By Chinelo Obogo
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), has said the country’s airspace is protected and fully covered by radar
Reacting to comments made during a television programme by an investigative journalist who said that the country’s airspace is unsafe, the Managing Director of the agency, Umar Farouk, said the statement is false and misleading.
The agency said the radar stations in Nigeria (Kano, Lagos, Abuja, and Port-Harcourt) are serviceable and radar services for terminals and enroute flights are positively identified and provide air navigation services to airspace users. It however said the TRACON system is undergoing an upgrade of software and modernisation to meet the ever growing demand for efficient, effective and seamless air traffic management services.
On the welfare of Air Traffic Controllers (ATC’s), the agency said the prompt payment of salaries and allowances is not in contention and that it prides itself at ensuring sustainable welfare packages for all members of staff.
On reports of an “unidentified” that was seen hovering over Aso Rock, the agency said it is a security terminology and that the aircraft in question is known, but only to the ATCs. It explained that the violation was in the interest of safety, as a result of adverse weather (serious thunderstorm) on the said date.
It also explained that the circular issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to that effect was for airlines to be guided from straying into the marked and published prohibited or restricted areas of the Nigerian airspace.
“The agency shall willfully volunteer information on her services to anyone who requires them at any time. NAMA remains committed to her responsibility to provide safe, effective, economic, and efficient air navigation services in Nigeria. The existence of robust, effective civil / military coordination and collaboration guarantees a secured airspace and air navigation. We are pleased to say that the Nigerian airspace is safe and secured,” Farouk said.