The Vice President of Thales, Lionel DE Castellane, announced that the first phase of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigerian airports (TRACON) is on track for completion by May 2024. Thales, a global air surveillance radar provider, has been working on the project in partnership with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) since it was initially signed in 2022, and the progress stands at 80%.
During a visit to Thales for a partnership discussion, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, emphasized the importance of upgrading radar facilities, particularly at major airports like Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Port-Harcourt. The TRACON project, initiated 18 years ago, requires urgent modernization, and discussions are underway for financing the second and third phases.
Castellane highlighted the need for swift action, given the financial magnitude of the project. Thales has secured a €30.6 million loan facility from Commerzbank Group, with backup support from the French Guarantee Agency. The financing arrangements are pending approval from the Nigerian government, and Castellane indicated readiness to formalize the process.
Minister Keyamo, during the visit, expressed the government’s commitment to acquiring the latest radar equipment to enhance the competitiveness of the Nigerian aviation sector. He toured Thales’ headquarters in Rouen-Ymare to inspect and understand the functionality of the latest radar equipment.