Nigeria Breaks Ground on Landmark NAMA Headquarters to Centralise Airspace Management
The Federal Government has taken another decisive step toward modernising Nigeria’s aviation architecture with the commencement of construction on a new headquarters and integrated Air Traffic Management Centre for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency in Abuja, a project expected to transform how the nation supervises and coordinates its airspace operations.
The ceremony took place at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, described the initiative as a practical demonstration of government’s determination to align aviation infrastructure with global standards and position Nigeria as a regional leader in air navigation services.
Speaking before aviation regulators, industry stakeholders, and invited guests, the minister stressed that the project reflects a long-term strategic vision aimed at strengthening safety oversight, enhancing operational efficiency, and supporting the steady expansion of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
He observed that many public aviation institutions had historically operated from facilities that neither matched their technical responsibilities nor reflected their importance to national development, a gap the new headquarters is designed to close.
Keyamo explained that the complex will integrate administrative offices with a cutting-edge Air Traffic Management facility, allowing decision-makers and operational teams to function within a unified environment.
Such proximity, he said, would encourage innovation, improve coordination, and ensure faster response times to real-time airspace developments. He also noted that the new centre would provide a secure, technology-driven platform for managing Nigeria’s sovereign airspace, thereby reinforcing international confidence in the country’s aviation safety framework.
The minister further assured stakeholders that the contract was awarded through a transparent competitive process conducted in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007, emphasising that strict compliance with quality specifications and project timelines would be enforced.
According to him, the government remains committed to ensuring that public infrastructure projects are delivered efficiently and without compromise.
Earlier, the Managing Director of NAMA, Ahmed Umar Farouk, described the event as a historic turning point for the agency. He recalled that although NAMA was established in 1999, its administrative headquarters remained in Lagos for over two decades before relocation to Abuja commenced in 2020 as part of federal policy.
Despite operating from temporary offices in the capital for several years, he said staff had consistently maintained high standards of safety and reliability in air navigation services across the country.
Farouk disclosed that the new facility would house a centralised operational command system intended to merge the existing Area Control Centres in Lagos and Kano into one unified hub.
The consolidation, he explained, would create a single national Flight Information Region, enabling seamless radar surveillance and coordinated management of aircraft movements across Nigeria’s entire airspace. By eliminating fragmented monitoring structures, the unified system is expected to reduce coordination risks and enhance situational awareness for controllers.
He added that the planned ATM Centre will be equipped with advanced automation technology capable of supporting future growth in traffic volumes while optimising flight routes and minimising operational inefficiencies.
The improved system, he said, would ultimately benefit airlines through reduced fuel consumption and lower operational costs, while also strengthening safety margins.
The headquarters complex is designed not only as a technological command centre but also as a comprehensive administrative and welfare facility. Plans indicate it will accommodate between fifteen and sixteen departments, include a 200-seat conference auditorium, library, registry, executive offices, rest lounges for air traffic controllers, recreational areas, a daycare centre, and a drivers’ lounge.
Supporting infrastructure will feature standby power systems, water treatment facilities, extensive parking arrangements, and multiple security checkpoints.
While celebrating the milestone, the NAMA chief appealed for sustained government funding for the agency’s proposed Dual Surveillance System, which is expected to support both civil aviation monitoring and military command-and-control operations.
He described the initiative as a strategic national asset capable of strengthening collaboration between aviation authorities and defence institutions, particularly at a time when security concerns remain a priority.
The new headquarters and integrated control centre represent one of the most ambitious aviation infrastructure projects undertaken in Nigeria in recent years, signalling a policy shift towards centralised oversight, advanced technology adoption, and long-term institutional strengthening within the country’s airspace management framework.
