The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has reassured air travellers that Nigeria’s airspace and airport landing facilities remain safe and fully operational despite the haze associated with the ongoing harmattan season.

The reassurance was contained in a statement issued on Friday and signed by the agency’s spokesperson, Dr Abdullahi Musa, following public concerns over flight operations amid reduced visibility during the harmattan period.

NAMA noted that harmattan typically affects atmospheric conditions in Nigeria from December until sometime in February, but dismissed insinuations that navigational facilities at Nigerian airports are poorly maintained or unfit for operations during haze conditions.

The agency described such claims as misleading and not supported by technical facts.

According to NAMA, all navigational aids at Federal Government airports are routinely maintained, flight-checked and calibrated in strict compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization Standards and Recommended Practices, as well as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.

Speaking further on the issue, Musa stated that the maintenance and calibration of critical air navigation infrastructure are mandatory safety requirements.

“These processes are not optional. They are compulsory safety procedures carried out using NAMA’s dedicated flight inspection and calibration aircraft, operated by highly trained technical and flight inspection personnel,” he said.

He explained that essential systems, including Instrument Landing Systems, VHF Omnidirectional Range, Distance Measuring Equipment and other Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management facilities, undergo regular ground and airborne verification to ensure accuracy, signal integrity and operational reliability.

Musa added that all calibration and maintenance activities are conducted under continuous regulatory oversight by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

“The NCAA audits our compliance, validates calibration cycles, and enforces corrective actions where required, ensuring that safety standards are consistently upheld,” he said.

The spokesperson referenced AIP Supplement S81/2025, dated October 9, 2025, which documented the calibration and serviceability status of all navigational aids in Nigeria.

“At the time of that publication, only the ILS facilities at Maiduguri, Ilorin, Owerri, Zaria, Minna, and Calabar were approaching their due calibration dates, while all other systems nationwide were within valid inspection periods,” Musa stated.

He disclosed that NAMA conducted a nationwide round of flight calibration exercises in December 2025, restoring serviceability timelines at several airports.

Musa added that another round of calibration exercises has been scheduled early in the new year for Katsina, Jos, Ilorin, Yola and Owerri airports.

Addressing public debate over the absence of Category III Instrument Landing Systems at all airports, Musa clarified that such systems are not a universal requirement for safe flight operations during haze conditions.

“The deployment of ILS CAT I, CAT II, or CAT III is based on operational needs, traffic volume, aircraft capability, and long-term meteorological data, not on public perception.

“NAMA has therefore designed and published instrument approach procedures aligned with ILS CAT II minima, which adequately support safe aircraft operations during the most challenging seasonal conditions typically experienced in Nigeria,” Musa explained.

He emphasised that the absence of widespread CAT III systems does not indicate compromised safety, noting that aviation safety depends on the suitability and reliability of the systems in operation.

Musa further stated that delays, diversions or flight cancellations during the harmattan haze are largely influenced by prevailing weather conditions, airline operational decisions and aircraft capability, rather than failures of navigational aids.

He added that NAMA works closely with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency to ensure the continuous dissemination of accurate weather information and provide real-time air traffic management support throughout the haze period.

“While haze conditions present operational challenges, they do not imply infrastructural failure or reduced safety standards. Our priority remains the safety, security, and efficiency of air travel in Nigeria,” he said.