NAMA MD: Lagos Airport Fire Completely Destroyed Airspace Management Communication Equipment

Chinedu Eze

Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Farouk Ahmed Umar, has disclosed that the fire which destroyed the old terminal of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, known as Terminal 1, on Monday, completely destroyed air-to-ground communication equipment and some navigational aids.

In order to ensure continuous management of the airspace, Umar said air traffic controllers now use back-up equipment, just as the agency is making effort to mount mobile tower as alternative to the existing one, partly destroyed by the fire.

The NAMA Managing Director who spoke to newsmen at the airport yesterday, said, “The fire has affected our air to ground communication completely. What we are using to sustain air tactic service now is the backup. We have a lot to do when we are out of the situation. What we have seen is a huge loss as far as communication is concerned. Other air traffic services were really disrupted. So, we had no option at that time than to suspend inbound aircraft into Lagos.”

He commended the prompt response of the NAMA personnel when the fire erupted on Monday, at about 3:00 pm, as airport workers commended air traffic controllers who, despite the trauma of the fire continued to provide service to ensure safe take-off and landing of flights.

“I must commend the prompt response to the emergency situation that we found ourselves. The workers on ground actually put their lives in danger because they were supposed to run and leave the place but they decided to stay and salvage the situation,” Umar said.

 He however noted that since flight operations resumed, communication, aerodrome approach and air control has remained uninterrupted.

He assured Nigerians and the flying public that the Nigerian airspace remains safe for flight operations.

He added that what NAMA is trying to do now is to improve on what it has been done so far.

“Hopefully by tomorrow or next, we will be able to move the mobile tower but I want to assure Nigerians that the air to ground communication will remain uninterrupted,” Umar added.