Wednesday, 31 October 2012


Sky Watch Nigeria.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN will hold the maiden stakeholders’ forum with its major customers on Thursday, November 1st at the Welcome Center and Hotels, International Airport Road, Ikeja.

In a statement issued by the General Manager, Corporate Communications Yakubu Datti, the meeting has designed to acquaint the stakeholders with FAAN’s efforts at re-positioning airports, under the transformation agenda of the federal Government and the roles of the stakeholders.

The interactive forum is expected to provide an opportunity for the media and other professionals in other field of endeavor to make contributions that could help FAAN actualize the airport re-positioning programme as contained in the aviation road map formulated by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.

“The most recent accomplishment in the re-modelling project is the commissioning of the new General Aviation Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on October 22, 2012, the remaining 10 terminals in other airports are slated for commissioning before the end of this year” the statement read.

FAAN holds maiden stakeholders forum

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments

Sky Watch Nigeria.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN will hold the maiden stakeholders’ forum with its major customers on Thursday, November 1st at the Welcome Center and Hotels, International Airport Road, Ikeja.

In a statement issued by the General Manager, Corporate Communications Yakubu Datti, the meeting has designed to acquaint the stakeholders with FAAN’s efforts at re-positioning airports, under the transformation agenda of the federal Government and the roles of the stakeholders.

The interactive forum is expected to provide an opportunity for the media and other professionals in other field of endeavor to make contributions that could help FAAN actualize the airport re-positioning programme as contained in the aviation road map formulated by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.

“The most recent accomplishment in the re-modelling project is the commissioning of the new General Aviation Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on October 22, 2012, the remaining 10 terminals in other airports are slated for commissioning before the end of this year” the statement read.

Tuesday, 30 October 2012


By Lateef Lawal.

Hurricane Sandy grounded thousands of flights in the U.S. northeast today and up-ended travel plans across the globe, with thousands of passengers stranded from Hong Kong to Europe. The massive storm threatens to bring a near halt to air travel for at least two days in a key region for both domestic and international flights. Major carriers such as American Airlines, United and Delta cancelled all flights into and out of three area airports in New York, the nation's busiest airspace. 

According to the flight-tracking service FlightAware, nearly 10,000 flights had been canceled for Monday and Tuesday, almost all related to the storm. The cancellations have already surpassed those from last year's damaging Hurricane Irene. They're now on par with a major winter storm in early 2011. Back then, 14,000 flights were scrapped over four days. Delays rippled across the U.S., affecting travelers in cities such as San Francisco to Chicago. Disruptions spread to Europe and Asia, where airlines canceled or delayed flights to New York and Washington from cities that are major travel hubs including London, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong. About one-quarter of all U.S. flights travel in or out of New York airports each day. So cancellations here can dramatically impact travel in other cities.

Businessman Alan Shrem was trying to return home to Boca Raton, Fla. His Monday morning Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to New York's Kennedy airport was canceled. He learned he could be stuck in Hong Kong for nearly a week because the next available seat was Nov. 4. He was put on a waiting list for seats that could become available earlier. "They just say: Yeah, it's a pretty big waiting list," said Shrem, throwing up his hands. In the meantime, he'll have to fork out $400 a night to continue staying at a nearby hotel. The airline won't pay for accommodation for stranded passengers if delays are weather related. By early afternoon, the storm had strengthened to 90 mph and had already knocked out power to tens of thousands of people. Sandy was 110 miles southeast of Atlantic City, N.J., and had turned toward the west, as forecasters feared. Sandy is on track to collide with a wintry storm moving in from the west and cold air streaming down from the Arctic. 

Airports in the metropolitan New York City area are open, but air carriers are not operating. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Monday that travelers shouldn't even try to go to Kennedy, Newark Liberty, LaGuardia and Stewart airports. Angela Gittens, director general of the Airports Council International who was the aviation director at Miami International Airport Dade during several hurricanes from 2001 to 2004, said even if storm damage is minor it could be a week before operations are normal at major East Coast airports. 

"The storm has such a wide swath and so many major airports are involved that it's going to take some time (to recover) because those airplanes are so far away," Gittens said. JetBlue Airways Corp. expects its cancellations from Sunday through Tuesday to total about 1,200. The airline has hubs at Kennedy airport and Boston's Logan. Rob Maruster, the company's chief operating officer, hopes flights can resume in New York on Wednesday morning. But he's worried about flooding of JFK's runways since they are all basically at sea level and near bodies of water.

Delta Air Lines Inc. has canceled 2,100 flights over the three days. American Airlines has scrapped 1,000 flights, including 260 on regional affiliate American Eagle. It's still too early to assess the impact on airline's bottom lines. Many of the customers on flights currently being cancelled will reschedule later on, so the airline will still collect the fare. But the cost of parking planes for days, along with potential damage, will undoubtedly cost airlines millions. International travelers could wait days to get to the East Coast of the U.S. All flights from Paris to Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington — a total of 14 — were canceled.
Frankfurt airport canceled 12 flights, with German carrier Lufthansa scrapping three to the Northeast and one out of Newark. British Airways had to cancel all its flights to and from New York, Newark, Baltimore, Washington DC, Boston and Philadelphia — a total of 20. Eight flights out of Tokyo's Narita International Airport to New York, Newark and Washington were canceled Monday. Hong Kong's Cathay canceled its two daily flights to New York for Monday and Tuesday and Air India said its daily flights to Newark and JFK had halted since Sunday.

South Korean flag carrier Korean Air delayed a flight scheduled to leave Incheon International Airport for JFK on Monday by 22 hours. Asiana Airlines delayed its JFK flight from Seoul by 26 hours.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

Hurricane Sandy grounds thousands of flights world wide.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments

By Lateef Lawal.

Hurricane Sandy grounded thousands of flights in the U.S. northeast today and up-ended travel plans across the globe, with thousands of passengers stranded from Hong Kong to Europe. The massive storm threatens to bring a near halt to air travel for at least two days in a key region for both domestic and international flights. Major carriers such as American Airlines, United and Delta cancelled all flights into and out of three area airports in New York, the nation's busiest airspace. 

According to the flight-tracking service FlightAware, nearly 10,000 flights had been canceled for Monday and Tuesday, almost all related to the storm. The cancellations have already surpassed those from last year's damaging Hurricane Irene. They're now on par with a major winter storm in early 2011. Back then, 14,000 flights were scrapped over four days. Delays rippled across the U.S., affecting travelers in cities such as San Francisco to Chicago. Disruptions spread to Europe and Asia, where airlines canceled or delayed flights to New York and Washington from cities that are major travel hubs including London, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong. About one-quarter of all U.S. flights travel in or out of New York airports each day. So cancellations here can dramatically impact travel in other cities.

Businessman Alan Shrem was trying to return home to Boca Raton, Fla. His Monday morning Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to New York's Kennedy airport was canceled. He learned he could be stuck in Hong Kong for nearly a week because the next available seat was Nov. 4. He was put on a waiting list for seats that could become available earlier. "They just say: Yeah, it's a pretty big waiting list," said Shrem, throwing up his hands. In the meantime, he'll have to fork out $400 a night to continue staying at a nearby hotel. The airline won't pay for accommodation for stranded passengers if delays are weather related. By early afternoon, the storm had strengthened to 90 mph and had already knocked out power to tens of thousands of people. Sandy was 110 miles southeast of Atlantic City, N.J., and had turned toward the west, as forecasters feared. Sandy is on track to collide with a wintry storm moving in from the west and cold air streaming down from the Arctic. 

Airports in the metropolitan New York City area are open, but air carriers are not operating. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Monday that travelers shouldn't even try to go to Kennedy, Newark Liberty, LaGuardia and Stewart airports. Angela Gittens, director general of the Airports Council International who was the aviation director at Miami International Airport Dade during several hurricanes from 2001 to 2004, said even if storm damage is minor it could be a week before operations are normal at major East Coast airports. 

"The storm has such a wide swath and so many major airports are involved that it's going to take some time (to recover) because those airplanes are so far away," Gittens said. JetBlue Airways Corp. expects its cancellations from Sunday through Tuesday to total about 1,200. The airline has hubs at Kennedy airport and Boston's Logan. Rob Maruster, the company's chief operating officer, hopes flights can resume in New York on Wednesday morning. But he's worried about flooding of JFK's runways since they are all basically at sea level and near bodies of water.

Delta Air Lines Inc. has canceled 2,100 flights over the three days. American Airlines has scrapped 1,000 flights, including 260 on regional affiliate American Eagle. It's still too early to assess the impact on airline's bottom lines. Many of the customers on flights currently being cancelled will reschedule later on, so the airline will still collect the fare. But the cost of parking planes for days, along with potential damage, will undoubtedly cost airlines millions. International travelers could wait days to get to the East Coast of the U.S. All flights from Paris to Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington — a total of 14 — were canceled.
Frankfurt airport canceled 12 flights, with German carrier Lufthansa scrapping three to the Northeast and one out of Newark. British Airways had to cancel all its flights to and from New York, Newark, Baltimore, Washington DC, Boston and Philadelphia — a total of 20. Eight flights out of Tokyo's Narita International Airport to New York, Newark and Washington were canceled Monday. Hong Kong's Cathay canceled its two daily flights to New York for Monday and Tuesday and Air India said its daily flights to Newark and JFK had halted since Sunday.

South Korean flag carrier Korean Air delayed a flight scheduled to leave Incheon International Airport for JFK on Monday by 22 hours. Asiana Airlines delayed its JFK flight from Seoul by 26 hours.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

Sky Watch Nigeria

Aero Contractors Airline on Monday 29 October 2012 averted what may have resulted in another airplane accident, when an observant passenger on board alerted the airline’s officials to a fluid leakage. The Airline still among the few flying local Nigerian routes in a swift reaction responded through its consultant Simon Tumba who attributed the delay to a minor technical fault which he pointed out had been fixed as a safety precaution.

The Aero aircraft was scheduled to leave the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos at about 2:30 pm, when a passenger sitting at the window side close to the left wing of the craft spotted hydraulic leaking from one of the valves. The valve is described to convey gas to the ‘ailerons’ a part which connects the wings of the aircraft, to ensure its stability during take-off and landing.

The flight crew later reported to the passengers that the flight had to be delayed and the aircraft was taxied back to the hanger for minor repairs as safety precaution following reports of fuel leakage. After the passenger alerted the members of the airplane’s crew, all passengers were asked to evacuate the plane and all the passengers in the flight – AJ 171, scheduled for Margaret Ekpo International Airport Calabar, had to return to the airport’s departure lounge to await alternative arrangements by the airlines management. A passenger aboard the flight stated that all boarding formalities were completed and the aircraft door was shut and ready for take-off.

"The aircraft had actually been taxied through the run-way to the take-off point and back to the hanger and after about ten minutes, the pilot taxied it back to the hanger” a passenger on board stated.
Reports indicate that this is the second time in seven days Aero Contractors has had to disrupt its operations over what it termed ‘minor technical faults’.


Passenger's alarm abort's Aero's flight.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with 3 comments

Sky Watch Nigeria

Aero Contractors Airline on Monday 29 October 2012 averted what may have resulted in another airplane accident, when an observant passenger on board alerted the airline’s officials to a fluid leakage. The Airline still among the few flying local Nigerian routes in a swift reaction responded through its consultant Simon Tumba who attributed the delay to a minor technical fault which he pointed out had been fixed as a safety precaution.

The Aero aircraft was scheduled to leave the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos at about 2:30 pm, when a passenger sitting at the window side close to the left wing of the craft spotted hydraulic leaking from one of the valves. The valve is described to convey gas to the ‘ailerons’ a part which connects the wings of the aircraft, to ensure its stability during take-off and landing.

The flight crew later reported to the passengers that the flight had to be delayed and the aircraft was taxied back to the hanger for minor repairs as safety precaution following reports of fuel leakage. After the passenger alerted the members of the airplane’s crew, all passengers were asked to evacuate the plane and all the passengers in the flight – AJ 171, scheduled for Margaret Ekpo International Airport Calabar, had to return to the airport’s departure lounge to await alternative arrangements by the airlines management. A passenger aboard the flight stated that all boarding formalities were completed and the aircraft door was shut and ready for take-off.

"The aircraft had actually been taxied through the run-way to the take-off point and back to the hanger and after about ten minutes, the pilot taxied it back to the hanger” a passenger on board stated.
Reports indicate that this is the second time in seven days Aero Contractors has had to disrupt its operations over what it termed ‘minor technical faults’.



Sky Watch Nigeria.

The circumstances surrounding the discovery of a mans body in the wheel well of Arik Airs Airbus A340-500 on Friday October 26 2012 is being investigated by the management.

The body which was discovered by engineers conducting a routine line maintenance check on the aircraft is still being identified as no form of identification was found on the body when it was discovered.

According to the spokesman of Ark Air, Mr Ola Adebanji: ''However, we were able to establish that the body had been in the wheel well for more than a day suggesting that the stowaway may have originated from Lagos"

Curiously, a bottle of medicine produced by a local pharmaceutical company was found on the body laying credence to the suggestion that the stowaway may have boarded the flight from Lagos. Also found on the body was a Bible which has an American flag drawn on the back cover. The body of the stowaway which has since been deposited in the morgue is awaiting autopsy''

Arik Air continues investigation on dead stowaway.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with 2 comments

Sky Watch Nigeria.

The circumstances surrounding the discovery of a mans body in the wheel well of Arik Airs Airbus A340-500 on Friday October 26 2012 is being investigated by the management.

The body which was discovered by engineers conducting a routine line maintenance check on the aircraft is still being identified as no form of identification was found on the body when it was discovered.

According to the spokesman of Ark Air, Mr Ola Adebanji: ''However, we were able to establish that the body had been in the wheel well for more than a day suggesting that the stowaway may have originated from Lagos"

Curiously, a bottle of medicine produced by a local pharmaceutical company was found on the body laying credence to the suggestion that the stowaway may have boarded the flight from Lagos. Also found on the body was a Bible which has an American flag drawn on the back cover. The body of the stowaway which has since been deposited in the morgue is awaiting autopsy''

Monday, 29 October 2012


Sky Watch Nigeria.

The one day training for airline officials by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency[NAMA] on ''e-Flight Planning Workshop for Airlines''  has become the central focus of the transformation from Aeronautical Information Service to Aeronautical Information Management (AIM). The Managing Director of the Agency Mazi Nnamdi Udoh made this assertion today during the one day training programme  for airlines in the country as part of a strategy to reduce flight delays at the nation's airports.

The training in addition aims to educate airline operators on the need to imbibe an e-flight planning schedule to reduce flight delays and improve services to their customers.Mazi Udoh  described the training exercise as timely considering the on-going automation project of the AIS.

The Assistant Chief Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) Officer of the agency, Mr. S.B. Shittu who facilitated the training in conjunction with NAMA ICT and  NOMAD Technologies, said the workshop was informed by the current drive by the management to prevent errors in the filing of flight plans by the airlines.
He noted that with the proper training of the airline officials on e-flight plan, the manual way of doing so would be easily eliminated, adding that this business innovation through automation would bring about high quality service delivery to their numerous customers.

The Agency's  Chief Information Officer- Ogochukwu Ifeanyi indicated that the Agency would organize another workshop in November to evaluate the current usage and provide opportunity for other airlines to participate. The airlines that participated in the workshop included; Bristow Helicopter, Aero Contractor, Pan African Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Air France-KLM, Overland Airways, Lewis Cooper International Aviation and Turkish Airlines among others.

e-flight Planning: Central to aeronautic transformation - NAMA MD.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with 1 comment

Sky Watch Nigeria.

The one day training for airline officials by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency[NAMA] on ''e-Flight Planning Workshop for Airlines''  has become the central focus of the transformation from Aeronautical Information Service to Aeronautical Information Management (AIM). The Managing Director of the Agency Mazi Nnamdi Udoh made this assertion today during the one day training programme  for airlines in the country as part of a strategy to reduce flight delays at the nation's airports.

The training in addition aims to educate airline operators on the need to imbibe an e-flight planning schedule to reduce flight delays and improve services to their customers.Mazi Udoh  described the training exercise as timely considering the on-going automation project of the AIS.

The Assistant Chief Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) Officer of the agency, Mr. S.B. Shittu who facilitated the training in conjunction with NAMA ICT and  NOMAD Technologies, said the workshop was informed by the current drive by the management to prevent errors in the filing of flight plans by the airlines.
He noted that with the proper training of the airline officials on e-flight plan, the manual way of doing so would be easily eliminated, adding that this business innovation through automation would bring about high quality service delivery to their numerous customers.

The Agency's  Chief Information Officer- Ogochukwu Ifeanyi indicated that the Agency would organize another workshop in November to evaluate the current usage and provide opportunity for other airlines to participate. The airlines that participated in the workshop included; Bristow Helicopter, Aero Contractor, Pan African Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Air France-KLM, Overland Airways, Lewis Cooper International Aviation and Turkish Airlines among others.

Sunday, 28 October 2012


By Bello Musa

Since assuming duties as Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah has left no one in doubt that she is on a mission. She inherited an industry poorly developed, steeped in crises with threat of imminent collapse. The absence of a consistent and well articulated national aviation policy, excessive bureaucracy and bad management was its water-loo.

Attempts to formulate a national policy dates back to 1986 when a 10-man committee’s recommendation constituted the National Policy on Civil Aviation. African ministers responsible for civil aviation met in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast in October 1988 to fine-tune common positions. This heralded the historic Yamoussoukro Declaration (YD) of 1988. It became imperative to harmonize the National Aviation Policy of 1989 with the Regional Aviation Policy contained in the Yamoussoukro Declaration of 1988 which was reaffirmed in 1994. Princess Stella Oduah therefore navigated through the cacophony of policies and came up with the Aviation Road map. The Road-map provided the institutional framework for the provision of infrastructure, monitoring and control of the industry. The involvement of aviation stakeholders in producing the policy predictably resulted in unanimous adoption. One year down the road, critics who doubted government’s commitment to implementing the road-map are forced to swallow their words as the implementation is on course.

Princess Oduah sent shock waves into the system when shortly on resumption, she stopped the exploitative collection of N2, 500 passenger service charge (PSC) introduced unilaterally by the operators. Her mission to restore the aviation sector to its rightful place as a harbinger of economic progress was not open to negotiation. In the words of Henry Longfellow, “In this world a man must either be an anvil or hammer”. Those who dared to stand on her way have confessed that beneath her soft spoken mien is plenty of hammer and anvil. When she engaged the British authorities on the airfare disparity saga, she stood eyeball to eyeball with our erstwhile colonial masters, to the admiration of fellow Nigerians. At the heat of heighted suspicion between the Executive and Legislative arm of government, the National Assembly endorsed and supported her crusade, with resounding success. 

Known for daring uncharted terrain, Princess Oduah inherited a sector that had virtually negotiated away its soul to powerful forces in the guise of public private partnerships (PPP), concessionaires and other drain pipes. At least, four ministers of aviation have fought the ‘aviation cabal’ to no success. For a woman who has conquered the private sector and successfully established a business conglomerate with interest spanning oil and gas, agriculture, engineering, logistics, trading and philanthropy, fate had prepared her for a time such as these. She rose to the occasion. Though Aviation stakeholders have applauded this Princess of Akili, the ranks of her powerful enemies increased. Worried by the decay in Nigerian airports and terminals that were built more than thirty years ago, the minister embarked on massive reconstruction and remodelling. The Kaduna and Kano Hajj terminals were remodelled and commissioned in record time by no other than the Sultan of Sokoto himself who was so impressed with the quality of work that he made a case for Sokoto. 

Work is on-going at the Sokoto terminal. Within 3 months of mounting the saddle of leadership, she commenced work on 11 airports in the first instance, out of the 22 earmarked. From Lagos to Yola, Port Harcourt to Enugu, the quality and pace of work took the aviation sector by storm. For once, the national pride of Nigerians was restored and the nation’s standing in the comity of nations was sustained. Some ‘aviation stakeholders’ were however slighted that the minister deviated from the normal practice where monies where shared amongst ‘stakeholders’. They vowed to teach her a lesson. They petitioned that the minister was remodelling the airports without approval, contracts were awarded without due process and that the BASA funds were being spent without regard for laid down procedures. Like a pack of cards, the accusations fell one after the other as their accusations lacked merit. Due process was followed and relevant approvals were received from the applicable bodies as required by law. In total bewilderment of her traducers, it was discovered that the contractors were using their money to fund the projects as not a kobo had been spent from the BASA funds!

Being one not to be bed-ridden by setbacks, the minister rolled up her sleeves and returned to the drawing board with energy and invincible determination. She embarked on the Aerotropolis project. This concept which has been embraced internationally is about building cities with complete infrastructure around airports. Similar to Schipol in Germany, Amsterdam in Netherland and Heathrow in the United Kingdom, this new business module is yet another window to attract foreign investment and grow the local economy.
To harness the benefits of the critical infrastructure being put in place, Princess Oduah has embarked on an international investment road show to attract global players. The investment road show being a key element of the road map for transformation of the country’s air transport industry is already yielding bountiful harvests in fits and bounds!

The Chinese have already signed an MOU with Nigeria to finance the construction of 11 new state-of-the-arts airports across Nigeria, out of which 6 will be for perishables. The conferment of the award of LEADERSHIP Public Officer of the year 2011 to Princess Stella Oduah by Leadership Newspaper group did not come to many as a surprise. This tireless workaholic who is not given to vain glories is a great believer in nation building. In his treatise, James Thomas captures the essence “To be a great thinker and so always master of the situation, one must of necessity have been a great thinker in action. An eagle was never yet hatched from a goose’s egg’

On Monday, October 22, 2012, the aviation industry in Nigeria stood still for President Goodluck Jonathan and this amazon and trail blazer, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah as the first of the 11 remodeled terminals was commissioned by the Secretary to the government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. The saying that seeing is believing came to the fore at that occasion.Stakeholders who had doubted the reality of the transformation agenda had a change of heart when they saw the magnificence of the new terminal. The wind has been taken off the sail of the incurable critics of the Honorable Minister, who may be busy now exploiting other means of finding specs in her eyes even when they have moles in their own eyes.

But the Princess Oduah we know cannot be deterred by such distractions! She has placed her hands on the plough and there is no looking back. As the remaining 10 remodeled airports await commissioning in quick succession in the next two months, work is set to commence on the remaining 10 airports in the second phase of the remodeling project. The airport landscape in Nigeria has become one huge construction site and Nigerians are it all to this woman of vision. And to the man whose responsibility it is to implement the transformation agenda in FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FAAN.

His appointment as the helmsman in FAAN in October, 2011 has literally changed the landscape of the Authority and dramatically changed the attitude of staff to work. His “letter to the staff”, on every important development in the Authority has elevated the staff’s commitment to duty to a new level. There is no wonder then that the transformation agenda is working in FAAN.

Courtesy: Citizensplatform

The Aviation Road Map: Bringing Change to the Industry

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with 1 comment

By Bello Musa

Since assuming duties as Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah has left no one in doubt that she is on a mission. She inherited an industry poorly developed, steeped in crises with threat of imminent collapse. The absence of a consistent and well articulated national aviation policy, excessive bureaucracy and bad management was its water-loo.

Attempts to formulate a national policy dates back to 1986 when a 10-man committee’s recommendation constituted the National Policy on Civil Aviation. African ministers responsible for civil aviation met in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast in October 1988 to fine-tune common positions. This heralded the historic Yamoussoukro Declaration (YD) of 1988. It became imperative to harmonize the National Aviation Policy of 1989 with the Regional Aviation Policy contained in the Yamoussoukro Declaration of 1988 which was reaffirmed in 1994. Princess Stella Oduah therefore navigated through the cacophony of policies and came up with the Aviation Road map. The Road-map provided the institutional framework for the provision of infrastructure, monitoring and control of the industry. The involvement of aviation stakeholders in producing the policy predictably resulted in unanimous adoption. One year down the road, critics who doubted government’s commitment to implementing the road-map are forced to swallow their words as the implementation is on course.

Princess Oduah sent shock waves into the system when shortly on resumption, she stopped the exploitative collection of N2, 500 passenger service charge (PSC) introduced unilaterally by the operators. Her mission to restore the aviation sector to its rightful place as a harbinger of economic progress was not open to negotiation. In the words of Henry Longfellow, “In this world a man must either be an anvil or hammer”. Those who dared to stand on her way have confessed that beneath her soft spoken mien is plenty of hammer and anvil. When she engaged the British authorities on the airfare disparity saga, she stood eyeball to eyeball with our erstwhile colonial masters, to the admiration of fellow Nigerians. At the heat of heighted suspicion between the Executive and Legislative arm of government, the National Assembly endorsed and supported her crusade, with resounding success. 

Known for daring uncharted terrain, Princess Oduah inherited a sector that had virtually negotiated away its soul to powerful forces in the guise of public private partnerships (PPP), concessionaires and other drain pipes. At least, four ministers of aviation have fought the ‘aviation cabal’ to no success. For a woman who has conquered the private sector and successfully established a business conglomerate with interest spanning oil and gas, agriculture, engineering, logistics, trading and philanthropy, fate had prepared her for a time such as these. She rose to the occasion. Though Aviation stakeholders have applauded this Princess of Akili, the ranks of her powerful enemies increased. Worried by the decay in Nigerian airports and terminals that were built more than thirty years ago, the minister embarked on massive reconstruction and remodelling. The Kaduna and Kano Hajj terminals were remodelled and commissioned in record time by no other than the Sultan of Sokoto himself who was so impressed with the quality of work that he made a case for Sokoto. 

Work is on-going at the Sokoto terminal. Within 3 months of mounting the saddle of leadership, she commenced work on 11 airports in the first instance, out of the 22 earmarked. From Lagos to Yola, Port Harcourt to Enugu, the quality and pace of work took the aviation sector by storm. For once, the national pride of Nigerians was restored and the nation’s standing in the comity of nations was sustained. Some ‘aviation stakeholders’ were however slighted that the minister deviated from the normal practice where monies where shared amongst ‘stakeholders’. They vowed to teach her a lesson. They petitioned that the minister was remodelling the airports without approval, contracts were awarded without due process and that the BASA funds were being spent without regard for laid down procedures. Like a pack of cards, the accusations fell one after the other as their accusations lacked merit. Due process was followed and relevant approvals were received from the applicable bodies as required by law. In total bewilderment of her traducers, it was discovered that the contractors were using their money to fund the projects as not a kobo had been spent from the BASA funds!

Being one not to be bed-ridden by setbacks, the minister rolled up her sleeves and returned to the drawing board with energy and invincible determination. She embarked on the Aerotropolis project. This concept which has been embraced internationally is about building cities with complete infrastructure around airports. Similar to Schipol in Germany, Amsterdam in Netherland and Heathrow in the United Kingdom, this new business module is yet another window to attract foreign investment and grow the local economy.
To harness the benefits of the critical infrastructure being put in place, Princess Oduah has embarked on an international investment road show to attract global players. The investment road show being a key element of the road map for transformation of the country’s air transport industry is already yielding bountiful harvests in fits and bounds!

The Chinese have already signed an MOU with Nigeria to finance the construction of 11 new state-of-the-arts airports across Nigeria, out of which 6 will be for perishables. The conferment of the award of LEADERSHIP Public Officer of the year 2011 to Princess Stella Oduah by Leadership Newspaper group did not come to many as a surprise. This tireless workaholic who is not given to vain glories is a great believer in nation building. In his treatise, James Thomas captures the essence “To be a great thinker and so always master of the situation, one must of necessity have been a great thinker in action. An eagle was never yet hatched from a goose’s egg’

On Monday, October 22, 2012, the aviation industry in Nigeria stood still for President Goodluck Jonathan and this amazon and trail blazer, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah as the first of the 11 remodeled terminals was commissioned by the Secretary to the government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. The saying that seeing is believing came to the fore at that occasion.Stakeholders who had doubted the reality of the transformation agenda had a change of heart when they saw the magnificence of the new terminal. The wind has been taken off the sail of the incurable critics of the Honorable Minister, who may be busy now exploiting other means of finding specs in her eyes even when they have moles in their own eyes.

But the Princess Oduah we know cannot be deterred by such distractions! She has placed her hands on the plough and there is no looking back. As the remaining 10 remodeled airports await commissioning in quick succession in the next two months, work is set to commence on the remaining 10 airports in the second phase of the remodeling project. The airport landscape in Nigeria has become one huge construction site and Nigerians are it all to this woman of vision. And to the man whose responsibility it is to implement the transformation agenda in FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FAAN.

His appointment as the helmsman in FAAN in October, 2011 has literally changed the landscape of the Authority and dramatically changed the attitude of staff to work. His “letter to the staff”, on every important development in the Authority has elevated the staff’s commitment to duty to a new level. There is no wonder then that the transformation agenda is working in FAAN.

Courtesy: Citizensplatform

Wednesday, 24 October 2012


Sky Watch Nigeria.

The management if Arik Air has dispelled the rumour making the rounds yesterday  that a passenger attempted to bomb its aircraft operating a flight from Maiduguri to Abuja. According to the spokesman of the airline, Mr Ola Adebanji ''to set the records straight, a passenger on board flight W3 812 from Maiduguri to Abuja caused a scare when he started shouting Allah Akbar shortly before the aircraft landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja'' he said. The frightened passengers on board the flight became suspicious and began to get worried the man was up to something.

Although all the passengers on board the flight, including the man in question, had initially gone through the normal security check at the Maiduguri International Airport and nothing incriminating was found on anyone. However, when the aircraft landed in Abuja, another security check was conducted on the passenger and nothing incriminating was found on him. 
A further security search was conducted on the operating aircraft, a Boeing 737-700 NG (Next Generation) and no trace of bomb or explosives were found. The aircraft went back to service immediately. 

Olabanji also added that ''Arik Air wishes to assure guests that all its flights undergo strict security checks and passengers have nothing to fear. The airline’s Aviation Security Department is one the most sophisticated in the industry and its commitment to security and safety of passengers is second to none in Africa."
The airline just last weekend in Accra, Ghana won the award of the Best Security and Safety Conscious Airline in West and Central Africa by the IICP.

Bomb scare hoax on Arik Air aircraft.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments

Sky Watch Nigeria.

The management if Arik Air has dispelled the rumour making the rounds yesterday  that a passenger attempted to bomb its aircraft operating a flight from Maiduguri to Abuja. According to the spokesman of the airline, Mr Ola Adebanji ''to set the records straight, a passenger on board flight W3 812 from Maiduguri to Abuja caused a scare when he started shouting Allah Akbar shortly before the aircraft landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja'' he said. The frightened passengers on board the flight became suspicious and began to get worried the man was up to something.

Although all the passengers on board the flight, including the man in question, had initially gone through the normal security check at the Maiduguri International Airport and nothing incriminating was found on anyone. However, when the aircraft landed in Abuja, another security check was conducted on the passenger and nothing incriminating was found on him. 
A further security search was conducted on the operating aircraft, a Boeing 737-700 NG (Next Generation) and no trace of bomb or explosives were found. The aircraft went back to service immediately. 

Olabanji also added that ''Arik Air wishes to assure guests that all its flights undergo strict security checks and passengers have nothing to fear. The airline’s Aviation Security Department is one the most sophisticated in the industry and its commitment to security and safety of passengers is second to none in Africa."
The airline just last weekend in Accra, Ghana won the award of the Best Security and Safety Conscious Airline in West and Central Africa by the IICP.

Tuesday, 23 October 2012


The Ministry of Aviation  has debunked rumors that the reconstructed GAT belongs to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd. In a statement by the Special Assistant (media) to the Minister of Aviation, Mr Joe Obi, he said that the area where GAT is located has never been part of the area concessioned to Bi-Courtney Ltd. 

The agreement with Bi-courtney has a Survey Plan clearly marked in Square metres and the area of the GAT was never contemplated to be part of the area leased to Bi-Courtney. The statement further reads ”Nigerians can vividly recall the dilapidated and decrepit state of the nation’s airports,  including GAT prior to the assumption of office of the current Minister. Today 11 airports, including the GAT are an elegant testimony of the desire and determination of the current Minister to give Nigerians what they truly deserve-airports of their dreams that compare to any such facility anywhere around the world”.

Regarding allegations that there are subsisting court orders restraining anybody, including FAAN which is the Landlord of all Federal airports in Nigeria from further development of the GAT, we need to stress that the cases are still on-going. In fact, our case is currently before the Court” He said
The newly remodeled 2.8 Million passenger capacity General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos was commissioned on Monday.

Courtesy: Citizens Platform

No ambiguity on ownership of GAT -Ministry of Aviation

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments

The Ministry of Aviation  has debunked rumors that the reconstructed GAT belongs to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd. In a statement by the Special Assistant (media) to the Minister of Aviation, Mr Joe Obi, he said that the area where GAT is located has never been part of the area concessioned to Bi-Courtney Ltd. 

The agreement with Bi-courtney has a Survey Plan clearly marked in Square metres and the area of the GAT was never contemplated to be part of the area leased to Bi-Courtney. The statement further reads ”Nigerians can vividly recall the dilapidated and decrepit state of the nation’s airports,  including GAT prior to the assumption of office of the current Minister. Today 11 airports, including the GAT are an elegant testimony of the desire and determination of the current Minister to give Nigerians what they truly deserve-airports of their dreams that compare to any such facility anywhere around the world”.

Regarding allegations that there are subsisting court orders restraining anybody, including FAAN which is the Landlord of all Federal airports in Nigeria from further development of the GAT, we need to stress that the cases are still on-going. In fact, our case is currently before the Court” He said
The newly remodeled 2.8 Million passenger capacity General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos was commissioned on Monday.

Courtesy: Citizens Platform

By Citizensplatform

The newly remodeled 2.8 Million passenger capacity General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos was commissioned on Monday. Speaking at the Commissioning, Secretary to the Government of the Federal (SGF) Senator Ayim Pius Ayim, emphasized that Nigeria cannot be left behind in the aviation sector as a global industry.

The SGF commended the Federal Government’s efforts in improving the airport terminals, he however noted that the transformation agenda of government is not limited to remodelling of airport terminals or the construction of new ones, but that it also covers all aspects of the industry including the provision and distribution of modern equipment that would ensure safety of Nigeria airspace, accurate weather reporting, comfort and security of passengers, as well as the safety of airplanes. 

He added that it also entails the re-organisation of the aviation parastatals including reorganization, training and retraining of staff in the industry to enable them adapt to the new challenges in the industry.
According to Senator Anyim, “Government shall be willing to provide the platform to resolve all issues affecting public interest and of course the general well being of our people. I am informed that the commissioning of this terminal today will present the terminal for serialization of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and at the end of which the terminal will be opened for public use. This of course is in accordance with international best practices”.

The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah disclosed that the remodeling cost N648million. She said that the government is very prudent with its spending and determined to give state-of-the-art facilities that would stand the test of time. She further disclosed that the ministry is to commission about eight more terminals between now and January 2013.

On the claim by the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, that the GAT was concessioned to it by the Federal Government, Princess Oduah insisted that the terminal was not part of the agreement the concessionaire had with the government.
The Managing Director Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi also explained that the government was not contravening any aspects of the concession agreement. The new GAT he said was  built in the interest of the general public, he also added that  Bi-Courtney  did not have the capacity to handle Arik, that is why Arik operates a GAT.
Mr. Uriesi on a radio discussion program pointed out that the re-modeling was in the real sense construction of a new terminal “though we call this projects re-modeling, the fact is that we significantly expanded current existing terminal and we have totally renewed it.
Uriesi also highlighted other terminals currently undergoing re-modeling which include Benin, Kano, Owerri, and Kaduna stating that while keeping to the N750million target, “The philosophy is to provide a dignified and respectful airport experience for Nigerians and anybody using the airports.”

FG commissions N648M General Airport Terminal at MMA2

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By Citizensplatform

The newly remodeled 2.8 Million passenger capacity General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos was commissioned on Monday. Speaking at the Commissioning, Secretary to the Government of the Federal (SGF) Senator Ayim Pius Ayim, emphasized that Nigeria cannot be left behind in the aviation sector as a global industry.

The SGF commended the Federal Government’s efforts in improving the airport terminals, he however noted that the transformation agenda of government is not limited to remodelling of airport terminals or the construction of new ones, but that it also covers all aspects of the industry including the provision and distribution of modern equipment that would ensure safety of Nigeria airspace, accurate weather reporting, comfort and security of passengers, as well as the safety of airplanes. 

He added that it also entails the re-organisation of the aviation parastatals including reorganization, training and retraining of staff in the industry to enable them adapt to the new challenges in the industry.
According to Senator Anyim, “Government shall be willing to provide the platform to resolve all issues affecting public interest and of course the general well being of our people. I am informed that the commissioning of this terminal today will present the terminal for serialization of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and at the end of which the terminal will be opened for public use. This of course is in accordance with international best practices”.

The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah disclosed that the remodeling cost N648million. She said that the government is very prudent with its spending and determined to give state-of-the-art facilities that would stand the test of time. She further disclosed that the ministry is to commission about eight more terminals between now and January 2013.

On the claim by the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, that the GAT was concessioned to it by the Federal Government, Princess Oduah insisted that the terminal was not part of the agreement the concessionaire had with the government.
The Managing Director Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi also explained that the government was not contravening any aspects of the concession agreement. The new GAT he said was  built in the interest of the general public, he also added that  Bi-Courtney  did not have the capacity to handle Arik, that is why Arik operates a GAT.
Mr. Uriesi on a radio discussion program pointed out that the re-modeling was in the real sense construction of a new terminal “though we call this projects re-modeling, the fact is that we significantly expanded current existing terminal and we have totally renewed it.
Uriesi also highlighted other terminals currently undergoing re-modeling which include Benin, Kano, Owerri, and Kaduna stating that while keeping to the N750million target, “The philosophy is to provide a dignified and respectful airport experience for Nigerians and anybody using the airports.”

Monday, 22 October 2012


By Joe Obi, SA (Media) to Minister of Aviation

Information at our disposal indicates that Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd, the Concessionaire to MM2, apparently threatened by the imminent opening of the newly reconstructed and re-modelled GAT, Lagos is mounting a media campaign in an attempt to blur or diminish the unprecedented achievement of Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah in giving Nigerian airports a major face-lift and dignified ambience.

To be sure, the area where GAT is located has never been part of the area concessioned to Bi-Courtney Ltd. The agreement with Bi-courtney has a Survey Plan clearly marked in Square meters and the area of the GAT was never contemplated to be part of the area leased to Bi-Courtney.

Nigerians can vividly recall the dilapidated and decrepit state of the nation's airports, including GAT prior to the assumption of office of the current Minister. Today 11 airports, including the GAT are an elegant testimony of the desire and determination of the current Minister to give Nigerians what they truly deserve-airports of their dreams that compare to any such facility anywhere around the world. It is inconceivable that anyone would not only contemplate, but also hold fast to the jaundiced belief that a nation as big and great as Nigeria ought not to progress beyond having a terminal like MM2.

Regarding allegations that there are subsisting court orders restraining anybody, including FAAN which is the Landlord of all Federal airports in Nigeria from further development of the GAT, we need to stress that the cases are still on-going. In fact, our case is currently before the Supreme Court, challenging the Orders being referred to mainly, but not limited to the fact that in several of these cases, FAAN, as a principal interested party was never fully represented. 

Most of the cases and attempts at arbitration were conducted without the full incorporation and participation of FAAN. Those behind Bi-Courtney, relying on their privileged positions and closeness to the corridors of power at the time conspired to leave out FAAN in most of the adjudication and arbitration processes.
Perhaps it is pertinent to emphasise the point that most of the Concession and Lease Agreements in the aviation sector prior to the coming on board of the present Minister were heavily skewed against the national and public interest.
The review and cancellations of some of these agreement is therefore done in the overriding public and national interest. The interest of an individual investor or Corporate entity cannot be allowed to override the public good.

GAT does not belong to Bi-Courtney- Ministry

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments

By Joe Obi, SA (Media) to Minister of Aviation

Information at our disposal indicates that Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd, the Concessionaire to MM2, apparently threatened by the imminent opening of the newly reconstructed and re-modelled GAT, Lagos is mounting a media campaign in an attempt to blur or diminish the unprecedented achievement of Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah in giving Nigerian airports a major face-lift and dignified ambience.

To be sure, the area where GAT is located has never been part of the area concessioned to Bi-Courtney Ltd. The agreement with Bi-courtney has a Survey Plan clearly marked in Square meters and the area of the GAT was never contemplated to be part of the area leased to Bi-Courtney.

Nigerians can vividly recall the dilapidated and decrepit state of the nation's airports, including GAT prior to the assumption of office of the current Minister. Today 11 airports, including the GAT are an elegant testimony of the desire and determination of the current Minister to give Nigerians what they truly deserve-airports of their dreams that compare to any such facility anywhere around the world. It is inconceivable that anyone would not only contemplate, but also hold fast to the jaundiced belief that a nation as big and great as Nigeria ought not to progress beyond having a terminal like MM2.

Regarding allegations that there are subsisting court orders restraining anybody, including FAAN which is the Landlord of all Federal airports in Nigeria from further development of the GAT, we need to stress that the cases are still on-going. In fact, our case is currently before the Supreme Court, challenging the Orders being referred to mainly, but not limited to the fact that in several of these cases, FAAN, as a principal interested party was never fully represented. 

Most of the cases and attempts at arbitration were conducted without the full incorporation and participation of FAAN. Those behind Bi-Courtney, relying on their privileged positions and closeness to the corridors of power at the time conspired to leave out FAAN in most of the adjudication and arbitration processes.
Perhaps it is pertinent to emphasise the point that most of the Concession and Lease Agreements in the aviation sector prior to the coming on board of the present Minister were heavily skewed against the national and public interest.
The review and cancellations of some of these agreement is therefore done in the overriding public and national interest. The interest of an individual investor or Corporate entity cannot be allowed to override the public good.

Sunday, 21 October 2012


By Lateef Lawal

A security staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) has been nabbed for attempting to smuggle the sum of $1.4million through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday.
The suspect,  according to the General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Authority, Mr Yakubu Dati, was arrested at about 11.55am yesterday (October 20, 2012).
The Aviation Security staff whose name was given simply as A. Adetula was neither on duty nor on official assignment at the time of his arrest by security personnel at the Customs Currency Declaration Desk and has since been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission[EFCC] custody for further investigations as to whether he owned the huge sum or was on an errand for yet to be known personality for money laundering mission in one of the European countries .
The FAAN spokesman, Dati commenting on the development said,:”The Authority wishes to commend the joint efforts of the EFCC, Customs, Police and other security personnel who aided his arrest, and to assure them of its unalloyed assistance in unraveling this financial crime, particularly as the staff was acting on his own accord”.
He added,:”We wish to also assure the public that FAAN is committed to restructuring the organisation to purge it of all dis-honourable characters as it transforms into a modern and efficient entity”.
It would be re-called that in June the year, men of the Nigerian Police from the office of the Inspector General of Police arrested two officials of the FAAN Security Department for an alleged theft of $20,000 from the hand-held purse of a passenger at the screening point of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
The passenger, as earlier reported by this medium then had to lodge official complaint to the Inspector General of Police when the Managing Director of the Authority who was intimated with the incident by the victim failed to act on the matter.
Consequent arrest of the suspected staff [a male and a female] by the I.G team later led to the discovery of some sums of foreign currencies in the residence of the female suspect in Mafoluku area, Oshodi, Lagos.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

FAAN security staff nabbed over attempt to smuggle $1.4.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments

By Lateef Lawal

A security staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) has been nabbed for attempting to smuggle the sum of $1.4million through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday.
The suspect,  according to the General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Authority, Mr Yakubu Dati, was arrested at about 11.55am yesterday (October 20, 2012).
The Aviation Security staff whose name was given simply as A. Adetula was neither on duty nor on official assignment at the time of his arrest by security personnel at the Customs Currency Declaration Desk and has since been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission[EFCC] custody for further investigations as to whether he owned the huge sum or was on an errand for yet to be known personality for money laundering mission in one of the European countries .
The FAAN spokesman, Dati commenting on the development said,:”The Authority wishes to commend the joint efforts of the EFCC, Customs, Police and other security personnel who aided his arrest, and to assure them of its unalloyed assistance in unraveling this financial crime, particularly as the staff was acting on his own accord”.
He added,:”We wish to also assure the public that FAAN is committed to restructuring the organisation to purge it of all dis-honourable characters as it transforms into a modern and efficient entity”.
It would be re-called that in June the year, men of the Nigerian Police from the office of the Inspector General of Police arrested two officials of the FAAN Security Department for an alleged theft of $20,000 from the hand-held purse of a passenger at the screening point of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
The passenger, as earlier reported by this medium then had to lodge official complaint to the Inspector General of Police when the Managing Director of the Authority who was intimated with the incident by the victim failed to act on the matter.
Consequent arrest of the suspected staff [a male and a female] by the I.G team later led to the discovery of some sums of foreign currencies in the residence of the female suspect in Mafoluku area, Oshodi, Lagos.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

SkyWatch Nigeria.

The newly re-modelled General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos will be commissioned in Lagos on Monday, October 22, 2012 by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

According to a press release issued by the General Manager, Corporate Communications of FAAN, Mr Yakubu Datti, it will be the first terminal to be commissioned, among the 11 airports that are currently undergoing remodelling under the first phase of the Airport Remodelling Project.
The new terminal occupies a total floor area of about 4000 square metres, with maximum passenger capacity of about 400, at peak periods. The departure and arrival lounges have been increased to about 829 and 982 square metres respectively, while the check-in-area occupies about 1550 square metres. The increase will make passenger facilitation and cargo processing faster and easier.

The story of this terminal began in November, 2011, when the old terminal building that was re-designed and refurbished in late 1990s was demolished.The new terminal underwent a total reconstruction from the foundation. On her assumption of office as the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, promised to transform the aviation industry, in line with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government. 
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. George Uriesi has pursued these goals and translated the vision to concrete reality with the support of the Minister.
Meanwhile, an MOU has been signed which has between the Governments of Nigeria and China for the construction of five new airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port-Harcourt and Enugu.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

Commissioning of re-modeled Lagos General Airport Terminal(GAT)

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments

SkyWatch Nigeria.

The newly re-modelled General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos will be commissioned in Lagos on Monday, October 22, 2012 by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

According to a press release issued by the General Manager, Corporate Communications of FAAN, Mr Yakubu Datti, it will be the first terminal to be commissioned, among the 11 airports that are currently undergoing remodelling under the first phase of the Airport Remodelling Project.
The new terminal occupies a total floor area of about 4000 square metres, with maximum passenger capacity of about 400, at peak periods. The departure and arrival lounges have been increased to about 829 and 982 square metres respectively, while the check-in-area occupies about 1550 square metres. The increase will make passenger facilitation and cargo processing faster and easier.

The story of this terminal began in November, 2011, when the old terminal building that was re-designed and refurbished in late 1990s was demolished.The new terminal underwent a total reconstruction from the foundation. On her assumption of office as the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, promised to transform the aviation industry, in line with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government. 
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. George Uriesi has pursued these goals and translated the vision to concrete reality with the support of the Minister.
Meanwhile, an MOU has been signed which has between the Governments of Nigeria and China for the construction of five new airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port-Harcourt and Enugu.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.


By Lateef Lawal

The attention of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been drawn to a widely circulating SMS and BB message in respect of an air return involving Aero Contractors flight no. AJ 133 that departed Lagos Tuesday 16th October, 2012 en route Abuja.

The NCAA is particularly concerned about the misrepresentation contained in the SMS & BB message as it is bereft of the facts of the incident. Therefore, the NCAA wishes to use this medium to set the records straight.

From the Mandatory Occurrence Report (MOR) filed by the airline and the subsequent report by the NCAA Safety Inspectors, there was no engine failure on the flight as alleged. The flight crew, shortly after take-off, noticed a warning light in the Cockpit from no. 1 engine electrical generator.
The Crew followed the Standard Operating Procedure for electrical fault by switching on the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), one of the safety redundancies on the aircraft.

The B737 aircraft is equipped with three (3) electrical generators, one on each of the two engines and the third on the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). According to the Minimum Equipment List (MEL), the aircraft can continue to its destination with one electrical generator inoperative. However, as a safety precautionary measure the flight crew elected to return to base to fix the problem. On arrival in Lagos, all the passengers were transferred to another aircraft which operated the flight to Abuja safely.

The incident aircraft B737, reg. no. 5N-BLD was towed to the hangar and the defective generator was replaced. The NCAA Aviation Safety Inspectors have since cleared the aircraft for operations.
Again, in the misleading BlackBerry and mobile SMS going around this aircraft with reg.no 5N – BLD has been erroneously linked to another incident which occurred in Port Harcourt on the 11th October; 2012.This incident involved a different aircraft with registration 5N – BOB.

With regard to the Port Harcourt incident, the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) was faulty and the flight crew had to use the ground equipment (air starter) to start the engine in line with approved standard operating procedure. This equipment on starting made a lot of noise which is normal but frightened the passengers on board and they opted to disembark.

The NCAA wishes to state that the flight crew in both cases acted professionally in line with standard operating procedure.
The NCAA wishes to reassure the travelling public of continuous safety of aircraft operations in Nigeria''.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

No engine failure on AEROCONTRACTOR aircraft - NCAA

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments


By Lateef Lawal

The attention of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been drawn to a widely circulating SMS and BB message in respect of an air return involving Aero Contractors flight no. AJ 133 that departed Lagos Tuesday 16th October, 2012 en route Abuja.

The NCAA is particularly concerned about the misrepresentation contained in the SMS & BB message as it is bereft of the facts of the incident. Therefore, the NCAA wishes to use this medium to set the records straight.

From the Mandatory Occurrence Report (MOR) filed by the airline and the subsequent report by the NCAA Safety Inspectors, there was no engine failure on the flight as alleged. The flight crew, shortly after take-off, noticed a warning light in the Cockpit from no. 1 engine electrical generator.
The Crew followed the Standard Operating Procedure for electrical fault by switching on the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), one of the safety redundancies on the aircraft.

The B737 aircraft is equipped with three (3) electrical generators, one on each of the two engines and the third on the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). According to the Minimum Equipment List (MEL), the aircraft can continue to its destination with one electrical generator inoperative. However, as a safety precautionary measure the flight crew elected to return to base to fix the problem. On arrival in Lagos, all the passengers were transferred to another aircraft which operated the flight to Abuja safely.

The incident aircraft B737, reg. no. 5N-BLD was towed to the hangar and the defective generator was replaced. The NCAA Aviation Safety Inspectors have since cleared the aircraft for operations.
Again, in the misleading BlackBerry and mobile SMS going around this aircraft with reg.no 5N – BLD has been erroneously linked to another incident which occurred in Port Harcourt on the 11th October; 2012.This incident involved a different aircraft with registration 5N – BOB.

With regard to the Port Harcourt incident, the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) was faulty and the flight crew had to use the ground equipment (air starter) to start the engine in line with approved standard operating procedure. This equipment on starting made a lot of noise which is normal but frightened the passengers on board and they opted to disembark.

The NCAA wishes to state that the flight crew in both cases acted professionally in line with standard operating procedure.
The NCAA wishes to reassure the travelling public of continuous safety of aircraft operations in Nigeria''.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

Friday, 19 October 2012



Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah has restated government's determination to achieve a zero rate of air accidents in the country. She made the pledge in a Keynote Address at the 6th D-8 Working Group on Civil Aviation and Directors General Meeting in Abuja, Thursday.

While speaking, the Minister lamented that in spite of all the current effort being put in place to enhance air safety in the country, the Dana crash of Sunday June 03, 2012 underscored the fact that safety was a journey, and not a destination.

''This accident happened notwithstanding all our past efforts to promote safety. This clearly underscores the fact that safety is a journey, not a destination. There is only a departure, there is never an arrival with safety. We must remain focused and continue in our determination to achieve the goal of zero accident'', the Minister declared.

The Minister informed her guests of working extremely hard to reposition the industry in the past six years through a comprehensive safety reform agenda which focused on the  re-certification of the industry and resuscitation of aviation infrastructure. She explained that the new transformation agenda of the federal government of Nigeria in the past sixteen months is revolutionizing ''our airport experience and creating an aerotropolis - a new airport of the future''.

She expressed the desire for a strong collaboration  with other D-8 countries to further raise the level of aviation activities in Nigeria in order to make her air transportation the true  engine of economic growth. She said it has become very obvious, especially with the developing countries that pooling of resources is the best option in achieving sustainable growth and development of the aviation industry especially in the areas of safety, security, training and capacity building and provision of air navigation facilities.

''There already exists cooperation and business affiliation between our airlines and other D-8 countries' maintenance providers in the provision of heavy maintenance for Nigerian registered aircraft. Other areas that Nigeria urgently requires cooperation and collaboration are training/capacity building, airport operations, airline financing and operations'', the Minister added.

She further solicited the cooperation and support of the other D-8 countries in Nigeria's candidature for the Presidency of the ICAO Council in the election billed for next year. She informed the delegates that Nigeria's candidature, in the person of Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu has already received the endorsement of the African Heads of State.

Earlier in his Opening Remarks, Director General of the NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren said the 6th meeting holding in Abuja is to bring together representatives of government and the  private sector to further deliberate and discuss contemporary issues in  aviation safety, security, air transportation, training, maintenance, airport infrastructure, airline financing and investments. He expressed the hope that ''these discussions would transform into a concrete D-8 cooperation and collaboration programme in civil aviation.

 D-8 member countries including Nigeria, Bangladesh, Turkey, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia attended the meeting. Representative from Egypt and Pakistan are still being expected.


By Joe Obi, SA (Media) to the Hon. Minister





We are determined to achieve zero accident rate in Nigeria - Oduah

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments


Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah has restated government's determination to achieve a zero rate of air accidents in the country. She made the pledge in a Keynote Address at the 6th D-8 Working Group on Civil Aviation and Directors General Meeting in Abuja, Thursday.

While speaking, the Minister lamented that in spite of all the current effort being put in place to enhance air safety in the country, the Dana crash of Sunday June 03, 2012 underscored the fact that safety was a journey, and not a destination.

''This accident happened notwithstanding all our past efforts to promote safety. This clearly underscores the fact that safety is a journey, not a destination. There is only a departure, there is never an arrival with safety. We must remain focused and continue in our determination to achieve the goal of zero accident'', the Minister declared.

The Minister informed her guests of working extremely hard to reposition the industry in the past six years through a comprehensive safety reform agenda which focused on the  re-certification of the industry and resuscitation of aviation infrastructure. She explained that the new transformation agenda of the federal government of Nigeria in the past sixteen months is revolutionizing ''our airport experience and creating an aerotropolis - a new airport of the future''.

She expressed the desire for a strong collaboration  with other D-8 countries to further raise the level of aviation activities in Nigeria in order to make her air transportation the true  engine of economic growth. She said it has become very obvious, especially with the developing countries that pooling of resources is the best option in achieving sustainable growth and development of the aviation industry especially in the areas of safety, security, training and capacity building and provision of air navigation facilities.

''There already exists cooperation and business affiliation between our airlines and other D-8 countries' maintenance providers in the provision of heavy maintenance for Nigerian registered aircraft. Other areas that Nigeria urgently requires cooperation and collaboration are training/capacity building, airport operations, airline financing and operations'', the Minister added.

She further solicited the cooperation and support of the other D-8 countries in Nigeria's candidature for the Presidency of the ICAO Council in the election billed for next year. She informed the delegates that Nigeria's candidature, in the person of Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu has already received the endorsement of the African Heads of State.

Earlier in his Opening Remarks, Director General of the NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren said the 6th meeting holding in Abuja is to bring together representatives of government and the  private sector to further deliberate and discuss contemporary issues in  aviation safety, security, air transportation, training, maintenance, airport infrastructure, airline financing and investments. He expressed the hope that ''these discussions would transform into a concrete D-8 cooperation and collaboration programme in civil aviation.

 D-8 member countries including Nigeria, Bangladesh, Turkey, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia attended the meeting. Representative from Egypt and Pakistan are still being expected.


By Joe Obi, SA (Media) to the Hon. Minister





Thursday, 18 October 2012


By Lateef Lawal.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA), Engr. Nnamdi Udoh has called for a team work between the unions and the management so as to move the industry forward.Speaking at the joint meeting of the NUATE/NAMA branch chairmen /secretaries held in Lagos said, NAMA has continue to forge ahead in spite of all criticisms based on solid foundation and focused management.


Engr. Udoh explained that the era of unions banging tables to settle issues was over adding that issues were settle at the table strategically and urged them to embrace technology.He called on the unions to wade into the wages commission in order to give workers sense of direction adding that the only way forward was to find alternative source of funding of NAMA.



The NAMA boss explained that workers will get their salaries as at when due as it was the right of the workers to get their dues.Engr.  Udon reiterated that automation will never lead to job losses in his agency adding that he will not be party to signing any dismissal letter of any of his workers.He said N34 million was set aside every month to meet workers pressing needs as a result of the management response to workers plight and warned against frivolous requests from workers.



The President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees NUATE Comrade Safiyanu Mohammed said the union was not having any misunderstanding with the management of NAMA adding that there was break in communication between the duos.Comrade Mohammed cautioned branch executives against discussing national issues with management as it was the responsibility of the national body.In his address, the Coordinating
chairman of NUATE NAMA, Comrade Ade Adekoya noted that the challenges facing the aviation industry was utmost in priority and urged the unions to see the need to work together to move the industry forward.While commending the release of NAMA workers promotion for 2011 and 2012 which has led to the payment of
backlog of staff claims, Adekoya lamented that the correct version of the condition of service and salary structure could not be assessed which has led to anxiety and coded furry among workers of the agency.



Adekoya commended the NAMA management for regularizing casual workers as permanent staff in the organization expressing the hope that the workers regularization will add new impetus to the efficient and effective service delivery in the agency.He appealed to the management of NAMA to correct the embarrassing contradictions and perplexing ambiguities in the salary chart approved by the national income salaries and wages and ensure its implementation by November 2012.Adekoya also stressed the need for the update and development of workers skills by regularly exposing them to the best practices to be prepared for not only to cope with the demands of today’s environment but also face unprecedented future.Other challenges enumerated by the chairman include, life insurance, pension matters, airmen allowances, airlines indebtedness among others.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

   

NAMA MD stresses need for Industrial Harmony.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments

By Lateef Lawal.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA), Engr. Nnamdi Udoh has called for a team work between the unions and the management so as to move the industry forward.Speaking at the joint meeting of the NUATE/NAMA branch chairmen /secretaries held in Lagos said, NAMA has continue to forge ahead in spite of all criticisms based on solid foundation and focused management.


Engr. Udoh explained that the era of unions banging tables to settle issues was over adding that issues were settle at the table strategically and urged them to embrace technology.He called on the unions to wade into the wages commission in order to give workers sense of direction adding that the only way forward was to find alternative source of funding of NAMA.



The NAMA boss explained that workers will get their salaries as at when due as it was the right of the workers to get their dues.Engr.  Udon reiterated that automation will never lead to job losses in his agency adding that he will not be party to signing any dismissal letter of any of his workers.He said N34 million was set aside every month to meet workers pressing needs as a result of the management response to workers plight and warned against frivolous requests from workers.



The President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees NUATE Comrade Safiyanu Mohammed said the union was not having any misunderstanding with the management of NAMA adding that there was break in communication between the duos.Comrade Mohammed cautioned branch executives against discussing national issues with management as it was the responsibility of the national body.In his address, the Coordinating
chairman of NUATE NAMA, Comrade Ade Adekoya noted that the challenges facing the aviation industry was utmost in priority and urged the unions to see the need to work together to move the industry forward.While commending the release of NAMA workers promotion for 2011 and 2012 which has led to the payment of
backlog of staff claims, Adekoya lamented that the correct version of the condition of service and salary structure could not be assessed which has led to anxiety and coded furry among workers of the agency.



Adekoya commended the NAMA management for regularizing casual workers as permanent staff in the organization expressing the hope that the workers regularization will add new impetus to the efficient and effective service delivery in the agency.He appealed to the management of NAMA to correct the embarrassing contradictions and perplexing ambiguities in the salary chart approved by the national income salaries and wages and ensure its implementation by November 2012.Adekoya also stressed the need for the update and development of workers skills by regularly exposing them to the best practices to be prepared for not only to cope with the demands of today’s environment but also face unprecedented future.Other challenges enumerated by the chairman include, life insurance, pension matters, airmen allowances, airlines indebtedness among others.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

   

Wednesday, 17 October 2012



By Lateef Lawal

The real cause of the Dana Air plane crash of 3 June 2012, in which over 153 people were killed will soon be made known devoid of speculations. Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, disclosed this on yesterday while delivering a paper at the Nigerian Air Force Safety Seminar 2012, in Abuja. He said that the speculations on what caused the accident had been much, adding that:“We must wait for the cause of the Dana accident of June 3. We are professionals and cannot speculate, as we are working with the manufacturers of the aircraft and the American Accident Bureau investigators to unravel the cause of the accident, and very soon, Nigerians will know the truth.”

Speaking on the theme, ‘Optimizing aviation safety in a developing nation,’ Demuren said safety is not defined by the age of the aircraft, but requires air worthiness status, good airman-ship, effective safety oversight, operational environment and management of human factors. 

He regretted that most airlines did not have maintenance hangar and facilities for the routine checks and unscheduled maintenance, saying the only saving grace is the
Nigerian Air-force hangar in Lagos.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

Cause of DANA Plane crash to be unraveled soon - DG

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments


By Lateef Lawal

The real cause of the Dana Air plane crash of 3 June 2012, in which over 153 people were killed will soon be made known devoid of speculations. Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren, disclosed this on yesterday while delivering a paper at the Nigerian Air Force Safety Seminar 2012, in Abuja. He said that the speculations on what caused the accident had been much, adding that:“We must wait for the cause of the Dana accident of June 3. We are professionals and cannot speculate, as we are working with the manufacturers of the aircraft and the American Accident Bureau investigators to unravel the cause of the accident, and very soon, Nigerians will know the truth.”

Speaking on the theme, ‘Optimizing aviation safety in a developing nation,’ Demuren said safety is not defined by the age of the aircraft, but requires air worthiness status, good airman-ship, effective safety oversight, operational environment and management of human factors. 

He regretted that most airlines did not have maintenance hangar and facilities for the routine checks and unscheduled maintenance, saying the only saving grace is the
Nigerian Air-force hangar in Lagos.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.
By Lateef Lawal

Arik Air, has lauded President Goodluck Jonathan over the waiver of import duty on commercial aircraft and spare parts as announced in the 2013 budget presentation to the National Assembly on Wednesday. Mr. Chris Ndulue, the Executive Vice President/Managing Director of Arik Air described the concession as heart-warming and one that will not only enhance safety but also assuage the high operating cost incurred by Nigerian airlines. 

He praised the President for mustering the political will to incorporate the tariff waiver in the 2013 budget presentation thereby giving vent to the long sought relief for domestic airlines that have been reeling under the cumbersome Custom procedures for imported aircraft and spare parts.
“There can be no better time than now for this tariff waiver announced by the President as Nigerian airlines are bleeding from excessive taxes. We have been clamouring for this kind of succour over time and are happy that it has finally come”.
“The waiver of import duties on aircraft and spare parts will undoubtedly reduce the financial burden on airlines and encourage good maintenance practices since spare parts will now be available at lower costs,” Ndulue stressed.

President Goodluck Jonathan had during the 2013 budget presentation to the National Assembly on Wednesday observed that airline operators in the country maintain their aircraft overseas at heavy cost and that the relief would go a long way in assisting the airlines to re-new their fleet of aircraft.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

Arik Air lauds Federal Goverment over aircraft/spare parts import duty waiver.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments
By Lateef Lawal

Arik Air, has lauded President Goodluck Jonathan over the waiver of import duty on commercial aircraft and spare parts as announced in the 2013 budget presentation to the National Assembly on Wednesday. Mr. Chris Ndulue, the Executive Vice President/Managing Director of Arik Air described the concession as heart-warming and one that will not only enhance safety but also assuage the high operating cost incurred by Nigerian airlines. 

He praised the President for mustering the political will to incorporate the tariff waiver in the 2013 budget presentation thereby giving vent to the long sought relief for domestic airlines that have been reeling under the cumbersome Custom procedures for imported aircraft and spare parts.
“There can be no better time than now for this tariff waiver announced by the President as Nigerian airlines are bleeding from excessive taxes. We have been clamouring for this kind of succour over time and are happy that it has finally come”.
“The waiver of import duties on aircraft and spare parts will undoubtedly reduce the financial burden on airlines and encourage good maintenance practices since spare parts will now be available at lower costs,” Ndulue stressed.

President Goodluck Jonathan had during the 2013 budget presentation to the National Assembly on Wednesday observed that airline operators in the country maintain their aircraft overseas at heavy cost and that the relief would go a long way in assisting the airlines to re-new their fleet of aircraft.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

Tuesday, 16 October 2012



  
By Citizensplatform

Given the critical nature of the aviation sector, the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has applauded President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for approving a zero tariff on aircraft spare parts in the 2013 budget.
This is a further confirmation of the Federal Government’s commitment towards transforming the aviation sector. We recall with delight that the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah made a case for the lifting of the tariff duty as part of an overall effort towards transforming the aviation sector.
Her dogged determination and consistent pursuit of the aviation roadmap is indeed yielding result already as evident in the remodeling of 11 airports across the nation. We recall that when the minister met with airline industry players, she promised to pursue the issues bedeviling the airline industry, especially the cost of importation of spare parts which is a major component of the operational cost.
The Managing Director, FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi believe that this action will turn around the industry and make aviation attractive to the much needed foreign investment. He said the ongoing remodeling exercise has already created a platform for the takeoff of Nigeria as a major hub in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.
Uriesi noted that the FG’s action has indeed inspired enthusiasm in the international investors who had indicated strong interest in doing business with the Nigeria aviation industry during the Minister’s recent road show. He expressed hope that the airlines will take advantage of this gesture, so that not only will it improve the economy but the benefit will trickle down to the travelling public in terms of cheaper transportation.

FAAN applauds Federal Goverments approval of Zero Tariff on aircraft spare parts.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments


  
By Citizensplatform

Given the critical nature of the aviation sector, the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has applauded President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for approving a zero tariff on aircraft spare parts in the 2013 budget.
This is a further confirmation of the Federal Government’s commitment towards transforming the aviation sector. We recall with delight that the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah made a case for the lifting of the tariff duty as part of an overall effort towards transforming the aviation sector.
Her dogged determination and consistent pursuit of the aviation roadmap is indeed yielding result already as evident in the remodeling of 11 airports across the nation. We recall that when the minister met with airline industry players, she promised to pursue the issues bedeviling the airline industry, especially the cost of importation of spare parts which is a major component of the operational cost.
The Managing Director, FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi believe that this action will turn around the industry and make aviation attractive to the much needed foreign investment. He said the ongoing remodeling exercise has already created a platform for the takeoff of Nigeria as a major hub in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.
Uriesi noted that the FG’s action has indeed inspired enthusiasm in the international investors who had indicated strong interest in doing business with the Nigeria aviation industry during the Minister’s recent road show. He expressed hope that the airlines will take advantage of this gesture, so that not only will it improve the economy but the benefit will trickle down to the travelling public in terms of cheaper transportation.


By Lateef Lawal.

The Federal Government of Nigeria is to host the 6th D-8 Working Group on Civil Aviation and Director Generals Meeting at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja between 18-19 October, 2012. According to the Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority[NCAA], Dr Harold Demuren in a press statement, one of the objectives of the meeting is to bring together representatives of government and private sector in the aviation industry.


This is a platform for the DGs to intermittently deliberate and discuss contemporary issues, latest developments and trends in the areas of safety, security, air transportation and training. Other areas of discussion include maintenance, airport infrastructure, airline financing and operations, investments etc. In addition, the meeting is expected to identify potentials, opportunities, challenges and threats of D-8 in Civil Aviation cooperation and collaboration. It will as well facilitate interactions and networking among civil aviation stakeholders including government/regulators, service providers, investors and financial institutions/banks etc.

As a result of the conclusion of the Terms of Reference (TOR) of four of the Task Forces at the fifth meeting of the (WGCA and Director Generals) meetings in Jarkarta, Indonesia on 8th to 9th of June, 2011, this 6th meeting will be presented with the reports of the activities of each these task forces. The Task Forces are as follows:


Task Force on safety and security
Task Force on Commercial issues (Maintenance,
Airport and Terminal infrastructure, Ground handling,
leasing etc.
Task force on Air Navigation and Air
Traffic management, and
Task Force on Training and Capacity Building.



Member countries will be persuaded to ratify the Memorandum of Cooperation between the D-8 WGCA and the International Civil Aviation Organisation(ICAO). The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah will deliver the Keynote address while the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation authority (NCAA) will give the opening remarks. Member countries are Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey.

 Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah to deliver keynote address on 6th D-8 Meeting.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments

By Lateef Lawal.

The Federal Government of Nigeria is to host the 6th D-8 Working Group on Civil Aviation and Director Generals Meeting at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja between 18-19 October, 2012. According to the Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority[NCAA], Dr Harold Demuren in a press statement, one of the objectives of the meeting is to bring together representatives of government and private sector in the aviation industry.


This is a platform for the DGs to intermittently deliberate and discuss contemporary issues, latest developments and trends in the areas of safety, security, air transportation and training. Other areas of discussion include maintenance, airport infrastructure, airline financing and operations, investments etc. In addition, the meeting is expected to identify potentials, opportunities, challenges and threats of D-8 in Civil Aviation cooperation and collaboration. It will as well facilitate interactions and networking among civil aviation stakeholders including government/regulators, service providers, investors and financial institutions/banks etc.

As a result of the conclusion of the Terms of Reference (TOR) of four of the Task Forces at the fifth meeting of the (WGCA and Director Generals) meetings in Jarkarta, Indonesia on 8th to 9th of June, 2011, this 6th meeting will be presented with the reports of the activities of each these task forces. The Task Forces are as follows:


Task Force on safety and security
Task Force on Commercial issues (Maintenance,
Airport and Terminal infrastructure, Ground handling,
leasing etc.
Task force on Air Navigation and Air
Traffic management, and
Task Force on Training and Capacity Building.



Member countries will be persuaded to ratify the Memorandum of Cooperation between the D-8 WGCA and the International Civil Aviation Organisation(ICAO). The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah will deliver the Keynote address while the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation authority (NCAA) will give the opening remarks. Member countries are Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey.

 Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

By Lateef Lawal

The new president of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association [NATCA] Mr. Victor Eyaru has pledged to pursue vigorously the welfare of controllers in the country during his tenure in the discharge of their duty. Speaking to reporters in Makurdi, Benue State, immediately after he was declared winner of the keenly contested election, Mr. Eyaru said, the welfare of controllers remained paramount in the programme of the new executive. While assuring that controllers will remain dedicated to their duty by giving their best towards ensuring safety of the airspace, the NATCA boss warned against compromise which he said, will not be tolerated within the association as usual. He assured that all aggrieved parties will be reconciled for the progress of NATCA adding, that it was time to foster unity for the overall development of both the association and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.


Mr. Eyaru, who commended the immediate past executive of NATCA for their achievements while in office, solicited the support of members in order to succeed during his tenure. The immediate past president of NATCA, Alhaji Haske Jibrin, charged the new executive to be honest, resourceful, focused and have defined goals and objectives in order to succeed. Alhaji Jilbrin noted, that nothing can exist in a vacuum and called for a very solid foundation warning, that it was not going to be easy as a lot of obstacles will be on their way as the aviation industry was a highly dynamic and challenging with a lot of vested interests everywhere.
“A lot of vested interests here and there, navigating through all these interests is often difficult but as a leader there is nowhere to hide and they simply have to make their choices and live with the consequences”


Commenting on his six year years as NATCA president, Jibrin said, the era recorded tremendous progress in air traffic control in the country which has directly imparted positively in the lives of ATC and their families. He noted that during his tenure that attention of the NAMA management was drawn to the challenges faced with in the discharge of their duties especially the problems with two area control centres in Lagos and Kano and the four approach control units in the country.
Jibrin regretted that, during his tenure, the association was unable to organize seminars where ATC would have received some training on latest development in aviation generally and air traffic control in particular.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviaition News.

New NATCA President Comrade Eyaru Pledges to unite members.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments

By Lateef Lawal

The new president of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association [NATCA] Mr. Victor Eyaru has pledged to pursue vigorously the welfare of controllers in the country during his tenure in the discharge of their duty. Speaking to reporters in Makurdi, Benue State, immediately after he was declared winner of the keenly contested election, Mr. Eyaru said, the welfare of controllers remained paramount in the programme of the new executive. While assuring that controllers will remain dedicated to their duty by giving their best towards ensuring safety of the airspace, the NATCA boss warned against compromise which he said, will not be tolerated within the association as usual. He assured that all aggrieved parties will be reconciled for the progress of NATCA adding, that it was time to foster unity for the overall development of both the association and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.


Mr. Eyaru, who commended the immediate past executive of NATCA for their achievements while in office, solicited the support of members in order to succeed during his tenure. The immediate past president of NATCA, Alhaji Haske Jibrin, charged the new executive to be honest, resourceful, focused and have defined goals and objectives in order to succeed. Alhaji Jilbrin noted, that nothing can exist in a vacuum and called for a very solid foundation warning, that it was not going to be easy as a lot of obstacles will be on their way as the aviation industry was a highly dynamic and challenging with a lot of vested interests everywhere.
“A lot of vested interests here and there, navigating through all these interests is often difficult but as a leader there is nowhere to hide and they simply have to make their choices and live with the consequences”


Commenting on his six year years as NATCA president, Jibrin said, the era recorded tremendous progress in air traffic control in the country which has directly imparted positively in the lives of ATC and their families. He noted that during his tenure that attention of the NAMA management was drawn to the challenges faced with in the discharge of their duties especially the problems with two area control centres in Lagos and Kano and the four approach control units in the country.
Jibrin regretted that, during his tenure, the association was unable to organize seminars where ATC would have received some training on latest development in aviation generally and air traffic control in particular.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviaition News.

By Lateef Lawal

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria [ATSSSAN] and the National Union of Air Transport Employees [NUATE] have commended the government on the zero per-cent tariff on aircraft and spare parts importation announced by President Jonathan in his budget presentation to the National Assembly. Comrade Benjamin Okewu, National President of [ATSSSAN] while praising President Jonathan for the waivers on aircraft and spare parts importation said, it has provided a golden opportunity for airline operators in the country to bring in aircraft that can stand the test of time.

Comrade Okewu said, it was also an opportunity for the operators to re-fleet their aircraft and cut down their  fares, pull resources together and source for one digit loan from the international financial organizations to bring in economical machines that will enhance the air transport system in the country. 
“For airline operators especially those that are still in operation should capitalize on this noble opportunity to re fleet their aircraft. In doing that, they must take into consideration the routes that they are flying. The route must determine the type of the aircraft to be brought in”  Okewu noted that, tariffs has been the major constraints
on the parts of the airline operators especially in the last five years when it became very obvious that local airlines were on the verge of going down as a result of high tariffs on parts which led to calls by the unions to grant  waivers to the aviation sector.

The ATSSSAN boss lamented, that cartel has hijacked the oil sector making it very difficult to have JET A1 refined in the country at the detriment of the airlines adding that, aviation fuel accounted for about forty percent of the running cost of an airline. He called for the building of dedicated refineries for JET A1 as aviation has continued to play a vital role in driving the economy.
”As a stop gap measure, government should instruct the NNPC to specifically produce the required quantity that were needed in the country”
On the approved construction of five new international airports by the federal government, Comrade Okewu was optimistic that, the long awaited plans agitated for have gradually started taking off describing it as a good omen.
Comrade Mohammed Safiyanu, national president of NUATE in his reaction to the removal of tariffs on aircraft and spare parts importation, said the union and the Airlines Operators of Nigeria [AON] have long agitated
for this removal.

According to Safiyanu, airline operators have argued that the cost of importation of aircraft and its parts have been responsible for the high cost of fares adding that the zero tariffs will go a long way in crashing air fares on the domestic routes. The NUATE president however called on the government to look into the possibility of refining petroleum products in the country especially the JET A1 in order to bring the down the airfares in the country.
“We saying that all the refineries must be made to work and refine these products in the country especially JET A1. This will make more people to fly instead of going by road” Comrade Safiyanu said.

On the five new airports approved for construction by the government, the union leader said it was a good development if only the existing ones can be maintained along with the construction of the new
international ones. Comrade Safiyanu advised that work on going at the old airports should not be abandoned while constructing the new terminals and expressed the hope that there was hope for the country’s aviation sector.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

Unions Hail Zero-Tariffs on Aircraft Importation.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments

By Lateef Lawal

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria [ATSSSAN] and the National Union of Air Transport Employees [NUATE] have commended the government on the zero per-cent tariff on aircraft and spare parts importation announced by President Jonathan in his budget presentation to the National Assembly. Comrade Benjamin Okewu, National President of [ATSSSAN] while praising President Jonathan for the waivers on aircraft and spare parts importation said, it has provided a golden opportunity for airline operators in the country to bring in aircraft that can stand the test of time.

Comrade Okewu said, it was also an opportunity for the operators to re-fleet their aircraft and cut down their  fares, pull resources together and source for one digit loan from the international financial organizations to bring in economical machines that will enhance the air transport system in the country. 
“For airline operators especially those that are still in operation should capitalize on this noble opportunity to re fleet their aircraft. In doing that, they must take into consideration the routes that they are flying. The route must determine the type of the aircraft to be brought in”  Okewu noted that, tariffs has been the major constraints
on the parts of the airline operators especially in the last five years when it became very obvious that local airlines were on the verge of going down as a result of high tariffs on parts which led to calls by the unions to grant  waivers to the aviation sector.

The ATSSSAN boss lamented, that cartel has hijacked the oil sector making it very difficult to have JET A1 refined in the country at the detriment of the airlines adding that, aviation fuel accounted for about forty percent of the running cost of an airline. He called for the building of dedicated refineries for JET A1 as aviation has continued to play a vital role in driving the economy.
”As a stop gap measure, government should instruct the NNPC to specifically produce the required quantity that were needed in the country”
On the approved construction of five new international airports by the federal government, Comrade Okewu was optimistic that, the long awaited plans agitated for have gradually started taking off describing it as a good omen.
Comrade Mohammed Safiyanu, national president of NUATE in his reaction to the removal of tariffs on aircraft and spare parts importation, said the union and the Airlines Operators of Nigeria [AON] have long agitated
for this removal.

According to Safiyanu, airline operators have argued that the cost of importation of aircraft and its parts have been responsible for the high cost of fares adding that the zero tariffs will go a long way in crashing air fares on the domestic routes. The NUATE president however called on the government to look into the possibility of refining petroleum products in the country especially the JET A1 in order to bring the down the airfares in the country.
“We saying that all the refineries must be made to work and refine these products in the country especially JET A1. This will make more people to fly instead of going by road” Comrade Safiyanu said.

On the five new airports approved for construction by the government, the union leader said it was a good development if only the existing ones can be maintained along with the construction of the new
international ones. Comrade Safiyanu advised that work on going at the old airports should not be abandoned while constructing the new terminals and expressed the hope that there was hope for the country’s aviation sector.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

Friday, 12 October 2012



By Lateef Lawal

Relief may have come the way of airline operators in Nigeria as President Goodluck Jonathan today in his 2013 budget presentation to the Joint Session of the National Assembly announced zero tariff on aircraft importation and spares.
In announcing it,he explained that it was obvious that airline operators in the country maintain their aircraft overseas at heavy cost and that the relief would go a long way in assisting the airlines to re-new their fleet of aircraft.
It will be recalled that members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria[AON] have over the years pleaded with successive government to assist them by sharply reducing the tariff they pay on the importation of aircraft, spares and rotables to assuage the high cost they incurred in their operations.
The Report of March 2006 of Air Vice Marshal Paul Dike had recommended that government should cancel the 5% Value Added Tax being charged on ticket and cargo as part of the palliatives sought for airline operators.
In the final report of the Presidential Task Force on Aviation Industry, the Paul Dike Committee recommended in paragraph 70 page xxvii,among others that,:'' Government should grant custom duty waivers on aircraft spares, engines and test equipment. This would reduce financial burden on the airlines. It would also encourage good maintenance practices since spare parts would be more easily available. It would also remove the extra delay occasioned by cumbersome Custom procedures''.
The Assistant General Secretary of AON, Alhaji Mohammed Tukur commended the president for his good gesture and that the proposal,he hoped would scale through the National Assembly screening so as to further enhance safety of aircraft operations within the country's airspace.
He, however noted that nobody should start claiming credit for this proposal except Mr President who has muster the political will to forward the Paul Dike Committee recommendation to the Legislature for approval in the 2013 Appropriation Bill.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.

2013 BUDGET: Airlines to Enjoy Zero Tariff on Aircraft and Spare-Parts Importation.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments


By Lateef Lawal

Relief may have come the way of airline operators in Nigeria as President Goodluck Jonathan today in his 2013 budget presentation to the Joint Session of the National Assembly announced zero tariff on aircraft importation and spares.
In announcing it,he explained that it was obvious that airline operators in the country maintain their aircraft overseas at heavy cost and that the relief would go a long way in assisting the airlines to re-new their fleet of aircraft.
It will be recalled that members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria[AON] have over the years pleaded with successive government to assist them by sharply reducing the tariff they pay on the importation of aircraft, spares and rotables to assuage the high cost they incurred in their operations.
The Report of March 2006 of Air Vice Marshal Paul Dike had recommended that government should cancel the 5% Value Added Tax being charged on ticket and cargo as part of the palliatives sought for airline operators.
In the final report of the Presidential Task Force on Aviation Industry, the Paul Dike Committee recommended in paragraph 70 page xxvii,among others that,:'' Government should grant custom duty waivers on aircraft spares, engines and test equipment. This would reduce financial burden on the airlines. It would also encourage good maintenance practices since spare parts would be more easily available. It would also remove the extra delay occasioned by cumbersome Custom procedures''.
The Assistant General Secretary of AON, Alhaji Mohammed Tukur commended the president for his good gesture and that the proposal,he hoped would scale through the National Assembly screening so as to further enhance safety of aircraft operations within the country's airspace.
He, however noted that nobody should start claiming credit for this proposal except Mr President who has muster the political will to forward the Paul Dike Committee recommendation to the Legislature for approval in the 2013 Appropriation Bill.

Courtesy: Nigerian Aviation News.
By Honorable Datti Yakubu


We read with dismay, the press statement credited to the Secretaries of National Joint Aviation Unions on recent developments in the Nigerian aviation industry. We do not intend to trade words with the authors of the said document but it is important to set the records straight, so that the public, especially aviation stakeholders, will not be misled. We therefore, wish to state as follows:

That the current automation of revenue collection in the aviation agencies is a positive, modern and beneficial way of revenue collection endorsed by the management of all the aviation agencies. It is on record that before the current Minister of Aviation assumed office, some of the agencies had commenced automation, largely because it ensured the blockage of all leakages in the process and made revenue collection easier and transparent.
The Honorable Minister of Aviation has not concession automation, a has been disingenuously alleged by the union leaders. The Minister issued a policy that required that revenue points be automated at all the Ministry’s agencies and parastatals in order to curb severe revenue leakages. As a result, the agencies instructed their major revenue bank, First Bank, to spearhead this automation on a contractual basis that allows the bank to invest up-front in the equipment, hardware and software to run the system and to be remunerated for this over a period.
This saved the agencies from having to make a major up-front investment in this critical service. It must be placed on record that the unions never saved the agencies and the ministry any money as they claimed to have done with their ‘intervention’. The automation was never going to cost the agencies any up front investment! Their allegations that the airports re-modelling exercise did not follow due process are baseless, to say the least. 
Suffice to say that Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) is not just involved in the projects, the Authority is also the engine room of the projects and due process was indeed followed, as could be verified by relevant government agencies. With respect to the restructuring exercise that just took place in the agencies, it is the
prerogative of the minister and the management of the agencies, on behalf of the Federal Government, to carry out the necessary changes that are required to ensure that the agenda of Government are delivered. 
The structural changes in FAAN were necessary and this was clearly explained to all the staff of FAAN, through a letter to staff written personally by the Managing Director, Mr George Uriesi and made public.It must be stated that the structural changes in FAAN will not mean an expansion in the size of the organization.
The organization will just get more efficient and productive with proper redeployment of the available human resources to achieve the most important strategic objectives of the Authority.In the process of this structural change, hardworking  officers in the agencies whose promotions were stagnated were promoted, some were transferred to places where they could be more productive, while new hands with adequate experience and expertise were injected to strengthen the agencies. We are aware that certain elements within the industry are not comfortable with these changes and have sworn to resist same. 
We note specially that for years, some leaders of the unions have used their position as union officials to build empires in Lagos and therefore will resist any transfers or redeployment. It is necessary to state that the union leaders are, first of all, employees before becoming union leaders and are subject to the same conditions of service like other employees. The virulent, foul, uncouth and offensive language employed by the union leaders on the Honorable Minister and those who have been appointed at senior level to help drive the transformation effort at the agencies, is deeply regrettable. It is a great pity that staff of the Federal Government can display such wanton disregard and grossly disrespectful behavior to their constituted authority.

The unfortunate allegation that the Honorable Minister has used the restructuring exercise to deliberately get rid of staff of a particular ethnic profile lacks any merit whatsoever and is tantamount to cheap blackmail. In fact, the Honorable Minister, in consultation with the agency CEOs ensured that in all instances, appropriate square pegs were placed in square holes, irrespective of where they came from in the country. This is a correction of the
previous situation where round pegs had been imposed in square holes in the past. It is pertinent to wonder why there were no similar protests from these same unions in the past when lopsided and irregular external appointments were made that are responsible for the sorry state from which these agencies are now being rescued. Was it because key officials of these unions were favored by such lopsided appointments then? The only interest here was to establish professional, capable and efficient agencies. We believe that this restructuring exercise will re-position the agencies correctly 


Hon. Dati Yakubu is the General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN)

Recent developments in Aviation Industry in Nigeria.

Posted on by Aviation Nigeria with No comments
By Honorable Datti Yakubu


We read with dismay, the press statement credited to the Secretaries of National Joint Aviation Unions on recent developments in the Nigerian aviation industry. We do not intend to trade words with the authors of the said document but it is important to set the records straight, so that the public, especially aviation stakeholders, will not be misled. We therefore, wish to state as follows:

That the current automation of revenue collection in the aviation agencies is a positive, modern and beneficial way of revenue collection endorsed by the management of all the aviation agencies. It is on record that before the current Minister of Aviation assumed office, some of the agencies had commenced automation, largely because it ensured the blockage of all leakages in the process and made revenue collection easier and transparent.
The Honorable Minister of Aviation has not concession automation, a has been disingenuously alleged by the union leaders. The Minister issued a policy that required that revenue points be automated at all the Ministry’s agencies and parastatals in order to curb severe revenue leakages. As a result, the agencies instructed their major revenue bank, First Bank, to spearhead this automation on a contractual basis that allows the bank to invest up-front in the equipment, hardware and software to run the system and to be remunerated for this over a period.
This saved the agencies from having to make a major up-front investment in this critical service. It must be placed on record that the unions never saved the agencies and the ministry any money as they claimed to have done with their ‘intervention’. The automation was never going to cost the agencies any up front investment! Their allegations that the airports re-modelling exercise did not follow due process are baseless, to say the least. 
Suffice to say that Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) is not just involved in the projects, the Authority is also the engine room of the projects and due process was indeed followed, as could be verified by relevant government agencies. With respect to the restructuring exercise that just took place in the agencies, it is the
prerogative of the minister and the management of the agencies, on behalf of the Federal Government, to carry out the necessary changes that are required to ensure that the agenda of Government are delivered. 
The structural changes in FAAN were necessary and this was clearly explained to all the staff of FAAN, through a letter to staff written personally by the Managing Director, Mr George Uriesi and made public.It must be stated that the structural changes in FAAN will not mean an expansion in the size of the organization.
The organization will just get more efficient and productive with proper redeployment of the available human resources to achieve the most important strategic objectives of the Authority.In the process of this structural change, hardworking  officers in the agencies whose promotions were stagnated were promoted, some were transferred to places where they could be more productive, while new hands with adequate experience and expertise were injected to strengthen the agencies. We are aware that certain elements within the industry are not comfortable with these changes and have sworn to resist same. 
We note specially that for years, some leaders of the unions have used their position as union officials to build empires in Lagos and therefore will resist any transfers or redeployment. It is necessary to state that the union leaders are, first of all, employees before becoming union leaders and are subject to the same conditions of service like other employees. The virulent, foul, uncouth and offensive language employed by the union leaders on the Honorable Minister and those who have been appointed at senior level to help drive the transformation effort at the agencies, is deeply regrettable. It is a great pity that staff of the Federal Government can display such wanton disregard and grossly disrespectful behavior to their constituted authority.

The unfortunate allegation that the Honorable Minister has used the restructuring exercise to deliberately get rid of staff of a particular ethnic profile lacks any merit whatsoever and is tantamount to cheap blackmail. In fact, the Honorable Minister, in consultation with the agency CEOs ensured that in all instances, appropriate square pegs were placed in square holes, irrespective of where they came from in the country. This is a correction of the
previous situation where round pegs had been imposed in square holes in the past. It is pertinent to wonder why there were no similar protests from these same unions in the past when lopsided and irregular external appointments were made that are responsible for the sorry state from which these agencies are now being rescued. Was it because key officials of these unions were favored by such lopsided appointments then? The only interest here was to establish professional, capable and efficient agencies. We believe that this restructuring exercise will re-position the agencies correctly 


Hon. Dati Yakubu is the General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN)
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