The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned that local airports operating without the necessary permits will face sanctions starting January 1, 2026.

The director of aerodrome and airspace standards at NCAA, Godwin Balang, made this known on Monday at the Airstrip Owners and Operators Stakeholders Engagement Programme in Lagos.

Mr Balang said the warning was not a threat but a collective resolve.

He said there are about 92 airstrips (operational, non-operational and some under rehabilitation/new constructions) in Nigeria based on the existing NCAA database.

Mr Balang said a few are already up to date with their valid operational permits.

“The aviation landscape has changed drastically in recent years, so the regulatory strategies must necessarily align with the realities of the season for a more impactful result.

“We will, therefore, need to tweak our regulations and other guiding documents accordingly. This is the crux of this engagement,” he said.

Mr Balang noted that among the 92 airstrips, the federal government was managing 68 through the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, and the remaining 24 belonged to individuals and private organisations.

He said that section 71 (3) and (4)(a) of the CAA 2022 empowers the authority to certify and grant permits to conduct aerodrome operations in Nigeria and to establish minimum safety standards for the design, operation, and maintenance of aerodromes.

Mr Balang said the engagement aligned with this mandate to advance airstrip regulation in Nigeria.

“There is a need to fashion out strategies to address emerging threats while maximising the use of the airstrips to contribute significantly to our socio-economic development as a nation.

“We are conscious of the fact that one day is obviously not enough to exhaust discussions on this important subject,” he said.

NCAA’s director-general, Chris Najomo, reiterated the purpose of regulatory duties enshrined in the Civil Aviation Act 2022.

He said the engagement was to: “enhance communication between NCAA state and private airstrip operators/owners; to clarify regulatory requirements applicable to airstrip construction, operations and safety standards.

“To identify and address challenges faced by state and private airstrip operators; to explore collaborative opportunities for airstrip development and integration into Nigeria’s aviation system; and finally, to promote the adoption of global best practices in airstrip operations and management,” Najomo said.

He, however, expressed hope that the objectives would be fully realised and airstrip operations in Nigeria would be conducted in strict compliance with all regulatory provisions and global best practices.

(NAN)