, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, NAMA Boss pix

By Daniels Ekugo

Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has assured airlines and other airspace users of the determination of the agency to work assiduously towards building on the existing air safety in the country.

A statement from the Public Affairs, NAMA said that Akinkuotu gave the assurance in Lagos at a ceremony to mark his one year in office.

He declared that the focus of his administration was to continue to propel the agency to “provide our customers and clients with the best possible service at all times, making sure that flights depart and land safely even in adverse weather conditions, maintaining a well-trained and well- motivated workforce, and doing everything we can to sustain and improve upon the safety record of the Nigerian airspace.”

He explained that in doing so, there should be synergy and cooperation of all stakeholders in the aviation sector for the airspace manager to succeed.

Akinkuotu said despite several challenges the agency faced in the past year, it also recorded remarkable achievements and significant progress in certain critical areas such as the replacement of Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) in two strategic airports in the country.

He listed other achievements to include increase in staff trainings and improvement in staff welfare.

He said: “Many of our colleagues received their long-awaited promotions across the line all the way to General Manager Grade level, and it was particularly pleasing to see three of our very own elevated to the esteemed position of substantive directors in the agency.”

The NAMA boss noted that in a bid to ensure seamlessness in air navigation in the country, the agency had committed enormous resources in providing necessary facilities especially in the areas of communication, navigation and surveillance equipment, adding that management’s policy on capacity building had precipitated the training of different categories of critical staff to effectively man these sophisticated technologies.

Akinkuotu who said there were ample evidences that NAMA was moving forward however enjoined staff to rally round the administration in its quest to take the agency to the next level by showing more dedication and commitment to their duties.