Aformer Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Hamisu Yadudu, has defended the agency’s track record on insurance cover for its airports.
He stressed that every FAAN-operated facility is fully insured and paid up to date, contrary to recent claims questioning compliance.
In an exclusive interview with NigerianFLIGHTDECK, Captain Yadudu explained that at the time he left office in 2023, all premiums had been cleared. He also confirmed that subsequent payments have been sustained, keeping the insurance cover current.
“All FAAN airports, I can confirm to you, are fully insured. Up to the time I left, payments were made. After your call, I made further checks and received confirmation that FAAN is still paying. So, there is no issue with FAAN airports; it is the state airports that are questionable,” Yadudu said.
He emphasised the importance of distinguishing between FAAN-managed airports and state-owned facilities.
According to him, some state airports may not have consistent or transparent insurance cover, a situation that could expose operators and passengers to financial and safety risks.
Yadudu also disclosed that FAAN once petitioned the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to restrict operations into military airports. The concern, he explained, was that military airfields lacked commercial insurance cover for civilian flights and did not meet standard aviation safety benchmarks.
“Because of insurance, FAAN asked NCAA to stop aircraft from landing in military airports. Some accused us of jealousy or competitiveness, but our point was clear, standards and safety first. Military airports are not commercially insured for civilian operations. Our airports are, and that was why we raised the concern,” Yadudu said.
He argued that FAAN would not have challenged NCAA if its own facilities had lapses. Instead, the authority maintained compliance with global aviation liability requirements, giving its airports full insurance cover and protection.
The debate over aviation liability resurfaced at recent industry gatherings, where stakeholders called for Nigeria to strengthen frameworks that ensure all airports, federal, state, or military; meet international standards.
Industry observers warn that without uniform enforcement, gaps in state and military airport insurance cover could compromise safety, particularly in the event of accidents. Yadudu’s comments reinforce FAAN’s compliance record while highlighting regulatory blind spots in other segments of the sector.
As the discussion continues, the call for comprehensive insurance cover across all Nigerian airports is gaining traction. Experts argue that this remains critical to protecting lives, assets, and the nation’s aviation reputation.
