NAMA takes steps towards hitch-free yuletide

THE Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Ibrahim Abdulsalam has tasked airspace managers across Nigerian airports to embark on measures to strengthening air traffic management and surveillance systems in their respective domains to ensure maximum operational safety as the nation gradually winds down to Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Mr. Abdulsalam who gave this charge at an Airspace Managers’ Forum held in Kaduna, maintained the need for extra vigilance now became inevitable because of the usual upsurge in traffic and the increased tempo of airport activities that come with the yuletide season.

According to him, “we must do our level best to build upon the present gains we have achieved in maintaining safety of air navigation in the country and zero tolerance for aviation incidents. In doing this, it calls for synergy and collaboration among airspace managers and I believe this forum will provide the opportunity to compare notes and do the needed peer review which will put all operations nationwide on the same page.”  

Abdulsalam also noted that “recent effort by the agency to digitalize air traffic management services in the country by way of deployment of Digital Safe Towers across the four major airports as well as the Automatic Dependent Surveillance- Contract/Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) are targeted at ensuring that the nation’s airspace conforms to global safety standards and also bring about efficiency in service delivery.” 

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the forum Mr Gabriel Akpen expressed confidence that the conference would afford members the opportunity to engage one another and build strategies for collective growth, stressing that “current operating times call for renewed efforts to shore up performance and manage air traffic more efficiently than ever.”

The Director of Administration, Dr Saleh Ibrahim, in his remarks enjoined airspace managers to be more security conscious just as he called for renewed vigilance around navigational aids.