FG to sanction local airports without valid permits from January 2026

…only few states with valid operational permits – NCAA

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has disclosed that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have been apprised that effective from 1st January 2026, local airports without appropriate permits under its management would be sanctioned accordingly.

This is also as the NCAA has disclosed that out of 92 airstrips only a few are up to date with their valid operational permits.

The NCAA stated that these 92 airstrips consist of operational, non-operational, airstrips while others are under rehabilitation/new constructions.

Speaking during the maiden edition of Airstrip owners/ operators Stakeholders engagement in Lagos on Monday, Chris Najomo, the director general, NCAA said
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.

Najomo said 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.

“Besides the basic AGA processes for permits, the importance of Aviation security will be emphasised. There is a need to fashion out strategies to address emerging threats while maximizing the use of the airstrips to contribute significantly to our socio-economic development as a nation,” he said.

The DG explained that although the generic term aerodrome includes airstrip but there is need to develop specific regulatory policies that focuses on the peculiarities of airstrip development and operations.

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“At the inception of this administration the Minister unveiled agenda for the industry to which the DGCA had to sign 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.

“Recall that 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. This engagement is an alignment with this mandate to advance airstrip regulation in Nigeria,” the DG said.

He hinted that two of its international airports were recertified late last year and we are working to certify others soon.

Najomo said the aviation landscape has changed drastically in the recent years so 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.

“We are conscious of the fact that one day is obviously not enough to exhaust discussions on this important subject. We’ll therefore be looking forward to receiving further input through writing, phone calls, social media platforms etc.

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

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.