[1][2] The ministry is responsible for formulation and management of the government's aviation policies in Nigeria.
It is directly responsible for overseeing air transportation, airport development and maintenance, provision of aviation infrastructural services and other needs.
The ministry is headed by a Minister appointed by the President, assisted by a Permanent Secretary, who is a career civil servant.
[6] Previously the ministry's Civil Aviation Department investigated aircraft accidents.
As part of the Civil Aviation Act of 2006, the AIB became an autonomous agency, the Accident Investigation Bureau.