The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that all airports operating without valid permits will begin to face penalties starting January 1, 2026.
This decision was made public during a stakeholders’ meeting with airstrip owners and operators held in Lagos.
The director of aerodrome and airspace standards at the NCAA, Godwin Balang, explained that the move is aimed at ensuring better safety and compliance within the aviation industry.
He stated that the current approach is not about issuing threats but about taking collective action that matches the changing needs of the aviation sector.
Out of the 92 airstrips recorded in the NCAA’s system, many are either inactive, undergoing repairs, or still being built.
Only a few have the necessary approvals to operate.
Balang mentioned that 68 of these airstrips are owned by the federal government and handled by the aviation ministry, while the remaining 24 are owned by private operators.
He pointed out that better cooperation is needed between the NCAA and the ministry so that their roles are well defined.
According to him, the Civil Aviation Act 2022 gives the NCAA the legal backing to issue certifications for aerodrome operations and to set the basic safety measures required for building, running, and maintaining airstrips.
He added that new safety concerns must be tackled properly and that better use of airstrips could help in growing the country’s economy.
The director-general of the NCAA, Chris Najomo, also spoke during the event.
He explained that the meeting was organised to improve communication with both public and private airstrip owners.
He said it would help everyone understand the right procedures for construction, operation, and safety, and it also gave room to share the challenges operators face.
He talked about plans to work with others to support airstrip development and to follow best practices worldwide.
Najomo said the NCAA is working on rules specifically for airstrips that would make it easier to do business, especially for general aviation.
He said that even though some international safety rules may be too strict for smaller airstrips, the authority is creating a more suitable system that still puts safety first.
He added that keeping these standards also connects with the five main goals of the aviation ministry.
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