NAMA assures uninterrupted flight as NATCA begins major strike on Monday

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on Saturday, April 19, assured intending passengers and the general public of uninterrupted air traffic service within the Nigerian airspace.

The agency's Ag. General Manager, Public Affairs, Olajumoke Adetona, gave the assurance in a statement issued to newsmen in Lagos.

Adetona assured that there will be no disruption in the provision of air traffic services on Monday, April 20.

She said that the mandate of the agency is to provide safe, economic, efficient and expeditious air navigation services.

She also assured that airlines operators and other service providers that rely on the agency’s services to go ahead with flights as scheduled.

NAN reports that the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) vowed to embark on industrial strike starting from Monday April 20, if their demands are not met.

The association had on Friday, April 18, grounded the airspace across the country for more than six hours to protest their welfare package allowance that was yet to be implemented by the government, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

Adetona stated that the current agitation by air traffic controllers on harmonisation of professional allowances with other professional groups in NAMA had been addressed on its merit and resolved by the Federal Government.

"On the strength of this resolution, there is no cause for any industrial disharmony by professional groups in the agency.

"Moreso, in further commitment to our staff welfare, NAMA wishes to reassure the general public of the safety and security of the Nigerian airspace.

"The service delivery capacity of the agency has been at optimum and further enhanced by the recent successful calibration of navigational aids across the country.

"In line with the agency’s vision, several safety-critical projects, in particular ADS-C/CPDLC, are being closed to fully optimise capacity," she said.