The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has formally signed contractual documents for the construction of its new corporate headquarters and a centralised ATM Centre in Abuja, marking a decisive shift in Nigeria’s airspace management architecture. The project represents a strategic move to unify the operational functions of the Lagos and Kano Area Control Centres into a single national hub, designed to improve efficiency, safety oversight, and coordination across the country’s airspace.
In a statement issued by Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Dr Abdullahi Musa, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NAMA, Engr. Ahmed Umar Farouk, described the development as a forward-looking investment aligned with global best practices.
ATM Centre
Farouk explained that the new headquarters will not merely serve as an administrative base but will also house a modern ATM Centre that fundamentally changes how air traffic control services are delivered nationwide.
According to Engr. Farouk, the new ATM Centre will bring under one roof the operations currently handled separately by the Kano Area Control Centre and the Lagos Area Control Centre. From this single, integrated facility, air traffic across the entire Nigerian airspace will be managed and coordinated, eliminating duplication while strengthening national oversight. He noted that the unification of both centres will enhance real-time decision-making and create a more resilient and responsive air navigation system.
The NAMA Chief Executive emphasised that consolidating air traffic control functions into one national ATM Centre would significantly improve operational efficiency and safety performance. He added that the move would also strengthen Nigeria’s compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization Standards and Recommended Practices, particularly in the areas of airspace management, communication, and surveillance integration. By centralising control functions, NAMA expects to reduce operational fragmentation and improve service reliability for airlines and airspace users.
Engr. Farouk stressed that the new facility will house highly sensitive and mission-critical infrastructure, making quality and durability non-negotiable. He therefore charged the project contractor, NHD Interbiz Projects Limited, to ensure strict adherence to engineering excellence and internationally accepted construction standards. He noted that management would closely monitor every phase of execution to guarantee transparency, value for money, and long-term sustainability of the ATM Centre and the corporate headquarters.
Describing the project as central to the safety of Nigeria’s skies, Engr. Farouk said the ATM Centre would serve as the backbone of the nation’s air navigation services for decades to come. He assured stakeholders that the facility is being designed to accommodate future technological upgrades, ensuring that Nigeria’s airspace management system remains adaptable to evolving operational and regulatory demands.
The NAMA boss also expressed appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), for facilitating the Federal Executive Council approval that enabled the project to proceed. He described the Minister’s support as critical to the realisation of NAMA’s vision for a unified, modern air traffic management framework anchored by a central ATM Centre.
Earlier, Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary, Mrs. Rita Egbadon, described the contract signing as a landmark moment in the agency’s institutional history. She explained that the agreement followed months of detailed legal structuring, compliance alignment, and risk assessment, all aimed at safeguarding public interest and protecting NAMA’s long-term mandate.
Mrs. Egbadon noted that the new headquarters and ATM Centre effectively close a chapter in which the agency operated from facilities that no longer reflected the scale, sensitivity, and national importance of its responsibilities. She added that the project symbolises a renewed commitment to professionalism, accountability, and operational excellence in Nigeria’s airspace management system.
