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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has celebrated Nigeria’s unprecedented 91.45 percent 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 (EI) 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 percent and the global average of 70.4 percent, positioning the nation as a leader in aviation safety.
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“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 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 the vision through a five-point agenda, with safety compliance as the top priority to steadily improve ICAO’s 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 also 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 signalling robust progress under the current administration.
