The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has taken a decisive step toward reinforcing the legal and regulatory foundation of the nation’s aviation industry. This commitment was reaffirmed at the 2025 Judges’ Conference, held on Thursday, October 16, 2025, in Abuja, with a focus on aligning Nigeria’s aviation jurisprudence with international conventions.
The high-level gathering, themed “The Role of Judges in Sustaining Nigeria’s Adherence to Applicable International Conventions in Relation to Carriage by Air,” convened legal luminaries, judicial officers, regulators, and aviation professionals to examine the evolving relationship between international air transport treaties and domestic judicial interpretation.
In his keynote address, Capt. Chris Najomo, Director-General of the NCAA, stressed that Nigeria’s compliance with international aviation conventions depends not only on regulatory enforcement but also on informed judicial adjudication. He emphasized that the judiciary, as an independent arbiter, plays a crucial role in ensuring that international obligations are properly interpreted and upheld in national courts.
“This engagement with the judiciary is essential to sustain Nigeria’s adherence to international aviation standards,” Capt. Najomo said. “When judges understand the principles underpinning global conventions like the Montreal Convention, it strengthens regulatory consistency, ensures justice, and protects all stakeholders in the aviation ecosystem.”
Representing the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, a senior official from the Ministry commended the NCAA for organizing the event, describing it as timely and strategic in deepening synergy between the legal and aviation sectors. He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to enhancing institutional collaboration aimed at ensuring that Nigeria’s aviation framework remains transparent, efficient, and globally competitive.
“The integrity of our aviation system rests not just on regulations, but also on their sound interpretation by our courts,” the Minister’s representative stated. “This collaboration strengthens our national aviation governance and aligns with the Ministry’s broader vision of ensuring safety, compliance, and industry growth.”
The conference featured panel discussions and technical sessions addressing critical topics, including:
- The Montreal Convention 1999 and its implications for liability in air carriage;
- The enforcement of international aviation judgments within Nigerian courts;
- The evolving landscape of consumer protection and compensation in air travel;
- The judiciary’s role in harmonizing national laws with international aviation standards.
Legal experts and participants commended the NCAA for sustaining a platform that bridges the knowledge gap between regulatory enforcement and judicial decision-making. They observed that such engagements foster uniformity in legal interpretation, reduce conflicts in aviation-related rulings, and enhance Nigeria’s credibility in international aviation law practice.
The 2025 Judges’ Conference is part of the NCAA’s broader initiative to entrench rule-based governance, strengthen safety oversight, and maintain Nigeria’s Category One status under the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program. The conference also aligns with Nigeria’s commitment under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to uphold global best practices in civil aviation regulation and judicial cooperation.
Through initiatives like this, the NCAA and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development continue to position Nigeria’s aviation industry as a model for effective regulatory integrity and international compliance across Africa.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development have hosted the 2025 Judges’ Conference in Abuja, reinforcing Nigeria’s aviation law and regulatory integrity through judicial engagement on international air transport conventions and global best practices.
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