NCAA: Nigeria’s De-listing from US Category One Due to Lack of Operators, Not Safety Deficiencies

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says, the de-listing of Nigeria from the Category One list by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in September 2022 is due to a lack of indigenous operators providing service to the U.S. or carrying a U.S. airline code within the preceding two-year period.

The Acting Director General, Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo says, this is to correct misinformation circulating about a purported ban on Nigerian airlines by the United States. 

According to Captain Najomo in a statement, Nigeria had previously attained Category One status in August 2010 and retained it after subsequent safety assessments in 2014 and 2017.

However, the FAA removed Nigeria from the list due to the absence of Nigerian operators providing service to the U.S. using Nigerian-registered aircraft.

Captain Najomo emphasized that the de-listing has no connection to any safety or security deficiencies in Nigeria’s oversight system, as the country has undergone comprehensive ICAO safety and security audits with no significant concerns raised.

The NCAA also clarified that Nigerian operators can still operate in the U.S. using wet-leased aircraft from countries with current Category One status.

The Acting DGCA revealed that in response to the situation, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has launched an international campaign to empower local operators to access the dry-lease market, including visits to Airbus in France and Boeing in Seattle, Washington. 

He stated that, the Minister has also worked to ensure Nigeria’s compliance with the Cape Town Convention, aimed at regaining international lessors’ confidence in the Nigerian aviation market.

The NCAA reiterated its commitment to adhering to international safety and security standards and respecting the sovereignty of states, including the United States. 

The authority expressed confidence that with the Minister’s efforts, Nigeria will regain and sustain its U.S. Category One status in the near future.