NAMA SIGNS MOU ON SPACE-BASED ADS-B The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Aireon LLC of USA on exploring the deployment of space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system in Nigeria. In a statement, the Managing Director, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said the ADS-B solution which is a recognized next-generation standard for surveillance and air traffic management is a critical requirement in preparation for the implementation of the relevant elements of Aviation System Block Upgrades (ASBU). Signing the MOU at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos, the NAMA boss who expressed optimism that the ADS-B solution would ensure 100% real time surveillance coverage of the Nigerian airspace noted that management was committed to exploring every opportunity and relevant technology to ensure safety of air navigation in the country in compliance with world best practices and regulatory requirements.

NAMA MD UNDERSCORES CENTRALITY OF HUMAN FACTOR IN ATM SAFETY The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Capt. Fola Akinkuotu has described the role of human factor in Air Traffic Management safety as critical in the process of hazard identification and safety risk management. Akinkuotu who was a guest speaker and panelist at the just-concluded Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Africa Conference and Safety Seminar which held in Marrakesh, Morocco listed the human factors to include environmental, organizational and job factors as well as individual characteristics, saying that all these have direct impact on the individual’s behavior and could affect health and safety. Delivering a paper at the event with the title: Human Factor and Safety, Akinkuotu who was represented by the Legal Adviser, Mrs Anastasia Gbem, argued that the introduction of technology does not primarily aim at improving safety but “satisfying the demands for the increase in service delivery while maintaining existing margins of safety, stressing that “while the introduction of technology is an inevitable consequence of the needs of any mass production activity, its relevance in the management of safety cannot be overlooked.”

VIRGIN ATLANTIC COMMENDS NAMA ON EXPEDITIOUS SERVICE DELIVERY The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has been commended for its excellence in delivering expeditious air navigation services within the nation’s airspace. In a letter of commendation addressed to the Managing Director, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, the Airport Manager of Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd, Justin Bell said the airline appreciates NAMA’s efficiency in ensuring seamless, smooth and timely movement of aircraft across the Nigerian airspace, adding that the flight control team in the United Kingdom also appreciated the agency for its excellence in air navigation service provision. In a related development, the Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika has given kudos to NAMA for its “diligence and astuteness” in the discharge of its duties. In a letter signed by the Asst. Director of Air Transport, Richard Pheelangwah on behalf of the Minister, Sirika advised the agency to “keep up” the good job it is doing in ensuring safety of air travel in the country.

NAMA REVIEWS AUTOMATED ACCOUNTING PROCUDURES The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has taken steps towards entrenching a more effective digital accounting system that would meet the growing demands of the agency. Speaking at a two-day NAMA Accountants Retreat which held in Lagos, Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said the programme was borne out of “the agency’s commitment towards promoting transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline in the system, stressing that it had become imperative to reposition NAMA and its business transactions to comply with the dynamic world of technology especially as it affects the aviation sector.” Capt. Akinkuotu who charged staff of the agency to embrace technology said “the recently issued Federal Government Executive Orders on the ease of doing business in the country demands that we carry out our business transactions on an e-basis”, adding that management would support the finance department in its quest for the best available technology that would meet industry best practices and also enhance efficiency in service delivery. While allaying the fears that automation of business transactions would lead to job losses, the NAMA boss expressed confidence that the interactive nature of the retreat would give staff the opportunity to use their professional expertise to brainstorm on possible challenges in the system and also devise new initiatives of finding solutions targeted at improving the agency’s procedures using the benefit of e-business. Earlier in his remarks, the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr Aniefiok Umoh called for the cooperation of staff as the agency transits from the “manual system of preparing financial and management information reports to automated processes” granted that “everything in our environment is going electronic.” “If it is not e-learning, it is e-commerce. If not e-business, then it is e-transaction and NAMA cannot afford to be left behind,” Aniefiok said. Also in his remarks, the General Manager, Finance, Mr. David Akpan said accounting just like any other profession is passing through a dynamic phase and that the role of accountants will continue to undergo a series of changes. Akpan who tasked accountants to strive to remain relevant in the emerging e-accounting system noted however that those who continue to play by the old rules may lose out in the automation equation. The 2017 NAMA Accountants Retreat with the theme: Positioning the e-Accountant for e-Business Transactions, is aimed at inter alia, finding more efficient ways of revenue generation and collection, developing cost reduction strategies and enhancing financial information reporting through improved technology.

NAMA COMMENCES SECTORIZATION OF LAGOS AREA CONTROL CENTRE The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has begun the process of sectorizing the Lagos Sub-Flight Information Region (Sub-FIR) airspace into Lagos West and Lagos East Area Control Centres (ACCs) in line with its commitment towards enhancing quality of Communication, Navigation and Surveillance in the country. Giving this indication at a stakeholders’ sensitization forum on the sectorization which held at NAMA headquarters in Lagos, Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said the project was aimed at “reducing congestion on the available en-route radio frequency as well as increasing Air Traffic Management (ATM) capacity in order to manage the growing air traffic volume and simultaneously reducing delays within the Kano FIR particularly in the Lagos Sub-FIR.” He said sectorizing the Lagos ACC would bring about optimum utilization of the airspace by reducing controller-pilot workload, thereby increasing efficiency and quality of service delivery. Capt. Akinkuotu who was represented by the Director of Operations, Mr Gabriel Akpen noted that sectorization of the Lagos Sub-FIR would reduce the safety implications of overload on the air traffic control system and personnel as well as provide functional air navigation services that will meet international standards within the Kano FIR at no cost to the users, even as he expressed optimism that the service quality of Communication Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) would as well be enhanced. The sectorization process, Capt. Akinkuotu said will be streamlined in accordance with the provisions of Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) consistent with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Standard and Recommended Practices (ICAO SARPs). As part of the process, the NAMA boss said the agency is currently optimizing the VHF radio and also installing a high-powered stand-alone VHF radio as backup to the total VHF coverage of Nigeria, adding that controller working positions on the ACC consoles are also being aligned to ensure they are in proper ergonomic positions. Akinkuotu said in order to efficiently man these installations, the agency has embarked on aggressive manpower training and simulation exercises in collaboration with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, to shore up capacity, just as he revealed that on-the-job training for air traffic control officers at Kano Area Control Centre which already has a running two-sector operation is in progress. Created out of Kano Area Control Centre which hitherto controlled the entire Nigerian airspace in 2001, the Lagos Area Control Centre manages 15 subsidiary aerodromes within the southern sector of the Nigerian airspace including flights overflying the upper airspace.

NAMA BEGINS COMPETENCY TEST OF AIS OFFICERS • TRAINS PERSONNEL ON SEARCH AND RESCUE COORDINATION The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has commenced a comprehensive competency appraisal of all Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) Officers in all airports across the country. The exercise which is targeted at testing AIS officers in areas such as Aeronautical Charts, AIS Publication and Operations started from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and is to proceed to other airports in the country in the coming weeks. In a statement, the Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said “considering the pivotal role aeronautical information plays in safety of air navigation, and in the light of ongoing migration to AIS Automation, due consideration must be given to the integrity of data being disseminated to airspace users, hence this exercise.” Capt. Akinkuotu who said NAMA places premium on building capacity of staff noted that sustained training and retraining of personnel is being carried out by the agency to ensure they possess the competencies required to perform critical functions that impact on safety and for them keep pace with modern trends in a highly dynamic world of aviation. Also speaking on exercise, the General Manager, AIS, Mr Kabir Gusau noted that the competency check which shall be periodic is in line with Annex 15 of International Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and is necessary “to ensure that personnel demonstrate the required competencies to handle specific critical operations,” adding that constant assessment would enable the agency to detect and correct shortfalls as they occur. In a related development, Capt. Akinkuotu has charged Air Traffic Controllers who recently returned from a three-week Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Course in Kenya to ensure that the training impacts positively on the overall safety procedures of the agency. Speaking while receiving the participants in his office at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos, the NAMA boss who promised to approve the training of another batch of Air Traffic Controllers on the same course in November charged them to use the benefit of the course to improve on the agency’s preparedness to handle emergencies. The Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Course which held at the East African School of Aviation, Nairobi Kenya is designed to equip participants with the capacity and skills to initiate Search and Rescue and man the Rescue Coordination Centres in a Flight Information Region (FIR).

Happy Eid-el-kabir celebration.

FG APPROVES APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION AND REDEPLOYMENT OF NAMA MANAGEMENT STAFF In a bid to ensure increased efficiency and effectiveness in the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Hon. Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has approved the appointment, promotion and redeployment of top management staff of the agency with immediate effect. According to a circular issued by the Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Farouk A Umar was confirmed as substantive Director of Safety Electronics and Engineering Services just as Mr Gabriel Akpen who was until now the General Manager, Search and Rescue/Civil Military Co-ordination was elevated to Director of Operations. The Directorates of Human Resources and Administration have equally been merged, with former General Manager, Customer Services/Servicom, Barr. Maira Bashir taking over as Director of Human Resources Management and Administration. In the same vein, Mr Umoh Aniefiok, formerly of the Finance and Accounts Department at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been redeployed to NAMA as Director of Finance and Accounts while Mr Khalid Udoh Emele is to head the Public Affairs Department of the agency as General Manager. Also newly appointed are three Deputy General Managers to anchor some strategic units in the agency. These include Miss Kaosarat Fawehinmi, DGM, Project Management Office (PMO); Mr Bajie F. Abang, DGM, Security Unit and Ohioma Solomon, DGM, Industrial Relations and Discipline. In a statement, the Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said the above postings by the Honourable Minister were to reposition and streamline NAMA towards enhanced productivity and to ensure that all projects and programmes of the agency are properly executed bearing in mind accountability and adherence to timelines. Akinkuotu who held a brief session with the management team thanked all staff of the agency for their continued support just as he charged incoming appointees to ensure service excellence and efficiency within the system. The NAMA boss also enjoined them to ensure compliance with all government directives particularly the recent Executive Orders.

NAMA MD CALLS FOR ENHANCED INTER-FIR SYNERGY IN AFI REGION The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Capt. Fola Akinkuotu has advocated an enhanced synergy among Flight Information Regions (FIRs) within the African and Indian Ocean Region (AFI Region) as this would further improve the safety profile of the region. Akinkuotu who made these remarks while declaring open a five-day Air Traffic System Investigator Workshop hosted by the agency in Lagos noted that NAMA on its part would strive towards building regional bridges in order to keep pace with latest trends, especially in air traffic management in a dynamic aviation industry, adding that “such regional cooperation becomes more compelling with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) goal of entrenching harmony and seamlessness in every facet of International Civil Aviation.” While commending ICAO for availing Nigeria the opportunity to host the workshop, Capt Akinkuotu said the benefits of the meeting are enormous as “the workshop would provide participants with knowledge and skills of Air Traffic System (ATS) incident reporting and investigation especially for operational personnel of Air Navigation Service Providers such as NAMA.’’ Speaking further, the NAMA boss said “the quality of air navigation services, particularly air traffic services has been subjected to integrity tests going by the streams of Air Safety Reports received from our airspace users”, stressing however that “the quality of incidents investigation on the other hand should impact positively on the corrective action plan that would minimize future re-occurrence, in a just culture environment, which is the essence of this workshop.” Also in his remarks, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Muhtar Usman who was represented by the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, Mr Mohammed Odunowo stated that global economic and demographic statistics indicate that Africa will experience significant increase in population, expansion in economic activities, as well as increased demand for air transport services in the near future, stressing however that “while the above trend indicates great potentials and opportunities for the African economy as well as aviation sector, it also places immense responsibility on relevant aviation authorities towards the enhancement of Air Traffic Management capacity, efficiency and safety performance.” The ATS Incident Investigation Workshop provided by the Federal Aviation Administration under the United States Department of Transportation (Safe Skies for Africa Programme), in collaboration with ICAO and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) is being conducted with the objective of assisting African States to develop capacity in the investigation, analysis, reporting and mitigation of air safety incidents.

NAMA announces burial arrangements for late Acting General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Adetona Thursday 27th July, 2017 -Service Of Songs at New Convenant Baptist Church, Folorunsho Ibikunle street, Heritage Estate ,near Doland,Akute,Ogun State. Time:4pm Friday 28th July,2017, Funeral Service at New Covenant Baptist Church,Folorunsho Ibikunle street,Heritage Estate near Doland,Akute Ogun State. Time:10am Interment follows immediately after funeral service at her residence, plot 3/5 salvation close,Akinbo PhaseII, Olambe Akute,Ogun State.

DEMISE OF MRS OLAJUMOKE KEZIAH ADETONA (NEE ADEGUN) GM PUBLIC AFFAIRS, NAMA It is with great shock, but with total submission to the will of God that we announce the untimely departure of our General Manager, Mrs Olajumoke Adetona which occurred on the 13th of July, 2017 after a brief illness. Late Mrs Adetona was born on the 29th of September, 1968 in Ogbomosho, Oyo State. She attended St Paul’s Primary School, Jos and Fatima Private School Jos between 1972 and 1979. Thereafter, she proceeded to Baptist High School, Jos where she obtained her West African School Certificate in 1986. The young Adetona, full of ambition would later attend the University of Jos between 1987 and 1991 where she bagged a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language. After her mandatory National Youth Service at the Katsina State Broadcasting Corporation between 1991 and 1992, she moved over to Lagos where she was employed as a Public Relations Officer II with the then Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA)in 1993. She got married to Mr Benson Adetona in 1994 and between them, they have one daughter. With the creation of NAMA in the year 2000, Adetona was deployed to the agency as Public Affairs Officer II. She rose through the ranks and by dint of hard work and dedication to duty, she was appointed Ag. General Manager, Public Affairs in 2015, a position she held until her demise. An innovative, dynamic and selfless leader, Mrs Adetona brought her wealth of experience to bear on the job. An active member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Adetona ensured that staff under her supervision remain committed to the course of the organization. The late Adetona was a devout Christian, silent listener, philanthropist and mother to all. She will be sorely missed by the aviation community and NAMA in particular. Obsequies are as follows: Wednesday, 26th July, 2017- NAMA Fellowship Service of Songs at NAMA headquarters Annex, Lagos. Time:3pm. Thursday 27th July, 2017-Service of Songs at New Covenant Baptist Church, Folorunsho Ibikunle Street, Heritage Estate, near Doland, Akute, Ogun State. Time: 4pm Friday 28th July, 2017-Funeral Service at New Covenant Baptist Church, Folorunsho Ibikunle Street, Heritage Estate, near Doland, Akute, Ogun State. Time: 10am. Interment follows immediately after funeral service at her residence, Plot 3/5 Salvation Close, Akinbo Phase II, Olambe Akute, Ogun State. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen. Signed: STEPHEN ONABE

NAMA CONDUCTS OJT FOR GRADUATING AIS CADETS In line with International Civil Aviation Standard and Recommended Practices (ICAO SARPS), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has rounded off a four-week on-the-job Training (OJT) for 48 Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) Cadets of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria. The OJT exercise which took place at designated airports in Lagos and Kano centres is part of the critical requirements for the cadets to attain certification by NCAT as full AIS Officers. The cadets who commenced their Nine-Month Basic Aeronautical Information Management Officers Course (BAIMO) in October 2016 have been exposed to fundamentals in Maps and Charts, Air Traffic Services (ATS), Meteorology, Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/ Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM), Aerodrome Ground Aids (AGA), Aircraft Operating Characteristics (AOC) among other courses and are due to graduate in August 2017. A workshop on e-Flight Plan and e-NOTAM was also held at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos at the end of the OJT exercise, designed to help cadets appreciate the practical aspects of electronic dissemination of aeronautical information to airspace users. Meanwhile, the Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu has congratulated the cadets for their “excellent performance,” during the OJT, saying that the result of the training showed that staff of the agency appreciate efforts of management towards building capacity of workers.”. In a statement, Akinkuotu maintained that NAMA would continue to give priority to training and retraining of staff as this would enable them to effectively man the sophisticated Air Traffic Management infrastructure being deployed by the agency. Also in his remarks, the General Manager of Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) department, Alhaji Kabir Gusau noted that the OJT exercise was meant to prepare cadets to appreciate the theoretical aspects of their training through practical interface with equipment and colleagues at work stressing that “our choice of training centres like Lagos was deliberate because this is where NOTAMs are promulgated. There is also the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) Office were amendments are made, just as we have the Charts Office which carries out airport survey, leading to the production of maps and charts. All these combined to give the cadets an interesting experience.” Gusau also expressed optimism that with the level of aggressive manpower training currently embarked upon by the agency, the AIS Automation project soon to be deployed will have a seamless and successful takeoff.