Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has emphasized the urgent need for Africa to close existing capacity gaps within its Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems. He stressed that the continent must invest in developing skilled air traffic controllers in order to maintain safe, coordinated, and efficient skies as air travel continues to expand across Africa.
Keyamo delivered this message at the 36th Regional Meeting of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) for Africa and the Middle East, held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. His remarks were shared through a statement released on Tuesday by his media aide, Tunde Moshood.
Speaking on the conference theme, “Securing the Skies: Strengthening ATM Capacity through Strategic Recruitment, Training, and Retention,” the minister noted that Africa’s aviation sector is growing, with increased aircraft operations and more travelers. However, the number of well-trained air traffic controllers has not kept pace with this growth. He cautioned that airspace operations are becoming more complex, and the continent must not allow its human resource capacity to lag behind.
According to Keyamo, while modern technology plays a crucial role in aviation, the heart of airspace safety lies in the competence and vigilance of air traffic controllers. “Across our region, operational demands are rising, and the expectations of passengers are higher. We must invest in our people, because it is their alertness and professionalism that keep millions of lives safe every day,” he said.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing aviation safety as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Keyamo explained that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency is currently upgrading the nation’s Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) infrastructure. Additionally, Nigeria is expanding training opportunities for controllers and introducing programmes to support their mental well-being and professional development.
The minister also highlighted Nigeria’s partnerships with regional organizations, including the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organization (BAGAS
These partnerships, he said, are geared toward enhancing Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) certification processes, improving safety oversight mechanisms, and fostering a unified safety culture among African states.
“Aviation is a collective system,” Keyamo noted. “Its effectiveness depends on cooperation among governments, industry regulators, service providers, and professional organizations such as IFATCA. Our skies are interconnected, and for that reason, our progress must also be shared and coordinated.”
He urged participants at the meeting to translate their deliberations into concrete actions that would build a highly skilled, well-supported
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