Aviation

Nigerian Airspace Is Safe -Traffic Engineers

Published

13 years ago

November 22, 2013

The National Association
of Air Traffic Engineers (NAATE), has reassured that the Nigerian airspace is safe for flying as anybody with contrary view is targeted at misleading the public.
Speaking to newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the President of NAATE, Mr Ebenezer Makanjuola, said the authority of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has improved the navigational equipment in the country’s airspace and beyond.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) an umbrella body of Air Traffic Controllers has consistently raised alarm over the safety of the country’s airspace. NATCA has continually challenged the federal government to invest more money in the communications and surveillance equipment for improved airspace.
Mr Makanjuola countered this claim, declaring that the equipment installed in the various airport across the country met international standards and assured the travelling public of a very safe airspace.
He insisted that no air crash in the country in the last 20 years had been traceable to equipment failure, stressing that if the equipment were not of international standards, crashes would have been attributed to the malfunction of the equipment and facilities used to manage the airspace.
On the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, (TRACON), project, Makanjuola explained that since the equipment was installed over three years ago, pilots had not complained about its efficiency and performance, insisting that the equipment was perfect and dependable.
He, however, agreed that there might be hitches in the system, saying that was not enough to say the airspace is unsafe.
“No one has ever complained about the TRACON project. If the users do not complain, who are we to do so? I can tell you, as an engineer, that the TRACON is perfect, good and reliable. With the system, you can see an aircraft as far as Niger, Chad and even Ghana. TRACON is not equipment that will keep the aircraft-in the air or control its performance,” TRACON said.
“The World Geodetic Survey 84 (WGS84) project is completed and as a result is providing performance Based Navigation (PBN). PBN is available in 22 airports. It enables aircraft system performance to be defined in terms of accuracy, integrity, availability, continuity and functionality required for all operations in the Nigerian airspace supported by appropriate navigational infrastructure,” Makanjuola added.
It explained that to provide seamless communication between pilots and ATC, there is usually data transfer from one point to the other in split seconds and satellite support both active and redundant at 999 per cent availability.
“The agency has taken delivery of Aeronautic Information Service Automation facilities for 27 airports and our members are fully equipped with necessary skills for this provision,” he said.
He, however, said safety is everybody’s business, stressing that safety is all encompassing and it involves agencies like NAMA, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and even the airlines in the sector.

Aviation

Togo Govt Scraps It’s Visa Requirements For All African Countries

Published

1 month ago

May 27, 2026

The Tide

The Togolese government has scrapped visa requirements for nationals of all African countries, effective May 18, 2026, meaning Nigerians with valid passports can now enter the country without applying for visa in advance.

African travellers can now stay in Togo visa-free for up to 30 days counting from May 18, 2026.

Visitors must still complete an online pre-arrival registration before entering the country.

The announcement came via the official X handle of Togo’s Ministry of Security, signed by the ministry’s head, Colonel Calixte Batossie Madjoulba.

Under the new policy, eligible African travellers can stay in Togo for up to 30 days without a visa, with the government describing the move as a commitment to Pan-African ideals and regional integration.

Government based the decision within a wider Pan-African agenda, stating that it reaffirms Togo’s attachment to “Pan-African ideals, continental solidarity, and community and African commitments, relating to mobility and regional integration.”

Togo also positioned the move as part of an agenda of “openness, modernisation, and attractiveness” aimed at making the country “a regional hub for services, business, culture, and human exchanges at the heart of Africa.”

There is, however, one step travellers cannot skip. Before arrival, visitors must register on the Togolese government’s official travel portal at voyage.gouv.tg at least 24 hours before reaching the border.

Nigerians can now travel to Togo without applying for a visa in advance.

The registration generates a travel slip that must be presented at entry points across land, air, and sea. The government has been clear that this pre-arrival formality remains mandatory regardless of the visa exemption.

Beyond the registration requirement, standard entry conditions still apply. Security checks, immigration screening, and public health requirements remain in place, and the waiver does not protect travellers who overstay or enter irregularly.

All border agencies have been directed to implement the new policy immediately.

Togo’s decision is part of a broader continental shift. Across Africa, more governments are moving to ease intra-African travel in alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area’s vision of freer movement of people and goods.

Togo is now among the more accessible West African destinations for Nigerian travellers, a short trip that previously required advance visa processing and now requires nothing more than a passport and a quick online registration the day before you fly.

Aviation

Egypt Flight Moves To Prevent Explosion —- Diverts London Flight To Rome

Published

1 month ago

May 27, 2026

The Tide

An EasyJet flight from Egypt to London was diverted to Rome after a passenger was found with a power bank in checked luggage.

The airline said the diversion was made as a safety precaution due to regulations surrounding lithium-ion batteries.

Passengers landed safely in Rome and were provided accommodation and refreshments after the delay.

The aircraft, operating flight EZY2618 from Hurghada to London Luton, made an unscheduled landing at Rome Fiumicino Airport last Tuesday evening as a precautionary safety measure.

According to the airline, the decision to divert was taken after a passenger informed cabin crew that the portable charger was inside luggage stored in the aircraft’s hold.

Although no fire or malfunction was reported, lithium-ion batteries found in power banks are considered a significant safety risk on aircraft due to the possibility of overheating or catching fire.

Flight tracking data showed the plane cruising at approximately 36,000 feet over the Adriatic Sea before suddenly changing course and heading towards Rome, where it landed safely about 20 minutes later.

Passengers reportedly disembarked without incident, while the flight was rescheduled for the following day.

In a statement, EasyJet apologised for the disruption and said the diversion was carried out in accordance with aviation safety regulations.

“The safety of passengers and crew is our highest priority,” the airline said, adding that hotel accommodation, meals, and refreshments were provided for affected travellers.

“EasyJet’s policies state that power banks are only permitted in cabin baggage and must not be stored in checked luggage.

The airline also prohibits passengers from using power banks to charge devices during flights.

The incident comes as airlines around the world continue tightening restrictions on portable chargers and lithium battery devices amid growing concerns over onboard fire hazards linked to overheating batteries.

Aviation

Delta At 20: Delta Airline Expands Travel Access Ahead 2026 World Cup

Published

1 month ago

May 27, 2026

The Tide

Delta Air Lines has announced a range of travel solutions aimed at easing the journey for Ghanaian football fans planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States and North America.

The announcement was made during an event in Accra marking the airline’s 20th anniversary in Ghana, as company officials highlighted plans to work closely with local travel agencies to ensure that fans can access tickets and travel packages well in advance for the global tournament.

According to Delta’s Managing Director for International and Specialty Sales, Rob LeBel, the airline is introducing flexible options tailored to different travel needs.

These include individual ticket purchases, discounted group packages for parties of ten or more, and charter services for larger groups.

He explained that the collaboration with travel agencies would also focus on educating customers about the best ways to secure flights during the expected surge in demand.

To expand travel routes, Delta is leveraging its partnership with European carrier KLM, offering passengers alternative connections through Europe when direct routes are fully booked.

The airline believes the upcoming tournament presents a major opportunity to strengthen travel ties between Ghana and North America, particularly as interest among football fans continues to grow.