Nigeria Records 91.45% ICAO Safety Compliance Score — Keyamo

…As NAMA moves to overhaul ageing radar systems, acquires ADS-B equipment

Nigeria has recorded an Effective Implementation (EI) score of 91.45 per cent in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Coordinated Validation Mission, representing a significant improvement from 70.12 per cent recorded in 2023.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this at the 55th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) in Lagos, where he credited aviation agencies, service providers, training institutions and air traffic controllers with the improved safety performance.

Keyamo said the achievement reflected sustained efforts to strengthen aviation safety standards, improve regulatory compliance and build institutional capacity across the industry.

He particularly acknowledged NATCA’s contribution, noting that its fatigue risk management training programme, organised in partnership with United ATS during its previous AGM, helped improve operational safety.

“In April, ICAO’s Coordinated Validation Mission recorded an Effective Implementation score of 91.45 per cent for Nigeria, up from 70.12 per cent in 2023.

“The credit is shared by the regulator, the service providers, the training institutions and our air traffic controllers. The President has pointed out that NATCA’s fatigue risk management training, delivered with United ATS at last year’s AGM, contributed to it,” the minister said.

The minister also disclosed that Nigeria received its 20-year Civil Aviation Master Plan, covering the 2025–2045 period, from ICAO in April, describing it as a long-term framework for guiding the development of the country’s aviation industry.

According to him, the master plan provides direction for critical areas, including air navigation infrastructure, workforce development and the overall expansion of aviation services.

On concerns over ageing air navigation equipment and deteriorating communication facilities, Keyamo acknowledged the challenges confronting air traffic controllers, assuring that the Federal Government had commenced steps to address them.

He disclosed that the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) system had outlived its design life, adding that President Bola Tinubu had approved its overhaul.

Pending the completion of the overhaul, he said the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) had commenced the deployment of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipment as a backup surveillance system.

He further revealed that new Very High Frequency (VHF) radios and Voice Communication and Control Systems (VCCS) for 14 sites had successfully passed factory acceptance testing in Norway.

According to him, construction had also commenced on a new NAMA headquarters and Air Traffic Management Centre in Abuja, which would bring the Lagos and Kano Area Control Centres under one roof.

“Mr. President, I take seriously the frustration of controllers who, in your words, sit daily before broken screens and failing frequencies.

“The Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria system has outlived its design life, and Mr. President has approved its overhaul. While that work continues, NAMA has begun deploying ADS-B as a surveillance backup.

“New VHF radios and voice communication and control systems for fourteen sites have passed factory acceptance testing in Norway. In Abuja, work has begun on a new NAMA headquarters and Air Traffic Management Centre, which will bring the Lagos and Kano Area Control Centres under one roof,” he said.

The minister’s assurances came amid growing concerns by NATCA over the state of air navigation infrastructure and the association’s warning that its members could withdraw operational services if the government failed to address the challenges.

Responding, Keyamo acknowledged the controllers’ concerns but urged them to sustain engagement with the government through dialogue rather than resort to industrial action that could disrupt flight operations and inconvenience passengers.

“Mr. President, you described your position as a call and not a threat, and I accept it in that spirit. In return, I ask that we keep resolving our differences through dialogue, without disrupting services to the travelling public,” he said.

Beyond infrastructure, the minister addressed concerns over the prolonged career stagnation of experienced air traffic controllers, disclosing that some officers had remained on Grade Level 16 for more than 14 years without promotion.

He warned that such stagnation could undermine morale in a safety-critical profession, particularly given the responsibilities of experienced controllers in managing complex air traffic operations and training younger personnel.

Keyamo said he would direct the Permanent Secretary and NAMA management to examine the career structure of air traffic controllers, including the possibility of progression beyond Grade Level 16.

“You have told us that some of our most experienced air traffic controllers have remained on Grade Level 16 for more than 14 years without promotion. These officers handle our most complex traffic and train the controllers who follow them.

“They deserve better after so many years of service, and the more than 100 controllers now in training will judge the profession partly by how these officers are treated.

“Promotion follows established public-service procedures, and I will not prejudge the outcome. Stagnation of this length still damages morale in a safety-critical profession, and it has to be addressed.

“I will ask the Permanent Secretary and NAMA Management to examine the career structure for air traffic controllers, including progression beyond Grade Level 16, and to advise me,” he said.

He also called for a review of the retirement arrangements for experienced controllers, arguing that Nigeria must retain valuable professional expertise while developing new manpower to meet the growing demands of the aviation industry.

The minister said the country could not afford to lose experienced personnel faster than it could train replacements, particularly in a profession where operational experience was critical to safety.

On staff welfare, Keyamo acknowledged progress in the review of basic salaries and the correction of the Post-Licence Allowance but identified the general Conditions of Service and review of Professional Allowance as outstanding issues.

He urged NAMA management to conclude the outstanding matters within its lawful financial capacity.

“On other welfare matters, I note the progress the President acknowledged, including the review of the basic salary and the correction of the Post-Licence Allowance.

“Two items are still outstanding: the general Conditions of Service and the review of the Professional Allowance. I urge NAMA Management to conclude them within its lawful means and without further delay,” he said.

Keyamo also addressed concerns surrounding the appointment process for the Head of the Area/Airways Department at the Air Traffic Services and Communications School of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, stressing the need for transparent and approved procedures in the management of aviation training institutions.

He commended NATCA for its training partnerships, webinar series and the hosting of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA)/International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) workshop in Lagos.

The minister also welcomed the association’s ambition to become an Approved Training Organisation, saying its involvement in professional training could help address manpower shortages in the sector.

He congratulated Mallam Ahmad Abba on his re-election as IFATCA Executive Vice President for Africa and the Middle East.

Keyamo further commended NATCA for completing and commissioning its Secretariat and Guest House, a project that had remained under construction for about 29 years before being completed in less than six months.

He said adequate rest facilities for air traffic controllers were important to operational safety, welcoming the association’s plan to establish similar facilities at major airports and NCAT, Zaria.

The minister stressed that the future of air traffic management would increasingly depend on cooperation among aviation agencies, particularly in data sharing and coordinated decision-making.

“Air traffic management in Nigeria will depend more and more on agencies sharing data and making decisions together. Government will do its part, and I ask NATCA to keep doing its part with the professionalism you show at the console every day,” he said.

Meanwhile, NAMA said it had acquired ADS-B equipment and commenced plans for a comprehensive overhaul of its ageing radar systems as part of efforts to strengthen airspace surveillance and improve aviation safety.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of NAMA, Engr. Ahmed Umar Farouk, disclosed this at the AGM, where he said the acquisition of the surveillance equipment marked a significant step towards improving the agency’s surveillance capabilities, situational awareness and efficiency of air traffic management.

Farouk, who was represented by the Director of Air Traffic Services, Mr Tayo John, said the agency was also pursuing a comprehensive overhaul of its radar infrastructure to address the limitations of existing systems and meet contemporary operational demands.

According to him, the objective is to establish a more reliable, efficient and technologically advanced surveillance network capable of supporting safer skies and improved service delivery.

He also disclosed that NAMA was engaging the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) to explore technical assistance and support in resolving persistent challenges affecting its communication equipment.

He expressed optimism that the collaboration would improve the reliability and availability of the agency’s communication infrastructure.

Farouk said the initiatives reflected NAMA’s determination to move beyond routine maintenance towards sustainable technological renewal.

On manpower development, he disclosed that the first batch of the agency’s overseas training programme had commenced, providing personnel with opportunities to acquire international best practices, modern operational procedures and knowledge of emerging developments in air traffic management.

He said the programme would be implemented in phases to ensure that more officers benefited from international exposure and professional development.

According to him, the agency was committed to building a technically competent, confident and innovative workforce capable of responding to the changing demands of the aviation industry.

On staff welfare, Farouk said management had implemented the Post-Licence Allowance to replace the existing Post-Ratings Allowance arrangement, describing the development as recognition of the professional value of air traffic controllers’ licences and the responsibilities associated with maintaining them.

He added that a new rate for the medical allowance available to licensed air traffic controllers had been approved and would take effect from January 2027.

The NAMA chief executive further disclosed that the review of the agency’s Conditions of Service was at an advanced stage and almost concluded.

He said the proposed improvements would address outstanding staff welfare and entitlement issues while aligning the agency’s conditions of service with contemporary workplace realities.

Among the proposed improvements, he listed the introduction of payment for English Language Proficiency, noting that proficiency in the language remained critical to international aviation communication and the professional requirements of air traffic controllers.

Farouk also announced that management had approved comprehensive insurance coverage for all staff to provide greater protection against risks associated with the aviation operating environment.

He said the initiatives formed part of a broader strategy to reposition NAMA as a modern, efficient and internationally competitive air navigation service provider.

However, he stressed that institutional transformation required shared responsibility between management and workers, urging personnel to reciprocate management’s investments with professionalism, discipline, accountability and strict adherence to established operational procedures.

“We must never lose sight of the fact that we are all working towards one common objective: the safety and efficiency of Nigerian airspace,” he said.

Farouk acknowledged that some staff concerns remained unresolved but assured workers that management was committed to continuous engagement and practical solutions to challenges confronting the agency and its workforce.