By George Ozalla
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has commended the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for its sustained investment in staff capacity development, describing the agency as one of Africa’s leading civil aviation authorities due to its commitment to building a highly professional workforce.
The commendation came from ICAO’s Director of the Capacity Development and Implementation Bureau (CDI), Fabio Rabbani, during the 11th edition of the ICAO Africa-Indian Ocean (AFI) Aviation Week holding in Cairo, Egypt, from July 27 to 31, 2026.
Rabbani specifically praised the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Chris Najomo, for making staff training a priority through strategic partnerships with ICAO, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and other globally recognised capacity development institutions.
According to him, the NCAA’s deliberate investment in human capital has positioned it among the leading civil aviation authorities on the African continent, adding that the ICAO Capacity Development and Implementation Bureau looks forward to expanding its collaboration with the Nigerian aviation regulator to further strengthen its institutional capacity.
Responding to the commendation, Capt. Najomo reaffirmed his commitment to repositioning the NCAA and ensuring that the Authority becomes stronger and more efficient than it was before his appointment as Director-General.
He disclosed that the agency had broadened its staff development policy by extending training opportunities beyond officers on Grade Level 14 and above to include personnel from Grade Level 10.
“We need to catch them young and train them in order to make the Authority better equipped to carry out its oversight functions,” Najomo said.
The DGCA noted that the expanded training initiative is part of the NCAA’s broader strategy to strengthen regulatory oversight, improve operational efficiency and ensure the development of a new generation of aviation professionals capable of sustaining global best practices in Nigeria’s civil aviation industry.
