NCAA urges judiciary to support aviation growth through legal backing

By Nnasom David

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called for stronger support from the Judiciary to enhance understanding and enforcement of laws governing aviation contracts, stressing the strategic importance of the Cape Town Convention (CTC) in attracting international investments to Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Captain Chris Najomo, Director-General of NCAA, made the appeal during the grand finale of the first-ever international CTC moot court held at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday. The event was organized under the CTC Academic Project with support from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Aviation Working Group (AWG).

Represented at the event by Captain Donald Tonye Spiff, NCAA’s Director of Operations, Licensing and Training, Najomo noted that the CTC—which includes the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment 2001 and the Protocol on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment—has significantly improved Nigeria’s credibility with aircraft lessors and global aviation stakeholders.

“Before the adoption of the CTC, many airline manufacturers and leasing companies were hesitant to operate in Nigeria. Today, thanks to the efforts of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, Nigeria is firmly on the radar of global aviation players,” Najomo said.

He commended the exceptional performance of participating students, emphasizing their role in demonstrating Nigeria’s growing capacity in aviation law and governance.

Jeffrey Wool, Secretary General of the AWG and Co-Director of the CTC Academic Project, described the moot court as a landmark initiative. “The CTC is a critical international treaty. This competition familiarizes students and the legal system with its provisions and equips courts to handle CTC-related cases effectively. Economically, it is a game-changer for Nigeria,” he said.

The event simulated a real court scenario, featuring two opposing legal teams from the University of Benin and the University of Lagos, supervised by a three-member panel of Federal High Court judges, including Justices Binta Nyako, Joyce Abdulmalik, and James Omotosho.

Eighteen universities from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones competed in the preliminary rounds, with the University of Benin and the University of Lagos emerging as the overall best performers.

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