Section 56 Civil Aviation Act 2022
Section 56 of the Civil Aviation Act 2022 is about Application to aircraft of law of wreck and salvage. It is under Part VIII (International Obligations) of the Act.
(1) It shall be the responsibility of any person or aircraft to provide such measure of assistance to aircraft in distress within the territory of Nigeria as may be found practicable.
(2) The Minister may permit the owner of an aircraft in distress or the authorities of the State in which the aircraft is registered, subject to control by Nigerian authorities, to provide such service or assistance as may be necessary.
(3) When undertaking search for missing aircraft, the authorities in Nigeria will collaborate in coordinated measures, as may be recommended under the Chicago Convention.
(4) Where salvage services are rendered by an aircraft to any property or person, the owner of the aircraft shall be entitled to the same reward for the services as he would have been entitled to if the aircraft had been a vessel.
(5) The provisions of subsections (1) and (2) shall have effect, notwithstanding that the aircraft concerned is a foreign aircraft and that the services in question is rendered elsewhere than within the limits of the territorial
waters of Nigeria.
(6) The provisions of subsections (3) and (4) shall have effect, notwithstanding that the aircraft concerned is a foreign aircraft and that the service in question is rendered elsewhere than within the limits of the territorial waters of Nigeria.
(7) The Minister may by regulations direct that any provisions of any law for the time being in force in Nigeria which relate to wreck and salvage of life or property or to the duty of rendering assistance to vessels in distress shall, with such modifications and exceptions, if any, as may be prescribed, apply in relation to aircraft as those provisions apply in relation to vessels.
(8) For the purpose of this section, any provision of any law in force in Nigeria, which relate to vessels laid by, or neglected as unfit for sea service shall be deemed to be provisions relating to wreck.
