A collective of aviation unions, known as the Joint Action Committee (JAC), is petitioning the Nigerian government to transition the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) toward a commercial or private model. These organizations, including ATSSSAN, NAAPE, NUATE, and ANAP, believe that moving away from government-controlled funding will bolster air safety and modernize national navigation systems.
The unions argue that NAMA currently suffers from bureaucratic delays and inconsistent budgetary support, which hinders the rollout of essential technology like satellite-based surveillance. By tapping into private equity and international capital markets, they suggest the agency could better finance critical infrastructure.
To support their case, the JAC referenced international success stories such as Nav Canada and the United Kingdom’s NATS Holdings, which operate on user-funded models. They contend that NAMA, while currently generating revenue through various service charges, would benefit from increased financial transparency and improved operational efficiency.
Furthermore, the committee rejected NAMA’s recent proposal to raise Ticket Sales Charges, stating that the focus should be on internal management rather than increasing costs for passengers. The unions emphasized that any transition must preserve the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s status as an independent safety regulator. They proposed a potential Public-Private Partnership as a viable pathway to reform, warning that failure to act could leave Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure outdated and inefficient.
