Chris Najomo, Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has underscored the critical role of the Judiciary in advancing Nigeria’s aviation legal framework, particularly in the implementation of the Cape Town Convention (CTC).
Najomo made the call at the grand finale of the International Cape Town Convention Moot Court, held at the Federal High Court, Abuja, under the auspices of the CTC Academic Project.
Represented by Donald Tonye Spiff, Director of Operations, Licensing and Training at the NCAA, Najomo said the CTC has enhanced Nigeria’s reputation among aircraft lessors and global aviation stakeholders.
“The CTC has actually put Nigeria in a better perspective to aircraft lessors and the general aviation business. Before now, most aircraft manufacturers and leasing companies were reluctant to do business in Nigeria. But with the CTC, we now have the needed assurances,” he said.
He credited the progress to the efforts of Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, noting that Nigeria’s compliance with the treaty has improved the country’s standing in the global aviation community.
“This is an enlightenment programme to tell the world that we have arrived and we are ready to do business,” Najomo added.
Organised by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the NCAA, with support from the Aviation Working Group (AWG), the event brought together students, academics, and judges to deepen understanding of the CTC through simulated judicial exercises.
Jeffrey Wool, Secretary-General of the AWG and Co-Director of the CTC Academic Project, described the Nigerian edition of the moot court as a remarkable milestone.
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He said the exercise was aimed at introducing law students and the legal system to the treaty’s application, noting that the CTC is vital to Nigeria’s economic and aviation development.
“The Federal High Court has recently issued a practice direction on handling CTC-related cases, which is a commendable step toward effective implementation,” Wool said.
The moot court featured a simulated legal contest between teams from the University of Benin and the University of Lagos, judged by a three-member panel comprising Justices Binta Nyako (presiding), Joyce Abdulmalik, and James Omotosho.
Eighteen universities from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones participated in the preliminary rounds, with the University of Benin and the University of Lagos emerging as finalists in the competition held on November 12.
