Controllers Call for Human Capital Development

Stories by Chinedu Eze

Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) have said the major reason why there is inefficiency in the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is due to the paucity of technical personnel, insisting that the parastatal has failed to adequately train the core staff of the organisation over the years.

The controllers expressed fear that the widening training gaps might ultimately jeopardise safety and impair ratings from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The National President of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Abayomi Agoro, who made this known, said that technical, operational trainings for relevant personnel have not been given the much-needed attention they deserve by the agency.

Speaking at a one-day interactive session in collaboration with Flight Crew Association of Nigeria (FCAN) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) held in Lagos recently, Agoro said many Air Traffic Controllers (ATCO) hardly go for On-TheJob-Trainings (OJT) because of paucity of funds.

He said NAMA, the agency saddled with the responsibility of providing Air Traffic Control services and ensure safety has not been able to deliver on her core operational trainings, rather, attention is continuously being given to the support staff.

“So much confidence had been reposed on our aviation industry and we cannot afford to fritter resources away, considering the goodwill the sector has built over the years. In my candid opinion, the time is right to reflect on some salient issues, one of which is the training of operational/technical staff in the sector.

“Our personnel need training and re-training. We have to draw the attention of the relevant aviation authorities to the deficit in training and requisite exposure that has been lacking lately.

“These training programmes are important so as to meet up with ICAO recommendations and ultimately give our staff the knowledge, skill and technical exposure to tackle whatever challenges, may come up in the course of duty.

“As we all know, NAMA is the recognised aviation agency saddled with the responsibility of providing Air Traffic Control services and ensure safety, but sadly NAMA, with all due respect, has not been able to deliver on her core operational trainings.

“We are all living witnesses to the very fact that Technical / Operational trainings for relevant personnel have not been given the much-needed attention they deserve. Rather, and ironically too, priority attention is continuously being given to support staff. The training fund allotted to Technical/ Operational staff are grossly inadequate, while NAMA expends a lot to train support staff on administrative courses abroad,” Agoro said.

He said it was sad to note that Air Traffic Controllers are not exposed to the requisite training regime and the few training programmes that were done were inadequate to meet the set target.

“Note also that many ATCs hardly go for On-The-JobTrainings (OJT) as and when due for reasons of paucity of funds. These trainings are standard operational requirement and in conformity with global best practices. This is an unwholesome development and if care is not taken, the widening gap in what is supposed to be a regular training programme could ultimately jeopardise safety and impair our ICAO/ FAA ratings,” Agoro said.

The 2017 report by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) stated that West Africa remains a key transit point for drug trafficking. Other than cannabis and cocaine, seizure data indicate trafficking in precursors like ephedrine in Nigeria and in the synthetic opioid tramadol, which is not under international control but is increasingly being misused in Nigeria and in the broader West African region.

The report also noted that the illicit manufacturing of amphetamines and cultivation and production of cannabis are also area of concern for Nigeria.

This, and among other recent trends in the country necessitated the gathering of the authorities of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other stakeholders in the fight for a drug free society at Badagry, Seme Command of the agency recently and the destruction of 100 tonnages; precisely 143.218 kilograms of drugs and psychotropic substances.

This figure comprised seizures and forfeits made across its formations in Lagos State which includes: State Command with 7 Area Command, Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Apapa Sea Ports, Tin Can Island Ports and Seme Special Area Command, which is the land border between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

Chairman and Chief Executive, NDLEA, Colonel Mustapha Abdallah (rtd), said the battle to create free drug society involves all stakeholders’ effort.

“Every family is really bound to bring up children according to its values. There is no way we are going to make head way if we forget that parenting is a full time job, do your part before you let your children come into the streets.

“We are determined to get the traffickers wherever they. We know that barons have conspicuous tails that you can follow, I see no tails but whatever little information I get

I follow it,” the NDLEA boss said.

Abdullah told the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu, that demography that make up Lagos population of over 20 million are youths who are prone to drug use; so drug trafficking and consumption is real in Lagos state.

“The United Nation 2018 drug use survey carried out in Nigeria showed a high drug prevalent use in Lagos, which requires stronger collaboration between NDLEA and the government of Lagos to surmount. I therefore, crave the indulgence of the governor for more robust initiatives to be put together by NDLEA and your government in the interest of the large population of Lagos.

“The Lagos State Kicks against Drug Abuse (LASKADA) is a good initiative but requires more efforts and investment to meet the need of Lagos state. In summary, there is still much to be done for instance, the state is expected to have a functional State Drug Abuse Control Committee to complement the current efforts.

“The State Drug Abuse Control Committee is a veritable platform for all stakeholders within the state to come together as one body to reach out and effectively mobilise communities and sensitise them on the devastating consequences of the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking,” Abdallah said.

According to the NDLEA boss, the agency is looking forward to a treatment and rehabilitation Centre in Lagos State to handle cases of drug dependent persons.

Reiterating the position of his boss, State Commander, NDLEA, Lagos Command, Mr. Ralph Igwenagu, stressed that rehabilitation is very important.

“Rehabilitation is an important aspect of our job; we carryout rehabilitation of drug users and drug addicts. We do this a lot and it is a sustainable project that is part of our operations. We in NDLEA have centers in every area commands, there is a mini-rehabilitation centres, but some states have also established their own rehabilitation centres where they work with health workers and some NDLEA officers to carryout rehabilitation.

“In Lagos State for example, we are requesting the state government to establish a rehabilitation Centre that would work with other health officers to ensure that drug users are rehabilitated,” Igwenagu said.

Speaking on the number of arrest and suspects within the year in review, Igwenagu explained that the Lagos State Command in the past one year had arrested over 450 suspects and no death as a result of swallowed drug.

“In our state command in Lagos State we have arrested 450 drug suspects; some are on prosecution, some of are still ongoing, but so far we have convicted 85,” he stated.