NAMA saves N1.5bn engaging indigenous engineers

A total of N1. 5b has been saved by the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for engaging the services of indigenous engineers for the maintenance of its facilities across the airports in the past two years.

The acting managing director of NAMA, Emmanuel Anasi who disclosed this while briefing members of the House committee on Aviation led by Honourable Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said the money was saved following the disengagement of manufacturers of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria TRACON which led to the the maintenance of its facilities by indigenous engineers.

According to the acting managing director, the installers of the facility left two years ago having trained their Nigerian counterparts on the radar maintenance.

Commending the ingenuity of the engineers, Anasi disclosed that the agency needed more funds to enable it upgrade the TRACON system to meet the International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO standards and systems migrate to new technology aimed at harmonising its activities.

According Anasi, nothing was wrong with the TRACON but explained that some of the systems were not included when the radar was installed.

Noting that well equipped facilities will further reduce work load on the Air Traffic Controllers,the NAMA boss said the country’s Airspace remained very safe and working towards improving the system.

He announced that a team of NAMA engineers were presently in Maiduguri working on the voice communication to enhance communication between the pilot and Controllers.