August 20, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has commenced a comprehensive audit of the Kano Flight Information Region (FIR), also known as the Nigerian airspace.
The exercise, which began on Tuesday, is a self-assessment initiative aimed at reviewing safety performance, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance across Nigeria’s airspace.
It also seeks to strengthen NAMA’s preparedness for the forthcoming Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) Certification by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), as well as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) and the Regional Office Safety Team (ROST) Mission.
The FIR audit will assess 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 is also expected to identify gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement in line with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).
The audit covers Nigeria’s four major international airports—Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt—along with Enugu, Maiduguri, and several state and private aerodromes, including nationwide CNS facilities.
Speaking on the exercise, NAMA’s Managing Director, Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar, described it as a defining milestone in the agency’s 25-year history.
“This audit is a landmark initiative, the first of its kind in NAMA’s history.
“It is a bold and proactive step to reinforce our mandate of delivering safe, efficient, and seamless air navigation services in line with international best practices,” he said.
He explained that the exercise would not only assess past achievements but also chart the future of Nigeria’s airspace management under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This is more than a compliance check. It is a declaration of our resolve to constantly improve, to measure ourselves against the highest global standards, and to guarantee that every flight in Nigeria’s airspace is managed with utmost safety and efficiency,” Umar added.
He stressed that the audit would foster accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement, while also reinforcing Nigeria’s preparedness for international scrutiny, certification, and cooperation.
He urged all directors, departmental heads, staff, and stakeholders to give their full support to the Audit Committee.
Meanwhile, Umar has inaugurated the FIR Audit Committee, chaired by Ahmad Abba, NAMA’s Director of Special Duties.
The committee includes representatives from Air Traffic Services, CNS/ATM systems, Aeronautical Information Management, Safety Management, and Search and Rescue departments, who will work with regulators, industry stakeholders, and frontline staff to ensure a transparent and inclusive process.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
