….Says FG Working To Restore Nigeria To Former Status
Contrary to milling news reports about recent downgrading of Nigerian airlines by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from its Category One status, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) clarified on Monday that the decision was not a recent development.
The earlier news reports indicated that U.S Aviation Authority’s decision was based on the failure of Nigerian carriers to operate direct flights to the US for two years.
Reacting to the reports, the NCAA Acting Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, stated that for any country, including Nigeria, to operate flights into the United States, it must successfully pass the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Programme and achieve Category One status.
According to the status which is governed by the FAA, it Nigeria to operate Nigerian-registered aircraft and dry-leased foreign-registered aircraft into the United States in accordance with the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between the two countries.
Clarifying the Nigerian airlines status, Najomo explained: “Nigeria first earned Category One status in August 2010, following a rigorous safety assessment by the FAA. Subsequent reviews in 2014 and 2017 confirmed Nigeria’s adherence to international aviation safety standards, allowing the country to retain its Category One status.
“However, in September 2022, the FAA implemented a policy revision affecting Category One countries. This revision de-listed countries that had not provided indigenous airline services to the U.S. or carried the airline code of a U.S. operator within a two-year period. Countries that were not receiving FAA technical assistance due to identified non-compliance with international safety standards were also removed from the list”, he added.
He pointed out that unfortunately, Nigeria, having not operated any indigenous airline services to the U.S. within the timeframe, was de-listed along with other countries, and was formally informed of this decision in 2022.
The NCAA boss maintained that Nigeria’s removal from the Category One list was not connected to any deficiencies in the country’s aviation safety or security oversight, adding that Nigeria has undergone extensive safety and security audits by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and has successfully avoided any Significant Safety Concerns (SSC) or Significant Security Concerns (SSeC).
Najomo stressed that Nigerian operators can still fly into the U.S using aircraft wet-leased from countries that maintain Category One status.
The NCAA chief restated the NCAA’s commitment to adhering to international safety and security standards, while respecting the sovereignty of other states, including the United States, as established in the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
He explained that recognizing the implications of the FAA’s policy shift, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had launched an international campaign to enhance the capabilities of Nigerian airlines.
Najomo listed the initiative as including a visit to Airbus in France earlier this year and the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Boeing in Seattle, Washington, adding that the Minister is also focusing on ensuring Nigeria’s full compliance with the Cape Town Convention, a critical step in restoring the confidence of international aircraft lessors in the Nigerian aviation sector.
He expressed optimism that with these strategic efforts Nigeria would not only regain its Category One status in the near future.
