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Tag: Abuja airport

  • Aviation unions kick against planned closure of Abuja airport 

    Aviation unions kick against planned closure of Abuja airport 

    Three unions in the aviation sector, the National Union of Air Transport Employees ( NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and  the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), yesterday wrote a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari over what they described as the “misadventure “ of planned six weeks’ closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport ( NNIA), Abuja.

    They also faulted the choice of the Kaduna Airport as an alternative aerodrome, saying facilities at the airport cannot accommodate domestic international traffic.

    The unions said the Minister of State, Aviation , Hadi Sirika, “has sidelined the relevant agency of government  which is supposed to handle the runway repairs” .

    In a letter dated January 13, 2017 and signed by Comrades Olayinka Abioye,  Aba Ocheme   and Francis Akinjole for the unions, they  said total closure of the Abuja airport given the state of the economy would be counter-productive.

    They said the closure would  bring about significant loss of revenue to aviation agencies which operate at the airport in addition to jeopardizing the livelihood of workers and people who do business around the airport.

    Instead of total closure the unions canvassed skeletal repairs be adopted to fix damaged portions of the runway .

    They said government should put measures in place to construct  additional runway .

    The unions accused Hadi Sirika of pursuing a non-inclusive agenda, as he is not allegedly carrying aviation agency heads along in the exercise .

    The petition to Buhari reads: “An additional runway should be effectively considered for construction as a long-term measure, while the subsisting one is continued to be put in use, under some phased reconstruction.

    “Skeletal repairs of the runway could be adopted by allowing the airport for use likely between 6.00am and 6.00pm, while fixing of the major damaged portions of the runway continues during the nights, as has been done in several parts of the world. Why should Nigeria’s case be different?

     ”Your Excellency, our opinion is premised on the fact that the proposed exercise, being a reactive formula, can be achieved without total shutdown of the international airport as the consequential effect of such total closure will impact so grandiosely negatively on the already dire economic environment of Nigeria, given the dependence of several low and middle income earners on aviation business in and around the Abuja airport. Further to this, aviation parastatals/agencies shall be deprived of their internally generated revenue during this period, while some low business operators will lose their business completely and forever.

    “We do not wish to believe that your government will set out to jeopardize the livelihood of its citizens at such dire time as this.

     ”We make bold to state that as the representatives of the critical stakeholders in the industry (the workers who were not taken into consideration in the entire discourse), we owe this country a duty to offer workable suggestions in tandem with international best practices rather than political talk shop which will do our industry no good.

     ”Total closure of an international airport, particularly the  Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja in an ailing economy like ours will be counter-productive at this period.

    “It is obvious that the volume of operations at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja cannot be accommodated by the size and facilities of the Kaduna Airport (domestic and international).

    “The roles of handling companies such as the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL) and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) have not been given any consideration in spite of their importance to handling operations of the airlines.

    “ It is very disturbing that it is the Minister of State, Aviation who is assuring of adequate security and good roads around and about Kaduna and Abuja and in between when these services are outside his purview and control. It is equally disturbing that the agencies in charge of airport operation (FAAN), navigational aids (NAMA), and regulation (NCAA) have been completely sidelined by the minister.”

    “Whereas the hands-on personnel are very pessimistic about these things in private, the minister speaks so loftily about same in public. Who should be listened to?

    “In the final analysis, can the airlines be dictated to on operational and business issues? Will the airlines sell Abuja tickets and drop the passengers in Kaduna? How does the life assurance on the ticket cover a passenger between Kaduna and Abuja by road?

     ”Ultimately, won’t the final deciding factor be the passenger? Would one like to pay a higher fare to Kaduna and after all the usual delays in flight be subjected to another trauma of road transport to Abuja from Kaduna for about three hours when the person can set out by road and get to destination in less than eight hours overall?

    “Therefore, sir, it is our candid submission that the whole hoopla about Kaduna being an alternate airport to Abuja is all but a hoax. In reality, most persons, especially international travellers, but also senior important local personalities, will simply shelve all activities in Abuja for the six weeks of closure.”

  • ‘Abuja Airport runway repairs to cost N5.8b’

    THE Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has said the proposed repair of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja runway will cost N5.8 billion.

    Sirika spoke when he answered questions from senators at plenary yesterday.

    He said the repair had become necessary since the airport was as critical as the economy of the country, adding that the runway was constructed over 30 years ago with no major repairs.

    The minister gave a guarantee of 10 years, saying the runway will serve the country for a long time after the repair.

    According to Sirika, the runway, which is proposed to be shut down from March, will be reopened after six weeks for better service delivery.

    He said while the runway would be shut down for six weeks, repairs would last for six months.

    He assured that unlike the Port Harcourt Airport, which was shut down for two and half years because the runway got bad, the repair of the Abuja runway will take only six weeks.

     

  • Senate invites Amaechi, Fashola, others over Abuja airport

    Senate invites Amaechi, Fashola, others over Abuja airport

    THE Senate yesterday summoned the Minister of Transportation Chibuike Amaechi, Works, Power and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola and Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika over the Federal Government’s plan to shut down the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja for repairs of its runway.
    Others also invited to the meeting by the Senate Committee on Aviation within two days include Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Chief of Air Staff and the Managing Directors of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
    Those invited are required to meet with the committee to provide details on the planned closure as well as to explore other options, rather than a total closure of the airport.
    The invitation followed the adoption of a motion on “The planned closure of the Abuja Airport”, which was sponsored by Senator Hope Uzodinma (lmo West) and five others.
    Uzodinma, in his lead debate, prayed the Senate to note with concern the decision of FAAN to close the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for six weeks beginning from March 6.
    The lawmaker noted that he was informed that the essence of the said closure is to carry out repairs on the only runway at the airport, which is reported to be in a deplorable state.
    He expressed worry that a six-week outright closure of a major and the only airport in the nation’s Federal Capital could trigger untold hardships on international and local air travellers and consequently dent the nation’s image.
    He noted that a complete shut-down of the airport would impact negatively on international trade and related activities, with a multiplier effect that could exact further pressure on an already recessed national economy.
    Uzodinma said the diversion of Abuja bound flights to Kaduna will throw up logistics and security challenges, including endangering the lives and properties of international and local air travelers, who will be forced to travel by land from Kaduna to Abuja.
    He noted that he was satisfied that all the options have not been exhausted to avoid the shutdown of the airport, including the option of a technical package to allow skeletal air operations at the airport while most repair work on the runway is executed at night.
    The senator added that major repairs in the past have been carried out without closure of the airport. “One more major repair without closure will afford the government the needed time for the construction of a second run-way as a permanent solution,” he said.
    The government, he said, should be prevailed upon to explore other possible options that could avert the planned total closure of a strategic national airport as Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport with all its attendant consequences, including breach of international conventions and treaties.
    Uzodinma prayed that Senate to accordingly resolve to invite the Minister of Transportation, Minister of State, Aviation, Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Minister of FCT, the Chief of Air Staff and the Managing Director FAAN and NAMA to meet with the Senate and provide details on the planned closure as well as to explore other options that can avoid a total closure of the airport.
    The prayer was unanimously adopted.

  • Senate summons Amaechi, Fashola, Sirika over Abuja Airport

    Senate summons Amaechi, Fashola, Sirika over Abuja Airport

    The Senate on Tuesday summoned the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, his Works, Power and Housing counterpart, Babatunde Fashola and Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, over the Federal Government plan to shut down the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, for repairs of the runway.

    Also invited to meet the Senate committee on Aviation within two days are the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Chief of Air Staff and the Managing Directors Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

    The invitees are to meet with the committee to provide details on the planned closure as well as to explore other options that can avoid a total closure of the airport.

    The invitation followed the adoption of a motion on “the planned closure of the Abuja Airport,” sponsored by Senator Hope Uzodinma (lmo West) and five others.

    Senator Uzodinma in his lead debate urged the Senate to note with concern the decision of FAAN to close the Abuja Airport for six weeks beginning from March 6, 2017.

    The lawmaker noted that he was informed that the essence of the said closure is to carry out repairs on the only runway at the airport which is reported to be in a deplorable state:

    He expressed worry that a six weeks outright closure of a major and only airport in the nation’s capital could trigger untold hardships on international and local air travelers and consequently dent the nation’s image.

  • Abuja airport closure: FAAN to increase capacity of Kaduna airport

    Abuja airport closure: FAAN to increase capacity of Kaduna airport

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ((FAAN) will increase the capacity of the Kaduna International Airport to handle the rise in human and cargo traffic to Kaduna when the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja closes for repairs.
    The Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma, disclosed this while speaking with reporter in Abuja yesterday.
    The Federal Government recently announced the closure of the Abuja airport for six weeks beginning from March 8, for repair works to be done in the middle section of its runway and taxi pavement.
    “All we need do is increase our manpower in order to take care of the additional traffic.
    “This is very easy for FAAN because FAAN can move some staff from Abuja airport since Abuja airport is going to be closed.
    “By the time we move some aviation security, safety staff and operational staff to Kaduna airport that would assist them in handling additional traffic.
    “For example in 2015, government gave us approval for additional staff and these additional staff are being trained now.
    “And as the minister said, of course, after the training, we will equip them, they will be better equipped to handle arms and they will be better trained to handle public.
    “They will be trained to handle the exigencies of security from the day to day operation of our airport.
    “A lot of things are being done; we will also give them some additional training in managing security at the airports.’’
    Dunoma also disclosed that FAAN began making reparations for the airport in Kaduna to handle the flights that would be diverted from Abuja long before the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, announced its closure.
    He said FAAN began making the preparations much earlier because it knew in advance that the Kaduna Airport would be the alternate airport that would be used as soon as the Abuja was closed for repair works.
    Dunoma said the authority would ensure that the aviation industry continued to contribute substantially to the country’s economy.
    The managing director stated that although there is no statistic to show exactly how much the industry is contributing to the economy, the aviation industry is a catalyst for economic development.
    “Just imagine a Nigeria without the aviation industry.
    “Do you know how many businesses will die? You have seen in the press what is happening just because of the closure of the Abuja airport for six weeks.
    “So I cannot imagine the Nigerian economy without the aviation industry. The aviation industry is a big contributor to our economy,’’ he said.
    The FAAN boss assured that the issue of power failure at the airports, especially the Lagos airport, had become a thing of the past.
    According to him, the cable lines that were damaged in the course of construction work have all been repaired and power supply restored

  • Abuja airport to be closed on March 8

    Abuja airport to be closed on March 8

    The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja will be closed on March 8 for repairs, the Ministry of Transportation said yesterday.
    The nation’s capital’s airport’s runway is to be reactivated after closure. It will last for six weeks
    The announcement of the date, which was previously fixed for next month, was after a meeting between Minister of State (Aviation) Hadi Sirika and stakeholders in the sector. No reason was given for the date change.
    Ministry spokesman James Odaudu said the meeting enabled the minister to brief the stakeholders on efforts being made to ensure that the use of Kaduna’s airport is “seamless and hitch-free”.
    According to the plan, flights to the Abuja airport will be diverted to the Kaduna Airport, about 160kilonmetres to Abuja and passengers travelling to Abuja will travel in bus shuttles, guarded by security provided by the government, to the capital.

  • Abuja airport to be closed from March 8

    The Federal Government will close the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, for six weeks from March 8 to repair its runway, the aviation ministry said on Tuesday.

    The government had earlier said the six weeks closure would begin in February.

    The decision to shut the airport and divert Abuja-bound flights to Kaduna, an airport used primarily for domestic flights about 160 km (100 miles) to the north, was taken after airlines threatened to stop flying to the capital, Reuters reported.

    But a statement issued on Tuesday, which said the Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, would discuss the matter with stakeholders, said the “proposed closure” would start on March 8.

    No reason was given for the change of date.

     

  • Abuja airport to be shut for six weeks, says minister

    Abuja airport to be shut for six weeks, says minister

    THE Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja will be closed between February and March next year, Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika said yesterday.
    The closure, according to the minister, will enable a construction company, Julius Berger Plc,  carry out re-construction work on the badly damaged airport runway.
    Sirika, who briefed reporters in Abuja yesterday after an inspection of the runway, explained  that it will still be put to use during the six months of rehabilitation.
    He, however, noted that  the airport will be shut for six weeks between February and March, when the mid-section of the runway is being reconstructed.
    According to Sirika, President Muhamadu Buhari approved the reconstruction work process through the emergency procurement procedure for work to begin because of the centrality, economy and the importance of Abuja to the country’s general administration.
    He admitted that government cannot afford to close down Abuja airport for a long time, even as  skeletal repairs have been ongoing at the runway in the last three months.
    Sirika said: “Government has accepted the design done by the contractor and the runway will last for more than 10 years on completion early next year.”
    On the six weeks closure of the airport to passenger traffic, he explained that Abuja bound passengers from any part of the world will use Kaduna airport as alternative, explaining that a robust arrangement has been finalised with Kaduna State to convey the passengers to Abuja.
    On the aviation fuel scarcity, the minister said: “Talk is ongoing with oil marketers, the Ministry of Petroleum and Central Bank of Nigeria to resolve the crisis. Very soon, the country will be out of this, as we cannot be relying on Ghana for aviation fuel.”

  • Abuja airport to be closed next year

    The Minister of Aviation for State, Mr. Hadi Sirika, on Monday disclosed that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, will be closed between February and March next year.

    The closure, according to the minister will enable a construction company, Julius Berger Plc carry out total re-construction work on the badly damaged airport runway.

    Briefing journalists in Abuja after an inspection of the runway, the minister said the runway will still be put to use during the six months rehabilitation work.

    He added that the airport will be shut for six weeks between February and March, 2017 when the mid- section of the runway would be reconstructed.

  • Minister to shut Abuja airport

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on Monday threatened to close down the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The minister said he feels sad whenever he talks about the aviation sector in Nigeria.

    Sirika spoke during the presentation of vision and plan of the aviation sector to stakeholders in Abuja.

    Defending the planned closure, the minister showed images of the Abuja airport runway which was characterised by potholes.

    “The infrastructures at the airports are dilapidated and I was tempted this morning to close down the airport and I will probably do that for sure.”

    He added that the government is considering concessioning of the airports and will start that process with the Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano airports.