ELHADJI AYAHA AHMED

DIRECTOR GENERAL ANAC NIGER

(French Version Here)

 

"ANAC-Niger will push for the liberalization of Niger's skies to African airlines in accordance with the air service agreements signed with states."

 

1. What were your achievements within the Civil Aviation Authority and in the field of aviation in your country in 2022?

The Civil Aviation Authority of Niger (ANAC-Niger) has been involved in the monitoring, compliance and organisation of the national CA regulation as regards to international norms. To that end, and in the area of security, several reforms have been made, particularly, the creation and establishment of a Coordination Unit for the Implementation of Security and Facilitation Mesures for the Diori Hamani International Airport (AIDH), the setting up of a National Civil Aviation Security Committee and of a Civil Aviation Airport Committee; the amendment and adoption of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme.
In the area of safety, it is important to highlight the reforms, the adoption of laws pertaining to the Civil Aviation National Safety Programme (NSP) Manual, the appointment of an NSP director, efforts in the search and rescue of aircraft in emergency situations, aircraft registration and restrictions.

Moreover, the CAA adopted laws related to Safety Management, the missions, organization and functioning of the Office of Investigation and Accidents, the terms and conditions of the different categories of civil aviation inspectors and their functions and qualifications and the terms and conditions for granting authorization for the creation and private use of airfields.

In addition, the Technical Civil Aviation Rules (TCAR) have been updated in all areas of civil aviation, in accordance with the amendments of the annexes to the Chicago Convention.

The various reforms undertaken have raised the compliance level from 79.8% to 88% during the safety audit conducted by WAEMU/UEMOA.

The following should be noted in the area of infrastructure:

- the extension of the runway at the Niamey airport from 3,000m to 3,800m, the upgrading of the runway electrical lighting and the construction of a second runway;

- the rehabilitation and extension of the runway at the Diffa airport from 1800x30m to 3000x45m, the construction of a new technical building and control tower, as well as a new apron area with five (5) parking zones for large aircraft, the construction of a 13,000 metre wall fencing;

- the construction of a new airport in Tillabéry;

- the construction of technical facilities at Maradi airport, the enhancement of safety and security measures, with the renovation of the Maradi airport fence walls, the refurbishing of the technical facilities and passenger terminal building at the Tahouli airport.

Investments were made totalling the sum of 150 billion CFA francs over a three-year period.

In the area of international cooperation and at the multilateral level, Niger has ratified the Beijing and Cape Town Conventions, as well as the Beijing, Montreal 2014 and Cape Town Protocols.

At the bilateral level, air service agreements were signed in line with the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) with the civil aviation authorities of Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea and Senegal. Similarly, a technical cooperation agreement was signed and an agreement on search and rescue of aircraft in emergency situations, initialed with Nigeria.

On the whole, between 2021 and 2022, the air transport sector recorded a remarkable growth of 30.1% in passenger traffic, 32% in cargo traffic at the AIDH, the country's main airport.

 

2. What are your challenges and how can AFCAC support you?

The Niger civil aviation sector is confronted with a number of challenges, including:

- capacity building of aviation personnel;

- implementation of the NSP

- development of airport infrastructure, particularly airports in the interior of the country

- maximizing its services.

Niger would welcome CAFAC's assistance, particularly in the areas of capacity building and the implementation of its NSP.

 

3. Your commitment to SAATM: how will you implement it?

In view of the full implemetation of the SAATM, ANAC-Niger envisages the pursuit of the implementation of air service agreements in conformity with the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) and the signing of air service agreements with other SAATM member States.

ANAC-Niger will also push for the liberalization of Niger's skies to African airlines in accordance with the air service agreements signed with these States, by granting of the fifth freedom. Several airlines in the continent already benefit from this freedom or are in the process of enjoying it. These are, namely: Asky on the Niamey-Ouagadougou-Niamey and the Niamey-Cotonou-Niamey routes; Ethiopian Airlines on the Niamey-Ouagagoudou-Niamey routes and the Royal Air Maroc on the Niamey-N'Djamena-Niamey routes; Tunisair on the Niamey-Abidjan-Niamey route.

In addition, Turkish Airlines, a Turkish company, also operates the Niamey-Bamako-Niamey and Niamey-N'Djaména-Niamey routes.

Air France has also been granted the fifth freedom.

 

4. What can you say about the SAATM PIP?

Niger is one of the eighteen SAATM Pilot Implementation Project (PIP) member States. The launch of the SAATM PIP by the 18 pilot states, commonly referred to by AFCAC as the "activating" or "facilitating" States is an opportunity to improve inter-connectivity and provide African States with multifaceted economic benefits.

For a complete and effective liberalization of the African sky, in line with the commitment of the Ministers of Civil Aviation at the 23rd anniversary of the Yamoussoukro Decision, it is important that the conclusions of the discussions between the focal points, and also, between the national committees, be implemented at the operational and decision-making levels.

 

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