The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has shed light on why Nigerian airlines were recently de-listed and denied access to operate flights into the United States. Contrary to widespread speculation, the de-listing is not related to any safety or security deficiencies.
According to the Acting Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) de-listed Nigeria and other countries from Category One status if they had no indigenous airlines operating flights to the U.S. or using the airline code of a U.S. operator over a two-year period. The change took effect in September 2022.
“The decision by the FAA to de-list was based on the absence of a Nigerian operator flying to the U.S. under Category One status,” Najomo explained in a statement issued in Abuja. “This action also affected countries where the FAA was not providing technical assistance due to identified non-compliance with international safety standards.”
Nigeria first achieved Category One status in August 2010, which was maintained after subsequent safety assessments in 2014 and 2017. However, with no Nigerian-registered aircraft operating in the U.S. in the two years preceding September 2022, Nigeria was removed from the list, along with other similarly affected countries.
Najomo emphasized, “It is crucial to clarify that this de-listing is in no way connected to any failure in Nigeria’s safety or security oversight systems. Nigeria has successfully passed comprehensive audits by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), with no significant safety or security concerns.”
Despite the de-listing, Najomo noted that Nigerian airlines can still operate in the U.S. using aircraft wet-leased from countries that maintain Category One status. The NCAA remains committed to upholding international safety and security standards.
To address this situation, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has launched a global campaign to boost the capabilities of Nigerian airlines. This initiative included visits to aircraft manufacturers such as AIRBUS in France and a Memorandum of Understanding with BOEING in Seattle, Washington, signed earlier this year.
“The Minister has also worked diligently to ensure Nigeria’s compliance with the Cape Town Convention, aiming to restore international confidence in the Nigerian aviation market,” Najomo added.
The NCAA remains optimistic that these steps will enable Nigeria to regain and sustain its U.S. Category One status, ensuring Nigerian airlines can operate internationally without restrictions.
