The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has renewed its appeal to the National Assembly for urgent intervention to halt the 50% deduction from its revenue.
According to the agency, this 50% deduction threatens operations and hinders Nigeria’s aviation safety and modernization goals.
Managing Director of NAMA, Engineer Farouk Umar, made the appeal during the four-day retreat of the House Committee on Aviation in Abuja. He emphasised that “modernising Nigeria’s aviation sector cannot happen without financial reform.” Umar stressed that the 50% deduction further makes it difficult for the airspace managers.
Engineer Umar highlighted Section 9(2) of the NAMA Act 2022, which clearly exempts agency revenues from deductions or remittances to other bodies. He said enforcement of this provision is crucial for sustaining NAMA’s critical services, including towers, radars, and communication networks.
He further explained that halting the 50% deduction would allow NAMA to fund upgrades such as Performance Based Navigation (PBN) and Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS).
These investments, he stressed, are necessary to meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety requirements and guarantee uninterrupted service for airlines.
The NAMA boss lamented that the deductions cripple the agency’s statutory responsibilities and international obligations.
“Without financial autonomy, it becomes impossible to expand capacity or deliver globally competitive services,” he said.
Umar also requested the Committee’s support to enforce Section 18(1) of the Act, which empowers NAMA to collect obstruction evaluation fees.
He regretted that another agency currently exercises this statutory role, limiting NAMA’s lawful revenue opportunities.
In addition, he called for a comprehensive review of navigation charges, which have remained stagnant since 2008. He stressed that current rates no longer reflect economic realities and hinder cost recovery for vital services.
According to him, adherence to the NAMA Act would allow the agency to:
*Maintain and calibrate communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) equipment.
*Employ and train skilled personnel to manage airspace safety.
*Invest in innovation and digitalisation for global competitiveness.
For him, reverting the 50% deduction is key to meeting some of these priorities.
Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba, assured stakeholders of the National Assembly’s commitment to strengthening aviation. He said actionable plans will be developed to enhance safety, infrastructure, and regulatory compliance.
Garba added that collaboration between regulators, service providers, and lawmakers is essential to tackling industry challenges while maximising available opportunities.
“The retreat gives us the platform to synergise expertise for aviation advancement,” he said.
The retreat, themed “Emerging Trends in Global Aviation: Sustainability, Technology, and Digital Transformation”, is expected to deliver strategic discussions covering airspace management, legislative oversight, and stakeholder engagement.
The statement was signed by NAMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Dr. Abdullahi Musa.
