Dr. Ibrahim Audu, President of the Aeronautical Information Management Association of Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to suspend the 50 per cent revenue deductions imposed on aviation agencies.

Speaking in commemoration of the 2025 World Aeronautical Information Service Day, Audu warned that the deductions are severely hindering efforts to modernise outdated infrastructure vital for maintaining airspace safety.

Addressing the event’s theme, ‘Safeguarding the Skies: The Vital Role of Secured Aeronautical Information in Aviation Safety’, he highlighted the critical importance of Aeronautical Information Services in promoting the safety, consistency, and efficiency of international air navigation.

He noted that continued revenue cuts “are stalling essential modernisation projects within agencies like the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency”.

The AIMAN president specifically called for the expedited completion and implementation of the long-delayed AIS Automation project.

He stated that “Nigeria lags behind neighbouring countries in automation, and the system, once fully operational, will include geographic information systems, a digital NOTAM platform, and automated weather observation systems.”

These improvements, he said, “will enhance real-time data delivery to pilots and support safe flight operations.”

Highlighting efforts to professionalise the sector, Dr Audu revealed that AIMAN, under his leadership, has “established a licensing committee chaired by Mr Patrick Afatapa.”

The committee, he said, has made significant progress toward securing licensing for AIS personnel, which remains vital for professional credibility and operational confidence.

In anticipation of Nigeria hosting the first International Federation of Aeronautical Information Management Associations conference in 2025, Dr Audu announced that this year’s WAISD celebration would be decentralised and observed at the station level to galvanise support for the global event.