As part of preparations for the upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) scheduled for April 2026, the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, convened a high-level coordination meeting with the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, alongside key aviation sector stakeholders. The meeting took place at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
The engagement forms a critical component of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its aviation safety oversight system and improve its ICAO compliance rating. Addressing participants, Capt. Najomo acknowledged measurable progress made in the implementation of Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) arising from the 2023 ICAO audit. He reaffirmed that enhancing Nigeria’s ICAO rating remains a top priority of the Federal Government, given its strategic importance to aviation safety, international confidence, and sectoral growth.
The DGCA emphasized the urgent need to close all outstanding gaps, particularly in key areas such as aerodrome certification, safety surveillance, and operational oversight. He called for intensified inter-agency collaboration and timely execution of agreed action points to ensure full readiness ahead of the validation exercise.
In her remarks, FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, assured stakeholders of the Authority’s commitment to the certification process, noting that FAAN personnel remain fully mobilized and operational in support of ongoing preparations. However, she drew attention to critical infrastructure challenges that could impact compliance outcomes if not urgently addressed. These include runway design and engineering limitations, the proposed closure of one of two taxiways at certain airports, as well as required patchwork repairs which, if left unattended, could pose safety risks.
Mrs. Kuku stressed the importance of balancing operational continuity with safety imperatives, adding that proactive infrastructure interventions would be essential to meeting ICAO standards.
Also present at the meeting were senior FAAN officials, including Capt. Abdulaziz Mahmoud, Mba Ifeoma, FAAN Certification Secretary Kate Idam, and other members of FAAN management, alongside representatives from relevant aviation institutions.
With preliminary ICAO engagements expected later this month and the on-site validation mission slated for April 2026, stakeholders expressed cautious optimism that sustained coordination, transparency, and collective commitment will deliver a successful outcome. Authorities reiterated that the collaborative approach between NCAA, FAAN, and industry stakeholders is key to reinforcing Nigeria’s aviation safety oversight framework and maintaining international best practices.
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)