NCAA says over 80 drone applications, training centre under review

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), has said it is in the process of approving a new aviation training facility for drone operators.

NCAA’s Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, Engineer Godwin Balang, said the agency has chosen to be methodical to ensure the facility met all operational benchmarks.

Balang, who disclosed this at the 5th Drone Technology Conference and Exhibition, Dronetex2025, added that it was working on applicable drone standards in Nigeria.

He revealed that over 80 drone-related applications were in review at the NCAA, which showed a significant rise in interest and regulatory engagement.

According to him, while conventional aircraft were undergoing type certification, drones were still evolving and lacked harmonised global standards for evaluation.

Commenting on the aviation training facility for drone operators, Balang said: “This will be a game-changer for drone training in Nigeria. This strategic decision helps avoid confusion with conventional aviation schools while maintaining integrity in drone-specific education. The NCAA plans to replace full certification with competency certificates for drone operators and organisations. We are taking the path many forward-thinking countries are now adopting.”

Commenting on type certification, NCAA’s Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards said: “This is not just a Nigeria problem. Drones haven’t met type certification anywhere because the platforms are not standardised.”

He emphasized that the absence of certification was not an indication of safety threat but reflected structural and operational differences with traditional aircraft.