Regardless of the acquisition of $8.5 million calibration aircraft by the Federal Government, the Nigeria Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has expressed concern over degraded Navigational Aids (NAVAIDS) which has contributed to the diversion of International flights to neighbouring Countries such as; Ghana and Benin.
The recent development has resulted in the diversion of British Airways London-Lagos bound flights and Air France flights to Accra and Cotonou respectively due to the poor state of navigational and landing facilities in the Country.
Abayomi Agoro, who is the NATCA President said the events at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport is as a result of poor visibility and haze which caused most of the diversion and was worsened by the degraded state of navigational and landing facilities due to lack of calibration.
Although a category 3 ILS was recently installed by Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the calibration aircraft is still in the process of undergoing certification by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that will also certify the crew of the aircraft.
“NATCA, therefore, urges the relevant authorities to take immediate steps to restore the full serviceability of the navigational and landing aids to ensure an effective end to the uncalled-for hitches recently experienced and prevent the re-occurrence of same,” Agoro said.