NAMA Asserts Nigerian Airspace Remains Safe and Compliant Amid Harmattan Season

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has issued a formal rebuttal to recent media reports suggesting that seasonal Harmattan conditions have revealed deficiencies in the country’s aviation infrastructure, affirming that all navigational facilities meet international safety standards.

In a statement released on December 29, 2025, the agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Dr. Abdullahi Musa, expressed concern over what it described as misleading claims regarding the serviceability of landing aids at Nigerian airports.

NAMA emphasized that while Harmattan haze presents operational challenges, discussions on aviation safety must be grounded in technical accuracy. The agency clarified that conflating weather-related constraints with alleged infrastructure failure is inaccurate and risks causing unnecessary public alarm.

The statement detailed that all navigational aids (NAVAIDs) at federal airports are maintained, flight-checked, and calibrated in strict accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations. These processes are conducted using dedicated inspection aircraft and are subject to continuous oversight by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

NAMA further highlighted its commitment to transparency, noting that the serviceability status of all NAVAIDs is regularly published via Aeronautical Information Publications (AIP), which are accessible to airlines and aviation partners globally. Referencing a recent AIP supplement, the agency confirmed that a proactive calibration exercise in December 2025 has ensured all systems remain within valid inspection periods, with further calibrations scheduled for early 2026.

Addressing calls for the widespread installation of Category III Instrument Landing Systems, NAMA described such demands as misinformed. The agency explained that system deployment is based on operational need, traffic volume, and meteorological data. Historical visibility data during Harmattan conditions averages around 150 meters, which aligns with the capabilities of the currently available ILS CAT II systems at key Nigerian airports.

NAMA reiterated that flight delays or diversions during Harmattan are primarily due to adverse weather and airline operational decisions, not a failure of navigation infrastructure. The agency works closely with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to provide real-time weather updates and air traffic management support to pilots.

In conclusion, NAMA reaffirmed that Nigeria’s airspace is safe, professionally managed, and fully compliant with global best practices, urging the public and media to rely on verified information from authoritative sources.