Drone Operations Get Boost with New NCAA Registration and Monitoring Platform

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo has launched an Unmanned Aircraft System, UAS, integration platform in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.

The platform is for the registration and monitoring of drone operations in the country.

Declaring the platform opened at the NCAA headquarters annex in Lagos, the Minister represented by the permanent secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Meribole said, the platform also aims to get accurate data on activities regarding the UAS.

While speaking earlier at the DroneTecx Conference and Exhibition, the minister noted that, drone has huge potential in the various sectors of the economy and Nigeria will not be left out in its full utilization.

He however noted that, it use must be monitored and checked to avoid misuse which is a cause for worry.

“As unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, become increasingly prevalent globally, concerns regarding their misuse and security risks have equally increased. While the Ministry desires the advancement associated with the use of drones, focus must at all times remain on protecting civil aviation and countering their exploitation by non-State armed groups and terrorists”. 

According to Mr. Keyamo, efforts to regulate drone operations in Nigeria led to the release of Part 21 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations being the regulatory framework, sets out requirements for certification, registration, operations, and surveillance of drones or Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, RPAS.

He said, government has demonstrated its commitment to responsible use of the RPAS with the creation of a dedicated RPAS unit within NCAA and the integration of RPAS operations into national civil aviation policy.

“Efforts to regulate RPAS operations in Nigeria are undeniable, such as the release of Part 21 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations being the regulatory framework, sets out requirements for certification, registration, operations, and surveillance of RPAS”.

Emphasizing on the benefits of the drone, the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN Mrs Olubunmni Kuku called for the integration of the drone into the airport ecosystem.

Represented at the event by the Director, Special Duties Mr. Henry Agbebire, she cited the recent use of drone to dislodge intruders into the Lagos international airport with the assistance of the Lagos state government.

“I will like to recall that in collaboration with the organizers of Drone Tech, FAAN was able to deploy drone to gather an aerial surveillance of the airfield encroachment in Ajao axis by property developers, which helped to justify the basis upon which Lagos State had to bring down a lot of properties encroaching the airport”. 

Organizer of the DroneTecx, Mr. Fortune Industry stressed that, Nigeria must begin now with the passing of the NCAA part 21, a national dialogue for the national Roadmap for UAS advancement.

“When NCAA part 21 for RPAS operation was released last year, we predicted a surge into the sector. I wish to note that this has eventually happened, and the drone industry’s growth has increased by almost 40% since then. This requires urgent vertical control and comprehensive data or monitoring methodologies, which are still in their infancy”.