GROWING unemployment among licenced flight dispatchers has became a major concern for aviation stakeholders, warning that Nigeria is wasting a significant pool of safety-critical professionals despite increasing demands for safe and efficient airline operations.
The concern was raised, at the 2026 Annual Conference of the Flight Dispatchers Association of Nigeria (FLIDAN) held at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Annex Training Hall in Lagos under the theme: ‘Safety and Efficiency: The Flight Dispatcher’s Role.’
Delivering the keynote address, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Second Vice President of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), Dr. Alexander Nwuba, described flight dispatchers as integral to operational control, stressing that aviation safety and operational efficiency converge in the dispatch office.
Dr Nwuba, who was represented by the general secretary, ASRTI, Mr Olumide Ohunayo, stated that dispatchers are far more than support personnel, and noted that every flight release signed by a dispatcher represents a commitment to passenger safety.
‘Safety and efficiency are not competing goals. Efficiency without safety is recklessness, while safety without efficiency is unsustainable. The dispatcher’s daily responsibility is to maintain both in balance on every flight,’ Nwuba said.
He expressed concern over what he described as the country’s underutilisation of certified flight dispatchers, revealing that although Nigeria has licenced about 1,500 flight dispatchers, fewer than 500 are currently employed.
He noted that many dispatchers lose the validity of their licences within five years because they are unable to secure employment that allows them to maintain operational competency.
Describing the situation as a major loss to aviation safety, Nwuba said the country was wasting nearly two-thirds of its trained and certificated safety workforce.
He assured participants that AOPA and the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative would continue to advocate improved recognition, welfare and regulatory status for flight dispatchers while supporting FLIDAN’s engagement with the NCAA on issues, including aircraft type ratings, dispatcher logbooks and enforcement of duty-time limitations.
Nwuba also projected significant opportunities for the profession beyond conventional airline operations, citing the emergence of centralised and remote operations control centres, business aviation, humanitarian and energy flight support, charter operations, as well as the growing unmanned aircraft and advanced air mobility sectors.
He said with sustained investment in recurrent training, modern flight planning technologies and structured career development, Nigeria possesses the capacity to become West Africa’s operational control hub by training, certifying and exporting highly skilled flight dispatch professionals.
Earlier in his welcome address, FLIDAN president Mr. Daniel Ayuba, described flight dispatchers as strategic partners in airline operational control whose contributions directly influence every safe departure, efficient flight plan and successful arrival.
He said the conference theme reflected the increasing complexity of global aviation, where technological innovation, evolving regulatory requirements, environmental concerns and rising passenger expectations demand continuous professional development.
‘The role of the Flight Dispatcher is no longer viewed merely as a supporting function. We are strategic partners in operational control,’ Ayuba stated.
He maintained that safety remains the foundation of aviation while efficiency ensures resources are utilised responsibly without compromising operational standards.
He said the annual conference serves as a platform for knowledge sharing, innovation, collaboration and professional development aimed at strengthening airline operations across Nigeria.
Ayuba reaffirmed FLIDAN’s commitment to promoting professionalism through improved training, stronger Operations Control Centres, competency-based development, implementation of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and increased recognition of flight dispatchers within Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.
He called on industry stakeholders to ensure that recommendations emerging from the conference translate into practical improvements across airlines, regulatory institutions, training organisations and Operations Control Centres.
The FLIDAN president also urged the aviation industry to accelerate implementation of ICAO Document 10106, strengthen Safety Management Systems (SMS), embrace modern operational technologies and expand competency-based training programmes to enhance both safety and efficiency.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the NCAA, airlines, Approved Aviation Training Organisations (AATOs), airport operators and other aviation service providers for supporting professional development and safety oversight within the sector.