The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has obtained licenses for 24 newly recruited air traffic control officers from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Organisation after undergoing the necessary training and examination on Aerodrome and Approach Control.
According to a statement released by NAMA, the new air traffic controllers are currently being posted to strategic aerodromes in the country, adding that the deployment will boost capacity and efficiency of air traffic management in Nigeria.
The agency also recertified 30 air traffic controllers in different categories of air traffic control including Terminal Approach Radar, Area Procedural Control and Area Surveillance Control after passing the required proficiency and rating tests and after certified mentally fit in line with Annex 1 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation and part II of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation.
The Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu recalled that from the year 2020 to date, the agency recertified a total of 194 air traffic controllers in addition to their periodic training and retraining, targeted at keeping them up to speed with the latest skills and technology in air traffic management to ensure they remain competitive with their peers globally.
The NAMA MD also revealed that in order to reduce delays and congestion in the nation’s airspace the agency has commenced the construction of Aerodrome and Approach Control simulator at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos as a pilot project to be replicated in Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.
Akinkuotu, who noted that the safety of the Nigerian airspace remained a cardinal goal of the agency, also enjoined air traffic controllers to continue putting in their best in order to justify the government’s huge investment in building critical infrastructure as well as the capacity of personnel.
