NAMA begins audit of Nigerian airspace, first in 25 years

In a statement dated August 19, Abdullahi Musa, director of
public affairs and consumer protection, said the exercise, which began on
Tuesday, is a self-assessment by the agency to examine overall safety
performance, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance of the nation’s
airspace.

He said the audit is targeted at strengthening the agency’s
readiness for the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) certification by the
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the forthcoming International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) universal safety oversight audit programme, coordinated
validation mission, and regional office safety team mission.

“The FIR audit also seeks to evaluate the state of Air
Traffic Services (ATS), Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS)
facilities, Aeronautical Information Management (AIM),Planning, Research and
Statistics (PRS) and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations as well as identify
gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement in accordance with ICAO
Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Regulations (NCARs),” the statement reads.

“The audit will cover detailed inspections of Nigeria’s four
major international airports — Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt — along
with Enugu, Maiduguri, and several state and private aerodromes, including CNS
facilities across the nation.”

According to the statement, Farouk Umar, managing director
(MD) of NAMA, inaugurated the FIR audit committee, which will be headed by
Ahmad Abba, director of special duties.

Members of the committee, drawn from air traffic services,
CNS/ATM systems, Aeronautical Information Management (AIM), safety management,
and search and rescue departments, will liaise with industry stakeholders,
regulatory authorities, and frontline operational staff to ensure a rigorous,
transparent, and inclusive process.

‘AUDIT REINFORCES MANDATE OF DELIVERING SAFE AIR SERVICES’

The MD described the audit as a milestone in the agency’s
journey towards excellence in airspace management.

“This audit is a landmark initiative, the first of its kind
in NAMA’s 25-year history and it marks a bold and proactive step by the agency
to reinforce its mandate of delivering safe, efficient, and seamless air
navigation services in full alignment with international best practices,” he
said.

“The conduct of this comprehensive and multi-dimensional FIR
audit is a landmark initiative that will not only reflect on past achievements
but also strategically chart the course for the future of Nigeria’s airspace
management under the renewed hope agenda.

“This audit is more than a compliance check. It is a
declaration of our resolve to constantly improve, to measure ourselves against
the highest global standards, and to guarantee that every flight in Nigeria’s
airspace is managed with the utmost safety and efficiency. It is about building
systems that are robust, resilient, and respected globally.”

Umar added that the exercise would provide an invaluable
opportunity to foster accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement
while reinforcing Nigeria’s preparedness for international scrutiny,
certification, and cooperation.

He urged directors, departmental heads, staff and industry
stakeholders to fully support the audit committee, stressing that the safety
and efficiency of Nigeria’s airspace is “non-negotiable”.

“The safety and efficiency of our airspace is
non-negotiable. The successful outcome of this initiative will not only
strengthen NAMA’s operational systems but also consolidate Nigeria’s
credibility and leadership in the global aviation community,” the MD said.

Umar said the exercise reflects NAMA’s determination to lead
by example in Africa and to showcase Nigeria’s aviation system as a benchmark
of operational excellence and innovation.