The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Ahmed Umar Farouk, has reaffirmed the agency’s unwavering commitment to transforming Nigeria’s airspace through strategic investments in infrastructure, technology, and most importantly, people.
Delivering a powerful address at the 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA), held at the Nigerian Airforce Conference Centre, Abuja, from October 21–23, 2025, Farouk described the past year as a defining moment in NAMA’s evolution, one marked by modernization, staff empowerment, and operational excellence.
Human Edge as the Future of Airspace Management
Commending NATCA for the conference theme, “The Human Edge: Capacity Building in the Next Generation Air Traffic Management,” Farouk emphasized that while technology continues to revolutionize aviation, the human factor, ‘the air traffic controller,’ remains the single most critical element in maintaining safety and efficiency across Nigerian skies.
“A modern control tower is just a shell without a highly skilled, confident, and motivated controller inside it. The ‘Human Edge’ must be sharpened continuously,” he said.
Building the Foundation: A Nationwide Infrastructural Revolution
Farouk outlined what he termed “the most ambitious infrastructural revolution in NAMA’s recent history.” Under his leadership, the agency has undertaken large-scale modernization projects across Nigeria’s airspace infrastructure, including:
- Renovation and modernization of control towers at 11 key airports, including Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt.
- Overhaul of administrative and technical buildings from Lagos Headquarters to Bauchi, Sokoto, and Benin.
- Perimeter fencing at VOR and TRACON sites to secure critical assets.
- Deployment of solar-hybrid energy systems, new generators, and UPS units to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
- Procurement of new VHF radios, ILS/DME systems, and operational vehicles to enhance service delivery.
“These capital projects represent an investment of tens of billions of naira,” Farouk noted, describing them as a clear demonstration of NAMA’s commitment to creating a world-class air navigation system.
Sharpening the Human Edge: Investing in People
Declaring 2025 as “The Year of Capacity Building”, Farouk said NAMA had made an unprecedented investment in its workforce, the largest in the agency’s 25-year history.
He revealed that 230 senior managers were trained overseas, including 110 air traffic controllers, marking the highest international training participation since NAMA’s creation. Domestically, nearly 90% of the agency’s operational and technical staff benefited from specialized courses and workshops.
“We increased the agency’s training budget by 78% from the previous year. This was a deliberate choice, to put our money where our mouth is,” Farouk stated.
He also assured staff that the long-awaited Conditions of Service (COS), being finalized by the National Salaries and Wages Commission, would soon be implemented, bringing significant improvements to staff welfare and productivity.
A Call for Sustainable Funding
Despite the agency’s achievements, Farouk was candid about the challenges posed by limited funding and government revenue deductions. He revealed that NAMA loses between 30% and 50% of its internally generated revenue (IGR) through automatic deductions, significantly constraining its operational and developmental capacity.
In a direct appeal to the Federal Government, Farouk urged a waiver of these deductions, emphasizing that such a move would revolutionize aviation safety and infrastructure in Nigeria.
“A waiver would be a game-changer for Nigerian aviation safety,” he asserted. “It would allow NAMA to reinvest every naira earned into critical infrastructure, cutting-edge technology, and continued human capital development.”
A Collaborative Future for Safer Skies
Farouk praised the professionalism of Nigerian air traffic controllers, calling them “the custodians of our skies.” He reaffirmed NAMA’s commitment to their welfare, operational capacity, and international representation, a reflection of NATCA’s recent global recognition through its involvement in IFATCA (International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations).
He closed his address with gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), and the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana (MNI), for their leadership and support, which he said made these reforms possible.
“We are not just preparing for the next generation, we are building it,” Farouk concluded. “Together, we will continue to make Nigerian skies safer, smarter, and stronger.”
Flashback and Reflection: 25 Years of NAMA’s Evolution
Founded in 2000, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has evolved from a basic air navigation provider into a technologically advanced and globally recognized organization. Over two decades, NAMA has built the backbone of Nigeria’s civil aviation operations, enabling the nation’s airports and airlines to meet international safety and communication standards.
Today, under Engr. Farouk’s leadership, NAMA’s transformation agenda aligns with global aviation trends, integrating digital automation, sustainability, and human capacity development as the drivers of future airspace management.
Industry experts at the AGM hailed NAMA’s strides, noting that “the agency’s investments in training and technology have positioned Nigeria as a regional aviation leader in Africa.”
As the curtains close on the 54th AGM, the consensus among delegates is clear: NAMA’s next chapter must be anchored on sustainability, innovation, and continued investment in people, the true ‘Human Edge’ of aviation safety.
NAMA MD/CEO Engr. Ahmed Umar Farouk delivers a transformative address at the 54th NATCA AGM in Abuja, highlighting Nigeria’s airspace modernization, record-breaking capacity-building initiatives, and a call for funding waivers to sustain aviation safety and growth.
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