Nigerian airspace secure, says NCAA amidst radar coverage concerns
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has firmly addressed recent concerns regarding the security of Nigerian airspace, refuting claims of inadequate radar coverage.
In a statement signed by Captain Chris Najomo, Acting Director-General, Civil Aviation, the Authority emphasised that Nigeria’s airspace is well-monitored and secure, contrary to insinuations made by a journalist – David Hundeyin, during an interview on TV that suggest otherwise.
In response to these concerns, the NCAA reaffirmed its alignment with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on the Total Radar Coverage Of Nigeria (TRACON).
The authority highlighted that recent investigations into two incidents of airspace violations in Abuja revealed that these were controlled flights that strayed into restricted areas due to adverse weather conditions.
The NCAA confirmed that NAMA had complete radar footage and full details of the aircraft and operators involved in these incidents, made possible by functional Primary and Secondary Surveillance Radars in Abuja.
The agency noted that similar radar installations exist in Lagos, Kano, and Port-Harcourt, ensuring comprehensive monitoring.
Addressing the term ‘unknown aircraft’ used in an All Operators Letter (AOL DGCA/021/24), the NCAA clarified that this is standard security terminology.
Investigations showed that NAMA had full details of the aircraft that entered the prohibited zones, emphasising the efficiency of the radar systems.
The NCAA explained the technical operations of radar systems, noting that the Primary Surveillance Radar identifies aircraft as moving targets without providing identity details.
The Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR), a major component of TRACON, identifies aircraft equipped with ATC Mode ‘S’ transponders.
Nigeria strictly enforces the requirement for aircraft to have serviceable ATC transponders in controlled airspace, in line with international standards documented in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.
Violations of this regulation are considered security breaches and attract appropriate sanctions.
Furthermore, the NCAA said it has been proactive in addressing the welfare of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs), citing recent mediation between ATCOs and NAMA to improve remuneration and working conditions.
The Authority explained that this initiative aligns with the Aviation Minister’s five-point agenda on capacity development, which the NCAA is extending to other aviation professionals.
To enhance Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure, the NCAA announced the installation of five additional MSSR stations in Obubbra, Ilorin, Talatan Marafa, Maiduguri, and Numan, augmenting the existing radar centers to achieve total national coverage.
This upgrade, consistent with global practices, ensures that radar systems remain up-to-date with advancing technology.
The NCAA assured that NAMA, in coordination with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, is actively working on system upgrades for Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) infrastructure.
The Authority unequivocally assured the public of the safety and security of Nigeria’s airspace, stating that all necessary measures are being undertaken to maintain secure air navigation.
The statement: “The attention of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been drawn to statements insinuating that the Nigerian airspace is insecure due to lack of coverage by Radar.
“Ordinarily, the Authority usually refrains from reacting to such baseless and unguarded statements, but to assure the flying public in particular, and Nigerians in general, the Authority is constrained to put the records straight.
“NCAA firmly aligns with the statement from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on the Total Radar Coverage Of Nigeria (TRACON).
“In furtherance to this, NCAA investigated two recent cases of violation of the prohibited flights zones – DNP4 – in Abuja and established that both violations consisted of controlled flights in a controlled airspace, but strayed into restricted airspace as a result of adverse weather.
“The NCAA can also confirm that NAMA had complete radar footage of the two violations with full details of the identities of the aircraft and operators involved.
“This was only made possible due to functional Primary and Secondary Surveillance Radars in Abuja. Similar installations are in Lagos, Kano and Port-Harcourt.
“The Authority in keeping with its regulatory responsibilities issued an All Operators Letter (AOL DGCA/021/24) wherein the term ‘unknown aircraft’ was used as reported to NCAA which is the normal security terminology.
“However, as explained above, investigations revealed NAMA had complete footages and details of the aircraft that entered the prohibited flight zone.
“The writer, obviously, not conversant with the technical operations of radar systems ought to have simply consulted the right professionals to be educated accordingly.
“For purposes of clarity, the Primary Surveillance Radar alone only identifies aircraft as moving targets without aircraft identity.
“The Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR), on the other hand, which forms a major component of the TRACON, is the equipment that allows for identification of any aircraft equipped with ATC Mode ‘S’ transponder.
“The requirement for all aircraft flying in controlled airspace to have serviceable ATC transponders in an international standard that Nigeria ensures strict adherence to.
“This requirement derived from Annex 6 to the Convention on International Aviation is documented in Part 7 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.
“This, therefore, makes it a violation of the regulations, and indeed a security breach, for any aircraft to put this system off while flying in controlled airspace, and such action would attract appropriate sanctions in accordance with NCAA’s enforcement procedures, including possible criminal referral.
“On the issue of welfare of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs), the NCAA had, only recently, intervened in a face-off between ATCOs and NAMA on the need for improved remuneration and working conditions for ATCOs.
“Expectedly, in aligning with the Honourable Minister’s five-point agenda on capacity development, NCAA is extending this drive to other aviation professionals.
“As regards the improvement of Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure, Nigeria’s Radar coverage is being backed up with five additional MSSR stations at Obubbra, Ilorin, Talatan Marafa, Maiduguri and Numan to augment the four existing Radar centers to achieve total coverage of the country.
“This is also in line with the Honourable Minister’s five-point agenda on infrastructure and fully supported by NCAA’s oversight in ensuring installed infrastructure continually delivers the desired output.
“It is worth noting that such upgrade is normal global practice when dealing with any electronics system.
“These systems must be updated from time to time since technology is not static, and the Authority through its continuous oversight has not found NAMA wanting in this regard.
“Thus, NAMA in coordination with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development is working on system upgrade of the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) infrastructure.
“Finally, the NCAA wishes to unequivocally assure the public that there is no cause for alarm as everything necessary is being undertaken to ensure safe and secure air navigation in Nigeria’s airspace.”
Captain Chris Najomo, Ag. Director-General Civil Aviation.
