Photo caption : From left, Director of Air Transport Regulatory, (DATR), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA)Mrs. Yinka Babaoye-Iriobe, Director Special Duty, NCAA, Horatius Egua, Director of Aerodrome & Airspace Standard, (DAAS), (NCAA), Engr. Balang Godwin, DG/CEO, NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo and Director of Human Resources & Admi. (NCAA), Dr. (Mrs.) Anastasia Gbem during the Airstrip Owners/Operators Stakeholders Engagement Programme held at Radisson Blu Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.l, today.
….Says Only Few Airstrips Have Aerodrome Operational Permits
The Director General of Nigeria Civil Authority (NCAA), Capt Chris Najomo has disclosed that Nigeria has 92 airstrips in the country but that of this number , only a few have the the required Aerodrome Operational Permits(AOP) to operate .
He further explained that of these 92 airstrips, 68 are Federal airstrips managed by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development while 24 are operated by individuals and private organisations..
Some of the airstrips, he further revealed are operational, non operational while some are under rehabilitation/ construction.
He disclosed this while speaking at the Airstrips Owners & Operator’s Stakeholder Engagement Programme with the theme, ‘Enhancing Safety, Compliance and Collaboration for Efficient Airstrips Operations ‘ in Lagos today.
He said that although the generic term Aerodrome includes airstrip but that there is need to develop specific regulatory policies that focuses on the peculiarities of airstrip development and operations, adding that at the inception of this administration, the Minister unveiled his agenda for the industry to which the DGCA had to sign performance bond.
Najomo noted that in the bid to implement, one of the key deliverables for the Directorate of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards is holding the Airstrip Owners/ Operators’ engagement with a view to developing the sector for common good.
He recall that Section 71 (3) & (4)(a) of the CAA 2022 empowers the authority to certify and grant permits to conduct Aerodrome operations in Nigeria and to establish minimum safety standards for the design, operation, and maintenance of Aerodrome.
Najomo said “This engagement is an alignment with this mandate to advance airstrip regulation in Nigeria. It may interest this forum to note that as part of the moves to fulfilling this mandate two of our international Airports were recertified late last year and we are working to certify others soon. Beyond this, FAAN have been apprised that effective from 1st January 2026 local airports without appropriate permits under its management would be sanctioned accordingly. ‘
These, the CAA DG, said consist of the
Nigeria’s aviation sector with respect to airstrip operations.
He encouraged stakeholders and participants in this event to make it worth the while to participate to actively raise aviation bar in Nigeria.
On the objective of the programme, Najomo
itemised the objectives to include:
1, To enhance communication between NCAA and state
private airstrip operators.
airstrip construction, operations and safety standards.
2, To promote the adoption of global best practices in
3, To clarify regulatory requirements applicable to development and integration into Nigeria’s aviation
4, To identify and address challenges faced by state and
and private airstrip operators/owners.
5.To explore collaborative opportunities for airstrip
system.And finally;
airstrip operations and management.
The DG said that it is his
fervent hope that these objectives will be fully realized and airstrip operations in Nigeriawill,henceforth,
be conducted in strict compliance with all regulatory
provisions and global best practices.
“I must commend the NCAA Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards and his team of facilitators for delivering on our project for this engagement.
while encouraging attendees to actively
participate in this event and make it worth while to raise the bar in the aviation industry.
Present at the he forum are private and public airstrips owners, operators, state government aviation officials, air navigation service providers , aviation consultant’s, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development..
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