Why Nigerian Airlines Can’t Currently Fly into the U.S.: NCAA Clarifies

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has addressed the current inability of Nigerian airlines to operate flights into the United States. In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, Capt. Chris Najomo, Acting Director General of the NCAA, provided clarity on the situation.

Najomo explained that for Nigerian airlines to resume flights into the U.S., Nigeria must achieve Category 1 status under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Programme. This status is crucial for international aviation operations.

The NCAA’s statement aimed to correct misunderstandings arising from recent reports suggesting a ban on Nigerian airlines by the U.S. government. According to Najomo, attaining Category 1 status would allow Nigerian airlines to use both Nigerian registered aircraft and dry-leased foreign aircraft for U.S. flights, as per the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).

He highlighted that Nigeria first achieved Category 1 status in August 2010. Subsequent assessments by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2014 and 2017 confirmed Nigeria’s compliance. However, from September 2022, the FAA removed Category 1 status from countries lacking indigenous operators serving the U.S. or using U.S. airline codes. Since no Nigerian operator provided U.S. service with Nigerian registered aircraft in the two years preceding September 2022, Nigeria was de-listed.

Najomo emphasized that this de-listing was not due to safety or security deficiencies in Nigeria’s oversight system. He noted that Nigeria had passed comprehensive International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety and security audits with no significant concerns.

He also mentioned that Nigerian operators can still fly into the U.S. using wet-leased aircraft from countries with current Category 1 status. The NCAA remains committed to international safety standards and respects national sovereignty over airspace.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has been actively working to enhance the capabilities of Nigerian operators through international agreements and compliance with the Cape Town Convention. These efforts are expected to help Nigeria regain and maintain its Category 1 status in the near future.