Nigeria targets safer skies as professionals push AIS-to-AIM

Nigeria is seeking to accelerate the transition from Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) to Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) as aviation professionals move to strengthen the accuracy, availability and reliability of information used by pilots, air traffic controllers and other users of the country’s airspace.

President of the Aeronautical Information Management Association of Nigeria (AIMAN), Dr Ibrahim Audu, said Nigeria’s participation in the recently concluded International Federation of Aeronautical Information Management Associations (IFAIMA) World Conference in Aruba would help strengthen local technical capacity and international cooperation around the transition.

The conference, themed “AIS to AIM: What Is Holding Us Back and How We Move Forward,” brought together professionals to examine the challenges slowing the global shift towards modern aeronautical information management.

Audu said participation by Nigerian professionals would expose them to current international practices while creating opportunities to build relationships with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and other industry stakeholders.

According to him, the transition is important to aviation safety because modern AIM reduces the risk of pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation users relying on outdated or inaccurate aeronautical information.

“The IFAIMA Global AIM we are talking about is much more than a professional meeting. It has potential benefits for Nigeria, African countries, and the wider international aviation community,” he said.

Audu said the conference would also support the development of the technical expertise required for Nigeria to move towards a more integrated and modern information-management system.

He acknowledged that completing the transition remains challenging but said progress would ultimately depend on policy decisions, commitment and the ability of stakeholders to establish clear objectives and pursue them consistently.

He said effective decision-making would determine the objectives of Nigeria’s AIM transition and create the commitment required to implement them.

The AIMAN president said the participation of the Nigerian delegation would therefore add value to the country’s technical capacity and contribute to reducing operational risks within the aviation sector.

“This will add value to the technical expertise in the AIM industry, which will definitely increase safety and reduce risks in the aviation industry,” he said.

Audu commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, as well as the leadership of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for supporting Nigeria’s participation in the conference.

The Nigerian delegation included General Manager, Aeronautical Information Services, James Olalekan; AIMAN President, Ibrahim Audu; Alhaji Kabir Yahaya Gusau, Managing Director of Gusau International Airport; Mrs Ayinde, Deputy General Manager, AIS; and Mrs Ogundele, Deputy General Manager, AIS.

The transition from AIS to AIM represents a broader shift towards managing aeronautical information as a more integrated digital resource for aviation operations.

For Nigeria, the issue is particularly significant because accurate and timely aeronautical information supports flight planning, navigation, air traffic management and overall operational safety.

The experience gained through international engagement, Audu said, could help Nigerian professionals better understand the systems, standards and partnerships required to complete the transition and align the country’s aviation information infrastructure more closely with evolving international practice.