Airports without permit to be sanctioned by NCAA

L-R: Balang Godwin, director, aerodrome and airspace standards, NCAA; Chris Najomo, director-general, NCAA; Danjuma Adamu Ismaila, rector, NCAT; Peter Vember, director, aerodrome operations, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development; and Anastasia Gbem, director, human resources and administration, at a stakeholders’ engagement with airstrip owners and operators organised by the Authority in Lagos, recently

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said beginning January 1, 2026, it will sanction any domestic airport, including airstrips, that have no valid operational permits.

Godwin Gyang Balang, director, aerodrome and airspace standards, NCAA, disclosed during a stakeholders’ engagement with airstrip owners and operators organised by the Authority in Lagos, recently.

According to him, section 71 (3) & (4)(a) of the CAA 2022 empowers the Authority to certify and grant permits to conduct aerodrome operations in Nigeria and to establish minimum safety standards for the design, operation, and maintenance of aerodrome, adding that it will increase surveillance on the operations of airstrips in Nigeria.

He noted that out of 96 airstrips in Nigeria, only a few are up to date with their valid operational permits.

“At the inception of this administration the Honourable Minister unveiled his agenda for the industry to which the DGCA had to sign [a] performance bond. In the bid to implement, one of the key deliverables for the Directorate of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards is holding an airstrip owners/operators’ engagement with a view to developing the sector for our common good. This engagement is an alignment with this mandate to advance airstrip regulation in Nigeria. It may interest this forum to note that as part of the moves to fulfilling this mandate two of our international Airports were recertified late last year and we are working to certify others soon.

“Beyond this, FAAN has been apprised that effective from 1st January 2026 local airports without appropriate permits under its management would be sanctioned accordingly. This is not a threat but a collective resolve. Today, our focus is on airstrips.

“There are about 92 airstrips (operational, non-operational and some under rehabilitation/new constructions) in Nigeria based on the existing NCAA Airstrip database. Interestingly, a few are already up to date with their valid operational permits,” he said.

Balang, who noted that the aviation landscape has changed drastically in recent years, said the regulatory strategies must necessarily align with the realities of the season for a more impactful result.

“We would therefore need to tweak our regulations and other guiding documents accordingly. This is the crux of this engagement. It is worthy of mention that among these 92 airstrips, 68 are federal government airstrips being managed by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development while 24 belong to individuals and private organisations. This brings to the fore the need for deeper engagement of NCAA with the Ministry to streamline the operator and regulator status for effective management,” he explained.

Balang added: “Besides the basic AGA processes for permits, the importance of aviation security will be emphasised,” adding that there is a need to fashion out strategies to address emerging threats while maximizing the use of the airstrips to contribute significantly to socio-economic development of Nigeria as a nation.

“Undoubtedly, regulatory duties have long gone past the threshold of ‘stick wielding’, it is strategic collaboration for effective results without compromising standards,” he stressed.

Chris Najomo, NCAA director general, said the aim of the engagement was to enhance communication between NCAA and state and private airstrip operators/owners; clarify regulatory requirements applicable to airstrip construction, operations and safety standards;  identify and address challenges faced by state and private airstrip operators; explore collaborative opportunities for airstrip development and integration into Nigeria’s aviation system and to  promote the adoption of global best practices in airstrip operations and management.

“It is my fervent hope that these objectives will be fully realized and airstrip operations in Nigeria will, henceforth, be conducted in strict compliance with all regulatory provisions and global best practices,” Najomo said.