The Nation Newspaper

Tag: airlift

  • Air Force begins airlift of election materials

    THE Air Force said yesterday that it has started the airlift of election materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    A statement signed by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information,  Air commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the airlift would be conducted day and night to deliver sensitive and non-sensitive materials to designated places.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), yesterday, February 11, 2019, commenced the airlift of electoral materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the country for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    “The airlift exercise includes day and night missions, during which both sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials were conveyed in batches, with NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja to various airports across the country.

    “The materials were duly delivered by the C-130H aircraft crew to teams of INEC and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials together with security personnel waiting at the various airports.

    “It may be recalled that the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, during his meeting with Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) and NAF Field Commanders on  February 1, 2019, had expressed the readiness of the NAF to avail INEC its transport aircraft to enable expeditious movement of electoral materials, as done in the past.”

  • Hajj: NAHCO facilitates airlift of Muslim pilgrims

    Hajj: NAHCO facilitates airlift of Muslim pilgrims

    The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO Aviance) said on Tuesday that it is establishing itself at the forefront of facilitating ongoing airlift of thousands of Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from 10 airports in Nigeria.

    This is just as the firm has assured its investors and stakeholders that it continues to operate at full swing to bring value to shareholders funds.

    As part of the current operation which started off at the weekend, its spokesman, Tayo Ajakaye said is estimated to handle a minimum of 99 outbound and 105 inbound flights from ten airports across the country.

    The Head of Corporate Services of the Company, Mr. Ahmed Bashir Gulma, said every year, NAHCO had always put its services at the behest of Muslim devotees performing their religious obligation by assisting them in ensuring a hassle – free handling to the holy land.

    According to Gulma: “We collaborate with the airlines, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Federal Government in ensuring that Muslim faithfuls on pilgrimage get excellent passenger handling on their way to and from the holy land.”

    “The airports on the schedule of NAHCO include Abuja, Sokoto, Katsina, Ilorin and Bauchi. Others are Gombe, Maiduguri, Yola, Minna and Kaduna.

    “The promise to make this year’s passenger handling service for Hajj exceptional comes as the Company’s management assured investors, regulators and other stakeholders that it was doing all within its power to resolve the issue regarding the recent visit of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to its offices.”

    The Company said in a published statement, “As a Publicly Quoted Company, NAHCO is guided by its Apex Regulator, The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the listing rules. We are also aware of our shareholder rights as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, extant rules and the mutual investment protection treaty covering European strategic investors on our Board. As such, this information update has become necessary.”

    It further pointed out that as a regulated and listed business entity with strong international Corporate Governance credentials, NAHCO believes that SEC and NSE should be aware of any petition and are in the best position to provide guidance, proper feedback and/or even sanctions regarding any alleged infractions by a regulated entity.

    While declaring that it still awaits details from the investigating authorities as is the practice worldwide so as to ensure the protection of both local and international investors’ interests, NAHCO asserts its envious CV as a fully privatized Company, with one of the most successful privatization track records for eleven years with zero Government interests.

    NAHCO’s Management further assures that the event of the past weeks had been properly managed as to have little or minimal impact on operations and business continuity.

    NAHCO AVIANCE therefore reassures its numerous customers, shareholders and its European Union strategic investors that Company operations are unhindered under the current situation.

    While asking for the understanding of all stakeholders, the Company further announced that the Managing Director/CEO, who was on a short vacation had since returned to the country and is back at the helm to take full charge of affairs at the Company.

  • Ogun to airlift 320 pilgrims

    The Chairman, Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Sefiu Rasheed, has said the board will airlift 320 pilgrims today. Rasheed said 750 delegates have arrived home.

    He said by the end of today, 1,070 of 1,190 pilgrims in Saudi Arabia would have arrived in Nigeria with their luggage.

    The chairman said the remaining 120 pilgrims would arrive later this week.

    He said the state lost three of its pilgrims-two died in the stampede, one died of natural causes.

  • Hajj 2015: Airlift of pilgrims to start Aug.18

    Hajj 2015: Airlift of pilgrims to start Aug.18

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) announced yesterday that the transportation of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj will commence on Tuesday, August 18.

    The Commission Chairman, Malam Abdullahi Mukhtar, said in a message to the inauguration of the Medical Team for the hajj in Abuja that all necessary arrangements had been put in place for the religious obligation.

    Mukhtar, who was represented by Dr. Saleh Okenwa, the Commissioner in charge of strategy, said the that the Commission had provided medical facilities for Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and urged them to discharge their duties as expected of them.

    He promised that this year’s exercise would be different from previous exercises because of the level of the Commission’s preparation.

    In his remarks, the Commissioner in charge of the Medical Team, Dr Ibrahim Kana, commended the Commission for the medical arrangements put in place for this year’s exercise.

    He said that “with what I have seen on ground, I have no doubt in my mind that this year’s Hajj will be exceptionally successful. With the kind of professionals that made up the Medical Team, the sky is just our starting point.”

    Kana promised the team of adequate accommodation in the Holy Land, and warned, however, that team members should not occupy a whole room for whatever reasons.

    “The culture is one bed space per person and not a whole room per person and please people should not lock rooms for whatever reasons. We will make sure nobody suffers, whatever the team is entitled to will be given, no denial.”

    Kano also urged the team to give the best services to the pilgrims and promised them of safety of their luggage.

    He added that “gone are the days when luggage spend several weeks before getting to the owners.”

     

  • Executive airlift partners NAMA on air safety

    Executive airlift partners NAMA on air safety

    The 209 Executive Airlift Group of the Nigerian Air Force attached to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, has pledged its continuous support and cooperation with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA), towards effective management of the nation’s airspace.

    The newly appointed commandant of the group, Air Comdr. Saddiq Kaita who made this remark during his first official visit to the agency in Abuja, stated that such a working relationship, apart from facilitating seamless operations at the nation’s airports would also enhance safety of the Nigerian airspace.

    He appreciated the NAMA’s efforts at training some of the Air Force officers in various courses targeted at bringing them up to speed with latest dynamics in the aviation industry.

    Earlier in an address, the Airspace Manager, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Mr. Nnanna  Ugbaga informed his guests that over time, the Nigerian Air Force has been an ally of NAMA as both organizations perform complimentary but safety critical roles.

    Air Commodore Kaita and his entourage were later led on an inspection tour of NAMA facilities at the TRACON site by Mr Ugbaga and other top management staff of NAMA at the Abuja International Airport.

    Meanwhile, as part of measures to ensure the smooth take-off of the newly established Jigawa Airport, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by NAMA and the Jigawa State Government.

    The MOU which was signed by the Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam is for the provision of air navigation services by the agency to the state-owned airport with effect from July 1, 2014.

    Already, some top technical staff including an engineer, Aeronautical Information Services officer and other operational staff to be headed by an Airspace Manager have been deployed to the airport, in addition to the two Air Traffic Controllers who are already on ground at the airport.

  • NCPC ends airlift of pilgrims

    NCPC ends airlift of pilgrims

    The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) successfully ended the airlift of pilgrims for the second Easter pilgrimage exercise on March 23.

    The last batch of pilgrims arrived on April 1.  The commission kept to its promise of embarking on two pilgrimages in one calendar year, October- December and March – April.

    The commission introduced the first Easter pilgrimage exercise in 2012 to give states who could not meet up with the deadline for payment of the October- December pilgrimage the opportunity to embark on pilgrimage during Easter and importantly for pilgrims to experience the power of resurrection in the holy land during the Easter pilgrimage exercise.

    The year 2013 Easter pilgrimage was officially flagged off on February 28 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.

    Other dignitaries who graced the occasion included the Chairman of NCPC, Rev. Nicholas .D. Okoh , Minister of State for FCT Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Rev Williams Okoye, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba who is the Chaplain of Aso Villa Chapel, House Committee Chairman on Foreign Affairs, Hon Nnenna Ukaeje, Senator Christopher Babajide Omoworare, Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Inter-Governmental Affairs and Federal Character, Senator Philip Taminu Aduda, among others. About 376 pilgrims from FCT and Benue State were the first batch to be airlifted.

    Welcoming the last batch of pilgrims at the local wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on April 1, the representative of Mr. President, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, who is the Minister of Police Affairs, received the pilgrims on behalf of Mr. President.

    He addressed them in the Atlasjet aircraft which landed at 5:45pm. He urged the pilgrims to continue to pray for the success of the administration of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. He assured them that Mr. President was happy to see them back safely.

    Also, the Minister of State 1 Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, in her address, said: “I warmly and happily welcome you back to Nigeria. You came back with the resurrection power of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

    She further stressed: “We thank God for the grace, we thank God you came back safely without any abscondment.

    “This is great because it will encourage the government to continue to support pilgrimage exercise. The administration of President Jonathan will continue to support anything that will make the people happy.”

    Prof. Onwuliri also commended the Executive Secretary of NCPC Mr. John Kennedy Opara and his workforce for their commitment and hard work.

    She stressed that the prayers Pilgrims offered for the country during their sojourn in Israel will usher in permanent peace in Nigeria.

    In his remarks, the NCPC boss, Mr. John Kennedy Opara described Pilgrimage as a tool for moral transformation and spiritual rebirth. He affirmed that the Easter Pilgrimage exercise would continue to grow in leaps and bounds. He prayed and thanked God for the safe arrivals of the pilgrims and urged them to live a transformed life by impacting positively to their immediate communities.

    A total of 18 states with a combined total number of 3130 pilgrims were airlifted during the Easter Pilgrimage Exercise. It is important to state that about 83 Christians sponsored themselves to the Holy Land during the Easter Pilgrimage Exercise.

    The Commission made use of Atlasjet Airline as the official carrier for the Easter Pilgrimage Exercise. The package was the same as it was for the October- December exercise.

    The Commission rather than increase the package fee for pilgrims for the Easter Pilgrimage considering the cost and the season in Israel during the period, had to reduce the number of days from the usual 10nights and 11 days to 8nights and 9 days.

    The Commission by the grace of God recorded both zero abscondment and zero mortality rate for pilgrims throughout the exercise.

    The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), having successfully ended the second edition of its Easter Pilgrimage Exercise which in all ramifications is adjudged to be much better organized and executed than the maiden edition of 2012; it is therefore obvious that it is possible to have two pilgrimages in one calendar year and this will be sustained as the Commission will continue to strive for excellence and improve upon its service for the Nigerian Pilgrims.

    The last batch of pilgrims from the Holy Land were made up of about 138 pilgrims from Bayelsa and about 38 were self sponsored pilgrims and Consular Officers.