The Nigerian aviation sector and public finance management are currently facing significant scrutiny, as two prominent organizations, the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and the Social Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), have raised critical alarms. NATCA has highlighted the severe deterioration of the nation's air traffic management system, posing a direct threat to aviation safety, while SERAP has called for an urgent probe into alleged missing or diverted public funds totaling N2.9 billion from key government agencies.

NATCA, the representative body for air traffic controllers in Nigeria, issued a stark warning regarding the obsolete Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) infrastructure present at airports and stations across the country. This outdated equipment is deemed a serious threat to the safety of aviation operations. Furthermore, the association has expressed grave concerns over the poor welfare and increasingly difficult working conditions experienced by air traffic controllers, deeming these issues detrimental to the industry's health and safety standards.

In a statement jointly signed by President Amos Edino and General Secretary Fahad Umar, NATCA articulated that the cumulative effect of these challenges has pushed air traffic controllers beyond their safe operational limits. This situation severely compromises the reliability of Nigeria’s airspace management. The association clarified that their position is rooted in safety imperatives rather than emotional sentiment, emphasizing that controllers are operating under immense pressure due to inadequate tools, significant manpower shortages, and persistent unresolved welfare issues.

Adding to these concerns, NATCA pointed out a substantial deficiency in training and manpower development within the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). The association warned that insufficient investment in recurrent training programs and a lack of long-term workforce planning by NAMA's management could critically weaken operational resilience. This neglect also threatens to diminish the pipeline of competent controllers essential for managing Nigeria's continually growing airspace, potentially creating a long-term crisis in skilled personnel.

Consequently, NATCA has called for immediate and decisive intervention from relevant authorities. The association cautioned that continued disregard for the critical issues concerning infrastructure, employee welfare, and staffing levels could lead to serious and far-reaching implications, not only for passenger safety but for the entire aviation ecosystem within Nigeria. The urgency of addressing these foundational problems was stressed as paramount to prevent potential disasters and maintain operational integrity.

Concurrently, the Social Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to initiate a thorough investigation into allegations of missing or diverted public funds. SERAP specifically called for the President to direct the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, along with the managements of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), to account for N2.9 billion. This substantial sum is documented as allegedly missing or diverted from these two crucial agencies.

SERAP's call for accountability extends to directing the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and anti-corruption agencies to probe not only the N2.9 billion but also any other diverted public funds from NIGCOMSAT and NNRA detailed in previous yearly reports by the auditor-general. Furthermore, SERAP has pressed for NIGCOMSAT to disclose the shareholders and beneficial owners of a company that reportedly received N465 million in 'unauthorised investment' from the agency. These serious allegations are explicitly documented in the latest yearly report published by the Auditor-General on September 9, 2025.

In a letter signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization underscored the gravity of these accusations. It stated that such allegations, involving critical public institutions, constitute a profound violation of public trust and a fundamental breach of Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws and international obligations. SERAP emphasized that ensuring accountability in these matters is not merely an administrative necessity but is absolutely essential for safeguarding both Nigeria’s present and its future integrity and stability.