February 20, (THEWILL) — The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Chris Najomo, has described the just-concluded technical assistance mission by the International Civil Aviation Organisation Western and Central African Office (WACAF) Regional Office Safety Team (ROST) as a rigorous, constructive and highly productive engagement that has further strengthened Nigeria’s aviation safety architecture.
Speaking at the debriefing ceremony held at the Authority’s Corporate Headquarters on Thursday, February 19, 2026, Capt. Najomo stated that the mission provided a valuable opportunity for objective assessment, peer review and institutional introspection ahead of the forthcoming ICAO International Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) scheduled for 15th–22nd April 2026.
According to him, the engagement has significantly enhanced the Authority’s level of readiness and reinforced its commitment to global best practices in safety oversight.
“We view this mission not merely as an evaluation exercise, but as a strategic partnership aimed at continuous improvement. The insights and technical guidance provided by the ROST team have sharpened our systems, strengthened internal processes, and deepened inter-agency collaboration”, he said.
Capt. Najomo assured the ICAO delegation that all mission recommendations would be integrated into an accelerated corrective action framework with clear timelines, measurable deliverables, and stronger inter-directorate coordination to ensure sustainable compliance.
He expressed profound appreciation to ICAO WACAF, the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, and all personnel of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for their professionalism, dedication, and collaborative spirit throughout the mission.
The DGCA emphasised that the exercise has not only strengthened institutional capacity but has also positioned Nigeria more strategically within the global aviation safety oversight framework.
In his remarks, Kebba Lamin Jammeh, speaking on behalf of the ICAO team, commended Nigeria’s responsiveness, transparency, and the high level of cooperation demonstrated by the NCAA’s technical directorates and partner agencies during the mission.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
