NAMA Launches First-ever Comprehensive Audit of Nigeria’s...

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has commenced a landmark, comprehensive audit of the country’s entire airspace, known as the Kano Flight Information Region (FIR).

The exercise, which began on Tuesday, marks the first self-assessment of its kind in NAMA’s 25-year history and represents a proactive step towards ensuring the safety and efficiency of Nigeria’s aviation sector.

According to NAMA’s Managing Director, Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar, the audit is a “defining milestone” in the agency’s quest for excellence.

He explained that the review goes beyond compliance checks, serving instead as a declaration of NAMA’s commitment to meeting and exceeding global aviation standards.

The comprehensive audit will cover every facet of air navigation services, including: Air Traffic Services (ATS): Reviewing the management of all air traffic; Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS): Inspecting the technologies that guide aircraft; Aeronautical Information Management (AIM): Assessing systems that provide essential flight information; And Search and Rescue (SAR): Evaluating the readiness and effectiveness of emergency response operations.

The scope of the exercise encompasses Nigeria’s four major international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, as well as airports in Enugu and Maiduguri. It will also include inspections of state-owned airports, private aerodromes, and CNS facilities across the country.

NAMA stated that the review is designed to identify gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement, ensuring Nigerian airspace aligns fully with international practices established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The timing of the audit is considered strategic, as it prepares NAMA for upcoming international assessments, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s certification of Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) and ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).

Engr. Umar emphasised that the audit will instil a culture of accountability and continuous improvement within the agency, stressing that the safety and efficiency of Nigeria’s airspace are “non-negotiable.”

He added that a successful outcome will not only strengthen NAMA’s operations but also cement Nigeria’s leadership role in the global aviation community.

The FIR Audit Committee, chaired by Ahmad Abba, NAMA’s Director of Special Duties, will oversee the exercise. The committee is composed of experts drawn from different departments who will work closely with industry stakeholders and regulatory bodies to ensure a transparent, rigorous, and inclusive process.