NCAA Partners with BAGASOO to Boost Aviation Safety and State Oversigh By Raymond Enoch
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) took a major step toward strengthening national aviation safety standards on Friday, 5th December 2025 by hosting a high-level technical engagement with the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO) at its Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting focused on the implementation of the Civil Aviation State Safety Programme (ICVIM), State Safety Programme (SSP), and Safety Management Systems (SMS), showcasing an array of advanced tools, updated manuals, and reinforced regulations aimed at enhancing safety oversight across the West African sub-region.
Dr. Horatius Egua, Director of Special Duties at NCAA, praised the rapid progress made in SSP development over the past year, stressing that a performance-driven safety system relies on close collaboration and a renewed national commitment to aviation safety.
Leading the presentations, BAGASOO’s Executive Director, Ms. Jailza Silva, highlighted ongoing efforts on regulatory updates, audits, and capacity-building initiatives. Discussions centered on reviewing the Civil Aviation Act, amending Safety Management Regulation Part 19, aligning with ICAO Annex 19, and introducing a new civil aviation occurrence-reporting regulation—a complex process affected by emerging privacy and data-sharing considerations.
Key deliverables unveiled included an upgraded SMS evaluation framework, updated Inspector Handbooks (Volumes 1–3), risk-based surveillance guides, hazard taxonomy frameworks, compliance manuals, and a continuous safety monitoring dashboard. The NCAA also revealed that its in-house reporting tool is nearing 85% completion, with full deployment expected by early 2026.
The hybrid meeting brought together BAGASOO representatives, NCAA Ground Maintenance Committee members, SSP teams, operators, and aviation service providers, marking a collaborative milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of robust aviation safety and oversight.
