A warning has been issued by the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) that there is a scarcity of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) in the country. The NATCA has stated that there is a need to recruit and train these individuals.
ATCOs are experiencing high workloads, prolonged duty hours, and stress, which the President of NATCA, Mr. Amos Edino, expressed his regret about. He stated that this stress was having an impact on both their performance and their overall well-being.
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos was the location of his speech. According to Edino, ATCOs were had to work sessions that lasted longer than the typical two-hour shift, with some of them having to endure continuous shifts that lasted between four and five hours. This was due to staffing difficulties.
In his opinion, the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, also known as NCAT, Zaria, which is in charge of ATCO training, was having difficulty meeting its capacity requirements. Edino, who expressed concern over occupational health risks, encouraged the government to alter the wage structure so that it became more in accordance with the best standards that are used internationally.
In response to these issues, he asked the government to put into effect a comprehensive health care program. While he was bemoaning the working circumstances in a number of control towers and operating rooms, he mentioned that the elevators were not functioning properly, which required controllers to climb more than 250 stairs on a regular basis in order to reach their assignments.
During the discussion on Air Traffic Management, Edino stated that there was a requirement to upgrade the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, TRACON, system.
He emphasized that the system had beyond the operating lifespan that was planned for it. Reliability, availability, and integrity are all compromised by the fact that the system, which was designed to last for ten years, is now nearly twenty years old.
This is a moment that will permanently change the agency. The Nigerian Air Transport Authority (NAMA) will leave a lasting legacy if it is able to successfully overcome these ongoing difficulties. Which would ensure that Nigeria’s air traffic control system is among the best in the world.