- The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has issued the Lagos and Abuja international airports with aerodrome certificates
- Nigeria's aerodrome certificates have been inactive since 2020
- The recertification highlights Nigeria's commitment to adhering to international aviation regulations
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has fully certified the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja following the issuance of aerodrome certificates.
This was announced in a post on the official X account of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Friday, November 22.
The aerodrome certificates were presented to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, by the Acting Director-General of the NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, in Abuja on Friday.
The post read, “@NigeriaCAA just issued Aerodrome Certification for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja.
“The recertification is a major boost and attestation to the continued improvements of the safety standard of our airports.”
The recertification is proof of ongoing efforts to improve the safety standards of Nigeria’s international airports in line with global practice and foster trust among stakeholders.
It also shows that the Lagos and Abuja airports adhere to the strict safety, operational and technical standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Nigeria’s Aerodrome Certificates have been inactive since 2020 – Kuku
FAAN’s Managing Director, Kuku, disclosed during the presentation of the certificate in Abuja, that Nigeria’s aerodromes certificates have not been active since their expiration in 2020.
Kuku added that the recertification process is remarkable and crucial in enhancing the country’s aviation infrastructure, especially the runways and airfield lighting systems.
She said, “The recertification process is not merely a formality; it is anchored in the principles established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
“As you may be aware, the ICAO Annexes, particularly Annex 14, which pertains to aerodromes, provide the framework for ensuring that our airports are safe, efficient and capable of meeting the demands of modern aviation.
“This process involves rigorous assessments of our facilities, including runway conditions and airfield lighting systems, to ensure compliance with these global standards.
“Specifically, I would like to highlight the ongoing assessments and improvements regarding the two primary runways in Lagos 18R. The runways are crucial for our operations, and their conditions directly influence the efficiency and safety of air traffic.
“We are also focusing our attention on the taxiways A, B, and C, which are vital connectors that facilitate the smooth movement of aircraft on the ground. In Abuja, the primary runway also requires our continued commitment to ensure it continues to meet ICAO standards. Our goal is to enhance these facilities further to provide a seamless travel experience for all passengers,” she said.
Nigeria is committed to meeting international regulations – Najomo
Captain Najomo also reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to adhere to international aviation regulations.
Going down memory lane, Captain Najomo said in March 2001 that the ICAO Council adopted a new standard requiring certification of aerodromes for international operations.
He noted that the standard became applicable on November 27, 2003, adding that Nigeria initially complied with the provision by certifying two international airports in 2017.
“At the expiration of NAIA & MMIA aerodrome certificates, a six-month extension was granted to FAAN to operate the aerodromes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which we all remember had devastating effects on the aviation sector.
“However, the extension was granted on the condition that FAAN resolve all outstanding certification CAP items and complete the recertification process within the extension period. To be detailed, there were 136 items for MMIA and 29 items for NAIA, so this was no mean feat.
“Since then, NCAA and FAAN got down to the hard work of ensuring closure of the critical certification findings as required by the regulations."
NCAA imposes fines on airlines over delayed passengers’ luggage
Meanwhile, TheRadar reported that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) imposed a $170 and N10,000 fines on foreign and domestic airlines, respectively, over delayed passengers’ luggage.
The NCAA said the measure is in keeping with the implementation of the passenger bill of rights, which ensures that passengers are fully compensated whenever airlines compromise their standard of service, as contained in the passenger bill of rights in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulation (NCAR).
