NAMA Director debunks unsafe airspace claim by NATCA.

Sky Watch Nigeria.

In response to the claim by the Air Traffic Controllers of an unsafe Nigerian airspace, Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engineer Mazi Nnamdi Udoh has re-assured Nigerians and all stake-holders in the aviation sector of its continued actions to a safer airspace.

While delivering a speech at the agency headquarters in Lagos on Friday December 14 2012, Engineer Udoh spoke on the claim by the Air Traffic Controllers stating that such statement could not collaborate with the glaring reality that airplanes have been flying for the last three months.

He however pointed out that the current challenge confronting the agency was its long range frequency of communication which had just been introduced, affirming  that aside from the new technology no control tower had significant challenges currently.

On the alleged statement by the Air Traffic Controllers, Engineer Udoh responded that: “If they are quoting Air Traffic Controller, it means that, the Air Traffic Controllers have not done any work in the last three months and should not to be paid.”


The Air Traffic Controllers,  in a six-page petition signed by its General Secretary, Mr. Banji Olawode and titled “Continued worrisome state of communication facilities within the Nigerian airspace” challenged Udoh to urgently declare national emergency on Air Traffic Services communication facilities within Nigerian airspace to mitigate the communication situation degenerating into distress stage thereby threatening the lives of air travelers and general public at large.
The General Manager, Public Affairs, NAMA, Mr. Supo Atobatele, agreed that the current radio frequency – 27.3 MHz for the Lagos Area Control Centre is at present congested following heavy traffic within the southern airspace, adding that decongestion would commence by December 17 2012.

FAAN advises on Yuletide travels.

Aviation Nigeria

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has advised Nigerians, especially air travelers  to make early preparations for their travel during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, to avoid the rush that usually takes place during these periods at major airports across the country.

Airports across the country usually witness a huge volume of passenger traffic during these holidays, due to increased local movements of passengers for people travelling for the holidays, added to those returning from different countries overseas for the same purpose.
The Authority also urges travelers to leave home early during these festive periods, in order to confirm their tickets and complete other pre-boarding formalities in good time because of the heavy vehicular movements on access roads close to the terminals that may cause some passengers to miss their flights.

According to the General Manager, Corporate Communication(FAAN), Mr Yakubu Dati,:''We also wish to advise vehicle owners to make use of our designated car parks when visiting the airports, whether for business or pleasure. It will help to de-congest the traffic on our access roads and also help to ensure the safety of lives and property within the airports. All vehicles parked in authorized places will therefore be towed and appropriate fines imposed on defaulters''.
It will be noted that the Federal Government has embarked on the transformation of the aviation industry into an efficient and effective sector, spearheaded by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah.

This has led to the remodelling of 11 airport terminals round the country and the upgrading of power projects across the country, among other projects.


Yakubu Dati
General Manager, Corporate Communications

Diversify developments in the aviation sector - MMIA Commandant.

Sky Watch Nigeria.

Former commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, Group Captain John Ojikutu(rtd) has called on the government to consider safety and security infrastructures in the aviation sector.

While reviewing the estimated revenue generated by foriegn and domestic airlines which has been put at around $25 billion or over N3.5trillion annually, Ojikutu calls for the setting in place of an organized system of accountability stating that: "Airport remodelling, national carrier or government financial intervention cannot individually or collectively grow the industry"

Ojikutu who is also currently an aviation security expert spoke on the needs of the aviation industry to diversify some of its development activities. While speaking on the subject he said: “Allow private investors in the industry, give concessions or free taxes on charges on airlines on landing and parking, navigational charges and others, reduce multiple landing for foreign airlines to our international airports to create markets for domestic airlines. If government does these, the industry will grow."

These revenues which come from passenger tickets, cargo frieghts, cargo operations, and payment for charter services have been brought to light in the recent decision of the government to assist the domestic airlines acquire new aircraft for their operations. Which has led several aviation analysts calling for reforms at different levels.

Swissport To Offer Services To fastjet.

Sky Watch Nigeria.

Swissport International, the world’s leading provider of ground services to the aviation sector, has signed an agreement with the new African low-cost carrier- fastjet under which it will provide ground services throughout the airline’s network.

fastjet, Africa’s first pan-continental low-cost carrier (LCC), is set to launch operations later this month in Tanzania’s domestic market, with flights from its Dar Es Salaam base to Kilimanjaro and Mwanza, and quickly expand its route network, flying the continent of Africa from north to south and east to west over the next few years.

Through an exclusive partnership agreement Swissport will supply a variety of airport services, be responsible for service delivery and support supply chain growth throughout the fastjet network.

Juan Jose Andres Alvez, Swissport’s Executive Vice President of Ground Handling for Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa, commented: “Swissport has a huge amount of experience in LCC handling in Europe and we look forward to assisting fastjet in building up this model in Africa, supported by our knowledge and processes.

This partnership includes all of the logistics challenges involved in setting up a network of ground handling operations and management systems, representing a new type of relationship between service provider and airline and offering a great opportunity for Swissport to continue to build its network in Africa in partnership with fastjet.

fastjet Chief Executive Officer Ed Winter commented: “Swissport has a world-leading reputation and track record for providing high quality ground services to airlines around the world, fastjet is creating a pan-continental African airline offering international standards of safety, quality, security and reliability and it is therefore essential for us to have a handling partner that gives these qualities top priority and one that also matches our ambitious growth plans for Africa.”

Swissport International Ltd. provides ground services for around 116 million passengers and 3.5 million tonnes of cargo a year (the latter using 105 warehouses with a total floor area of over 420,000 square metres) on behalf of some 650 client-companies in the aviation sector. With a workforce of around 39,000 personnel, Swissport is active at 195 stations in 38 countries on five continents, and generated consolidated operating revenue of approximately CHF 2.0 billion. www.swissport.com