Nigeria has recorded a 91.4% aviation safety rating following the latest assessment by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM), marking one of its strongest performances in recent years.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the development on Wednesday in Abuja, describing it as one of the highest safety scores the country has recorded under ICAO evaluations since 1960.
He said the result followed a comprehensive audit in which Nigeria’s aviation agencies and airlines were assessed and cleared as safe by the ICAO inspection team.
Keyamo credited the outcome to President Bola Tinubu’s policy direction and support for reforms in the aviation sector.
The ICVM team concluded its on-site safety oversight audit on Wednesday, after beginning the review last week. The exercise followed up on the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) conducted between August and September 2023.
In addition, Keyamo highlighted ongoing government interventions aimed at easing financial pressures on airlines amid rising aviation fuel costs and concerns over potential service disruptions.
He said President Tinubu had approved significant relief measures, including a discount on outstanding fees owed by airline operators to the government, as part of efforts to stabilise the sector and ensure continuity of air transport services.
