SLAMEN Pays Courtesy Visit to NCAA DG

Press Release

SLAMEN Pays Courtesy Visit to NCAA DG

Advocates Strategic Reforms to Strengthen Aviation Safety and Local Capacity

Abuja, Nigeria • July 22, 2026

SLAMEN National Executive Council with the NCAA Director General

SLAMEN President, Engr. Muhammad Mubarak Haladu, leads the National Executive Council delegation at the NCAA headquarters, Abuja.

SLAMEN National Executive Council in session with NCAA management

The President and the National Executive Council of the Society of Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers of Nigeria (SLAMEN) paid an official courtesy visit to the Director General and Management Team of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) at the Authority's headquarters.

Led by SLAMEN President, Engr. Muhammad Mubarak Haladu, the delegation engaged the regulatory leadership in strategic discussions aimed at advancing aviation safety, upholding professional standards, protecting local content, and encouraging sustainable growth within Nigeria's aircraft maintenance subsector.

Engr. Haladu emphasized that SLAMEN — a legally recognized professional body — remains deeply committed to supporting the regulator through institutional collaboration, intelligence sharing, and technical expertise.

Key Issues & Reform Proposals Presented by SLAMEN

iDevelopment of Indigenous MRO Facilities

SLAMEN urged the NCAA to champion a national policy encouraging the establishment of world-class Approved Maintenance Organizations (AMOs) and Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facilities in Nigeria, and to boost support for existing ones. The Society noted that the billions currently spent on overseas maintenance deprive the nation of job opportunities, technology transfer, foreign exchange retention, and local capacity growth.

iiPreservation of AME License & Qualification Standards

Expressing concern over the perceived dilution of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) licensing process, SLAMEN requested a comprehensive review of licensing policies — recommending that candidates for the ICAO License Preparatory Course (LPC) and NCAA examinations be restricted to holders of Higher National Diplomas (HND) or Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) degrees in Aircraft Maintenance, Aeronautics, or Aerospace Engineering.

iiiRegulation of Aviation Training Organizations (ATOs)

The delegation urged stricter NCAA oversight of ATOs through frequent audits, standardized training, and rigorous instructor monitoring. SLAMEN further called for the immediate suspension or cancellation of the Basic Aircraft Technician Course (BATCO) due to weak entry requirements, advocating that the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria's ICAO-standard course serve as the benchmark pathway.

ivForeign License Validations & Expatriate Quotas

SLAMEN advocated for tighter controls on foreign license validations and expatriate employment to protect local content, emphasizing that expatriate engagements must be strictly based on genuine technical needs and tied to mandatory, structured knowledge-transfer programs for Nigerian engineers.

vFatigue Management & Duty Time Limitations

Highlighting the safety risks associated with fatigue and night-shift overuse by certain operators, SLAMEN requested a review of maintenance duty periods in line with global human-factors ("12 Dirty Dozen") requirements, offering intelligence collaboration to help curb personnel exploitation.

viMandatory Type-Rating & Recurrent Training

To address instances where Approved Maintenance Organizations (AMOs) withhold required type-rating or recurrent training, SLAMEN requested that these mandatory requirements be formally integrated into the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations via the Regulation Review Board — aligning them with the standards already applied to Pilots.

viiFormal NCAA–SLAMEN Liaison Framework

To ensure continuous engagement, SLAMEN proposed establishing a formal liaison framework with the NCAA, designating a specific office to facilitate regular consultation, information exchange, and joint policy development. Engr. Edwin Obi was officially appointed SLAMEN’s NCAA liaison by the DG NCAA.

“Our requests today are not driven by personal interests, but by a shared desire to strengthen aviation safety, protect professional standards, develop local capacity, and position Nigeria as a leading aviation hub in Africa.”
Engr. Muhammad Mubarak Haladu — SLAMEN President

NCAA Director General’s Response

The Director General received all requests positively, promising swift action on AMO/ATO audits, personnel licensing review, and the protection of local content for domestic Maintenance Engineers. He confirmed that the matter of type-rating for engineers within the regulations would be referred to the Regulatory Review Board for necessary action, and described Engineers as “the unsung heroes of the industry,” commending their role in ensuring the safety of flights. The meeting closed at about 1:40 pm.

For inquiries: info@slamen.com • slamenng2019@gmail.com