The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has completed a ten-day technical assistance mission aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s Instrument Flight Procedure, IFP, design and flight validation system.
The mission,focused on addressing 20 Short-Term Corrective Actions, STCAs, recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO.
The initiative follows Nigeria’s recent vacation of its Significant Safety Concern, SSC, status, with the NCAA now shifting attention from temporary compliance measures to sustainable institutional reforms.
Speaking at the closing session in Abuja, the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, represented by the Director, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, Alhaji Ahmad Abba, said resolving the SSC should be regarded as a foundation for permanent regulatory transformation.
He cautioned against complacency, stressing that the vacation of the safety concern must be used to strengthen Nigeria’s regulatory and institutional framework.
Captain Najomo said this would help ensure that the deficiencies which led to the safety concern do not recur.
The technical assistance mission was implemented through five primary work packages and led by Engineer Mukuka Besa of SkyALITE Aviation Digital Systems and the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority, alongside its technical expert, Engineer Ananias Sichone.
The team worked jointly with technical personnel from the NCAA and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA.
The mission also received institutional oversight support from the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation, BAGASOO.
The successful completion of the exercise highlights the importance of regional technical cooperation in strengthening aviation safety standards and regulatory capacity across Africa.
The mission team expressed appreciation to the management and staff of the NCAA and NAMA for their cooperation and commitment throughout the exercise.