The Acting Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, has revealed that the Authority has issued 160 Economic Licenses and 144, 847 Safety Certificates since its inception in 2000.
Najomo who was speaking at the 2024 Nigeria Transport Lecture (NTL) organised by Transport Day Newspaper in Lagos recently, said the NCAA’s mandate is encapsulated in a mission and vision.
The mission according to him is to provide Aviation Safety, Security and Economic Regulation in the most efficient, effective, quality and technology driven manner to the satisfaction and benefit of all stakeholders, consistent with the highest international standards and the sustainable development of the industry and national economy.
The vision is to be one of the leading Civil Aviation Authorities in the world.
Economic licenses issued so far include 64 Air Transport License (ATL), 16 Air Operator Permit (AOP), 34 Active Permit for Non-Commercial Operation, 30 Foreign Carrier Operating Permit and 16 Air Travel Operating Licenses (ATOL).
The Safety Certificates include 3573 Cabin Crew Licenses, 2067 Active Pilots Licenses, 218 Active Registered Aircraft, 31 local Approved Maintenance Organisations (AMOs), 121 Foreign Approved Maintenance Organisations, 799 Flight Dispatchers Licenses and 409 Active Air Traffic Control (ATCs) Licenses among other several safety certificates.
The NCAA was established by decree 49 in May 1999. The establishment instrument has been reviewed twice and the latest amendment is the Civil Aviation Act 2022 signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on 16th of August 2022.
“Section(8)3- “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, the Authority shall be solely responsible for the regulation of Civil Aviation in Nigeria,” the Director General quoted.
As the regulator of the aviation industry, the NCAA has ensured that airlines and other operators in the industry maintain a high safety standard in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation standard and best practices.
In line with this, the Authority has a zero tolerance for practices that endanger safety.
This is proven in the fact that Nigeria has been free from any commercial air accident for over 10 years.