The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) team has commenced the validation of Nigeria’s compliance with aviation safety standards and the effectiveness of corrective action plans (CAPs) implemented to address previously identified deficiencies.
Hosted by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on behalf of Nigeria, the team will also assess the Critical Elements (CEs) of the country’s safety oversight system.
The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Chris Najomo, said the mission is a follow-up to the ICAO USOAP-CMA audit conducted between August and September 2023, during which Nigeria recorded an Effective Implementation (EI) score of 70.12%.
He noted that Nigeria has remained resolute and steadfast in its commitment to improving safety oversight capabilities.
“We took the audit findings in good faith and with the utmost seriousness they deserved by conducting root cause analysis and promptly developing comprehensive Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) to address identified deficiencies.
“I am pleased to note that these CAPs were subsequently validated by ICAO, providing us with a roadmap for implementation,” the DGCA said.
Captain Najomo highlighted several implemented corrective actions alongside the NCAA’s core safety oversight responsibilities.
These include:
The deployment of EMPIC as the Authority’s regulatory software, particularly for automating personnel licensing and aeromedical processes;
An agreement with NorthWest Data Solutions for the deployment of SMS Pro software to enhance the centralisation and digitalisation of NCAA’s safety data reporting and management system, ensuring compliance with ICAO Annex 19 requirements on Safety Data Collection and Processing Systems (SDCPS);
In line with ICAO Critical Element 4 on qualified technical personnel, over 100 flight operations and airworthiness inspectors have undergone training on special authorisation procedures at an EASA-approved training institution in Comiso, Italy, as well as another training organisation in Dubai, UAE.
In furtherance of these efforts, Najomo said some inspectors are currently undergoing On-the-Job Training (OJT) under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority to qualify them for specialised authorisations.
This is in addition to regular annual training programmes designed for NCAA aviation safety inspectors.
He also disclosed that Nigeria has signed Memoranda of Understanding with neighbouring Flight Information Regions (FIRs) to ensure safe, orderly, and efficient air traffic flow across boundaries.
According to him, the NCAA has implemented a robust rule-making process that ensures the timely and complete domestication of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) into national regulations.
He added that Nigeria’s international aerodromes have been subjected to a five-phase certification process in accordance with ICAO Annex 14, Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs Part 12), and established procedures.
The Authority has also established a first-of-its-kind flight data centre within its headquarters to strengthen risk-based oversight as part of a comprehensive State Safety Programme (SSP).
Najomo further stated that Nigeria collaborated with ICAO’s West and Central Africa (WACAF) Regional Office to host two ROST Assistance Missions in September 2025 and February 2026 to assess progress.
He added that recommendations from those missions have been rigorously implemented across the industry, serving as precursors to the current ICVM.
“The NCAA undertook a broad review of its processes and procedures to ensure they align with current realities and effectively achieve their intended objectives,” he said.
Captain Najomo emphasised that Nigeria is not participating in the audits and validation missions merely to improve its EI score.
“Rather, our overarching objective is to institutionalise a resilient safety oversight system that fosters continuous improvement in safety performance.
This aligns with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s policy on strict adherence to international safety regulations, which will ultimately enhance Nigeria’s ICAO rating,” he added.
The ICVM Team Lead, Jerome Patoreaux, in his remarks, outlined the eight Critical Elements of a safety oversight system. These include:
CE-1: Primary Aviation Legislation – Adoption of relevant laws to ensure compliance with the Chicago Convention;
CE-2: Specific Operating Regulations – Establishment of regulations governing civil aviation;
CE-3: State System and Functions – Creation of a properly structured and resourced safety authority;
CE-4: Qualified Technical Personnel – Recruitment and training of competent personnel;
CE-5: Technical Guidance, Tools, and Procedures – Provision of necessary tools and guidance for oversight functions;
CE-6: Licensing, Certification, Authorisation, and Approval Obligations – Ensuring compliance before granting approvals;
CE-7: Surveillance Obligations – Conducting audits and inspections to maintain compliance;
CE-8: Resolution of Safety Concerns – Addressing identified safety issues effectively.
ICAO uses these elements to evaluate a State’s capability under its USOAP Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA).