Nigeria, Ghana Sign MoU On Aircraft Search, Rescue Operations

By EJIKE EJIKE

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, have signed a landmark cooperation agreement relating to search and rescue operations for aircraft in distress between the Republic of Ghana and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Director-general, Civil Aviation, Nigeria Capt. Chris Ona Najomo signed on behalf of the Nigerian government whilst the director general, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Rev Stephen Wilfred Arthur, signed on behalf of the Ghanaian government.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abuja, Capt. Najomo said the MoU strengthens both countries collective aeronautical search and rescue architecture and deepens operational cooperation between the two sister countries.

Najomo further stated that search and rescue operations for aircraft in distress is not merely a regulatory requirement under ICAO Annex 12; but a fundamentally a humanitarian obligation and a moral responsibility shared by all states that participate in international civil aviation.

He highlighted that when aircraft are in distress, time becomes the most critical factor in saving lives, and effective cooperation between neighbouring states becomes indispensable.

He also affirmed the initiative aligns with the aviation development agenda of the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo which prioritises strengthened safety oversight, enhanced operational capability, and deeper regional collaboration across Africa’s aviation sector.

According to Capt. Najomo, “the agreement also operationalises key provisions of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) by establishing clear procedures for alert notification, coordination between rescue coordination centres, mutual assistance, and collaborative response during search and rescue operations within our respective search and rescue regions.

“Through this framework, Nigeria and Ghana are strengthening mechanisms for rapid response, seamless cross-border coordination, and effective emergency preparedness, ensuring that aircraft and persons in distress within our region can benefit from timely and coordinated rescue efforts.”

It would be noted that this agreement further reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to fulfilling its international aviation safety obligations, while strengthening the national safety management ecosystem.

It also contributes positively to Nigeria’s preparedness under the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA), particularly in areas related to emergency response planning and state safety oversight.