The Coalition for Good Governance in Africa (CGGA) has publicly commended the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Ona Najomo, for his regulatory leadership and efforts to improve the operating environment of Nigeria's aviation sector. In a statement issued on Friday, the coalition's president, Mohammed Kudu, argued that Najomo should not be held solely responsible for the sector's challenges, emphasizing that airlines, airport operators, government agencies, air navigation service providers, and other stakeholders all share responsibility for the industry's performance.
CGGA's Assessment of Najomo's Tenure
The CGGA said its review of Najomo's time at the NCAA pointed to measurable progress across safety oversight, consumer protection, regulatory efficiency, and investment conditions. The coalition also highlighted his more than four decades of experience in aviation, which spans roles within the NCAA and the broader airline industry. Kudu stressed that the reforms under Najomo's watch should be assessed as part of a larger effort to reposition the industry, rather than measured against every hardship faced by passengers or operators.
"Our assessment of Capt. Chris Ona Najomo's stewardship shows a regulatory leadership that is focused on strengthening the systems within its mandate. From safety oversight and consumer protection to regulatory predictability and efforts to attract investment into aircraft acquisition, there are clear indications of an administration working to improve the operating environment. It is therefore unfair to make the Director-General the sole explanation for challenges that involve several institutions and stakeholders across the aviation value chain," the statement read.
Focus on Aircraft Financing and Investment
The CGGA specifically highlighted Najomo's work on aircraft financing, noting that his efforts to reassure global financiers and lessors that Nigeria's market was open for investment had been particularly significant. At the Nigeria Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit in April, Najomo identified capital, confidence, and capacity as the three pillars for growth, and reaffirmed the NCAA's commitment to the Cape Town Convention and the IDERA framework.
Call for Stakeholder Cooperation
The coalition warned against turning legitimate concerns into sustained confrontations that could slow progress in the sector. It called on all parties to engage constructively and focus on solutions rather than blame. "The aviation industry needs a collaborative approach at this stage. Stakeholders have every right to raise concerns and demand accountability, but such engagement should be constructive and directed towards solutions. We believe the reforms being pursued by the Federal Government and the regulatory steps under Capt. Najomo should be given the opportunity to translate into sustainable gains. The interest of the travelling public and the long-term development of Nigerian aviation must remain greater than individual or institutional disagreements," Kudu said.
The group added that meaningful improvement in aviation would not come from regulatory action alone, urging all parties, including the government, operators, investors, and passengers, to work together consistently. "We call on all stakeholders to sheath their swords and allow the positive steps being taken by the administration to cascade into meaningful gains for the country," the statement concluded.
