NCAA recertifies Lagos, Abuja airport four years after expiration

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has recertified the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos Aerodrome, four years after its expiration.

The Acting Director General of NCAA Captain Chris Najomo during the presentation of aerodromes certification for the Abuja and Lagos Airport to the Managing Director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) pointed out that Nigeria complied with the ICAO provision by certifying two international airports in 2017.

However, after the 3-year duration of certificates lapsed in November 2020, a six-month extension was granted to FAAN to operate the aerodromes due to the COVID-19 Pandemic saying the extension was granted on the condition that FAAN resolves all outstanding certification Corrective Action Plans (CAP) items and complete the re-certification process within the extension period.

He stated that there were about 136 items for the MMIA and 29 items for NAIA that need to be done, saying NCAA and FAAN have been working hard to ensure closure of the critical certification findings as required by the regulations.

He said that the certification is in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standard that requires re-certification of aerodromes used for international operations over three years.

Najomo said “The renewal of the aerodrome certificates – marks an important milestone in our journey towards achieving excellence in aviation safety and security.”

He underscored that the presentation of the certificate is not an indication that the airports are 100% compliant with safety standards but a testament to their compliance with the minimum certification and operating requirements based on risk assessment and the presentation of an acceptable Corrective Action Plan (CAP) for continuous implementation by the aerodrome operator

The Ag DGCA however said that the observed non-compliances have resulted in applicable restrictions and exemptions to reflect the true status of the aerodromes, saying NCAA Safety Inspectors will monitor the implementation of these CAPs through post-certification surveillance activities.

He commended the FAAN MD for the feat and appealed for continuous maintenance of high safety standards that prioritise the safety and comfort of passengers, airport users, staff, and the public, as well as align with ICAO standards to ensure that subsequent certification renewal processes are seamless in keeping with his mantra of ease-of-doing-business without compromise of standards

The FAAN MD Olubunmi Kuku said the recertification process is not just a formality, but part of the standard established by ICAO as the ICAO Annexe 14 provides the framework to ensure that the airport is safe, efficient, and capable of meeting the demands of modern aviation.

She said the re-certification involves the reassessment of the airport infrastructure including runway transmission, and airfield lighting to ensure compliance with global standards.

Mentioning that although they have made commendable strides in providing seamless travel experience for airport users, she acknowledged that there is still work to be done around critical areas such as the runway, and airfield lighting among others.

She emphasized the need to prioritise this improvement to enhance the safety of their operations, assuring that they will allocate the necessary resources to expedite these improvements.