Aviation Perm Sec to secure funding for NAMA’s infrastructure upgrade

Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, the newly appointed permanent secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has reiterated government’s commitment to addressing funding challenges in the sector and pledged to collaborate with Festus Keyamo, the Minister of aviation to secure the necessary funding to support Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in its projects.

This is as he commended the critical role played by NAMA in ensuring the safety and efficiency of air navigation in the country describing it as “very strategic and pivotal in the nation’s economic development,” even as he eulogised the staff of the agency for their teamwork, dedication and commitment towards achieving organisational objectives, saying that their collective performance was exemplary and deserving of emulation.

He charged staff of the agency to remain committed to teamwork, emphasising its role in achieving collective goals. “Teamwork is the foundation of success, and your dedication will continue to propel NAMA to greater heights,” he stated.

Kana who made these remarks during a working tour of the agency’s corporate headquarters in Abuja noted NAMA’s vision to be a leading air navigation service provider in the world aligned with the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo’s strategic goals for the aviation sector, which were also in sync with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to elevate the aviation industry.

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Earlier in his welcome address, Ahmed Umar Farouk, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of NAMA expressed gratitude for the Permanent Secretary’s visit, acknowledging the significance of him taking time to tour all the offices at the headquarters of the agency which he described as the “heart of the aviation industry,” emphasizing that safety remains sacrosanct in NAMA’s operations.

He highlighted some of the challenges facing the organization to include funding for critical navigational infrastructure, stating that some of the agency’s projects were currently 50 percent completed while efforts were being made to source for more funding.

Farouk however expressed confidence in the collaborative efforts of the Permanent Secretary and the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development to ensure the successful completion of these projects.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.