Capt. Fola Akinkuotu
Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has assured airlines and other airspace users of its determination to improve the nation’s airspace and its safety to the delight of all.
Managing Director of the agency, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, despite recent flight disruptions due to harmattan haze, said the agency is working assiduously towards consolidating the current safety profile and also improving it for greater efficiency.
Akinkuotu, who made these remarks at the commemoration of his first anniversary in office, said the focus of his administration, going forward, is to continue to propel the agency to provide its customers and clients with the best possible service at all times.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government, through NAMA, has invested over N1.8 billion ($6 million) on provision of Instrument Landing System (ILS) installed at some of the nation’s airports.
NAMA, however, insisted that the investment will remain underutilised if domestic airlines do not have the requisite facilities on-board their aircraft to allow them to land in inclement weather.
Some of the ILSs are Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) and VHF omnidirectional range (VOR). The DME is a navigation beacon, usually coupled to enable aircraft to measure their position relative to that beacon. Aircraft send out signal, which is sent back after a fixed delay by the DME.
Akinkuotu said: “We are making sure that flights depart and land safely even in adverse weather conditions, maintaining a well-trained and well-motivated workforce, and doing everything we can to sustain and improve upon the safety record of the Nigerian airspace.”
But in doing so, NAMA solicits the synergy and cooperation of all stakeholders in the aviation sector to succeed.
Akinkuotu said despite several challenges the agency faced in last year, it also recorded remarkable achievements and significant progress in certain critical areas such as the replacement of Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) in two strategic airports in the country.
He listed other achievements to include increase in staff trainings and improvement in staff welfare.
“Many of our colleagues received their long-awaited promotions across the line all the way to General Manager Grade level, and it was particularly pleasing to see three of our very own elevated to the esteemed position of substantive directors in the agency,” Akinkuotu said.
The NAMA boss noted that in a bid to ensure seamless air navigation in the country, the agency has committed enormous resources in providing necessary facilities, especially in the areas of Communication, Navigation and Surveillance equipment.
He added that “management’s policy on capacity building has precipitated the training of different categories of critical staff to effectively man these sophisticated technologies.”
Akinkuotu enjoined staff to rally round the administration in its quest to take the agency to the next level by showing more dedication and commitment to their duties.
