The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has successfully implemented a national aviation safety reporting system to encompass both mandatory and voluntary reporting.
Captain Musa Nuhu, Director-General of the NCAA, announced this deployment in an official statement released over the weekend. The announcement was made through an All Operators Letter (AOL) with the reference NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/341 dated 25th August 2025, addressed to all aviation stakeholders and the wider public.
This strategic move comes on the heels of NCAA’s establishment of a robust Safety Data Collection and Reporting System (SDCPS) known as SMS Pro. This deployment aligns Nigeria with full compliance to the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) set forth by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
In line with the objectives of SMS Pro, the web-based software has been carefully designed to be user-friendly and mirrors the ICAO-recommended framework, encompassing Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion. The software permits seamless integration across the entire aviation sector, enabling each service provider to access customized handles issued by the Authority. These handles facilitate the submission of reports directly into the system.
It’s important to note that the implementation of the Aviation State Safety Programme is mandated by Annex 19 to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and the Civil Aviation Act 2022.
Based on the stipulations of Annex 19 Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), it is a requirement that all Service Providers Certificated by the NCAA provide details (email and phone numbers) of their designated focal points responsible for submitting mandatory reports to the Authority.
To ensure smooth adoption and adherence to this new reporting system, the designated focal points are expected to participate in an orientation session. The necessary details for this orientation will be communicated via a Zoom invite in the near future.
Once access to the reporting system is granted, all service providers are obligated to transition to the system immediately. While paper-based mandatory reports may still be considered, effective from 1st September 2023, the submission of mandatory reports through the system becomes mandatory.
Focal persons have been given the responsibility to promptly raise awareness within their respective organizations. By 1st October 2023, documented evidence of this awareness campaign’s execution must be submitted to the Authority through the safety reporting handle.
Upon receiving the customized handles for mandatory report submission, focal persons are authorized to share the corresponding links with key personnel (including Flight Crew, Engineers, Air Traffic Control, and Cabin Crew) within their organizations. This allows for streamlined submission of reports, which are automatically categorized under the applicable service provider within the reporting system.
It’s worth noting that both the NCAA and the NSIB (National Safety Investigation Bureau) have access to all submitted reports. They are also equipped to receive timely email alerts whenever a report is submitted, including those submitted directly by the general public. Upon report receipt, a preliminary risk assessment is conducted by both agencies to determine which entity will handle the subsequent stages of the report.
