The decision, confirmed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the President of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Amos Edino, comes amid growing industry concerns over excessive workloads, prolonged duty hours, and operational fatigue among active controllers.
Speaking to journalists at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Edino described the development as a much-needed relief for the aviation sector, which has faced dwindling manpower for years.
“The shortage of air traffic controllers has created excessive workloads and increased stress levels,” he said. “Controllers are now being forced to work four to five hours continuously per session — far beyond the standard two-hour limit. This has serious implications for safety and performance.”
According to Edino, NATCA had repeatedly urged the Federal Government to take urgent action, noting that despite past appeals, the number of qualified ATCs continued to decline due to retirements, migration, and limited training capacity.
Confirming the development, Minister Keyamo said the recalled controllers would be deployed to less busy airports as part of a short-term measure to ease pressure on existing staff while long-term reforms are being implemented.
“We have recalled 57 retired ATCOs to manage less busy airports and address the shortage of active air traffic controllers,” Keyamo said. “This measure will stabilise operations while we improve remuneration and training to attract new talent into the system.”
The minister, represented by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Umar Farouk, added that the government is also reviewing the retirement age of air traffic controllers to retain experienced professionals longer and ensure effective knowledge transfer.
Speaking earlier at the 54th Annual General Meeting of NATCA in Abuja, Keyamo emphasised that expanding manpower and improving welfare remain top priorities for the administration’s aviation reforms.
“The country currently faces a shortage of air traffic controllers, and we must bridge this gap,” he said. “Increasing the retirement age will allow experienced professionals to continue contributing to the safety and growth of our airspace.”
The recall initiative coincides with rising air travel demand, as projections by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) suggest that Nigeria’s passenger traffic could reach 31 million by 2030. Meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) estimates that Africa will require more than 4,200 new air traffic controllers by 2037 to meet growing operational needs.
Industry experts have welcomed the move as a necessary stopgap intervention but stressed the importance of sustained recruitment, advanced training, and competitive remuneration to ensure long-term stability.
At the recent launch of the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, Keyamo reaffirmed that the recall of retired professionals forms part of a broader workforce revitalisation plan, including salary reviews, infrastructure upgrades, and the expansion of training facilities.
“We are addressing the manpower gap in both the short and long term,” the minister said. “Beyond recalling retirees, we are modernising air navigation systems and preparing Nigeria for the aviation demands of the next decade.”
With air traffic expected to grow steadily, stakeholders say the government’s ability to combine short-term relief with long-term capacity building will be crucial to ensuring safety, efficiency, and resilience in Nigeria’s aviation sector.