The International Civil Aviation Organization has commenced an on site safety oversight validation mission in Nigeria as part of its continuous monitoring of global aviation safety standards.
The exercise, known as the ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission, follows the 2023 Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme in which Nigeria recorded a 70.12 percent score in effective implementation of international aviation safety standards.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Abuja, the ICVM Team Leader, Jerome Patoreaux, said the mission is aimed at assessing Nigeria’s progress in implementing corrective action plans developed after the previous audit.
He explained that the team will collect and evaluate evidence of reforms across key safety oversight areas, including legislation, regulation, staffing, training, inspection procedures, licensing, surveillance, and enforcement.
Patoreaux stressed the importance of timely submission of evidence, noting that all documentation of safety improvements must be provided within the set deadline to ensure proper evaluation.
He added that the validation process is part of ICAO’s ongoing efforts to ensure member states maintain compliance with global aviation safety standards and continuously improve oversight systems.
The Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Chris Najomo, described the audit as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen aviation safety oversight and achieve global best practices.
Najomo said Nigeria has taken previous audit findings seriously and developed corrective action plans to address identified gaps, many of which have already been implemented.
He highlighted key reforms including the deployment of regulatory automation software to improve personnel licensing and aeromedical processes within the aviation sector.
He also noted that over 100 aviation inspectors have undergone advanced training in Europe and the Middle East, while additional personnel are receiving on the job training through international cooperation agreements.
According to him, Nigeria has also signed agreements with surrounding Flight Information Regions to improve air traffic coordination and ensure safer cross border aviation operations.
Najomo emphasized that the goal of the reforms is not just to improve audit scores but to build a resilient and sustainable aviation safety oversight system that aligns with global standards.
He added that Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Master Plan was recently presented to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, as part of ongoing efforts to modernize the aviation sector.
The ICAO mission is expected to play a key role in determining Nigeria’s progress in implementing international safety recommendations and strengthening its global aviation reputation.
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