The vice president of Thales in charge of civil radars segment, Mr Lionel de Castellane, has said that there is an urgent need for the Nigerian government to upgrade the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) facilities, especially at the Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Port Harcourt airports.
Castellane made the call in France during the working visit to Thales in France by the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr Festus Keyamo at the weekend.
Media aide to the minister, Mr Tunde Moshood, said in a statement that the Thales executive called the attention of the minister to the ongoing TRACON project initiated 18 years ago and emphasising the need for an urgent modernisation.
Castellane, who guided Keyamo through the inspection of facilities at Thales, informed the minister that the phase 1 of the TRACON project, initially signed with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in 2022, was 80 per cent done and scheduled for completion by May 2024.
He disclosed that discussions on financing arrangements for the second and third phases were underway.
“Recognising the financial magnitude of the project, Thales has secured a loan facility of €30.6 million from Commerzbank Group, a German financial institution, with the French Guarantee Agency providing backup support.
“We’re only waiting for the Nigerian government to give us the nod to formalise the financing arrangements. As we speak, the Commerzbank director here in France is ready to travel to Nigeria for the formalities”, Costallane said.
In his remarks, 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 favorably 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 statement said the minister was accompanied on the visit by experts in the aviation industry, including Mr Layi Are.
Thales, a renowned France-based global air surveillance radar provider with a rich history dating back to its establishment in the Netherlands in 1938, has played a pivotal role in radar system installations globally, integrating its services into France in the early 50s and in Germany in 1963.
Notably, the company has been has been instrumental to radar installations for major international airports such as the London Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle among others.
