Telecommunications masts often cause interference in communication between the cockpit and the tower
A clarion call has gone to the National Assembly, NASS, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, to review without further delay, and revert to Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, the task homogeneous to its mandate -;
obstacles surveillance and the collection of fees and funds collectables from obstacles evaluation.
Engr. Ahmed Umar Farouk, Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, made a fervent appeal at a retreat organised in Abuja to acquaint the federal legislators with the issues of urgent national attention in boosting air safety in Nigeria.
Engr Farouk, who is also the Dan Majen Gwandu, while speaking at the 4-day retreat with the theme, “Emerging Trends in Global Aviation: Sustainability, Technology, and Digital Transformation,” argued that for an impactful reform in the air transport industry, a square peg must be placed in a square hole.
The NAMA helmsman, who had won many awards, including the national productivity laurels, urged the legislators to ensure enforcement of the NAMA Act as amended in 2022, to enable a tailwind to be experienced in the operations of the agency saddled with the safe, efficient, seamless and economical air navigation of air transportation in the nation’s airspace and beyond.
Engr. Ahmed Umar Farouk, Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, advocated for a review of the roles each of the aviation agencies is to perform and put a square peg in a square hole
The Dan Majen Gwandu of Kebbi State minced no words to emphasise that the task of obstacle surveillance and its evaluation should be domiciled with NAMA as the rightful agency and requisite expertise to exercise oversight over towers and other obstacles in the airspace, and where necessary generate appropriate revenue into NAMA’s coffers.
He said, “Now is the right time NAMA should be allowed to ventilate on the 2022 act by allowing the agency to implement the Obstruction Evaluation, charge Fees as provided for in section 18 (1) (a), (b) and (xii) of the NAMA Act, 2022”.
Farouk quoted the content of the cited act thus, “there shall be established and maintained by the agency, a fund into which shall be paid and credited… (b) all fees and funds accruing from… (xii) obstacle evaluation fees”.
The erudite engineer, Ahmed Umar Farouk, who was also bestowed with the traditional title of “Gamjin Kabi”, lamented that “the current overlap of roles, where another aviation agency continued to exercise functions statutorily vested in NAMA, and constrained the agency’s capacity to harness this lawful revenue source,” he requested be reversed without further delay.
Recall that a few years ago, the task of obstacle control was domiciled in NAMA, but under the last administration, it was reverted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.
A consultant was contracted by the immediate past administration. It was gleefully announced that the consultant was approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, to carry out duties related to preventing obstacles in the airspace, especially around the airports.
At the NCAA, the Directorate of Aerodrome & Airspace Standards (DAAS) is saddled with the responsibility which it has undertaken to date. Yet, the DAAS directorate is still inundated with approximately 40 other routine statutory tasks to be expeditiously performed to enhance air safety.
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA): Functions of The Directorate of Aerodrome & Airspace Standards (DAAS)- Excerpt
A check on the NCAA’s website and a search for the objectives and functions of the DAAS revealed approximately 40 clear functions of the directorate. Below are the excerpts of tasks that overlapped with NAMA’s mandate as vehemently narrated by the NAMA boss.
The following tasks are included in the functions of the DAAS directorate
** Aeronautical studies of proposed tall structures to prevent hazards to air navigation.
** Issuance of Obstacle clearance certificate to persons/organisations intending to construct tall structures within or outside the aerodrome environment.
** Regulate or prohibit any structure which by virtue of its height, location or position is considered to constitute a hazard to air navigation.
** Participating in the licensing examination programs for ATS and ATSEP personnel.
** Coordinate and Approve airspace planning procedures and design.
** Auditing and monitoring the Air Navigation Services equipment, automation requirements and development in line with the CNS/ATM implementation program for the National Airspace.
** Coordination of aeronautical frequency planning, assignment and enforcement of control of interference with ICAO in matters relating to aeronautical frequency spectrum utilisation
However, at the twilight of the last administration, the consultant approved by FEC on obstacles assessment and prevention was employed as a director in the regulatory authority.
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