The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), said it had started the process of engaging some 100 Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs), in the next six years to shore up its manpower need.
Speaking recently, the acting managing director, NAMA, Matthew Pwajok, disclosed that no fewer than 40 ATC cadets were already undergoing training at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.
Pwajok, who was represented by the acting director of operations at NAMA, Jubril Haske, said NAMA management had envisaged a gap in the number of ATCs and had put in place plan to recruit at least 100 personnel between 2022 and 2028.
He explained that the ongoing training of 40 was not part of the 100 personnel planned for a six-year period.
The managing director added that NAMA had absorbed additional six ATCs trained by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to address the expected personnel shortage.
“Management is aware of the current and impending shortage of Air Traffic Controllers due to retirement, death and unrelenting increase in the number of airports around the country.
“Management is also aware of the pressure that shortage has been exerting and may further exert on your members. Let me assure you that we are already working to ensure that the situation does not become an emergency.
“Presently, a basic ATC Course is running in NCAT Zaria for 40 Cadets and very soon, another set will resume as soon as Zaria has space.
“This is besides efforts at obtaining approval to recruit additional 100 air traffic controllers for strategic replacement of ATCs that will retire from service up to 2028.,” he stated.
Besides, Pwajok said NAMA had trained no fewer than 36 ATCs in various courses and countries in the last six months.
A breakdown showed that 16 were trained in basic procedure design and airspace planning in Cairo, Egypt in the first quarter of 2022 while 12 were trained in search and rescue operation in Nairobi, Kenya during the period under review.
Also, he said eight ATCs travelled to Czech Republic for the multilateration operational training in the first quarter of the year.
The managing director added that as part of the requirements for the development of capacity for the production of maps and charts including visual flight rules charts, some of the agency’s staff recently returned from training in Egypt.
He explained that the training was tailored towards achieving a seamless conduct of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) for Nigeria.
Pwajok also disclosed that NAMA had trained 16 ATCs in the second phase of the controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC) in Paris, France while additional 20 are billed for training in Cairo in the next two months.
He further said an additional 12 ATCs were set to undergo search and rescue mission coordinators’ training course in Nairobi, Kenya before the end of the year.
