Category: Aviation

Qatar Airways has announced it is boosting its service to Nigeria.

This operational boost will see the launch of four weekly flights to Kano effective from March 2 and three weekly flights to Port Harcourt effective from March 3, 2022.

The airline operates two daily flights to Lagos and four times weekly to Abuja, which will now expand to a daily service in March.

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Kano and Port Harcourt will become the seventh and eight new African gateways launched by Qatar Airways since the start of the pandemic.

When Kano and Port Harcourt flights begin operation, the airline will provide 188 weekly flights to 28 destinations in Africa.

Both routes will be served by the state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner, featuring 22 seats in Business Class and 232 in Economy Class.

This year promises to be better as industry watchers look forward to the take-off of the long-awaited national carrier – Nigeria Air. Also, the industry is awaiting the take-off of an aircraft leasing company, a maintenance repair centre as well as the concession of four international airport terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano. KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR reports .

This year will spring surprises for players in the air transport industry as countries adjust to emerging challenges thrown up by the new variant of COVID-19 – Omicron.

As a carry over from last year, the shape of things to come this year will be dependent on how countries respond to manifestations of the new variant, which is already altering dynamics in air travel.

Nigeria, as a member of the global aviation community, will not be insulated from developments Omicron will trigger for passengers, airport users, health authorities, border control agencies and organisations that have a stake in air transportation.

The operating environment in Nigeria will assume different dimensions as stakeholders look forward to the unveiling of the much- awaited national carrier – Nigeria Air.

The optimism surrounding the  new carrier is hinged on the assurance of the Minister of Aviation, Captain Hadi Sirika, that it would be airborne by the first quarter of the year.

Industry watchers / players say the delivery of the carrier should be a defining moment for the government as its plan to take off with three wet-leased airplanes should not be a difficult task to accomplish.

The new carrier, experts say, should deepen competition in the sector in the first quarter of the year.

Besides, they say the first quarter  would also be defining for users of airports as the Federal Government concludes plans to concession four international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

Though the terms of giving out the terminals is still a subject of controversy, operators are watching how the development will play out.

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Aside the controversies surrounding how the terminals would be concessioned, the year 2022 will throw up a debate on when the new international terminal at the Lagos Airport would be inaugurated.

Though the facility had been completed by the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CEECC), how to link the facility with the over 40-year-old terminal remains a huge challenge for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

What would happen to the old terminal when the new facility would be inaugurated remains a mystery as the year runs its course.

From indigenous carriers’ perspective, 2022 would be defining in the area of competition as more carriers – Air Peace, Ibom Air, United Nigeria Airlines, Aero Contractors, Overland Airways, Green African Airways – take delivery of airplanes they ordered to deepen their operations.

In the months ahead, the airlines would open new routes and increase frequencies on existing routes as they struggle to consolidate their operations on various routes.

Speaking in an interview  on what to expect in 2022, President, Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiative (ASRTI), Dr. Gbenga Olowo urged industry players to positively look forward to 2022 with great hope.

He said: “I pray  that the Omicron variant will not metamorphose into another variant or any other plague as such that will impact life so negatively like COVID-19.

“I’m not worried about the time of entry or exit of any carrier, my earnest desire is to see the emergence of strong, efficient, globally-competitive Nigerian flag carriers. The weight thrown by the  government on Air Peace/Emirate commercial negotiations in the United Arab Emirates  disagreement is a confirmation that Nigeria  has already endorsed that flag carrier model by throwing its weight behind it.

“I am trusting that the same steam, in 2022, will be deployed to sanitise all the routes which post negative trade balance to Nigeria in terms of its bilateral air services agreements  till date.

“The government should give its full support to all routes served by all countries hitherto in preparation for additional Nigerian flag carriers. To see Nigerian aviation  flourish again in 2022  remains my focus.”

Apart from scheduled carriers, a lot will unfold in the year for ground handling companies as they put finishing touches to the implementation of new handling rates for airlines.

Though they have secured regulatory approval for take-off of the rates on January 1, for foreign carriers and March for indigenous carriers, the question of sabotage looms in the air.

To starve off the ugly development, ground handlers have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the template for implementation.

The year would definitely spring surprises as more carriers secure their operating licences to begin operations on the domestic scene.

According to investigations, carriers to expect are Impex Airlines, Cardinal Airlines, Valujet Airlines, 7-Star Global and intrigues – ladden carrier – NG Eagle Airlines, promoted by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) from Arik Air.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAsswN), has offered clarifications on the complaints lodged by a passenger, Mr. Olakunle Tayo Fapohunda, alleging  that  two officials of Aviation Security Corp pilfered £400 from his wallet while going through the scanning machine on  December 22, enroute London on a Virgin Atlantic flight.

The authority, according to its spokesperson,  Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, has carried out a thorough investigation on the matter which revealed that the allegation was false.

Mrs. Yakubu said footages from the close circuit television cameras uploaded by the team of investigators revealed that none of the two officers touched the tray.

She said: “The only person who touched the tray was a NAHCO staff, who was behind him, and only pushed the tray forward to create space for her bag to come out of the Xray machine. We were able to clearly establish that throughout Mr. Olakunle’s movement within the screening point, nobody removed anything from his tray.

“While we appreciate this feedback and will like to express our appreciation to him for same, we will like to state that the Aviation Security Corp is a disciplined Corp, that has consistently recovered and returned many items forgotten or lost by passengers over the years.

“Although, we are mindful of the fact that it is not impossible to have a few bad eggs within the Corp, we  will like to assure you that the authority does not condone such acts of indiscipline, and we have conducted this investigation with utmost care and due diligence.

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“We are open to making the contents of the CCTV footage available to Mr. Olakunle in case he wants to see it.

“Finally, while advising that we all should be careful with making public unsubstantiated allegations because such acts are capable of ruining the lives and careers of those involved, we will like to reassure our esteemed passengers that our airports are safe and secure, and our officers will continue to discharge their duties efficiently and professionally.”

Meanwhile, FAAN has dismissed  passengers’ complaints of lack of emergency services at Abuja Airport.

FAAN’s response was sequel to a report that a man collapsed while boarding a flight at Abuja Airport.

Mrs. Yakubu said: “With respect to a video making the rounds on social media, where a passenger about to board an Air Peace flight from Abuja collapsed, we  hereby notify the public that the passenger in question received immediate attention , as a FAAN officer, Mr. Ajani, immediately revived the unconscious passenger by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the passenger before the arrival of the medical team, which arrived shortly after to administer first aid treatment and subsequently evacuated the passenger to the Air Force Base clinic.

“FAAN will like to use this opportunity to appreciate feedback we are getting to drive and improve our processes. We appeal to  stakeholders to always be orderly and proactive  in the face of emergency situations as on that day, a Port Health officer  on duty was intimidated and hindered from assisting the sick passenger.

“Interference, threats  and agitations only undermine the focus on saving lives, and further slows the emergency response process.

“Additionally, we also do appeal that please, the privacy of any distressed  person(s) in our facilities be always respected by desisting from just merely watching, and recording such persons for public broadcast. To succeed in resolving emergencies, we do  need more hands on deck, than on the phone.”

 

 

Civil aviation regulation in Nigeria is inching towards the global mark as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) joins other countries to implement prescribed standards and practices for airlines and other players. But ächieving this requires fixing identified lapses. KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR reports.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is set to tackle the shortage of technical personnel, especially safety and airworthiness inspectors.

This is to meet growing air transport demand in the country, its Director-General, Captain Musa Nuhu, has said.

Besides, the authority is also scaling up efforts to ensure there are adequate training and re-training opportunities for its personnel.

Nuhu, in an interview in Lagos, said the authority was doing everything to carry out mandatory training for effective service delivery.

One of the ways of achieving this, Nuhu said, is by domesticating the training  programme for safety inspectors to save money for the NCAA.

Speaking on the state of the industry since his assumption of office 18 months ago, Nuhu said the regulatory body had engaged the Ministry of Aviation on ways to improve the working conditions of its personnel.

With the partnership of the Ministry of Aviation, the NCAA is looking forward to the approval of new conditions of service by appropriate agencies to attract and retain core technical personnel.

On the strides attained in the sector, Nuhu said the safety compliance of most carriers had improved.

According to him, the regulator has within a short time resolved five cases on the Cape Town Convention as it affects Mobile Equipment leased by indigenous carriers. He said the development had boosted international confidence in the oversight function of NCAA.

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Nuhu said the regulatory authority carried out restructuring of its directorates with the Consumer Protection Directorate (CPD) merging with the Directorate of Air Transport Regulations (DATR) and Directorate of General Aviation (DGA). Directorate of Operations and Training (DOT) merged with Licensing.

However, three Directorates: Directorate of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards (DAAS), Directorate of Human Resource and Administration (DHR&A) and Directorate of Finance were retained.

With these changes in just one year and a half of his administration, experts say there is no doubt that Nuhu is prepared to take the industry to the next level of safety which is the backbone of aviation worldwide.

Reviewing unfolding events, stakeholders have scored the NCAA management high in terms of regulation.

For instance, operators who were able to scale through their acquisition of the Air Operators Certificate (AOC), under Nuhu’s regime, have attested to the fact that NCAA is up and doing in pursuing its regulations for both airlines and other stakeholders in the industry.

United Nigeria Airlines is one carriers issued an operating licence by the  NCAA. After rigorous examination by the NCAA, including  test flights, the agency granted the airline an AOC, on  February 1, 2021, which will be valid until January 31,  2023.

United Nigeria Airlines Chairman Okonkwo Obiora laudeed the NCAA.

“We are happy and grateful to God that we were able to scale through this their very very strict and stringent processes. Today we are flying,” he said.

On the dynamics of civil regulations under Nuhu, renowned aviation trainer and Chief Executive Officer of Westlink Airlines, Capt. Ibrahim Mshelia, said the NCAA had upped its game in one of the most regulated industries in the world.

The airline operator said the current regulations needed more operators’ voices because when the rules were made, some of them were made in a hurry to enable approvals of certain requirements.

Mshelia said: “Aviation needs to be regulated the way it is; whether there are lacunas here and there, obviously there are,” adding that there was no place across the world where Civil Aviation Authority is liked.

Africa’s largest online travel agency, Wakanow has unfolded plans to transform into a hi- tech company that will provide technological solutions to the travel industry.

Its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Bayo Adedeji, disclosed this last week when the company rolled out the drums to celebrate and reward its  teeming customers.

According to Adedeji, the event  which was held in Lagos, brought together customers, travel enthusiasts, and airline partners  across the aviation industry.

Adedeji  said the  event was put together as part of an effort to strengthen relationships with existing customers and show appreciation for their long-term partnership with Wakanow.

With over a decade in the industry, the company, he said, has grown  a set of loyal customers who  made the brand stand tall in the  industry.”

According to him, “We want to use this opportunity to thank everyone that has come a long way with us and reaffirm our commitment to giving more value to our customers and partners. All our customers have shown commitment based on the trust they repose in our services within the travel industry. I would also like to appreciate all members of staff who have continued to delight our customers. There can be no Wakanow without you.”

Adedeji said looking into the future, the company will transform into a travel-tech company that will provide technological solutions for the industry.

He said : ” This is another way of ensuring that customers get optimal service from us and we keep winning in the industry across the globe. We will also open new offices across the country so that we become more accessible for our customers.”

Customers were rewarded with various gifts at the black-tie event, some of the winners won tickets to any destination of choice, these include Opeyemi Bada  who won Turkish Airlines ticket; Elijah Obafemi Nakpodia won Air France KLM ticket; Omotayo Saba won Air Cote D’Ivoire ticket; Adedeji Ashiru won Lufthansa ticket; Abiodun Adegoke and Kogbe Oluwafisayomi won Kenya Airways tickets respectively.

Others who were also rewarded include the highest selling affiliate- Ifeanyi Nwankwo of Captains Travel Agency with a Business Class Ticket to anywhere in the world; top twocustomers- Adewunmi Ogunsanya and Bright Afiwerie with Business Class tickets; Philip Osadebe got an all-expense-paid trip to Egypt and Wonuola Olatunde Lamidi won a United Airlines flight ticket to the United States of America amongst many other rewards.

The audience wined and dined while the award-winning artist, Chike, was on the bandstand.

The Domestic wing of the Lagos Airport, Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2)  operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) has been awarded the Best Domestic Terminal of The Year 2021 Award.

The award was handed over to BASL at the weekend  by organisers of the Nigeria Aviation Award (NIGAV).

It was  in recognition of the many firsts which the terminal recorded in the year under review.

BASL’s Group Head of Strategy and Business Development (GHSBD), Ms Folake Odutola, while speaking commended the organisers of the event for the laudable initiative, noting that it will go a long way to encourage quality service delivery that will ultimately bring about meaningful development in the aviation industry.

She stated that Bi-Courtney was more committed than ever to invest to keep the terminal functioning and continue to make it run effectively and efficiently for better passengers’ experience and safety.

“The beauty of an airport terminal is to deliberately work to make the environment safe, secure and functional to meet users’ satisfaction and in accordance with best practices around the globe. BASL has taken the initiative since inception to deliver quality services to the terminal users. This is what we have done over the years to keep the facility in top shape. We are excited, and encouraged to know that our modest contribution to the industry is being acknowledged. This can only spur us to do more,” she added.

Earlier, the convener of the programme, Mr. Fortune Idu, stated that the aviation industry has  gone through difficult times, but added that thankfully it is recovering fast from the devastation of COVID-19 pandemic, even as other nations of the world are still battling with the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Mr. Idu added that in an environment where safety is not compromised and error is not accepted, the year 2021 has been quite successful in some respects, hence the resolve to identify with organisations, corporate bodies, other aviation stakeholders which have managed to weather the storm to do one of the nation’s most critical sectors proud.

The award, accordingly, he said, was designed to engender healthy competition and meaningful development for national growth.

Car park users at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, are getting worried over vandalisation of vehicles and other facilities at the terminal. Last week, experts and industry players called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to scale up efforts to nib the ugly development in the bud, KELVIN OSA – OKUNBOR reports

These are not the best of times for owners of vehicles who use the car park at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, following vandalisation of cars at the facility.

Many vehicle owners in the last one week have complained that items such as side mirrors were removed from their cars despite a claim by the facility operator that the place is covered by close circuit television cameras.

Though the facility is under the purview of a concession, experts say the security and safety of operations at the airport rests with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Calling the authorities out, an airport user who identified himself as Mr Anthony , from Victoria Island lamented that : ” We went to pick up family members arriving for the Xmas holiday on Tuesday December 21, 2021 . About 2.30 pm we pulled into the multi – storey parking . We noted that this is the official FAAN designated parking garage run by a concessionaire .

‘‘About 4 00pm , the driver went to pay for the parking fees in order to exit the facility to pick the arriving guests. When the driver got back to the car, both side mirrors had been stolen. They had ripped both mirrors of the Lexus 460 SUV’’.

Mr Anthony said he was angry over the matter and decided to lodge a complaint with the FAAN Security Unit in a place called Tango City , where the officials summoned the garage supervisor.

He said : ” To my utter shock, the supervisor said they left a signage at the park, suggesting that cars are parked at ” Owners risk”,  hence the facility manager could not be held liable.

Mr Anthony’s lamentation has elicited outrage among many airport users who berated the facility manager for such disclosure.

Speaking in an interview, an airport user Sam Iwelu berated the facility manager for the careless verdict . He said : ” Park at the owner’s risk and people are paying , that is outright robbery.”

Another airport user, identified as Ebeluchukwu Okorie urged FAAN to install cameras in such open areas and endeavour to have security men embark on routine patrol . It is a shame.”

Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has entered into a joint capacity building collaboration with the International Centre for Migration and Policy Development (ICMPD) in  building and sustaining quality workforce

The training, tagged “Modernising Nigeria Immigration Service’s Workforce (MoNIS)”, is one of the capacity development funding interventions by the Danish Government.

The programme is to support the service in its efforts to modernise its human resource management system and improve personnel efficiency and quality of service delivery.

At the event, the Acting Comptroller General, NIS, Isah Jere Idris, stated that the Service has continued to demonstrate huge commitment to capacity building of the workforce for enhanced productivity and workplace harmony.

He noted that the service was  aligning its training and career development activities into a clear career path framework for improved efficiency as well as promote gender mainstreaming.

He said: “This is where the interventions from agencies such as ICMPD remain very important to the service.

“Some of the fundamental topics of our time in both public and private work environments are the issues of career progression and gender equality. This he said is largely because the changing realities of our society have made these subjects increasingly crucial to the motivation of employees as well as equal treatment and opportunities for the female folk.”

The acting Comptroller General noted that the Service is one of the most gender friendly government agencies in Nigeria with a record of two women who have led the Service as Comptrollers General of Immigration.

He reiterated that female  Officers do not have any career limitations in the Service as five of them are currently heads of Directorates while many others are heads of Commands and Formations.

He thanked the Danish authorities for sustaining the existing healthy relationships and the ICMPD for their strong commitment to project implementation.

In her remark, the Regional Head of ICMPD (West Africa), Mrs. Mojisola Sodeinde said  the project was  aimed at supporting the NIS in drafting key Policy Documents, Personnel Guidelines, training Curricula as well as Operational directives which will form the basis for developing an efficient, competent, better performing and productive workforce that is ready to face the complex challenges of an increasingly difficult work environment.

In his keynote address, the Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola described the Project as an excellent initiative stressing that capacity building is the heart and soul of every organisation.

He enjoined all Personnel to take good advantage of the Project to not only improve themselves but also make quality contributions to the Service and the country as a whole.

One of the major highlights of the event was the formal inauguration of the Project Steering Committee/Technical Working Committee by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Dignitaries at the occasion include the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sune Krosgstrup, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, represented by Director Legal and Counselor Services Amb. Akinremi Bolaji, Minister of State, Budget and National Planning represented by Mallam Abdullahi Yakubu and Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps represented by ACG Ibrahim Ningi among others. Krosgstrup, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, represented by Director Legal and Counselor Services Amb. Akinremi Bolaji, Minister of State, Budget and National Planning represented by Mallam Abdullahi Yakubu and Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Corps represented by ACG Ibrahim Ningi among others.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and other partners in the air navigation services space have continued to evolve measures to enhance flight navigation systems and procedures for airlines. Thirteen years after the Free Routing Airspace (FRA) was introduced in Europe, which implementation began in 2008, Nigeria, last week, embraced the concept. KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR writes on the  impact of the initiative.

Air safety received a boost in the last week when the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) began the implementation of Free Routing Airspace (FRA).

The move was part of efforts towards enhancing airspace efficiency and reducing operational cost for airlines.

The procedure will boost air traffic services for airlines and others using the Nigerian airspace.

Disclosing this  at a stakeholders’ sensitisation forum in Lagos, NAMA Managing Director Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said Nigeria had last October notified the global aviation community of its intent to commence the implementation of the concept this month.

He said the journey to the implementation of the FRA in Nigeria started two years ago, following the  recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) AFI (African-Indian Ocean) Region that member states develop strategies for implementating the FRA.

Capt. Akinkuotu said ICAO in collaboration with International Air Transport Association (IATA) supported the move by developing the FRA concept of operations, conducting FRA gap analysis as well as providing guidance materials  in the development of FRA implementation checklist.

He said: “After several meetings, workshops and co-ordination among contiguous Flight Information Regions (FIRs), the FRA concept is transforming from an abstract idea to concrete reality and that has been largely the Nigerian experience as the nation successfully commenced FRA implementation on December 2,  2021.”

“FRA was first conceptualised about 13 years ago in Europe, being the first region in the world to have implemented a full FRA concept beginning from 2008. However, in the entire ICAO AFI Region, Nigeria is the second country, after Mauritius, to implement this global new concept.”

Explaining further, the NAMA boss said FRA basically accorded airspace users over Kano Flight Information Region (FIR) the opportunity to migrate from the conventional fixed Air Traffic Service (ATS) route network to “flight plannable direct routes” between a published FRA significant boundary entry point to a published FRA significant boundary exit point, thereby optimising airspace utilisation.

He listed the benefits of FRA to airspace users to include: Savings in terms of distance covered per route segment; Savings in terms of time required to cover one route leg; Fuel savings per route leg as well as carbon emission reduction per route segment per volume of airspace.

Capt. Akinkuotu also used the opportunity of the forum to enjoin airline operators in Nigeria to take advantage of new technologies being deployed by the agency as these would enhance their operational efficiency. He recalled that in the last couple of years, NAMA had deployed several next generation tools like the Performance Based Navigation (PBN) Approaches, Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC), Instrument Landing System (ILS) Category II and III, etc but noted that some Nigerian airlines were not taking advantage of them, stressing that NAMA would continue to strive to ensure that Nigeria has, not only a safe airspace but also a profitable aviation industry.

The Free Routing concept is associated with ICAO Aviation System Block Upgrade – ASBU modules B1-FRTO, i.e. Introduction of free routing in defined airspace, where the flight plan is not defined as segments of a published route network or track system to facilitate adherence to the user-preferred profile.

The sensitization forum was well-attended as it attracted representatives from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), IATA, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Max Airlines, Air Peace, Emirates Airlines, United Airlines, Arik Air among others.

The umbrella body of domestic  airlines in Nigeria, Airline Operators of Nigeria(AON), has commended the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, for the courageous way he stood up for Nigeria’s sovereignty on the diplomatic matter between Nigeria and UAE.

The body, in a statement, expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his unwavering stance on the issue which emboldened the Minister of Aviation to reciprocate with equal measures the treatment meted out to a Nigerian airline operating into the UAE.

“The AON wishes to commend the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, for the courageous way he stood up for honour, dignity and respect to our sovereignty as a nation on this matter.

“AON is not unmindful of the leading roles the minister played in getting our dear President to sign the Customs Duty and VAT waivers into law immediately the National Assembly passed the bill.

“We commend President Muhammadu Buhari’s government for standing solidly and protectively behind not only Nigerian airlines but also indigenous investments and investors in Nigeria.

“By the recent reciprocal actions undertaken by the Federal Government, National sense of pride and belief in Nigeria rose to an all-time high”.

In the same vein, the airline operators commended the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu, for his dogged and courageous actions which did not leave anyone in doubt about his resolve to do all within his capacity not to allow any country disrespect us.

The AON stressed that it is not opposed to other foreign airlines operating into Nigeria but added that it frowns at  the underhand actions of these airlines and their countries in making it difficult for Nigerian airlines to get the necessary permits to operate in their countries.

Recall  that the UAE recently reduced the three weekly flights operated by  Nigeria’s Air Peace into the Sharjah International Airport to just one flight per week while UAE’s carrier, Emirates, operates twenty-one flights weekly into Nigeria, a situation that led the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to reduce Emirates frequency into Nigeria to just one flight weekly too.

As a result of this action, the UAE authorities have not only granted seven slots per week to Air Peace but have granted the Nigerian carrier the slots to operate from the preferred Dubai Airport instead of Sharjah.

The AON went on to state, “We encourage the Federal government of Nigeria to continue to reciprocate, in equal measures, against any country that tries, in any manner whatsoever, to disrespect our sovereignty again”, the body stated.