NCAA Emphasizes Safety Awareness, Staff Development at Benin Retreat

The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, has called on staff to remain safety-conscious while strengthening their professional skills, as the agency intensifies efforts to maintain high standards in the nation’s aviation sector.

Najomo made the call during a three-day staff retreat held in Benin City, Edo State, with the theme: “Building High-Performance Teams Through Strategic Capacity Development: Focus on NCAA.” The programme, organised by the Directorate of Special Duties, brought together staff from across the agency to review operations, share insights, and enhance collaboration.

Represented by the Director of Aerodrome and Aerospace Standards, Mr. Godwin Balang, the NCAA boss highlighted the critical role of capacity building in sustaining the agency’s oversight functions. He noted that while tools such as the Flight Data System (FDC) have boosted safety performance, continuous investment in human resources remains essential.

“Technology is important, but our people are the backbone of the NCAA. Their competence and commitment determine how effectively we can safeguard Nigeria’s airspace,” Najomo said.

Earlier, the Director of Special Duties, Mr. Horatius Egua, described the retreat as an opportunity for staff to reflect, recalibrate, and reinvigorate their performance. He stressed that capacity building is a continuous process, not a one-off event, and urged participants to apply the lessons learned to their daily responsibilities.

“If you want to perform in your place of duty, you must learn and that is why we are here,” Egua said, expressing optimism that the retreat would lead to improved service delivery to the aviation industry and the Nigerian public.

The retreat concluded with a renewed pledge by staff to uphold NCAA’s mission of ensuring a safe, secure, and efficient civil aviation system for the country.

– By Oshuniran Sheriff Ola