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| Hadi Sirika |
Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has commended the
African and Indian Ocean
Satellite Communication Network (AFISNET) for
significantly contributing to the enhancement of safety and efficiency
of air navigation within and across the African and Indian Ocean (AFI)
region.
Sirika, while declaring open the 24th meeting of the Western and
Central Africa Satellite Network Management Committee (SNMC) in Abuja,
noted with delight that the SNMC has commenced discussion on the
feasibility of surveillance data sharing within the sub-region.
He said that the objective of Global Air Navigation Plan is to
achieve a harmonised interoperable and seamless global air traffic
management system that will facilitate cost effective, efficient and
economic international civil aviation. Hence, the need to sustain,
expand and improve technology and capacity of the AFISNET to accommodate
navigational and surveillance data sharing.
Sirika also declared that the ongoing Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) automation project embarked upon by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has delivered a Centralised Aeronautical Database that is being populated with data that would enhance seamless integration with other states or regional databases.
He charged the meeting to “provide an appropriate forum for member
states, delegates and stakeholders to benchmark, synergize, collaborate
and cooperate in order to facilitate the seamless integration of our
various systems for greater capacity across the entire region in the
spirit of No Country Left Behind and Single African Sky vision.”
Also speaking, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
Regional Officer for Western and Central Africa (WACAF) in Dakar,
Francois Salmbanga, said ICAO attaches particular importance to the
AFISNET network, and pays much attention to activities related to its
management as well as supports the various initiatives of states and
organisations to find common solutions in a sub-regional or regional
frame.
Earlier in his remarks, the Acting Managing Director of NAMA, Emma
Anasi noted that several safety initiatives recently embarked upon by
the agency were targeted at making the Nigerian airspace compliant with
regional and international standards, for the overall safety of air
navigation in the AFI region.
Following the persistent deficiencies noticed in the provision of
Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Services in Western and Central
Africa, AFISNET was established in 1994 to create a reliable
aeronautical telecommunication backbone that would facilitate regional
integration through the provision of a channel for direct vocal
communication between air traffic controllers for the coordination of
movement of aircraft and exchange of flight, aeronautical, search and
rescue as well as meteorological information.
