The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has explained that flight delays, diversions and cancellations during harmattan season result from adverse weather conditions and aircraft operational constraints, not from inadequate maintenance of navigational equipment.
In a statement released by Dr Abdullahi Musa, NAMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, the agency rejected suggestions that poor upkeep of landing and navigation systems causes operational disruptions at Nigerian airports during the dusty harmattan period.
Dr Musa explained that such disruptions stem primarily from weather patterns, airline operational policies, and individual aircraft capabilities. He described harmattan-related challenges as external environmental factors that air navigation service providers cannot eliminate but must manage according to internationally recognized aviation safety protocols.
Aircraft operations during low visibility conditions depend on multiple critical elements, including current weather patterns, runway visual range, aircraft equipment specifications, airline operating permissions, and pilot qualifications, Dr Musa noted. When any of these factors fall below mandated safety thresholds, airlines must delay, divert or cancel flights to ensure passenger safety.
Addressing claims that Nigerian airports lack adequate equipment for harmattan operations, the NAMA spokesperson stated that all navigational aids at federally owned airports receive regular maintenance, flight inspection and calibration in full compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.
The maintenance and calibration of navigational aids represent mandatory safety requirements, carried out using NAMA’s specialized flight inspection aircraft operated by trained technical and flight inspection crews, he added.
Dr Musa identified essential equipment including Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), and Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) infrastructure, all of which undergo scheduled ground and airborne verification to confirm signal precision and operational dependability.
All calibration and maintenance work occurs under Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regulatory supervision, which audits compliance, validates calibration schedules and enforces remedial measures when necessary, he said.
NAMA completed a nationwide flight calibration programme in December 2025, restoring equipment serviceability across multiple airports, Dr Musa revealed. Additional calibration exercises are planned for Katsina, Jos, Ilorin, Yola and Owerri airports in early 2025.
Dr Musa stressed that NAMA cannot require airlines to fly in weather conditions below their approved operational minimums. He noted that historical weather records show the lowest average runway visibility during Nigerian harmattan conditions stands at approximately 150 metres.
Using this data, NAMA has developed and published instrument approach procedures aligned with ILS Category II standards, which adequately support safe flight operations during the most challenging seasonal conditions typically encountered in Nigeria, he concluded.
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