The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has stated that the recent spate of flight delays, diversions, and cancellations is primarily a result of severe harmattan weather conditions and operational decisions by airlines. The agency firmly denies that failures in navigational infrastructure are to blame for the travel disruptions experienced across the country.
Weather and Safety Limits Behind Operational Disruptions
In a statement issued on 30 December 2025, Dr. Abdullahi Musa, NAMA's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, provided detailed clarification. He explained that the dusty harmattan season creates external environmental challenges that are beyond the control of air navigation service providers.
Musa emphasized that aircraft operations during this period depend on a critical combination of factors:
- Real-time weather conditions and runway visibility.
- The specific avionics capability of each aircraft.
- The airline's operational approval and the pilot's certification.
"Where any of these variables fall below approved safety minima, airlines are required to delay, divert or cancel flights in the interest of safety," Musa stated. He insisted that poor maintenance of landing facilities is not responsible for the operational hiccups.
NAMA Assures Infrastructure Meets International Standards
Addressing concerns that Nigerian airports are ill-equipped for harmattan operations, Dr. Musa gave strong assurances. He declared that all navigational aids at Federal Government airports are routinely maintained, flight-checked, and calibrated in strict compliance with global standards.
This includes adherence to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) practices and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig CARs). The critical equipment covered by this rigorous process includes:
- Instrument Landing Systems (ILS)
- VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR)
- Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)
- Other Communication, Navigation and Surveillance systems
Musa pointed out that NAMA uses its dedicated flight inspection aircraft, operated by highly trained personnel, to conduct mandatory airborne verifications. All these activities are performed under the regulatory oversight of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Proactive Calibration and Published Procedures
The agency highlighted its proactive steps to ensure service reliability. In December 2025, NAMA conducted a nationwide round of flight calibration exercises, restoring serviceability timelines across several airports.
Furthermore, calibration exercises are already scheduled for early in the new year for airports in Katsina, Jos, Ilorin, Yola, and Owerri.
On the capability to handle low visibility, Musa referenced historical meteorological data showing that the least average runway visibility during Harmattan in Nigeria is approximately 150 metres. Based on this, NAMA has designed and published instrument approach procedures aligned with ILS CAT II minima, which are deemed adequate for the worst seasonal conditions typically experienced in the country.
In conclusion, Dr. Musa reiterated that "NAMA cannot compel airlines to operate in weather conditions that fall below their approved operational minima." The agency's position remains that safety, driven by weather and operational limits, is the paramount factor behind the current flight disruptions.
