BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
In response to the recent fire incident that disrupted critical communication systems, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has deployed a fully functional Mobile Control Tower at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, restoring operational confidence at the country’s busiest aviation gateway.
The emergency installation follows damage to key air-ground communication infrastructure at the airport’s old terminal, a development that had raised concerns over flight coordination and safety.
NAMA’s swift intervention is now being hailed as a decisive move to maintain seamless air navigation services.
Speaking during an on-site inspection, the Director of Safety Electronics and Engineering Services, Engr. Terese Ihenacho, described the deployment as a major operational breakthrough and a testament to the agency’s resilience in crisis management.
“As you can see, the Mobile Tower is fully operational and serviceable. All necessary test runs have been successfully completed, and air traffic controllers are ready to commence operations at any moment,” she said.
Ihenacho credited the success of the deployment to the dedication and technical competence of NAMA personnel, who worked under pressure to deliver the facility within a short timeframe. According to her, the agency did not merely deploy the tower but also enhanced it to meet Nigeria’s unique operational environment.
“The way it was manufactured is not the way we are using it. We have restructured it to suit our local peculiarities. There is now seamless connectivity to Centrex and TRACON, which did not exist before. This is part of our innovation to meet global standards,” she explained.
A key feature of the upgraded system is the integration of a smart strip alongside the conventional manual strip, a hybrid approach designed to improve efficiency while maintaining reliability in air traffic management.
To further strengthen operational resilience, NAMA has concluded plans to deploy a second Mobile Control Tower to support Runway 18R.
However, Ihenacho noted that the final positioning of the additional tower would be determined through consultations with major aviation stakeholders, including air traffic controllers, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
She emphasized that the mobile tower initiative is part of a broader contingency framework developed by NAMA to ensure continuity of operations during infrastructure upgrades or unexpected disruptions affecting the main control tower.
Beyond restoring communication capabilities, the agency has also reinforced the temporary facility with critical support systems.
These include solar-powered lighting, strengthened structural components to withstand environmental stress, backup power solutions, and round-the-clock security enabled by CCTV surveillance.
Attention is also being given to personnel welfare. Ihenacho disclosed that discussions are ongoing with relevant authorities to improve working conditions for air traffic controllers and technical staff operating from the temporary setup, including the provision of essential amenities.
She paid tribute to NAMA staff, describing them as “heroes” who worked tirelessly under difficult and sometimes risky conditions to stabilise operations.
For stakeholders, the successful deployment of the Mobile Control Tower highlights NAMA’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity, safety and efficiency of Nigeria’s airspace, even in the face of unforeseen challenges.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
