By Ismaeel Aleem
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has inaugurated a state-of-the-art Flight Data Centre, marking a significant step towards strengthening aviation safety standards across the country.
The facility, launched at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja, was described by the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo is a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to global aviation excellence.
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Speaking at a one-day training workshop for frontline managers yesterday, Najomo highlighted the centre’s role in proactive safety management.
Personally commissioned by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the centre enables real-time collection and analysis of flight data to identify safety risks before they escalate into incidents or accidents.
Najomo stressed the shift from compliance-based to performance-based oversight, moving from reactive to proactive and predictive methodologies.
“This is more than a training programme; it is an investment in our collective future and a clear statement of our commitment to excellence,” he said.
The centre’s functions include safety oversight, regulatory compliance, incident investigation, trend analysis, risk management, and operational performance monitoring.
It also encourages stakeholder collaboration, supports routine and investigative data analysis, and promotes efficiency and cost savings.
The advancement is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s global credibility in aviation safety and bring the NCAA closer to its vision of becoming a leading civil aviation authority in Africa.
Director of Special Duties, Horatius Egua, praised Najomo’s leadership, noting that the project, stalled since 2016, was revived under his tenure.
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He also underscored the centre’s importance in reinforcing the Safety Management System (SMS) and the need for continuous training to ensure effective operations.
The workshop drew participants from the Banjul Accord Group Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO), Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), APS facilitators, and other stakeholders in the aviation ecosystem.
