26th March, 2012
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has formally taken over Navigational Aids Flight Inspection Surveillance (NAFIS) from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Mr. Supo Atobatele, NAMA’s General Manager in charge of Public Affairs, who made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday, said the take over was in line with a Federal Government directive.
He named the facilities handed over to NAMA as one calibration jet, hangar and office complex, located at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
The Director-General of the NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, at a brief handing over ceremony, said that the unit was formally handed over to NAMA with 19 staff, including three contract workers.
He stressed the need to review the revenue-sharing formula between the two agencies, considering the additional overhead cost to NAMA because of the calibration unit.
Demuren disclosed that before the hand over, the NCAA had ordered for another calibration aircraft, adding that the NCAA had paid seven out of the 10 instalments for the purchase of the aircraft.
He assured NAMA that NCAA would complete the payment within three months.
Demuren who said NCAA was committed to the success of the unit under NAMA, explained that the agency based on professional advice had ordered for automatic console for the HS-125 aircraft currently on the fleet of the unit.
He said that when the two aircraft became fully operational, NAMA would not have to engage ASECNA before navigational aids at the nation’s airports could be calibrated.
The Managing Director of NAMA, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh, commended the forthrightness of Demuren in ensuring that the handing over took place without rancour.
He warned that nobody should be blamed for the additional responsibilities given to NAMA, urging the unit’s staff to make positive use of the new opportunity of working under NAMA.
Relevant legal documents were signed by the chieftains of the two agencies while photo albums of aircraft and equipment of the unit were presented to the NAMA boss by Demuren.