NAMA Commences Comprehensive Audit of Nigerian Airspace – First in 25 Years
Lagos, Nigeria – The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has launched a comprehensive audit of the entire Kano Flight Information Region (FIR)—commonly referred to as Nigerian airspace—for the first time in 25 years.
The exercise, which began on Tuesday, is a strategic self-assessment initiative aimed at evaluating the overall safety performance, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance of Nigerian airspace. It is also a key step in strengthening NAMA’s preparedness for the upcoming Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) Certification by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM), and the Regional Office Safety Team (ROST) Mission.
The FIR Audit will assess critical areas including Air Traffic Services (ATS), Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) facilities, Aeronautical Information Management (AIM), Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. It aims to identify existing gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement, in accordance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).
The audit will cover thorough inspections of Nigeria’s four major international airports—Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt—as well as Enugu, Maiduguri, and several state and private aerodromes, including associated CNS facilities across the country.
Speaking on the importance of the audit, NAMA Managing Director, Farouk Ahmed Umar, described it as a defining milestone in the agency’s evolution.
“This audit is a landmark initiative—the first of its kind in NAMA’s 25-year history. It marks a bold and proactive step by the agency to reinforce its mandate of delivering safe, efficient, and seamless air navigation services in line with international best practices,” Umar said.
He emphasized that the audit goes beyond mere compliance.
“This is a declaration of our resolve to constantly improve, to measure ourselves against the highest global standards, and to ensure that every flight within Nigeria’s airspace is managed with the utmost safety and efficiency. We are building systems that are robust, resilient, and globally respected,” he added.
Umar also stressed that the audit presents a critical opportunity to embed a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement within the agency, while reinforcing Nigeria’s readiness for international certification and collaboration.
He called on all directors, departmental heads, staff, and aviation stakeholders to provide full cooperation and support to the audit committee.
“The safety and efficiency of our airspace is non-negotiable. The successful outcome of this initiative will not only strengthen NAMA’s operational systems but also reinforce Nigeria’s leadership position within the global aviation community. We are determined to lead by example and make Nigeria a benchmark for aviation excellence in Africa.”
Meanwhile, Umar has inaugurated the FIR Audit Committee, to be led by Ahmad Abba, Director of Special Duties at NAMA.
Committee members are drawn from across air traffic services, CNS/ATM systems, AIM, safety management, and search and rescue departments. The team is expected to collaborate closely with industry stakeholders, regulatory bodies, and frontline staff to ensure the process is thorough, transparent, and inclusive.
