Tinubu hails Nigeria 91.45% ICAO safety rating, tops regional and global averages

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has celebrated Nigeria’s unprecedented 91.45 per cent aviation safety rating from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), describing it as a major milestone that elevates the country’s global standing.

The rating, announced during a recent debriefing at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) headquarters in Abuja, marks Nigeria’s highest ever score under ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP). The programme, launched in 1999, evaluates member states’ Effective Implementation (E.I.) of safety standards to manage risks and build international confidence in national airspaces.

Nigeria’s achievement surpassed the West African regional average of 61.1 per cent and the global average of 70.4 per cent, positioning the nation as a leader in aviation safety.

“This impressive rating affirms our aviation safety standards and makes Nigeria a more attractive destination for investment in aviation infrastructure, maintenance facilities, and airline operations,” President Tinubu said in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Since assuming office, Tinubu said his administration has prioritised infrastructure and transportation, aiming to transform Nigeria’s aviation sector into a hub that exceeds African and international benchmarks.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo drove this vision through a five-point agenda, with safety compliance as the top priority to steadily improve ICAO ratings.

The President commended the Ministry for the feat, urging sustained excellence. “I urge the Ministry not to relent but to review and implement every recommendation that the ICAO auditors made during this mission to ensure that Nigeria not only maintains, but goes even further on the rating,” he added.

ICAO, a United Nations agency, sets global standards for safe and orderly international air navigation. Nigeria, as a member state, has undergone four USOAP audits since 1999, with this latest result signaling robust progress under the current administration.