By Fidelia Okafor

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has appealed to the Federal Government to suspend the 50 per cent revenue deduction currently being made at source from its internally generated revenue, a practice capable of hindering smooth operations of the agency and hampering the safety of air passengers.

Before now, NAMA has been calling for the suspension of the mandatory 50 per cent deduction from its revenue, emphasising the need for the placement and modernisation of ageing navigational equipment currently in use across the country.

Speaking at the 54th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association held in Abuja on Tuesday, the Managing Director of NAMA, Ahmed Farouk, mentioned funding as the agency’s most pressing challenge, insisting that the deductions significantly constrain its ability to maintain and upgrade critical infrastructure required for safe and efficient airspace management and operations

Farouk stated, “The most significant constraint we face today is funding. This challenge is significantly exacerbated by the deductions-at-source of between 30 per cent and 50 per cent from NAMA’s internally generated revenue. While we understand the fiscal realities facing the government, these deductions are hindering our ability to execute vital projects.”

The NAMA boss added that the nature of its operations, particularly the need for continuous facility modernisation and statutory maintenance, demands consistent investment.

He argued that withholding half of its earnings leaves little room for reinvestment into the systems that uphold airspace safety and efficiency.

It further appealed to the government to consider granting a waiver on the deductions, describing such a move as a game-changer for the aviation sector.

According to the agency, should the waiver be granted to the agency, NAMA will rechannel the resources into critical infrastructure, modern technology, and workforce development.

He said, “The Honourable Minister, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, while we celebrate these achievements, we must also be candid about our challenges. Our most significant constraint remains funding. The scale of facility modernisation and the relentless cycle of statutory maintenance required to uphold the highest degree of safety and operational efficiency are capital-intensive.

“This challenge is significantly exacerbated by the deductions-at-source of between 30% and 50% made directly from NAMA’s internally generated revenue. While we understand the fiscal pressures on the government, these deductions severely limit our capacity to undertake the comprehensive projects our airspace demands.

“Therefore, from this esteemed platform, I wish to make a heartfelt appeal to the Federal Government to graciously consider a waiver of these deductions. Such a gesture would be a game-changer for Nigerian aviation safety. It would allow NAMA to reinvest every Naira of its earnings into critical infrastructure, cutting-edge technology, and the continued development of our human capital, the very ‘Human Edge’ we are here to discuss.”

NAMA also expressed its commitment to supporting the welfare and professional growth of its personnel, especially Air Traffic Controllers, whom it described as the custodians of Nigerian skies.

The agency pledged to remain a custodian of their growth and well-being and expressed hope that ongoing stakeholder deliberations would result in productive outcomes and guide future collaborations.

Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways announce the launch of codeshare flights to 19 destinations, with more set to be added in the near future. Kenya Airways customers can book codeshare flights between Nairobi and Doha, as well as to 10 destinations connecting through the award-winning Hamad International Airport.

Similarly, Qatar Airways customers now have access to eight destinations in Kenya Airways’ network, connecting through three daily flights between Doha and Nairobi. Passengers will be able to travel on these codeshare flights from 26 October 2025. Flights will be available for sale starting tomorrow, 21 October.

Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori, said: “We are pleased with the significant progress made in just a few months since the partnership initiated with Kenya Airways, and this enhancement is a testament of the collaborative efforts which further strengthens our presence in Kenya and the African continent. The recent addition of Qatar Airways’ third daily flight to Nairobi also serves as another cornerstone of this partnership that is driven by strong demand from passengers seeking reliable and seamless connectivity.”

Kenya Airways Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, Julius Thairu, said: “We are excited to embark on this new chapter of our partnership with Qatar Airways. This partnership will significantly enhance connectivity especially across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, expanding our flight offerings, and opening up a world of new destinations for our customers to explore. Together with Qatar Airways, we are dedicated to providing our customers with easy access to a variety of destinations, paired with better connectivity and a seamless travel experience.”

Today’s announcement enables Qatar Airways to continue expanding its footprint within the African continent, providing passengers from more than 170 destinations across the globe with easier access to key leisure and business destinations served by Kenya Airways, including Lilongwe, Livingstone, Juba, Nampula, Ndola, and Victoria Falls.

Similarly, Kenya Airways passengers will now be able to connect to multiple destinations in 10 countries across Asia and the Middle East through Hamad International Airport, named the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for 11 consecutive years. These destinations include Bahrain, Colombo, Islamabad, Karachi, Malé, Tokyo Narita, and Singapore.
Additionally, Qatar Airways Privilege Club members will earn Avios on the codeshare flights operated by Kenya Airways.

The two airlines will continue to collaborate on codeshares, airport operations, lounges, sustainability and procurement. Other future phases and areas of collaboration will include network development, cargo, aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul.

Kenya Airways codeshares on Qatar Airways routes

Bahrain, Colombo (Sri Lanka), Doha (Qatar), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Islamabad and Karachi (Pakistan), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Malé (Maldives), Muscat (Oman), Singapore, and Tokyo Narita (Japan).

Qatar Airways codeshares on Kenya Airways routes

Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Accra (Ghana), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Lilongwe (Malawi), Livingstone (Zambia), Juba (South Sudan), Nampula (Mozambique), and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe).

*Some flights are subject to government approvals.

About Kenya Airways

Kenya Airways (KQ), The Pride of Africa, is a leading African carrier on a mission to propel Africa’s prosperity by connecting its people, cultures, and markets. We fly to 45 destinations worldwide, 37 of which are in Africa, connecting over 5 million passengers and over 70,000 Tons of cargo annually through our Hub at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

As the sole African carrier in the SkyTeam Alliance, we open up a world of possibilities for our customers, connecting them to over 1,060 destinations in 173 countries. We take pride in offering a delightful flying experience with a caring African touch. Our exceptional African hospitality has consistently earned us global recognition including the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards where we were honoured with the Best Airline Staff and Best Airline Cabin Crew in Africa in 2024.

About Qatar Airways

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ for an unprecedented ninth time at the 2025 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. Qatar Airways was previously named the World’s Best Airline in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024.

The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, and has yet again received recognition for ‘World’s Best Business Class’, and ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’. As the leading connector in the region, Qatar Airways has also been lauded with the ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’ title for the 13 time.

Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for 11 consecutive years, as well as ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the third year in a row, as voted by Skytrax. Hamad International Airport has previously been named the ‘World’s Best Airport’ by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

Qatar Airways was the first Airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on recognised environmental management system principles (such as ISO 14001). As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.