The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has strongly refuted claims that Harmattan weather conditions have exposed deficiencies in Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure, asserting that air navigation facilities across the country are safe, well maintained and operated in line with global standards.
In a press statement, NAMA reacted to a recent report published by a national newspaper which, while highlighting the seasonal challenges associated with Harmattan haze, made claims that the agency said could mislead the public about the safety of Nigeria’s air navigation system and the serviceability of landing aids at airports nationwide.
The statement, signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Dr Abdullahi Musa, acknowledged that Harmattan weather is a recurring operational challenge in Nigerian aviation.
However, NAMA stressed that discussions on aviation safety must be rooted in technical accuracy, regulatory context and a proper understanding of how aviation safety systems are designed to function.
According to the agency, linking weather-induced operational limitations to alleged infrastructural failures is misleading and capable of generating unnecessary fear among air travellers, airlines and other aviation stakeholders.
Responding to insinuations that landing facilities at Nigerian airports are poorly maintained or unsuitable for low-visibility operations, NAMA stated unequivocally that all navigational aids (NAVAIDs) at Federal Government airports are routinely maintained, flight-checked and calibrated in strict accordance with the Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig CARs).
The agency explained that these activities are mandatory safety requirements and are carried out using its dedicated flight inspection and calibration aircraft.
It added that the processes are handled by highly trained technical and flight inspection personnel who periodically assess and verify the performance of critical systems, including Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) and other Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) infrastructure.
NAMA further emphasised that all maintenance and calibration activities are conducted under the continuous regulatory oversight of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
According to the agency, the NCAA routinely audits compliance, validates inspection and calibration cycles, and enforces corrective actions wherever deficiencies are identified.
Highlighting its commitment to transparency, NAMA noted that the operational status of navigational aids across the country is formally published through Aeronautical Information Publications (AIP) Supplements, which are available to airlines, pilots, operators and international aviation partners.
It cited AIP Supplement S81/2025, issued on 9 October 2025, which provided a comprehensive update on the calibration and serviceability status of all NAVAIDs in Nigeria.
The agency stated that, at the time of publication, only the ILS facilities at Maiduguri, Ilorin, Owerri, Zaria, Minna and Calabar were approaching their due calibration dates, while all other systems nationwide were within valid inspection timelines.
NAMA disclosed that a nationwide round of flight calibration exercises was subsequently carried out in December 2025, extending serviceability timelines across several airports.
It added that further proactive calibration exercises are scheduled for early 2026, covering Katsina, Jos, Ilorin, Yola and Owerri airports, as part of its continuous safety assurance programme.
Addressing widespread assumptions that Category III Instrument Landing Systems must be installed at all airports to ensure safety during Harmattan, NAMA described such views as technically incorrect and inconsistent with global aviation practice.
It explained that the choice between ILS CAT I, CAT II or CAT III systems is based on operational requirements, traffic volume, aircraft and airline capability, as well as long-term meteorological data.
The agency noted that many airports around the world operate safely and efficiently with CAT I or CAT II systems because prevailing weather conditions do not justify the complexity, cost and operational demands of CAT III installations. Nigeria, it said, adopts the same data-driven and evidence-based approach.
According to NAMA, historical meteorological data indicate that the lowest average runway visibility recorded during Harmattan conditions in Nigeria is approximately 150 metres.
In response, the agency said it has designed, validated and published instrument approach procedures aligned with ILS CAT II minima, which are sufficient to support safe flight operations during the most challenging seasonal conditions typically experienced in the country.
The agency stressed that the absence of widespread CAT III systems does not translate to compromised safety, noting that aviation safety is determined by the appropriateness, reliability and proper use of systems rather than the indiscriminate deployment of the most advanced technology.
NAMA maintained that Nigerian airports with published ILS CAT II procedures are fully capable of supporting safe operations within approved minima, subject to aircraft and airline capability.
It added that any temporary withdrawal, downgrade or restriction of systems is undertaken conservatively and proactively in the interest of safety, and should not be misconstrued as regulatory failure.
Clarifying the causes of operational disruptions during the Harmattan season, the agency stated that delays, diversions or cancellations are largely the result of adverse weather conditions, airline operational decisions and aircraft capability, rather than neglect or breakdown of navigational aids.
It also noted that NAMA works closely with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to ensure the continuous dissemination of accurate and timely weather information, while providing real-time air traffic management support to airlines and pilots throughout the Harmattan period.
Reaffirming its position, NAMA stated that Nigeria’s airspace remains safe, professionally managed and aligned with global best practices.
While Harmattan weather presents unavoidable operational challenges, the agency stressed that it does not indicate infrastructural failure or diminished safety standards.
NAMA reiterated its openness to constructive engagement with stakeholders, while affirming its commitment to correcting inaccuracies whenever they arise, in the interest of public understanding and the overarching goal of safe, secure and efficient air travel in Nigeria.
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