Photo Caption:

Grom left, Stephen Onabe, Head, Media and Publicity, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA; Khalid Emele, GM, Public Affairs; Mr Jibrin Haske, Director of Operation; Olusegun Koiki, Chairman, League of Airports and Aviation correspondents, LAAC; Mr Lawrence Pwajok, Acting MD/CEO, NAMA and Mr Richard Mshebara, GM, Airspace Planning at the Ag. MD/CEO of NAMA media interactive session with members of LAAC in Lagos on Friday

The Ag. Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Mr Mathew Lawrence Pwajok has stated that the agency is spending N23billion for the upgrade of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, TRACON Project and over N13billion on the upgrade of the Safe Tower Project.

Pwajok further stated that NAMA will be spending N5billion from the TRACON money on the VSAT for different location across the country and $12.9m on multilateration for low flying helicopters especially in the Niger Delta area.

Speaking over the weekend during an interactive session with Aviation Journalists in Lagos, Pwajok stated that N17bn of that amount is for the system upgrade.

He stated that TRACON has been working optimally since 2010 as indigenous engineers have kept the TRACON system working optimally.

NAMA boss said the amount apart from the system upgrade will also be used for the upgrade of both the hardware and software.

He said NAMA is doing a whole lot to upgrade its facilities for optimum performance.

Pwajok noted that NAMA has done tremendously well to improve on the pilot controllers communication on air.

The MD stressed that there is need to close all gaps before the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO/ audit by the first quarter of 2023.

According to him, “the upgrade of the TRACON is ongoing since 2010. We have not been able to upgrade to to sky. The upgrade is expected to improve the functionality and efficiency of the system, it will become automated, they will begin to issue information electronically thereby reducing the workload and pressure on Air traffic controllers [ATCos] and pilots. The upgrade will cover the entire nation, the nine locations of TRACON. This is all to improve the safety , efficiency and capacity the airspace”.

The MD disclosed that NAMA has implemented free routing system in Nigeria for airlines to
fly shorter routes which reduces fuel for the airlines and reduce work load for the pilot.

He added that NAMA is doing training for its staff on manpower upgrade, and has also taken care of her penshioners.