As Nigeria marks World Air Traffic Controllers Day today, the nation’s controllers are calling for urgent investment in infrastructure and staffing.
The group says current shortages and equipment challenges are compromising the safety and efficiency of the nation’s airspace.
Air Traffic controllers keep aircraft safely separated in crowded skies, prevent collision on the ground amongst others.
Every day, Nigeria’s air traffic controllers guide thousands of flights, keeping over 15 million passengers safe in increasingly busy skies.
But this year’s celebration comes with an urgent call for reform.
years of underinvestment
President, Nigeria Air Traffic Controllers Association, NATCA, Mr. Amos Edino, says rising air traffic and years of underinvestment are pushing the limits of safety and efficiency. He warns that obsolete equipment, poor maintenance, and manpower shortages are stretching the system thin especially as new airports open and drone operations expand.
“Inadequate and poor maintenance of the existing airport infrastructure, obsolete plants and equipment and facilities across the aviation sector, ageing technical human resources, inadequate numbers of technical staff to meet the set industry manning standards” he stated
Controllers also point to fatigue and stress as silent threats, calling for better welfare and more hands on deck.
“There is the issue of radiation and nobody is talking about it, stress and heavy workloads pose serious risks in such a high-pressure environment, it drains us emotionally and psychologically”.
They urge the Federal Government to modernize communication and navigation systems, strengthen infrastructure, and sustain training to meet global standards.
“Modernized air traffic control systems, navigation facilities to enhance operational efficiency, implement advanced communication systems VHF for extended coverage and introduce the data links for faster more accurate exchange of flight information, provide facilities and equipment necessary for better coordination with adjacent flight information region (FIRs) and other ATC units”
While commending the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo’s reforms under the government’s five-point aviation agenda, NATCA says safety must remain the foundation of every flight.
Reporting by Nosa Aituamen