The Federal Government has commenced construction of a new Corporate Headquarters and Air Traffic Management (ATM) Centre for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in Abuja, in a move authorities say will redefine Nigeria’s airspace management architecture.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, was performed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. He described the project as a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising aviation infrastructure to enhance safety, efficiency and sectoral growth.
Valued at N21.68 billion and awarded to NHD Interbiz Projects Limited, the project is scheduled for completion within 30 months. Keyamo said the contract was awarded in strict compliance with the Public Procurement Act 2007 following a transparent and competitive tendering process, stressing that there would be no compromise on quality standards or delivery timelines.
According to the minister, the new complex will integrate NAMA’s executive management offices with a state-of-the-art ATM Centre designed to strengthen safety oversight and real-time operational response. He noted that the facility would provide a secure, technology-driven environment for managing Nigeria’s sovereign airspace, while fostering innovation, collaboration and improved staff morale.
NAMA’s Managing Director, Ahmed Umar Farouk, described the project as a historic milestone for the agency, which was established in 1999 and operated from Lagos for over two decades before beginning its relocation to Abuja in 2020. He said staff have worked from temporary facilities in the capital for six years while continuing to deliver safe and reliable air navigation services.
Farouk disclosed that the new headquarters will also serve as a centralised operational hub, consolidating the existing Area Control Centres in Lagos and Kano into a single unified command structure in Abuja. The transition, he explained, will create a cohesive “One Flight Information Region” for Nigeria, enabling seamless radar coverage and harmonised control of aircraft across the entire national airspace.
He added that the advanced ATM system to be housed in the facility will feature enhanced automation, high reliability and scalability to accommodate projected air traffic growth over the coming decades. The unified radar view, he said, will reduce coordination risks during sector handovers, optimise flight paths, improve fuel efficiency for airlines and lower long-term operational costs.
The new headquarters is designed to accommodate 15 to 16 departments, with a 200-seat conference hall, library, registry and executive suites. It will also include rest facilities for air traffic controllers, a drivers’ lounge, recreational areas, a daycare centre, a dedicated water treatment plant, standby power systems, multiple security posts and extensive parking facilities.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Abdullahi Umaru Ganduje, inspected facilities affected by the recent fire at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. He acknowledged that the damage to sensitive equipment could impact ongoing aviation reforms but commended emergency responders and airport management for preventing casualties and providing temporary arrangements for passengers.
Authorities say both the new NAMA headquarters and the restoration of damaged infrastructure form part of broader efforts to reposition Nigeria’s aviation sector for long-term resilience and global competitivenes
