The country also boasts 31 Approved Maintenance Organizations (AMOs) and 26 training institutions, enabling consistent airworthiness and personnel proficiency across its aviation ecosystem.
BY ANTHONY OMOH
Nigeria’s aviation regulatory has already taken major steps to align the industry with global best practices, especially in safety oversight and international collaboration, as highlighted by Director of Air Transport Regulation at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mrs. Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe, during her presentation at the 18th Plenary and Council of Ministers meeting of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) in Abuja, Nigeria.
In her address, Mrs. Babaoye-Iriobe emphasized that Nigeria’s unwavering drive for continuous progress and sustainable growth in the aviation industry stems from its strategic policy direction, regulatory innovation, and collaborative partnerships that align with ICAO standards.
“Our journey has been deliberate and strategic. The Nigerian government has shown its commitment through policies and a legal framework that support a safe, secure, and efficient aviation industry,” she stated.
Regulatory & Legal Milestones: Anchored in ICAO Compliance
One of the most significant reforms cited was the passage of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, which fully complies with the Chicago Convention and its annexes. This Act, along with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) 2023, positions Nigeria as a compliant and progressive regulatory environment.
“We recently promulgated the Civil Aviation Regulations 2023, which address all ICAO annexes. These regulatory upgrades are not just box-ticking—they form the bedrock of our safety and economic oversight frameworks,” Babaoye-Iriobe explained.
Another milestone was the domestication and implementation of the Cape Town Convention (CTC), which strengthens Nigeria’s aircraft leasing environment. By incorporating the CTC and its Aircraft Protocol into national legislation, Nigeria has enhanced the confidence of international lessors and financiers.
“Nigeria deposited all relevant instruments of declaration at UNIDROIT in Rome. Part Four of our 2023 regulations and accompanying advisory circulars now provide a clear roadmap for aircraft registration and deregistration in line with CTC provisions,” she said.
In a game-changing development, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court approved a Practice Direction for fast-tracking cases brought under the Cape Town Convention. This judicial intervention ensures timely adjudication of lease termination and aircraft repossession cases—vital for maintaining investor confidence.
“Lessors now know that, upon expiration or default, NCAA will act swiftly on deregistration requests, and Nigerian courts will enable quick repossession and exportation,” she affirmed.
These developments led to a significant rise in Nigeria’s CTC compliance score to 75.5%, removing it from the Aviation Working Group (AWG) watchlist of non-compliant countries. According to her, this puts Nigeria in the high compliance category and strengthens its reputation in the global aviation finance market.
Safety Oversight: Raising the Bar with ICAO Benchmarks
Nigeria has also made substantial improvements in safety oversight, particularly through its recent ICAO audit.
“Our Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) in 2023 gave Nigeria a score of 70.06% in effective implementation across the eight critical elements of safety,” Mrs. Babaoye-Iriobe disclosed.
This score reflects progress in NCAA’s safety framework, including licensing, certification, surveillance, and enforcement protocols.
The NCAA currently oversees 39 active Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders, including five scheduled airlines and one cargo operator. Additionally, Nigeria has 415 registered aircraft and 23 certified drone operators (RPAS), indicating an expansive and increasingly diversified aviation landscape.
To maintain oversight efficiency, NCAA has been investing in human capital development. Inspectors are trained under the ICAO TrainAir Plus programme and the agency has adopted ICAO’s Inspector Training System (ITS).
“Our inspectors are now better equipped than ever, thanks to continuous training. This is crucial for ensuring surveillance effectiveness and safety risk mitigation,” she added.
The country also boasts 31 Approved Maintenance Organizations (AMOs) and 26 training institutions, enabling consistent airworthiness and personnel proficiency across its aviation ecosystem.
Regional Leadership Through International Collaboration
Mrs. Babaoye-Iriobe emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to collaborative aviation growth through bilateral and multilateral partnerships. Recently, Nigeria signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with Namibia and Syria, focusing on technical cooperation, capacity building, and safety oversight.
“These agreements are part of Nigeria’s strategy to contribute to and benefit from regional aviation growth,” she said. “We are aligning with ICAO’s No Country Left Behind initiative and also collaborating with ECOWAS and the Interstate Aviation Committee.”
Such partnerships aim to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional hub, enhancing air connectivity and operational synergy across West Africa and beyond.
She also noted that Nigeria’s active involvement in the BAG Secretariat and participation in regional workshops and safety initiatives has positioned the country as a major player in African aviation.
Strategic Vision: Zero Accidents, Aerotropolises & Sustainability
Looking to the future, the NCAA is driven by strategic goals under the federal government’s aviation development roadmap. These include infrastructure expansion, operational efficiency, and enhanced safety outcomes.
“Our target is zero accidents. We are focused on refining our surveillance systems and encouraging operators to implement Safety Management Systems (SMS) and State Safety Programmes (SSP),” she asserted.
A key pillar of the long-term vision is the development of aerotropolises, or airport cities, which will drive economic activity beyond air travel alone. This aligns with the Federal Government’s civil aviation masterplan, which is nearing completion.
“We envision transforming key airports into aerotropolis models that integrate air transport with commerce, logistics, and tourism,” Mrs. Babaoye-Iriobe said.
In addition, she addressed the environmental obligations of the aviation sector.
“Sustainability is non-negotiable. We are working with stakeholders to reduce aviation’s carbon footprint, adopting cleaner technologies and smarter airport infrastructure,” she noted.
Sector Recovery and Passenger Growth Post-Pandemic
The Nigerian aviation industry, like others globally, was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the sector has demonstrated resilience and is showing signs of sustained recovery.
In 2023, Nigeria recorded 22.1 million passengers, an encouraging rebound that underscores its capacity to bounce back.
“This robust passenger traffic reflects our sector’s resilience and strong fundamentals. It’s a testament to effective policy, regulatory reforms, and the determination of Nigerian carriers,” she said.
Currently, 28 domestic airlines are active in Nigeria—both scheduled and non-scheduled—alongside 26 international carriers operating under 85 bilateral air service agreements (BASAs).
Nigeria’s Aviation Path is Deliberate and Data-Driven
Mrs. Babaoye-Iriobe concluded by reiterating Nigeria’s strategic intent to lead the region in aviation modernization and safety compliance.
“What we are doing is deliberate. From regulation to infrastructure, training to international cooperation, we are building a future-proof aviation system,” she stated.
With progressive laws, rising safety ratings, and dynamic partnerships, Nigeria’s aviation sector continues to set new benchmarks for growth, reliability, and global relevance.
