Engr. Ahmed Umar Farouk, Managing Director, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Engr. Ahmed Umar Farouk, the Dan Majen of Gwandu, has informed the federal lawmakers that the paltry eleven thousand naira (N11,000.00k) charged for navigational services to airlines is no longer sustainable in the light of current economic realities.
Engr Farouk said the 17-year-old fee charged is far too low to cover the cost of the safety-critical service to the airlines, who themselves have severally increased their air fares in consonance with the prevailing economic realities.
The airspace agency boss spoke at a stakeholder summit organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation. The talkshop is themed, “Emerging trends in global aviation: sustainability, technology and digital transformation.”
The air navigation chieftain argued that in an effort to keep up with the ever-evolving air navigational technology, humongous investments were regularly made and by compulsion, in order to continuously enhance smooth, and safe air transport nationwide and even beyond the shores of the country.
Engr Farouk, who is also the Gamjin Kabi, while driving home his point, emphasised that “In 2008, NAMA was collecting N11,000.00k and I need to explain this so that the public out there will understand”.
He went into heartfelt narration, thus, “When I say N11,000, it’s per the whole flight, I’m just giving an example. Like, from Lagos to Abuja, we are charging N11,000 for the whole flight. That means, irrespective of the number of passengers on board, we are not charging per passenger”.
Farouk argued thus, “Given the fact that we are cost recovery agents, we are supposed to recover from what we have invested. The fact is, we have invested hugely in procuring improved landing systems, surveillance systems, and communication systems, and yet we keep modernising without commensurate returns on our investment”.
He narrated further, “We keep moving with the technology so that we will not be left behind, and yet you are still paying us peanuts. I think the world needs to know, and the airlines need to face the reality of life. We cannot continue this way.”
According to Farouk, “The truth of the matter is that the airlines have not been fair to the agency because we are not a charity organisation. We are a cost recovery agency”.
He, however, noted on the part of the airline that, “they have been responding to the prevailing economic circumstances, economic situations over the years in their air fares, and yet they don’t want to understand that we also go to the same markets. We procure this equipment with huge foreign exchange, and, therefore, there’s what you call cost recovery”, Engr Farouk opined.
Mobile Tower
While setting the tone for the parley, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Hon. Abdullahi Garba, said the retreat was a partnership very vital for the mutual understanding and shared mission of improving the Nigerian aviation industry.
The House Committee Chairman on Aviation, who was ably represented at the forum by the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Festus Akingbaso, declared the objective of the parley thus: “Our goal is to develop actionable plans and reinforce priorities that will enhance aviation safety, facilitate solid and modern infrastructure, and promote total compliance with Nigeria’s civil aviation safety and economic regulations.”
About Post Author
