The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has commenced a Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) to assess the country’s compliance with global standards and the effectiveness of reforms introduced after its last audit.
The exercise, being hosted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), is aimed at validating corrective actions taken by the country following the 2023 ICAO audit and reviewing key components of its safety oversight system.
Declaring the mission open, on Wednesday ,Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, said Nigeria has made significant progress since the last audit, where it recorded an Effective Implementation (EI) score of 70.12 per cent under ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA).
He noted that the country responded proactively to audit findings by conducting detailed root cause analyses and implementing targeted Corrective Action Plans (CAPs), all of which were endorsed by ICAO.
Najomo outlined several initiatives undertaken by the NCAA to strengthen regulatory oversight, including the deployment of digital platforms to improve efficiency and compliance.
Among them is the introduction of an electronic licensing system to automate personnel certification processes, as well as the adoption of SMS Pro software to centralise safety data collection and reporting in line with ICAO standards.
He further disclosed that capacity building has remained a priority, with over 100 aviation safety inspectors trained in specialised areas at internationally recognised institutions in Italy and the United Arab Emirates.
Additional on-the-job training is ongoing through a partnership with the Rwandan Civil Aviation Authority to deepen technical expertise in critical areas.
To enhance operational safety, Nigeria has also entered into cooperative arrangements with neighbouring Flight Information Regions to ensure seamless air traffic coordination, while strengthening its regulatory framework to guarantee the timely domestication of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices.
The NCAA, he added, has implemented a structured certification process for international aerodromes and established a flight data centre to support risk-based decision-making under the State Safety Programme.
Najomo stressed that the country’s focus is not merely on improving its global ranking but on building a durable system that ensures consistent safety performance across the aviation sector.
“This process is about strengthening our systems and ensuring that safety oversight in Nigeria is robust, responsive and sustainable,” he said.
Also speaking, leader of the ICAO validation team, Mr. Jerome Patoreaux, said the mission would assess Nigeria’s performance across eight Critical Elements that define an effective safety oversight system.
These include legislation, regulations, institutional capacity, personnel competence, technical tools, certification processes, surveillance mechanisms, and the resolution of safety concerns.
The ICAO ICVM is part of a continuous global monitoring framework designed to ensure that member states maintain high safety standards and effectively address identified deficiencies within their aviation systems.
