The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has clarified reports suggesting that it has delayed the deployment of a Mobile Control Tower at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, following the recent fire incident that affected the airport’s Aerodrome Control Tower.
In a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Abdullahi Musa, the agency said the installation process was guided by strict engineering and safety requirements, rather than operational delays as suggested in a media report titled “Three Weeks After, NAMA Yet to Deploy Mobile Tower”.
According to NAMA, contingency measures were immediately activated after the fire incident to ensure uninterrupted air navigation services at the country’s busiest airport.
As part of the emergency response, the agency initiated arrangements to deploy a Mobile Control Tower as a temporary operational facility while restoration work continues on the main control tower.
However, NAMA explained that aviation control infrastructure cannot be installed hastily because it must comply with strict engineering and operational standards designed to safeguard aircraft operations.
The agency noted that the selected location for the mobile tower must provide optimal visual coverage of the runway, taxiways and other critical parts of the airfield to allow air traffic controllers maintain effective situational awareness when managing aircraft movements.
It added that the identified site required excavation and structural casting to create a stable foundation capable of supporting the tower infrastructure.
According to the agency, engineering standards require that the concrete foundation be allowed to cure for at least 21 days before heavy structures can be mounted on it.
NAMA said this curing process is necessary to prevent cracks, instability or structural failure that could compromise the installation and aviation safety.
The agency further disclosed that the project contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), had advised against installing the mobile tower before the foundation had fully settled.
Premature deployment, it warned, could damage the structure and undermine the entire project.
“In the overriding interest of safety and in line with global engineering standards, NAMA responsibly adhered to this professional advice. It is therefore inaccurate to interpret the waiting period as operational delay,” the agency said.
NAMA also assured the public that air traffic control services at MMIA have remained uninterrupted despite the incident.
As an interim arrangement, the airport’s Fire Service Tower is currently being used for aerodrome control operations pending the installation of the Mobile Control Tower.
The agency added that the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) has been fully restored and is functioning normally, with Aeronautical Information Service personnel operating from the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) complex.
NAMA stated that the Mobile Control Tower is already prepared for deployment and will be installed within days once the mandatory curing period for the foundation is completed.
The agency reiterated its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety and operational excellence in managing Nigeria’s airspace.