The Federal Government has initiated measures to tackle the growing issue of foreign aircraft violating Nigeria’s sovereign airspace without proper operational clearance.
This was revealed during a high-level inter-agency stakeholder meeting convened by the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to a statement by Ahmad Dan-Wudil, the media aide to the Minister of State for Defence, the meeting was jointly chaired by Defence Ministers Mohammed Badaru and Dr. Bello Matawalle, alongside the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
Key participants included the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, and representatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Chief of Defence Staff, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), and the Office of the Inspector General of Police.
Also present were officials from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
The meeting, which followed up on earlier deliberations held on November 11, 2024, focused on the recurring issue of unauthorized and often uncoordinated entry into Nigerian airspace by foreign-operated aircraft and rotorcraft—actions described as serious breaches of national sovereignty and aviation protocols.
Discussions centred on the joint assessment of Nigeria’s Air Defence System and TRACON (Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria) capabilities, highlighting the need for better coordination between the Defence and Aviation ministries.
The ministers reaffirmed the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s airspace and territorial integrity.
Dan-Wudil emphasized that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Administration remains resolute in defending the country against all forms of intrusion, including aerial violations.
