The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has issued Aviation Security Authorisation Certificates to six institutions and service providers operating within Nigeria's civil aviation ecosystem, in an exercise that expands the reach of the NCAA's formal aviation security oversight framework across a broader range of industry participants.
The certificates — issued under the authority's Aviation Security directorate known as AVSEC — represent formal regulatory clearances authorising the recipient institutions and companies to carry out security-sensitive functions within Nigerian airports and airspace in compliance with the requirements of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations and the standards set out in the National Civil Aviation Security Programme.
What AVSEC Authorisation Covers
Aviation security authorisation is required for a range of entities that operate in security-sensitive environments within the aviation sector — including ground handling companies, catering contractors, cargo handling agents, aircraft cleaning services, fuel suppliers with airside access, and other service providers whose personnel and operations bring them into contact with aircraft, passengers, baggage, cargo, or airport restricted zones.
The authorisation process involves an assessment of the applicant institution's security management systems, personnel vetting procedures, access control measures, and compliance with the specific security requirements applicable to their category of operation. An institution that obtains AVSEC authorisation is formally recognised by the NCAA as having met the minimum security standards required to operate in the aviation environment — and becomes subject to the authority's ongoing security oversight and audit programme.
Strengthening the Security Ecosystem
The issuance of certificates to six institutions at once reflects the NCAA's effort to systematically bring previously uncertified or informally operating entities within the formal security authorisation framework — a process that has accelerated under the current leadership as part of the broader regulatory modernisation agenda that also produced the 91.45 per cent ICAO safety score achieved in the 2026 Coordinated Validation Mission.
Capt. Najomo has consistently emphasised that aviation security is not solely the responsibility of airlines and airports — it is a shared obligation that extends to every entity with access to the aviation environment. The AVSEC authorisation programme operationalises that principle by making formal certification a prerequisite for all security-relevant operations, regardless of the size or nature of the service provider involved.
The NCAA did not publicly identify the six institutions that received the certificates in the announcement reviewed by Nigeria Aviation Report. The authority said further details of the certification exercise would be communicated through its official channels.
