By Our Reporter
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has begun a far-reaching audit of the nation’s air navigation facilities as part of efforts to strengthen safety, efficiency, and international compliance in airspace management.
In a press release signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Abdullahi Musa, on Tuesday, he stated that the exercise, which kicked off Tuesday, will cover Nigeria’s four major international airports — Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt — alongside Enugu, Maiduguri, and several state and private aerodromes. The audit will also extend to Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) infrastructure across the country.
According to NAMA, the evaluation seeks to assess the state of Air Traffic Services (ATS), CNS facilities, Aeronautical Information Management (AIM), Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, while identifying gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement. The review will benchmark operations against the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as well as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).
Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar, described the audit as a landmark in the agency’s 25-year history, noting that it would prepare Nigeria for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) Certification, the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Coordinated Validation Mission, and the Regional Office Safety Team (ROST) Mission.
“This audit is more than a compliance check. It is a declaration of our resolve to constantly improve, to measure ourselves against the highest global standards, and to guarantee that every flight in Nigeria’s airspace is managed with the utmost safety and efficiency,” Engr. Umar said.
He added that the exercise was not only aimed at reflecting on past achievements but also strategically charting the future of airspace management under the Renewed Hope Agenda. “The safety and efficiency of our airspace is non-negotiable,” he stressed.
To drive the process, Umar inaugurated a FIR Audit Committee headed by Ahmad Abba, NAMA’s Director of Special Duties. Members of the committee, drawn from air traffic services, CNS/ATM systems, AIM, safety management, and SAR units, are expected to work closely with industry stakeholders, regulators, and frontline staff to ensure a rigorous and transparent evaluation.
NAMA said the outcome of the audit will reinforce Nigeria’s credibility in the global aviation community and showcase the nation’s aviation system as a benchmark of operational excellence and innovation in Africa.