Members of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association NATCA, has threatened to shut down air navigation facilities in the Kano zone over the disconnection of electricity supply by the airport manager in Kano.
According to investigation, NATCA members are angry that in the past few days, they have been kept in total darkness following the order of the airport manager to halt power supply to their offices and quarters of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA.
According to one of the members of NATCA who do not want his name mentioned disclosed that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN through its airport manager in Kano, is unilaterally undermining other stakeholders especially NAMA denying them of electricity supply.
He warned that there will be a total shut down of provisions of Air Navigation and safety services in Kano over what he described as an irresponsible action by FAAN, assuring that NATCA will carry out the action.
“It’s not a threat but we must once and for all forestall FAAN’s intolerance and undignified approach to civil aviation safety standards and recommended practice”.
“How can a sister agency under same governance be acting in a manner as if there’s no other authority or internal mechanism to adjudicate”.
“Now he has disconnected both NAMA facilities and its staffs residing in the quarter. As we speak our people had been kept in perpetual darkness without any justifications. If by Monday nothing is done to restore back the electricity, we will take action”
When contacted, the Kano airport manager, Alhaji Gambo Aboki Abubakar, said NAMA owes FAAN over N500million.
He said, it was not only NAMA staff that were disconnected, others who were also affected have paid but NAMA had refused to settle their debts.
“FAAN is not father Christmas, they collect money from services they render why will they not pay us, if they don’t pay us how do we maintain our airport, the electricity company will disconnect the entire airport and this will not good for us. They are owing FAAN over N500million”.
