Stakeholders Meeting Address Recurring Violations of Nigerian Airspace, Breaches of Aviation Protocols By Foreign Aircraft And Helicopters

In order to address the unacceptable trend of airspace violations by foreign aircraft and helicopters operating within the sovereign airspace of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without appropriate operational clearance, a high-level inter-agency stakeholder meeting was convened on Tuesday 26 May 2025, at the Ministry of Defence Conference room, Ship House, Abuja.

The meeting was sequel to the previous meeting held on 11 November 2024 at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), focussed on the persistent pattern of unauthorized and often uncoordinated incursions into Nigerian airspace by foreign-operated aircraft and rotorcraft platforms. This act is deemed as a serious violation of national sovereignty and aviation safety protocols.

A statement issued by the Personal Assistant to the Minister of State for Defence on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil said the Key area of the discussion included, Joint Review of an Air Defence System and TRACON capabilities, coordinated between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Federal Ministry of Aviation & Aerospace Development (FMA\&AD).

The Minister of Ministers of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Dr. Bello Matawalle and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, reaffirmed the resolve of the Federal Government of Nigeria to protect and defend the territorial integrity of the nation against all forms of incursion, including those by air. 

According to them, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration remains committed and unrelenting in the defence of Nigeria’s sovereign airspace. 

Present at the conference were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, representatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA); the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS); the National Intelligence Agency (NIA); the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); and the Office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Also in attendance were representatives from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).