David Akachukwu
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The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has raised alarm over the rising number of bird strike incidents at major airports across the country. Affected facilities include Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Port Harcourt International Airport, Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport in Owerri, and Akwa Ibom Airport.
Engineer Godwin Balang, who serves as the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards at the NCAA, revealed that in 2025, MMIA experienced four separate bird strikes on Runway 18R within a single day — a development that highlights mounting safety concerns within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The NCAA has linked the increasing bird activity near airports to poor waste disposal systems and unchecked vegetation around airport perimeters.
To tackle the problem, Balang stated that the Authority is stepping up efforts in surveillance and monitoring to detect and resolve potential hazards quickly, in accordance with both domestic and global aviation safety standards.
The NCAA has also distributed detailed advisory circulars, urging airport authorities to comply with established bird strike prevention measures. Additionally, the agency continues to assess and approve Wildlife Hazard Management Plans (WHMPs) submitted by various airport operators.
Balang emphasized that the Authority’s approach is built around eight core principles used worldwide to ensure effective safety oversight, forming the backbone of their strategy for managing wildlife-related risks in aviation.
According to him, the first step is rooted in legal authority, as current aviation laws give the NCAA the power to enact and enforce necessary safety regulations.
“The first element involves the legal foundation. NCAA already has sufficient powers through legislation to create enforceable aviation regulations when needed,” Balang said.
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“For the second element, Balang said the updated Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2023 Part 12 compel airports to maintain Wildlife Hazard Management Plans.
”These plans are modelled on ICAO Annex 14 and detailed in the Airport Services Manual Doc. 9137, which addresses wildlife collision risks.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has procured modern bird control technologies to help curb bird strike occurrences, with a focus on high-traffic airports like MMIA in Lagos.
In response, NCAA Director General Captain Chris Najomo reiterated that preventing bird strikes is one of the agency’s foremost concerns. He added that NCAA personnel have undergone in-depth training on managing wildlife hazards, including specialized programs at the University of Missouri in the United States, to better equip them for the task.
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