- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has warned of possible of Nigeria losing airspace surveillance capability due to ageing radar systems
NAMA’s Managing Director, Farouk Umar, according to a post shared on X on Friday, raised concern over the state of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) system which he claimed to be in a dire situation.
Umar noted that many of the system’s components have become obsolete, with little to no backup available, warning that the decades-old system is nearing total failure.
He also noted that Nigeria may struggle to meet international aviation standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization if urgent upgrades are not made.
“Our area of urgent attention includes the air traffic surveillance service. The TRACON system has aged.
“Components are becoming obsolete with no spare parts, and most parts are working without backup. The airspace is at risk of losing surveillance service,” Umar stated.
According to reports, the TRACON system was commissioned in 2001 and fully deployed by 2010.
It has however exceeded its expected lifespan of about 10 years, with much of its technology now outdated globally.
Without reliable radar coverage, Umar warned that maintaining safe distances between aircraft becomes more difficult, increasing safety risks.
The NAMA boss also raised concerns over financial constraints faced by the agency.
Umar revealed that a 30% Federal Government deduction from the agency’s internally generated revenue is limiting its ability to maintain and upgrade critical systems.
He said rising operational costs, especially fuel for power generation, have further worsened the situation.
The NAMA boss added that the agency still charges airlines N11,000 per flight, a rate unchanged since 2008, which is no longer sustainable amid inflation and rising costs with efforts to review the charge reportedly faced resistance.
The agency is also dealing with manpower shortages, limited staff training, and growing debts owed by airlines and state-owned airports, all of which threaten its operational stability.