Nigeria has been removed from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (USFAA) Category One Status under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, according to an investigation by *Daily Independent*. This delisting bars Nigerian airlines, including Air Peace, which was planning to launch direct flights from Lagos to New York, from operating directly to any US city or airport until Nigeria is re-audited and reinstated by the FAA.
Nigeria first attained the USFAA Category One Status in August 2010 after a rigorous five-year process. However, the country reportedly lost the status due to a combination of declining aviation standards and the absence of direct flights by any Nigerian airline to the US for over seven years. Under a new USFAA rule, any country that fails to operate direct flights to the US for two years risks losing its Category One status.
Sources suggest that Nigeria’s delisting occurred before the 2023 general elections, but the information was kept under wraps by the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to avoid influencing the electoral process. The issue came to light following a recent investigation.
Arik Air, the last Nigerian airline to operate on the Lagos-New York route, suspended its US flights on February 3, 2017, shortly before it was taken over by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). Meanwhile, two US carriers, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, continue to operate direct flights to Nigeria.
Currently, seven African countries, including Cabo Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Rwanda, and South Africa, still retain their USFAA Category One Status. In contrast, Nigeria is no longer listed in either Category One or Two of the USFAA’s updated list, which includes 83 countries.
Industry experts attribute Nigeria’s delisting to the USFAA’s new rules rather than a failure of infrastructure or safety standards. However, they warn that for any Nigerian airline to resume direct flights to the US, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) would need to undergo a comprehensive re-audit by the USFAA, covering technical staff, safety, and security measures.
Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), CEO of Centurion Aviation Security Limited, confirmed that Nigeria lost its status approximately two years ago, citing lapses in oversight and enforcement of safety and security regulations. He highlighted issues such as the lack of a proper security fence at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, which has seen an increase in security breaches.
Experts emphasize that Nigeria’s aviation sector must undergo significant reforms, including upgrading the NCAA’s capabilities, to regain its Category One status. This will be crucial for Air Peace or any other Nigerian airline to realize their plans of operating direct flights to the US.
