France firm secures €30.6m for Nigeria’s radar upgrade

The federal government’s move to upgrade the Total Radar Coverage (TRACON) project has received a boost from the Thales Group, the renowned France-based global air surveillance radar provider, through a €30.6m loan facility secured for the project.

This was revealed at the weekend when the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, paid a working visit to the company in France.

The TRACON project under the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) which cost the federal government €66m ($72m) was installed in 2011 to deepen surveillance of the Nigerian airspace.

The radar system was said to have underperformed as it was due for upgrade and modernisation.

Our correspondent reports that in February 2019, NAMA took delivery of a consignment of critical spare parts required for the continuous service and operation of the TRACON.

But during his visit, Keyamo hinted at the ongoing upgrade of the TRACON project, expressing his intention to initiate a comprehensive upgrade to the radar system of the Nigerian aviation industry.

“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,” Keyamo as quoted by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, in a statement.

The Vice President of Thales in charge of the Civil Radars Segment, Lionel DE Castellane, who received the minister and his team emphasised the urgent need for the upgrade of the project.

He disclosed that a loan facility of €30.6 million from Commerzbank Group, a German financial institution, with the French Guarantee Agency providing backup support has been secured for the project.

He said the TRACON upgrade is required at major airports such as Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Port-Harcourt.

Castellane further told the minister that phase 1 of the TRACON project, initially signed with NAMA in 2022, is 80% complete and scheduled for completion by May 2024.