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The Nigerian
Airspace Management Agency has condemned criticisms faulting the
nationwide functionality of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria
(TRACON) project.

Describing critics
of the radar system as “detractors”, the agency, over the weekend,
stated that the country’s airspace is completely under surveillance,
adding that President Goodluck Jonathan, during the commissioning of
the project, was given the opportunity to speak with various pilots on
transit directly from the Kano Airport control tower. “The president
communicated with pilots in Nigeria’s airspace and with some other
pilots across the airspace of Niger Republic,” said Abubakar Baraje,
the board Chairman of the agency, during a briefing with journalists at
the organisation’s headquarters in Lagos.

Mr Baraje said that
the system, which is one of the best in the region, has the ability to
cut across borders. “The TRACON can capture across our borders to
countries like Niger Republic, Sudan and Cameroun,” he said. “What else
are detractors seeking? For we are aware of controversies generated
over the TRACON that it wasn’t the total radar that was commissioned,
which of course is completely far from the truth. It is not responsible
for NAMA to commission a half baked equipment or bring the president to
commission something that is not complete. The installation and
operation of the equipment comes in phases and all the phases are
completed and are superbly functioning.”

The critics’ view

Some experts in the
industry have criticised the completion and commissioning of the
project on the grounds that the system does not operate in some
locations in the country; a situation which prompted members of the
House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, headed by Bethel Amadi,
to embark on a fact finding mission to the Kano radar site two weeks
ago. “This project should not be used for political games,” said Mr
Amadi. “Those who are busy spreading this falsehood should rethink
about the implications for our national image and external investors in
the aviation sector of the economy.”

Late October, Mr Jonathan commissioned the complete and operational
Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria project in Abuja. “I hope these
detractors will have a change of heart; and if they don’t, the agency
will move ahead without them,” said Mr Baraje.