NAMA Signs Contract for Construction of New Corporate Headquarters, National Air Traffic Management Centre in Abuja
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has taken a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s airspace management architecture with the formal signing of a contract for the construction of its new Corporate Headquarters and a centralised Air Traffic Management (ATM) Centre in Abuja.
The contract signing, which took place in the Federal Capital Territory, marks a historic milestone in the institutional growth of NAMA and underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising aviation infrastructure in line with global best practices.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NAMA, Engr. Ahmed Umar Farouk, described the project as a strategic, forward-looking investment aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s airspace management system to meet international standards and future operational demands.
According to him, the new complex will serve a dual function by housing NAMA’s Corporate Headquarters while also accommodating a centralised national Air Traffic Management Centre.
He explained that the development represents a fundamental operational shift, as it will consolidate airspace control functions that have historically been decentralised.
“What this structure represents is far more than office space,” Engr. Farouk said. “It will house the Air Traffic Management Centre that brings under one roof what used to be the Kano Area Control Centre and the Lagos Area Control Centre. From this single facility, air traffic across the entire Nigerian airspace will be managed and coordinated.”
He noted that the integration of air traffic control operations into one national centre would significantly enhance operational efficiency, strengthen safety oversight, and improve Nigeria’s compliance with the Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The NAMA Chief Executive stressed that the facility would host critical and highly sensitive operational infrastructure, making quality, safety, and durability non-negotiable.
He therefore charged the project contractor, NHD Interbiz Projects Limited, to adhere strictly to structural integrity requirements, engineering excellence, and globally accepted construction standards.
“This is a mission-critical facility that will support the safety of our skies and the efficiency of air navigation services nationwide,” he said. “There will be no compromise on quality. Management will closely monitor every stage of execution to ensure value for money, transparency, and long-term sustainability.”
Engr. Farouk also expressed gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, for facilitating the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval that paved the way for the project.
He described the Minister’s intervention and support as instrumental to the realisation of NAMA’s vision for a modern, centralised airspace management infrastructure.
In addition, he commended NAMA’s management and staff for their dedication and professionalism throughout the contracting process, giving special recognition to the Legal Services Department for ensuring due process, regulatory compliance, and strict adherence to best practices.
Earlier in her remarks, the Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary, Mrs. Rita Egbadon, described the contract signing as a landmark achievement in the agency’s history.
She explained that the agreement was the outcome of several months of detailed legal structuring, compliance alignment, and careful risk allocation, all deliberately designed to protect the public interest and safeguard NAMA’s long-term institutional integrity.
Mrs. Egbadon noted that the project effectively brings to an end an era in which the agency operated from facilities that did not fully reflect the scale, sensitivity, and national importance of its mandate in managing Nigeria’s airspace.
The new headquarters and Air Traffic Management Centre are expected to serve as a cornerstone for enhanced air navigation services, improved safety outcomes, and a more resilient aviation sector in Nigeria.
