A looming manpower crisis threatens Nigeria’s aviation sector as the number of air traffic controllers continues to decline. If left unchecked, this shortage will threaten operational efficiency and future airspace management.
This challenge, however, is not unique to Nigeria; it mirrors a global trend that has seen even advanced aviation nations like the United States battle similar shortages of trained personnel.
Deputy President of the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers (NATCA), Alhaji Shettima Babagan, and President Mr. Amos Edino, revealed that without urgent and coordinated intervention, Nigeria could lose more than 70 experienced air traffic controllers (ATCs) in the next few years, a gap that could take almost a decade to fill.
Shortfall in Numbers and Rising Traffic Pressure
According to Babagan, a manpower study conducted in 2022 revealed that Nigeria’s busiest airport, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, required about 120 air traffic controllers to efficiently manage the five operational units: area control (surveillance and procedural), terminal area control (surveillance and procedural), aerodrome control, and ground control.
“At that time, we had barely 55 air traffic controllers handling operations less than half of what was required,” he said. “The reality has not changed much since then, even though air traffic volume has grown significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Babagan explained that increased travel demand has placed additional strain on the system, making the Nigeria air traffic controller shortage more urgent.
“Nigerians are travelling more, and air travel has become the preferred mode of transportation,” he noted. “But when you have limited manpower, coupled with facilities that are not optimally available, it becomes difficult to sustain efficiency.”
He emphasized that having trained air traffic controllers is only one side of the challenge; functional infrastructure is equally vital.
Technology and the Infrastructure Gap
Modern air traffic management depends on advanced systems such as Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS), Air Traffic Management (ATM), and Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC). These enable faster, more reliable data transmission and situational awareness in busy airspace.
“Within the context of Nigeria,” Babagan recalled, “the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) system, which provides surveillance information for air traffic control, came into use around 2008, with full coverage achieved in 2013. But that’s over a decade ago, and technology has moved on.”
He added that Air Traffic Controllers Association had actively engaged aviation authorities and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to highlight infrastructure deficiencies and recommend updates in alignment with global standards.
“We have made our positions clear in several engagements from the Civil Aviation Master Plan sessions to our technical consultations. Our focus remains recruitment, training, retraining, and retention,” he said. “You cannot retain an experienced controller without adequate motivation and up-to-date working tools.”
United States Faces Similar Air Traffic Controllers Shortage
Interestingly, the manpower challenge is not unique to Nigeria. The United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also struggled to keep up with recruitment and training demands.
According to reports by the U.S. National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), more than 1,200 controllers are currently in training across various facilities, yet the system still faces critical staffing shortfalls.
In several U.S. control centers, trainees make up nearly 40 percent of the workforce.
A 2023 U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General report showed that “the FAA’s controller staffing shortage continues to pose a risk to the efficiency of the National Airspace System,” with high workloads leading to fatigue and increased error risks.
This global context underscores what Nigerian controllers are experiencing, a worldwide scarcity of skilled air traffic personnel, intensified by aging workforces, slow training pipelines, and complex technology transitions.
As Edino stressed, “The shortage of Air Traffic Controllers is not a Nigerian problem alone; it is a global issue. But what matters is how each country responds.”
Recall of Retirees and Raising Age Limits
One of the immediate interventions being discussed within professional circles is recalling retired controllers and raising the age limit for active duty.
“These measures could temporarily cushion the manpower gap,” Babagan explained. “If you recall retirees and extend the retirement age slightly, you buy time to train new entrants properly. The experience of senior controllers is invaluable, it can’t be replaced overnight.”
Edino agreed, saying that such policies would not only bridge the experience gap but also enhance mentoring for young controllers.
“Air traffic control is a precision profession that thrives on experience,” he said. “When senior hands leave suddenly, you don’t just lose numbers; you lose decades of practical knowledge and judgment.”
Training Bottlenecks at NCAT
Training remains one of the biggest hurdles in addressing the Nigeria air traffic controller shortage. The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria, the nation’s primary ATC training institution, faces capacity constraints that limit annual output.
“It takes a minimum of three years to train an air traffic controller to proficiency,” Edino said. “So, even if recruitment starts today, we won’t feel the impact until three years down the line. That’s why we are urging for proactive recruitment planning.”
NATCA’s internal data projects that within five to six years, over 60 to 70 seasoned controllers could retire from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and other aviation agencies.
We are looking at an aging workforce,” Edino emphasized. “In the next few years, most of the controllers currently managing our busiest airspaces will exit the system. The gap in experience and skills will be significant if we do not plan ahead.
Need for Technology Upgrade and Tower Modernisation
Beyond training, Air Traffic Controllers are also calling for a comprehensive upgrade of control tower infrastructure across major airports.
“We appreciate the ongoing terminal renovations across the country,” Edino said. “But we are appealing that similar attention should be given to control towers. The Safe Tower Project has been pending for years, and we want the government to revisit it so that our towers can match modern standards.”
He explained that equipment such as Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) and CPDLC systems, though introduced years ago, require consistent maintenance and software upgrades to stay effective.
“The CPDLC data link helps in faster communication between pilots and controllers,” he said. “But when the system is down, it affects productivity. We just want government and management to ensure these facilities are in perfect working condition.”
Government’s Efforts Commended, But More Needed
Despite these concerns, both NATCA leaders commended the Federal Government and the current administration for their renewed focus on manpower development.
“We, Air Traffic Controllers, have had several international and local training sessions this year,” Edino acknowledged. “The present government’s five-point agenda includes training and retraining, and we have seen it reflected in the number of courses conducted both abroad and within Nigeria. That is commendable.”
However, he stressed that sustaining these gains would require continuous investment and long-term planning.
“We want this momentum to continue,” he said. “But training alone is not enough. We must also ensure that infrastructure and technology are upgraded to support the human element. You cannot train people and then give them outdated tools.”
Engagement and Collaboration Key to Progress
Babagan highlighted that Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers maintain constructive engagement with aviation management and policy stakeholders to resolve systemic issues collaboratively.
“We are not adversarial,” he said. “As a professional body, we prefer dialogue and contribution to policy discussions. We’ve seen positive responses from the Ministry, NAMA, and other agencies, but we must sustain that energy.”
He explained that NATCA’s goal is not just to raise alarms but to help shape a resilient aviation safety system capable of meeting international standards.
Airspace Remains Safe Despite Strain
While both NATCA executives acknowledged existing gaps, they assured the flying public that Nigeria’s airspace remains safe.
“Controllers are professionals who take their duties seriously,” Edino said firmly. “Even with manpower shortages, safety is never compromised. We have systems, procedures, and oversight mechanisms that ensure safety at all times.”
He, however, reiterated that sustainability demands timely interventions.
“The government is doing well, but more still needs to be done,” he said. “We must act now to strengthen manpower, upgrade technology, and modernize infrastructure so that we can continue to guarantee safety for all airspace users.”
Logical, clear, and very well-explained.