ICYMI: NAMA begins audit of Nigerian airspace

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has commenced a comprehensive audit of the Kano flight information region (FIR), also known as the Nigerian airspace.

In a statement dated August 19, Abdullahi Musa, director of public affairs and consumer protection, said the exercise, which began on Tuesday, is a self-assessment by the agency to examine overall safety performance, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance of the nation’s airspace.

He said the audit is targeted at strengthening the agency’s readiness for the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) certification by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the forthcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) universal safety oversight audit programme, coordinated validation mission, and regional office safety team mission.

“The FIR audit also seeks to evaluate the state of Air Traffic Services (ATS), Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) facilities, Aeronautical Information Management (AIM),Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations as well as identify gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement in accordance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs),” the statement reads.

“The audit will cover detailed inspections of Nigeria’s four major international airports — Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt — along with Enugu, Maiduguri, and several state and private aerodromes, including CNS facilities across the nation.”

According to the statement, Farouk Umar, managing director (MD) of NAMA, inaugurated the FIR audit committee, which will be headed by Ahmad Abba, director of special duties.

Members of the committee, drawn from air traffic services, CNS/ATM systems, Aeronautical Information Management (AIM), safety management, and search and rescue departments, will liaise with industry stakeholders, regulatory authorities, and frontline operational staff to ensure a rigorous, transparent, and inclusive process.

‘AUDIT REINFORCES MANDATE OF DELIVERING SAFE AIR SERVICES’

The MD described the audit as a milestone in the agency’s journey towards excellence in airspace management.

“This audit is a landmark initiative, the first of its kind in NAMA’s 25-year history and it marks a bold and proactive step by the agency to reinforce its mandate of delivering safe, efficient, and seamless air navigation services in full alignment with international best practices,” he said.

“The conduct of this comprehensive and multi-dimensional FIR audit is a landmark initiative that will not only reflect on past achievements but also strategically chart the course for the future of Nigeria’s airspace management under the renewed hope agenda.

“This audit is more than a compliance check. It is a declaration of our resolve to constantly improve, to measure ourselves against the highest global standards, and to guarantee that every flight in Nigeria’s airspace is managed with the utmost safety and efficiency. It is about building systems that are robust, resilient, and respected globally.”

Umar added that the exercise would provide an invaluable opportunity to foster accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement while reinforcing Nigeria’s preparedness for international scrutiny, certification, and cooperation.

He urged directors, departmental heads, staff and industry stakeholders to fully support the audit committee, stressing that the safety and efficiency of Nigeria’s airspace is “non-negotiable”.

“The safety and efficiency of our airspace is non-negotiable. The successful outcome of this initiative will not only strengthen NAMA’s operational systems but also consolidate Nigeria’s credibility and leadership in the global aviation community,” the MD said.

Umar said the exercise reflects NAMA’s determination to lead by example in Africa and to showcase Nigeria’s aviation system as a benchmark of operational excellence and innovation.