By Chinedu Echianu
President Bola Tinubu has hailed Nigeria’s aviation sector after the country recorded a 91.45 per cent safety rating from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), describing the achievement as a major boost for investor confidence and the nation’s global credibility.
According to a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the score is Nigeria’s highest ever under ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), which evaluates how effectively countries manage aviation safety risks and comply with international standards.
The rating was announced during a debriefing by ICAO auditors at the headquarters of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority in Abuja.
Nigeria’s latest score places it well above the West African regional average of 61.1 per cent and the global average of 70.4 per cent, signaling stronger confidence in the country’s airspace and regulatory systems.
President Tinubu says the development aligns with his administration’s priority of strengthening infrastructure and transportation as key drivers of economic growth, while positioning Nigeria as a leading aviation hub that meets international standards.
The President also commends the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for efforts to improve safety oversight in the industry.
He notes that improved aviation safety standards would make Nigeria a more attractive destination for investment in airport infrastructure, aircraft maintenance facilities, and airline operations.
Tinubu further urges the ministry to implement all recommendations made by ICAO auditors to ensure the country not only sustains the current rating but improves on it in future assessments.
