By Eshiorameh Sebastian
The Nigerian government has issued a strong call for African nations to urgently strengthen the continent’s air traffic control capacity.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, declared that investing in people was as crucial as investing in technology for securing the future of African aviation sector.
He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 36th IFATCA Africa and Middle East Regional Meeting in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The event, which runs from 3rd to 7th November 2025, has the theme “Securing the Skies: Strengthening ATM Capacity through Strategic Recruitment, Training, and Retention.”
Representing the Nigerian government, Mr. Keyamo stated that the gathering was timely given the steady growth of air traffic across the continent. He explained that the need for well-trained and motivated aviation professionals had never been greater.
“As air traffic continues to grow steadily across our continent, the demand for well-trained, well-motivated Air Traffic Controllers has never been greater,” the minister told the assembly of aviation leaders and professionals.
He emphasised that the conference theme directly addressed one of the most urgent priorities for the region’s aviation future.
The minister outlined the challenges facing the industry, noting that rising operational complexity and higher passenger expectations must be met with significant investment in human capital.
“To meet these challenges, we must invest not only in technology, but — even more importantly — in people. It is the professionalism, alertness, and dedication of Air Traffic Controllers that keep millions of passengers safe every single day”, Keyamo stated.
Detailing Nigeria’s own efforts, the minister connected them to the broader national agenda. “In Nigeria, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we have placed human capacity development and safety modernization at the heart of aviation reform.”
He listed ongoing initiatives through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to modernise systems and expand training pipelines for controllers, describing them as key parts of a 5-Point Aviation Agenda.
Mr Keyamo stressed that regional cooperation was fundamental to progress, describing aviation as a “shared ecosystem.”
He asserted that its strength relied on “collaboration — among States, regulators, ANSPs, and professional bodies like IFATCA.” He framed the meeting as a vital platform for building a unified strategy, adding that “Our skies know no borders. Therefore, our success must also be borderless — built on shared knowledge, shared responsibility, and shared resolve.”
The minister commended IFATCA for its professional advocacy and thanked the government of Zimbabwe for its hospitality. He concluded with a call to action, expressing hope that the deliberations would “translate into real actions that enhance capacity, strengthen cooperation, and secure a brighter future for aviation in Africa and the Middle East.”
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