ABSTRACT
Aviation is a phenomenon which every country is conversant with. Since countries
must interact with one another, and movement between countries is made by air,
the maintenance of reliable aviation authorities is considered imperative. Hence,
this study sets out to investigate the managerial problems of the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA – The regulatory body of the Nigerian Aviation
Industry), and present a framework which can be adopted for a better
management of the industry. It is therefore focused on a systems analysis of
NCAA.
The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study, whereby data
were collected through the use of questionnaire and secondary sources such as
textbooks, journals, newspapers and articles from NCAA. The proportional
stratified sampling technique was used for the selection of respondents. Two
hundred and fifty – six copies of the questionnaire were distributed. Based on two
hundred and forty copies returned, data were analysed, using Chi – square and
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings from the
study reveal that there is a significant relationship between the integration among
the component systems within NCAA and low performance. There is no
relationship between the surveillance capacity of NCAA and low performance.
Also revealed by the study is that the control system in NCAA has an adverse
effect on its overall performance. Finally, the study showed that the available
network of information is both inadequate and unreliable, thus making effective
control a near illusion. Inadequate information, aggravated by poor radar
coverage, has remained the main reason behind NCAA’s inability to maintain
effective control of airlines and parastatals. The recommendations made for better
performance include merging of airlines, undisputed adherence to the rules and
regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the
International Air Transport Association (IATA), provision of adequate radar
coverage, and others.
