Contract signing flaws set back AIS automaton

… We don’t know it’s present stage-AIS personnel

The Non-automation of the Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) System has been attributed to flaws from the beginning of the signing of the contract.

General Manager, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA in charge of AIS Nigeria, Kabir Yahaya Gusau in a chat with reporters in Lagos said, the AIS automation had taken too long and there may be something not included in the contract that was delaying the project completion.

He said, it was now left for the contractor and NAMA who represents the FG to sit down and look at the contract again to identify areas of flaws and make amends, adding that if this was not done soon, the AIS automation may never see the light of the day.

“Our system must be automated now with immediate effect when the system is automated it is will better promote efficiency. I think there has been a mistake from the beginning maybe when we were signing the contract there may have been something that was not included, so there is a need for the contractors and the FG to sit down

together and look at that contract again so that wherever the mistakes are, we have to rectify it if not I don’t see this thing coming in the near future.”

He, however, noted that there had been a meeting between the Management of NAMA and 0the vendor to clear any area of misinformation, adding that a Committee was also being constituted in this regard.

“Some countries that started before us have even finished and they are now talking about other things, please the FG should come into this, let’s do this thing and forget about it. I don’t think paucity is responsible for the delay because nearly every year the FG put this in the budget I believe there must be a gap somewhere, yes, it is misinformation. In the meeting we had yesterday, we were able to discover a lot of things, the vendor agreed everything will be done within the shortest period of time and there is another thing they will be expecting from NAMA and we will have a Committee and we are trying to work toward that and I also believe the vendor has some responsibility toward that and this time around we may actually achieve our aim very soon.”

“In the meeting I had with the vendor and the Director Operations I think we are getting a way forward, I think there is misinformation along the line but the meeting of yesterday, I think we have found a way how we can continue, I believe now we understand where we are going.”

On the stage the automation project was, Guasau said it was difficult to explain the actual stage for now,” to be sincere with you but am calling on the FG to make sure this thing become a reality as soon as possible because of this thing is not only AIS, they say AIS but this thing comprise every aspect of aviation so by the time this thing becomes a reality, it is not only AIS that benefits, virtual everywhere including NEMA, so everything is to be put together, it is a big project.”

On the challenges faced due to the Covid-19 in the operations of the AIS/AIM personnel, Guasau said they need more protective equipment for protection against the virus.

He said the Federal government should come to their aid, as their office needed to be well equipped to do their job without fear, adding that if the system was automated, there would not be apprehension as they would not be in contact with anyone in the dissemination of their information.