NAMA makes Case for Installation of Military Radar

Installation of a military radar system at the nation’s airports will enhance the surveillance and security of the airspace says Engineer Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, the managing director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). Udoh made the remark while receiving the Commander, Quick Response Force (QRS), Minna, Air Commodore Ben Chiobi at the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos, and urged the Nigerian Air Force to pursue with vigour the installation of military radar in the country. The NAMA boss expressed that, with the successful operation of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON), military version of the system implies a back up mechanism to secure the airspace for defence purposes. He reiterated that the Agency never rest on its oars in collaborating with NAF in the areas of air traffic services, engineering and training of its personnel. He also appealed to the authorities of the Nigerian Air Force to allow some of their trained air traffic controllers to stay on the job and grow professionally for the benefit of the aviation sector, particularly to save crisis situations. On his part, Air Commodore Ben Chiobi, emphasized the need for collaboration with relevant agencies in the aviation industry like NAMA and also disclosed that the idea of Quick Response Force was hushed in 2011 and became operational in January this year following increasing security challenges in the country like terrorism and kidnapping. He further disclosed that co-ordination centres would be established around the country where emergency services would be available for rescue and emergency services during crisis and natural disaster, pointing out that the unit has in place compactmen and women trained for this particular assignment.