Keyamo Raises Alarm Over Shortage of Air Traffic Controllers

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has raised concerns over a critical shortage of air traffic controllers across the country’s airports, warning that the manpower gap poses a threat to safety and operational efficiency in the aviation industry.

Speaking during the unveiling of the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM), Keyamo said the sector is “short-staffed in certain areas,” particularly in air traffic control, a key component of aviation safety.

He disclosed that the federal government has been forced to recall retired controllers and extend the tenure of serving personnel to manage the shortfall. “We have had to recall retirees and extend their tenure to meet the need,” he stated.

The minister attributed the problem to limited training capacity, noting that many newly recruited cadets remain undeployed due to a lack of requisite training and certification. He tasked the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, to expedite the training of new professionals to meet industry demand.

According to Keyamo, the shortage of skilled aviation workers could undermine Nigeria’s ambitions to become a regional aviation hub, especially as the African aviation market continues to expand. He cited projections by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which estimate that Africa will need over 4,000 new air traffic controllers by 2037.

Oshuniran Sheriff Ola