The Nigerian Airspace Management Authority affirms that the Nigerian airspace is completely covered by radar.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Managing Director of NAMA, Mr. Ahmed Farouk, on Saturday in Lagos, according to Thisday.
Farouk stated that Nigeria’s radar stations, located in Kano, Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, are all operational.
He dismissed a false and misleading allegation made by a blogger that an unidentified aircraft flew undetected over the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to him, radar services for terminal and en route flights are positively detected, and airspace users receive air navigation services.
He said “The agency hereby wishes to state that the claim that the Nigerian airspace is not covered by radar is false and misleading. The radar stations in Nigeria (Kano, Lagos, Abuja, and Port-Harcourt) are serviceable. Radar services for terminal and en route flights are positively identified and provide air navigation services to airspace users.
“Yes, it is true that the TRACON system, like any other electronics system, is undergoing an upgrade of software and modernisation to meet the ever-growing demand for efficient, effective, and seamless air traffic management services.
“Furthermore, the welfare of Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers in terms of salaries and allowances is not in contention, as to suggest that it is the lowest in the world.”
He added “The reported ‘unidentified’ aircraft is security terminology. In real terms, the aircraft in question is known, but only to the ATC.
“The violation was in the interest of safety, as a result of adverse weather (serious thunderstorm) on the said date.“The purported circular issued by the NCAA is for airlines to be guided from straying into the marked and published prohibited or restricted areas of the Nigerian airspace.”
“It is obvious that the journalist in question does not understand the workings of the surveillance systems, hence his misconstrued and misguided information on primary and secondary radar.
“The agency shall willfully volunteer information on her services to anyone who requires them at any time,” said Farouk. ”
The NAMA boss affirmed the agency’s commitment to providing long-term benefit packages for its employees, particularly Air Traffic Controllers.
He noted that NAMA is still committed to providing safe, effective, economical, and efficient air navigation services in Nigeria.
He stated that the establishment of strong, effective civil-military coordination and collaboration ensures secure airspace and navigation.
