The authorities of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have appealed to the House of Representatives over the deduction of 50 per cent of the agency’s revenue at source.

NAMA’s Managing Director, Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar, who spoke at the start of a four-day retreat for members of the House Committee on Aviation held on Tuesday in Abuja, emphasised the need to address the issue, which is a clear breach of the NAMA Act 2022.

He contended that Section 9(2) of the Act clearly states that all fees imposed by NAMA are not subject to deductions or remittance to any other body.

Umar claimed that the practice is crippling NAMA’s ability to maintain essential infrastructure, such as towers, radars, and communication networks, and to pay and train thousands of skilled personnel who manage the skies daily. This also includes funding critical upgrades like PBN and SBAS systems, all while adhering to IICAO’s stringent safety standards.

“This is not merely a funding issue — it is about national safety and sovereignty. Without financial autonomy, modernisation efforts will stall, safety will be compromised, and Nigeria will fail to meet its international obligations,” he noted.

He called on the committee to direct immediate compliance with Section 9(2) by ensuring that all deductions at source are halted without delay, adding that the action will unlock NAMA’s potential to modernise, innovate, and guarantee the safety of Nigeria’s skies.

Among other things, he called on lawmakers to resolve role conflicts with the NCAA and ensure NAMA executes its statutory mandate, review and adjust air navigation charges, which have remained stagnant since 2008.

The NAM boss added that the agency’s navigational charges had remained at N11,000 per flight since June 2008, despite the increase in ticket prices, which now range between N150,000 and N200,000 for a one-way economy ticket due to prevailing economic circumstances.

“This is a defining moment. By taking decisive action today, you will be directly investing in the safety of our skies, the growth of our economy, and Nigeria’s global standing. Together, we can build a financially independent, technologically advanced, and globally competitive aviation sector — with NAMA at its core,” he added.