NAMA, NIMET REMITTANCE DISPUTE TRIGGERS AIRPORT DISRUPTION FEARS

A brewing remittance dispute between the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has raised concerns over potential disruptions at major airports across the country.

The conflict centres on the sharing of aeronautical revenue collected from airlines, with NAMA reportedly withholding NiMet’s portion due to disagreements over calculation and remittance modalities. NiMet provides critical weather forecasting and aviation meteorological services essential for safe flight operations.

Industry stakeholders fear that prolonged disagreement could affect the timely provision of meteorological data, potentially leading to flight delays or cancellations, especially during the rainy season when accurate weather information is vital.

Aviation unions and airline operators have urged both agencies to resolve the issue amicably to avoid compromising safety and passenger convenience. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is expected to intervene to ensure seamless collaboration between the two critical service providers.

The dispute highlights broader challenges in inter-agency coordination within the aviation sector and the need for clear revenue-sharing frameworks to prevent operational hiccups.