Aviation: ICAO’s 91.45 percent safety rating for Nigeria is impressive, says Tinubu

*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu applauds the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development for the International Civil Aviation Organisation rating, affirming the country’s aviation safety standards while making it a more attractive destination for investment in aviation infrastructure, maintenance facilities, and airline operations

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed Nigeria’s impressive 91.45 percent aviation safety rating from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The ICAO is a United Nations (UN) agency that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation.

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The agency promotes the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.

Through the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), ICAO assesses countries to ensure they manage safety risks effectively, ensuring that no country is left behind and directly influencing international confidence in that nation’s airspace.

Nigeria, as an ICAO member state, is obligated to comply with applicable international standards and to establish and implement these safety-critical oversight elements.

Since the inception of the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme in 1999, Nigeria has undergone four USOAP safety audits conducted by ICAO auditors, with results measured through Effective Implementation (E.I.) scores.

During a recent debriefing by the ICAO audit team at the Abuja headquarters of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the lead auditor announced that Nigeria had recorded an impressive 91.45 percent Effective Implementation (EI) score – the highest ever for Nigeria.

It is also noted that the regional average of West Africa is 61.1 percent, and the global average is 70.4 percent.

Nigeria is thus well positioned above the regional and global ratings, which, in turn, significantly boost investor confidence and strengthen international aviation credibility.

President Tinubu, upon the assumption of office since May 29, 2023, is said to have redefined the priority areas of his administration to include enhancing infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth, and to establish the air transport sector.

According to the government, the aviation sector of the Nigerian is a major driver for economic prosperity.

Therefore, by building a safe, secure and efficient aviation industry, this will focus on making Nigeria a hub that meets international standards and best practices beyond even the African continent.

In order to align with this priority area, Barr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, Honourable Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, has outlined a five-point agenda to grow the Nigerian aviation value chain.

Importantly, the first point on that agenda is to ensure strict compliance with safety regulations and the continuous upward movement of Nigeria’s ICAO rating.

Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement Thursday, April 23, 2026, disclosed President Tinubu commended the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development for the feat.

The President stated the rating affirms the country’s aviation safety standards,  making it a more attractive destination for investment in aviation infrastructure, maintenance facilities, and airline operations.

Onanuga stated President Tinubu urged the Ministry to not relent but to review and implement every recommendation that the ICAO auditors made during this mission, to ensure that Nigeria not only maintains, but goes even further on the rating.

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