By Olakunle Oke
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have launched a collaborative anti-corruption roundtable to address entrenched corruption in the aviation sector and improve service standards.
The initiative was unveiled on Monday, 28 July 2025, during a courtesy visit by NCAA Director-General Captain Chris Ona Najomo to ICPC Chairman Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Dr Aliyu underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation in addressing systemic graft within Nigeria’s aviation framework. “No agency can fight corruption alone,” he remarked, proposing the creation of a Joint Corruption Prevention Roundtable.
He explained that the platform would enable both agencies to exchange intelligence, develop risk-mitigation strategies, and drive systemic reforms that embed transparency and accountability.
To reinforce the collaboration, the ICPC chairman called for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to institutionalise ethical practices and restore investor confidence in the country’s aviation industry.
Captain Najomo reaffirmed NCAA’s commitment to digital transformation as a means of curbing corruption, citing ongoing automation of licensing, certification, and surveillance reporting.
He also sought ICPC’s backing to strengthen the NCAA’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), improve whistleblower protections, and establish a sector-wide Code of Ethics for airlines, maintenance providers, and aviation training institutions.
Najomo further requested ICPC’s technical support in auditing NCAA’s internal systems to identify and forestall potential misconduct.
Both agencies agreed that the collaboration would adhere to the five pillars of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2022–2026): prevention, public engagement, ethical reorientation, enforcement, and asset recovery. These principles are to be integrated into NCAA’s operations and ACTU’s programmes to foster a lasting culture of integrity.
ICPC spokesperson Mr Demola Bakare described the initiative as a landmark step that could become a model for inter-agency cooperation in other critical sectors. He stressed that the aviation industry, as a vital contributor to national development and international image, must uphold the highest standards of probity and service delivery.
