Particularly alarming is MMIA Lagos, which on one day in 2025 recorded four birdstrikes on Runway 18R, according to NCAA and NAMA reports. Reacting to the trend, Director General Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Chris Najomo, has declared birdstrike prevention safety oversight a high-priority task.
BY ANTHONY OMOH
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has raised alarm over increasing Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (birdstrike) incidents at Nigerian airports, calling for urgent birdstrike prevention safety oversight.
Engineer Godwin Balang, Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, revealed the top four aerodromes hit hardest by birdstrikes in early 2024.
They include Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport Owerri (SMICA), and Akwa Ibom Airport.
Particularly alarming is MMIA Lagos, which on one day in 2025 recorded four birdstrikes on Runway 18R, according to NCAA and NAMA reports.
Reacting to the trend, Director General Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Chris Najomo, has declared birdstrike prevention safety oversight a high-priority task.
Through the Directorate of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards (DAAS), the NCAA has launched intensified actions to tackle the challenge head-on.
These actions follow the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) framework for safety oversight—especially its eight critical elements guiding global best practices.
Balang stated that these eight elements shape all NCAA safety responses, particularly as they relate to wildlife and birdstrike management nationwide.
The first element involves the legal foundation. NCAA already has sufficient powers through legislation to create enforceable aviation regulations when needed.
For the second element, Balang said the updated Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2023 Part 12 compel airports to maintain Wildlife Hazard Management Plans.
These plans are modeled on ICAO Annex 14 and detailed in the Airport Services Manual Doc. 9137, which addresses wildlife collision risks.
NCAA has since formed a Wildlife Unit under its new Department of Aerodrome Safety to guide airports on wildlife mitigation techniques.
The third ICAO element concerns organizational structure. This unit is already operational and specifically monitors compliance with wildlife hazard protocols.
Capacity building for NCAA inspectors forms the fourth element. In April, a five-day intensive workshop was conducted in Ilorin to boost inspectors’ knowledge.
Three other inspectors are undergoing advanced wildlife management training at Missouri University, USA, with field experience at major U.S. airports.
As part of the fifth element, NCAA is updating internal technical guidance materials for inspectors, aligned with a new organizational chart.
Also, NCAA has published Advisory Circular NCAA-AC-ARD-036 to guide aerodrome operators on complying with wildlife and birdstrike regulations.
Regarding certification, the sixth element, the NCAA has reviewed and received FAAN’s updated Wildlife Hazard Management Plan for MMIA Lagos.
Plans are in motion to ensure other domestic and international airports update and submit similar WHMPs for NCAA review and approval.
Surveillance efforts, the seventh element, revealed critical birdstrike hotspots at MMIA and Abuja. NCAA post-certification inspections are already ongoing across airports.
FAAN has also imported new bird control equipment, which will assist in reducing risks at high-traffic airport environments like MMIA.
The eighth element, resolution of safety issues, remains the most difficult. NCAA has prioritized this as part of its strategic performance bond.
That bond, signed between DGCA Najomo and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), includes measurable oversight goals.
Balang said poor waste management and unchecked habitat growth around MMIA’s Runway 18R have made the area a bird attractant.
Ill-timed grass cutting during bird migration seasons also worsens the issue, making coordination critical between environmental and airport teams.
To further improve WHMPs, NCAA encourages research collaboration with academic institutions to identify bird types, habitats, and migratory patterns.
Such aeronautical studies are necessary to create tailored wildlife management plans that match local ecological conditions and airport layouts.
As the NCAA continues its safety campaign, it urges aerodrome operators to adopt data-driven methods to achieve birdstrike prevention safety oversight.
With focused regulatory action and increased inspector capacity, the Authority expects measurable reductions in birdstrike reports within the next year.
