Nigeria has been warned against the impeding loss of her airspace surveillance service.
The warning was given by the Managing Director of Nigeriann Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr Farouk Ahmed Umar during the familiarisation visit of the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mahmoud Adam Kambari to the Abuja headquarters of the agency.
He expressed the fear that obsolete state of Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) equipment and the difficulties ar getting spare parts for its maintenance are the main reason for raising the alarm.
The Chief Executive Officer at NAMA who explained that the life span of such important high-tech equipment is usually ten years, however said the TRACON technologyhas gone out of fashion since 2014 prompting countries around the world begin migration to more sophisticated and advanced technology.
He emphasised that providing air navigation services in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements might be a challenge if urgent steps are not taken immediately to upgrade the TRACON.
The TRACON project, a crucial, multibillion-naira project was commissioned in 2010 to enhance air safety by providing full radar surveillance across Nigerian airspace.
The project involves nine radar sites maintained by NAMA in partnership with Thales of France, designed to track and identify aircraft in real-time by combining Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR) and Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) for monitoring, identifying, and controlling air traffic to enhance safety.
Outlining challenges, ongoing projects and planned projects of NAMA, Farouk said: “Our area of urgent attention include the ATS surveillance service. The TRACON System has aged (deployment started in 2008; completed in 2010). The Components are becoming obsolete with no spare parts. Most parts are working without back-up. The airspace is at the risk of losing surveillance service.”
The NAMA Managing Director listed other challenges faced by the agency to include the lack of federal government budgetary provisions for safety critical projects, high operational cost due to depreciating value of the naira, 30 per cent federal government deduction from NAMA internally generated revenue (IGR), which he said has impeded NAMA from meeting its critical obligations.
Others, according to the NAMA CEO, are inadequate operational and technical manpower to cope with increasing demand for air navigation services, inadequate training for operational and technical personnel due to paucity of funds, high level of indebtedness by airlines and state owned airports.
“Since 2008 we have been charging the same amount of N11,000 per aircraft for each flight operation, yet we are met with blackmail each time we want to increase the charges. N11, 000 is no longer realistic, yet the airport must remain serviceable.
“We must sustain our equipment and we spend a huge amount of our funds on Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS),” he lamented.
Responding, the Permanent reaffirmed commitment the Ministry to working closely with its agencies, describing them as critical partners in achieving national aviation objectives.
He assured NAMA of his readiness to support its mandates and promote a unified approach to sectoral development.
Kambari who underscored the importance of reinstating regular top management meetings involving the Minister, the Permanent Secretary, Directors, and heads of aviation agencies noted that such engagements would serve as a strategic platform for addressing sectoral challenges and advancing sustainable solutions
He also emphasised that his leadership would prioritise collaboration, staff welfare, and operational safety, stressing that a motivated workforce is essential for optimal performance.
Also, he called for timely staff promotions across agencies to boost staff morale and prevent stagnation.
“We will continue to support all agencies to succeed, ensuring that Nigeria’s aviation industry remains a key economic driver and a hub of global connectivity,” he stated.
He however, urged staff across the agencies to remain dedicated, loyal, and supportive of their leadership in order to achieve organisational mandates effectively.
The Permanent Secretary commended the Managing Director of NAMA, describing him as a seasoned professional whose leadership is vital to the growth of the sector.
He reiterated the commitment of the Minister to aligning Nigeria’s aviation industry with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.
While expressing satisfaction with Nigeria’s current ICAO rating, Kambari charged the agencies to intensify efforts towards improved performance in subsequent evaluation cycles.
