Capt.Chris Najomo

Despite delisting Nigeria from category one status by the United State Federal Aviation Administration(USFAA)  Nigerian operator can still operate into the U.S. using an aircraft wet-leased from a country who has a current Category One status.

The NCAA will continue 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 One of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

The Nigerian aviation regulatory agency in a press statement, its Director General,Capt.Chris Najomo stated that this provision gives States complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their territories.

The Agency noted that it is in full realisation of this situation that has since prompted the  Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development,  Festus Keyamo, SAN, to embark on an aggressive international campaign to empower our local operators to access the dry-lease market around the world which culminated in the visit to AIRBUS in France earlier this year and the MOU signed with BOEING in Seattle, Washington just last week.

Capt.Najomo  also indicated that the 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 One status.”