- Nigeria achieved a 70% score in the recent ICAO Universal Safety Audit Program, a 3% improvement from the 2016 audit
- Audit reports show varying scores across critical elements, with a focus on improving aviation safety and addressing identified gaps
Nigeria scored 70% in the recently concluded International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Universal Safety Audit Program Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP)-CMA.
This was 3% higher than the previous audit performed in 2016.
According to Daily Trust, the ICAO’s USOAP focuses on a state’s capability to provide safety oversight by assessing whether the state has effectively and consistently implemented the critical elements (CEs) of a safety oversight system.
This enables the state to ensure the implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) safety-related Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), as well as associated procedures and guidance material, with the goal of improving aviation safety.
The audit was conducted between August 30 and September 11, with the ICAO team evaluating all aviation agencies.
The breakdown of some of the audit reports in Effective Implementation (EI) shows that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) scored 90% in Legislation, down from 95% in the previous audit, and 83% in Organization, down from 100% the previous time around.
The CAA scored 84% in Personnel Licensing and 62% in Operations, compared to its previous score of 57%.
The CAA scored 94% for airworthiness, up from 90% in the previous audit.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) scored 89% in accident investigation, up from 84% previously.
The country received 56% for Aerodrome and Ground Aids and 44% for Air Navigation Services.
The eight Critical Elements audit report CE-1 Legislation, CE-2 Organization, CE-3 Regulations, CE-4 Qualified Technical Personnel, CE-5 Technical Guidance Material, CE-6 Approvals and Certification, CE-7 Surveillance, and CE-8 Safety Concern Resolution were also available.
The NCAA maintained its previous Legislation score of 89.66%, while also scoring 89.87% in Organization, 78.33% in Regulations, and 60.98% in Qualified Technical Personnel.
It received 88.24% in technical guidance material and 49.7% in approvals and certification, while it received 42.22% and 56.76% in surveillance and resolution of safety concerns, respectively.
Nigeria, on the other hand, is expected to close the gaps discovered during the audit within the next few months.
Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, recently emphasized the industry’s commitment to safety.
While Nigeria is not new to audits, every effort was made in preparation for this audit to ensure a significant increase in the effective implementation of all safety functional areas.”
Safety is Nigeria’s top priority; it is non-negotiable, and it takes precedence over all other considerations for civil aviation, he said.