In response to recent claims about a purported ban on Nigerian airlines by the United States, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a statement to address and clarify these misconceptions, aiming to set the record straight for the public and aviation stakeholders.
The NCAA emphasized the importance of understanding the framework governing international aviation operations. To operate flights into the United States, countries must achieve a Category One status by satisfactorily passing the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Programme. Nigeria first attained this status in August 2010 and successfully retained it through subsequent assessments in 2014 and 2017.
However, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revised its requirements in September 2022. According to the NCAA, “with effect from September, 2022, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) de-listed Category One countries who, after a 2-year period, had no indigenous operator provide service to the U.S. or carrying the airline code of a U.S operator.”
Since no Nigerian operator had serviced the U.S. with a Nigerian registered aircraft within the required timeframe, Nigeria was de-listed, a process that included other countries in similar situations.
Importantly, the NCAA asserts that this de-listing “has absolutely nothing to do with any safety or security deficiency in our oversight system.”
Nigeria has undergone comprehensive audits by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), showing no significant safety or security concerns.
Despite the de-listing, the NCAA clarifies that Nigerian airlines can still operate into the U.S. through wet-leasing arrangements with countries holding a current Category One status. This flexibility underscores Nigeria’s continued adherence to international safety and security standards.
In a proactive move, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, SAN, the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has embarked on initiatives to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation sector. These efforts include international campaigns to empower local operators, a visit to Airbus in France, and a recent Memorandum of Understanding with Boeing in Seattle. The NCAA is optimistic that these actions will eventually restore and sustain Nigeria’s Category One status.
Capt. Chris Najomo, Acting Director General of Civil Aviation, assures stakeholders of Nigeria’s commitment to international aviation standards and the ongoing efforts to enhance its aviation capabilities.
