NAMA Explains Delay in Deploying Mobile Control Tower at Lagos Airport
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has clarified circumstances surrounding the deployment of a Mobile Control Tower at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, stating that safety and engineering standards are responsible for the timing of the installation.
The agency was responding to a newspaper report published on March 13, 2026, titled “Three Weeks After, NAMA Yet to Deploy Mobile Tower,” which suggested delays in deploying the temporary tower following a fire incident at the airport’s Aerodrome Control Tower.
In a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Dr. Abdullahi Musa, NAMA said the report overlooked critical technical procedures that must be followed when installing aviation infrastructure.
According to the agency, after the fire incident at the control tower of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, contingency measures were immediately activated to ensure uninterrupted air navigation services. Part of the emergency response included plans to deploy a Mobile Control Tower to temporarily support operations while restoration work continues on the damaged facility.
NAMA explained that the installation of such infrastructure cannot be rushed because it must comply with strict engineering and operational safety standards that govern aviation facilities worldwide.
The agency noted that the site selected for the mobile tower must provide adequate visual coverage of the runway, taxiways, and other critical parts of the airfield to enable air traffic controllers maintain effective situational awareness when managing aircraft movements.
It added that the identified location required excavation and structural casting to create a stable foundation capable of supporting the tower structure.
“Engineering standards require that the casting be allowed to cure for a minimum of twenty-one days before any heavy structure can be mounted on it,” the statement explained, noting that the process prevents cracks, instability or structural failure that could compromise the installation.
NAMA further revealed that project contractors, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), had advised the agency not to proceed with installation until the foundation had fully settled, warning that premature deployment could damage the structure.
“In the overriding interest of safety and in line with global engineering standards, NAMA responsibly adhered to this professional advice,” the agency said, stressing that the waiting period should not be misconstrued as an operational delay.
The agency also assured the public that air traffic control services at Murtala Mohammed International Airport have remained uninterrupted.
As part of interim arrangements, the airport’s Fire Service Tower is currently being used for Aerodrome Control operations pending the installation of the Mobile Tower.
Additionally, the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN), has been fully restored, while Aeronautical Information Service personnel are temporarily operating from the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) complex.
NAMA disclosed that the Mobile Control Tower is already ready for deployment and will be installed within days once the mandatory curing period for the foundation is completed.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to global best practices in aviation safety, stressing that every operational decision is guided by the need to ensure safe and efficient air navigation across Nigerian airspace.
NAMA urged the public to understand that the process underway at the Lagos airport reflects diligence and adherence to safety standards rather than delay.
