House Urges Aviation Ministry to Upgrade TRACON Equipment

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Nigeria

The House of Representatives has called on the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to ensure prompt upgrade of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) equipment. The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion on the ‘Need to Address the Prolonged Malfunctioning of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON)’, moved yesterday by Hon. Ahmed Munir.

Moving the motion, the lawmaker said TRACON aids Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) in the radar scope to improve safety in the airspace, without which ATC are unable to access the image of aircraft and may resort to manual procedures which could be inaccurate, thereby increasing the likelihood of near misses or collisions of aircraft.

Munir noted that TRACON became operational in 2010 with five years support service agreement and an unlimited supply of spares with Thales Company, but was discontinued in 2015 by the NAMA.

He said: “Concerned that since the termination of the contract with Thales in 2015, TRACON has been functioning without an upgrade and their equipment have been degenerating as they have not been undergoing needed maintenance.”

Munir said presently, the radar system operates without a back–up and if it breaks down, ATC would resort to manual procedures which put pilots and passengers as well as other unsuspecting persons in grave danger.

He noted that the Director of Electronics and Engineering Services of NAMA recently raised concerns over the safety of Nigeria’s airspace, which he claimed lacked proper maintenance, resulting in degradation of TRACON which plays a significant role in airspace safety.

The lawmaker said the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has cautioned that, owing to poor maintenance and lack of spare parts, TRACON has become flawed in its functionalities thereby endangering flight operations in the country;