Amidst the prevailing insecurity in the country, the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has called for the establishment of a dual surveillance system that combines conventional Air Traffic Management (ATM) with a dedicated military command-and-control framework to enhance the security of Nigeria’s airspace.

The Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Umar Farouq, made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the groundbreaking ceremony of the agency’s new corporate headquarters.

Farouq said the proposed dual surveillance architecture was not merely a system upgrade but a national security imperative in view of the persistent security challenges confronting the country.

“This new system is designed to serve a dual purpose: conventional Air Traffic Management and a dedicated military command and control system. In view of the persistent security challenges our nation faces, this integrated surveillance solution is a critical tool to help secure our sovereign airspace and support our military forces,” he said.

He described the construction of the new NAMA Corporate Headquarters as the first concrete step towards consolidating ongoing reforms and technological advances within the agency.

According to him, the facility will house a state-of-the-art Air Traffic Management Centre that reflects the agency’s strategic importance and technological progress.

Farouq said the project represents a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s airspace management structure, noting that for decades NAMA’s operations had been decentralised across multiple regions.

He disclosed that the new ATM Centre would consolidate the existing Area Control Centres (ACCs) in Lagos and Kano into a single, centralised hub in Abuja, thereby creating a unified “One Flight Information Region (FIR)” for the country.

“From this centre, NAMA will exercise seamless radar control over the entire Nigerian airspace, ensuring that every aircraft, from take-off to landing, is guided by a single operational authority,” he said.

He explained that the new ATM system would deploy advanced, world-class technology to provide air traffic controllers with improved situational awareness, high reliability, and enhanced automation to manage the increasing complexity of air traffic.

Among the key benefits of the new system, he listed enhanced safety through a unified radar view of the airspace, improved operational efficiency by reducing redundancies, optimised flight paths for fuel savings and environmental sustainability, and scalability to accommodate projected growth in air traffic.

Looking ahead, the NAMA boss said the agency was committed to completing the modernisation of its surveillance and communication infrastructure, including the ongoing implementation of space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and the deployment of Wide Area Multilateration in the Niger Delta.

He added that the agency would continue its digitalisation drive through System Wide Information Management and advanced tower systems, while strengthening collaboration with international aviation bodies such as ICAO and CANSO.

Farouq, however, identified funding as a major constraint on the agency’s ambitious modernisation programme, noting that the scale of infrastructure upgrades and statutory maintenance required sustained capital investment.

He appealed for continued government support to ensure that Nigeria’s airspace remains safe, secure and globally competitive.