The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency could generate $1.5 billion in annual revenue from overflights if it modernises its infrastructure, according to aviation industry stakeholders speaking at the 55th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers' Association in Lagos. Currently, NAMA earns roughly 50 per cent of that potential due to inadequate airspace coverage caused by outdated equipment. Overflights are aircraft that pass through a country's airspace without landing or taking off there.
NAMA collects between $75 and $195 per flight for regional and international overfliers, with overflight, en-route and terminal navigation fees making up approximately 75 per cent of the agency's total income. The remaining 25 per cent comes from the statutory Ticket Sales Charge. However, an insider revealed that NAMA's actual revenue and remittances have historically fallen vastly short of projections, often collecting only a fraction of what is needed to cover operational costs that exceed N43 billion annually.
Air Traffic Controllers' Association President Edino Ilemona Amos expressed deep frustration at the lack of progress despite government approvals and procurement announcements. "Despite the considerable challenges faced by members across the length and breadth of the country, there has been no significant improvement in our communication and surveillance infrastructure," he said. He warned that persistent equipment failures have pushed the association to consider withdrawing services should there be no clear strategic plan for overhauling the infrastructure.
Stakeholders identified urgent needs including installation of new VHF voice communication systems across 14 operational sites, deployment of extended VHF radio systems to eliminate communication blind spots, and comprehensive modernisation of the nine-station radar network. NAMA and the federal government said they are upgrading critical systems including the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, procuring Automatic Dependence Surveillance-Broadcast equipment, and acquiring Indra radar systems from Spain. A NAMA official stated that the existing TRACON system, in place since 2010, has become outmoded and must be replaced entirely.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo confirmed that the President has approved overhaul of the Total Radar Coverage system and that NAMA has begun deploying ADS-B as a surveillance backup. New VHF radios and voice communication systems for fourteen sites have completed factory acceptance testing in Norway, he said. Work has also begun on a new NAMA headquarters and Air Traffic Management Centre in Abuja. Industry stakeholders said that providing critical equipment would enable NAMA to boost revenue substantially, especially from overflights.
For savers and businesses in Nigeria, improved airspace infrastructure could generate significant government revenue while potentially reducing costs for airlines operating in the region, though current progress remains slow despite repeated announcements.