Unauthorised drones barred from Nigerian airspace

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has stopped remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) from using its airspace without authority from the agency or office of national security adviser (ONSA).

Sam Adurogboye, the NCAA’s general manager, public relations, disclosed this on Sunday, saying the move was part of the safety guidelines issued by the NCAA to drone operators following the proliferation of the technology in the country.

“In recent times, RPA/UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are being deployed for commercial and recreational purposes in the country without adequate security clearance,” Adurogboye said in a statement.

“Therefore with the preponderance of these operations, particularly in a non-segregated airspace, there has to be proactive safety guidelines.

“The development of the use of RPA nationwide has emerged with somewhat predictable safety concerns and security threats.”

According to the statement, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is yet to publish sStandards and recommended practices (SARPs) as far as certification and operation of civil use of RPA is concerned.

The statement said the NCAA had put in place regulations/advisory circular to guide the certification and operations of civil RPA in the Nigerian airspace.

It said this was contained in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs 2015 Part 8.8.1.33) and the Implementing Standards (Nig.CARs 2015 Part IS.8.8.1.33).

“Therefore, no government agency, organisation or an individual will launch an RPA/UAV in the Nigerian airspace for any purpose whatsoever without obtaining requisite permit from the NCAA and ONSA,” the statement read.

“The NCAA wishes to reiterate that all applicants and holders of permits to operate RPA/Drones must strictly be guided by safety guidelines.

“In addition, operators must ensure strict compliance with the conditions stipulated in their permits and the requirements of the Nig.CARs.”

It added that violators would be sanctioned according to the dictates of the aviation regulations.