US Government Clarifies Status of Nigerian Airlines
The Nigerian Federal Government has issued a statement to clarify the current status of Nigerian airlines with the US government. According to the statement, there is no ban placed on any Nigerian airline by the US government.
The clarification comes after Nigeria was de-listed by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2022. The de-listing was due to the country’s inability to meet the requirements of the permit, which includes providing services to the United States or carrying the airline code as a US operator. None of Nigeria’s indigenous airlines fulfilled this criteria.
The statement, issued by the acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Chris Najomo, emphasized that the de-listing has absolutely nothing to do with any safety or security deficiency in Nigeria’s oversight system. The country has undergone comprehensive ICAO Safety and Security Audits and recorded no Significant Safety Concern (SSC) or Significant Security Concern (SSeC) respectively.
Interestingly, the statement revealed that Nigerian airline operators can still fly into the US using an aircraft wet-leased from a country with a category one permit. This means that Nigerian airlines can continue to operate in the US, albeit indirectly, by partnering with airlines from countries that have met the FAA’s requirements.
The NCAA also emphasized its commitment to adhering strictly to international safety and security standards and respecting the sovereignty of States, including the United States of America. The statement was released in response to widespread speculation and misinformation about the status of Nigerian airlines in the US.
In summary, the US government has clarified that there is no ban on Nigerian airlines, and the de-listing of Nigeria was due to the country’s inability to meet the requirements of the permit. Nigerian airlines can still operate in the US using aircraft wet-leased from countries with a category one permit.
