Relief as FG gets spares for‎€65m airspace radar  

The danger of operating of operating the 65 million Euro Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) is over  as the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has taken delivery of another consignment of critical spare parts required for the continuous service and operation of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON).

The agency disclosed that the consignment which was cleared at the Apapa port in Lagos from Thales Group, in France include MES1 1400A power supply modules, control units and other critical units that would be used by NAMA engineers to effect repairs on any of the nine TRACON installations across the country as may be required to ensure optimal functioning of the system.

The Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu had caused a scare when he raised an alarm last year that the airspace surveillance system’s operations may be hampered due to lack of spare parts

He however stated that the radar had remained functional, thanks to the ingenuity of NAMA engineers who have kept it working, stressing that the contractors for the multi billion naira project, Thales, a French firm had reneged in supplying spares for the life-saving equipment.

Corroborating Akinkuotu, Director Safety Electronics and Engineering Services (DSEES), Farouk Umar Ahmed said the agency had been having challenges with the equipment since 2014, adding that for over two years, Thales had refused to supply us spare parts.

His words, “Since 2014, we have been managing this (radar) without spares. We are pleading withthe Minister of State for Aviation to plead with Thales of France to do the needful”, he added.

Although the equipment has helped to aid airspace surveillance, controversy generated by the equipment installation has remained since it was commissioned in 2012.

Speaking on the development, Akinkuotu said “the relationship between NAMA and the equipment manufacturer, Thales has never been a frosty one as some media reports would have it. In fact it has been very cordial and we are poised to continue to keep it that way. You will recall that we cleared some consignments of spare parts for TRACON last year from the same Thales.”

He disclosed that apart from the spares already received, another consignment of spares has landed Apapa port and is being presently cleared while other consignments are already being shipped to Nigeria from France according to the shipping schedule sent to the agency by Thales, adding that payment has already been made for all consignments ordered for.

The NAMA boss also revealed that as part of efforts to keep pace with global best practices, TRACON would in a few months’ time undergo a total reconditioning process that would ensure that the entire system attains the acceptable reliability level specified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

He described this process as “a sort of Turn-around-maintenance” which is to be carried out by the equipment manufacturer, Thales Group.

Akinkuotu said the acquisition of spares for TRACON is in line with the agency’s decision to be proactive in maintaining the nation’s radar facility.

The NAMA boss further stated that the availability of spares would ensure that parts of the radar equipment would be readily available whenever and wherever they are needed.

He reiterated that there are some that would immediately be used for replacement while others will be kept in the warehouse pending when they will be needed.

“I assure you that NAMA engineers have the capacity to undertake the maintenance of this facility as they have always done in the past,” Akinkuotu stated.

Wole Shadare