The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered the grounding of a privately operated aircraft, and suspended the operator’s Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) after it landed on a roadway near Asaba, before departing the area without regulatory clearance.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning in the Ogwashi-Uku area, close to Asaba Airport.

In a statement by its director of public affairs and consumer protection, Michael Achimugu, the aviation industry regulator said preliminary information showed the aircraft encountered difficulties during an attempt to land at Asaba Airport, and subsequently executed a missed approach.

“Reports from officials at the scene indicate that all occupants exited the aircraft safely and were conveyed to Asaba by road,” Mr Achimugu said.

According to the NCAA, the aircraft had four crew members on board at the time of the incident.

The regulator, however, expressed concern that the aircraft later took off from the location and returned to Lagos, without securing the required approval from aviation authorities.

Traffic control officials were informed only after the aircraft had already departed, the authority noted, an action it described as a breach of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.

The NCAA has directed that the aircraft be grounded immediately on its arrival in Lagos, and has placed the flight crew under regulatory review pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.

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It disclosed that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been notified of the development, adding that it is teaming up with relevant stakeholders, including the aircraft operator and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), to ascertain the circumstances surrounding both the landing and the subsequent departure.

The investigation will examine the aircraft’s operational records, airworthiness status, maintenance history and other flight-related documentation, with the possibility of taking additional enforcement measures in the event that violations of aviation rules are established.

The incident comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny in the Nigerian aviation sector, where authorities have repeatedly emphasised the need for strict compliance with safety procedures and operational regulations.

The NCAA said it remains committed to ensuring the highest standards of safety, security and regulatory compliance within the industry.

The Plateau State Government, in collaboration with the World Bank under the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme, has commenced a two-day orientation and induction workshop for newly absorbed NG-CARES staff into the state civil service.

The workshop, organised by the Plateau State CARES Coordinating Unit (PL-SCCU), is holding from Wednesday, June 10 to Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Millennium International Conference Centre, opposite Solomon Lar Amusement Park, Jos.

The programme, which also featured participants drawn from various backgrounds, is aimed at integrating contract staff into the formal civil service structure while strengthening their understanding of public service rules, ethics, and performance expectations.

Speaking during the opening session, the State Coordinator of NG-CARES, Dr. Haggai Gutap, said the absorption of staff into the civil service was a deliberate policy by the state government to retain trained human capital and avoid the recurrent loss of skilled personnel after programme cycles.

He explained that previous World Bank-supported interventions often relied on contract staff who were disengaged after project completion, leading to the loss of institutional capacity. According to him, the current approach ensures sustainability and continuity in governance.

“This set of people have been trained over the years, and letting them go would mean incurring losses as a state. The Governor believes in human capital development and has approved their absorption to retain their expertise,” he said.

Dr. Gutap further noted that the NG-CARES programme operates on a results-based financing model, where disbursements from the World Bank are tied strictly to performance outcomes, stressing the need for efficiency, teamwork, and adherence to operational guidelines.

He added that the state is transitioning into NG-CARES 2.0, aimed at consolidating achievements and maintaining Plateau State’s leading position in programme implementation nationwide.

Delivering the keynote address, the Chairman of the Plateau State Civil Service Commission, Prof. Paul S. Wai, described the induction as a significant milestone, noting that absorption into the civil service goes beyond employment to becoming part of a structured system guided by rules, values, and institutional traditions.

He urged the new officers to uphold professionalism, integrity, accountability, loyalty, and discipline, stressing that ignorance of civil service regulations is not an excuse for non-compliance.

“The Civil Service remains the permanent machinery of government. Your success depends on your competence, dedication, and adherence to established rules and procedures,” he said.

Prof. Wai further encouraged continuous learning, merit-based progression, and result-oriented performance, noting that government expects improved service delivery and innovation from civil servants.

He also commended the administration of Governor Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for its commitment to building a professional, technology-driven civil service and for absorbing qualified NG-CARES personnel into the system.

In a goodwill message, the representative of the Head of Civil Service and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Rebecca Shaset, described the initiative as timely, noting that the civil service is governed strictly by rules and procedures.

She urged the newly inducted staff to demonstrate accountability, competence, dedication, and commitment to duty in order to build public confidence in government institutions.

“As civil servants, you must comply with the rules and show dedication to effectively deliver services to the public,” she said.

Also speaking, Mrs. Gladys Lircit Sodo, Deputy Director (Administration), Plateau State Ministry of Finance, who represented the Commissioner for Finance and Chairperson of the State Steering Committee on NG-CARES, encouraged participants to engage actively in the training, share experiences, and prepare for effective programme implementation.

She commended the organisers for equipping the new staff with the necessary orientation, describing NG-CARES as a critical intervention programme requiring commitment and readiness for impact-driven delivery.

The workshop, supported by the World Bank through World Bank and implemented under the NG-CARES framework, is expected to strengthen institutional capacity and enhance service delivery in Plateau State’s public service system.