The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau have issued renewed warnings about poor coordination and safety lapses on airport aprons nationwide, cautioning that these deficiencies endanger lives, aircraft, and the integrity of Nigeria’s aviation system.

The alert follows United Nigeria Airlines’ decision to ground one of its planes after a bird strike, an incident that disrupted several scheduled flights and highlighted the critical need for strict adherence to aviation safety standards.

Speaking at the Aircraft Marshaller Consultative Forum and Joint Apron Stakeholders Operations Workshop in Lagos on Wednesday, NCAA Director-General Chris Najomo stated that airport apron incidents cost the global aviation industry billions of dollars annually and result in injuries to hundreds of thousands of people.

“Nigeria must not ignore the lessons written in damaged aircraft and preventable injuries,” Najomo warned.

Airport aprons, narrow stretches of tarmac where aircraft, personnel, and heavy equipment operate in close quarters, have increasingly become focal points for safety concerns.

Regulators noted that issues such as congestion during passenger boarding and weak coordination among ground teams have long signaled potential risks.

Speaking on behalf of NCAA D-G, Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards Ahmad Abba described the apron as the nerve centre of airport operations, a high-risk environment where pilots, marshallers, engineers, fuelers, ground handlers, and air traffic controllers must work in flawless coordination.

He said, “Any breakdown in discipline or communication here is not a minor operational flaw. It is a serious threat that can undermine efficiency, safety, and public confidence in air travel.”

Abba revealed that recent NCAA inspections have uncovered troubling practices at Nigerian airports, including passengers boarding during refuelling, overcrowded aprons before departures, aircraft parked outside designated bays, shortages of trained marshallers, and weak coordination between apron teams and airfield operations.

“These practices leave airports vulnerable to avoidable accidents and costly disruptions,” he states.

Abba added that apron operations would continue to be a key focus of the regulator’s enforcement efforts.

He called on industry stakeholders to move past rhetoric and adopt practical measures to improve daily operations and support regulatory actions, while committing to ongoing collaboration with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, and ground handling companies.