Tinubu Hails Nigeria’s Record 91.45% Aviation Safety Rating By ICAO

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised Nigeria’s aviation sector following the country’s record 91.45 percent aviation safety rating awarded by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), describing it as a major milestone for the nation’s global aviation standing.

The President said the achievement reflects Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining high international safety standards and strengthens confidence in the country’s aviation industry.

The rating was announced during a recent debriefing by the ICAO audit team at the Abuja headquarters of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), where the lead auditor revealed that Nigeria recorded its highest-ever Effective Implementation (EI) score of 91.45 percent under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).

According to the report, Nigeria’s score is significantly higher than the West African regional average of 61.1 percent and the global average of 70.4 percent, placing the country in a strong position to attract more investment in aviation infrastructure, airline operations, and maintenance facilities.

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ICAO, a United Nations agency responsible for coordinating international air navigation standards, uses the USOAP system to assess how effectively member states manage aviation safety risks and comply with global safety regulations.

Since joining the programme in 1999, Nigeria has undergone four separate ICAO safety audits, with the latest result marking its best performance so far.

President Tinubu noted that improving transportation infrastructure, including aviation, remains one of the priority areas of his administration aimed at driving economic growth and positioning Nigeria as a major air transport hub in Africa and beyond.

He also commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for aligning the ministry’s five-point agenda with the administration’s vision, especially the focus on strict compliance with safety regulations and improving Nigeria’s ICAO rating.

The President urged the ministry not to relent but to ensure all recommendations made by the ICAO auditors are fully implemented so Nigeria can maintain and further improve on the current rating.

The statement was issued on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.