The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has clarified that the de-listing of Nigerian airlines from operating in the United States has absolutely nothing to do with any safety or security deficiency in the oversight system.
Recall that Nigerian airlines were barred from the United States over category one status certification.
This may have affected Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines which were designated to fly to Washington and Houston, Texas.
The NCAA Acting Director General, Capt. Chris Najomo, who made this disclosure in a statement issued on Monday, 2 September, 2024, said the delisting came as a result of the inability of Nigeria’s airlines to operate directly to the US for two years.
“No Nigerian operator has provided service into the United States using a Nigerian registered aircraft within the 2 years preceding September 2022, so it was expected that Nigeria would be de-listed as were other countries who fell within this category.
“Nigeria was, therefore, de-listed since 2022 and was duly informed of this action in 2022.
“Nigeria has undergone comprehensive ICAO Safety and Security Audits and recorded no Significant Safety Concern (SSC) or Significant Security Concern (SSeC) respectively”, he added.
