The Federal Government has formally launched the construction of a new Corporate Headquarters and Air Traffic Management (ATM) Centre for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in Abuja.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was performed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. He described the project as “a declaration of intent and a tangible demonstration of our unwavering commitment to modernising the critical infrastructure that underpins the safety, efficiency and growth of Nigerian aviation.”
Addressing stakeholders at the event, the minister said the project represents a strategic response to the need to consolidate NAMA’s administrative and operational functions into a modern, purpose-built facility befitting the agency’s national importance.
“For too long, our agencies have operated in silos and in structures that do not reflect their national significance. With this new headquarters, we are creating a conducive environment that fosters innovation, enhances collaboration and boosts the morale of the dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to keep our airspace safe,” he said.
Keyamo explained that the new complex will integrate executive management functions with a state-of-the-art Air Traffic Management Centre, thereby enhancing operational efficiency, safety oversight and real-time responsiveness.
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He noted that the facility will provide a secure, technology-enabled environment for managing Nigeria’s sovereign airspace, strengthening institutional credibility and investor confidence in the aviation sector.
The minister disclosed that the project is being executed in strict compliance with the Public Procurement Act 2007, following a transparent and competitive tendering process.
“We will hold the contractor to the highest standards of quality and timelines as stipulated in the agreement. There will be no compromise on specifications or delivery benchmarks,” he said.
Earlier, the Managing Director of NAMA, Ahmed Umar Farouk, described the occasion as one that would be “etched in gold in the annals of the agency’s history.”
He noted that since its establishment in 1999, NAMA operated its administrative headquarters in Lagos for over two decades before commencing relocation to Abuja in 2020 in line with federal government policy.
“For the past six years, our staff have operated from temporary facilities in Abuja, yet they have continued to deliver safe, efficient and reliable air navigation services. Today, we take the definitive step to provide them with the world-class facility they deserve,” Farouk said.
He stressed that the new headquarters will not only serve as an administrative hub but will also house a centralised, state-of-the-art Air Traffic Management Centre that will fundamentally redefine how Nigeria manages its airspace.
Farouk disclosed that the agency is transitioning towards a unified operational structure by collapsing the two existing Area Control Centres in Lagos and Kano into a single centralised hub in Abuja.
This, he explained, would create a cohesive “One Flight Information Region (FIR)” for Nigeria, enabling seamless radar control of the entire national airspace from a unified command centre.
“From this location, NAMA will exercise consolidated oversight of Nigeria’s airspace, ensuring that every aircraft — from take-off to landing — is guided by a single, harmonised operational authority. A unified radar view reduces coordination risks during sector handovers and enhances overall situational awareness,” he said.
Farouk added that the new ATM Centre will be powered by advanced technology designed to ensure high reliability, enhanced automation and scalability to accommodate projected growth in air traffic over the coming decades.
He said the system would optimise flight paths, reduce redundancies, improve fuel efficiency for airlines and lower long-term operational costs.
The facility, he revealed, will provide office accommodation for 15 to 16 departments, a 200-capacity conference hall, a library, a registry and dedicated suites for executive management and directors.
It will also include staff welfare amenities such as rest facilities for air traffic controllers, a drivers’ lounge, recreational areas and a daycare centre, alongside support infrastructure including a dedicated water treatment plant, standby power systems, multiple security posts and extensive parking facilities.
