• Nigeria achieved a 91.45% Effective Implementation (EI) score from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• The new rating places Nigeria far ahead of its peers, outperforming the West African regional average of 61.1% and the global average of 70.4%
• President Tinubu described the rating as more than a technical accomplishment, emphasising its economic implications

President Bola Tinubu has welcomed Nigeria’s 91.45 per cent aviation safety rating awarded by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), describing it as a historic achievement for the country’s air transport sector.

According to a statement issued by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the score represents the highest ever attained by Nigeria under ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).

The rating places the country significantly above both regional and global averages.

The assessment was disclosed during a debriefing session at the Abuja headquarters of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), where ICAO auditors presented Nigeria’s Effective Implementation (EI) score following the nation’s fourth safety audit since the programme began in 1999.

Nigeria’s 91.45 per cent score surpasses the West African regional average of 61.1 per cent and the global average of 70.4 per cent, marking a gap of over 30 percentage points above the regional benchmark and more than 20 points above the global standard.

Reacting to the development, the President commended the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, noting that the milestone reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s aviation safety framework.

“The rating affirms the nation’s aviation safety standards and makes it a more attractive destination for investment in aviation infrastructure, maintenance facilities, and airline operations,” the President said.

Despite the progress, Tinubu urged the ministry to build on the achievement by implementing all recommendations made by ICAO auditors.

He directed officials “to ensure that Nigeria not only maintains, but goes even further on the rating.”

The ICAO, a specialised agency of the United Nations, evaluates member states through its USOAP audits to determine how effectively they manage aviation safety risks and comply with international standards.

As a member state, Nigeria is required to maintain robust safety oversight systems, which are critical to sustaining global confidence in its airspace.

The EI score plays a key role in shaping international partnerships, bilateral aviation agreements, and foreign investment decisions.

The Presidency attributed the improved rating partly to reforms under the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.

His five-point agenda prioritises strict adherence to safety regulations and continuous improvement in Nigeria’s ICAO ranking.

The administration also reaffirmed its broader commitment to positioning aviation as a driver of economic growth, with infrastructure and transportation identified as critical enablers of national development.

FAAN pushes for 3 national airlines to boost Nigeria’s aviation power

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku, had called for targeted support for a select group of indigenous airlines to emerge as Nigeria’s national flag carriers, as part of broader efforts to reposition the country’s aviation sector.

Kuku stressed that backing two to three local airlines would help strengthen the industry and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness on the global stage.