The Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) has warned that flight delays across the country may soon become inevitable as it considers implementing nationwide flow control measures to reduce mounting physical and mental fatigue among controllers.

The Association said the decision is being driven by worsening working conditions, inadequate manpower, and the continued decline of critical communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) infrastructure.

It was reported that flow control is a technique employed in traffic management to adjust the influx of aircraft into congested areas, such as airport airspace in order to reduce work load.

An airline executive warned that such an action from NATCA would worsen the economic strains of airlines already battling the high fuel price circumstances.

“Our fuel price increased by 150% within a month. It’s thrown the entire business into a crisis because you cannot match that increase in fares without cratering your passenger numbers in a very soft, yet highly competitive market, where the major price pressure is downwards. Everyone is grappling with this conundrum desperately and then this!!! Let me not ask the questions publicly but we need to tackle this issue and the underlying reasons why we can even get here at all,” the airline executive said.

According to NATCA, these challenges have pushed air traffic controllers to operate under unsafe and unsustainable conditions, raising serious concerns about operational safety and efficiency.

NATCA in a statement by its President, Edino Ilemona Amos and General Secretary, Umar Fahad stressed that its position is not based on convenience but on the urgent need to protect a safety-critical profession that is being stretched beyond acceptable limits.

Controllers, it said, are currently working with outdated tools, unresolved welfare issues, and under intense psychological pressure—factors that significantly increase operational risk in an industry that demands constant precision and alertness.

A major concern highlighted by the Association is the obsolete state of CNS infrastructure, which no longer meets modern reliability standards. Controllers are often forced to compensate for system deficiencies that should not exist in a contemporary aviation environment, further compounding stress and workload.

The Association also raised alarm over the lack of structured training and manpower development. It noted that insufficient investment in recurrent training and the absence of long-term workforce planning have slowed professional growth and weakened the system’s ability to respond to increasing airspace demands.

Unsafe and substandard working environments, particularly in some control towers, were also cited.

NATCA referenced a recent fire incident at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, where controllers reportedly escaped under life-threatening conditions and resumed duty shortly afterward, underscoring the risks they face daily.

Career stagnation remains another pressing issue. Many experienced controllers have reportedly remained on Grade Level 16 for up to 13 years, a situation NATCA described as deeply demoralising. The Association warned that delayed career progression undermines motivation in a profession that requires long-term dedication and high levels of responsibility.

However, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in a swift reaction said the claims that Nigerian airspace are unsafe “are inaccurate, misleading and do not reflect the true state of operations within the nation’s airspace.”

It made the clarification in a statement by its Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Dr Abdullahi Musa.

“While the agency acknowledges that the Eurocat C radar system currently in use is out of date, having been in operation for a considerable period, it is important to state that the Federal Government is already in the process of procuring a modern replacement. In the interim, NAMA has commenced the deployment of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) system as a reliable backup to the existing radar. This measure ensures continuous, real-time surveillance and guarantees the safe, orderly and efficient flow of air traffic across Nigerian airspace,” it said.

NAMA further said it has continued to invest significantly in human capacity development, disclosing that in the past year alone, over 140 Air Traffic Controllers have undergone specialized training programmes in reputable institutions abroad, equipping them with contemporary skills in air traffic management and safety procedures.

NAMA reiterated that safety remains its core mandate and highest priority. The agency will continue to work closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the provision of uninterrupted, safe and efficient air navigation services in line with global best practices.

The general public and all airspace users are therefore advised to disregard the unfounded reports and remain assured of the safety and integrity of Nigeria’s airspace.

(Daily Trust)

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