CCECC to constuct four International airports in Nigeria

Aviation Nigeria

Chinese construction giant, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, (CCECC) has pledged to deliver the four new International Airport terminals it will be constructing in Nigeria in record time of 20 months.

President of CCECC, Yuan Li who disclosed this when a High-Powered Delegation of Nigerian Government officials paid him a Courtesy/Facility Inspection Visit at the Corporate headquarters of the company in Beijing, said the quality of the work to be done at the airports will be of the highest international standard comparable to similar projects executed by the company in other parts of the world.

Yuan Li said the airport terminals’ construction remains a special project to the company, stressing that the company’s imprimatur of unrivaled excellence would be brought to bear in the building of the terminals in Nigeria.

Responding, Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah said she is eagerly looking forward to the signing of the agreement today and the completion of the projects in the next 18-20 months, adding that the desire to have the best for Nigerian airports informed the decision to work with a reputable, world class construction firm like CCECC.

The Minister said she has no iota of doubt in her mind on either the quality of job to be delivered by CCECC or the completion timelines since due diligence was conducted before the Federal government finally settled for CCECC.

When completed, the Minister said the Nigerian International airports would take their rightful place in the world aviation map, and boost Nigeria’s position as the natural hub for commercial aviation business on the African continent. The $500 million loan deal is for the construction of four, brand new International terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.

Also speaking, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe expressed satisfaction that CCECC has been a very active firm in Nigeria, saying he would want to have the company in the East-West and the Oron-Calabar road projects.

He said with the President’s State Visit to China, a new chapter is being opened in the bilateral and economic relationship between the two countries, and expressed the hope that the four international airport projects would be completed in good time.

Speaking further, Yuan Li said CCECC is the biggest Chinese company doing business in Nigeria, with a local staff strength of about 20, 000 and an expatriate quota of 1000 Chinese citizens. He expressed gratitude to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the government of Nigeria for the support given to the company, adding that CCECC wants to establish a special friendship between Nigeria and China.

Responding to concerns raised by another member of the Nigerian delegation and Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar that CCECC needs to make a paradigm shift from being A Contractor to an Investor firm in Nigeria, Li said the company has already made that strategic decision and has started investing in Real Estate development. He added that the company intends to expand its investments in Nigeria to include manufacturing (cement), seaports, railways, Highways development, Steel, among st others.

Already, he said the company has finalized plans to incorporate a new firm-CCECC Industries Nigeria Ltd to to prosecute its investment agenda in Nigeria and help develop the industrial sub-sector of the economy, adding that going forward, the company intends to increase the number of indigenous Nigerian employees while reducing the expatriate quota to the barest minimum.

To accomplish this, he said the company has mapped out a scheme to grant scholarships to, and train Nigerian students in technical areas in Chinese Universities to make up for the manpower needs in critical areas like Railway Engineering and Management, amongst others.

He said CCECC also intends to set up a Joint Venture (JV) with the Nigerian government for the operation and maintenance of the railways, and would soon commence construction work for CCECC Plazas in Abuja and Lagos.

In his remarks, Works Minister, Mike Onolemehme said Nigeria and Nigerians were worried that CCECC was not investing in the country, adding that the assurances by Li that the company would begin to invest massively in Nigeria is heart-warming.

He said his Ministry is executing road projects worth over $2billion, with CCECC as a major contractor, and expressed the desire to see the company venture into real investments rather than pure contract execution.

Also speaking, Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma said President Jonathan is committed to moving Nigeria to the next level, adding that the National Assembly will give him all necessary support.

Also on the Courtesy Visit was the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation Sector Reforms, Ms Anne Ene-Ita, Vice Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Ahmed Rufai Chanchangi, Representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Mr Clement Dosunmo, DG NIMET, Dr Anthony Anuforom and MD, NAMA, Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, among others.

AISAN lauds FG over AIS automation

Aviation Nigeria

The current drive by the Federal Government to make the Nigerian airspace rank among the safest in the world, is fast becoming a reality as the automation project of aeronautical information services at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has reached 97 percent  completion.

The Aeronautical Information Services  Association of Nigeria (AISAN), commenting on this development, lauded the Federal Government and the management of NAMA for expediting action on the  AIS  automation which has informed the installation of  two antennae each  at 11 airport stations across the country.

According to the AISAN president Comrade Babatunde Shittu, AIS automation would further boost air safety in Nigeria and enhance search and rescue operation as National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) is incorporated into the project.

The airports to benefit from the project include: Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Jos, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Owerri, and Yola. Others are Zaria, Calabar Osubi, Minna, Kaduna, Enugu, Katsina, Ibadan, Benin, Akure, Bebi, Bonny, Eket and Escravos.

Comrade Shittu  who led a delegation of AISAN executive on a courtesy visit to NAMA management thanked the Managing Director, Engr. Mazi Nnamdi Udoh for his relentless effort to actualize the dream of AIS automation.

 He appreciated the MD for the migration to e-flight plan since November, 2012 in compliance with ICAO directive and the recent deployment of more staff to the department.

Shittu also urged Engr. Udoh to ensure that Nigeria transits from Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) to Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) on or before the 15th November 2013 according to amendment 37, annex 17 of ICAO convention.

The NAMA boss , appreciated the effort of the association, assuring them that the project, with the support of the Federal Government through the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah would  be completed as scheduled, so that the traveling public would  continue to enjoy seamless air navigation.

He also solicited the co-operation of staff to ensure that the vision of the Federal Government in transforming the aviation sector into a world class entity is achieved.

Plane Crash In Lagos; A Hoax – NAMA

Aviation Nigeria

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has said its attention was drawn to a purported plane crash at Igando, a suburb in Lagos State which it said was a hoax.

The managing director of the agency, Engr. Mazi Nnamdi Udoh while speaking to newsmen on Wednesday said:

"This morning, we were inundated with phone calls and inquiries  over  a crash involving  a small aircraft but there is nothing like that ,it is a hoax  because our system did not capture any missing plane"

The director made the assertion in Lagos on Thursday  while  dispelling the rumor.

Udoh explained that American registered aircraft is marked- N972TF, was written as a scrap belonging of Late Apostle Gabriel Oduyemi of Bethel Ministries and had long been parked at a NAMA facility up till Wednesday night when it was eventually removed.

The aircraft was actually released to Captain M.J.Ekehinde who will be using it for educational purposes in Badagry, Lagos. A cross section of the wings was removed to ease transportation to its new location.

"I affirm again that NAMA facilities are working at optimal level and this could have assisted in detecting any missing plane within the nation’s airspace." Udoh said

He added that while the agency appreciated the concern of the public on responding to the sighting of a plane at an unusual site, he urged the public to always contact police and local government officials with necessary information on such incidence.

Governor Wamakko's plane diverted for safety - Ministry

Aviation Nigeria

The Ministry of Aviation in Abuja on Wednesday said that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on wednesday 11 June 2013, diverted an Aircraft carrying, Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, for safety purposes

This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Aviation, Mr Joe Obi in Abuja.

The statement read: 

"A Donnier 328 aircraft carrying Gov. Wamakko and other passengers from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to Sokoto airport was diverted to Kaduna airport for safety and security precaution measure."

"This followed the near breakdown of law and order at the Sokoto Airport by an unruly crowd of Wamakko's supporters who broke the fence on their way to the tarmac, to welcome the governor.

"Effort by security personnel to prevent the breach of security and movement into the prohibited and restricted areas of the airport was met with stiff resistance from the crowd.

"Sensing that the security and safety of the governor and other passengers is in real danger, NAMA decided to divert the aircraft to Kaduna Airport to restore normalcy at the airport," 

The statement noted that the governor and other passengers on board had since returned and landed safely at the airport, after the crowd had been restrained from entering the restricted zone.

Source: NAN

Pilot on Oshiomhole’s flight refused to file flight plan & manifest - NAMA

Aviation Nigeria

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has said that it grounded a chartered helicopter conveying Edo State Government, Adams Oshiomhole from Benin to Anambra  after the pilot failed to file a flight plan and manifest.

In a statement signed by NAMA on 7 June 201, the agency said the incident required further clarification and thus made the following submissions:

1. That the pilot of a Helicopter marked 5N-BPX AS335 operated by OAS, was called from Government House Edo State that he would be lifting from there to Awka, Anambra State. He was however informed of the need for official documentation.

2. That for the safety and security of people onboard there is the need to file a flight plan at the airport and submit passenger manifest.

3. That his initial response was that he was flying the Governor and they were going for an important meeting in Awka.

4. That the pilot was advised to lift from the airport direct and do the documentation since he had the Governor who is chief security of the State onboard. This would have taken only three minutes.

5. That the flight plan can be a tool for search and rescue in case of any emergency.

6. That the pilot hesitated for a while and later consented to fly to the airport.

7. That at 10.18 am the helicopter landed at the airport and the pilot went straight to the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) without manifest as he claimed he didn’t know the names of those on board. He was however assisted to write the names of those onboard for the sake of the Governor.

8. That NAMA officials in line with requirements for safety and security moved quickly to ensure that the pilot complied with the flight procedure and this lasted for 30 minutes.

9. That the said helicopter needed to file in a flight plan because  it is billed to operate in a controlled airspace where it would  be expected for the pilot to yield to air traffic controllers’ instructions.

10. That the Benin Airport, Air Force Commandant, Air Commodore U.J. Atiku told the pilot of the need to file in the necessary papers as a professional and should not give impression that the Governor was denied departure to Awka.

11. That amidst of all these, the governor sought to speak with the Airspace Manager on the cause of delay. The ASM was never given chance to explain the need to observe mandatory procedures for safety and security, rather was verbally assaulted severally while trying to explain the primary reason for the delay.

12. That the Pilot ,Captain Vame believed to be a Korean later apologized to NAMA  officials for his refusal to document his flight and pay the necessary charges. He pleaded that the incident should not be filed against him.

The agency maintained that it was observing the established due process in its operations adding that no political motive was intended.

Nigerian Airspace Is Safer - NAMA

Aviation Nigeria

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nnamdi Udoh has reassured travellers of a safer air travel in the country.

Mr Udoh, who was a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, advised travellers that boarded an aircraft that could not land due to poor weather condition to “walk up to the pilot and inquire why he did not get destination weather, did he not get briefed on weather before departure?”

He said this is important “because it is now mandatory for every pilot to go and get from the aeronautical information services’ operational office weather briefs, enroute and destination to be able to fly comfortably and arrive safely.”

Mr Udoh said the Nigerian aviation industry is compliant with the global standards as far as metrological information is concerned.

“The Nigerian Metrological Agency, recently got ISO9001 certified so you must be sure that the data our metrological agency gives out are correct,” he said.

The NAMA boss said a second development that has restored confidence in the country’s airspace is the strengthening of air traffic regulations by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

He said, “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has strengthen its general aviation arm; has strengthen its ramp inspection in ensuring that airlines do maintenance as required and are properly supervised.”

Aviation unions shelve strike action

Aviation Nigeria

An intended strike action by two industrial unions of the aviation sector has been shelved aside.

This was made known in a press release by the Special Adviser to the Honorable Minister of Aviation, Joe Obi.

Members of The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) who had planned embark on a strike action, withdrew their decision after consultations earlier today.

The decision reached by the Union on shelving the strike action followed the outcome of a meeting convened in Abuja by heads of both unions with the Honorable Minister of Labor and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu and the management of National Airspace Management Agency(NAMA).

The union leaders presented issues which they claimed necessitated the intended strike action, however the Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity maintained that they had not been properly notified by the unions.

Resolutions were reached and jointly signed by the national presidents of both unions and Directors of NAMA, NATCA and FAAN as well as the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity.

NAMA set to commence AIS in October

Aviation Nigeria

The  Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has said it plans to test run its Automated Information System (AIS) in October.

The Director of  Safety Electronics  and Engineering Services (DSEES) of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr Ifeanyi Nwankwo made this announcement to journalists recently in Lagos.

Nwankwo who disclosed the level of work on the installation told aviation correspondents in Lagos, that the first phase of AIS automation which would be made up of 10 stations would come alive at the end of October this year.

Egnr Nwankwo said the agency envisaged the challenges of power failure and security adding that a hybrid solar station has been put in place for the equipment by the agency while NAMA engineers will be expected to monitor stations from time to time but needed security to do so.

The objective of the Aeronautical Information Service is to ensure the flow of information necessary for the safety, regularity and efficiency of international air navigation.

Aviation Policy aims to build a stronger sector –Minister

Aviation Nigeria

The Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah has said the main thrust of the 2013 New Civil Aviation Policy, NCAP is to develop strategic plans to build a stronger, dynamic and liberalized aviation sector that will meet present and future challenges in the sector.

The Aviation minister disclosed this at the Public Presentation Friday of the 2013 NCAP, she said “the goal of government is to put in place an Aviation sector that delivers socio-economic benefits to Nigerians”.

She recalled that “in November 2012 the Ministry of Aviation in line with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated a technical review committee to develop a sustainable policy framework for the Nigerian Aviation Sector”.

The technical was composed of experts from both private and public sectors of the Aviation industry.

Princess Oduah mentioned that the review exercise became necessary as the NCAP was last reviewed in 2001 and the global and local aviation industry has experienced safety and security challenges as well as technological developments.

The policy review exercise revealed that the Nigerian Aviation industry needed to be restructured to enable it drive economic growth for the country as well as remain globally competitive.   These objectives, the minister noted will be effectively achieved through greater participation of the private sector in the Nigerian Aviation industry.

“The Federal ministry of Aviation is therefore repositioning the industry to be largely driven by the private sector” said the Minister.  She added that the policy review exercise clearly showed that the government’s vision for dynamic, self-sustaining air transport system is achievable.

Princess Oduah said she was pleased to present the reviewed NCAP and urged all stakeholders to join in its implementation emphasizing that “the Federal government of Nigeria is conscious of the fact that sustainable implementation of this policy is would require the collective participation of all stakeholders in the Nigerian Aviation sector”.

NAMA soon to commence area radar control

Aviation Nigeria

The National Airspace Management Agency NAMA has announced it would commence full area radar control by the end of this month. The agency has also promised a hitch free air traffic operation.

Disclosing this in Lagos at the weekend, the managing director of the agency,Engr. Mazi  Nnamdi  Udoh said 22 air traffic controllers  drawn from Lagos and Kano area control centres  have been specially trained on en-route  area radar control for a seamless air traffic service within the nation’s airspace.

He however added that the selected controllers alongside some communication engineers ,completed their simulator training at the Lagos radar site on Friday to round up their schedule of trainings before embarking  on the area radar control.

“The agency had since Thursday ,May 2,2013 issued Aeronautical Information Circular(AIC) to all airlines in line with  the mandatory 28 days notice required by industry regulation  for a full trial of the new air traffic operation”.

“The agency had equally upgraded the radar maps and harmonized its data base to allow for accurate co-ordination of traffic when the en-route area radar control is fully deployed” he added.

Engr. Udoh said that the operational manual in respect of the area radar control has been submitted to the regulatory agency,NCAA  for necessary approval,adding that NAMA  has followed industry best acceptable  practices before deploying this service to airlines.

He lauded the controllers for their interest and commitment to commence en- route radar control within the nation’s airspace.

NAMA clarifies delay of Gov. Amechi's aircraft in Akure

Aviation Nigeria

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have maintained that Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers' aircraft was delayed at the Akure Airport because its pilot refused to submit the passengers' manifest. 

The Managing Director of the agency, Mr Nnamdi Udoh, said this at a news conference  which was also attended by Mr  Benedict  Adeyinka, the Director of Airworthiness  and Standards, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Udoh said that submission of documents, including the manifest stating those on board the aircraft, was part of the mandatory requirements and regulations any pilot  had to comply with before taking off from any of the nation's airports.

``We need to stress that we operate by rules and regulations in the aviation industry. Aviation is not politics and we don't play politics in the industry,'' Udoh said.

Udoh appealed to pilots and operators to comply with the operating rules at all the airports in the country.

He recalled that the aircraft, which flew the governor to Akure, had registration mark 5N565 RS -Global Express.

The NAMA boss said that the Akure Airport made daylight operations, which ended by 6.00 p.m. after which no aircraft was allowed to land or take off, except with permission from higher authorities.

He said the pilot, who flew Amaechi, called for clearance from 6.35 p.m., which was some minutes after the close of daylight operations.

``The pilot called for Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) clearance at 6.35 p.m., got clearance  same time, started taxiing by 6.45p.m. and departed by 6.51p.m. ,''  he said.

Udoh said the delay in the flight being cleared to take off at that time was subject to the approval of the authorities concerned .

``By regulations, the airport manager has no power on his own to clear any aircraft at this period, except an approval is given by the authorities concerned.

``After due clearance and the provision of the needed logistics, the aircraft in reference was cleared for take off,'' Udoh said.

He, however, said that the issue was still being investigated further.

Reports had indicated that an aircraft conveying Amaechi was grounded temporarily at the Akure airport on Friday .

The incident was said to have happened after the burial of Mrs Funmi Olayinka, the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, held in Ado Ekiti, (NAN)

NAMA Cooperatives record significant increase in 2012

Aviation Nigeria

President of NAMA Staff Cooperatives and Investment Society,Mr Edino Amos has stated that the savings of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA) cooperatives society rose from N88m in 2011 to N130m in 2012.

He made this assertion while speaking at the 11th Annual General Meeting of the society, adding that the amount of loans disbursed to members was over 40% in the year under review.

Amos noted that 2012 remained one of the challenging years but with determination and dedication the cooperative was able to scale through with a significant achievements.

The Cooperative and Investment Society has been able to assist members and imparted positively in meeting up with their obligations through securing loans at a very low interest rate.

The president also added that the cooperative had recorded N11..2million in profits during the year

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

Nigeria to host African Aviation Conference

Aviation Nigeria

Nigeria has been nominated by the executive of the Civil Air Navigation Organisation in Africa to host its first regional conference.

The conference billed for Abuja, is to hold between October 7 and October 11, 2013.

This was disclosed in Lagos on Thursday by the Regional Director, Africa Affairs, Ms. Boni Dibante, when she paid a visit to the headquarters of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency in Lagos.

The conference, which is intended to review air navigation safety globally, especially in Africa, will also chart the way forward for aviation safety as well as develop strategies for improvement.

A statement from the NAMA quoted Dibante as describing the forthcoming event as historic, being the first to be organised by the newly established CANSO Africa Regional Office.

He urged NAMA leadership to strive towards a successful outing.

Participants at the conference would be drawn from the 11 African members, other global members as well as ICAO and industry regulators around the world, he said.

The Managing Director of NAMA, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh, commended Dibante for “doing a great job with CANSO in Africa by creating awareness and ensuring that safety regulations are adhered to within the continent.”

Source: PUNCH

Experts laud NAMA’s TRACON

Aviation Nigeria

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, says that its multi-billion naira Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, TRACON, equipment spread across the nation’s airports has been confirmed to be of high quality by some industry experts.

The agency through an online statement signed by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Supo Atobatele, stated that the safety equipment was lauded by the visiting members of the Aviation Round Table, ART, who toured the Lagos Airport site of the equipment over the weekend.

According to him, ART led by its Secretary-General, Mr. Sam Akerele who was also once a member of staff of the agency, stated that what NAMA had in various airports at the moment was complete safety equipment, which would go a long way in boosting safety in the airspace.

Akerele reportedly said, “What we have now is a complete radical departure from the past. The new radar is a good thing to happen to this generation as we can see that flights are properly vectored by the controllers without stress.”

The statement stated that comments by some stakeholders on the effectiveness of the radar had rather been speculative as they lacked the technical knowledge on the workings of TRACON.

He stressed that the visit of ART members to the site was to educate some stakeholders who have consistently dismissed the scheme as a mere terminal radar, stressing that the radar covers even beyond the shores of Nigeria.

Akerele reportedly said that the visit of the professional association became necessary following embarrassing comments to the media by some stakeholders who have not been privileged to visit TRACON and may not know how the radar works.

Source: National Mirror

NAMA workers to begin warning strike on Friday

Aviation Nigeria

Workers of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA), on Wednesday, announced plans to embark on one-day warning strike on February 22.

The workers are making this complain under the umbrella of the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).

The strike is to be embarked over alleged non-implementation of the new salary structure  introduced by  the agency, which the workers have demanded to be implemented.

Addressing newsmen at the NAMA headquarters in Lagos, Benjamin Okewu, National President, ATSSSAN, explained that workers of the agency across the nation would embark on a warning strike to drive home their demand.

“We affirm categorically that failure on the part of NAMA management to implement the approved salary structure is an invitation to industrial crisis,” he said.

"The workers of NAMA, therefore, unequivocally call on NAMA management to immediately and comprehensively implement the reviewed/adjustment of the salary structure of the agency dated Aug. 13 2012.” Okewu added.

He noted that the implementation of the salary would guarantee the welfare of workers, enhance productivity and performance of the agency.

ABUJA GAT: A product of unwavering efforts - Uriesi

Aviation Nigeria

By George Uriesi

Today’s event is of great significance because it marks the formal commencement of general aviation services at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport since its inception in the early 80s, even though it is the second busiest airport in the country, after the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja. 

The airport has had to contend with decaying infrastructure and obsolete facilities that belied its position as the second busiest in the country, apart from being situated in the nation’s capital city. What was then the airport’s domestic terminal operated both scheduled and non-scheduled flights using the same tarmac and terminal facilities.

The resultant congestion did not augur well for efficient service delivery hence the need to separate the services into two terminals. Domestic flight operations were transferred to a wing of the international while the old domestic terminal was to be remodelled to serve as the General Aviation Terminal, for more efficient service delivery.

This new arrangement was made possible by the advent of airport remodelling project initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan and vigorously pursued by the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, who has not relented in reminding all of us that implementing the project to the letter is a task that must be done. Today’s commissioning of this new General Aviation Terminal is a product of her relentless effort.

We are happy to inform you that the Authority is bracing up for more commissioning ceremonies in the next few months because work on the remodelling of the other terminals under phase I of the airport remodelling project is nearing completion in Benin, Owerri, Yola, Kano, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Calabar and Jos. 

You may also wish to recall that the reconstructed Domestic Terminal I (formerly GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja was commissioned in October, last year.

Work on the remodelling of this new General Aviation Terminal started in October, 2010 and was completed early this month. 

The project entailed the expansion of the old domestic terminal and its conversion to a general aviation terminal for non-scheduled flights. The new terminal has a full complement of modern terminal facilities including check-in counters, shops, offices, duty rooms, conference center, dining room, kitchen, security screening machines and lounges, including a separate lounge for pilots.

By today’s commissioning, scheduled and non-scheduled flights at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport will take place at two different terminals, creating opportunities for huge improvement in service delivery by FAAN and other service providers in the aviation industry. 

is our hope that the completion of the first and second phases of the airport remodelling project will transform Nigerian airports into a haven for viable private investments. We hereby invite all well meaning investors to join hands with Government to hasten the fulfilment of this dream.

We wish to thank our dear President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for believing in the potential of the aviation industry to make Nigeria great and for matching this belief with action, through the formulation of the Transformation Agenda for the industry. We also owe deep gratitude to the amazon of the industry, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah for her doggedness in realising the vision of the President for the industry. 

The airport remodelling project and other programmes for the industry would have remained mere paper work without the assistance of the National Assembly which has encouraged us through their various committees on aviation. We are grateful, Your Excellency. 

We also thank other stakeholders, who have, in one way or another, made today’s event possible through their various contributions.

On our part as FAAN, we wish to assure all Nigerians, especially aviation stakeholders, that our airports can only get better. The recent restructuring of the Authority was designed to make us adapt to recent developments in the industry so that our services will not fall short of acceptable international standards, as set by ICAO and I know that this is achievable.

Opinion Post: RE: Another wrong move in aviation sector

Aviation Nigeria

The Punch newspaper of Friday, January 18, 2013 in its Editorial under the above caption was characteristically very caustic in its jaundiced appraisal and ‘analysis’ of the moves by the current aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah to intervene ‘’directly’’ in the domestic operations of the local airlines in Nigeria. 

We grant The Punch, or any other newspaper in Nigeria for that matter its sacred right to hold and disseminate opinion, but we are totally averse to such opinion being expressed in the most deprecating manner! 

If the entire piece were to secure some converts to its avowed position that the private sector holds the key to all the problems in the aviation sector in Nigeria today, I sincerely doubt if any objective reader would be so convinced given the naked display of vitriol, bordering on plain hatred and utter dislike for the person of the Minister as expressed in that Editorial Opinion-which ought to be more elevated both in language and presentation. 

But ample evidence, not only in the aviation industry, but also in other sectors of the economy shows that the private sector is not the Holy Grail-in all situations, as The Punch wants us to believe. My brief does not include an exposure of past failed PPP arrangements in the country as I am pretty sure The Punch has the information at its finger-tips. 

It was however very convenient for The Punch to throw into the mix the successes in the Communications sector and the Seaports for its purposes.

Be that as it may, we like to take deliberate effort to state very emphatically that contrary to the views expressed in that piece to the effect that government, especially its intervention efforts in the aviation sector in the past have come to naught-and therefore no similar effort, regardless of the different circumstances can come to any useful purposes, is at best pedestrian. 

Like the Master Plan and Roadmap that was developed, for the very first time for the sector, the various intervention efforts by the present Minister are very well thought through. They are not a knee-jerk reaction to the challenges facing the sector.

To be sure, it is not true that Yakubu Dati, the spokesman for FAAN was the first person to break the news of government’s plan to acquire 30 aircraft to make up for the equipment deficit by domestic operators. 

Dati was only re-echoing what the Aviation Minister had personally disclosed in an interview with a national daily. My humble self had also, in an earlier Press Release made clarifications on the matter. 

But this is besides the question. It beats one’s imagination that a newspaper would make a blanket statement that ‘’it is inconceivable for this government to consider any further direct intervention with public funds’’ regardless of the circumstances. 

Without prejudice to the way and manner previous intervention funds had been utilized in the past, it is too reductionist for anyone to literally advocate a blanket ban on future intervention without looking at the merit of individual cases.

Of course, Princess Oduah has expressed strong reservations on the way and manner the Aviation Intervention Fund was utilized by beneficiary airlines. 

It will however be escapist to, on the strength of past failures, fold her arms and do nothing in the face of the critical needs of domestic operators for equipment (aircraft). 

The decision to acquire these equipment was therefore not only well thought through, but also a product of wide consultations with stakeholders and the flying public which desires brand new, safe, and efficient aircraft. 

To avoid pitfalls of the past, with attendant allegations and counter-allegations of misapplication of fund, the Minister now opted for the safe option where physical cash would not be doled out to any operator. 

And for emphasis, these equipment would not be given out for free to any airline operator-there would be stringent conditions that potential beneficiaries must meet in order to qualify as a beneficiaries. 

One of such conditions would be ability to refund (bank guarantee). 

This way, government investment would be secure, while at the same time meeting the challenge of equipment deficit on the part of operators and the desire for newer, safer aircraft from the flying public. It is going to be a win-win situation. 

The point being made is that it is too reductionist and escapist to say that since previous direct intervention failed in the past, government must run away from it like a plaque! 

What anybody should interrogate is the modalities governing the current intervention effort, not a blanket ‘BAN’ as the Punch is advocating.

The Punch agrees with our position that much of the problems of the sector are ‘’fundamentally structural’’ requiring a ‘’thorough overhaul of the dilapidated infrastructure’’. 

Pitiably, since we do not hold the same view that the private sector holds the key to the solution of all these problems, the paper conveniently choose to be silent on the huge efforts-with tangible and verifiable results, that the present Minister has undertaken to tackle the challenges. 

For several decades, the infrastructure at the nation’s airports had been left to rot and decay. It took the current Minister less than 12 months to show that government can indeed achieve results when the leadership is right.

It is curious, but not entirely surprising that the Punch is mute on the dramatic turn of fortune for airport terminals across the country that today wear grandiose and edifying look; courtesy of the re-modelling Projects embarked upon by Princess Oduah.

The infrastructural rehabilitation and upgrade currently going on across all 22 federally –owned airports more than adequately answers The Punch query of inherited derelict facilities at the airports. 

And for over five years, the runway lighting on Runway 18L at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) were not installed. 

Just before Christmas of 2012, the lights came alive courtesy of the huge efforts of NAMA to boost air safety in Nigeria. 

The Punch does not think this deserves some mention too. To be sure, we do not ask for praise; since the Minister is only doing her job, but we insist that her modest efforts be acknowledged.

We realize, like The Punch that some of FAAN’S problems are ‘‘managerial and structural’’. But when in the last quarter of 2012, the Minister took the bull by the horns in her Institutional Reform Programme to re-position FAAN and other agencies under the ministry for higher productivity, efficiency and accountability, commentators took up arms against her, falsely alleging ethnic cleansing. 

The NCAA has also been strengthened to carry out its regulatory oversight. The least we expect of The Punch is an acknowledgement of this re-positioning exercise which has seen round pegs put in round holes. Instead, what we see is a rehash of the old mantra of ‘managerial’ problems!

Talking about government’s alleged failed efforts in the past is good. It is also good to be fair and balanced. As far as the aviation sector is concerned, PPP arrangement being spear-headed by The Punch has been a huge failure and disappointment. 

We do not need to mention the scandalous Concession and Lease Agreements in the sector in the past which literally sold out government and Nigerians’ equity in government property at a pittance. 

The present leadership in the sector does not intend to travel this treacherous road again. The new National Carrier which the Minister is championing will not be funded by the tax payer, it will be private-sector driven in terms of funding while government provides the framework, platform and enabling environment. 

Curiously, this does not meet The Punch’s minimum criteria and quest for Private Sector involvement in the growth of the sector as it has equally lampooned the initiative. 

"All the ill-thought-out schemes for state-sponsored national Carrier, buying aircraft and building new terminals are driven by corruption and will only serve as new conduits for filching government funds’’, the paper concludes. Haba, Punch! But we clearly understand. 

The paper wants government property and investments in the aviation sector to be handed over to Private Sector surrogates in the name of PPP and Concessions, but this is a long-travelled road. This Minister is not going there. 

Joe Obi is the SA (Media) to the Hon. Minister of Aviation. He contributed this piece from Abuja.

Final draft of PBN submitted to NAMA.

Aviation Nigeria.

The final report of the Performance Base Navigation(PBN), a follow up to World Geodetic Survey(WGS-84) of the country's airports has been submitted to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA).

The report which is a a follow up to World Geodetic Survey(WGS-84) of the country's airports was submitted to the Managing Director of NAMA, Mazi Nnamdi Udoh on 12 January 2012 by the Country Manager of International Air Transport Association(IATA) Adefunke Adeyemi.

Pilots  flying into or within the Nigeria's airspace will now have to get themselves acquainted with Satellite equipment in their cockpit to be certified certified by NCAA upon installation by their individual airlines. 

PBN is helping the global aviation community reduce aviation congestion, conserve fuel, protect the environment, reduce the impact of aircraft noise and maintain reliable, all weather operations, even at the most challenging airports. 

It also provides operators with greater flexibility and better operating returns while increasing the safety of regional and national airspace systems.

Aviation Minister promotes 66 NAMA AGM's to DGM's

Aviation Nigeria

The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze-Oduah  has approved the promotion of 66 Assistant General Managers in Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA) to the position of Deputy General Managers.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director of NAMA, Mazi Nnamdi Udoh on Friday 11 January 2013 during an interactive in-house chit-chat with middle and senior management officials of the Agency tagged "Happy Hour" in its headquarters,MMIA,Ikeja,Lagos.

Mazi Udoh enjoined the newly promoted officers to further put in their best so as to sustain the agency in its task of providing seamless air navigation services to its numerous and the continued safety of the country's airspace.

Mazi Udoh further enjoined those promoted to always imbibe the spirit cooperation in their day to day encounter with one another. 

Some of the newly promoted officers while expressing their happiness on their new status, commended the Managing Director for having recommended them to the Minister for promotion and that this is the first time in the history of the agency that such number of officers would be promoted at once.

The officers promoted are:

1. Charles Obi

2. Julius Ojewale

3. Damian Ejiogu

4. Fidelis Ogbonna

5. Samuel Madunagwu

6. Romanus Uche

7. Jonathan Olatunji

8. Emmanuel Onyebueke

9. Edwin Amaechi

10. Sylvanus Onu

11. Agnes Chinda

12. Akiniyene Mendie

13. Daniel Irhepono

14. Fatai Olanrewaju

15. Olusegun Obafemi

16. Francis Nwankwo

17. Ferdinand Anukwe

18. Mecha Kalu (who was posthumously promoted. He died in the June 3,2012 Dana plane crash)

19. Festus Aseghiemhe

20. Clifford Esoung

21. Anthony Omashor

22. Levi Nnadi

23. Joseph Ibe

24. Solomon Mbachu

25. Patric Ezike

26. Basil Omamogho 

27. Gabriel Nwosu. 

Others are-

28. Ahmed Ibrahim

29. Emmanuel Nwokodi

30. Cordelia Ekpott

31. Ndubuisi  Ihedioha

32. Silas Odo

33. Sunday Jonah

34. Kenneth Nworah

35. Chijioke Nwachukwu

36. Paul Ugadu

37. Josiah Ngwuta

38. Tijani Shahada

39. Akanji Awolade

40. Ephraim Maigida

41. Malumta Ali

42. Emmanuel Onyemaobi

43. Gabriel Yankaura

44. Abdul Yankaura.

The rest are: 

45. Charles Uwechi

46. Obiesie Egwim

47. Iliya Wakili

48. Lateef Olabanji

49. Moses Williams

50. Ademola Adebowale

51. Mansur Mohammed

52. John Tayo

53. Jude Ineh

54. Martin Akujuobi

55. Ademola Adeleke

56. Adebayo Kareem

57. Rafik Arogunjo

58. Robinson Ba'Azo

60. Haske Jibrin

61. Matthew Pwajok

62. Joshua Agbaje

63. Joy Umeh

64. George Amadi

65. Ifeanyi Ogochukwu

66. Edward Osimen.