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Nigeria Scales Through Satellite Air Navigation Test

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13 years ago

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Nigeria has passed a pilot test for migration from terrestrial air navigation to a satellite-based navigation, the Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) said on Monday.

The Managing Director of NAMA, Mr Nnamdi Udoh, told journalists on Monday, in Ikeja, that the feat was a great one in view of the country’s quest for advancement.

He explained that the satellite-based navigation, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) ,  was also known as Performance-Based Navigation (PBN).

“Nigeria’s bold attempt to migrate from terrestrial air navigation to a satellite-based navigation system received a boost at the weekend when two foreign airlines tested the new procedure with pilots landing successfully at the Lagos and Kano airports respectively.

“The Emirates airline was the first to carry out the approach test on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in Lagos while the KLM recorded same in Kano.

“With the success recorded in our quest for moving from terrestrial to a satellite-based air navigation system, Nigeria has joined the league of big countries that are already operating the ICAO-endorsed air navigation programme,’’ he said.

ICAO is the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Udoh said that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the Port Harcourt International Airport were among the four airports in the country listed for the pilot test.

“To operate on GNSS, aircraft are expected to be equipped with the prescribed gadgets on board for easy link with the satellite for seamless navigation and communication to designated airports.

“The pilots of the two foreign airlines, while making approach to landing at these airports, had little or no contact with the air traffic controllers except that they were under close watch and monitoring on the radar.

The NAMA boss said that the PBN was cost effective, explaining that it required less fuel during aircraft takeoff and landing.

He added that the system reduced carbon dioxide emission and air traffic controllers’ workload.

Udoh said that NAMA begun the transformation with the completion of the N360 million World Geodetic Survey (WGS-84) of Nigeria’s 22 airports and the procedural design of the country’s four major airports in 2010.

He said that 60 workers in the aviation industry were undergoing training on the satellite-based air navigation system.

The NAMA boss said that the trainees included air traffic controllers, pilots and the personnel of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology and the crew of the presidential fleet.

“They are being trained by a PBN expert, Mr Ed Hajek, from the International Air Transport Association, Montreal, Canada,’’ he said.

He said that NAMA would train about 250 air traffic controllers on the PBN system.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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2 weeks ago

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June 27, 2025

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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2 weeks ago

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June 27, 2025

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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2 weeks ago

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June 27, 2025

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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