President Muhammadu Buhari has given a fresh directive to the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the National Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to fast track the manufacture of the first Made-in-Nigeria non-commercial helicopter.
According to the President, it would serve as a proof of the country’s capacity to excel in science and technology.
A statement signed by the Deputy Director, Information NASENI and made available to journalists, Mr. Olusegun Ayeoyenikan said President Buhari gave the marching order to Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna on Wednesday in Abuja.
He urged the two agencies to ensure they get the required certification and approvals from relevant authorities for non-commercial flight (PNCF) helicopter, and to launch the first Nigeria aircraft before the end of his administration.
As a follow to the Presidential directive, the NASENI boss led the agency’s management on a visited to NCAA headquarters in Abuja to inundate the Director General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu about the President’s order.
The NCAA has the responsibilities of issuing permit and certification for the Made-in-Nigeria Helicopter, including certificate of Aircraft registration, Airworthiness, noise regulation and general certification for the helicopter of this nature.
“The delays in getting these permits and certificates approved since 2015 had greatly affected the delivery of the goals of the project” said the EVC of NASENI.
Prof Haruna explained during the meeting with the Director General of NCAA that President Buhari had given NASENI and the rest of the Agencies associated with the Nigeria helicopter Project including the Federal Ministry of Aviation and others who have parts to play in the project to expedite actions on the processes.
He said the President planned to launch the NASENI manufactured Helicopter in the last quarter of year 2021.
Prof Haruna said that the required components parts to make the helicopter wholly Nigeria-made had been manufactured locally in Nigeria by NASENI and its partners. The tasks he said had been accomplished by the Agency. The parts to be imported were already also in the country.
As far back as 2016, following President Buhari’s directive, NASENI successfully designed and manufactured locally the first jet-engine for aircraft which was launched with funfair at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
“What is left to be done to achieve the project according to NANSEN’S boss are the technical certifications by the relevant agencies in Nigeria and hence today’s visit to NCAA”
Professor Haruna explained that earlier “a team from the NCAA had visited with us in the factory of our technical partner, Dynali Helicopter Company, Belgium, since July 28 to August 3, 2019.After the visit, NCAA awarded us and Dynali a Type Acceptance Certificate, issued as far back as 2019.
Already, NASENI had ordered for 2 sets of Dynali Ultralight helicopters for the purpose of reverse engineering in Nigeria so as to further domestic the technology following the training for Nigerian Engineers who were involved in the building of the first Made in Nigeria non-commercial helicopter now awaiting technical certification.
Prof Haruna added that yesterday meeting was aimed at coming up with solutions to the current bureaucratic challenges which currently hampers the technical certification and goals of the project.
In his response, the newly appointed Director General of NCAA, Captain Nuhu acknowledged the efforts of his predecessor in supporting NASENI to actualise the project so far especially following the Presidential directive.
According to him: “It is a thing of joy and national importance to put Nigeria in the global map of countries with indigenous human or technical capacity for manufacturing of aircraft, so the NCAA will not deliberately hinder NASENI in achieving this project.
According to him “I reckon with not only the national pride,but also the job creation opportunities, technology confidence and economic benefits of manufacturing helicopter or aircrafts in Nigeria are numerous to mention.
Nuhu said aside the Presidential directive for us to accomplish this task, it will be a thing of joy for me personally that the NCAA achieved this feat during my tenure as the Director General of the NCAA”
While pledging the commitment of the NCAA to the project, he said within the next two weeks, the NCAA would revert to NASENI after looking into areas of challenges in NASENI’s requests for certification which awaited approvals by the NCAA.
