The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has recorded a significant advancement in its aviation safety and standardisation agenda with the certification of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, and Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport, Port Harcourt.
The Aerodrome Certificates were issued by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on 19 December 2025, following a rigorous regulatory process jointly undertaken by FAAN and the NCAA. The formal presentation took place at the Conference Hall of the NCAA Headquarters in Abuja.
According to the NCAA, the certification followed a structured and comprehensive assessment involving multiple inspections and evaluations. The Director of Aerodrome Standards, Mr Godwin Balang, stated that NCAA inspectors worked closely with FAAN technical teams throughout the process to identify deficiencies and ensure full compliance with international aviation standards and global best practices before approval was granted.
The Director General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, underscored the importance of sustained inter-agency collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s aviation safety framework. He noted that the partnership between FAAN and the NCAA has continued to serve as a model for effective regulatory oversight and operational excellence within the sector.
FAAN described the certification as a critical step in its broader strategy to institutionalise safety, consistency and global standards across Nigeria’s airport network. The Authority noted that the achievement reflects its renewed focus on proactive compliance, safety culture and continuous improvement in airport operations.
With the certification of the Kano and Port Harcourt airports, four of Nigeria’s five international airports have now attained aerodrome certification, placing the country among the leading aviation jurisdictions in Africa where nearly half of international airports are certified. FAAN confirmed that certification processes are ongoing at Enugu and Maiduguri airports as part of efforts to achieve full network-wide compliance.
The event concluded with the formal presentation of the Aerodrome Certificates by the NCAA to FAAN, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations and key members of FAAN’s management team.
