Tuesday, February 9, 2010 22:10

N7 billion to be spent on air navigation

By Okechukwu Nnodim

November 9, 2009 12:29AM

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has disclosed that over N7 billion has been invested by the federal government in the provision of facilities for effective delivery of air navigation services.

Over the weekend, the agency disclosed that the massive capital investment in air navigation is part of the government’s ongoing safer skies policy for the country, stressing that the scheme has been approved by the Federal Executive Council.

“Some of the projects, already approved by the federal executive council include the Total VHF Radio Coverage of the entire airspace, World Geodetic Survey, Automation of Aeronautical Information Services and maintenance of the new Radar System with the foreign firm,” said Supo Atobatele, general manager of public affairs for the agency.

Saving resources

In August, Babatunde Omotoba, Nigeria’s minister of aviation, disclosed that the VHF Radio coverage will put at end to communication problems between pilots and air traffic controllers.

“Before now, if you are travelling from Lagos to Sokoto, there are a lot of blind spots along the way, in which for some time like five to ten minutes, the pilot might not be able to communicate with the ground,” he said.

With the World Geodetic Survey, pilots will be able to ascertain the shortest possible routes to get to their destinations in order to save time, energy and resources.

The Radar System gives air traffic controllers a vivid picture of where an aircraft is located, enabling the controllers furnish pilots with accurate information.

Ibrahim Auyo, managing director for the agency disclosed that the contract for the total VHF Radio coverage, costing N445 million, has been awarded, adding that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is handling the World Geodetic Survey project at a cost of N360 million.

According to Mr. Auyo, N54 million has been paid to IATA as mobilisation to commence work on the World Geodetic Survey Project, stressing that the association’s surveyors had completed a survey of the four major airports: Port Harcourt, Kano and Abuja.

Time line for next year

“All these projects when they are completed next year, they will add value to our air navigation services and to the airlines in the sub region; just as we are striving to sustain high quality service in the industry with our present navigational aids,” he said.

The airspace management boss further explained that the automation of the agency’s aeronautical information service for 26 airports across the country, and the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Search and Rescue Centre, Abuja, would also gulp about N2.6 billion.

Mr. Auyo added that the cost for the maintenance of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) for five years stands at N4.3 billion, adding that the total VHF Radio Coverage of Nigeria’s airspace would be completed within the next six months.

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Reader Comments (6)

Posted by TATA on Nov 09 2009

whatever happened to our boy fani kayode?

Posted by Habib on Nov 09 2009

N7 billion, they have come again; EFCC pls channel your touch light towards this direction to ensure compliance, so that it wont end up like Bode George's project.

Posted by Nelson from SA on Nov 09 2009

Is a shame that we continue to talk of maintenance while a country like Nigeria so called "giant of Africa" can not boast of an air line and countries like Khenya, Malawi and other smaller countries in Africa all have air lines in various international route. Anyway, this is another avenue for embezzlement.

Posted by lexxy on Nov 09 2009

Wondering why its easier to disburse the money to maintain air travel,while the road plied by the common man has been left to further detororiate. Na wa oooooo!!!!

Posted by Osa on Nov 10 2009

Do you mean to say, N7 billion to be shared by the PDP? Nothing good comes out of any so called expenditures, it is only good for the headlines. Bad roads with all the budgets, and $16billion down the drain with no electricity to show for it. Where is EFCC?

Posted by enyi on Nov 10 2009

Nigeria lacks QA/QC in all major contracts. QA/QC should be independent of the ministry or contractors handling the contracts, and should be meant to report to the Presidency direct without any form of link to the ministry. If the government adopts this system, the sincerety or insincerety of the govt will be spelt out. I stronly believe that the President of this country means well for this country and would love to adopt this system of contract supervision. A situation where milestone work schedule and payment will be adopted. The President will always have every site situation and expenditures across the country direct at his finger tips. I know that there are very many honest Nigerians who can undertake this assignment, without being bribed to do the opposite. In all the oil & gas industries in Nigeria this system is perfectly in existence, and quality jobs that meets the specification and standards are carried. If not why don't we have expolsions on daily basis in the oil & and gas industries, where do we expect highest risk on the job is not in the oil & and industries? What risks do we have in road constructions, buildings, provision of portable water, agriculture, etc. Therefore if the Nigerian wants the thing to be done rightly for sure it is possible.