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Tag: Airports

  • NCAA designs emergency plan for airports

    NCAA designs emergency plan for airports

    THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA)  has designed a national aviation public emergency preparedness plan for airports.

    Its Director-General, Captain Usman Mukhtar, said the document was produced to handle issues arising from medical emergencies at the airports.

    Mukhtar said the document was  drawn mainly from the template provided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO).

    It would serve as a guiding material for aviation stakeholders in the handling of the suspected cases of communicable diseases within the Nigeria airspace.

    He disclosed this  last week, during the Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA) Assistance visit to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos by members of ICAO and the World Health Organisation ( WHO).

    He described the visit by the two bodies as part of efforts to checkmate the spread of communicable diseases through air travel .

    He said aviation stakeholders last year rose to the challenge of containing the Ebola Virus Disease, praising stakeholders for playing the pivotal role in the containment of the virus.

    Mukhtar said: “I want to appreciate stakeholders in the Nigeria aviation for the professionalism and containment of Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in 2014.

    “Some of you risked your lives and that of your families for the general good of the country.

    “This inter-agencies collaboration, coordination, cooperation and communication displayed during the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, must be sustained to enable us effectively handle any suspected case of communicable disease in our airports.

    Dr Morenike Alex-Okoh, Director, Airport Health and Medical Services, Federal Ministry of Health, sued for sustained inter-agency cooperation in the implementation of the aviation act point of entry in Nigeria.

    She said the ministry was delighted with the visit given the fact that such previous visits had contributed in no small measure to the successful implementation of public heath emergencies at Nigeria’s points of entry.

    According to her, the successful containment of Ebola in Nigeria was achieved through collaboration at the global, national and state levels.

    Mr Michiel  Vreedenburgh, who is Programme Global  Coordinator, ICAO  headquarters in charge  of collaborative arrangement for the prevention and management of public health events in civil aviation ( CAPSCA )  said the visit to Nigeria was to assess the preparedness of the aviation sector, taking into account the priorities established by the WHO in containing outbreak of communicable diseases.

     

     

  • Developing airports into regional hubs

    Developing airports into regional hubs

    Worried by last  November’s survey by a group, The Guide to Sleeping in Airports, which rated three of the nation’s airports among the worst in Africa, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has begun facility and infrastructure upgrade at airports, to transform some terminals into hubs for  West  and Central Africa, writes Aviation Correspondent KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR

    A survey conducted by a group,  The Guide to Sleeping in Airports, has rated Nigerian airports as among the worst in Africa.

    The survey cited inadequate facilities that could deny the airports their push to become hubs for the West African sub region.

    Worried by the parlous rating, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has rolled out series of programmes, including facility and infrastructure upgrade, to close the gaps.

    Part of the reasons for doing this is to use the airports as a catalyst for economic development.

    If some Nigerian airports are developed into a hub, aviation would contribute significantly to the gross domestic product.

    Experts say Nigeria is blessed by geographical location as a hub in Africa, if airport facilities are put in place to drive the process.

    Transforming airports to a hub for  West and Central African regions has remained the main objective of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), its Managing Director, Saleh Dunoma, has said.

    But, such ambition, he said, might not come cheap until requisite airport facilities and infrastructure have attained global standards.

    International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the global industry regulator, prescribes conditions for achieving a hub status for any airport.

    Part of the criteria include state-of- the-art airport and air navigation facilities, adequate fire cover, airport safety and security, perimeter fencing, airport certification, transit facilities as well as accelerated passenger facilitation.

    Airports are yet to meet all ICAO requirements for hub status. Towards this end, an aggressive programme targeted at improving safety and security procedures at airports, as well as massive facility and infrastructure upgrade is on-going.

    When completed, Nigeria would boast of having two airports designated as hubs for West and Central Africa.

    The drive is part of efforts by the government to consolidate the untapped potential offered by Nigeria’s several air agreements it signed with other countries.

    Dunoma said the authority would continue to rework its strategy to ensure that all requirements set for the pursuit of positioning the airports as hubs in the West Coast and Central African region are met.

    He spoke against the backdrop of his one year anniversary in office, affirming that since he assumed duties as the  helmsman of FAAN, the authority has lined up programmes to overhaul the airports in Nigeria.

    Dunoma, who  was appointed Managing Director of FAAN in March, last year, said there are lots of untapped opportunities for the aviation sector,  especially as it affects the Lagos  International Airport which he said would be positioned as  a hub of aviation in West Africa.

    He said about 15 million passengers are expected to travel through Nigerian airports this year. The growing passenger traffic, he said has made it incumbent for FAAN to improve on airport facilities.

    Statistics of passenger service portal by FAAN showed that about 12 million passengers used the airports last year.

    Experts said that Nigeria is positioned by geography as a hub in Africa, if only the government would put the necessary airport infrastructure in place to attract passenger traffic.

    Part of the airport infrastructure requirement for a  hub status, experts said, is a state-of-the-art passenger terminals, a transit lounge, modern air navigation facilities, quick turn- around time at the airports, as well as safety and security facilities.

    Necessary airport infrastructure would attract more than the 27 international airlines flying into Nigeria, with the attendant increase in economic activities that would contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

     

    Safety and security

    requirements

     

    If the airport authority must achieve its ambition of delivering airports as  hubs for West Africa, experts said FAAN must rework its architecture to improve on safety and security. Part of the efforts they said, must be channeled towards immediate certification of some of its international airport terminals.

    Without airport certification, the experts argued, the pursuit of hub status will remain a mere dream.

    Dunoma said the country would meet the 2015 deadline as set by the International Civil Aviaton Organisation (ICAO), adding that the agency had in 2006 signed an undertaking with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to certify the country’s international airports.

    He explained that based on the agreement, the country was able to scale through the ICAO Universal Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), saying that recently, FAAN set up a certification team, which visited some International airports to appraise the requirements for certification.

    He said: “Certification of aerodrome is a means of demonstrating that an organisation has implemented its quality management system appropriately, this includes a third party audit. Quality management at airports ensures safety, security, efficiency, and service, thereby stimulating air traffic and increasing profit.

    “Certification of airports brings about achievement and maintenance of a higher standard level of safety, promotes standardisation and consistency of procedures and operations. Another requirement is airport facilitation,  which requires the minimum time for passengers to complete all airport formalities for transit travels in line with global practices,” he said.

    Dunoma pointed out that the authority is pursuing the certification of at least two international airports in line with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), before the end of the year.

    He listed the airports to include Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    According to experts, before an airport could get ICAO certification, it must have full fire cover with adequate fire fighting trucks and other equipment to handle emergencies. Such an airport is also expected to have a comprehensive airport security manual and programme tailored to fit into the standards and recommended practices of ICAO. In addition, the airport must have airport perimeter  and security fencing.

    To ensure that there is tight security at our airports, the Federal Government has deployed advanced technology security systems in airports across the country, and has also put in place a joint military security operation to further secure facilities at the various airports.

    The government has also put in place a 24-hour  surveillance patrol at the five  international airports – Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano and Enugu International Airport (EIA).

    Also, the security of airports has been  enhanced, with the introduction of biometric-based access controls at the airports and passenger screening at the five international airports.

    The FAAN boss said: “Thus, to enhance airport security further, various biometric devices and smart cards, are options being considered or implemented across the world. Apart from passenger profiling, the quest to prevent hazardous items and substances from getting on board aircraft is another important concern  in airport security. We are working hard to tackle these challenges.

    We have acquired new security screening equipment, which are very functional and effective. The security agencies are using them. It is not just for aviation security personnel that are  finding them useful,  but other security agencies at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport as well. We are also training our staff so they can be acaquianted  with the new software that came with the equipment.”

     

    Provision of fire cover

     

    Dunoma said in the last one year, the authority has made efforts to address gaps in the airports’ fire fighting requirement with the deployment of more fire tenders to major airports to back up the existing facilities.

    Apart from the deployment of fire trucks, the authority is currently recruiting aviation security and fire fighting personnel to address the manpower gap in such areas.

    ”We have purchased fire tenders and distributed them to all airports across the country in order to beef up our fire fighting capacity. We have also entered into a maintenance agreement with the manufacturers of the  fire tenders, so as to ensure that we optimise the life span and usage of these equipment. We have also trained our staff on the use of these new fire fighting equipment to ensure they perform at optimal levels in the nearest future,” he said.

     

    Terminal security

     

    To achieve the hub status, the airport authority has rolled out new security measures at major airport to checkmate unauthorised movement of persons around the terminal building.

    Ths is in addition to the deployment of close circuit television cameras at operational and non – operational areas around major terminals .

    Dunoma said the airport authority has designed a detailed plan for the review of security architecture for airports nationwide.

    The new security plan, includes the procurement of sophisticated counter terrorism gadgets and effective collaboration among security agencies.

    Chidoka said the presence of such people is giving the nation a bad reputation, even as they remain big security risks around the airport.

     

    Passenger  facilitation

     

    Passenger facilitation experts say is key to attaining hub status for any airport.

    One of the ways of achieving this is through replacement of operational facilities including ultra modern high speed carousels .

    FAAN industry experts say must ensure it addresses challenges associated with erratic performance of its  conveyor at the Lagos International Airport to improve turn around time.

    Dunoma said: “For over 30 years, no serious addition of infrastructure was made at the Lagos International Airport until a few years ago.

    There were lots of complaints from users , passengers and airlines because of malfunctioning airport facilities.

    But, in the last few years, because we want to make the airport a hub for West Africa , government has expanded the D and E wings to increase capacity for passenger facilitation. The check in counters were quadrupled both for arrival and departure formalities . The arrival carousels have been installed and they are larger , faster and better than wahab we had initially.

    We have met the standards for NCAA and ICAO , which requires that any arriving passenger processing time must not exceed 45 minutes.

    Our plan is to proved facilities so that as passenger traffic continues to grow we could proved facilities to cater for this growth in traffic.

    At the end of the day, processing and facilitation at the airports would be better and smoother.

    What you are observing at the airport  is a new terminal which would have departure and processing facilities for international passengers  we also intend to provide transit locations whereby passengers that are coming into Lagos and need to transit to other parts of the country would have a place they would be processed and then moved to their next aircraft.”

     

    Hotel complex

     

    Like is the practice in some airports across the globe hotels are built inside airports to enhance their hub status.

    The rationale for this according to aviation experts is to support passengers who are willing to spend longer time at the airport while on transit flights.

    Dunoma said the airport authority is building a 20 room transit hotel at the international wing of the Lagos Airport to achieve this objective .

    Dunoma said: ”Airports all over the world have hotel facilities.

    We are working hard to provide such facilities at the Lagos Airport.

    It is for passengers that need to wait at the airport for longer time. The ultimate goal is that we ate positioning Lagos Airport as a hub . When it becomes a hub there is the tendency that passengers will wait for may be 16 hours around the airport and would need a hotel facility where they can go in and rest while waiting for their next available flight.

    The hotel is under construction, when completed, it will bring relief to such passengers. We have started with 20 rooms and if the need arises, we would construct more rooms.”

  • ‘How airports can drive socio-economic activities’

    ‘How airports can drive socio-economic activities’

    Governor of Kebbi State, Usman Dakingari, is convinced that airports wherever they are sited are pivotal to socio-economic development as social infrastructure and speaks amidst plans to engage foreign carriers to consider the strategic location of the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Kebbi into a cargo hub for West Africa. Kelvin Osa-Okunbor met him. Excerpts:

    What is the moivation for building a N17 billion airport, the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Kebbi State?

    In Nigeria today, in the north, only one or two states is without an airport and that is Zamfara State; all the rest have their airports. So, everybody has understood that airports are part of development and they are catalyst to development. Economic development is facilitated both in short and long term by having a quick gateway in and out of the state. This enhances the movement of human, good and services and give rise to a burst of economic development. Movement of goods is made easy; at least it is the best thing that can happen to any state and airport happens to be one of the best ways to do that.

    Given the fact that Kebbi State is an agro-allied state, how will this airport jump-start your capacity to export those produce that are here?

    Let me say this, Dangote’s company approached Kebbi state and expressed the desire to put an investment of about $9 billion, in sugar cane, rice and maybe ranching. I have seen it in Kenya and other places in Namibia. They send meat overseas to Europe. If people like Dangote come in and say this is possible; we have fruits, onions; we have one of the best markets for onion in Kebbi State. These days we produce watermelon too, we produce mangoes and all these are things that can go overseas.

    And we have the weather to produce also flowers; we can also export. At present there is a farmer just around the airport that has started warehousing; he will build warehouses for both export and import. These are things that will not happen in one day but the airport is futuristic. In the last two weeks, we started flying in and out of Kebbi, today the aircraft that we started with was full all the time and at times we had to leave passengers. So, by God’s grace, we are likely to improve and get a better aircraft and we are sure we will take 60 per cent of the passengers in Sokoto.

    So the airport will be busy and with the sophisticated equipment we have on ground at the Kebbi airport, during harmatan, there is the likelihood that airlines will not fly Sokoto route and the Sokoto passengers will likely come to Kebbi where flights can take off at low visibility because of the precision and the sophisticated instrument landing system and other equipment that we have, so there are a lot of viability in that airport and this is why we are looking for a next governor who has the exposure, who is well educated to continue to sustain the tempo of development when we leave and for the next five years.

    How did you source funds and how much in terms of cost component did it cost your administration to put together this project?

    The cost of the project is within the range of about N17billion and when we were building the airport I said it is futuristic, we want the best out of the airport and I also want a situation whereby we can lease it out. You just talked about states not having funds; maybe airlines like Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines can lease this kind of airport and make use of it for cargo and passenger operations. If you have regular flights no matter where you drop cargo or passengers they can connect to wherever they want to go to. And with airlines like Emirates, I am sure they can make this place busy and connect even West Africa from here like Niger, Cotonou, Ivory Coast and other countries like Morocco, Libya and Algeria are shorter from Kebbi State than any other place around here.

    Given the geographical location of this airport, partnership is key to driving traffic into this airport more so that you are looking at partnership with global carriers like Emirates and others, what is the level of engagement with those airlines with a view to attracting them to come and operate from this airport?

    What we are trying to do is to commission a consultant who will go round, introduce this airport to other people, like you are here now you have just seen the airport, I am sure from the time the president came here to date, I am sure the airport is well known around the country and maybe, sooner or later people will start asking questions and people with interest may likely invest. This is a state airport, it is available to people who want to use it and what we are trying to do is that once we have the airport, the services is what we are looking for. So, even if somebody takes the airport we still get the services.

    Are you favourably disposed to discuss with other airlines with a view to having daily flights in and out of Kebbi?

    Yes we are. We started with one airline but we saw that they were dragging their feet and we have to engage Air Peace so that we can start the operation as quickly as we can. So, now we can sit down and plan, Air Peace comes in four days in a week, there are three days available so we can open discussions on the three days. And maybe also Sokoto has been having two flights we can take a bigger aircraft for a daily flight. We have Aero Contractors and Arik coming into Sokoto so we can equally, maybe take one and leave them with one there.

    For human capacity development, are you training indigenes that will work in this airport?

    We are training a lot of hands and we have recruited young graduates whom we are likely to send to schools around the country or even overseas so that we can run the airport efficiently and we can have hands that can handle any type of task at the airport.

    Are you in discussions with neighbouring states on how they can benefit from the airport by moving their produce from here?

    We are doing that and this is why I said we are envisaging having inland ports Lolo just at the boarder of Republic of Benin to take traffic from Cotonou.  And the airport is well situated, you can take passenger from Kano to Kebbi, you combine it to Cotonou or to Niger Republic or to Abuja. Somebody who is coming from Niger Republic will spend three hours on road to this place, so you can leave by 7:00 am and 10:00 am you are here. You can board an aircraft in Kebbi and be in Abuja or in Lagos maybe within two hours or four hours.

    We heard you were able to offset the debts owed by your predecessor and Kebbi State is now debt free. How have you been able to galvanise all these projects with the limited resources at your disposal?

    The internally generated revenue is maybe about half a billion Naira annually and what we get in terms of allocation from the federal government usually is what we use. Two things, once you block the leakages and you are prudent and the corruption is minimal and with self-determination, you can get what you want. This is first state among all the states in Nigeria that started e-payment; that is way back six years ago. So, we came with a vision that, look, this is what we want to do.

    I think in Nigeria today, Kebbi has one of the best rural network of roads. And it was deliberate because that is the only way you can develop a state. This is why when people talk about rice in Kebbi, it is not difficult to see; once you can evacuate it and people can access areas in the state they can go and buy the farm produce directly, you find out that producing those things is not difficult.

    Now we produce rice three times in a year and you will find out that we do dry season farming twice then the rainy season production once. And some people are more prepared to produce more during dry season because they can control all the elements rather than where you cannot predict anything during the raining season. So I think Kebbi now has a foothold on food production, especially rice.

    Now people have realised that you can get income from farming. Civil servants who have retired now go into farming. So they use their gratuity to invest in farming. In Kebbi we have a policy of paying everybody’s gratuity at once, so you can use it to invest in rice production or any other area you want. And we have been paying this entitlement in bulk, we don’t cut it. You find a permanent secretary getting up to N20 million, so if that civil servant goes into the production of rice, you will find out that he will be okay. And I can tell you that for the last seven years the price of food is stable in Kebbi State.

    What has your administration done in the area of healthcare?

    We have hospitals in all the local government areas; in some cases we have more than three in one local government. We have rural clinics, and we had collaboration with MDGs. In every ward there is a clinic which is manned by federal government midwives scheme. And this is why healthcare is improving in Kebbi very rapidly. If you look at the statistics of Aids, you will find that there is less than one per cent of the prevalence in Kebbi State. We are the first state in the north that had no polio case for a long time. We have a programme for children under five years, from the day they are born we give them free medical attention until they are five years. We have the nutritional programme for children that are nutritionally sick. So, with the collaboration with UNICEF and other agencies, we had so many programmes that have helped Kebbi to raise the health indices.

    We have a programme in Kebbi state where we removed all the mentally challenged people on the roads to a hospital. We don’t keep them in the hospital; we treat them every week on Saturdays. You bring in the patients and they are treated for stress, madness and whatever disease that is related to madness. And this how we were able to get this feat accomplished. Today, as I talk to you, you can’t see any mad man on the streets of Kebbi State.

    Release of letters of employment to about 4,000 teachers, to what extent is this going to galvanise educational development in the state?

    We had a problem of enrolment before I came in. I think Kebbi is one of the lowest in terms of enrolment. So we now had built a lot of schools, we now have over 400 schools for both junior and secondary schools. More than 60 per cent of those schools are boarding, now we have over 400,000 students. So, it is only right after producing so many schools to recruit teachers. And the next item on our calendar is to also buy books and other materials for teaching. I think with that we will be rest assured that the indices for our education will improve in Kebbi State. And it has become a source of employment to reduce the graduates on the streets of Kebbi State.

    On succession, what mechanism have you put in place to ensure that the right person who will continue with your development philosophy succeeds you?

    You should expect a better person than me. We would want to build on what we have, we should not destroy and I am sure the person who is coming will be more competent than I am.

  • New security measures at airports nationwide

    New security measures at airports nationwide

    Huge crowd at the international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport ,Lagos is generating intense concerns for the Federal Government, no thanks to poor access control at the nation’s premier gateway. As part of measures to stem any vulnerability, aviation authorities are designing new measures to re- jig the security architecture , KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR, reports.

    THE Federal Government is  set to re- jig the security architecture at airports nationwide. The new move, it was learnt, is coming on the heels of vulnerabilities observed at some airports.

    Government, it was learnt, is getting worried over some  unauthorised operations around the airport, which could pose serious threat to airport safety and security.Chief among such operations is touting. .

    The Minister of Aviation , Chief Osita Chidoka last week, described it as a sore point at the nation’s gateways.

    He said it is disappointing to find people milling around the arrival halls of the Lagos International , for activities that are unauthorised .

    Such practice , he said, is alien to aviation in other parts of the world.

    He has, therefore, directed relevant aviation authorities to rid the airports of persons who engage in unauthorised operations .

    Some industry watchers have complained about the porous security situation at the Lagos International Airport, adducing  access control at major airports as a sore point.

    Some aviation stakeholders  are clamouring for unified measures that would raise the stakes for airport security.

    Some experts have canvassed a review of the security system at the airports.

    Part of the new measures ,  experts suggested, is the overhaul of access control points into major international airport terminals to reduce overcrowding of unauthorised persons around arrival and departure halls.

    Relevant aviation agencies including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN), it was learnt, have  designed a blueprint to reduce the number of persons that mill around arrival halls  particularly at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Worried over the ugly trend, aviation minister , Chief Osita Chidoka last week directed FAAN and other security agencies at the Lagos International Airport to rid the arrival halls of touts, who he said, have no business at the terminal.

    Chidoka said the presence of such people is giving the nation a bad reputation, even as they remain big security risks around the airport.

    Besides,the minister directed FAAN to design a security blueprint that will ensure that fewer persons are around the operational areas of the airport.

    He spoke of plans by government to put in place new measures to improve security, part of which he said will include the installation of new close circuit television cameras.

    The minister spoke of the need to boost security surveillance at airport terminals with the use of technology as it is the practice in other parts of the world .

    Chidoka said more aviation security personnel will be trained on latest technology to protect the airports in line with regulations and standard practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation  (ICAO).

    He also spoke of plans to re- route the movement of vehicles around the airport terminal to facilitate free flow of traffic , which could threaten security around the airports.

    He said : ‘’If you have issue with the crowd at the airport and you don’t want the military to remove those people who are touts from the airport, then we have a problem in our hands .

    “Do you want our airport to be an all comers’affairs or do we want some controls to ensure that those who use the airport are legitimate and people who have business to do at the airport?.”

    The minister identified vehicular movement around the airport as part of the problems posing threat to airport security.

    He said there is an urgent need to re- route the movement of vehicles to reduce the crowd around the airport road.

    Chidoka said: ”The traffic control situation at the international airport is a little complex but we are going to resolve it. Since I came from a traffic control organisation, we are going to figure out how to make that traffic work. The challenges are clear, it is overcrowding, it is a lot of people going at the same time to the same destination.”

    He also spoke of plans to rework the schedule of airlines to reduce pressure on airport facilities.

    He said :” So many  airlines coming about the same time and the departure is about the same time, so we are looking at how to optimise the spaces we have  at the airport and see  whether there are other points from the airport that passengers can check-in through and be taken by bus to the international terminal.

    ‘’ I have set up a committee on airport optimisation, to look at all the spaces we have in GAT, in MMA2 and see whether a check-in process can be done without everybody having to come to   international terminal. So, we are looking at that and we are hoping that, that will help in solving that traffic problem.”

    He said a master plan would be put in place  to address airport security and other challenges .

    In his contribution, an aviation security expert, Group Captain John Ojikutu  (rtd), has canvassed a review of the security programme for the nation’s airports and airlines as one of the steps to boost security at the gateways .

    The review of the airport and airlines security programme, Ojikutu said, has  become imperative in the face of the current security challenges facing the country , for which the airports are not insulated.

    Ojikutu ,who is the chief executive officer of Centurion Securities, said government must quickly review the security programme .

    The former military commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos said the challenge of access control at the airport has become worrisome because of the presence of many security and para -military personnel at the terminal building.

    He said the presence of so many security personnel at the airport  terminal building has become worrisome because it is difficult to know which agency or outfit should take responsibility if there is any infraction  on safety and security.

    Ojikutu said : ‘’I do not think we are really doing enough in airport security . Government needs to raise the bar on issues affecting security at the airport.

    “First, it is important for government to review the aviation security programme for the airports and the entire system.

    “The content of the security programme is derived from the manual developed for the airport systems and airlines. All airports and airlines are supposed to have a security programme.

    Speaking in an interview, security expert and  chief executive officer of Avscon Securities Limited,  Mr Bayo Babatunde, recommended urgent and continuous training of aviation personnel, provision of high tech equipment and pre-emptive intelligence reports and investigation as proactive measures to ensure continued protection of Nigeria’s airports.

    But , Bayo Babatunde said that aviation security personnel  should de-emphasise physical security to intelligence gathering and use of technology.

    “The security protocols implemented at any airport are not only those things you can see with your eyes or hear; a lot evolve from a well-articulated and approved national security programme which is a resultant document based on a painstakingly documented security risk assessment and safety management system.”

    Meanwhile , FAAN said it has designed a detailed plan for the review of security architecture for airports nationwide.

    But, investigations revealed that the authority does not have the funds to cater for the security at the airports, which requires installation of gadgets and perimeter fencing

    The new security plan  includes the procurement of sophisticated counter terrorism gadgets and effective collaboration among security agencies.

    Earlier in the year, FAAN deployed next generation security system at the international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

    FAAN said the security system, known as ‘Advance Threat Identification X-Ray’, is located at nine different passenger checkpoints in the newly-expanded ‘D’ and ‘E’ departures halls of the terminal.

    Yakubu Dati, spokesman for FAAN, said that the system consisted of an explosives trace detector and high performance walk-through metal detectors to check passengers and their hand luggage for explosives, illegal weapons, contraband, narcotics and related items.

  • How viable are states’airports?

    How viable are states’airports?

    Airports as economic and social infrastructure are expected to be catalyst for accelerated development, where they are sited. But, attendant low passenger and cargo traffic into some airports is raising doubts over their economic viability, Senior Correspondent KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports.

    Airports are springing up in many state capitals.

    Without considering its economic viability, many states are embarking on the money guzzling facility.

    Aviation experts are worried over the increasing number of airports across the country, wondering how viable they are.

    Last month, Kebbi State became the latest state to inaugurate an airport.The N17billion airport is named after the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

    About four years ago, Jigawa State opened the Dutse International Airport.

    States that have built airports include: Akwa Ibom, Katsina, Bauchi, Gombe,  Delta  and Taraba.

    To experts, some of these airports are not economically viable because passenger traffic into them does not match the huge investment outlay on such facilities.

    While a lot of activities are going on at the Delta State Airport in Asaba, with three airlines: Aero, Arik and Air Peace connecting flights in and out of the place, the same cannot be said for the Katsina State Airport, where there are no scheduled operations.

    The level of flight activities at the Uyo Airport in Akwa Ibom State,  with Aero, Arik, Dana Air, and Discovery Air providing scheduled flights cannot be compared with Bauchi and Gombe where only Overland Airways provides flight services.

    The Taraba State Airport in Jalingo is pathetic case. No airline operates flights into the airport for now.

    Worried by this trend, experts argue that the states must step up efforts to attract economic and business activities to the airports to make them viable.

    Some industry analysts reason that the states must woo airlines to operate into such airports by developing the routes to make them viable.

    One of the ways of doing this, they say, is to offer incentives to airlines to increase the frequency of flight operations into those airports.

    While concerns over the viability of these airports is growing, more states have signified their intention to build their own airports.

    They include: Kogi, Ogun, Ekiti, Osun, Zamfara, Lagos, Anambra and Bayelsa. Construction is on going in some of these states.

    The question that many are asking borders on the rational for states to invest billions of naira into a seemingly unviable project.

    In an interview, Kebbi State Governor, Saidu Dakingari, said airports are futuristic projects needed to link any state to the national air link.

    He said there is nothing wrong in states building airports because they serve as a catalyst that accelerate economic development.

    The Kebbi State governor said airports as essential air transport infrastructure has the capacity to open up any state for business opportunities to the world, if there is a link by air.

    He said the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Kebbi, could not be described as unviable because its location is best suited to serve as a hub for agro allied export not just for the State, but also serve neighbouring countries including Benin, Republic of Niger , Mali, and other countries.

    He said state governments are investing in airports to create an avenue where agro allied produce for such an area could be flown by air into the international market.

    Though an initiative of Kebbi, the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, the governor said, is already in discussions with some foreign carriers including Emirates, which is considering the use of the facility for cargo and passenger operations between Abuja – Kebbi into Cotonou and Niamey.

    He said if the airport were not viable such offers would not be in the burner .

    “In the North today, airports are a catalyst for development. Accessibility to any place using the airport is key in running any business. Our airport in Kebbi is already receiving the attention of private sector players,” he explained, adding that Dangote is planning to put over $9 million investments  in the agro- allied produce in the state.

    ‘’In the state, the availability of the airport In Kebbi is drawing investment.

    ‘’This airport is very busy, it will grow passenger traffic and there is a lot of viability for this airport. So, people who say that state airports are are not viable are not saying the truth.

    ‘’This airport is futuristic, we are Looking at private sector players leading the airport by airlines like Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines.

    ‘’These airlines could use this airport as a hub to drive cargo development within West Africa.

    ‘’One key strategy is for us to use consultants to drive development  by attracting more more airlines into this airport .

    Our strategy is to attract more airlines to make the airport more viable , other than having just a single carrier, we could open discussions with many airlines , including Arik and Aero to make the airport more viable.

    ‘’Our goal is to run the airport efficiently. Our plan is develop the airport to connect it with the Inland Port at Lolo, the dry port that could drive cargo and passenger movement with the country and West Africa.”

    Also, the Jigawa State Governor, Mallam Sule Lamido, said state airports are the way to go because they offer a window for the development of agro-allied activities where they are located.

    He spoke against the background of the  new Dutse International Airport.

    Lamido said with the right partnership with airlines, no state airport could be described as unviable.

    He said the construction of the airport became a necessity to attract more investors to the state.

    Lamido insisted that there were many investors willing to come to the state if there was a functional and safe airport, stressing that the construction of an airport in the state was  inevitable.

    He observed that the airport would be the hub in the region in terms of exportation of agricultural produce to other parts of the country and beyond.

    He added:  “This project is one of the projects initiated by the administration to transform the Northwest geopolitical zone with an agro-allied airport. The airport was designed specifically to develop unique economic opportunities for different states in the region.

    “We are also building a cargo airport for the export of agricultural produce. We are into livestock production; therefore, we can export the produce from the airport, so it is going to be a cargo cum commercial airport. It is a huge opportunity for the country and all these will make the airport viable and sustainable. So, this state has the potential to be the hub of the North in terms of economy, tourism and a number of things.”

    In an interview, the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, said there is nothing like an unviable state airport if the owners and managers of such airports liaise with airlines to develop routes.

    He said the state that have built airports conceived them as air transport infrastructure that would accelerate economic development.

    Onyema said: “It is wrong for people to say that many state airports are unviable.

    ‘’What they should say is how to develop such routes and attract airlines to keep regular services into such airports.

    ‘’There is need to link every part of this country by air.That is why states are building airports. Will anybody say that the Kebbi Airport is not viable, when airlines are competing to sign agreement with the state government to fly into the new airport.

    ‘’This explains why Air Peace signed an agreement with Kebbi State to develop the airport and make it more viable. The agreement with the Kebbi State government is part of efforts by the governor to open the state to all parts of the world through air link.

    ‘’The airport would accelerate the socio-economic development of the state. The airport is expected to generate jobs for people of the state. It would attract investment in many sectors of the economy.

    “It is important to clarify that there is nothing like unviable airport, state governments must give operators the opportunity to help open up airports. If you do not start it, the airports would not be open.”

    In an interview at the opening of the Dutse Airport in Jigawa State, the former member of House of Representatives and a pilot, Hon. Ibn Na’Allah, said there was need for more airports across the country.

    He said airports were built for some economic reasons, which include safety and security.

    He said: “A lot of people don’t understand the economic importance of airports. Airport is of the strongest security and economic importance in any community. Let me tell you what this would do; today, if somebody is sick and needs to be evacuated, he can be evacuated out within the shortest possible time. They can use this airport for export and this is an agrarian society. Of course, as I’ve always said, the people of Jigawa will find it convenient to come home and definitely boost the economic activities of the country.”

    Besides, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the construction of more airports by states would further enhance movement of cargoes and passengers in the country.

    He maintained that construction of more airports would also boost the economy of the country vis-à-vis safety and security.

    Dati argued that the global aviation industry had moved away from the transportation of passengers alone to include air freight, saying that most of the airports would contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Products, GDP, with the carriage of farm produces from their environments.

    He said: “We have to look at the fact that the aviation industry is changing worldwide. It is not just about transporting air passengers alone; it is becoming a key in the movement of cargo. If you have an airport in these states, by the time they think about moving farm produce, they will be making enormous revenues daily.”

    But, the Managing Consultant, Centre for Management Development, Mr. Anthony Umoh, said before such project could be implemented by the government, it is necessary for it to carry out a feasibility study with regards to the viability of an airport in such a state.

    According to him, constructing an airport in an unviable environment would lead to draining the inadequate resources, but maintained that if it is proven that it would be viable, there was no reason it should not be established in such a state.

    “So, it is necessary that a feasibility study is carried out; if you like, give it to one, two or three different consultants so that they can confirm that it is a viable project. If it is not viable, it will just drain on public funds. But if it can be established that it is going to be viable, there is no reason it should not be carried out.”

    The Secretary-General, Aviation Round Table (ART), Mr. Sam Akerele, said state government should do a rethink  before embarking in construction of airports.

    He decried a situation where a state government spends about N20billion on the construction of an airport only for the government to generate less than N1 billion from the airport in a year, warning that most of the airports might be diverted to other uses in the future.

    He said: “Either we like it or not,  just a few airports are viable in this country.

    ‘’For instance, a state government will construct an airport with about N20 billion and makes less than N1 billion from that airport in a year. Are we moving forward or backward? If care is not taken, the airports will turn to football pitches in the future because the government might find it difficult to continue to maintain unviable airports when the viable ones are still been consistently maintained and upgraded by the government.

    ‘’Most of these airports are unnecessary and have political undertone.”

    In his contribution,  an aviation consultant,  Lafeef Ejioye, decried the construction of airports by states, saying that of all the airports, only Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt airports are viable.

    He said rather than construct airports for economic reasons, state governments only consider political expediency, adding that it was a colossal waste by the states.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Overland Airways, Captain Edward Boyo, said state airports could be made more viable if airlines and the managers of the airports have an understanding of the airplane type to be deployed in them.

    He said the deployment of small and medium range aircraft, including the ATR 72 is key in driving the development of state airports due to issues bordering on capacity. He said: “Overland  Airways is providing air transport services to every state  airport in  Nigeria  through  continuous  development  and  delivery of aviation  products and services to meet the needs of air travelers in the country.

    ‘’Overland  Airways  has realised that to be responsive, airlines must be committed to the revival and sustenance  of hitherto perceived unviable routes in the country thereby supporting  the  growth  of  the  air  transport industry in Nigeria and enhancing business and cultural ties in the communities it serves.’’

  • Atrocious airports

    •Despite the hype, Nigeria’s major airports get low ratings

    After several years of being told that Nigeria’s leading airports have benefitted from a rehabilitation programme that has made them clean and efficient, a survey of the world’s main airports has revealed that the top three in the country rank among Africa’s worst.

    Port Harcourt International Airport was the sixth worst airport in Africa, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja was seventh worst in Africa, and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos was tenth worst in Africa. The continent’s top three airports are O.R. Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, and King Shaka International Airport, all in South Africa.

    The survey was carried out by the online airport reviewers, The Guide to Sleeping in Airports; and based on the criteria of comfort, convenience, cleanliness and customer service. The rankings were determined by votes from visitors to the site, some of whom also sent in reviews detailing grossly inadequate facilities, surly or non-existent service, ridiculously expensive catering, incessant demands for gratification, and negligent security procedures.

    Although the website appears to focus on airports deemed to be most conducive to the ability to sleep in them, there is little doubt that an airport which is good enough to slumber in will also be good enough to pass through.

    It is clear that the Nigerian airports singled out in the survey fall short of continental best practices, to say nothing of global standards. All three have endured long-standing limitations relating to vehicular access, parking, arrival and departure terminals, and conveniences. In none of them are airport-users free from harassment by touts, overzealous security operatives and avaricious immigration officials. Laid-down processes regarding luggage restrictions, purchasing tickets and checking-in are constantly violated without sanction; flight information is rarely forthcoming, especially when there are delays.

    Ironically, the airport-rehabilitation programme launched by the former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, in 2013 appears to have made things worse. In Murtala Muhammed and Port Harcourt airports, ongoing renovation has forced passengers and other airport users to avail themselves of near-primitive facilities. Renovation is in many cases limited to terminal buildings and does not often include outlying areas: access to and parking at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, for example, are still nightmares.

    Matters have not been helped by the overly-defensive attitude of the Federal Government to aviation issues. Oduah was constantly touted as one of the Jonathan administration’s top performers, and any criticism of her actions was often dismissed as partisan political sniping. The former minister had conceived of an ambitious aviation master-plan which included the development of so-called “aerotropolises” or airport cities, which would attract trade, industry and investment. However, it was financed mainly by foreign loans, the terms of which were not transparent. In May, it was found that the former minister’s policies had led to an indebtedness of about N174.6 billion as at May this year, compelling her successor, Chief Osita Chidoka, to extensively review them.

    It is surprising that even though Nigeria’s politicians are among the world’s most assiduous travellers, many of them find it difficult to replicate the high standards they enjoy abroad at home. This anomaly is probably due to the fact that most of them shamelessly exploit their social prominence to make sure that they do not have to endure the limitations and shortcomings that others are compelled to endure.

    The comprehensive rehabilitation of Nigeria’s airports is crucial to the nation’s social and economic development. As such, it cannot be left to the vagaries of political propaganda, or confined to the whims and caprices of whoever happens to be in charge at the moment. If the country is able to articulate and execute a transparent and properly-designed plan for the infrastructural development of its airports, the benefits will be visible to all.

  • ‘Why state govts are investing in airports’

    ‘Why state govts are investing in airports’

    Many state governments are investing in the construction of airports to facilitate air link as well as create a window to enable them tap into the multi-million dollars fresh produce export market, it was gathered at the weekend.

    Apart from Akwa Ibom, Delta, Jigawa , Bauchi, Kebbi and Gombe states that have built airports, others, including Nassarawa, Kogi, Ogun, Osun and Bayelsa are at different stages of developing their airports.

    The state governments, it was learnt are investing in airports to serve as window to ferry agro allied products into the international market.

    But, this window has not been realised due to the absence of airports in states where some of the fresh produce are grown.

    Statistics show that between 50 and 70 per cent of fresh produce grown by farmers perish due largely to the absence of storage facility, efficient transportation system and competitive pricing.

    The one-stop solution lies with the Fresh Produce Cargo Terminal, a requisite infrastructural requirement for a viable international trade.

    Coordinating General Manager, Aviation Parastatals, Mr Yakubu Dati said the Federal Government is encouraging states to invest in airports to enable them tap into the huge revenue potentials in agro allied export.

    He said: “Nigeria with its rich and diverse agricultural produce has no official records on any form of perishable air freight. This raises concern. This explains why state governments are not leaving anything to chance to invest in the construction of airports.

    “This explains why there is construction of new airports in Kogi, Nassarawa, Ogun and  Bayelsa states, in pursuance of the government’s initiative to link states together and establish cargo terminals across the nation.

    “To build these new economies by aligning air transport to the fresh produce value chain thereby making them global players in the Fresh Produce export market.

  • Nigeria begins screening for Ebola virus at airports

    Panic in Anambra over body 

    Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo ready to fight virus 

    World death toll 729

    S/Leone, Liberia declare emergency

    Nigeria has begun the screening of passengers entering the country through the airports.

    The World Health organisation (WHO) announced yesterday that the death toll from Ebola has topped 700 worldwide.

    In Anambra State, there was uproar following fears that a body brought in from Liberia is believed to be of a person who died from the virus.

    The mortuary where the body was deposited has been sealed by the state government.

    Twenty-five patients and the staff of the hospital have been quarantined while a specialist team from the Federal Ministry of Health were being awaited.

    Apart from Anambra, Edo, Bayelsa and Ondo states have taken preventive measures.

    Workers from various agencies operating at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja were yesterday sensitised by Port Health officials on the dangers posed by the virus and how to prevent its spread.

    The awareness campaign was to complement other measures already put in place by Port Health at the international airports to prevent the presence and spread of the virus in the country.

    Federal Ministry of Health’s Port Service Director  Sani Gwarzo urged Aviation stakeholders to be abreast of the dangers posed by the virus.

    Port Health officials have been deployed in Lagos and Abuja airports’ arrival halls to test passengers for symptoms of Ebola.

    Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said yesterday that it had started temperature screening passengers arriving from places at risk of Ebola. It has suspended pan-African airline ASky for bringing the first case to Lagos.

    “Screening and monitoring is being done at all major international airports. It entails checking passengers’ temperature with a hand-held machine,” NCAA spokesman Sam Adurogboye said, adding this meant for any journey that passed through Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone. A compulsory blood test would follow if a passenger’s temperature gives cause for concern, he said.

    International airlines association IATA said WHO was not recommending any travel restrictions or border closures due to the outbreak, and says there would be a low risk to other passengers if an Ebola patient flew.

    A holding area has been provided at the tarmac for suspected cases while index cases are expected to be isolated in a designated area outside the airport for further examination and treatment.

    The deaths of 57 more people from Ebola in West Africa have pushed the overall fatality toll from the epidemic to 729, the WHO said yesterday. The 57 deaths were recorded between Thursday and Sunday last week in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria where Patrick Sawyer, a consultant for Liberia’s Finance Ministry in his 40s, collapsed on arrival at the Lagos airport on July 20 on an ASky flight. He was put in isolation at the First Consultants Hospital in Obalende, but died early on July 25.

    The UN health agency said in a statement that 122 new cases were detected over those four days, taking the total number of confirmed and likely infected cases from the outbreak so far to 1,323. WHO said the trend in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone “remains precarious with ongoing… transmission of infection”.

    Guinea is suffering the worst from the disease, which causes often fatal bleeding and has no vaccine. The country’s authorities reported 20 more deaths, apparently from Ebola in the last four days of last week, taking its national fatility figure to 339.

    Liberia saw 27 more deaths, for a total national death toll of 156. Sierra Leone reported nine more deaths for a total 233 dead.

    “This is a major public health emergency. It’s fierce, deadly and many of our countrymen are dying and we need to act to stop the spread,” Lewis Brown, Liberia’s information minister, told Reuters. “We need the support of the international community now more than ever. We desperately need all the help we can get.”

    Security forces in Liberia were ordered to enforce the action plan, which includes placing all non-essential government workers on 30-day compulsory leave.

    The U.S. Peace Corps said on Wednesday it was temporarily withdrawing 340 volunteers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea and that two of its volunteers had been isolated and were under observation after coming in contact with a person who later died of the Ebola virus.

    The Peace Corp has 102 volunteers in Guinea, 108 in Liberia and 130 in Sierra Leone working in education, health and agriculture.

    The State Department has confirmed that one U.S. citizen died from Ebola in Nigeria after being infected in Liberia. Two other American aid workers infected with Ebola, Dr. Kent Brantly and missionary Nancy Writebol, are in serious condition, but they have shown slight improvement. They were part of a team in Liberia from North Carolina-based Christian relief groups Samaritan’s Purse and SIM.

    White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters that President Barack Obama had been briefed on Tuesday by his homeland security adviser, Lisa Monaco, and that the White House was monitoring the deadly outbreak.

    “The CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has said this is not a risk to the United States at this time,” Schultz told reporters traveling with the president back to Washington from Kansas City, Missouri. He said the U.S. government had increased assistance to countries battling Ebola.

    Schultz said the White House would proceed with a planned U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington Aug. 4-6 that about 50 Africa leaders are expected to attend to discuss trade and investment between the United States and Africa.

    Liberia’s President Surleaf said she would not be attending the summit but that Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and a few cabinet ministers “whose presence are absolutely necessary” would attend.

    “We have no plans to change any elements of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit as we believe all air travel continues to be safe,” Schultz said.

    The body from Liberia was deposited in one of the hospitals in Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The state government has  directed security operatives to cordon off the mortuary where the body was deposited pending investigations by experts from the Federal Ministry of Health.

    The information on the suspected Ebola disease body from Liberia was relayed to the state government by a member of the community.

    Health Commissioner Dr. Josephat Akabuike said though it had not been confirmed that the man died of Ebola disease, there was need for precautionary measures.

    Akabuike said: “We have already contacted the Federal Ministry of Health and we are expecting them to arrive the state any time from now. We have sealed the mortuary and the hospital and all the bodies and the people working there have been quarantined.

    “We are also making efforts to locate the family of the deceased to know their level of contact with the body when it arrived the country and everybody who visited the mortuary will also be quarantined.

    “We are surprised how the body came into Nigeria and Anambra State. It is shocking to us.

    “We have directed the police to cordon off the area. Ebola is a very big threat and that is why we are taking all the measures,” Akabuike said.

    Bayelsa State has established health lines as part of measures to check possible spread of the deadly virus.

    Governor Seriake Dickson broke the news yesterday at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, during the commemoration of the 2014 World Hepatitis Day.

    Dickson, who was represented by Commissioner for Health Dr. Ayibatonye Owei, said the health lines were set up to enable people report cases similar to Ebola.

    He, however, assured people that there was no outbreak of Ebola in Nigeria, apart from an isolated case that occurred in Lagos.

    “We only have one case and by the grace of God there will not be an outbreak. We are  taking proactive measures to ensure that we don’t have an outbreak,” he said.

    But he advised the people to maintain high level of hygiene and to observe hand washing as part of their daily routine.

    “Operation wash your hands should start in Bayelsa. Whatever you are doing, wash your hands. Keep washing your hands because hand washing prevents many diseases”, he said.

    He told the people that Hepatitis B is a silent killer because the disease only becomes manifest at its final stages.

    Dickson, who inaugurated vaccination against Hepatitis B, however, said the diseases caused by hepatitis could be prevented by vaccination.

    “This will go a long way to reduce huge funds that would have been spent in treating the victims. It is for this reason that government has agreed to support this vaccination”, he said.

    Edo State Government said there was no trace of the deadly disease in the state. He, however, advised the people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious case to the nearest health facility.

    Commissioner for Health, Dr Aihanuwa Eregie, at a news conference yesterday, said the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO and other health partners, carried out disease surveillance in all parts of the state to ensure early detection of any outbreak and the timely containment and control of same.

    The commissioner said since a case of the Ebola Virus had been confirmed in Nigeria, there was need for everyone to be extra vigilant to prevent the virus in Edo State because of the highly contagious nature of the disease.

    Ondo State Commissioner for Health Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, at a one-day

    sensitisation meeting with public and private health practitioners, said the government would be proactive on the prevention of Ebola Virus.

    According to him, the state has designated three hospitals with facilities to quarantine any suspected case.

    The centres are Federal Medical Centre, Owo for the Northern Senatorial District, State Specialist Hospital, Akure for the Central Senatorial District and the State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa to take care of the South.

    Besides, the state will train 30 barrier nurses who will be at the designated centres.

    According to Adeyanju, Public Health Care(PHC), Hospital Management

    Board(HMB), Ministry of Health and private practitioners will collaborate to fight the disease.

    “If we choose not to do anything, it may be more dangerous than Boko Haram. We must strengthen our surveillance; we should be on our toes to wage serious war against the disease in our state in particular and our country in general,” Adeyanju said.

  • FAAN urges states to build airports

    The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has implored states to build airports to enhance the movement of cargoes and passengers.

    Its General Manager, Corporate Communication, Mr. Yakubu Dati,  said more airports would accelerate economic development.

    Dati said the global aviation industry had moved beyond the transportation of passengers to include  freights, saying most airports would contribute to the  Gross Domestic Products (GDP) .

    More airports with cargo terminals, he said, would assist in carrying farm produce to the markets.

    In the last few years, many states have built airports. They include Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bauchi, Katsina, Gombe, Kebbi and Jigawa.

    Some states that propose to build airports  are: Lagos, Ogun, Osun Ekiti, Bayelsa and Zamfara.

    However, some stakeholders have condemned the establishment of more airports, saying they are unviable, but others insist the country requires more airports.

    Dati said: “We have to look at the fact that aviation industry is changing worldwide. It is not just about transporting air passengers alone; it is becoming a key in the movement of cargo. If you have an airport in these states, by the time they think about moving farm produce, they will be making enormous revenues daily.

    “Look at Jigawa, for instance, it has a predominantly farming population that brings its goods to Lagos with trailers, which takes weeks at times and even the farmers lose. But if there were a cheaper means of transporting for them to get to their final destinations and faster,too, it makes such airports viable.

    “By the time we begin to change our perspective about aviation that it is not just for passengers’ movements, but to also movement of products, you will begin to see that we need more airports in this country and  they will be viable.

    ‘’We need creation of more airports for the movement of passengers and cargoes, especially with more emphasis on cargos. Every state should look at its strength and develop it.”

    Dati emphasised that the remodelling of 22 airports by the Federal Government has contributed immensely to the crash in fares and encouraged more airlines to come into the sub-sector.

    He said the move has created a better enabling environment for investors to come into the ssector, adding that the Federal Government’s transformation agenda for the industry had been successful.

  • Tight security at airports

    Tight security at airports

    American officials have ordered some overseas airports with direct flights to the United States to intensify screening of electronic devices.

    Transport officials said in a statement that passengers could be asked to switch on devices and equipment that does not power up would not be allowed on board.

    An official told the BBC that London’s Heathrow was among the airports.

    From the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, Arik Air, United and Delta operate direct flights to the U.S.

    The U.S. announced new security measures last week, apparently in response to a terror threat, but gave no details.

    Analysts say the changes appear to be in response to intelligence that Islamic militants in Syria and Yemen are developing bombs that could evade airport security.

    American officials said earlier that there was a “credible” threat, but did not link the security changes to any specific intelligence.

    The US does not directly control security at overseas airports.

    But airlines and airports are obliged to meet security standards set by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in order to carry on operating non-stop flights.

    The TSA’s statement for the first time gave details of enhanced screening of electronic equipment.

    “During the security examination, officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones,” it said.

    “Powerless devices will not be permitted on board the aircraft. The traveller may also undergo additional screening.”

    Reuters news agency reported that officials had singled out mobile phones made by Apple and Samsung for extra checks.

    The UK, France and Germany have all said they would comply with the American demands.

    But it is still not clear how many airports will be affected, or if passengers will be delayed.