NAMA Aims @ Safe Airspace-Atobatele

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has declared unalloyed interests to ensure safety in the nation’s airspace. Nigeria CommunicatonsWeek can report that the decision is in line with the cautions given by the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NIMET) for year 2012 raining season. NIMET had during its Seasonal Rain Predictions (SRP) warned airline operators to prepare for heavy thunderstorms between May and June as well as in October. Supo Atobatele, general Manager, NAMA told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that the agency saddled with the responsibility to provide air navigation services imbued with safe, efficient, expeditious and economic flight operations has taken up its safety nets geared towards sustenance of accident-free air travel noticeable in the country in recent years. The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), was created via Act No. 48 of 1999 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to develop the Nigerian Airspace to a level consistent with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPSs). “The Agency is saddled with the provision of air navigation services based on maintaining safe, efficient, expeditious and economic flight operations in the country and we are not relenting on that. “In compliance with such mandate aimed at making the Nigerian Airspace rank among the safest airspaces in the African-Indian Ocean (AFI) region and indeed, the world over, NAMA management has restated that no pilot will take off the airdrome when the weather is reported as not favourably,” said Atobatele. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, director-general of NIMET, said “Our airlines should be cautious during this raining period; they need to be very careful because this is the time associated with thunderstorms. “This is the time that very dangerous clouds come up and make flight dangerous.” Anuforum also warned of possible repetition of July 10, 2011 torrential rain incident in Lagos, said in Abuja that the thunderstorms would begin in March but climax by May/June with another occurring in October in the Lagos area and Abuja. Anuforom harped on the imports of the Federal Government creating awareness in order to reduce damages and loss of lives and properties. He said: “For hydrological and water resources sector, this implies adequate water and stream-flows which may affect the dam storage for municipal water supply, hydropower generation and irrigation. “Development and regular maintenance of dams for dry season irrigation and water supply should be accorded high priority. “However, episodic flooding and erosion in the coastal zone and river catchment areas maybe inevitable and as such, adequate publicity is highly recommended in order to reduce damages and risk of loss of life and property, especially in areas prone to river bank overflows.” He said normal rainfall might result in flash flooding, particularly in the northern states, stating that wet spells and flash floods could occur more over he added that this year would be favorable for farmers, but urged them to pay close attention to the onset date in order to avoid waste.