By Itohan Abara-Laserian
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and aviation stakeholders have described flight dispatchers as safety-critical professionals central to safe and efficient flight operations.
They spoke on Wednesday during the 2026 Annual Conference of the Flight Dispatchers Association of Nigeria (FLIDAN) in Lagos, with the theme, ‘Safety and Efficiency: The Flight Dispatcher’s Role.’
NCAA Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, unveiled the authority’s strategic vision for dispatchers, anchored on safety, competency and integration into airline operational systems.
Represented by the Director of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards, Capt. Donald Spiff, Najomo urged airlines to strengthen dispatchers’ participation in operational decision-making and Safety Management Systems.
He said dispatchers occupy unique positions, enabling them to identify operational hazards, contribute to risk assessments and support informed decisions before and during flights.
Najomo stressed that dispatchers are far more than flight planners, describing them as indispensable partners in ensuring safe, efficient and compliant airline operations.
According to him, dispatchers oversee flight planning, weather analysis, fuel management, operational control and continuous flight monitoring alongside pilots.
“The NCAA will continue strengthening oversight of operational control systems to ensure compliance with Nigerian regulations and ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices,” he said.
He added that the authority would also promote proactive safety cultures where hazards are identified early, risks managed effectively and safety lessons widely shared.
Najomo said rapid technological advancement, automation and increasingly complex operations required dispatchers to continually upgrade their knowledge and professional competencies.
He recommended competency-based and recurrent training covering human factors, threat and error management, aviation meteorology, fatigue management, dangerous goods and advanced flight-planning systems.
While acknowledging digital transformation, artificial intelligence and data analytics, Najomo insisted technology would complement rather than replace professional judgement.
“These technologies should empower dispatchers to make safer and better-informed operational decisions,” he said.
Earlier, FLIDAN President, Mr Daniel Ayuba, described dispatchers as strategic operational partners whose expertise influences every safe departure, efficient flight and successful arrival.
According to Ayuba, aviation safety remains the industry’s foundation, while operational efficiency ensured resources are optimally utilised without compromising safety standards.
He explained that the conference aimed to encourage knowledge sharing, innovation, collaboration and professional development while addressing emerging operational challenges.
Ayuba reaffirmed FLIDAN’s commitment to professionalism through improved training, stronger operational control centres and competency-based development for flight dispatchers.
He also advocated full implementation of ICAO standards and greater recognition of dispatchers throughout Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.
Ayuba urged stakeholders to implement conference recommendations across airlines, training organisations, operational control centres and regulatory institutions.
He specifically called for implementation of ICAO Document 10106, stronger Safety Management Systems and wider adoption of modern operational technologies.
Also speaking, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President, Dr Alex Nwuba, described dispatch releases as critical operational control decisions rather than routine administrative paperwork.
Nwuba, also Second Vice-President of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative, said dispatchers make the first safety decision on every commercial flight.
He explained that international standards and Nigerian regulations assign operational control jointly to dispatchers and pilots-in-command throughout flight operations.
“They are responsible for planning, releasing and, where necessary, delaying or cancelling flights,” Nwuba said.
He added that dispatchers continuously monitor weather, fuel status and airport conditions, coordinating diversions whenever operational circumstances require.
In spite of these responsibilities, Nwuba lamented that dispatchers remained under-recognised within Nigeria’s aviation industry.
He disclosed that although about 1,500 dispatchers had been licensed nationwide, fewer than 500 were currently employed.
“That is a two-thirds waste of trained, certificated safety capacity,” Nwuba said, warning against underutilising qualified aviation professionals.
He also criticised poor remuneration, excessive working hours, fatigue, the absence of aircraft type ratings and lack of mandatory operational logbooks.
“Fatigue in the operations centre is as dangerous as fatigue in the cockpit; it simply fails more quietly,” he warned.
Nwuba urged regulators and airlines to enforce duty-time limitations, improve welfare, restore type ratings and mandate operational logbooks.
He further advocated stronger representation of dispatchers within airline Safety Management Systems and regulatory consultations.
Nwuba said expanding airline operations, cargo services, business aviation and the Single African Air Transport Market presented opportunities for more dispatcher employment.
He added that Nigeria could position itself as West Africa’s operations control hub by fully utilising its licensed dispatch workforce.
The conference ended with regulators, industry professionals and stakeholders reaffirming commitment to strengthening dispatchers’ roles within Nigeria’s aviation safety architecture.
Participants agreed that effective operational control remains fundamental to safe, efficient and sustainable air transport across the country’s aviation industry. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)