Aviation Sector At Risk Due To Aging, Obsolete Radar Systems: Agency

By Dickson Pat

Nigeria’s aviation sector is currently confronting a new dilemma as the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency sounds the alarm on its old radar systems, which could hamper the country’s ability to properly monitor its skies.

Nigeria’s airspace surveillance is at risk due to aging and obsolete radar systems, notably the TRACON system.

The equipment, installed between 2008 and 2010, has exceeded its ten-year operational lifespan and now lacks spare parts and backup.

Budget constraints, including a 30% cut from the Federal Government, hinder necessary system upgrades and maintenance.

Revenue from air navigation fees has become outdated, but attempts to raise charges face resistance, affecting equipment sustainability.

Air traffic controllers, who rely on the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria ,TRACON, system, are expressing increasing concern regarding its reliability.

During a meeting with Mahmoud Kambari, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Farouk Umar, Managing Director of NAMA, described the current condition of the TRACON system as substandard.

Per an assessment by the Punch Newspaper, initiated in 2001, the multibillion-naira Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria ,TRACON, project was designed to provide comprehensive radar surveillance across the country.

For an extended period, this infrastructure functioned as the primary framework for air traffic monitoring, enabling controllers to maintain real-time tracking of aircraft.

While TRACON was formerly regarded as the fundamental component of national air surveillance, its current operational integrity is reported to have significantly deteriorated.

“Our area of urgent attention includes the air traffic surveillance service. The TRACON system has aged. Components are becoming obsolete with no spare parts, and most parts are working without backup. The airspace is at risk of losing surveillance service”, Mr. Umar stated.

The Managing Director noted that although the system was implemented between 2008 and 2010, it has since surpassed its projected operational lifespan.

“The lifespan of this kind of high-tech equipment is about ten years. Since 2014, the technology has been going out of fashion globally, with many countries migrating to more advanced systems”, he stated.

“Without a reliable surveillance system, maintaining safe distances between aircraft becomes more difficult, increasing risks in an already complex aviation environment.

Nigeria could also struggle to meet international standards. Providing air navigation services in line with ICAO requirements might become a challenge if urgent steps are not taken”, he added.

In addition to the technical challenges, the managing director revealed that the agency is struggling with budgetary limitations that make upgrading vital systems much more difficult.

Speaking about the difficulty of a 30% Federal Government cut from NAMA’s internal earnings, Umar maintained that, “This deduction is affecting our ability to meet critical obligations”.

He also added that. “Revenue challenges persist as well. Since 2008, we have been charging N11,000 per aircraft for each flight.

That amount is no longer realistic, yet we face resistance every time we propose an increase. We must sustain our equipment, and that requires funding”.

Furthermore, he spoke of a lack of manpower and limited training opportunities for staff, which has been detrimental to the system.

In response, Mahmoud Kambari, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, committed the ministry to aligning Nigeria’s aviation sector with international standards.

“We will continue to work closely with all agencies to ensure they succeed. Nigeria’s aviation industry must remain a key economic driver and a hub of global connectivity”, Kambari stated.