The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, has called for greater judicial support to strengthen the understanding and application of laws governing contractual agreements in Nigeria’s aviation sector, particularly the Cape Town Convention (CTC).
The Cape Town Convention comprises the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment (2001) and the Protocol to the Convention on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment.
Najomo made the appeal on Wednesday evening during the grand finale of the International CTC Moot Court held at the Federal High Court, Abuja, under the auspices of the CTC Academic Project.
Represented by the NCAA Director of Operations, Licensing, and Training, Captain Donald Tonye Spiff, Najomo said the CTC has improved Nigeria’s reputation among global aircraft lessors and strengthened investor confidence in the aviation business.
“The CTC has actually put Nigeria in a better perspective to aircraft lessors and general aviation business in Nigeria,” he said.
He explained that the programme was designed to familiarise students, academics, and judges with the practical application of the CTC through simulated judicial exercises involving complex hypothetical scenarios.
Najomo noted that before Nigeria adopted the CTC, many aircraft manufacturers and leasing companies were reluctant to do business in the country.
“Through the efforts of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), we are now in the good books of these organisations. This enlightenment programme tells the world that we are ready for business,” he added.
The DG commended the law students who participated in the competition for their impressive performance, describing their brilliance as a testament to Nigeria’s growing capacity in the legal and aviation sectors.
In his remarks, Jeffrey Wool, Secretary-General of the Aviation Working Group (AWG) and Co-Director of the CTC Academic Project, expressed delight over the successful hosting of the first Nigerian international CTC moot court.
“The CTC is a very important international treaty, ratified by Nigeria. The moot court introduces students and the legal system to this all-important treaty,” Wool said, adding that the Federal High Court had recently issued a practice direction for handling CTC-related cases.
The event simulated a real courtroom experience with two opposing student legal teams from the University of Benin and the University of Lagos, supervised by Justices Binta Nyako (presiding), Joyce Abdulmalik, and James Omotosho.
In the final results, Osauyi Temiloluwa Agbonwaneten of the University of Benin emerged first in advocacy, while Adedayo Michael from the University of Lagos came second. Falodun Daniel (UNILAG) and Bawi Toluwaleyi Testimony (UNIBEN) finished third and fourth, respectively.
A total of 18 universities from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones participated in the preliminary rounds, with UNIBEN and UNILAG emerging as the top two teams to compete in the grand finale held on November 12.
