According to a statement by NAMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protections, Abdullahi Musa, the audit is a self-assessment designed to review the agency’s safety performance, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. The findings will feed into preparations for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) forthcoming certification of NAMA as an Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), as well as the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Coordinated Validation Mission and the Regional Office Safety Team (ROST) review.
The exercise will cover a wide range of operational areas, including Air Traffic Services (ATS), Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) facilities, Aeronautical Information Management (AIM), Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.
“The audit will cover detailed inspections of Nigeria’s four major international airports — Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt — along with Enugu, Maiduguri, and several state and private aerodromes, including CNS facilities across the nation,” Musa explained.
To drive the process, NAMA’s Managing Director, Engr. Umar Farouk, has inaugurated a FIR Audit Committee chaired by Ahmad Abba, the agency’s Director of Special Duties. The committee draws its membership from across core operational departments and will work closely with regulators, industry stakeholders, and frontline staff to ensure a transparent and inclusive review.
Farouk emphasized that the initiative reflects NAMA’s determination to raise standards and build confidence in Nigeria’s airspace management. “The safety and efficiency of our airspace is non-negotiable. The successful outcome of this initiative will not only strengthen NAMA’s operational systems but also consolidate Nigeria’s credibility and leadership in the global aviation community,” he said.
Nigeria’s aviation sector is preparing for a series of international assessments that will determine its compliance with ICAO standards and its readiness to serve as a regional benchmark. For NAMA, the FIR audit is both a quality assurance exercise and a statement of intent: to demonstrate operational excellence, embrace innovation, and position Nigeria’s airspace as one of the safest in Africa.