GAT: Stakeholders Commend Aviation Minister

Aviation Nigeria

Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah has been commended by Aviation Stakeholders over the commissioning of the world class General Aviation Terminal (GAT) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.

The stakeholders described the commissioning as a great step in aviation development in Nigeria, and rare feat by the minister.

In a press statement over the weekend in Jos, signed by Capt James Dund Sha and Eng Abdullahi Menta, coordinators of the stakeholders group, they called on minister to continue in her redemptive rescue mission as the industry is witnessing a new rebirth.

Promising to support the transformational strides of the minister, they further appealed for the completion of other airports scheduled for commissioning.

According to the statement, "we have visited several airports undergoing remodeling and the quality of work is commendable. We appeal for the quick completion of the remaining airports so that the full benefits of the exercise will be maximized.”

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.

First ever private terminal commissioned by the Ministry of Aviation

Aviation Nigeria

The Federal Ministry of Aviation has commissioned the first ever private jet terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the brief ceremony was led by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu CFR. The completely re-modelled terminal is in line with the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah aviation Transformation Agenda.

Speaking at the commissioning,  Ekweremadu said: "This is a ministry which has done everything to appropriate properly, the monies allocated to it. I would like to commend the president for helping us re-engineer the aviation sector.

"I will like to ask the government not to rest, we believe with proper will, proper funding and the supervision of those responsible, there will be proper mileage. I'll like us to commend the senate committee for bringing about the oversight function in ensuring this project is conducted in earnest."

In the same vein the Chairman House of Reps Committee on Aviation Nkeiruka Onyejeocha dispelled  rumors of the house and the ministry of aviation being at logger heads.

"We will continue to support you to ensure that the aviation sector will continue to move at this pace. We assure you our support, and assure Nigerians that with the help of the National Assembly, we will see more transformation in other sectors." She said. 

Also present at the ceremony was the Managing Director of FAAN Mr George Uriesi, Director General of NCAA Harold Demuren, and the Director General of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

Highlighting the achievements of the event, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN Mr George Uriesi said the commissioned private commercial terminal was the first of such  recorded, stating that it opened business opportunities for Nigerians

"The private flight industry has grown the most all around the world, and the commercially important people will be provided these facilities, as also the business opportunities".

"I will continue to have no doubt in my mind, that we can be anything we choose to be. With the support we get from you. We will be able to change the passenger service we provide in Nigeria."