NCAA Has Banned The Use of Unauthorised Drones in Nigerian Airspace

According to Pulse.ng, the statement
issued by the General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Mr Sam
Adurogboye , which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

The statement 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 the statement, 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 statement said the NCAA had therefore 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 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 complianceb with the conditions stipulated in theirpermits and the requirements of the Nig.CARs," the statement said.