LAGOS – The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) said between December 2023 and October 2024, it has conducted an annual proficiency check for 339 Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs).
A statement by Abdullahi Musa, Director, Public Affairs, NAMA, said that Engr. Farouk Umar, the Managing Director, NAMA, disclosed this during the annual air traffic management workshop of the agency which held at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, recently.
According to Umar, the proficiency check for the ATCs was conducted in conjunction with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Apart from this, Umar said that the agency also carried out promotion proficiency check for another set of 69 ATCs within the same period.
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Besides, it said that NAMA had conducted the English Language Proficiency Check for another 243 controllers in accordance with Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation (NCAR) Part II to close existing gaps ahead of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).
Umar, further listed other achievements of his 10-month administration in the area of air traffic management to include a total of 87 air traffic controllers in the agency who had passed the NCAA Certification Examination Rating on Aerodrome, Approach and Area (Procedural and Surveillance), and another set of 91 air traffic controllers who got new or renewed Air Traffic Control (ATC) licences in compliance with ICAO Document (9426).
Farouk who was represented at the event byMr. John Tayo, the Director of Air Traffic Services, NAMA, also said that as part of moves to enhance capacity, the Air Traffic Control 3-D Tower Simulator at Lagos Centrex was about to be fully deployed for use by controllers while efforts were ongoing for a replication of similar facilities in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano airports.
While enjoining air traffic controllers across the nation to remain dedicated to their duties, the NAMA boss stated that the policy direction of his administration was targeted towards optimising the capacity of critical personnel through training, retraining and capacity building as this.
He emphasised that this would would in turn enhance maximum and efficient use of communication, navigation and surveillance infrastructure across the country.
