The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has asked the National Assembly to increase its share of the statutory five percent aviation revenue pool from the current 22 per cent to 56 percent.
It said the rising cost of maintaining safety-critical infrastructure is putting increasing pressure on the country’s air navigation system.
The Managing Director, Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar, made the demand on Thursday at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, saying the existing revenue-sharing formula no longer reflects the scale of the agency’s statutory responsibilities.
Umar said NAMA’s responsibilities begin long before passengers board an aircraft and continue throughout every stage of flight operations.
“Long before a passenger boards an aircraft, NAMA’s personnel and systems are already at work. A flight plan must be processed, aeronautical information must be current.
“Radios must be clear. Navigation aids must be serviceable. Surveillance must be available. Controllers must be at their positions. Engineers must be ready to respond. Power and backup power must hold,” he stated.
