- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has deployed and activated a Mobile Control Tower at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos days after the fire outbreak at the Terminal One.
NPO Reported that fire had on the 23rd of February gutted the Terminal One section of the airport with about 12 officials trapped in the inferno which spread to the control tower.
With several communications facilities reportedly damaged, NAMA would on Thursday deployed the mobile control tower to the airport.
The agency’s Director of Safety Electronics and Engineering Services, Mrs Terese Ihenacho, described the deployment as a significant operational milestone.
She said this was in a swift and strategic response to the Feb. 23 fire incident that affected critical air-ground communication infrastructure at the old terminal.
During the on-site inspection of the facility, Ihenacho highlighted NAMA’s resilience and unwavering commitment to ensuring the continuity of safe and efficient air navigation services in Nigeria’s busiest aviation hub.
She commended the dedication and technical expertise of NAMA personnel whose efforts ensured the timely delivery and operational readiness of the tower.
“As you can see, the Mobile Tower is fully operational and serviceable.
“All necessary test runs have been successfully completed, and air traffic controllers are ready to commence operations at any moment,” said Ihenacho.
She further revealed that the Control Tower had been reconfigured to meet Nigeria’s unique operational demands, incorporating local innovations that enhanced efficiency and safety.
She noted the integration of a smart strip system alongside the traditional manual strip reflecting a forward-looking approach to modern air traffic management.
“The way it was manufactured is not the way we are using it. We have restructured it to suit our local peculiarities.
“There is now seamless connectivity to Centrex and TRACON, which did not exist before. This is part of our innovation to meet global standards,” she explained.
She also disclosed that in a proactive move to further strengthen operational redundancy and safety, “NAMA has concluded arrangements to deploy a second Mobile Control Tower to service Runway 18R.”
Ihenacho, however, emphasised that the siting of the additional tower would be determined in collaboration with key aviation stakeholders, including air traffic controllers among others.
She identified other stakeholders, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, to ensure optimal safety management.
She clarified that the deployment of the mobile tower formed part of NAMA’s broader contingency and resilience strategy.
She added that it was originally conceived as a backup solution to mitigate potential disruptions arising from infrastructure upgrades or environmental constraints affecting the main control tower.
Ihenacho also disclosed that beyond technical deployment, the agency had also implemented critical support infrastructure at the site.
She said this included enhanced lighting powered by solar energy, reinforced structural bracing to withstand environmental conditions, additional power supply systems, and comprehensive security coverage with CCTV surveillance.
Ihenacho also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve the welfare and working conditions of air traffic controllers and technical staff operating at the temporary facility.
She noted that discussions were underway with relevant authorities to provide essential amenities and support services.
She commended the commitment of NAMA staff, describing them as “heroes” who worked tirelessly under challenging conditions, often at personal risk, to restore operational stability.
Ihenacho stressed that the successful deployment of the Mobile Control Tower highlighted the agency’s unwavering dedication to the safety and efficiency of the Nigerian airspace.