The Nation Newspaper

Tag: airport

  • Kebbi airport upgraded

    The Kebbi State Airport  Ambrusa at the outskirts of Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, has been upgraded to an international standard by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in preparation to full flight operation.

    A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abubakar Muazu Dakingari and made available to our correspondent  said the airport has undergone calibration in preparatory to full flight operation.

    The statement added that test flight of ATR 42 calibrating Aircraft from ASECNA Dakar, Senegal through the NAMA began penultimate Saturday.

    The test flight followed the inauguration of the Doppler, very high frequency Omni Directional Rage (DVCR).

    The exercise, according to him, scored the airport 99.8 percent pass mark which makes it one of the best equipped airports in the country.

     

     

  • Lagos Airport Hotel rewards staff

    Lagos Airport Hotel rewards staff

    THE management of the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja recently hosted staff of the hotel to a get-together. It used the opportunity to thank the staff for their hard work and integrity.

    Speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Mr. Kayode Adenigba, told the staff that without their input, the hotel would not make progress. He said: “I want to thank all of you for what you have done in 2013, and I promise you that 2014 shall be a better year in Jesus name. Our targets this year shall be achieved for the betterment of all of us. At the end of the year, I am sure we shall sit down and say we are making progress. There is a great development in every aspect of the hotel.”

    Adenigba thanked the staff for working hard to see that the hotel did well. He said plans had already been put in place for this year and that based on the budget, he said the hotel staff would have cause to smile.

    “ We have decided a budget for the company and the budget has been approved. The budget is based on a daily occupancy of 56 per cent. The profit for the year that envisaged is in the region of 258 million which would be about 10 to 15 per cent of the total budget . All the staff must work collectively to make the year a success.

    “We are going to have competition, but we have to work extra hard to be ahead. We have to meet up with the expectations of the owners,”he said.

    Adenigba said what had endeared the hotel to its customers is the level of honesty displayed by the workers, who whenever they come across any item misplaced or lost by guests, return them.

    Among those that were rewarded were staff who returned amounts lost by guests. About 60 staff of the hotel were appreciated for their honesty. The best staff of the hotel were also appreciated with gifts and certificates.

    More than 60 staff of the hotel were honoured for their integrity. Top among them was Mr. Seun Alabi who returned about N.5m a guest lost.

    The Best Staff of the Year Award was won by Mr. Ebenezer Godunu of the Engineering Department.

  • Lagos airport city construction to start soon

    Construction of the ‘airport city’ otherwise known as ‘Aerotropolis ‘ is expected to begin in the next few weeks at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

    The airport city is part of efforts to expand the MMIA. The deal is being done with the Chinese government to deliver five new international airport terminals in the country.

    The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr George Uriesi, told The Nation that a timeline for commencement of the project would be set after the Yuletide.

    He said: ”We will start construction on the aerotroplois project in Lagos next year, but we will set the timing during the end of year.”

    He said an alternative power supply for the Airport had been completed with the installation of new power cables, which would address the challenge of epileptic power supply at the terminals.

    ”We have started testing the source of alternative power supply around the airport. We are testing the system, with new cables system to make power supply reliable around the airport.

    “From this week, we will be working on alternative power supply around the airport. We are fixing the facilities and I can assure that at last, the challenge of epileptic power supply will now be a thing of the past at the Lagos Airport. We have fixed the power system,”he said, adding that the old power system had been disabled.

    He said the authority has taken steps to block revenue leakages with its take over of the access toll gate at the Airport, a development

    ”We are just simply becoming a normal airport, collecting our revenue better as we have never done before.

    “We are trying to make a clean break from the past where there was leakage in revenue . We are learning how to fetch water with a bucket and not a basket, as was in the practice in the past.

    “Now we are not giving room for any form of revenue leakage, we have begin to tighten every loose end, we are becoming a more viable and sustainable organisation,” he said.

    On the parlous state of some facilities at the airport, he said: ”We are getting increasingly concerned on some issues about the state of our airport facilities. We are not happy over some gaps that have been noticed around the airport, it is as a result of on going reconstruction.

    “We are also noting the observations and complaints from airport users. I am pained by it. I wish I could share with people what is going on, but, we are going through a lot of obstacles, we are learning from it to improve on further projects.”

    According to him, what is important is that the agency is striving to give airport users the best.

    “To construct an airport while you are operating it will give room for a lot of mishaps, the leakage that people have noticed at the airport have occurred because the engineers are still working on the project. This involves removing some portions of the ceiling, which has exposed all those lapses,” he said.

     

     

     

  • Abuja Airport-Kubwa Road gulps N288b

    Abuja Airport-Kubwa Road gulps N288b

    The sum of N288 billion has been spent on the rehabilitation and expansion of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (Airport Road) and Murtala Muhammed (Kubwa Road) Expressways.

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed disclosed this while addressing delegates to the 3rdCapital Market Committee Annual Retreat at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Maitama.

    Mohammed said that the project has so far been funded through a bond floated by the Debt Management Office (DMO) to showcase the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    According to a statement issued in Abuja by the Asst. Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the minister said: “Other physical infrastructures that are either completed or at an advanced stage includes B6 & B12 Circle road; Complementary Engineering Infrastructure at the FCC stage II; Extension of Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX) from the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX); Construction of Southern Parkway to Ring Road I; Construction of 33 KVA line, water line from Kukwaba Injection substation to Abuja Technology Village”.

    On the water sector, the Minister revealed that his Administration has completed Phases III and IV of the Water Treatment Plants that can simultaneously treat 20,000 cubic meters of water per hour at the Lower Usuma Dam with its access road.

    He said that the FCT Administration has signed a N19.438 billion agreement with SCC Nigeria Limited for the construction of a new water scheme in Karshi Satellite town.

    According to him, “Karshi Water Scheme is designed to have two dams, one low lift pumping station, raw water conveyance system, treatment plant, pumping station, rising main, and regulating reservoir with a capacity of 6,000 cubic meters”.

    The Minister recalled the giant stride recorded in the Abuja Transportation Sector, which includes the fast track of the Abuja Light Project, 400 Abuja Taxis as well as 200 large capacity buses procured and put to use in the Federal Capital Territory.

    ”We are facilitating partnership with Nigerian Banks to provide additional 1,000 taxis and 400 high capacity buses to reduce commuters’ travel time by the middle of 2014″, he stressed.

    Mohammed emphasized that the engagement of 15 competent investors participating in the Abuja Land Swap Initiative have completed the survey plans, detailed land use plans and engineering designs at no cost to the FCT Administration; thereby saving the government over N4 billion and created huge investment opportunities for the private sector to the tune of N600 billion.

    The Minister appreciated the management of the Security and Exchange Commission for organizing this forum in Abuja ; noting that Capital Market has remained a veritable engine of growth in the economy of any nation.

    Speaking earlier, the Director-General, Security and Exchange Commission Ms. Oruma Oteh thanked the Minister for sponsoring the Annual Retreat and commended him for all the developmental strides achieved so far.

     

  • Seven international airlines to fly into Enugu Airport

    The Federal Government disclosed yesterday that seven foreign airlines have indicated interest to operate international flights into the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

    Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, who made this known at the inaugural flight of Ethiopian Airlines into Enugu Airport, said very soon the prospective airlines will roll out their strategies on how to begin the operations.

    Oduah said the Enugu Airport cannot be ignored by any foreign carrier, because of the immense potentials the South East States offers as a trading and business destination.

    The minister described the commencement of international flights into the airport as the fulfilment of promise by government to ease the movement of persons and goods into any part of the world.

    She also hinted of plans by the Federal Government to develop designated airports into ‘airport city’, among which is Enugu Airport.

    Oduah said:” I feel extremely excited over this landmark achievement. This is evidence of the commitment of government to improve aviation in Nigeria, which has been accomplished today. States in the South East that are land locked are no more so, now that the airport is now open, the economy of the states in the region would now experience a leap.”

    Also speaking, the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim described the flag off of international flights from Enugu Airport as a new vista of socio-economic development for the south eastern states as well as the entire country.

    Anyim said government would continue to consolidate on its promise to open up all parts of the country for economic development through air transportation, assuring that other projects expected to put the airport in the global scale would be completed.

    There was excitement at the airport as Governors Peter Obi of Anambra State, his Enugu counterpart, Sullivan Chime and Theodore Orji of Abia State were ushered into the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800 for endorsement, with the governors waving to a cheering crowd.

    The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu also graced the event. Amid tight security the aircraft landed at the extended runway of the Enugu Airport about 12.15 pm to the tumultuous jubilation of hundreds of airport workers, passengers and Enugu residents.

    Some passengers on the flight described the service into Enugu Airport as a huge relieve from the harrowing experiences of travelling to either Lagos or Abuja to connect flights overseas.

    Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN), Mr a George Uriesi, described it as a major feat for the aviation sector , because the commencement on international flight into Enugu would generate more revenue for the authority.

     

     

     

  • Chinese firm promises to deliver four airport terminals in 20 months

    Chinese firm promises to deliver four airport terminals in 20 months

    Chinese construction giant China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has pledged to deliver four new International Airport terminals to the Federal Government in 20 months.

    CCECC President Yuan Li spoke yesterday when a Nigerian delegation visited him at the company’s headquarters in Beijing.

    He said the quality of the work to be done at the airports would be of the highest international standard.

    Li said the airport terminals’ construction was a special project to the company, adding that the company’s imprimatur of unrivalled excellence would be brought to bear in the building of the terminals.

    Aviation Minister Ms. Stella Adaeze Oduah said she was looking forward to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the project today.

    She said the desire to have the best airports’ terminals informed the decision to work with a reputable, world class construction firm like CCECC.

    Ms Oduah said she was convinced CCECC would keep to the terms of the agreement and ensure the country’s international airports could take their rightful place on the world aviation map, adding that this would boost Nigeria’s position as the natural hub for commercial aviation business on the continent.

    The $500 million loan deal is for the construction of four international terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.

    Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Godsday Orubebe said with the President’s State Visit to China, a new chapter was being opened in the bilateral and economic relationship between the two countries.

    Li said CCECC is the biggest Chinese company doing business in Nigeria, with a local staff strength of about 20,000 and an expatriate quota of 1000 Chinese citizens.

    He expressed gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for the support given to the company.

    Li said the company has investment in real estate development.

    He added that the company intended to expand its investments in Nigeria to include cement manufacturing , seaports, railways, highways development and the steel industry.

    He said the company has finalised plans to incorporate a new firm-CCECC Industries Nigeria Ltd to prosecute its investment agenda in Nigeria and help develop the industrial sub-sector of the economy.

    The CCECC president said the company intended to increase the number of indigenous employees while reducing the expatriate quota to the barest minimum.

    To accomplish this, he said the company would grant scholarships to Nigerian students in technical areas in Chinese universities.

    CCECC, he said, also plans to set up a Joint Venture (JV) with the government for the operation and maintenance of the railways, and would soon commence construction work for CCECC Plazas in Abuja and Lagos.

    Works Minister Mike Onolemehme said Nigeria and Nigerians were worried that CCECC was not investing in the country, adding that the assurances by Li that the company would begin to invest massively in Nigeria was heart-warming.

    He said his ministry was executing road projects worth over $2billion, with CCECC as a major contractor, and expressed the desire to see the company venture into real investments rather than pure contract execution.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation Hope Uzodinma said President Jonathan was committed to develop Nigeria.

  • Name Osun airport after Sir Adesoji Aderemi

    SIR: Osun State in the last two and half years has witnessed transformational development. The on-going physical developments are having salutary effects on the lives of the populace. One of such remarkable project is the Osun Airport. Though some critics say that the airport development should not be a priority for the state, I however affirm that we should join the league of other states like Gombe, Akwa-Ibom, Katsina etc. that have benefitted through the services of airports. Every state in Nigeria is in a hurry to catch up with 21st century. Osun should not be an exception. We should be seen as a people who mastered their moment.

    The issue however is the naming of the airport after the late acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Basorun M.K.O Abiola. The naming of the airport after him leaves Osun bare, as if there are no worthy indigenes – living or dead that could be accorded such honour.

    One of such notable personality of Osun origin, that Osun airport could be named after is our own late illustrious father and distinguished traditional ruler of his time – Sir Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi – K.B.E, Ooni of Ife (1930 – 1980). Sir Aderemi was the first indigenous governor of the old Western Region. Alayeluwa Adesoji Aderemi was during his lifetime, excellence-personified. He made royalty a thing of pride. He exuded aura, dignity and intellectual prowess particularly during the London Constitutional Conferences that heralded our independence.

    He remains up till date, the only indigenous governor of his era that no administration, either at state or federal levels, have so considered fit of a befitting immortalization in whatever form. Sirs Akanu Ibiam and Kashim Ibrahim – indigenous governors of old Eastern and Northern regions respectively, have been honoured and immortalized by their people and government through one landmark edifice or the other. But here we are, our own revered late Sir Aderemi of blessed memory, remains uncelebrated; un-immortalized, so many years after his glorious transition.

    Even, in his native Ile-Ife – The Source – nothing worth-while has been done to immortalize this great son of Yoruba race, nay Nigeria. This is why it is important that a gargantuan project like the on-going Osun Airport, should, as a matter of long overdue honour, be named – Adesoji Aderemi Airport. It is not too much to do so.

    The late Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo and Ladoke Akintola, both of whom are great sons of Nigeria, had a university each named after them. So is Olabisi Onabanjo in Ogun State. If we cannot rename Osun State University after the late Aderemi, please let us give him the honour of having the Osun Airport named after him.

    Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola should also go a step further by renaming Osun College of Technology, Esa-Oke after the late Cicero, Uncle Bola Ige; the Osun State Polytechnic Iree, after late Chief S.M Afolabi, Osun College of Education, Ilesa after late Sir. Odeleye Fadahunsi and College of Education, Illa-Orangun after Chief Adebisi Akande while he lives.

    The late Chief M.K.O Abiola, we shall remember forever and for good. I am, like many other Nigerians, a great admirer of the late philanthropist and business mogul, and will even recommend that our country be renamed after him. Osun State government should get something else to honour him in death as we did, with our massive vote during the ill-fated June 12, 1993 Presidential election.

    • Olumide Lawal

    Ede, Osun State.

  • ‘Airport remodelling good’

    Former Minister of Information and Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group(NESG), Frank Nweke, has described the ongoing investment by the government on airport infrastructure as commendable. He said it as one of the steps to raise the bar in service delivery in the transport industry.

    Nweke expressed optimism that the government would continue to do more in terms of infrastructure upgrade, especially at the nation’s airport.

    Nweke, who led a team of the World Economic Summit Forum to inspect facilities at the remodelled airports in Lagos, said the team had been inspecting facilities so that they could consider either Lagos or Abuja, as proposed cities for the forthcoming conference by the forum.

    He explained that Nigeria and South Africa are being considered as host countries for the Forum in 2014.

    Nweke said with what is happening at the airports, value has already been added, saying that more investment in the sector is needed.

    He said: “Government is investing in infrastructure. This is commendable and we need to do more of it. Value is already added with the remodelling and its not over yet, it is the begining. It evolves and in a year or two we expect more investment.”

    Also speaking, Director General of the National Tourism Development Commission(NTDC), Otunba Segun Runsewe said the remodelled airports will show the pride of Nigeria as well as boost the tourism potential as the airports are the first port of call.

    Runsewe said,”Our airports are becoming international standard and in no long time become a show of pride for us as a people.”

    ” You see the airport is the first port of call and the minute you enter it tells you a lot about the people, it is at par with airports across the world.”

    ” The remodelling has made our airports one of the best in Africa. I am soneone watching with keen interest on the transformation because it is a better way for me to sell this country”, the NTDC boss said.

     

  • How airport staff aided drug suspect- NDLEA

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)  has foiled a plot by some airport staff to aid  a suspected drug trafficker in circumventing security checks.

    A suspected drug trafficker, Adetunji Oladeji Joseph was arrested while wearing an official tarmac reflective jacket posing as an airport staff . He ingested 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.350kg. Adetunji was illegally taken to the boarding gates at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos by a female cleaner.

    The alleged mastermind is a driver with the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Olatubosun Michael Olatunji. A female cleaner, Mrs Uzoma David and one Mr Ekene Victor Uchenna have been found to be part of the drug racket.

    The NDLEA Chairman,  Ahmadu Giade while describing the incident as an act of sabotage promised to prosecute all persons involved in the criminal act as deterrence to others. He however expressed disappointment over the lack of trust exhibited by the members of staff.

    “It is disappointing for workers at the airport community to indulge in such high level compromise. Their action is inimical and a calculated attempt to undermine security measures at the airport. They will be prosecuted for others to see the bitter consequences of compromise. Drug barons always seek to corrupt officials through bribery but we are working to counter such acts of infiltration” Giade stated.

    He thanked the management of FAAN and other security Agencies over what he described as excellent cooperation spirit. According to NDLEA boss, “I am very pleased with the support and excellent cooperation spirit of the management of FAAN and other Agencies. It exemplifies team spirit and synergy at its best. The arrest and hand over of Olatunbosun Michael Olatunji by FAAN for investigation is commendable”.

    NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport Mr Hamza Umar said that the incident took place on the 7th of February 2013 but the main culprits were only arrested just this weekend. “This is a high level case of aiding and abetting so we took our time in trying to arrest all parties to the crime. Let me also appreciate the support of security agencies at the airport especially FAAN” Hamza stated.

    Preliminary investigation revealed that one Mr Ekene Victor Uchenna, a staff with Avobridge who is currently at large gave his reflective jacket and on duty tag to the suspect. He also handed the suspect to a female cleaner Mrs Uzoma David who led him to the boarding gate to evade screening. The airport staff also collected an undisclosed amount of money to aid the suspect.

    Mr Ekene has been declared wanted by the Agency. It was gathered that he was involved in examination fraud at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos where he is studying Mechanical Engineering at Higher National Diploma Level. Since the incident occurred, he had been on the run.

    Another suspected member of the drug cartel, Peter Chidibere a trader at Trade Fair Complex, Lagos has been arrested by the NDLEA. He is currently being interrogated by narcotic officials. It was gathered that necessary arrangements for Adetunji Oladeji Joseph to smuggle the drugs.

    Meanwhile, Giade said investigation is on-going and more arrests are expected.

     

     

  • FAAN to enhance revenue drive at Benin Airport 

    FAAN to enhance revenue drive at Benin Airport 

    Airport Manager of Benin Airport, Mr Sunday Ayodele, has made known plans of the management of the airport to embark on revenue drive in non-aeronautical ventures.

    He explained that the world over, 70 per cent of revenue generation at airports are from non-aeronautical sources.

    He said the airport management would step up its drive to ensure that the revenue base was improved to ensure that passengers get the best from the facilities provided through adequate maintenance.

    “I want to basically pursue rigorously the 70 per cent non-aeronautical service of revenue for this airport and I intend to achieve that”.

    Mr Ayodele said that a new multi-storey car park would be constructed at the airport to accommodate both the car hire service that were displaced and to provide parking space for visitors.”

    He explained that in line with the aerotropolis concept that a four- star hotel would be constructed and business complex would be erected at the airport to cater for those people displaced while the remodelling was going on. He added that the airport woul be a one stop shop where everything could be bought without going to the city.

    The Benin airport manager disclosed that a new airline has applied to commence flight operations into the airport and it will bring the number of operating airlines to four after the return of Associated Aviation that has gone for a major aircraft maintenance check.

    He expressed the hope that the airport fence will be constructed while the runway will be resurfaced at the same time.