𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝟗𝟏.𝟒% 𝐀𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟎

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has concluded its audit of Nigeria’s aviation industry, awarding the country an unprecedented 91.4% safety score, the highest since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo announced today during a press conference in Abuja.

Keyamo disclosed that the audit, which takes place every three years, marks a dramatic turnaround from Nigeria’s previous performance.

“The last time this audit took place was 2023. In 2023, Nigeria scored 70% in safety, which is considered very, very low in terms of safety. And that of course affects the rating of our airlines internationally too,” Keyamo stated.

According to aviation records, Nigeria scored 67.1% in the 2016 ICAO safety audit, meaning the country had only improved by 2.9 percentage points between 2016 and 2023 . The latest score of 91.4% represents a staggering 21.4 percentage point increase in just three years.

The Minister attributed the historic achievement to the deliberate policies and support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

“Now, after three years of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and this team in place, DG NCAA, the MD FAAN, the MD NAMA, and all the team, today the audit was concluded by the International Civil Aviation Organization,” Keyamo said.

“And for the first time in the history of Nigeria since 1960, we have recorded the highest score in terms of safety of the aviation industry in Nigeria. We have recorded 91.4%. This is because of the deliberate policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the kind of support he has given the aviation industry, the type of initiative that he has told us to initiate in the aviation industry.”

Keyamo emphasised that the ICAO audit team was highly impressed with Nigeria’s performance.

“The International Civil Aviation Organization is very, very, very happy with us. And this is a big thank you to the heads of the agencies,” he said.

The Minister noted that the previous low score of 70% had negatively impacted the international rating of Nigerian airlines. Industry reports had shown that Nigeria performed below the global average of 75% in the 2023 audit, with particular weaknesses in Air Navigation Services (44%), Aerodromes (56%), and Operations (62%) .

However, the new 91.4% score positions Nigeria among the top performers in African aviation safety, surpassing the global average and signaling improved prospects for Nigerian carriers on international routes.

Keyamo concluded by commending the leadership of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for their roles in achieving the milestone.