The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has urged the National Assembly to increase its share of the statutory five per cent aviation revenue pool from 22 per cent to 56 per cent, warning that inadequate funding is threatening the sustainability of Nigeria’s air navigation and safety infrastructure.
Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar, made the appeal on Thursday during a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on proposed amendments to the country’s aviation laws.
He argued that the existing revenue-sharing formula no longer reflects the agency’s expanding operational responsibilities or the rising cost of maintaining critical air navigation infrastructure required to keep Nigeria’s airspace safe.
According to Umar, NAMA currently receives only 22 per cent of the statutory revenue pool despite being solely responsible for providing air navigation services across the country.
He said the agency was not seeking an increase in the existing five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) but a redistribution of the available revenue to better reflect operational realities.
“NAMA is not asking for a blank cheque. We are asking for a funding structure that matches the enormous responsibility of managing Nigeria’s airspace while remaining fully accountable for every kobo received,” he said.
Umar disclosed that the agency’s total expenditure exceeded ₦43 billion in 2023, comprising about ₦21 billion in personnel costs, over ₦12 billion in capital projects and more than ₦10 billion in overheads.
He noted that despite escalating costs driven by inflation, foreign exchange fluctuations, higher energy prices and increased technology expenses, NAMA’s navigation charge has remained at ₦11,000 per flight since June 2008.
“The cost of keeping Nigerian airspace safe has outgrown the existing funding model. Air navigation services are technology-intensive, continuous and cannot tolerate delays or equipment failures,” he said.
The NAMA boss also warned that the agency’s Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) system requires urgent renewal, as ageing infrastructure, obsolete equipment and limited access to spare parts pose growing operational challenges.
He added that the aviation industry’s transition to digital and satellite-based technologies, including performance-based navigation and integrated flight-data systems, demands significant investment in infrastructure, specialised skills and cybersecurity.
Umar further urged lawmakers to recognise obstacle assessment and WGS-84 aeronautical surveys as chargeable technical services provided by NAMA, arguing that the agency performs critical technical functions that currently attract no direct revenue.
He also called for the harmonisation of conflicting provisions in existing aviation laws, noting that while the Civil Aviation Act allocates 22 per cent of the revenue pool to NAMA, the NAMA Act provides for 23 per cent.
“The law should speak with one voice. The allocation formula should be clear, collection and remittance processes should be automated, and accountability mechanisms strengthened,” he said.
He assured lawmakers that NAMA supports quarterly financial disclosures, independent annual audits, transparent procurement processes and performance-based accountability.
Meanwhile, the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU), Abuja, also urged the National Assembly to designate it as a statutory beneficiary of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and allocate at least 10 per cent of the revenue to support aviation education, research and manpower development.
Presenting the university’s position, Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mustapha Abdullahi, said the institution was established to produce the skilled workforce needed to sustain Nigeria’s aviation industry and should therefore receive dedicated statutory funding.
He maintained that investment in aviation training was critical to producing air traffic managers, aeronautical engineers, aviation safety experts, meteorologists, airport managers and other professionals essential to the sector’s long-term growth.
Speaking at the hearing, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, reaffirmed the 10th National Assembly’s commitment to strengthening the financial framework of Nigeria’s aviation industry to enhance safety, operational efficiency and investor confidence.
Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Abdullahi Garba, said the proposed amendments were designed to strengthen the institutional and financial framework of aviation agencies while improving safety, transparency and service delivery across the sector.
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