ICAO Audit: Nigeria Performed above Average in Major Areas

Chinedu Eze

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA) has released Nigeria’s Aviation Safety Score, comparing results in the Universal Safety Oversight Audit and concluded that Nigeria performed well in major areas in its comparative analysis against the global average.

ICAO said Nigeria performed above global average in five areas namely Legislation, Organization, Personnel Licensing, Airworthiness and Accident Investigation. Airworthiness had the highest score of 94%. Nigeria performed below global average in three areas, which lowered its effective implementation score below global average score of 75%. The three areas are namely Air Navigation Services at 48.62%, Aerodromes at 56%, and Operations at 62.07%.

Nigeria excelled in Legislation, Organisation, Personnel, Licensing, Airworthiness, and Accident Investigation.

With a score of 90.48% in legislation, Nigeria surpassed the global average of 76.55%, while its 83.33% in Organisation topped the 71% global average.

Personnel Licensing achieved an 83.91% score, exceeding the 73.19% average. In Airworthiness, Nigeria scored 94%, showcasing a significant +10.92% improvement on the 83.08% global average.

For Accident Investigation, an 89.29% score meant Nigeria gained 34.47% on the global average.

However, in Operations, it dropped 8.61% below the 70.68% average to 62.07%. Additionally, there was a -21.06% below-average score of 44.26% in Air Navigation Services.

Concerning Aerodromes, its 56% score fell short of the 62.59% global average, indicating a -6.59% difference.

Nigeria’s overall score of 70% is -5% short of 75%, with key areas like operations, aerodrome, and ANS contributing to the lower Effective Implementation Score.

The Director-General of Civil Aviation responded to the results, emphasizing it as neither a pass nor faiurel but an opportunity for continuous improvement.

“There is a target. If you don’t meet the target, ICAO will send you a report with the protocol questions. You use that to develop an action plan within three months and close some of those gaps.”