By Onu Okorie

Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA and the National Insurance Commission NAICOM have signed a Memorandum of Understanding MoUbto strengthen cooperation and oversight of aviation insurance in Nigeria. The agreement, signed at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja also provides for the establishment of a Joint Technical Committee on Aviation Insurance. Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, described the agreement as a landmark development aimed at strengthening aviation safety, financial resilience, regulatory compliance and protection of passengers and other industry stakeholders.
Najomo said aviation, despite being globally recognised as the safest mode of transportation, remained an industry characterised by high-impact operational risks, making a robust and transparent insurance framework essential. According to him, the NCAA’s statutory responsibility for regulating and mitigating aviation risks must be complemented by adequate and verifiable insurance arrangements. He said the partnership with NAICOM would strengthen the foundation for operational safety and financial resilience in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The NCAA boss noted that both regulatory agencies had worked closely for several years, with NAICOM providing expert assessments on the adequacy and viability of insurance policies procured by aviation operators in compliance with Part 18.14 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023. He said the new MoU would further deepen the existing relationship, enhance stakeholder confidence and support cost-efficient operations while addressing challenges confronting Nigerian aviation operators. Najomo stressed that the objective of the partnership was not merely enforcement of regulatory compliance but the creation of a balanced regulatory environment where aviation safety and financial protection would complement each other.
He said effective collaboration between the two agencies would promote sustainable insurance practices and minimise avoidable regulatory and operational challenges, thereby supporting the long-term growth and resilience of Nigeria’s aviation industry in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The NCAA Director-General commended the joint technical teams of the two agencies for their diligence and professionalism in developing the agreement, while appreciating the Commissioner for Insurance and the NAICOM team for their cooperation.
He expressed confidence that the Joint Technical Committee established under the framework would ensure that the objectives of the partnership translated into measurable improvements in aviation insurance compliance and oversight. Najomo said the signing reaffirmed the principle that aviation safety must be supported by adequate financial protection. He added that the partnership provided a stronger institutional framework for achieving both objectives.