The Federal Government is set to tighten regulation around drone operations in Nigeria as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) prepares to launch a new digital portal for drone registration, operator certification and compliance management.
The portal, known as the Drone/Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS/UAS) Portal, will be officially launched during the 6th Africa International Drone Technology Conference and Exhibition (DroneTecX 2026) scheduled to hold from May 12 to May 16, 2026, at the NIGAV Expo Centre, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
In a statement released on Saturday, the NCAA said the platform represents “a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to streamline Drone/Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)/Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) regulation, promote safe drone operations, and accelerate the growth of the drone industry.”
The development signals stricter oversight for drone users across Nigeria, especially commercial operators, drone service providers, aerial photographers, logistics firms, security companies and tech startups using unmanned aircraft systems.
According to the aviation regulator, the portal will simplify drone registration, operator certification, incident reporting, ownership transfers and compliance processes through a single digital platform.
The NCAA also disclosed that operators will be able to submit documentation, upload safety case files and monitor approval status in real time under the new system.
The agency explained that the platform was developed in compliance with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs Part 21), which govern drone and unmanned aircraft operations in the country.
For many drone operators, the launch effectively means increased documentation, monitoring and possible licensing requirements before drones can be legally operated within Nigerian airspace.
The NCAA further encouraged drone users, stakeholders and service providers to visit the official RPAS portal ahead of the rollout to understand operational guidelines and compliance procedures.
The authority said attendees at DroneTecX 2026 will also receive live demonstrations and hands-on guidance on how to use the platform.
The statement was signed by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA.
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