The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) hosted the 1st National Air Transport Facilitation Committee (NATFC) meeting in 2026 to discuss critical issues affecting aviation facilitation in Nigeria.
The crucial meeting, held on Wednesday, 25 March 2026, at the NCAA Lagos Regional Office, aims to enhance aviation facilitation in Nigeria in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Recommended Standards and Practices (SARPs).
Representing the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, the Director of Air Transport Regulation (DATR), who doubles as the Chairperson of the committee, Mrs. Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe, in the opening remarks, enumerated key focal areas affecting effective passenger facilitation at the international airports, urging far-reaching resolutions that would ease the passage of the travelling public.
The DGCA urged NATFC to address significant aspects of security and facilitation, advocating a collaborative approach towards enhancing operational standards and compliance with international protocols.
In attendance were heads of aviation agencies, including the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, who was represented by the General Manager, Airport Operations, Mrs. Joke Olatunji; and the Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Farouk Umar Ahmed, also represented by the General Manager, Mr. Dodo James.
Other agencies present were the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The NATFC is a high-level interagency body, chaired by the NCAA, with a mandate by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to streamline airport processes for passengers, crew, and cargo while ensuring security compliance and implementation of ICAO Annex 9 standards.