The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has mulled that beginning January 1, 2026, all local airports and airstrips operating without valid permits would face its hammer.
Engr. Godwin Balang, Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards gave the indication at the inaugural Airstrip Owners/Operators Stakeholders Engagement held in Lagos on Monday.
He said that only a few of the 92 airstrips across Nigeria currently possess valid operational permits.
He noted that the figure includes both active and inactive facilities, as well as those under rehabilitation or construction.
Balang stressed that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has already been notified that airports under its purview without appropriate permits will also be sanctioned from January 2026. He described the move not as a threat, but as “a collective resolve.”
“FAAN has been informed that, effective January 1, 2026, local airports under its management that lack appropriate permits will be sanctioned accordingly. This is not a threat but a collective resolve,” he said.
“Today, our focus is on airstrips. There are approximately 92 airstrips (operational, non-operational, and some under rehabilitation or new construction) in Nigeria based on the existing NCAA airstrip database.
Interestingly, a few are already up to date with their valid operational permits.”
He further explained that out of the 92 airstrips, 68 are federal government facilities managed by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, while 24 belong to individuals and private organisations.
This, he said, underscores the need for deeper collaboration between the NCAA and the ministry to clearly delineate operator and regulator roles for better management.
“Regulatory duties have long moved beyond simply ‘wielding a stick’; it is about strategic collaboration for effective results, without compromising standards,” Balang added.
Responding to stakeholders’ concerns about the high cost of securing airstrip permits — currently pegged at N30 million — Balang acknowledged the need for a review to encourage more investment.
“I completely agree with you because, by doing that, it may appear as though the government will be earning less money, but in reality, we will be making more,” he said.
“We have a population of over 200 million people, with conservatively fewer than three million actively flying. Therefore, if we charge less, more people will be able to fly, creating a significant opportunity.”
Balang emphasized that the NCAA’s enforcement authority is backed by Section 71 (3) & (4)(a) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, which empowers it to certify aerodromes, issue operational permits, and set minimum safety standards for design, operation, and maintenance.
Also speaking at the event, NCAA’s Director General, Captain Chris Najomo, said the stakeholders’ engagement was aimed at strengthening communication between the authority and airstrip operators — both state-owned and private — while clarifying regulatory requirements for construction, operations, and safety.
Najomo added that the forum provided an opportunity to address challenges faced by operators, explore collaboration for airstrip development, and promote the adoption of global best practices.
“It is my fervent hope that these objectives will be fully realized and that airstrip operations in Nigeria will henceforth comply strictly with all regulatory provisions and global best practices,” he said.
