Panic as bird strikes hit Lagos Airport, Port Harcourt, others

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has expressed serious concern over the increasing frequency of bird strikes at several key airports across the country, including Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, in Lagos, Port Harcourt International Airport, Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport in Owerri, and Akwa Ibom Airport.

Engineer Godwin Balang, Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards at the NCAA, disclosed that MMIA alone recorded four separate bird strike incidents on Runway 18R in a single day in 2025, a worrying development that underscores growing safety risks within the nation’s airspace.

The NCAA attributes the surge in bird strikes largely to poor waste disposal practices and unregulated vegetation growth around airport environments.

Balang assured that the Authority is intensifying surveillance and monitoring efforts to detect and address such hazards promptly, in alignment with national and international safety protocols.

To mitigate the risks, the NCAA has issued comprehensive advisory circulars to guide aerodrome operators in adhering to wildlife and bird strike mitigation standards. In addition, it continues to review and approve Wildlife Hazard Management Plans (WHMPs) submitted by airports across the country.

Balang further noted that the NCAA’s strategic response is anchored on eight globally recognized safety oversight principles, which will shape the agency’s nationwide efforts in wildlife and bird strike management moving forward.

“The first element involves the legal foundation. NCAA already has sufficient powers through legislation to create enforceable aviation regulations when needed,” Balang said.

“For the second element, Balang said the updated Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2023 Part 12 compel airports to maintain Wildlife Hazard Management Plans.

”These plans are modelled on ICAO Annex 14 and detailed in the Airport Services Manual Doc. 9137, which addresses wildlife collision risks.”

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the acquisition of advanced bird control equipment aimed at mitigating bird strike risks at high-traffic airports, particularly the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

Responding to the development, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, affirmed that bird strike prevention remains a top priority for the agency.

He noted that NCAA inspectors have received extensive training in wildlife hazard management, with some officials undergoing advanced courses at the University of Missouri, USA, to enhance their capacity in addressing the issue.