LAGOS – Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) in the Nigerian aviation industry guide at least 93,000 flights in the domestic and international airports yearly, Mr. Abayomi Agoro, the President, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has said.
Agoro, in a statement on Sunday stated this against the backdrop of the 2024 International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (IFATCA) World Air Traffic Controllers Day celebrated every October 20.
According to Agoro, statistics available indicated that the ATCs guide a minimum of 80 flights locally and another 13, 000 flights on international routes, across the nation’s 20 airports and airstrips, totalling 93,000.
He described this as a compelling figure and a testament to the professional competence and resilience of ATC in the country, despite the myriad of challenges confronting the professionals in the country.
He stated that the IFATCA World Air Traffic Controllers Day celebrated every October 20, reminded the controllers of the landmark event of the birth of a world body for Air Traffic Controllers’ Association in 1961.
He expressed that in its over 60 years of existence IFATCA, globally had given both name and voice; igniting a sense of professional dignity and pride in every ATCs across the globe in over 130 countries.
Advertisement
He, however, said that the 2024 celebration was with mixed feelings for the association in Nigeria as it had recently within a short period, lost some of its members, both those in service and out of service to death.
He added: “Nevertheless, we have every cause to celebrate our modest achievements over the years as professionals saddled with the responsibilities of working round the clock to make air travel the safest possible mode of transport.
“We can thump our chest with professional pride and confidence to have delivered admiringly on this mandate. It is worthy of note that from its humble beginning, Air Traffic Control has evolved and developed into a highly sophisticated and technology-driven occupation that has consistently made our airspace safe.”
Agoro pointed out that the 2024 celebration was yet another perfect moment to appreciate the ATCs, individually and collectively as a body of professionals who were always watching with keen eyes, the flow of aircraft on the radar scope and always being with air travellers on their flights and throughout the journey from departure right through the journey in the air to the point of arrival.
He also commended Federal Government through Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development for its effort in redirecting the nation’s aviation industry towards the right path.
Besides, he lauded the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which he said had consistently raised the bar of improvement of services in the Nigerian aviation sector, but expressed that more could be achieved with the right funding structure for the sector.
“Let us also appreciate ourselves today and always on the depth of our professionalism, focus, dedication and staying up to date with technology and procedures that have been helping us in the delivery of value to the aviation industry,” he said.
