T
he Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has secured a significant milestone as it clinched the prestigious African Airlines Association (AFRAA) Free Route Airspace award, becoming the first organisation on the continent to earn such recognition.
The honour reflects years of planning, innovation, and commitment that transformed Nigeria’s airspace architecture beginning with the Kano Flight Information Region. The achievement also strengthens Nigeria’s growing reputation for leadership within the African aviation sector.
The accolade was presented to the agency during the 57th AFRAA General Assembly in Angola recent ceremony where NAMA’s Director of Air Traffic Services, Mr John Tayo, received it on behalf of the organisation. According to AFRAA, the award highlights NAMA’s excellence in service delivery and its steady dedication to implementing advanced solutions for the modernisation of the African airspace. The recognition further reinforces AFRAA’s view that Nigeria has become one of the most consistent champions of airspace safety, route efficiency, and aviation competitiveness across the continent.
AFRAA recognises Nigeria’s airspace leadership
Speaking at the event, the Secretary General of AFRAA, Mr Abderahmane Berthe, described NAMA as a key driver of safety and efficiency for airlines operating across the African region. He noted that the Nigerian agency had maintained a strong presence in airspace innovation and had consistently prioritised the upgrade of critical systems. In his view, such an approach set Nigeria apart and positioned NAMA as a credible contributor to the continent’s wider aviation goals. His remarks reinforced the importance of the Free Route Airspace initiative and its positive impact on daily operations for airlines.
Nigeria’s journey towards the Free Route Airspace began with the conceptualisation and development phases, which were completed with the charting and publication of the new structure.
The implementation took effect on 2 December 2021 and marked a major turning point for the Kano Flight Information Region. NAMA had prepared extensively for the transition to ensure smooth operations and to guarantee that airlines enjoyed measurable benefits from the new routing flexibility.
In the months following its introduction, the agency assessed the system and confirmed a range of operational advantages. The Free Route Airspace reduced flight time for airlines, therefore lowering fuel burn across several routes. This also led to a visible reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, helping the environment and supporting Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable aviation. Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers equally experienced an improvement in workload due to the optimised routing options available under the new system. According to NAMA, these results demonstrated that the national upgrade aligned with global aviation trends.
Other transformational benefits emerged as operations continued. Airlines operating between the Kano Flight Information Region and neighbouring regions began to enjoy smoother traffic flow and greater route efficiency. The improved connectivity strengthened economic potential for carriers and delivered time savings across peak operations. NAMA also recorded an increase in internally generated revenue as a result of higher flight rotations enabled by the Direct Route Operations available under the Free Route structure. These outcomes provided further proof that Nigeria had made a sound strategic investment in its aviation infrastructure.
After receiving the award, Mr John Tayo commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the consistent support given to NAMA. He also described the agency’s Managing Director, Engineer Farouk Ahmed Umar, as a visionary leader whose commitment to technology and human capital development had placed NAMA among the world’s leading airspace management institutions. According to him, the agency would continue to push for innovation and maintain policies that ensure safer skies for all airspace users.
Looking ahead, the Director of Air Traffic Services explained that Nigeria would expand its work on the Free Route Airspace in partnership with countries across the region. NAMA intends to sustain cross-border implementation within the ICAO AFI region and will deepen collaboration with neighbouring West and Central African states. The ongoing cooperation covers the Accra, Niamey, Ndjamena, Douala, and Brazzaville Flight Information Regions. He stressed that such partnerships will allow airlines to enjoy seamless operations while ensuring that Africa moves closer to a harmonised and efficient continental airspace.
The latest honour from AFRAA not only recognises NAMA’s achievement but also underscores Nigeria’s role in shaping the future of aviation across Africa. It signals that the country’s investments in airspace modernisation are yielding measurable results and that its strategies continue to elevate the standard of aviation operations within the region.
