Nigeria could soon face serious gaps in its ability to track and manage aircraft movements, aviation authorities have warned, raising concerns over safety in one of Africa’s busiest airspaces.
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) says the country’s radar infrastructure is rapidly ageing and may no longer sustain effective surveillance of flights if urgent upgrades are not carried out.
According to officials, the current radar systems—critical for monitoring aircraft positions and guiding pilots—are nearing the end of their operational lifespan. Without timely replacement or modernization, Nigeria risks losing real-time visibility over sections of its airspace.
Aviation experts warn that such a scenario could significantly impact air traffic control operations, increasing the risk of delays, miscommunication, and in worst-case situations, safety incidents.
Nigeria relies on radar and related communication systems to manage both domestic and international flights across its vast airspace. Any disruption could also affect regional aviation, given the country’s role as a key transit hub in West Africa.
Authorities have not provided a specific timeline for when the systems might fail but emphasize that intervention is urgently needed to prevent a breakdown.
The warning adds to longstanding concerns about infrastructure challenges in Nigeria’s aviation sector, where stakeholders have repeatedly called for sustained investment in modern technology and maintenance systems.
For now, officials say contingency measures are in place, but acknowledge these are only temporary solutions if the underlying issues are not addressed.
