The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) says Nigeria airspace is at the risk of losing its surveillance services due to the obsolete state of the total radar coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) system.
The managing director of NAMA, Farouk Ahmed Umar raised the concern while briefing the permanent secretary of the ministry of aviation and aerospace development, Mahmoud Adam Kambari during a familiarisation visit to the agency in Abuja.
He explained that the life span of such important high-tech equipment is usually ten years but said since 2014 the TRACON equipment began to go out of fashion as countries around the world began to migrate to more sophisticated and advanced technology.
Umar said the challenge stems from the ageing TRACON equipment and the difficulty in sourcing spare parts, noting that the technology has become outdated.
He explained that such high-tech equipment typically has a lifespan of about 10 years, adding that Nigeria’s TRACON began to fall behind global standards from 2014 as countries migrated to more advanced systems.
According to the NAMA MD, the situation could cause a challenge in providing air navigation services in line with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) if urgent upgrades are not undertaken.
The TRACON project, an initiative commissioned in 2001, was designed to enhance air safety through full radar surveillance across Nigerian airspace.
The system comprises nine radar sites operated by NAMA in partnership with Thales Group, combining primary and secondary surveillance radar to monitor, identify, and control air traffic to enhance safety.
“Our area of urgent attention includes 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,” Umar said.
The NAMA MD listed some of the challenges faced by the agency to include the lack of federal government budgetary provisions for safety critical projects, high operational cost due to value of the naira, 30 percent federal government deduction from NAMA internally generated revenue (IGR), which he said is impeding NAMA from meeting its critical obligations.
Others 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 airports.
He said “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.
Speaking during the visit, the Permanent Secretary reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working closely with its agencies, describing them as critical partners in achieving national aviation objectives.
He assured NAMA of his readiness to support their mandates and promote a unified approach to sectoral development.
Kambari emphasised that his administration would prioritise collaboration, staff welfare, and operational safety, stressing that a motivated workforce is essential for optimal performance. He also called for timely staff promotions across agencies to prevent stagnation and boost morale.
“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 further urged staff across the agencies to remain dedicated, loyal, and supportive of their leadership in order to achieve organisational mandates effectively.
Kambari commended the Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar, 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.
