The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reaffirmed its commitment to fully implementing the State Safety Programme (SSP) as part of efforts to enhance aviation safety across the country.
Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, made this commitment at the closing ceremony of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) West and Central Africa (WACAF) Regional Office’s Assistance Mission to Nigeria. The event, held from March 24 to 28, 2025, at the NCAA corporate headquarters in Abuja, was a significant step towards bridging gaps in Nigeria’s compliance with global aviation safety standards.
Capt. Najomo acknowledged the review conducted by the ICAO WACAF Office’s Regional Officer for Safety Implementation, Ms. Sonia Freitas. She assessed Nigeria’s gap analysis and SSP implementation plan concerning compliance with Annex 19 of ICAO regulations and provided further guidance to NCAA and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on necessary measures for full SSP implementation.
The DGCA also noted that Ms. Jailza Sylvia, Executive Director of the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organization (BAGASOO), contributed valuable input on procedural documentation essential for SSP implementation.
Speaking at the event, NSIB Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., emphasized that the ICAO assistance mission reflects the regional commitment to strengthening aviation safety across Africa.
“The support received underscores our dedication to improving aviation safety. Nigeria has made substantial progress in implementing the SSP and addressing identified gaps,” Capt. Badeh Jr. stated.
The SSP is a structured framework of regulations and activities mandated by ICAO, tailored to each member state to enhance aviation safety. It ensures effective performance monitoring and mitigation of identified risks in the sector.
Capt. Najomo highlighted Nigeria’s progress in its SSP implementation, stating that the country has already developed critical regulatory frameworks, including the publication of safety management regulations in Part 20 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs). Additionally, Nigeria has drafted the SSP manual, the National Aviation Safety Plan (NASP), and various guidance materials for industry stakeholders and NCAA inspectors on assessing and monitoring service providers’ Safety Management Systems (SMS).
“The assistance mission has been instrumental in addressing gaps identified in our draft SSP document, ensuring that Nigeria is well-positioned to achieve full compliance with ICAO’s safety requirements,” Capt. Najomo added.
With this renewed commitment, Nigeria is poised to enhance its aviation safety oversight, strengthening its compliance with global standards and ensuring safer skies for all.
