Shouts of joy blared out of the Plateau Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja Monday evening when the United States Ambassador Dr Robin Renee Sanders announced that the US Federal Aviation Administration has awarded the much-desired Category 1 certificate to Nigeria after scaling the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) audit in July this year.

An IASA Cat 1 status simply means Nigeria now complies with the international air safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) which is the United Nation’s technical agency for aviation that establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.

It also means Nigeria now has the laws and regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with ICAO rules.
The Cat 1 certificate, whose journey began about three years ago, will enable Nigerian registered airplanes commence direct flights between Nigeria and cities in the United States using Nigerian registered airplanes which means cheaper operational cost.

Arik Air, the first Nigerian airline to be re-certified under the new era, commenced Lagos-New York flights in December last year using its A340-500 airplane, but with foreign crew from a Portugese company called Hi-Fly at a whopping 2.8million euros monthly.
Other airlines designated on the Lagos-US route under Nigeria/US Opens Skies Agreement are Air Nigeria and Bellview that has closed shops.

Countries with Cat 1 are regarded as those with impeccable safety standards and enjoy lots of benefits including lower insurance premium, cheaper aircraft leasing and automatically joining the big league in aviation.
Presenting the certificate to Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Mrs Fidelia Njeze, the US Ambassador said the feat achieved as a result of joint effort between both nations.

“This achievement is an important milestone for Nigeria and the US-Nigeria bilateral relations. It’s only fitting that this coveted Cat 1 comes at the dawn of the nation’s year of golden jubilee. The US Mission, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the FAA have worked together as a team in the true spirit of bilateral partnership over the last two years to achieve this goal. Hats off for everyone for a job well done and a rating well deserved,” she stated.
While advising the Nigerian government and the NCAA in particular to ensure it maintains the standards thus achieved, Sanders said Nigeria is the sixth African nation to attain Cat 1. Others are Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco and South Africa.

Speaking at the occasion, an elated Aviation Minister, Mrs Fidelia Njeze said with Cat 1, Nigeria has automatically become the hub for West and Central Africa, adding that foreign investors and investment will sharply increase soonest.
She expressed gratitude to the various US agencies that were instrumental to attaining the much-desired Cat 1, pledging that the standards thus achieved will be maintained and not lowered.

She said there were countries that once attained Cat 1 but lost it since they went to sleep and thus allowing their safety levels to drop.
She said the Federal Government is investing heavily in the aviation sector, urging the Director General of NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren to ensure standards are maintained as the US government will still have its eyes on the country.

“We’ll use the next 12 to 18 months to stabilize the industry. Aviation is the catalyst for national development. Cat 1 will boost tourism, trade and commerce. We’ll keep the standards because we will still be under serious watch by the aviation community. But NCAA has shown capability to sustain the Cat 1. We’re paying deep attention to infrastructural development. From the navigational facilities, meteorology to training of necessary manpower. Passengers will enjoy the dividends of Cat 1 as airport development will be a holistic thing”, she stated.

Njeze further said the government is ready to assist other African countries who have requested assistance towards attaining Cat 1.
Earlier, the DG NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren said the Cat 1 would be his gift for the nation as she celebrates her 50th independence on October 1 this year.

small time the johnny brigade will ascribe this to johnathan

Of course, Is it IBB that should take the credit  . It was GEJ that steered the nation during muttalab bomb attempt on the same route . If GEJ did nt handle that well do u think the yankees would give us certification barely 6mnths after the unfortunate thing