Nigeria’s Air Force personnel pose next to a Aerostar drone
The federal government has banned the launching of drones in the Nigerian airspace without permit.
A statement signed by the General Manager, Public Relations, of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Sam Adurogboye, on Sunday said the government has banned the launching of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in the Nigerian airspace without the permit of the authority and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Adurogboye said 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.
“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 him, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is yet to publish Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) as far as certification and operation of civil use of RPA is concerned.
The NCAA spokesman said the agency had put in place Regulations/Advisory Circular to guide the certification and operations of civil RPA in the Nigerian airspace.
He 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 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,” he stated.
He warned that violators would be sanctioned according to the dictates of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs).
Nigeria bans launching of drones without permit
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