NAMA Saves N1.5bn From Airport Maintenance

• NAMA Saves N1.5bn From Airport Maintenance

About N1.5bn has been saved in the last two years by engaging indigenous engineers in the maintenance of airport facilities, the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has said.

The acting Managing Director of NAMA, Mr. Emmanuel Anasi, stated this in Lagos, while briefing members of the House committee on Aviation led by its Chairman, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, on the activities of the agency.

Anasi said the money was saved following the disengagement of manufacturers of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria.

He also stated that the agency needed more funds to enable it to upgrade the TRACON system to meet the International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and migrate the system to new technology to harmonise its activities.

“Nothing is wrong with TRACON but some of the systems were not included when the radar was installed,” he said.

He added that well-equipped facilities would reduce the work load of the Air Traffic Controllers.

He said the country’s airspace remained very safe and the agency was working towards improving the system, adding that a team of NAMA engineers was already in Maiduguri working to enhance communication between pilots and controllers.