NCAA: US ban a technicality, Nigerian Airlines can still operate
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says, the US ban on Nigerian airline is not due to safety concerns but rather a technicality related to the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program.
This is just as the NCAA says, Nigerian airlines can still operate to the U.S. by wet-leasing aircraft from airlines in countries with Category 1 status.
According to the Acting Director General, Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo in a statement, Nigeria’s delisting from the Category 1 status was a consequence of not having a domestic airline operate to the U.S. within a two-year period.
The NCAA’s statement comes in response to recent media reports that had created confusion and concern among travelers and the aviation industry, regarding a purported ban on Nigerian airlines by the United States.
This requirement, Capt. Najomo says, is part of the IASA program, which ensures that countries maintain a level of safety oversight that meets international standards.
“It’s important to emphasize that this delisting has no bearing on the safety or security of Nigerian aviation, Nigeria has consistently met and exceeded international safety and security standards.”
The agency is actively working with the government to enable Nigerian airlines to access the dry-lease market and regain their Category 1 status.
The agency urged the public to rely on official sources for accurate information.
