The Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association has called for an urgent need to recruit and train additional controllers to man the country’s airspace to ensure safety in airspace management.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday, the NATCA President, Amos Edino, explained that the current shortage of controllers has resulted in excess workload, prolonged duty hours, and increased stress levels, negatively impacting both performance and well-being.
Edino added that ATCOs are often required to work beyond the standard two-hour shift limit per session, with some working four to five hours continuously due to manpower constraints.
He lamented the rapid establishment of new airports by various state governments without a corresponding plan for staffing and operational management, exacerbating the shortage of licensed ATCOs.
He underscored the limitations of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, in training the required number of ATCOs.
He added that while the government recently initiated the recruitment of over 200 cadets, the selection process was flawed due to a lack of due diligence in assessing qualification requirements.
He also explained that the current administration, through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, has sought intervention from the Nigerian Air Force Training School in Kaduna to complement training efforts.
He also discouraged the tradition of rehiring retired ATCOs on contract, arguing that a more sustainable approach would be to extend the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
Edino decried the fact that Nigerian ATCOs remained the least paid in Africa despite the critical role they play in ensuring the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.
He urged the government “to review the salary structure to reflect international best practices and enhance motivation within the profession.”
The NATCA boss further explained that “commercial pilots stay up to 65 years of age before retiring and advocated an improved retirement package to discourage post-retirement contract engagements.”
Edino emphasised the need for a comprehensive health care package for ATCOs, noting that prolonged exposure to radiation in radar facilities has led to cancer-related health challenges. “There have been documented instances of ATCOs succumbing to cancer-related ailments, necessitating immediate attention to mitigate occupational health hazards.”
Sharing his thoughts on infrastructure challenges, Edino lamented the poor working conditions at several control towers and operational rooms, pointing out that in many locations, non-functional elevators forced controllers, including female and pregnant ATCOs, to climb over 250 steps daily to access their workstations, with reported cases of miscarriages linked to these strenuous conditions.
He further noted that many ATC work environments are equipped with outdated systems, adversely affecting efficiency and safety.
In the area of Air Traffic Management systems, he emphasised the need for an urgent upgrade of the current surveillance system, the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria system, which has exceeded its intended operational lifespan.” Initially designed to serve for 10 years. The system is now almost 20 years old, significantly reducing its reliability, availability, and integrity.
“The long-standing challenge of the efficiency of the communication system in Nigerian ATC operations also requires immediate modernisation for the provision of safe and efficient air traffic control services.”
When contacted, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, allayed the workers’ fear, promising that the present administration is seriously working at ensuring the upgrade.
In a chat with our correspondent, Keyamo said, “The upgrade of the TRACON is one of the key objectives of our administration, and Mr. President has graciously included Aviation in the Renewed Hope Fund, and this is one of the issues we hope to address through the fund.”