The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NAMA

  • Fear grips NAMA staff as EFCC operatives storm agency

    Fear grips NAMA staff as EFCC operatives storm agency

    The anti-corruption train of the Muhammadu Buhari administration  pulled into the aviation industry yesterday as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed the corporate  headquarters and  annex of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

    The operatives of the EFCC, it was learnt, arrived the headquarters of the airspace agencies in their operational vehicles as early as 10.00 a.m.

    A source hinted that they used the vehicle as barricade to obstruct other cars and  staff from exiting the premises.

    The reason behind the unscheduled visit of the anti- graft agency was not clear at the time of filing this report.

    Sources hinted that on arrival, the EFCC operatives moved to the account and procurement units to check the books.

    The visit of the EFCC, according to sources, has heightened anxiety among senior officials of the agency. Members of staff fretted over what might have drawn the attention of the anti-graft agency to NAMA.

    Investigations revealed that EFCC’s visit may not be unconnected with petitions written by some aviation unions over alleged misapplication of funds.

    An official of the agency who pleaded not to be named confirmed the visit of the EFCC but did not state reasons for the visit.

    Recall that the Federal Government last year set up an anti-corruption task force in the sector. The task force is made up of officials of aviation agencies, EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    A source hinted that the EFCC informed the Ministry of Aviation and officials before its visit following petitions concerning some financial transactions in the agency.

  • NAMA urges Fed Govt, National Assembly to patronise Nigeria made vehicles

    NAMA urges Fed Govt, National Assembly to patronise Nigeria made vehicles

    The Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) has asked the Federal and state governments to support local assembly plants, through a strict policy of procuring their requirements from them.

    Reacting to media reports that the Nigerian Senate is on the verge of buying various brands of imported (fully built) vehicles from importers, the management of NAMA pleaded with the Federal Government  for support to be able to sustain their operations under most challenging market conditions. Thousands of jobs are at stake at these assembly plants that have been commissioned  over the past two years with large investments in plant and machinery, equipment and training on technical skills.

    NAMA recalled that in September, The Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Aminu Jalal, promised that the Muhammadu Buhari administration would pursue the new automotive policy.

    Jalal said that the president had repeatedly emphasised the government’s determination to diversify the economy through promotion, support and protection of the industrial sector. He underlined that the automotive sub-sector with sufficient capacity for mass employment was one of the major areas where the country had great potentials.

    Jalal said that the Federal Government was committed to the patronage of Made-in-Nigeria automobiles. He said all federal ministries, departments and agencies were mandated to buy their vehicles from local assembly plants.

    The local assemblers have invested extensively into assembly plants for multinational brands, including Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and Peugeot, amongst others.

    Reports indicate that the management of the National Assembly has invited bids from contractors interested in supplying the vehicles. However, it seems that the brands considered are not being assembled in Nigeria, but are those that are being imported into the country as fully built units with no local value addition.

    Industry sources lament that more economical and efficient models, such as the 4X4 vehicles of Hyundai, Kia,Innoson, Nissan, Ford and others are being assembled in Nigeria, awaiting government patronage for their sustenance.

    NAMA has asked for the National Assembly and the Federal Government to play an exemplary role in their procurement policies so that the country could follow and establish a self-sufficient automotive eco system.

  • NAMA to go digital on information

    NAMA to go digital on information

    Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has developed a software to enhance the dissemination of aeronautical information, also known as Notice To Air Men (NOTAM) electronically to airspace users.

    The new application is part of  the drive by the agency to digitalise air traffic management services

    To this end, a three-day train-the-trainer workshop to educate and sensitise airline operators, service providers, aviation agencies, the Nigerian Air Force and other stakeholders on the migration from manual to digital NOTAM was held in Lagos last week.

    At the event, NAMA Managing Director Ibrahim Abdulsalam said  Nigeria could not afford to be left behind as aviation is moving from manual to digital operations.

    He said the agency was determined  to provide safe  efficient and economic air navigation services.

    He said:” This has challenged us to deploy new technologies that would ease service provision, save time and reduce operational cost for the airlines and aviation agencies/organisations.

    He  expressed confidence that the deployment of electronic NOTAM would make it easy to access online real-time aeronautical information.

    Abdulsalam said NAMA was willing to make necessary adjustments to accommodate customers’ feedback and complaints for improvement.

    The provision of aeronautical information, he said, will enhance flight operations, one of the key functions of NAMA.

    He said:”Before now, NOTAM was printed in hard copy and made available to airspace users.

    “Aside time constraint, the cumbersome nature of paper work posed a challenge to the agency and airspace users, especially in emergency situations.

    “e-NOTAM, therefore, was conceived to ensure an accurate database of NOTAMs, address the above challenges and also bring about efficiency in service delivery.”

    NAMA developed the e-flight plan and e-clearance software packages in response to the yearnings of airspace users for a faster method of processing flight plans and clearances.

  • NAMA begins test-run of airborne equipment

    NAMA begins test-run of airborne equipment

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) said it has begun the test-run of its Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract/ Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (ADS-C/ CPDLC) in the nation’s airspace.

    This is contained in the weekly publication of NAMA’s Public Affairs Department, made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

    The publication stated that NAMA had issued an Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) to aviation stakeholders worldwide on the availability of ADS-C/ CPDLC in the nation’s airspace.

    It explained that the test-run was to allow operators adapt to the new service and make necessary comments and observations, prior to its full implementation on Nov. 12.

    The publication added that the AIC was aimed at sensitising stakeholders on the commencement of the service in the country.

    “It was to also highlight the benefits that could be derived from the use of the service, intended scope of the service, as well as requirements for airborne equipment, flight planning and operations.

    “Preparatory to the actual take-off of the service, a four-day site training of engineers and air traffic controllers drawn from both Kano and Lagos ACCs, has ended in Lagos,’’ it said.

    According to the publication, a successful log-on and communication with airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa Airlines and Emirates Airlines have been activated to the admiration and excitement of the aviation CEOs.

    “Other airlines that have also logged on to the service include Arik Air, Ethiopian Airlines and Etihad Airlines,” it stated.

    The publication said the test-run, which began at the Lagos Area Control Centre, was witnessed by Mr Ibrahim Abdulsalam, the Managing Director of NAMA, in company of chief executives of other aviation agencies – Mr Usman Muhtar, Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Saleh Dunoma.

    In the publication, the NAMA chief lauded the staff of the agency for their collective efforts in ensuring the successful digitisation of air traffic management in Nigeria.

    It said that Abdulsalam encouraged the indigenous airlines to tap into the service in order to take advantage of the benefits and deliverables of enhanced safety and efficiency.

  • NAMA streamlines procedures to boost revenue

    NAMA streamlines procedures to boost revenue

    THE Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has taken steps to strengthen processes and procedures towards effective revenue generation and collection at the various airports in the country.

    Its Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam said the agency has devised new initiatives of improving the revenue base as well as fine tune strategies to block financial leakages.

    He said there is need for synergy among departments in the agency to achieve the goal of enhancing revenue.

    Abdulsalam charged workers to employ their professional expertise to effectively review the revenue Standard Operating Manual in order to meet industry best practices as well as effective service delivery.

    He said: “We all have to align all the agency’s operations to embrace the fiscal policies of the Buhari administration like the Treasury Single Account (TSA) which are geared towards promoting transparency and accountability in the public sector.”

    He said the agency is stepping up efforts to recover debts owed it by both foreign and domestic airlines to enable it meet its statutory responsibilities.

     

     

    The drive to recover such funds has become imperative in order to enable the airspace agency address issues bordering on staff training and equipment upgrade.

  • NAMA to implement performance based navigation

    NAMA to implement performance based navigation

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) yesterday said  the implementation of its new Performance Based Navigation (PBN) is underway.

    It added that aircraft with necessary approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) can now fly into 15 airports in the country without the use of ground navigational aids.

    PBN is the technology in air traffic services where aircraft receive advisory information from satellite-based equipment as opposed to ground based equipment.

    Its Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam who spoke with reporters yesterday listed the airports to include  Benin, Calabar, Enugu, Ibadan, Ilorin, Owerri, Jos and Kaduna. Others are Maiduguri, Katsina, Minna, Sokoto, Zaria, Gombe.

    He said the new technology is contained in a publication of the PBN Area Navigation (RNAV) approaches for 15 Nigerian Airports  for airspace managers as well as the publication of Standard Arrival Routes (STARs) and Standard Instrument Departure Routes (SIDRs) for Benin Airport by the agency.

    Abdulsalam said the implementation of PBN in Nigeria became inevitable as it is in line with global migration from ground-based navigation to satellite-based navigation.

    He said  NAMA is leaving no stone unturned in meeting the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirement for states to ensure full implementation of PBN at both local and international airports by 2016.

    He said: “Because of the increased level of accuracy, reliability, continuity, integrity of information, overall enhanced safety and attendant benefits to airlines and the travelling public, it has become imperative for Nigerian operators to key in to PBN.

    “ With direct routing and reduced flight times, PBN would enhance efficiency and reduce cost to the airlines.”

    It will be recalled that NAMA in 2012 published PBN RNAV, SIDs and STARs for the four major airports of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano making them PBN compliant.

  • NCAA, NAMA sanction foreign aircraft for airspace violation

    NCAA, NAMA sanction foreign aircraft for airspace violation

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a fine of N7 million on a foreign aircraft, Global Express Bombardier 700-100, operated by GAMA Aviation in the United Kingdom for airspace violation and unauthorised domestic operation  in contravention of Nigerian civil aviation regulations.

    This is just as the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) also fined the aircraft $20,000 for violation of airspace rules.

    NCAA spokesman, Sam Adurogboye however said the aircraft has been released after it was grounded for some time.

    He said since the aircraft was grounded, its crew members have been stranded in Abuja for their illegal operations into Nigeria.

    At the weekend, NCAA grounded Bombardier 700-100 aircraft and Embraer 135J with  XA-MHA as registration marks for operating illegally in Nigeria airspace.

    Speaking to reporters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, Adurogboye said the aircraft was released after the operator paid the N7million.

    Adurogboye said since the infractions extended to NAMA, the operator  also paid $20,000 to NAMA.

    He explained that after the investigation of the illegal operation of the airline, a letter of sanction was written to the operator of the aircraft which contained the sanction.

  • NAMA conducts test on Kano Airport project

    NAMA conducts test on Kano Airport project

    Preparatory to the inauguration of the Kano Safe Tower Project, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has  conducted a  site acceptance test (SAT)  on the installed equipment at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

    The SAT, done using a procedure book, is intended to ascertain conformance with stated and specified functions of the equipment within the environment.

    At the event in Kano, the Managing Director of NAMA,  Ibrahim Abdulsalam, who  declared open a four-day awareness training on the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract/Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication  ( ADS – C/CPDLC)’ project, to be inaugurated soon, described the two projects as strategic in the agency’s effort to transform air traffic management services.

    He listed the benefits of the project  to include use of electronic or paperless flight progress strips by air traffic controllers; effective and efficient flight planning; reduction in air traffic control workload; availability of a radar monitoring system for enhanced air traffic situation awareness; automated data storage for effective billing; availability of meteorological information online and real time and vertical wind shear alerting system among others

    Abdulsalam listed the benefits of the ADS-C/CPDLC  to include extended range communication to  ensure effective air traffic management delivery within the Nigerian airspace; reduce  air traffic control and pilot  workload; enhance safety through accuracy and efficiency in communication between air traffic control and flight crew; reduction in flight delays, flight times, fuel burnt and C02 emissions; provision of cost effective surveillance and data communication; elimination of  air–ground communication blind spots within the airspace and the provision of effective coverage over the oceanic airspace.

    Managing Director of Avsatel Communications Limited, Project Contractors,  Mr Georg Eder, expressed confidence that the airspace would experience the needed transformation in its flight operations with the quality of equipment deployed by his company which he described as “world-class”.

    The Safe Tower Project, which was conceived since 2006, was aimed at automating air traffic management services at the four major airports in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano. While others have since been commissioned, that of Kano suffered a series of setbacks, leading to the rebuilding of a completely new safe tower for Kano airport.

    The conduct of the site test,  which is the last leg of activities culminating in the launch of the Kano Safe Tower project, is therefore, significant and one of the steps taken by NAMA to continue deploying new technologies in air traffic management for the  airspace.

     

  • Group lauds NAMA

    The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has lauded the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for the high level of professionalism and robust technical capacity which the agency has brought to bear on its service delivery in the aviation sector.

    Its National President and Chairman of Council, Dr Rotimi Oladele  who spoke when he led a delegation of the institute on a courtesy visit to NAMA headquarters in Lagos said:  “The visible changes taking place in the agency in terms of acquisition and deployment of hi-tech navigational infrastructure and development of human capital is indicative of a focused and dynamic leadership determined to drive NAMA as a leading Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) in the world.”

    He  appealed to the Federal Government to give NAMA “100 per cent support in terms of funding of capital projects and training of manpower to enable the agency deliver on its strategic mandate of managing the safety and security of the nation’s airspace.”

    While commending NAMA for what he referred to as a ‘’robust succession structure within the system,” Dr Oladele solicited more work synergy and team spirit among the various departments of the agency to make for “a harmonized and focused service delivery system,” stressing that NIPR was ready to partner with the agency in the areas of training of Public Affairs personnel and streamlining its service delivery structure for better results.

  • Aviation stakeholders task minister, NAMA, others on air safety

    Aviation stakeholders task minister, NAMA, others on air safety

    Aviation stakehol-ders’ meeting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, have identified key areas militating against effective air services operations, lamenting that the sector lacked essential facilities and well-trained personnel to ensure the industry complied with the international air safety standards.

    The officials drawn from various regulatory agencies including the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB); Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA); Aeronautical Information Services (AIS); Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and other associations within the sector, identified safety-trust as the major plank for which the sector derives its strength.

    According to them, the industry has been striving to meet the regulatory standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in the area of automation of Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) since 1998, lamenting that problem of funding has been hampering its implementation.

    Addressing the forum in a meeting over the weekend in Uyo, the President of the Aeronautical Information Services Association of Nigeria (AISAN), Mr. Shittu Babatunde, recalled that “ICAO has since 1998 sensitised all contracting states on the need for the services of AIS to be automated,” regretting that “ever since then in Nigeria, we have been hearing and reading on the pages of newspapers of AIS automation and it is yet to be completed.”

    While lamenting that the project might not be completed even in 2016, Shittu, who identified funding as the major challenge stalling the completion of the project, however, called on the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka and other agencies to ensure air safety is guaranteed by fixing the information management system in the industry.

    The Commis-sioner\Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in-charge of Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Dr. Felix Abali, who chaired the conference, underscored the importance of safety in the industry and stressed the need for qualified professionals to man key sectors in the industry for efficient management of the air transport system in Nigeria.

    “It is axiomatic to state that safety is the primary concern of the aviation community worldwide; be it military, civil, scheduled or non-scheduled flights operations, charter services or commercial aviation, using any form of aircraft.

    “This necessitates the need for manpower development, adequate training and retraining of AIS personnel to achieve the objectives of improving the timeliness, quality, efficiency and cost effectiveness of aeronautical information services,” he stressed and urged NCAA, NAMA and NCAT, to train and motivate AIS staff for effective service delivery.