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Aviation · Nigeria

Register a drone / obtain an RPAS permit (NCAA)

Register a drone (≥250 g) and, for commercial use, obtain an RPAS operating permit from the NCAA via the RPAS portal.

3
steps
1
agency involved
Who you will deal with
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
The steps
  1. 1Register the drone (RPA/UAV)
    Agency
    Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
    What is required
    All drones weighing 250 g or more must be registered on the NCAA RPAS Portal (recreational, commercial, institutional or foreign-owned).
    Documents
    Drone specifications; owner details; proof of ownership
    Typical timeline
    Via RPAS portal
  2. 2Apply for the commercial RPAS operating permit
    Agency
    Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
    What is required
    Commercial operations (photography, mapping, event coverage, monitoring, etc.) need an RPAS Operator Certificate. Submit an Operations Manual (SOPs, safety, emergency, maintenance) and a third-party liability Insurance Certificate.
    Documents
    Operations Manual; insurance certificate; registration
    Typical timeline
    Per Nig. CARs Part 21
  3. 3Pay fees and obtain the permit
    Agency
    Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
    What is required
    Pay the applicable fee (approximately ₦10,000-₦50,000 depending on classification and use) per the NCAA Schedule of Fees; the permit is issued on approval.
    Documents
    Fee payment
    Typical timeline
    On approval

Primary source: https://rpas.ncaa.gov.ng/ · confidence: high

Also in aviation
Obtain an Air Operator Certificate (airline)Obtain an aviation ground-handling licence (NCAA)

The numbers behind the decision

Knowing the process is half of it. ONYX also tracks the operating environment you are entering — daily grid generation, official FX, state-level input prices and inflation, and sector output — each figure source-linked and dated.

ONYX publishes what the responsible agencies publish, with a link to each source. Requirements, fees and timelines change, and an officer's reading of a rule can differ from the published text. Verify against the linked source before you commit money — this is reference information, not legal advice.

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