Africa
Nigeria
NCAA — Advisory Circular NCAA-GAD-AC-002 (Unmanned Aircraft System Operations)
Nigeria classifies drones by weight tier (up to 7 kg, 7-25 kg, 25-150 kg, over 150 kg per Advisory Circular NCAA-GAD-AC-002). Registration is restricted to Nigerian citizens, residents or legal entities, and mandatory insurance applies to all operators.
Limit of 400 feet (about 122 m) above the surface, unless a specific area states otherwise. In Port Harcourt the limit drops to 300 feet under the helicopter route.
Mandatory through the NCAA's dedicated RPAS portal for drones with an operating mass above 25 kg (above 150 kg they register as a full aircraft); restricted to Nigerian citizens, residents or legal entities.
Certification requirements depend on the weight tier: up to 25 kg the regime is lighter, between 25 and 150 kg additional authorizations are needed, above 150 kg full NCAA manned-aircraft-style regulation applies.
Mandatory third-party and war-risk liability insurance for all operators, per the minimum levels set by Nigeria's insurance law; compliance is actively monitored (§6.5 of the circular).
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Visual line of sight (VLOS) within 500 m of the pilot (extendable with a safety case). Forbidden within 150 m of a congested area or open-air assembly of over 1,000 people; within 50 m of a vehicle/vessel/structure not under the operator's control or of a person (30 m if the person is part of the operation); surveillance/filming drones must stay 30 m from anyone. Recommended 5 km buffer from airports for the 7-25 kg tier.
What isn't 100% confirmed yet
Data verified against the full text of Advisory Circular NCAA-GAD-AC-002 (2nd edition, 163 pages), published by the NCAA.
Verify officially before flying
Source: NCAA — Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority
Last checked: 2026-08
Go deeper
Why registration exists
Operator registration exists for accountability: if a drone causes an incident or enters a restricted zone, the authority needs to be able to trace it back to whoever was flying it. You usually get an identification number (operator ID) to physically attach to the drone, valid for every drone the same person owns. The cost is often minimal or free, and it applies to visiting tourists too, not just residents. For Nigeria, the official reference remains NCAA — Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, also via Portale RPAS NCAA. Mandatory through the NCAA's dedicated RPAS portal for drones with an operating mass above 25 kg (above 150 kg they register as a full aircraft); restricted to Nigerian citizens, residents or legal entities.
How this usually works
Here the requirement depends on factors like the drone's weight, distance from people, or use case (recreational vs. commercial). The note above describes the most common case: if your situation is different, check the official source to see exactly which scenario applies to you before flying. The exam and certificate are handled by NCAA — Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, also via Portale RPAS NCAA. Certification requirements depend on the weight tier: up to 25 kg the regime is lighter, between 25 and 150 kg additional authorizations are needed, above 150 kg full NCAA manned-aircraft-style regulation applies.
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.