The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reaffirmed its readiness to strengthen collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as both institutions move to enhance aviation safety guidelines and improve regulatory coordination within Nigeria’s aviation-support ecosystem.
The development came to the fore on Friday, May 15, 2026, when a delegation from the NNPCL paid a courtesy visit to the NCAA headquarters in Abuja to discuss areas of mutual interest, particularly in aviation safety oversight linked to oil and gas operations.
Strengthening Regulatory Partnership
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, the Director of Airworthiness Standards and Chairman of the Flight Standards Group (FSG), Engr. Godwin Balang, assured the visiting team of the Authority’s openness to deeper technical collaboration.
He explained that the NCAA remains committed to its core mandate of ensuring strict regulatory compliance and maintaining aviation safety standards in line with global best practices.
Balang further referenced Nigeria’s recent performance under the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM), noting that the country achieved a significant 91.4 per cent aviation safety rating—an outcome he described as a reflection of sustained reforms and strengthened oversight mechanisms in the aviation sector.
According to him, continued inter-agency cooperation will be critical in consolidating these gains and addressing emerging safety challenges across the aviation value chain.
NNPCL Seeks Technical Guidance on Safety Framework
In his response, the leader of the NNPCL delegation, Manager of Environmental Strategy, Policy & Standards, Dr Edwin Aboh, commended the NCAA for its regulatory leadership and commitment to aviation safety.
He noted that the oil and gas giant recognises the strategic importance of the NCAA in safeguarding aviation operations, particularly those supporting petroleum exploration, production, and logistics activities that rely heavily on air transport services.
Dr Aboh disclosed that the NNPCL is currently developing its aviation safety guidelines and expressed optimism that the NCAA would provide technical expertise and regulatory support to ensure the framework aligns with international standards and industry best practices.
He emphasised that a structured collaboration with the aviation regulator would help strengthen internal compliance systems and improve operational safety across NNPCL’s aviation-related activities.
Key Officials Present
The engagement was attended by senior officials of the NCAA, including the Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary, Barr. (Mrs.) Mary Tufano-Eche; the Director of Air Transport Regulation, Mrs Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe; and other management staff of the Authority.
Toward Stronger Inter-Agency Safety Coordination
The meeting reflects a growing trend of inter-agency cooperation aimed at reinforcing safety governance in Nigeria’s aviation sector. Stakeholders say such collaborations are increasingly important as aviation operations expand and become more integrated with critical sectors such as oil and gas.
Both institutions are expected to continue discussions in the coming weeks toward finalising a structured framework for technical cooperation on aviation safety guidelines.
NCAA and NNPCL deepen collaboration on aviation safety guidelines as both agencies move to strengthen regulatory coordination and improve safety standards in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
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