Aviation
ATCs, NAMA trade words over lack of communication facilities in airspace
By Oyise OGHENE
ABUJA: The ongoing imbroglio between the Air Traffic Controllers under the aegis of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) yesterday took a twist as both parties traded words over the lack of communication facilities in the airspace which could lead to air disaster if adequate caution was not taken.
Speaking during an interactive session with newsmen, President of NATCA, Mr. Victor Eyaru affirmed that the communication problem with the radio has existed for three decades beyond this management and the solution to the problem has overwhelmed all the managements of NAMA even up till now.
Mr. Eyaru however called on the Federal Government to declare state of national emergency on aviation communication facilities in the interest of all Nigerian and to forestall any mid air collusion in the airspace which could cause air disaster.
Coming at a time when the nation just witnessed a helicopter crash, the call according to the NATCA President cannot be shrugged off as it is a very important wake up call for NAMA management to do all it takes to set the wrongs right.
Eyaru expressed sadness that the NAMA management expended over N400 million for the total VHF coverage project and was sadder still that NAMA bought personalized headsets of over N400, 000 each which is not a solution to the problem.
He said“If all operational Air Traffic Controllers, who are members of NATCA, through their daily loggings, are saying the communication equip0ment available to them should be improved upon to avert impending air disaster are termed as alarmists and saboteurs, then, the system needs a curative measure fast.”
”sectorisation of Lagos sub FIR, this is not the solution to their problem as being touted by NAMA management and their collaborators” he added.
The ATCs further argued that those communication facilities at the ACC in Kano (124.1MHz and 128.5MHz) had been sectorised for long and yet it has not yielded the communication buffer they were looking for asking if Lagos is sectorised whether it would make any difference just like Kano which they said was in a state of disarray.
Meanwhile, reacting to the accusation of NATCA, the management of NAMA in a statement signed by the General Manager Public Affairs, Mr. Supo Atobatele debunked the claim stressing that their position on the communication status of the agency does not exist. The statement reads in part”The management is affirmative that the seeming gloomy picture being painted by this group does not exist as the daily statistics show more traffic across the nation ‘s airports, averaging 500, apart from over 150 daily flights around the Port harcourt Airport axis operated by the oil companies”.
“Apart from this, daily foreign flights into the country has been on the increase ,just as the nation is being inundated with more requests by the foreign airlines aspiring to explore Nigerian market”.
“What else do you need to measure a safer sky?If there are no communication as being touted by the controllers, one may then ask of their magic wand in handling these flights in question over decades as suggested in their statement”.
“We view this latest affront on the management by the controllers as another attempt to distract its attention from pursuing the set goals of transforming the agency to a world class air navigation service provider”.
“Though, we would not like to join issues with them, it however behoves on us to state that the total VHF radio coverage of the country has been completed and like any new project, it is being fine tuned by the engineers to allow it operate as specified”.
“We confirm again the on going effort to the Lagos Area Control Centre by deploying 120.9MZH and what we demand from the controllers is cooperation to achieve this drive as a recent test run of the frequency by both controllers and engineers proved successful”.
“Over 300 controllers had so far been trained this year alone to enhance productivity and is on record that this group enjoys upmost priority in the scheme of things, particularly training in the agency”.
“It is therefore, absurd for this group to use NATCA platform to challenge the integrity of the management, particularly the managing director Engr. Nnamdi Udoh whose 32 years of service has been on the provision of quality air traffic management not only in Nigeria, but also in the sub- region”.
“The federal government, like we recently announced had expended more than N15 billion on various capital projects at NAMA covering AIS automation, World Geodetic Survey (WGS-84),TRACON and VHF radio coverage among other safety critical projects to boost air safety in Nigeria”.
“Finally the management would want to deny the mix up in the purchase price of headsets. NATCA should always take the pain to check its facts before going public”.
An Air Peace flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt has suffered a disruption, after the aircraft was affected by a bird strike on arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The airline made the disclosure on Thursday in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe.
He added that the incident necessitated safety checks on the affected aircraft and the deployment of another aircraft to convey passengers on subsequent flights.
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“We deeply empathise with passengers affected by this unforeseen incident and are working diligently to minimise disruptions,” Efe said.
The latest incident adds to the growing challenge of bird strikes faced by local airlines.
In December 2025, Air Peace disclosed that it recorded 49 bird strikes across Nigeria between January and September, stressing that even a single strike could ground an aircraft for weeks.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Allen Onyema, had said on Arise TV that bird strikes constituted a major operational challenge, often leading to costly repairs and serious disruptions to flight schedules.
“One bird strike could cripple your aircraft for the next month. At that moment, there is no two ways about it. These bird strikes often lead to costly delays and serious disruptions in flight schedules,” he said.
He added that losses from such incidents compound other challenges facing Nigerian airlines, including heavy taxation and operational constraints.
With the firm belief that it is both sadistic and absolutely despicable, the recently announced outrageous hike in airfares to South East from Abuja to Lagos for Yuletide of 2025 by over 131 percent by Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines, the owners have been asked to immediately have a rethink and review backward these harsh, toxic and unfriendly airfares targeting Igbo passengers exclusively.
Making the charge to the chairmen of Air Peace and United Nigeria airlines, Mr. Allen Ugochukwu and Mr. Obiora Okonkwo, the prominent civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expressed anger that these businesses whose proprietors are Igbo by birth are fond of making it so difficult for hundreds of thousands of Igbo passengers residing outside of the South-East to travel home on Christmas festivities.
The rights group say that for many years now, because Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines are monopolies and then Igbos have the tradition exclusively in Nigeria of going home to South East from all over the globe during Yuletides, these few airlines have decidedly fixed toxic ticketing airfares for Igbos whereas northerners who also travel during their religious festivities of salah are not subjected to such exploitative treatments.
The HURIWA accused the two airlines of price fixing, which is anti-competition just as the Rights group said it is giving these two Igbo-hating airlines to review backward their toxic and discriminatory airfares within ten working days from today or it will petition the federal government publicly funding consumer rights body[Federal Competition and Consumer Rights Commission) in Abuja.
The HURIWA wonders if these Igbo owners of private airlines known for making their planes available to government for free during emergencies are in a conspiratorial plots with haters of Igbo land who are unhappy at the convivial and happy atmospheres in the South East during Yuletide, just as the rights group has appealed to Igbo governors to immediately intervene and urge Mr. Allen Ugochukwu and Mr Obiora Okonkwo to treat the Igbo just as they treat for instance northern Muslims who also migrate home to northern Nigeria from around the globe during their Muslim festivities because what is good for the goose, is good for the gander.
The HURIWA said that if Air Peace Airlines have gotten involved in many humanitarian efforts of airlifting Nigerians from outside of our shores for free, it becomes of the Airline ought not to maltreat their clients of Igbo extraction.
The HURIWA quoted from the business official website of Air Peace in which it described its latest humanitarian effort to be an addition to a growing list of interventions by Dr. Allen Onyema and Air Peace.
Quoting Air Peace website, HURIWA stated that Air Peace said thus: “In 2019, the airline airlifted 503 Nigerians free of charge from South Africa amidst xenophobic attacks. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Air Peace conducted multiple repatriation flights. In 2022, the airline flew Nigerian evacuees out of war-torn Ukraine. In May 2023, Dr. Onyema again deployed Air Peace aircraft to evacuate 277 stranded Nigerians from Sudan.
As the rescued women prepare to begin a new chapter, supported by medical care and reintegration efforts, one truth stands out: Air Peace is more than just an airline — it is a bridge of hope for Nigerians in crisis, and a national symbol of empathy, courage and service,” HURIWA conclusively quoted Air Peace.
The HURIWA therefore strongly condemns the two airlines for hiking and fixing unaffordable airfares indiscriminately against Igbo passengers, even as the festive season draws near, Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines have raised their return ticket fares to N677,000, a move that could add financial strain on travellers. The rise in airfares reflects the high demand expected during the holiday rush.
Key Points
Air Peace and United Nigeria increase return ticket fares to N677,000 for the yuletide season.
Airfares on routes to the South-East, including Enugu and Anambra, experience the highest surge.
Ibom Air offers comparatively cheaper tickets, with return fares at N381,600.
Air Peace’s one-way fare for December to January peaks at N350,500.
United Nigeria will also charge N350,500 for select routes between December 11 and the end of the year.
Northern routes, including Lagos-Kano, face smaller increases, with fares starting from N106,900.
Experts predict even higher airfares, with one-way tickets possibly reaching N500,000.
The rise in flight prices signals the start of a challenging holiday travel season, with airfares higher than usual due to increased demand. Travelers must be prepared for the surge, with some routes seeing even higher fare projections.
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The HURIWA is hereby warning the two airlines to withdraw their price fixing malpractices against Igbos or else the Rights group would seek justice and redress for the millions of Igbos who would return home for the 2025 Yuletide from the Federal Competition and Consumer Rights Commission and the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria. The HURIWA threatened to drag the two airlines to the Nigerian President through the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Transportation.
An Abuja-Accra flight experienced technical difficulties mid-air on Friday, forcing it to return to Abuja, shortly after departure.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Board (NSIB) made the disclosure in a statement, adding that it has launched investigation into what it described as a serious accident.
Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji stated that preliminary investigations revealed the aircraft experienced an engine number two indication issue.
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It was gathered that the aircraft, with registration number 5NKAL which was operating a flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja (DNAA), to Kotoka International Airport, Accra (DGAA).
She explained that four persons were onboard when the incident occurred. The crew immediately requested for a diversion back to Abuja due to the engine indication.
Oladeji added that the crew managed to safely land the aircraft at Abuja Airport at 18:16 UTC.
There were no injuries reported, and all individuals on board are safe.
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