NAMA Engages in Training, Technical Tests of Personnel

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has moved to solve the protracted problem of the shortage of Air Traffic Controllers by increasing the number of the personnel, promoting some others as incentive and also retiring others who have put the required number of years in the service.

The agency recently conducted annual proficiency checks for 339 air traffic controllers and promoted 69 others who passed the required tests for promotion, as the organsiation has over the years suffered dearth of the technical personnel who play critical role in airspace management.

The Managing Director of NAMA, Farouk Ahmed Umar, who made this disclosure during the annual air traffic management workshop of the agency held at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos recently, listed other the achievements of his ten-month administration in the area of air traffic management to include a total of 87 air traffic controllers in the agency who had passed the NCAA Certification Examination Rating on Aerodrome, Approach and Area (Procedural and Surveillance), and another set of 91 air traffic controllers who got new or renewed Air Traffic Control (ATC) licences in compliance with ICAO Document (9426). 

Umar who was represented at the event by the Director of Air Traffic Services, Mr. John Tayo, also announced that as part of moves to enhance capacity, the Air Traffic Control 3-D Tower Simulator at Lagos Centrex was about to be fully deployed for use by controllers. At the same time, efforts were ongoing for a replication of similar facilities in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano airports.