Nigeria has received a 91.4 per cent aviation safety rating following the latest assessment by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM), marking one of its strongest performances in recent years.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, who announced the development on Wednesday at his office in Abuja, describing it as one of the highest safety ratings Nigeria has achieved under ICAO evaluations since 1960.
He explained that the outcome follows a comprehensive audit in which all aviation agencies and airlines operating in the country were assessed and certified safe based on the findings of the ICAO visiting team.
Speaking further, Mr Keyamo attributed the success to President Tinubu’s deliberate policy and support for the aviation industry.
The ICVM team concluded its on-site safety oversight audit in Nigeria on Wednesday after beginning its review last week.
The exercise was carried out as a follow-up to the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), conducted between August and September 2023.
Mr Keyamo had on Wednesday disclosed key federal government interventions aimed at reducing the financial pressure on airlines following rising concerns over the cost of Jet A1 fuel and the threat of service disruptions in the aviation sector.
Mr Keyamo stated that President Bola Tinubu had approved a generous discount on certain outstanding fees owed to the government by airline operators after they threatened to shut down over a 300 per cent surge in jet fuel price
He explained that the decision is part of efforts to provide immediate relief to the sector and prevent a breakdown in air transport services.