By Victoria Onehi
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA),Engr. Ahmed Umar Farouk, has said the agency is committed to building the capacity of Air Traffic Controllers hence it has trained 110 overseas in 2025.
Farouk disclosed this in his welcome address at the 54th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association in Abuja on Monday.
He said: “Let me begin by sincerely commending the leadership of NATCA for choosing a theme that is not only timely but absolutely fundamental to our future: “The Human Edge: Capacity Building in the Next Generation Air Traffic Management.”This theme correctly identifies that amidst all our technological advancements, the controller-the human professional- remains the most critical component for safety and efficiency in our skies.
“I stand here today to declare that the year 2025 has been the Year of Capacity Building at NAMA. Our commitment is demonstrated by three undeniable facts:
“First, in our commitment to global excellence: In 2025 alone, NAMA has trained 230 Senior Managers overseas. Of this number, 110 are Air Traffic Controllers. This is the largest number of senior staff, and specifically the largest cohort of controllers, sent for overseas training since the creation of NAMA.
Second, in our commitment to universal capacity development: I am proud to announce that domestically, we have trained nearly 90% of our operational, technical, contract, and other critical staff in various local courses and workshops. This is not a small feat. This represents the largest number of staff ever trained in a single year since the inception of NAMA 25 years ago.”
Corroborating this, the President of NATCA, Mr.Amos Edino, said over 300 controllers benefited from the first-ever domestic training programmes initiated in NAMA.
However, he said for over three decades, Air Traffic Controllers across the globe have been faced with persistent manpower shortages-a challenge that continues to impact the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of air navigation services.
He said:”In Nigeria, this concern has been further compounded by a wave of retirements, the migration of skilled professionals abroad (the “Japa” trend), and inter-agency transfers driven by the search for better opportunities.
“Current projections indicate that if decisive measures are not taken, by 2030, despite the expected growth in national aviation activities, the Air Traffic Controller workforce could decline sharply, potentially widening the manpower gap by up to 70%.
This is therefore a call to action for the review and upward adjustment of the retirement age for Air Traffic Controllers to 65 years — aligning with other critical professions. Such a policy shift will help retain invaluable expertise, ensure operational continuity, and strengthen safety oversight within Nigeria’s airspace system.”He said.
Responding to this while declaring the 54th AGM opened,the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Bar. Festus Keyamo said the Federal Government will review the retirement age of Air Traffic Controllers in the country to bridge the manpower gap.
He said the retirement age will be reviewed upwards in order to ensure experienced hands and personnel are maximised and allowed to pass their experience to a younger generation.
He said:”I listened to the NATCAs President speech on the age of retirement of Air Traffic Controllers,I think I am convinced it is something I can take up.If pilots can fly at the age of 65 years,there is no need for the Air Traffic Controllers not to push for 65 years.”
Keyamo assured them that he would sit with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry to carefully study it and get approval for the upward review.
He noted that the country is in short of Air Traffic Controllers and there was a need to bridge the gap.
In his presentation, the Registrar of the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU), Dr. Mustapha Sheikh Abdullahi, says the university is doing all to bridge the manpower gap of Air Traffic Controllers.
He said:”Our university is committed to bridging the Air Traffic Controllers gap.As at 2025, we inaugurated the next generation programme were we enrolled 150 young talented students from several senior secondary within Abuja for building their career and making them passionate for becoming Air Traffic Controllers for the future.
” Our Post Graduate programme which is one of the most sought MSC programme which is the Air Safety Management is an effort to enhance the knowledge skills and smoothly control our air spaces.”
