The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Farouk Ahmed Umar, has warned that Nigeria’s airspace surveillance system is at risk due to outdated radar infrastructure.

He said the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) system, which monitors and tracks aircraft across the country’s airspace, has become obsolete and increasingly difficult to maintain due to lack of spare parts.

According to him, the system began operations around 2010 but has since fallen behind global technological standards, as most aviation countries have upgraded their surveillance systems.

He explained that the equipment, which was originally designed with a lifespan of about 10 years, has now exceeded its operational efficiency period and is struggling to function optimally.

Farouk warned that continued reliance on the ageing system could compromise Nigeria’s compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety requirements.

He added that air traffic surveillance could be severely affected if urgent upgrades are not carried out, as many components currently operate without backup systems.

The NAMA boss also highlighted funding constraints, budget limitations, manpower shortages, and rising operational costs as additional challenges affecting the agency’s ability to modernise its systems.

He further noted that debts owed by airlines and airports, along with deductions from internally generated revenue, are limiting NAMA’s capacity to meet critical safety obligations.