Nigerian Aviation Training College Faces Simulator, Funding Challenges Despite ICAO Platinum Status

The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria is grappling with equipment and funding constraints despite holding ICAO platinum status as a regional training centre.

Dr Danjuma Ismaila, NCAT's rector, told Nigerian aviation journalist Olusegun Koiki that a Boeing 737NG simulator acquired several years ago remains largely non-operational. 

Whilst 80 per cent of technical issues have been resolved remotely with the original equipment manufacturer, the remaining repairs require on-site attendance. The Canadian manufacturer has cited security concerns and demanded additional assessments before deploying engineers to Nigeria.

"I don't know why they are scared, because there are other facilities that we have. People from the United Kingdom came and fixed them," Dr Ismaila said, noting that other OEMs service NCAT equipment without security objections.

The college has also received only nine of 20 Diamond trainer aircraft contracted several years ago due to funding constraints. The delivered aircraft remain underutilised because aviation fuel costs exceed student fee revenues.

NCAT recently received approval for a 50 per cent fee increase, raising commercial pilot licence training from N23 million to N34 million (approximately $22,000). Dr Ismaila noted this remains significantly below the $75,000 charged by Ethiopian Aviation University for comparable training.

The institution has secured funding through Nigeria's Tertiary Education Trust Fund and is pursuing additional government support whilst expanding international student recruitment from South Africa, Niger, Egypt, and South Sudan.

NCAT operates six training schools covering flying, aircraft maintenance, telecommunications engineering, air traffic services, aviation management, and airport engineering, running over 200 courses annually.

Click here for the full interview with with Olusegun Koiki