President Bola Tinubu has welcomed Nigeria’s latest aviation safety performance rating of 91.45 per cent from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), describing it as a major boost to the country’s global aviation credibility and investment outlook.
The ICAO, a United Nations specialised agency responsible for setting international air navigation standards, conducts assessments of member states through its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) to measure compliance with global aviation safety requirements.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Nigeria achieved an Effective Implementation (EI) score of 91.45 per cent following a recent audit debriefing at the headquarters of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Abuja. The score is Nigeria’s highest since the programme began in 1999.
The rating places Nigeria significantly above the West African regional average of 61.1 per cent and the global average of 70.4 per cent, a development authorities say reflects improved confidence in the country’s aviation safety systems.
Reacting to the development, President Tinubu said the achievement was a result of ongoing reforms in the aviation sector under his administration’s renewed focus on infrastructure and transportation as key drivers of economic growth.
He said his administration has prioritised the development of a safe, secure, and efficient aviation industry aimed at positioning Nigeria as a regional aviation hub aligned with international best practices.
The statement noted that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has been implementing a five-point agenda designed to strengthen the aviation value chain and improve sector performance.
Tinubu commended the Ministry and aviation agencies for the milestone, adding that the improved rating would enhance investor confidence in aviation infrastructure, maintenance facilities, and airline operations in Nigeria.
He also urged the Ministry not to relent, directing that all recommendations from ICAO auditors be fully implemented to ensure Nigeria not only sustains the rating but improves further in future assessments.
