Nigeria has achieved an Effective Implementation score of 91.45 per cent under the International Civil Aviation Organization's 2026 Coordinated Validation Mission, a dramatic improvement from the 70.23 per cent recorded during the 2023 USOAP audit — and well above the current global average of 70.4 per cent.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria described the achievement as a major leap that positions Nigeria for the prestigious ICAO Safety Recognition Award at the next ICAO Assembly. FAAN's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said the result reflects the collective resolve of stakeholders across the aviation ecosystem and the strong policy direction of the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.
The Aerodrome Domain Improvement
The most dramatic individual improvement was recorded in the Aerodrome and Ground Aids domain. Nigeria's score in this critical area rose from a modest 57.5 per cent in 2023 — a period marked by 53 unsatisfactory Protocol Questions — to a preliminary score of 95.16 per cent as of April 2026. That represents a 37.90 per cent improvement in a single audit cycle, one of the most significant domain-level turnarounds in ICAO's recent assessment history for any African nation.
Agbebire attributed this leap to years of focused investment in infrastructure upgrades across Nigerian airports, rigorous personnel training, strengthened safety documentation, and enhanced oversight mechanisms. The cumulative effect of those investments became visible in a single assessment period.
All Five International Airports Now Certified
Critically, the improved aerodrome safety score was accompanied by a landmark certification achievement: for the first time in Nigeria's aviation history, all five international airports in the country are fully certified to the standards prescribed in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations. The recent certification of Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu — presented to FAAN by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority in April 2026 — completed the set, with Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, and Port Harcourt International Airport already holding their certificates.
This is not a minor administrative milestone. An ICAO audit examines whether airports actually meet the prescribed standards — and the fact that all five Nigerian international airports are now simultaneously certified for the first time confirms that the safety infrastructure improvements across the network are real, documented, and independently verified.
FAAN's Commitment Going Forward
FAAN said it would work to sustain the gains recorded in the 2026 ICVM, acknowledging that maintaining an above-average safety score requires continuous investment in safety management systems, personnel competency, and documentation discipline. The authority commended Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo and NCAA Director-General Capt. Chris Najomo for their roles in driving the sector-wide reforms that made the improvement possible.
The ICAO Effective Implementation score has direct implications for Nigeria's international aviation standing. A higher EI score strengthens the regulatory credibility of Nigerian carriers seeking international route approvals, improves Nigeria's standing in the IATA Safety Audit framework, and signals to foreign airlines, lessors, and financiers that the operating environment in Nigeria is improving against measurable international benchmarks.
