Tinubu hails Nigeria’s high aviation safety rating
President Bola Tinubu yesterday hailed Nigeria’s attainment of a 91.45 per cent aviation safety rating by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), describing it as a significant milestone that reinforces
- ICAO marks Nigeria 91.45%
President Bola Tinubu yesterday hailed Nigeria’s attainment of a 91.45 per cent aviation safety rating by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), describing it as a significant milestone that reinforces the country’s credibility in global air transport.
The President said the rating, the highest ever recorded by Nigeria under ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), reflects the country’s strong compliance with international aviation safety standards and best practices.
According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the ICAO audit team announced the score during a debriefing session at the Abuja headquarters of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The Effective Implementation (EI) score of 91.45 per cent places Nigeria significantly above both the West African regional average of 61.1 percent and the global average of 70.4 per cent, a development the President said would enhance investor confidence and strengthen the nation’s standing in international aviation.
ICAO, a United Nations agency responsible for coordinating global air navigation standards, conducts regular audits of member states under the USOAP framework to assess their capacity to manage aviation safety risks.
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Nigeria, as a member state, must implement critical safety oversight systems and align with international benchmarks.
Since the programme began in 1999, the country has undergone four separate audits.
President Tinubu noted that the latest rating aligns with his administration’s broader objective of positioning the aviation sector as a key driver of economic growth through improved infrastructure, safety, and efficiency.
He recalled that upon assuming office, his administration prioritized transportation and infrastructure development, focusing on transforming Nigeria into a regional aviation hub that meets and exceeds global standards.
The statement further highlighted that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), had outlined a five-point agenda for the sector, with strict compliance with safety regulations and continuous improvement in ICAO ratings as a central pillar.
Commending the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development for the achievement, the President said the result affirms Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining a safe and secure air transport system.
He added that the improved rating would make the country more attractive for investments in aviation infrastructure, aircraft maintenance facilities, and airline operations.
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President Tinubu, however, urged the ministry and relevant agencies not to relent, directing them to fully implement all recommendations made by the ICAO audit team to sustain and further improve the country’s safety performance.
“The rating affirms the nation’s aviation safety standards and strengthens its position as a preferred destination for aviation-related investments,” the statement quoted the President as saying.
Speaking during the closing briefing held at the Authority’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja on April 22, 2026, the Director-General Civil Aviation, (DGCA), Capt. Chris Ona Najomo, noted that the ICVM audit is an independent platform that identifies Nigeria’s internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as the external opportunities and threats that may impact on its statutory mandate of safety oversight responsibilities, safe aircraft operations and public safety.
While acknowledging that the validation results will be subjected to a different validation by the Safety and Air Navigation Oversight Audit Section, Capt. Najomo expressed firm optimism that the ultimate status of the Protocol Questions (PQs) will change positively based on progress made in implementing the corrective actions, evidence collected and recommendations made.
He commended the auditors - both onsite and remotely - for their professionalism, assuring that Nigeria will consider, review and implement every recommendation that has been made.
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Capt. Najomo thanked the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, ably led by the Minister, Mr Festus Keyamo for the unwavering support towards the success of the high-level exercise.
He also appreciated the managements of FAAN, NSIB, NiMet, NAMA, the service providers, operators and the NCAA team comprising the directors, the NCMC, focal points and team members for their diligence, commitment and cooperation.
The DGCA acknowledged the invaluable support and collaboration of BAGASOO who made available its experts before and during the mission.
Recall that Nigeria underwent an ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme - Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA), from August to September 2023, scoring 70.12 per cent in safety rating, which is considered below global safety standard.
In order to address identified deficiencies from the 2023 exercise, Nigeria conducted root cause analysis, and promptly developed a series of Corrective Action Plans (CAPs), which were validated by ICAO, thereby providing a clear roadmap for effective implementation.
