services for the oil and gas industry, charter services, air ambulance services, and general aviation sectors. The helicopter fleet includes S-76, Bell Helicopter, Hawker 125, and AW139 helicopters, along with Bombardier Aerospace Challenger 604s and Beech (twin turboprop) King Air B200s.
The resolution of the conflict of interest and the subsequent resumption of OmniBlu Aviation’s AOC process will be closely monitored by industry observers as regulatory compliance and transparency remain critical aspects of aviation operations.