•Considers review of N30m permit fee
By Chinelo Obogo
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that, starting January 1, 2026, all local airports and airstrips operating without valid permits will be sanctioned.
The declaration was made during the inaugural Airstrip Owners/Operators Stakeholders Engagement, held in Lagos on Monday. The Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards at NCAA, Godwin Balang, highlighted during the event that only a handful of Nigeria’s 92 airstrips currently hold valid operational permits.
He explained that these airstrips include both operational and non-operational facilities, as well as those undergoing rehabilitation or under construction.
He also stated that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been informed that, effective from January 1, 2026, local airports under its management that lack appropriate permits will face sanctions. He emphasized that this is not a threat but “a collective resolve.”
The regulatory body revealed that, of the 92 airstrips, 68 are Federal Government properties managed by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, while 24 are owned by individuals and private organizations.
The NCAA clarified that its authority to enforce these measures derives from Section 71 (3) & (4)(a) of the Civil Aviation Authority Act 2022, which grants the Authority the power to certify and issue permits for aerodrome operations in Nigeria, as well as establish minimum safety standards for design, operation, and maintenance.
“FAAN has been informed that, effective January 1, 2026, local airports under its management that lack appropriate permits will be sanctioned accordingly. This is not a threat but a collective resolve. Today, our focus is on airstrips. There are approximately 92 airstrips (operational, non-operational, and some under rehabilitation or new construction) in Nigeria based on the existing NCAA airstrip database.
Interestingly, a few are already up to date with their valid operational permits.
“It is important to note that, of these 92 airstrips, 68 are Federal Government airstrips managed by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, while 24 belong to individuals and private organizations. This highlights the need for a deeper engagement between NCAA and the Ministry to streamline the operator and regulator roles for more effective management. Regulatory duties have long moved beyond simply ‘wielding a stick’; it is about strategic collaboration for effective results, without compromising standards,” he said.
In response to stakeholders’ requests for a review of the N30 million permit fee and other charges for airstrips to encourage more investment, Balang said, “I completely agree with you because, by doing that, it may appear as though the government will be earning less money, but in reality, we will be making more. We have a population of over 200 million people, with conservatively fewer than three million actively flying. Therefore, if we charge less, more people will be able to fly, creating a significant opportunity.”
The Director General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, stated that the goal of the engagement was to improve communication between NCAA and state and private airstrip operators/owners; clarify regulatory requirements for airstrip construction, operations, and safety standards; address challenges faced by operators; explore collaborative opportunities for airstrip development and integration into Nigeria’s aviation system; and promote the adoption of global best practices in airstrip operations and management.
“It is my fervent hope that these objectives will be fully realized and that airstrip operations in Nigeria will henceforth comply strictly with all regulatory provisions and global best practices,” he said.