Aviation
Nigeria Aviation sector on the spotlight as US-FAA begins safety review
ABUJA – The safety status of Nigeria’s aviation sector is being reassessed by the United States-Federal Aviation Administration (US-FAA) as the ‘Category One’ status awarded it about four years ago comes under review. The review operation, which started yesterday, will last for one week.
‘Category One’ (CAT-1) is a safety status awarded by the United States alone to countries whose aviation processes, especially in terms of safety and security procedures, comply with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Nigeria got the CAT-1 certification in 2010 after the US visited, examined the books of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as well as a Nigerian airline, Arik Air, and concluded it was satisfied with the nation’s safety processes.
With the certification, the highest in aviation safety standards, Nigeria became the sixth African country after Ethiopia, Cape Verde, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa to attain the certification.
The status had since enabled Nigerian carriers, Arik Air, for instance, to operate Nigerian-registered aircraft direct to the US, rather than fly to a third country to access it.
It has also given a positive perception to foreign insurance companies that the risk of doing business in Nigeria’s aviation sector is low, thereby offering low insurance premium.
The aftermath of four major accidents in 2005-2006 led to Nigeria’s adoption of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) in 2006.
Under this, the NCAA became autonomous, leading to critical safety oversight on airlines and aviation agencies without interference from government.
The adoption of the CAA and the NCAA autonomy led to the achievement of FAA Category 1 flight safety status for the nation in 2010, thereby enabling Nigerian airlines to fly direct to the US unhindered till date.
Nigeria was thus able to pass all eight critical elements presented by the US to be assessed. The same eight critical elements are being assessed this week, according to Benedict Adeyileka, NCAA director-general.
The elements are Primary Aviation Legislation, Specific Operating Regulations, State Civil Aviation System and Safety Oversight Functions, Technical Personnel Qualification and Training.
Others are Technical Guidance and Tools, Licensing and Certification Obligations, Surveillance Obligations and Resolution of Safety Concerns.
But there are concerns in some quarters over the re-assessment because of a number fatal crashes that have occurred in the country’s airspace in recent years. Also, there are still gaps in security programmes, such as lack of prescribed perimeter fences at major airports, among others.
“Nigeria’s aviation industry is under scrutiny and the success of this mandatory re-assessment is dependent on the documented processes and whether the processes are being followed in line with international practices. The aim of the re-assessment is to ensure that our processes are right,” Fola Akinkuotu, former NCAA director-general, had said.
Only recently, India lost its status after the US re-assessment because of its many safety issues. Experts say since countries like India, Israel and Ghana lost their status after re-assessment, Nigeria needs to brace up in order to maintain the much-coveted rating.
“But the Indians lost it due to government interference and inadequate proficiency of their inspectors, despite not having a major crash during the period. The FAA has a template that must be followed. NCAA should go through it and probably discuss with the Indians and Israelis quickly,” Olu Ohunayo, a travel analyst, advised.
He added that there was need for the presidency, as a matter of urgency, to name and confirm a substantive minister of aviation for a better sectoral outlook.
Meanwhile, the NCAA DG said on Sunday that the exercise that the NCAA would go through in the next few days would help to shape the future of aviation in Nigeria, strengthen its safety oversight capability and provide the re-assurance that the flying public needs.
“It is pertinent to point out that we are ready for the exercise, as we have never relented in ensuring the high level of compliance to safety standards. The NCAA in preparation for this exercise has provided responses to the checklist and forwarded it to the FAA team leader. The FAA team will also visit Arik Air Limited and its facilities during this exercise,” he said.
Adeyileka said that Arik Air Limited, which currently is the only Nigerian air carrier operating directly into and out of the Continental USA, was used for the initial IASA Category One Assessment in 2010.
“This is to assure the team that NCAA is not alone in this programme. We have the full support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, the supervising minister of aviation, the stakeholders, namely the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), the Airlines/Operators, ground handling and allied services providers, the aviation press corps, etc,” he said.
– BUSINESS DAY
An Air Peace flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt has suffered a disruption, after the aircraft was affected by a bird strike on arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The airline made the disclosure on Thursday in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe.
He added that the incident necessitated safety checks on the affected aircraft and the deployment of another aircraft to convey passengers on subsequent flights.
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“We deeply empathise with passengers affected by this unforeseen incident and are working diligently to minimise disruptions,” Efe said.
The latest incident adds to the growing challenge of bird strikes faced by local airlines.
In December 2025, Air Peace disclosed that it recorded 49 bird strikes across Nigeria between January and September, stressing that even a single strike could ground an aircraft for weeks.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Allen Onyema, had said on Arise TV that bird strikes constituted a major operational challenge, often leading to costly repairs and serious disruptions to flight schedules.
“One bird strike could cripple your aircraft for the next month. At that moment, there is no two ways about it. These bird strikes often lead to costly delays and serious disruptions in flight schedules,” he said.
He added that losses from such incidents compound other challenges facing Nigerian airlines, including heavy taxation and operational constraints.
With the firm belief that it is both sadistic and absolutely despicable, the recently announced outrageous hike in airfares to South East from Abuja to Lagos for Yuletide of 2025 by over 131 percent by Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines, the owners have been asked to immediately have a rethink and review backward these harsh, toxic and unfriendly airfares targeting Igbo passengers exclusively.
Making the charge to the chairmen of Air Peace and United Nigeria airlines, Mr. Allen Ugochukwu and Mr. Obiora Okonkwo, the prominent civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expressed anger that these businesses whose proprietors are Igbo by birth are fond of making it so difficult for hundreds of thousands of Igbo passengers residing outside of the South-East to travel home on Christmas festivities.
The rights group say that for many years now, because Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are monopolies and then Igbos have the tradition exclusively in Nigeria of going home to South East from all over the globe during Yuletides, these few airlines have decidedly fixed toxic ticketing airfares for Igbos whereas northerners who also travel during their religious festivities of salah are not subjected to such exploitative treatments.
The HURIWA accused the two airlines of price fixing, which is anti-competition just as the Rights group said it is giving these two Igbo-hating airlines to review backward their toxic and discriminatory airfares within ten working days from today or it will petition the federal government publicly funding consumer rights body[Federal Competition and Consumer Rights Commission) in Abuja.
The HURIWA wonders if these Igbo owners of private airlines known for making their planes available to government for free during emergencies are in a conspiratorial plots with haters of Igbo land who are unhappy at the convivial and happy atmospheres in the South East during Yuletide, just as the rights group has appealed to Igbo governors to immediately intervene and urge Mr. Allen Ugochukwu and Mr Obiora Okonkwo to treat the Igbo just as they treat for instance northern Muslims who also migrate home to northern Nigeria from around the globe during their Muslim festivities because what is good for the goose, is good for the gander.
The HURIWA said that if Air Peace Airlines have gotten involved in many humanitarian efforts of airlifting Nigerians from outside of our shores for free, it becomes of the Airline ought not to maltreat their clients of Igbo extraction.
The HURIWA quoted from the business official website of Air Peace in which it described its latest humanitarian effort to be an addition to a growing list of interventions by Dr. Allen Onyema and Air Peace.
Quoting Air Peace website, HURIWA stated that Air Peace said thus: “In 2019, the airline airlifted 503 Nigerians free of charge from South Africa amidst xenophobic attacks. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Air Peace conducted multiple repatriation flights. In 2022, the airline flew Nigerian evacuees out of war-torn Ukraine. In May 2023, Dr. Onyema again deployed Air Peace aircraft to evacuate 277 stranded Nigerians from Sudan.
As the rescued women prepare to begin a new chapter, supported by medical care and reintegration efforts, one truth stands out: Air Peace is more than just an airline — it is a bridge of hope for Nigerians in crisis, and a national symbol of empathy, courage and service,” HURIWA conclusively quoted Air Peace.
The HURIWA therefore strongly condemns the two airlines for hiking and fixing unaffordable airfares indiscriminately against Igbo passengers, even as the festive season draws near, Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines have raised their return ticket fares to N677,000, a move that could add financial strain on travellers. The rise in airfares reflects the high demand expected during the holiday rush.
Key Points
Air Peace and United Nigeria increase return ticket fares to N677,000 for the yuletide season.
Airfares on routes to the South-East, including Enugu and Anambra, experience the highest surge.
Ibom Air offers comparatively cheaper tickets, with return fares at N381,600.
Air Peace’s one-way fare for December to January peaks at N350,500.
United Nigeria will also charge N350,500 for select routes between December 11 and the end of the year.
Northern routes, including Lagos-Kano, face smaller increases, with fares starting from N106,900.
Experts predict even higher airfares, with one-way tickets possibly reaching N500,000.
The rise in flight prices signals the start of a challenging holiday travel season, with airfares higher than usual due to increased demand. Travelers must be prepared for the surge, with some routes seeing even higher fare projections.
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The HURIWA is hereby warning the two airlines to withdraw their price fixing malpractices against Igbos or else the Rights group would seek justice and redress for the millions of Igbos who would return home for the 2025 Yuletide from the Federal Competition and Consumer Rights Commission and the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria. The HURIWA threatened to drag the two airlines to the Nigerian President through the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Transportation.
An Abuja-Accra flight experienced technical difficulties mid-air on Friday, forcing it to return to Abuja, shortly after departure.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Board (NSIB) made the disclosure in a statement, adding that it has launched investigation into what it described as a serious accident.
Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji stated that preliminary investigations revealed the aircraft experienced an engine number two indication issue.
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It was gathered that the aircraft, with registration number 5NKAL which was operating a flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja (DNAA), to Kotoka International Airport, Accra (DGAA).
She explained that four persons were onboard when the incident occurred. The crew immediately requested for a diversion back to Abuja due to the engine indication.
Oladeji added that the crew managed to safely land the aircraft at Abuja Airport at 18:16 UTC.
There were no injuries reported, and all individuals on board are safe.
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