International Air Transport Association has stated that Africa recorded the highest aviation accident rate in the world in 2025, according to its Annual Safety Report, underscoring persistent challenges in runway safety, turboprop operations, and timely accident investigations.

According to a Monday report on their website, seven accidents occurred in Africa, down from 11 in 2024, resulting in an all-accident rate of 7.86 per million flights, below the five-year regional average of 9.37.

However, the continent’s “fatality risk increased sharply from zero in 2024 to 2.19 per million flights,” largely driven by turboprop incidents.

IATA noted that “71 per cent of accidents involving African operators involved turboprops,” while the most common types were “runway excursions and other end state events,” where precise classification was not possible due to limited information.

In comparison, other regions reported lower accident rates and fatality risks.

The report stated: “Asia-Pacific had six accidents in 2025, down from seven in 2024, with fatality risk stable at 0.15 per million flights. Europe recorded 11 accidents, an improvement from 12, and maintained a zero fatality risk.

“Latin America and the Caribbean reported five accidents, down from 5 in 2024, with fatality risk decreasing from 0.37 to 0.26 per million flights.

IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, pointed to infrastructure as a key factor in accident outcomes.
IATA’S fatality report came, as Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the suspension of Helicopter Landing Fees for a period of two months.

The announcement followed a meeting with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken, and other delegates from the oil and gas sector, including the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan.

Others are the representatives of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria, the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG).

From the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the minister was joined by the outgoing Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Yakubu Adam Kofarmata; the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Umar Farouk; senior officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other key stakeholders in the aviation sector.

The meeting was convened at the instance of the petroleum industry stakeholders, who came to raise concerns regarding the enforcement of the helicopter landing fee prescribed by NAMA for helicopter operations conducted by the International Oil Companies.
Oil industry representatives expressed concern that continued enforcement of the statutory fee, as currently structured, could disrupt critical operations in the sector.

Following extensive deliberations between both parties, the minister directed the temporary suspension of the enforcement and collection of the helicopter landing fees for an initial period of two months.