THE Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), has appealed to the Federal Government, to reverse the 50 per cent internal revenue deduction in the interest of Nigeria’s airspace safety.
In a statement by the agency’s Managing Director and Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Umar, said the deduction hinders NAMA’s ability to maintain, upgrade, and replace its critical infrastructure.
“The safety of our airspace is paramount, and the current financial model is unsustainable. The 50% revenue deduction hinders our ability to maintain and upgrade critical infrastructure, such as our obsolete surveillance systems, which are over a decade old and urgently need replacement.
“Without adequate funding, we can not meet the high costs of procuring and maintaining essential equipment or ensuring the continuous training of our technical staff, which is vital for maintaining safety standards,’ the statement read in part.
He argued that it was crucial to understand that NAMA operates on the principle of cost recovery, as recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
“This means all charges are solely meant to be for the recovery of equipment and other costs incurred in service provision,” he said.
