|
NAMA IS THE LIVE-WIRE OF THE AVIATION INDUSTRY-BARAJE
 Members of the NAMA governing board and the management team recently embarked on a fact finding mission to some nation’s airports. The main focus of the board’s visit was to get acquainted with the working status of the navigational equipment and other challenges confronting the staff at these airports. The chairman governing board, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje in this interview, gives the agency a pass mark of excellence.QUESTION: Recently, the board members of NAMA embarked on facility tour of some major airports in Nigeria, what is the state of NAVAIDS in these airports?
ANSWER: Our visit shows that we meant business and this is a proof that the administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is taking the bull by the horn … by living up to the expectations that all problems of the aviation sector are tackled on record time. We have therefore, dedicated our efforts in this direction. We inspected some navigational equipments, the newly refurbished tower and the sites of the new radar project in Port-Harcourt, Kano and Abuja. In fact we are thrilled by what we saw on ground, even though there were some glaring challenges that we are set to tackle headlong. But with what is on the ground still, NAMA, remains the life wire of the aviation industry and that informed the priority being given to the agency by Mr. President. NAMA is strategically placed in the industry and our concern is that the agency is the life wire of the industry, not only in Nigeria, but in the Global industry and if we are to reposition the aviation industry properly, NAMA is the priority of the present government. We are therefore given a kind of mandate when we were coming onboard to look into the problematic areas that are hindering the operational modalities of smooth air safety and security challenges so as to place Nigeria’s aviation industry at par with sister colleagues in the international community. Our equipments are working to the required standards, but there is room for improvement in areas that are posing challenges.
QUESTION: The spoke about inspecting the TRACON sites in Port-Harcourt, Kano and Abuja. What is the status of this radar project?
ANSWER: Yes, on –the-spot assessment of the new radar project was on our agenda and we were impressed and satisfied with the level of job done so far. As at now, the sites in Abuja and Lagos have been completed and I want to tell you categorically that we have a state of the-art equipment at the airport, and our TRACON equipment is one of the best in Africa and the world. We have seen what we wanted to see and what an average Nigerian would want to see in his life time. We now have a situation whereby our air traffic controllers can effectively handle flights in Lagos and Abuja without problem. They could even communicate effectively with the airborne aircraft. With the operations of the new radar, the era of aircraft flying into the country without being noticed is gone. We are Indeed proud to have such facility in this country and this is due to president Yar’Adua’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s airspace is safe, thereby building passengers confidence in flying. The civil works for Port-Harcourt and Kano will soon start within the next few weeks and I believe by the end of August this year, 70% of the job would have been done, particularly in Kano which is strategic to us in NAMA. Our other equipment in Kano is just waiting for installation and when the new tower is completed by our sister agency; this will be done immediately to complement the radar project. When all these facilities are completed, Kano’s lost glory will be returned to the delight of the people. At Katsina airport, we have directed immediate installation of an instrument landing system [ILS] to boost safety and accommodate the growing traffic. Presently, Arik Air operates three weekly flights into the airport. We are currently working towards upgrading Katsina airport. The airport is one of the legacies of Mr. President during his tenure as the State Governor
QUESTION: Sir, it is a good thing to have all this equipment, but another serious challenge is how to retain the technology through effective maintenance culture. What are your plans on maintenance?
ANSWER: Yes, we are concerned about our maintenance culture in the country and keeping alive our equipment at the nation’s airport is our priority. We have discussed this issue with the management and let me say this, that a maintenance agreement is being packaged for the agency with the Contractor handling the radar project for a period of five years. NAMA will not leave the equipment to rot away because we are going to maintain them and there is a committee on ground that will be looking at the facilities at the airports for proper analysis for their upgrade, replacement and of course maintenance. We want bring revolution to NAMA because it is the life wire of the aviation industry and so it must be unique. The new culture of maintenance we want to introduce will correct the previous problem of keeping the vital equipment working at the airports.
QUESTION: What’s your board’s plan for the workforce? Are you satisfied with the quality of the staff?
ANSWER: Let me say this… that NAMA is blessed with dedicated workers. They demonstrated this to us at all the airports so far visited. They are competent and displayed high level of professionalism even with some glaring challenges at their respective base. We have told the management and we have even told the sraff that training and sound welfare will henceforth be our priority. Ours is a service industry and we need to maintain high level of responsibility by having a sound policy on our workforce.
| 
ABOUT NAMA
