Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Managing Director Ibrahim Abdulsalam is worried over what he calls “the huge domestic airlines’debts”.
Though he did not give the figures, he said NAMA has adopted measures to recover the cash. These include reconciliation of the amount owed by each debtor-airline and the appointment of a consultant to assist in recovering the money.
In an interview last weekend, he said appointing a consultant had become necessary because NAMA needs the money to execute some projects, such as maintenance of its air navigation equipment, at airports nationwide.
THe ruled out grounding the debtor-airlines, adding that it was better to allow them remain operational to enable them pay.
Abdulsalam said: “When they are not in business, where will they have the money to offset their debts?”
NAMA, he said, also considered the inconvenience of such action on travellers, who would have pre-paid for their flights and made other arrangements at their destinations.
The problem is better resolved through dialogue, rather than applying the big stick, he said, adding: “A consultant is being considered to handle the reconciliation of the debts owed NAMA by Arik Air. However, there is a hitch in this because the said consultant is the same person that handles Arik’s business.The question arising therefrom is, ‘If finally given the nod by the Ministry of Aviation to carry out the reconciliation of Arik debts with NAMA, will the consultant not compromise his job in favour of Arik?’
Abdulsalam went on: “This is why some industry watchers prefer the engagement of an independent accounting/financial consultant to do the job instead of the one that is working for Arik Air.
“The second approach being considered by NAMA Management is to hold a reconciliation meeting between the agency and the umbrella body of all the local airlines – Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) – to look at the debt profiles of member-airlines to fast-track the recovery of their historical and overlapping debts. Arik Air is not a member of AON.”
He also spoke of NAMA’s plans by the airspace agency to fix 19 air navigation equipment at airports nationwide which were recently flight-checked by the Dakar-based French company, ASECNA.
Abdulsalam said ASCENA was invited to carry out some tests on the equipment to end speculations that some of them were not functioning effectively.
The NAMA boss said: “We are trying to reposition our services to enhance the quality of services to airlines. All our navigational equipment are working well and airlines have confirmed the workability of the systems. That is one of the reasons we invited ASECNA to calibrate the equipment. The body is competent enough to check the effectiveness of the equipment.”
The NAMA chief said the agency had concluded plans to deploy a new system of air traffic management called multilateration in the Gulf of Guinea region as discussions were ongoing to get approval with relevant bodies for safe-flight operations in the area.
The NAMA boss said the controller pilot communication link has improved in the Nigerian airspace to cover the oceanic and Niger Delta regions where many helicopters operate.
He also said new air routes have been established to save flight time and reduce consumption of aviation fuel for airlines.
The new air routes, he said, were part implementation of the new concept christened performance-based navigation, for which the agency has trained over 40 air traffic controllers.
He said: “We have started the implementation of performance based navigation with the training of over 40 air traffic controllers. Another 40 will resume training soon to keep in touch with the new technology which is saving flight time and fuel consumption.
“The new air routes are Lagos to Conakry, Abuja to Nairobi, Abuja to Algeria, Cameroon to Lagos as well as Accra to Central African Republic.”
He said the agency would not relent in the training of its technical personnel, as more air traffic controllers and engineers were being trained both at home and abroad to enhance their capacity.
Abdulsalam added: “The Kano Safe Tower Project has been completed. Under this project, air traffic controllers will move into a new control tower in Kano.
“We have advanced further with the provision of air traffic services at new airports including Dutse, Kebbi and Bauchi airports.
“We are installing new air navigation equipment at six airports, the equipment are currently undergoing factory acceptance.”
He listed the challenges confronting the airspace agency to include inadequate funds and resolution of labour-related matters.
