The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has responded to recent claims that Nigerian airlines have been banned from operating in the United States.
In a statement issued by Capt. Chris Najomo, the Acting Director General of the NCAA, it was clarified that Nigeria’s de-listing from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Category One status in 2022 was due to procedural reasons rather than safety or security concerns.
Capt. Najomo explained that the de-listing happened because no Nigerian airline had operated a Nigerian-registered aircraft to the U.S. within the two-year period leading up to September 2022. This decision was consistent with FAA regulations, which stipulate that continuous service or technical assistance is necessary to maintain Category One status.
The statement underlined that Nigeria’s removal from the Category One list was anticipated and does not indicate any deficiencies in the country’s aviation safety or oversight. Capt. Najomo highlighted that Nigeria had successfully passed multiple International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audits without any major safety or security issues.
The NCAA also pointed out ongoing efforts by Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, SAN, to bolster the Nigerian aviation sector. These efforts include new international partnerships, such as Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Airbus in France and Boeing in the United States, aimed at facilitating Nigerian operators’ re-entry into the U.S. market.
Capt. Najomo assured stakeholders that Nigeria is working to regain its Category One status and maintain it in the future. He also noted that Nigerian airlines can still access the U.S. market by wet-leasing aircraft from countries that hold Category One status.
The NCAA reaffirmed its dedication to upholding international aviation standards and respecting the sovereignty of all states, including the United States, as per the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
