NCAA REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO ENSURING DRONE OPERATIONS ARE SAFE, LEGAL, AND PROPERLY REGULATED 14-05-25
By Sadiq Aminu The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring drone operations in Nigeria are safe, legal, and properly regulated, even in the absence of globally certified drone aircraft.
Speaking at the 5th Drone Technology Expo (DroneTex), NCAA’s Director, Aerodromes and Airspace Standards and Head, Flight Safety Group Mr. Godwin Balang, stressed the authority’s proactive approach in addressing the unique regulatory challenges presented by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
He acknowledged that no drone in Nigeria currently meets the criteria for type certification, a reality that has forced the NCAA to chart its own path in crafting regulatory standards.
“We have to set the rules ourselves”.
He added that, the absence of certified drones has necessitated the creation of bespoke frameworks tailored to the Nigerian context.
Recognizing the rapid growth of drone usage long before formal global regulations emerged, Mr. Balang noted that the NCAA began by issuing advisory circulars and has since advanced to implementing the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023, which specifically address drone operations.
On the training front, the NCAA director said, they are working to approve drone training centers under a revised framework.
“So in another two months, you will be able to have a school that is approved but we won’t call it approved training organization not to confuse it with type certificated aircraft but it is going to have NCAA approval then we will have people that would be able to go there and it will also be an incentive for any other person that would want to come into this”.
In line with efforts to improve access and compliance, the NCAA has also advanced work on its drone registration portal.
He confirmed that collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has resolved key security concerns, and the portal now reflects the official registration fee of just N5,000, contrary to public speculation about higher costs.
According to him, licensing policies are also being refined, given the absence of certified drone models, the NCAA will no longer issue traditional pilot licenses but will instead provide competency certificates aligned with operational realities.
According to him, while the regulatory body is also shifting away from burdensome documentation requirements, recognizing that regulations designed for traditional, certified aviation are not suitable for the open and specific categories where most drone operations fall.
Instead, the Authority is moving toward risk-based frameworks like SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment), which allow for practical mitigation strategies tailored to each operation.
“Everything we’ve done is to simplify the process while maintaining safety and security. We are not here to complicate things; we are here to build a future where drones can be operated legally, safely, and efficiently in Nigeria.”
While the conference theme, “Determining the Future of UAS in Nigeria,” focuses on assessing the development and future trajectory of unmanned aircraft systems in the country, Managing Director, FAAN, Mrs. Kuku reiterated the unprecedented advancements witnessed in the past 15 years in automation, energy efficiency, advanced communication, global positioning systems, and artificial intelligence.
These advancements, she stated, have collectively presented a compelling option for lighter aircraft transportation, with autonomous piloting capabilities poised to redefine aviation within the next two decades.
Mrs. Kuku affirmed that the era of air taxis is upon us, with significant potential for drones in interregional flight.
Addressing the implications for traditional airports, Mrs. Kuku delved into the concept of urban air mobility and the role of airport authorities in this evolving landscape.
She explained that Advance Air Mobility (AAM) envisions a future where drone-enabled transport facilitates family travel to nearby cities and even cross-country trips, alongside the delivery of cargo directly to individual residences.