Nigeria’s Aviation: The Stella Oduah Rat chase

Aviation Nigeria

By Stephen Anayo

Nigeria's parliamentarians and aviation stakeholders are currently enmeshed in a running battle as they seek to probe the recent purported acquisition of two bulletproof cars by the nation's Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah.

The rat chase is such that it is easy to forget that less than a year ago, there was high praise from a number of quarters for this high-achieving individual, in the light of her inputs into the ailing aviation sector.

She embarked on a foreign road trip earlier this year, in her bid to get foreign investment to build the first aerotropolis in all of Nigeria, using the four most commercially viable airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourta model that locates business enterprises at the airports.

Oduah has equipped 22 Nigerian airports with lightning and thunderstorm detection equipment covering a range of 200 km and has made plans to build a cargo airport to help the increasing number of agricultural exports and with the redistribution of cargo.

That garnered praise from the eccentric governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. He said "Stella has spoken about a cargo airport for perishables and for agriculture. Now, for me, as an economist and as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, that is the most important and visionary step that the Aviation Minister has taken."

He also applauded her efforts to make the flying experience as comfortable as possible, stressing that: "Airports are not just to carry human beings from Lagos to Kano; it is not just there to make travel easy and comfortable experience for individuals." 

Quite a lot of cynic Nigerians probably do not know that under the minister's watch, a Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility (TRACON) was set up and ground controllers in the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), which relays the low-level wind shear specific alerts to pilots via voice radio communication.

Just two years after her appointment, she set up the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) "Wreckage Hangar’’ in Abuja to ensure the speedy investigations of air crashes and incidents in Nigeria.

After years of neglect and near-deterioration, the international terminal of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu was commissioned and this same minister has secured approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the construction of five brand new International terminals /Cargo terminals from a concessionary loan from Chinese EXIM bank.

As you read this, plans are at an advanced stage to float a new national carrier that will be completely private-sector driven and professionally managed too. For the existing airlines, the minister has decided to play Good Samaritan too as she is working on the acquisition of about 30 new aircraft for domestic airlines through an intervention fund to re-fleet the airlines and boost their capacity.

In times of unnecessary fare disparity against Nigerian passengers by British Airways authorities with better treatment being meted out to other nationals, no one but Stella Oduah stood up to challenge the airline's authorities. Even the current imbroglio that Turkish Airways is involved in, as regards the Abuja-Kano route is because the minister is refusing to bow to another airline giving Nigerians sub-par treatment unlike what obtains in other countries. But will the press ever bother to report about this? 

Stella Oduah handled the Bilateral Air Service Agreement, BASA that involved the Arik Airline and the British Airways authorities and  brought to the fore, her diplomatic ingenuity and negotiating skills. 

For Arik's sake and for the benefit of Nigerians visiting London often, she got back the airline's landing slots into Heathrow Airport and worked magic by getting the airport management to increase the slots to seven, from four per week.

It is instructive to note too that she stopped Bi-Courtey from increasing the Passenger Service Charge to protect the traveling public from undue exploitation and ensure that everyone, rather than just the elite can fly at affordable rates. Consequently, air travel costs remain reasonable and there has not been any appreciable increase since she took over at the ministry.

As-a-matter-of-factually speaking, she has demonstrated ability, doggedness, competence and a lot of resilience to ensure that the Aviation Industry lines up with internationally accepted standards.  Instead of battling with her array of critics as some other government officials are wont to do, she has concentrated on leaving a good legacy and trying to complete ongoing projects that the ministry is involved in. It takes maturity and uncommon tenacity to do this and obviously, these are some of the minister's strong points.

For a third world country such as Nigeria, it is quite pleasing to the eyes that the country's airports which were once an eyesore and a symbol of governmental malfeasance can change. Oduah is turning water to wine and deserves to be given a second chance; perhaps she can indeed make the land of the Nigerian prince a land flowing with milk and honey.

Bi-Courtney To Resume Work On Lagos Airport Hotel

Aviation Nigeria

Work is set to resume on the hotel and conference centre projects owned by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Ikeja. The twin projects are located opposite MMA2, also operated by BASL.

Sources in Bi-Courtney said the contractor for the projects, Stabilini Visinoni, would soon mobilise to site and complete the two projects “once and for all”.

According to the source, “all is now set for our contractor to move to site and see to the end of the projects, which have been there for a few years now. This time, we are determined to complete the projects and change the face of the Murtala Muhammed Airport environment for the better”.

The two projects have become a subject of litigation between Bi-Coutney and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the lessor of the land in which they are sited, following which a Federal High Court barred the agency from tampering with the project and the lease agreement in any form whatsoever.

The firm and the agency had entered into a 40 years lease agreement over the land on February 2, 2007.

But, while the projects were ongoing, a dispute arose over the lease agreement following which Bi-Courtney challenged the purported revocation of the lease by FAAN at the Federal High Court.

The matter, however, took a new turn as Justice Mohammed Idris assumed jurisdiction on the suit, despite the preliminary objection filed by the Federal Government.

The judge said Bi-Courtney’s action was properly filed, adding that “it is competent and the court has jurisdiction to hear it”.

In two letters, dated April 19, 2012, FAAN had informed Bi-Courtney that the leases granted it in respect of the two projects had been terminated. The agency hinged its action on alleged breaches committed in the agreements signed on the projects.

The court consequently stopped FAAN from interfering in the projects paving the way for Bi-Courtney to resume work.

Source: flynaija

FAAN: Workers pressure for conversion of Bi-Courtney Hotel

Aviation Nigeria

Workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have called on the management for the conversion of the hotel erected by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) into an official headquarters for the agency.

This was contained in a solidarity message to FAAN’s Managing Director, George Uriesi, by the workers, who also indicated the possibility of a strike strike action if the request was not granted.

Few weeks ago FAAN said it had taken over the hotel being built on a lease concession opposite the domestic terminal, MMA2, owned and managed by BASL. But Bi-Courtney had also earlier secured a court injunction to stop FAAN from taking over the facility and unless the court rules otherwise.

Confirming the demand of the workers, a senior official of Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigerian (ATSSSAN, FAAN branch) said that what the workers requested was in tandem with their earlier position about the “giving of all the airport land in Lagos to Bi-Courtney,” adding that the federal government at the time it was given to the company “arm-twisted FAAN to reach concession agreement with Bi-Courtney Limited.”

“He (Dr. Wale Babalakin, the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited) arm-twisted FAAN to secure those concessions. He said  he would use our living quarter as guest house, together with the airport school. He said he was going to use the headquarters of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) as the kitchen for his hotel. But when he took lease of that land where he built the hotel, it was agreed he would complete it in 18 months. It is now more than eight years.

“He has deprived us revenue from that land. We have lost over N5 billion from that land which was rented to food vendors and part of it used as car park. He was annexing all the land at the airport. We have to use the hotel as our headquarters. It is well located as head office,” the official said.

Source: This Day

Bi-Courtney introduces free wireless service to MMA2 Terminal.

Sky Watch Nigeria.

As part of its determination to create a unique experience for passengers, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, in conjunction with iWayafrica and MultiChoice Nigeria, has introduced free internet services to passengers travelling through the terminal.

This is even as MMA2 won the Most Efficient Airport Terminal Award of the Transport and Society Weekly newspaper.
Industry stakeholders said the Wi-Fi Hotspot solution at MMA2 will be the first of its kind in any airport terminal in Africa. It will enable users of the terminal access the world while waiting to board their flights.

“We’re really making the travel experience unique. We are the only airport terminal in Africa to offer free Wi-Fi to passengers. We are the only airport in Nigeria with live arrivals and departures on the net (www.mma2lagos.com) and this is just the beginning. When it comes to working, investing and maintaining in the interest of the Nigerian public, we will make sure we remain far ahead. This is just one in the series of face-lifting, multi-million naira projects to be executed shortly at the terminal, which has been enjoying increased patronage in the last few weeks,” a statement issued by BASL said.

According to the statement signed by the company’s spokesman, Steve Omolale-Ajulo, “the first phase of the project has already started from the Final Departure. This is one of the numerous Xmas gifts BASL is giving to its passengers.

“Other locations at the terminal, such as the Food Court, Meeters & Greeters, as well as KFC are to be considered for the facility very soon. More ambitious projects to make MMA2 the best terminal in Africa will be executed in the New Year.”

Meanwhile, the management of the Transport and Society newspaper told the management of BASL at the presentation of the award at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Lagos, that MMA2 won the Most Efficient Airport Terminal Award because of the consistent way it has been maintaining its facilities since inception, adding that the votes to determine the winner were cast by aviation stakeholders.

Responding, the Chief Executive Officer of BASL, Mr. Christophe Penninck, promised that the terminal would always remain the preferred gateway to majority of local air travellers in Nigeria.

The award is coming a few weeks after the newest airline in the country, Med-View Airline, began operations at MMA2 and said its decision to choose the terminal as operational base was informed by its facilities, which BASL promised it would continue to improve upon.

Bi-Courtney assures Med-View Airlines of smooth operations at MMA2

Sky Watch Nigeria

Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), today congratulated and assured the management of Med-View Airline of smooth operations, as it begins scheduled domestic flights from MMA2 tomorrow.

BASL said the airline is joining others, who have been enjoying its ultra-modern facilities in the last five years, and assured the management of Med-View of its support to ensure hitch-free operations from MMA2, adding that such facilities would be extended to the airline.

A statement issued early today by BASL spokesman, Steve Omolale-Ajulo, quoted the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation, Mr. Christophe Penninck, as saying that the company feels elated that Med-View decided to operate from MMA2, “which further confirmed the conducive nature of the terminal to airline operations”.

The statement added that “BASL has put everything in place to ensure that Med-View Airline sustains its operations at the ultra-modern MMA2 the way we have always done and have continued to do for other airlines that are using our facility, which is the best airport terminal in the country”.

While wishing Med-View Airline safe operations, Penninck was also quoted as assuring the new airline that BASL would collaborate with its management to restore passengers’ confidence in the country’s aviation industry.

Med-View says it will operate scheduled flights from MMA2 to Abuja, Port Harcourt and other parts of the country. The airline, which had hitherto been involved in Hajj operations, joined other airlines, such as Aero Contractors, IRS, Dana, First Nation, Chanchangi and Associated airlines to operate from MMA2.