BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) has called on the National Assembly to undertake a comprehensive and equitable review of the 5 per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) sharing formula among aviation agencies, stating that the current arrangement no longer reflects the operational realities within the sector.
The appeal comes as the National Assembly prepares to commence hearings on the TSC distribution framework.
NAAE urged lawmakers to be guided by statutory mandates, operational requirements, funding needs, and the evolving responsibilities of each aviation agency, with the overarching objective of strengthening Nigeria’s aviation safety architecture.
In a statement signed by its President, Engr. Selzing Miri, and Secretary, Engineer Mohammed Shuaibu, the association noted that Nigeria cannot effectively discharge its obligations as an Air Navigation Service Provider if the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) continues to operate under significant financial constraints.
NAAE observed that under the current formula, NAMA receives 23 per cent of the TSC, while the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) receives 57 per cent.
It stated that this allocation structure was established decades ago, at a time when aviation technology was considerably less complex and operational costs were significantly lower.
The association explained that the aviation industry has since undergone substantial transformation, driven by the adoption of Performance-Based Navigation (PBN), satellite surveillance systems, digital communication networks, cybersecurity infrastructure, and other International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)-mandated modernisation initiatives.
It further argued that despite these advancements, NAMA’s statutory revenue allocation has remained largely unchanged, even as its operational scope and maintenance obligations have increased significantly.
NAAE emphasised that the issue should not be viewed as a competition among agencies, but rather as a national imperative to ensure that the institution responsible for the safe, orderly, and efficient management of Nigerian airspace is adequately funded.
While acknowledging the critical regulatory role of the NCAA, the association stressed that regulation alone is insufficient to guarantee aviation safety.
“Air navigation services constitute the backbone of aviation safety. Every aircraft that departs, transits, or lands within Nigerian airspace relies continuously on NAMA’s Communications, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) infrastructure,” the statement read.
It described this infrastructure as highly sophisticated, safety-critical, and capital-intensive, requiring sustained investment for procurement, installation, calibration, maintenance, modernisation, and periodic replacement.
NAAE further noted that CNS/ATM systems operate continuously throughout the year without interruption.
It listed radar systems, Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), DVOR/DME facilities, ADS-B, Multilateration (MLAT), satellite-based navigation infrastructure, communication networks, Aeronautical Information Management (AIM), flight calibration programmes, power systems, and cybersecurity architecture as critical facilities requiring constant maintenance by highly skilled engineering personnel.
The association cautioned that deterioration of these systems due to inadequate funding could expose the country to significant operational and safety risks.
“Every successful take-off, en-route flight, instrument approach, and safe landing depends on the seamless operation of engineering systems designed, installed, maintained, and monitored by dedicated Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel and other aviation professionals within NAMA,” it added.
NAAE therefore urged lawmakers and stakeholders to approach the TSC review from a national interest perspective, rather than through the lens of institutional rivalry.
According to the association, the objective should be to develop a stronger, safer, and more resilient aviation system capable of supporting Nigeria’s aspiration to become a leading aviation hub in Africa.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
