Nigeria National Security Adviser has Raised Alarm After Max Air aircraft Sighted Flying Over Presidential Villa In a concerning development, the National Security Adviser (NSA) issued an urgent warning regarding an unidentified aircraft spotted flying over the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The NSA warned all airline operators against flying into restricted and prohibited areas. The incident, has raised significant security concerns. According to a leaked letter posted on social media platform X by award winning investigative journalist, David Hundeyin, addressed to Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, warned that any such violation shall be liable to sanctions.
The letter reads; WARNING TO ALL OPERATORS AGAINST FLYING INTO RESTRICTED AND PROHIBITED AREAS BACKGROUND:
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority in receipt of a letter from the office of the National Security Adviser reporting a sighting of an unknown aircraft flying over the Presidential Villa (DNP4).
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority wishes to refer to part 8.8.1.21 of Nig. CARs 2023, which states that “No person may operate an aircraft in a prohibited area or in a restricted area, the particulars of which have been duly prohibited except in accordance with the conditions of the restriction or by permission of the state over whose territory the areas are established”.
Any such violation shall be liable to sanction, prosecution, or both by the Authority. In addition, the intruding aircraft may risk being met with dire consequences.
ACTION REQUIRED:
All Aircraft Owners and All Operators should advice their crew to obtain thorough weather briefing before flight and adhere strictly to ATC instructions to avoid flight into restricted or prohibited areas.
The Nigerian government has disclosed the identity and details of the aircraft recently seen flying over Aso Rock, the presidential villa causing panic for government officials was a Max Air flight, Nigeria .
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had affirmed that there was no security threat to Aso Rock, the Nigeria’s seat of power
The airline mentioned in this memo was Max Air flying into Abuja from Kano,” a top source confirmed . The warning by the NCAA was contained in a statement by Captain Chris Najomo, Acting Director General of Civil Aviation. Najomo had said the incident prompted the NCAA to reiterate the critical regulations governing Nigerian airspace, citing Part 8.8.1.21 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARS) 2023.
The release partly states, “No person may operate an aircraft in a prohibited area or in a restricted area, the particulars of which have been duly published, except in accordance with the conditions of the restriction or by permission of the state over whose territory the areas are established.” The statement addressed to all aircraft operators and other aviation in a letter dated April 16, 2024 and with reference number NCAA/DGCA/AIR/11/16/319 reads,
“The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority received a letter from the office of the National Security Adviser reporting a sighting of an unknown aircraft flying over the presidential Villa (DNP4). “The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority wishes to refer to Part 8.8.1.21 of Nig. CARS 2023, which states that ‘No person may operate an aircraft in a prohibited area or in a restricted area, the particulars of which have been duly published, except in accordance with the conditions of the restriction or by permission of the state over whose territory the areas are established.’
. In addition, the intruding aircraft may risk being met with dire consequences.” “This AOL is applicable to all Operators operating in the Nigerian Airspace,” the NCAA added. It further noted, “All Aircraft Owners and All Operators should advise their Crew to obtain thorough weather briefing before flight and adhere strictly to ATC instructions to avoid flight into restricted or prohibited areas.” However, Capt. Najomo highlighted the consequences of such violations, warning, “Any such violation shall be liable to sanction, prosecution or both by the Authority.
In addition, the intruding aircraft may risk being met with dire consequences.” However, giving some clarification in an interview, Najomo, explained that “there was no security threat to Aso Rock,” insisting that the directive was not new. “The reason the authority wrote to those airlines is because the plane was identified as being from an airline so it was a routine reminder or advisory to say look be careful around restricted areas and all of that,”
Najomo said. “We call it an ‘all operators letter’. It is stated clearly in the header and it is a public document on our website,” he said. “Anybody can go there to find it there. And there was nothing out of normal routine about that letter and the events that necessitated us writing it. “So someone is coming out and presenting it as though they have carried out some investigative work, as though it’s a secret document,” he said. “If you simply Google search, it will show that similar incidents have happened even around the White House. “Sometimes the way planes take off from the airport, for certain reasons, weight, weather and the rest, sometimes they stray before they achieve balance mid-air and by the time they achieve that balance, they might be finding themselves around the villa.” But that he said does not mean or suggest in any way the airline had breached security at the Aso Rock.
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