The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has clarified why Nigerian airlines are currently unable to operate flights into the United States.
This is due to Nigeria losing its Category 1 Status, which is necessary for Nigerian airlines to fly into the U.S. as per international regulations.
This information was provided in a statement by Capt. Chris Najomo, the Acting Director General of Civil Aviation in Nigeria, on Tuesday in Abuja.
He explained that countries, including Nigeria, must pass the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Program and achieve Category 1 status to be allowed to operate flights to the U.S.
“The attention of the NCAA has again been drawn to a publication about the purported ban on Nigerian airlines by the United States.
“Due to the wrong impression such news could create, it has become expedient that we put this report in its proper perspective.
“Upon attaining Category 1, Nigerian airlines would be permitted to operate Nigerian registered aircraft and dry-leased foreign registered aircraft into the United States, in line with the existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA),” he stated.
Najomo recalled that Nigeria first achieved Category 1 status in August 2010. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted another safety assessment in 2014 and again in 2017, both times allowing Nigeria to retain its Category 1 status.
However, from September 2022, the FAA removed countries from the Category 1 list if they had no indigenous airline operating flights to the U.S. or carrying the airline code of a U.S. operator for over two years.
“Also removed from the Category 1 list were countries, who the FAA was not providing technical assistance to, based on identified areas of non-compliance to international standards for safety oversight.
“No Nigerian operator has provided service into the United States using a Nigerian registered aircraft within the 2-year period preceding September 2022.
“So, it was expected that Nigeria would be de-listed as were other countries who fell within this category. Nigeria was, therefore, de-listed since 2022 and was duly informed of this action in 2022,” he explained.
He further clarified that the de-listing had nothing to do with any safety or security shortcomings in Nigeria’s aviation oversight system.
Najomo added that Nigeria had undergone comprehensive Safety and Security Audits by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which revealed no significant safety or security concerns.
“It is furthermore necessary to add that a Nigerian operator can still operate into the U.S. using an aircraft wet-leased from a country who has a current Category 1 status.
“The NCAA continues to adhere strictly to international safety and security standards and respects the sovereignty of states, including the United States of America, as enshrined in Article 1 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
“This provision gives states complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their territories,” he added.
Najomo noted that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has been actively campaigning internationally to enable local operators to access the global dry-lease market.
“This campaign included a visit to AIRBUS in France earlier this year and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BOEING in Seattle, Washington just last week.
“The Honourable Minister has also done a lot of work to make Nigeria comply fully with the Cape Town Convention, which will bring back the confidence of international lessors in the Nigerian aviation market.
“We are confident that with these steps of the Honourable Minister, it is only a matter of time that Nigeria, not only regains, but can sustain its U.S. Category 1 status,” Najomo concluded. (NAN)
