Aviation: 66m euro radar project stalls over parts scarcity

The Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) project of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) which gulped over 66m euros may have stalled over spare parts scarcity.

There were indications yesterday that the project meant to provide surveillance for the nation’s airspace which commenced since 2003, and completed in 2010 may have broken down due to disuse.

In a presentation at the stakeholders’ interactive forum, Director of Safety Electronics and Engineering Services of NAMA, Engr. Farouk Umar, lamented that all efforts to source spare parts for equipment replacement from the manufacturer proved abortive since 2014.

He, however urged the Federal Government to prevail on Thales of France to adhere strictly to the terms of contract.

The Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, disclosed that in a bid to enhance air safety and radio communications between pilots and control towers within the country’s airspace, NAMA, has installed Very High Frequency (VHF) radios across 17 airports in Nigeria.

Some of the airports equipped with the facility included Owerri, Enugu, Kaduna, Ibadan, Katsina, Sokoto, Maiduguri and Akure.

He said installation of the equipment would further address the radio communication challenge in the system and urged all users of its facilities to commit to their obligations regularly to improve safety in the airspace.

The Minister of State for Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Mr Sabiu Zakari, aviation was under the present administration.