Nigeria Reaffirms Aviation Safety Commitment as ICAO Validation Mission Opens in Abuja.
Oru Leonard
Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to strengthening aviation safety oversight as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), commenced its Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) welcomed the ICAO team led by Jerome Patoreaux, describing the mission as a critical step toward achieving global best practices in aviation safety oversight.
The DGCA noted that the mission follows the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA) audit conducted in 2023, where Nigeria recorded an Effective Implementation (EI) score of 70.12 percent. He stressed that the country has since taken decisive steps to address identified gaps through comprehensive corrective action plans validated by ICAO.
According to him, Nigeria has implemented wide-ranging reforms, including the deployment of modern regulatory software such as EMPIC for licensing and aeromedical certification, and SMS Pro for centralized safety data management in line with ICAO Annex 19 requirements.
He added that over 100 aviation safety inspectors have undergone specialized training in Europe and the Middle East, while ongoing on-the-job training programmes are being conducted in collaboration with the Rwandan Civil Aviation Authority to enhance technical capacity.
The NCAA also strengthened regional cooperation by signing Memoranda of Understanding with neighbouring Flight Information Regions to ensure seamless air traffic management, while international aerodromes across the country have undergone a rigorous five-phase certification process in compliance with global standards.
Highlighting institutional reforms, the DGCA disclosed the establishment of a state-of-the-art flight data centre in Abuja to support risk-based oversight under Nigeria’s State Safety Programme. He further noted that recommendations from recent ICAO Regional Office Safety Team (ROST) missions have been fully implemented.
While acknowledging technical challenges with the ICAO Online Framework (OLF), he clarified that significant progress had been made offline, with evidence to be presented during the mission.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s participation in ICAO audits goes beyond improving ratings, noting that the overarching goal is to build a resilient and sustainable aviation safety system aligned with federal government policy.
The DGCA also referenced Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Master Plan, recently presented to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, at a global aviation symposium in Marrakech, Morocco, as a blueprint for long-term sector growth.
In his remarks, ICVM Team Lead Jerome Patoreaux explained that the mission would assess Nigeria’s implementation of corrective actions across ICAO’s eight critical elements of safety oversight, including legislation, regulation, personnel qualification, licensing, and surveillance.
He outlined the phases of the mission, noting that the current on-site assessment in Abuja will be followed by validation and reporting. He added that ICAO will also evaluate any potential Significant Safety Concerns (SSCs) and provide recommendations where necessary.
Patoreaux urged Nigerian authorities to provide timely evidence throughout the exercise, stressing that daily submission of documentation is essential for accurate evaluation.
The ICVM is expected to run from 15th- 22nd April, 2026, with a closing briefing scheduled to present preliminary findings and recommendations on Nigeria’s aviation safety performance.
