The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has commenced a comprehensive audit of the entire Kano Flight Information Region (FIR), also known as the Nigerian airspace.
The self-assessment exercise, which began on Tuesday, aims to evaluate overall safety performance, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance within the country’s airspace.
It also seeks to strengthen NAMA’s readiness for the upcoming Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) Certification by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), as well as the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) and Regional Office Safety Team (ROST) Mission.
The FIR Audit will assess the state of 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. The review will identify gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement in line with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs).
The exercise will cover Nigeria’s four major international airports—Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt—as well as Enugu, Maiduguri, state-owned, and private aerodromes, including nationwide CNS facilities.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, NAMA’s Managing Director, Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar, described the audit as a defining milestone in the agency’s 25-year history.
“This audit 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 the utmost safety and efficiency,” he said.
Engr. Umar stressed that the initiative would foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement within the agency while reinforcing Nigeria’s preparedness for international scrutiny and certification.
“The safety and efficiency of our airspace is non-negotiable. The successful outcome of this initiative will not only strengthen NAMA’s operational systems but also consolidate Nigeria’s credibility and leadership in the global aviation community,” he added.
Meanwhile, the NAMA boss has inaugurated a FIR Audit Committee, chaired by Ahmad Abba, Director of Special Duties, to spearhead the exercise. The committee comprises experts from air traffic services, CNS/ATM systems, AIM, safety management, and search and rescue departments. They will liaise with regulators, stakeholders, and frontline staff to ensure a transparent and inclusive process.
