The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it conducts regular ramp inspections and random checks on aviation fuel supplied to airlines by oil marketers.
The Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman, made the disclosure while speaking with aviation correspondents in Lagos on Monday.
He said that this was contrary to allegations that kerosene was being sold as Jet A1 in Nigeria.
Usman said the NCAA always did aviation fuel quality control at the Department of Petroleum Resources, which also had the duty of inspecting fuels supplied by oil marketers.
“In addition, aircraft engineers do their own checks and of course pilots do the same during re-fueling.
“This is to ensure that the grade that we get is what is required for safe operations of aircraft in Nigeria,’’ he said.
Usman said the NCAA, the regulatory body, would ensure that airplanes operating in Nigeria used fuel that was up to standard.
“So as the regulatory body, we are doing all that is possible to ensure that whatever quality of fuel that our airplanes use is up to standard.’’
Usman explained that Jet A1 was the highest grade of kerosene, noting: “so it is also kerosene even though it is not for domestic use’’.
The Chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria, Capt. Nogie Meggison, had last week, accused oil marketers of selling kerosene as aviation fuel.
He said that this had affected the performance of engines of many airplanes operating in Nigeria.
Meggison disclosed that the International Air Transport Association had sent Notices to Airmen coming into Nigeria, warning them to beware of aviation fuel being sold in Nigeria.
According to him, NCAA has already been informed of the development.
He lamented that Nigerian aviation fuel was also one of the most expensive in the world.
“Aviation fuel is an additional challenge for operators in the country. Nigeria has the most expensive fuel for Jet A1 in the world. Warri refinery was producing Jet A1 till the 1990s until it stopped working. The availability of Jet A1 would make other airlines to come around for fueling in Nigeria,’’ he said.
