The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has inaugurated the National Air Transport Economic Oversight Committee (NATEOC) to coordinate the implementation of regional aviation reforms and ensure Nigeria meets its obligations under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, announced the committee’s mandate during its inauguration at the authority’s corporate headquarters in Abuja on October 14, 2026.
Represented by the Director of Air Transport Regulation, Mrs Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe, Najomo said the committee would assess Nigeria’s compliance with regional aviation policies, identify implementation gaps, recommend necessary policy changes and monitor progress.
He added that its responsibilities included developing an implementation roadmap, reviewing relevant laws and regulations, ensuring the official publication of the regional policy in Nigeria’s national gazette and working with relevant regional institutions.
The committee’s inauguration follows the adoption of Supplementary Act A/SA.2/12/24 by ECOWAS heads of state and government at their 66th Ordinary Session in Abuja on December 15, 2024. The Act establishes a common regional policy on aviation charges, taxes and fees among member states.
The policy is designed to reduce the high cost of air travel, improve transparency in aviation services, strengthen economic oversight and encourage fair competition in the regional air transport market.
Najomo said the committee was expected to translate the Act’s provisions into practical and measurable national actions in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Doc 9082, which provides guidance on airport and air navigation service charges.
He also stressed the importance of constructive engagement with industry stakeholders, particularly domestic airline operators and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), to support effective implementation of the reforms.
In her remarks, the Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary, Mrs Mary Tufano-Eche, urged members to carefully examine the legal and legislative frameworks underpinning the Supplementary Act.
She said the review was necessary to ensure the policy was properly incorporated into Nigeria’s aviation regulatory framework without creating conflicts with existing domestic regulations or relevant ICAO provisions.
NATEOC is a multi-agency committee comprising representatives of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NCAA, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigeria Revenue Service and Federal Ministry of Finance.
