In this post we will look at the 9 Functions of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (Nama). The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is a federal government agency, which was established by the Act of Parliament to commence operation in May 1999. Since then, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has lived up to its statutory functions and responsibilities.
Without taking much of your time, in this article, very quickly, I am going to discuss with you some of the functions of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency NAMA.
Here we go;
Functions Of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency
I have said that Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has many responsibilities and functions, but I will only explain a number of them in this article.
1. Provision Of Air Traffic Services
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has been over the years made provision for air traffic services in Nigeria. Apart from air traffic services, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency is also into air traffic control, it provides visual, as well as, non-visual aids, including aeronautical telecommunication services.
Other services are provision of lighting, I mean, electricity supplies in order to enable public transport, and private transport, as well as, that of business and military aeroplanes to fly.
This is one of the functions of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, including practicable provision of services that would guarantee safety of business operations within its powers.
2. Provision Of Aerodromes In Nigerian Airports
Another function of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency is the provision of aerodromes at major airports across Nigeria.
The Agency is also saddled with the responsibility of providing the navigation services that are due for the operations of aircrafts. This involved the taking-off of the aircrafts, and the landing of the aircrafts, as well as, integrating all the aircrafts into one air traffic system within the airspace in Nigeria.
3. Prevents Interference With Aircraft’s Operations
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency will make sure that it prevents any interference that may want to occur within the Nigeria’s airspace during operations, and it is its responsibility to ensure effectiveness of every facilities or apparatusn and/or machineries used during air navigation.
While regulating the use of these machineries, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has prohibited the use of any such apparatus or displaying of signs and sometimes, lights that could endanger aircraft, while in operation and/or endanger the use of airspace across Nigeria.
4. Security Of The Safety, The Efficiency, And The Regularity Of Air Navigation
While securing the general safety, and the efficiency of air navigation, including the regularity of air navigation in Nigeria, it is part of the functions of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to employ the services of an expert in relation to the air navigation for the purpose of getting meteorological information, while on air navigation, as may be considered necessary and appropriate.
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency also saddled with the responsibility of making provisions for adequate facilities, including personnel with a view to provide for effective security of navigational aids that are not within the airport perimeters.
5. Maintains Adequate Communication At Airport
It is the responsibility of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to upgrade facilities at the airports. We are living in information age, that is why, it is information that rule the world today. In line with this fact, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency are procuring and installing, as well as maintaining adequate and appropriate communication.
Besides maintenance of communication, other areas the Agency is maintaining include, navigation and the surveillance and the air traffic management facilities across Nigerian airports.
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency also make provision for air transport services, such that have engendered development in manner that is most efficient.
6. Ensures Effective Coordination In Using Airspace
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has effectively coordinated the use of airspace in airports within Nigeria. A coordination argued to meet the global standard and in line with established procedures.
Every decision at all levels is coordinated by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, so far, it is related to airspace management Nigeria, even that of air traffic control.
7. Maintains Liaison With Air Defence Units
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency maintains liaison with air defence units, almost all relevant air defence units, including that of the civil air traffic services units.
The liaison is permanent since it ensure both the integration of military and civil air traffic operations and segregation of civil and military air traffic operations within the same adjacent portion or immediately adjacent portion of the Nigerian airspace.
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency also employed civil, as well as, military radars as the case may be. More so, the Agency is saddled with the responsibility of obviating the need whereby it becomes possible for the civil aircraft to obtain special air defence clearance.
As far as possible, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency take some important and necessary steps towards ensuring that undue penetration of control of airspace by any aircraft, be it civil or military is prevented without complying or co-ordinating with the air traffic control unit that is in charge of operations.
8. Encourages Research And Development
Research has been viewed as one of the ways to solve problems through the search for facts and information, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has not been exempted from this practices hence, it has become one of the functions of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to ensure that researches are carried out in order to foster development and such researches must have to embrace every aspects that have to do with the Nigerian airspace, and it should be organized or designed in such a way that would help improve air safety.
Apart from the research work, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency is known for working on systems engineering development, as well as undertaking some processes to ensure that there is implementation for communications. it does not even stop there, the Agency must make sure that there is also such implementation for navigation, and as well, for surveillance, including air traffic management.
9. Discharges Operational/Technical Air Traffic Services
It remains one of the functions of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to ensure that there is a discharge for the operational air traffic services and a discharge for technical, as well as, that of financial air traffic services, such commitments should arise based on Nigeria’s membership in the international and other air navigation agencies.
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Conclusion
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency NAMA has been over the years made provision for air traffic services in Nigeria.