The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the licences of two ValueJet pilots following a serious safety breach at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Mr. Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection.
According to the authority, the incident occurred at the Domestic Terminal of the airport on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, and involved a ValueJet aircraft crew initiating departure procedures without mandatory pre-departure clearance.
“In response to the report of this safety breach, the Authority has taken immediate enforcement action by suspending the licences of the pilot, Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the co-pilot, First Officer Ivan Oloba, with immediate effect,” the statement said.
The suspension will remain in effect pending the outcome of a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
Preliminary findings revealed that the pilot’s failure to obtain proper clearance before departure endangered the safety of ground personnel and other airport users, a violation of both national aviation regulations and international safety protocols.
The NCAA stressed that it views the incident with the utmost seriousness and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards across the nation’s airspace.
“The Authority remains resolute in ensuring compliance with safety protocols by all operators in the Nigerian aviation industry,” the statement concluded.
