The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the licences of two pilots working for ValueJet Airlines following a serious security breach at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, involved Captain Oluranti Ogoyi and First Officer Ivan Oloba, who entered the runway and initiated the take-off procedure without obtaining the mandatory clearance. NCAA officials described the conduct as “reckless and dangerous.”
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, stated that preliminary findings show Captain Ogoyi clearly violated civil aviation regulations and international safety standards. Achimugu said, “This act, carried out without obtaining clearance prior to take-off, seriously endangered the lives of both ground staff and passengers.”
First Officer Ivan Oloba was also deemed responsible during the incident and has been subjected to similar disciplinary action. The NCAA immediately suspended the licences of both pilots pending the conclusion of the investigation.
The official statement read:
“The NCAA will not tolerate any action that endangers safety. It is essential that all airline operators strictly adhere to safety protocols.”
This decision further reinforces the NCAA’s zero-tolerance policy on aviation safety, following the recent suspension of Rano Air flights due to technical issues.
The NCAA has once again called on all operators to fully comply with aviation regulations to ensure the continued safety of Nigerian airspace.
