Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has initiated collaboration with the French company Thales to enhance and upgrade the radar systems in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The revelation of this initiative came through a statement on Saturday, conveyed by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood.
With a global reputation as an air surveillance radar provider, Thales has previously delivered radar installations to prominent international airports like London Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle. Now, they are extending their expertise to collaborate with Festus Keyamo.
Defined as a technological apparatus, a radar system employs radio waves to detect and accurately determine the location, altitude, speed, and direction of aircraft and various objects within the airspace.
The minister, along with his team, visited Thales’ headquarters in Rouen-Ymare, France, expressing a firm commitment to acquiring cutting-edge radar technology.
Keyamo said, ‘I have taken my time to come all the way because I want the best equipment for my country. I want the Nigerian aviation sector to compete favourably in terms of the installation of the latest equipment. That’s why I am here to take a tour and see the latest radar equipment in town.’
The Vice President of Thales in charge of the Civil Radars Segment, Lionel DE Castellane, emphasised the urgent need for the radar system upgrade, particularly at major Nigerian airports, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Port-Harcourt.
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He highlighted the ongoing Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria project, underscoring the necessity for modernization and enhancements in radar technology.
The TRACON project showcased noteworthy progress, revealing that phase 1, originally contracted with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency in 2022, has achieved an 80 per cent completion rate and is slated for full completion by May 2024.
Additionally, he mentioned that talks on financing arrangements for the second and third phases are in progress, with Thales securing a significant loan facility of €30.6 million from the Commerzbank Group, a German financial institution, and receiving support from the French Guarantee Agency.
Acknowledging the immediate need for modernization, Thales has offered support to the Nigerian government, as guaranteed by Castellane.
‘We’re only waiting for the Nigerian government to give us the nod to formalise the financing arrangements, even as we speak, the Commerzbank director here in France is a call away anytime, she’s ready to travel to Nigeria for the formalities’, he said.