OSGoF, NAMA to produce charts for safe air travels

By Ochiaka Ugwu

The Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF) may have concluded plans to synergize with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in order to produce charts which will enhance the safety and security of air travels.

The management of OSGoF led by the Surveyor General of the Federation (SGoF), Surv. Abuduganiyu Adeyemi Adebomehin in a meeting at the Survey House, Abuja with a 3-man delegation from NAMA yesterday concluded arrangements for the assignment.

In a press statement released in Abuja Wednesday signed by the OSGoF Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Abu I. Michael it noted that Surv. Adebomehin described the assignment as “national assignment” stressing on the need for the surveyors from OSGoF that would work together with the technical staff of NAMA to see it as sacrosanct so as to produce charts and maps that would guarantee safety and security of aircrafts and their passengers.

He said OSGoF has the capacity to provide the best of charts and maps which would also be made available to stakeholders for improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the Nigerian Government.

Expressing concerns over the huge financial demands on the government by various sectors of the economy, he maintained that OSGoF would henceforth produce such charts and maps and as well provide geospatial services to discourage unnecessary financial outflows. 

The leader of the NAMA delegation, Asifat S. Badmus, a Deputy General Manager explained that the Visual Flight Rules (VFR) are important for the safety of lives and for flights hence the VFR inform charts to guide, provide directions, locations and to quickly identify hills and mountains, bodies of water and other physical features for easy navigation.

Badmus said the importance of charts and maps for air travels cannot be overemphasized hence OSGoF as the apex surveying and mapping institution of the country would always be required to provide the base and positioning for better air traffic services. NAMA according to him needs updated topographical maps and charts as well as the data from OSGoF to function.

Collaboration with OSGoF would help NAMA provide charts that would meet the International Civil Aviation (ICAO) standards that would be accepted worldwide.

OSGoF has designated Surv. Azeez Afeez, Surv. Izuegbu O. Uju and Surv. Alamu Abayomi Samsideen to work with NAMA technical team for the production of charts and maps required for air services.