The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has taken a major step in its institutional development with the formal signing of contract documents for the construction of its new corporate headquarters and a centralised Air Traffic Management (ATM) Centre in Abuja.
Speaking at the contract signing ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NAMA, Engr. Ahmed Farouk, described the project as a strategic investment aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s airspace management system and aligning it with global best practices.
He explained that the new facility will serve a dual function, housing both NAMA’s corporate headquarters and a centralised ATM Centre. According to him, the development marks a significant operational shift, as it will bring together air traffic control operations that were previously managed from separate locations.
“This structure goes beyond providing office accommodation”, Farouk said. “It will host a single Air Traffic Management Centre that integrates the functions of the Kano and Lagos Area Control Centres. From this one location, air traffic across the entire Nigerian airspace will be monitored and coordinated”.
He noted that centralising air traffic control operations will enhance efficiency, improve safety oversight, and strengthen Nigeria’s compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices.
Farouk emphasised that the facility will house highly sensitive and mission-critical infrastructure, making quality, safety, and durability non-negotiable. He therefore urged the project contractor, NHD Interbiz Projects Limited, to maintain the highest standards of structural integrity and engineering excellence throughout the construction process.
“This is a critical national asset that supports the safety of our skies and the delivery of efficient air navigation services”, he said. “There will be zero tolerance for substandard work. Management will closely supervise every phase of the project to ensure transparency, value for money, and long-term sustainability”
The NAMA Chief Executive also acknowledged the role of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, whose support and facilitation of Federal Executive Council approval made the project possible.
He further commended NAMA’s management and staff for their commitment during the contracting process, giving special recognition to the Legal Services Department for ensuring due process and full regulatory compliance.
Earlier, the Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary, Mrs. Rita Egbadon, described the contract signing as a milestone in NAMA’s history. She explained that the agreement followed months of careful legal planning, compliance checks, and risk management, all structured to protect public interest and preserve the agency’s long-term institutional integrity.
Egbadon added that the project signals the end of an era in which NAMA operated from facilities that did not fully reflect the scope, sensitivity, and national importance of its mandate.