•As NATCA says 50% IGR deduction’ll cripple NAMA’s operations
By Chinelo Obogo
The Federal Government has been urged to transition the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency’s (NAMA) navigation aids to satellite-based systems to reduce flight delays and enhance safety and security in the country’s aviation sector.
This is as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has pledged to address the outdated equipment and inadequate staffing in the sector, particularly among Air Traffic Controllers.
At the 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA), which was held in Kano on Wednesday, with theme, “Sustainability of the Renewed Hope Agenda in Aviation: The Imperative of Manpower Development and Air Navigation Service,” the president of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Abdulmunaf Sarina, stated that the current terrestrial-based navigation aids are becoming globally obsolete and called on NAMA to install Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) equipment as alternate power sources at airports and stations. He urged NAMA to develop and roll out a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) in line with international best practices for a seamless transition to the Future Air Navigation System (FANS), while retaining the terrestrial-based system as a backup.
Sarina, who chaired the occasion, emphasised the need for government policies for harmonised, business-friendly policies and a focus on upgrading aviation sector systems and procedures would enhance compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommendations and standards.
“Human factors in aviation are responsible for about 50 percent of major aircraft accidents. Adverse physical and psychological working conditions can lead to serious problems, such as an ATCO working long hours with irregular shifts suffering from fatigue, impaired judgment, and poor situational awareness. Other issues include stress, poor communication, decision errors, lack of proper planning, and overconfidence.
Manpower development is crucial to achieving the Sustainability of the Renewed Hope Agenda in Aviation,” he said.
Also speaking at the occasion, Keyamo, who was represented by Mr. Olusola Oyekunle, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, assured that the government is working to address the challenges facing the sector
and commended the NATCA leadership for their “incredible work as air traffic controllers” despite the challenges.
In his welcome address, NATCA’s president, Yomi Agoro, appealed to the Federal Government to review the policy of 50 percent deductions from
NAMA’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), arguing that these deductions hinder NAMA’s ability to fulfill its responsibilities, such as renewing and replacing critical safety equipment and adequately training the workforce.