The Nation Newspaper

Tag: aviation

  • Court dismisses suit against Aviation minister

    Court dismisses suit against Aviation minister

    The National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed against the Ministry of Aviation by a former employee, Mr. Dominic Archibong.

    The Presiding Judge, Justice Maureen Esowe, who dismissed the suit on Monday on grounds that it was statute barred, held that the claimant went to sleep and allowed Limitation Acts to deprive him of his rights.

    Esowe held that where a court lacked jurisdiction to entertain a case, its merit was of no consequence as the court could not go outside the law.

    She explained that the Public Officers Protection Act disallowed an action to be commenced against a public officer after three months from the time the cause of action arose.

    Esowe held that the claimant, having failed to file the action within the limitation period, had forfeited his right to seek redress.

    The presiding judge therefore dismissed the suit and informed the claimant that his right to seek redress against the defendant had been lost.

    Counsel to the claimant, Mrs. C.A Ezekwe, however, commended the court for the ruling.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Archibong had joined the Federal Civil Service Commission and Attorney General of the Federation as co-defendants in the suit.

    When the matter came up for hearing in March, the defendants raised a preliminary objection to challenge the competency of the suit, arguing that it was statute barred.

    The claimant had told the court that he was suspended in 1987 and subsequently dismissed in 2007 after 20 years without pay.

    He prayed the court to declare that his suspension in 1987 and his subsequent dismissal in 2007 were unlawful, null and void.

     

  • ‘New aviation policy has not threatened NCAA’s autonomy’

    The Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Joyce Nkemakolam, has said the new aviation policy has not threatened the autonomy of the agency.

    He said the new policy has also not impacted negatively on its functions, rather it has created a template to strengthen its roles as a regulator of civil aviation.

    Speaking to reporters at the Aviation House in Ikeja, Lagos, Dr. Nkemakolan said what is enshrined in the new policy has been in operation overtime.

    He said the grounding of airlines could be avoided if operators adhered to the regulatory requirements without violations.

    “If there is no violation or flouting of these regulations, of course, there will be no sanction. We want to eradicate the culture of impunity, which some operators have penchant of taking liberty of. This has got to stop.”

    He said the agency is planning to invite operators and sensitise them to adhere to the regulations guiding their operations.

    On private jet owners, Dr. Nkemakolam said there were limitations and restrictions to the use of private jets for leisure, adding that anybody flying with friends should be captured in their insurance policy.

    “If you have a third party insurance policy, you can fly with them. However, if you don’t, you are working outside the realm of your licence. You must make sure those you intend to carry are covered,” he said.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • NCAA seeks information sharing on aviation threat

    To promote aviation security, airline operators, security agencies and airports’ airports have been urged to embrace information sharing.

    Exchange of information , according to the Acting Director-General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Joyce Nkemakolam, is a way of preventing security threats in the industry.

    In an address at a stakeholders’ seminar at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos with the theme: Dealing with emerging challenges in aviation security, Nkemakolam, represented by the Director, Customer Protection Directorate, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi said the consequences of insider threat to aviation security world-wide remains high.

    He said hijackers had changed their style from hijacking to blowing up of aircraft in other climes, warning that some aviation security personnel might give out their country due to enticement.

    According to Nkemakolam, threat to civil aviation industry has changed since September 11, 2001 when terrorists attacked the twin towers in the United States.

    Before, he said, terrorists used massive weapons, but have changed to liquids and explosives, which could eliminate hundreds of people in seconds.

    Terrorism threat remained the greatest challenge to safety, he said, to the world, challenging aviation security personnel to be more vigilant at all times as “these deadly men are evolving new ways of beating security.”

    The Vice President, Air Transport Staff Senior Services of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, Comrade Ahmadu Ilitrus, urged airports’users to tackle pilferage and stealing onboard of plane.

    He said the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and cameras at strategic places within the airport would help reduce stealing.

    He said: “It is very important for the airlines and other players in the industry to have effective security training for their personnel. It is not enough for the personnel to be trained in accordance with ICAO standards alone, but they should be periodically trained.

    “Any staff with questionable characters should be dealt with accordingly, which I think will send a note of warning to others and will help in checkmating criminal activities among the people in the sector because pilferage and stealing are done with the collaboration of insiders.”

    An industry player, Comrade Chukwuemeke Iwelumo, said the security challenges called for closer collaboration

    He said: “Serious security challenges like the one that is prevalent in the country today calls for urgent and collaborative action by all stakeholders to stem the development.’’

     

  • Why aviation growth is slow, by NAMA chief

    The Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nnamdi Udoh, has attributed the slow pace of growth of aviation in Africa to poor aerospace development, inadequate airport and airspace infrastructure.

    Udoh listed other challenges the industry is grappling with to include safety, security, inadequate human resources and poor budgetary provision.

    Speaking at a seminar in Lagos last weekend, he said until the government took seriously the role of infrastructure in airspace safety and security, the growth of the industry could be stunted.

    The areas that are critical for the development of the industry include a consistent plan by government to address issues bordering on airport management and security.

    He said: “The aviation sector continues to grapple with a myriad of challenges. Some of these challenges include: poor budgetary provision and funding of the industry, weak project matrix, due process and other procurement bottlenecks, change management failures, liquidation of national airlines as well as issues of privatisation.”

    He explained that if the industry must rescue itself from its slow pace of growth, government must resolve issues bordering on challenges of human resource.

    Udoh said if Nigeria aims to be among one of the developed aviation nations, government should consider a framework that would help to achieve safer skies.

     

     

     

  • Fresh dust in aviation as FAAN destroys Bi-Courtney’s billboards

    A fresh dust has been raised in the aviation industry with last week’s vandalism of two billboards belonging to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    The damage occurred without a prior notice by FAAN, according to BASL.

    The organisation has a court judgement restraining FAAN from tampering with any of its adverts.

    But officials of the government agency, with heavily-armed policemen, first stormed the pedestrian overhead bridge connecting the MMA2 multi-storey car park (MSCP) with an unmarked truck and allegedly vandalised Bi-Courtney’s billboard on the bridge, creating serious disruption of traffic on Airport Road.

    FAAN said it ordered the removal of all illegal advertisement materials on billboards and structures on Murtala Muhammed Airport road in Lagos.

    According to its General Manager, Corporate Communication, Mr. Yakubu Dati, the placement of such advert materials infringes on advertisement rights of FAAN.

    He said this is because the company or organisation liable for the placing of the advert materials did not receive FAAN’s permission to do so.

    “Every advert placement within the airport premises, including the internal and access roads must be done with the authorisation of FAAN, which has the right over all airport land as contained in the act establishing the Authority,” he said.

    Dati also said the removal of illegal advertisements at airports was informed by the fact that the companies that have advert concessions with FAAN have refused to honour the terms of the agreement for the concession.

    He said: “The exercise will continue nationwide, to plug any such loophole in the revenue generation and collection of FAAN, to help in truly making the authority more self-sustanining.”

    FAAN also allegedly moved to Bi-Courtney’s hotel building, which is under construction, and tore the giant advert placed on the building, despite a court order.

    Bi-Courtney had sued FAAN and its Managing Director before Justice Stephen Jonah Adah of the Federal High Court in 2010.

    The company is seeking, among others: “A declaration that the defendants are not entitled to unilaterally remove, pull down, destroy, dismantle and/or interfere with the adverts placed on the plaintiff’s overhead pedestrian bridge at its terminal in the MMA2, without first referring same to the dispute resolution mechanisms set up under Article 22 of the Concession Agreement dated 24th April, 2003…”

  • Aviation minister’s proxy war

    Aviation minister’s proxy war

    Some ominous sign is already in evidence that President Goodluck Jonathan is gradually transforming into a full-blown dictator. His Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah has with bare-faced impunity, overtly engaged the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi in a proxy warfare; dramatising the most heinous breach of public morality on behalf of the President, thereby blunting the edges of official conduct and civility. No one can deny the fact that the minister is on errand for the President. Aviation and the state are synonymous. The aviation is federal government and federal government is President Jonathan.

    Since her assumption office, the minister has visited untoward tardiness on the industry which ought to be the nation’s signpost for excellence. One aviation correspondent spoke of her obstructive dominance as the sole reason holistic reformation can never be allowed in the industry as long as she presides over the corruption-plagued ministry.

    If the “Transformation” sloganeering is possible with the minister of aviation, why is it that no Nigerian airport was listed among the best in Africa in the 2013 Skytrax World Best Airport Awards held at Passenger Terminal EXPO, Geneva, Switzerland? To be rated, airports must be top notch in the areas of safety and security, friendliness, passenger facilitation, functionality, among other criteria which all Nigerian airports lack.

    South African airports dominated the top 10 ranking in Africa, with Cape Town International Airport emerging the Best Airport in Africa, followed by Durban King Shaka International Airport and Johannesburg (Tambo) International Airport in 2nd and 3rd places respectively. This year’s awards, voted by airport customers from around the world, garnered 12.1 million responses.

    Egypt’s Cairo International Airport was ranked 4th while the 5th position went to Mauritius International Airport. East London Airport, South Africa, was placed in the 6th position; Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia, 7th; and Port Elizabeth Airport, South Africa in 8th position. Morocco’s Marrakech Menara International Airport and Seychelles International Airport ranked 9th and 10th respectively.

    South Africa also made a clean sweep of the Best Airport Staff category with Cape Town International Airport, Durban King Shaka International Airport, Johannesburg International Airport, East London Airport, and Port Elizabeth Airport occupying all the five positions. So, where is the Nigerian aviation reform?

    Addressing the House of Representatives Joint Committee of Aviation and Justice a few days ago, the aviation minister told the committee that Rivers State governor has ran foul of the aviation laws and threatened him with the EFFC and ICPC for operating illegally and violating some Sections of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) laws, as if the Rivers State aircraft imbroglio is responsible for the poor rating of the Nigerian Aviation industry under her watch.

    But she buckled when the joint chairman of the hearing and chairman of justice committee, Ali Ahmed quoted copiously from relevant Sections of the NCAA Act, especially Section 35 which forbids any form of sanction until due notification in writing to aircraft owners was done. Attempt to lie through Caverton Helicopters that the Rivers State Governor has been “operating without valid airworthiness or legal certificate aircraft registered in the name of Bank of Uttah Trustees, but used/operated in the name of Caverton Helicopters” backfired. The Rivers State government presented a letter before the committee on the revenue collected by NAMA on April 26 which indicated payment of $ 389 to the federal government by the Rivers State government for the usage of aviation facilities. In the same token, the minister feigned ignorance of the fact that the aviation authorities ever knew that the Bombardier jet in question has been carrying Coat of Arms of Rivers!

    Aviation minister has been unable to prove the righteousness of her cause in this matter. Nigerians cannot be deceived as to where the body and soul of the minister reside. She has refused to dedicate herself to the revitalisation and rebranding of the aviation industry so as to take out the trash. Under her, mediocrity, incompetence and failure perfectly converge to neutralise the nation’s aspiration for aviation sanity.

    Stella Oduah, no doubt, is craving for clout. She has debased her office for political partisan fights. She is pushing through an opportunistic reform – on behalf of President Jonathan – which forbids private jet owners from air-lifting friends or associates. Under the present aviation reform, President Jonathan alone will be legally permitted to fly over the nation’s airspace with more than 10 presidential aircrafts for campaigns while presidential aspirants of other political parties will have institutional hurdles to contend with. How offensive can this be in a supposedly democratic society?

    The unfolding senecio should not surprise Nigerians. From the outset of his presidency, even on the campaign turf in 2011, the President, aside the nebulous “Transformation Agenda” made no pledge to Nigerians hence none was broken! A “Transformation Agenda” that promises virtual deception to over 200 million citizens can not translate to good governance overnight, including the overhaul of the aviation industry.

    For all the President’s rhetoric on “Transformation Agenda”, the reality is that it is just a fig leaf for conscious power grab. President Jonathan may continue to pursue his oppressive tendencies with fidelity for all he cares, Nigerians are never known, as a people, to permanently attune themselves to oppression and tyranny without asserting their freedom.

    Dictators of all hue begin just the same way the meekly Jonathan strides with consistent vindictiveness, crude politics and opportunism. One can only locate all of this on poor judgment. The truth is that we do not have a president in Aso Rock.

    Nigeria, like any other country under the yoke of dictatorial dereliction, will certainly overcome the appurtenances and deception masquerading as leadership. It happened in the perilous days of President Ibrahim Babangida; we saw the exhibition of raw and murderous power in the ruinous years of the demented dictator, General Sanni Abacha; we bemoaned and stampeded the repellent administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo and his Third Term Agenda. We celebrated their vanity and fickleness in grand style such that will forbid intending dictators to recoil to self-consciousness and vigilance, that they too will have their days in the hall of infamy.

    In this trying times, Nigerians cannot afford an absolute dictator driven by unrestrained ambition and propensity to breach the laws and the constitution he swore to uphold; using extreme and cruel tactics to subdue his own people. Putting power into wrongful use amounts to weakness on the part of a leader. President Jonathan may still grasp the essential cause – and with chance, possibly help the nation to shape the new future.

  • ‘NAMA operated 420 flights during aviation workers’ strike’

    The air traffic controllers mobilised by the management of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), during Monday’s workers’ strike, operated 420 flights nationwide, it was learnt yesterday.

    This figure, according to a source within NAMA, contradicts speculations that airlines rendered skeletal services during the protest.

    The source hinted that over 19,168 passengers were flown in and out of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos by domestic and international airlines during the strike.

    At the Lagos airport, departing passengers’ figure stood at 10,003, while the figure of the arriving passengers was 9,265.

    According to the source, there were 178 arrival flights by different aircraft into the Lagos airport and departure flights stood at 181. Whereas aircraft over-flying the nation’s airspace were 61.

    The source hinted that the huge number of aircraft operations and passenger figures were enough indications that air traffic controllers mobilised by the management of the agency were alive to their responsibility of ensuring that air transport should not be disrupted by any industrial action by unions in the essential services industry.

    The source listed aircraft types that operated during the strike to include Boeing 767, 727, 738, 737, McDonnel Douglas 83, Bombardier CRJ 900, ATR 42 and other types operated by the local and foreign airlines.

    The sources said that the robust flight activities during the strike were enough proof to invalidate the claims by the aviation unions that there were no competent personnel at the control tower to give clearance to aircraft.

    On Monday, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) threatened that passengers were flying blindly, as the personnel mobilised to provide air traffic services were not competent.

    A statement by its Acting National Secretary, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, said:” Failure on the part of the management of NAMA in addressing the above has therefore resulted in the ongoing industrial protest by the workers of the agency, which has also necessitated slow operations of the air traffic.

    “However, we hasten to draw attention of the Nigerian flying public, the airlines and importantly, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to the danger inherent in the current situation in NAMA whereby certain management staff, who do not have the prerequisite validation for the various air traffic control service facilities and systems are now drafted to take charge of these operations.

    “These include air traffic controllers, Aeronautical Information Services, Aeronautical Communications and Air Traffic Engineering Services, which is contrary to the International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and recommended practices on security and safety.”

     

  • No going back on proposed aviation strike- NAMA workers

    Workers of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA ), said on Sunday that there is no going back on the planned protest slated for Monday.

    The protest is  to press home their demand for the implementation of the approved salary scale endorsed by National Salary  Incomes and Wages Commission.

    In a joint statement signed by  Comrade  Olayinka Abioye, Abdulkareem Motajo and Aba Ocheme, issued at the end of an emergency meeting between the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE )and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association ATSSSAN and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineer (NAAPE),  on behalf of  the workers of the organisation, they  urged the public to discountenance information rolled out by the management of the airspace agency that the strike has been suspended.

    According to the unions, the meeting convened by the management of NAMA last Friday did not address the issue on ground to the satisfaction of the union’s agitations.

    He added that the meeting was expected to continue on Monday to further deliberate on issues at stake after the parties agreed that dialogue was the best way of resolving industrial crisis.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that the ultimatum issued against NAMA shall expire 0000 hrs May 2013 and appropriate actions shall commence thereafter.  We wish to reassure all our members that no retreat, no surrender, and until all grievances  are sorted out, there is no going back on our cause of action”

    The Unions said all workers have been put on standby for the implementation of the action.

  • Aviation unions threaten to shut airspace on Monday

    Aviation unions threaten to shut airspace on Monday

    THREE aviation unions – Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) – yesterday served a notice to shut the Nigerian airspace beginning from May 20.

    The unions said their planned action is to protest the failure of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to address issues bordering on new salary scale.

    Their threat came ahead of the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum issued to NAMA on the vexed issue, which expires next Monday.

    A bulletin jointly issued by the unions to the workers, advised them to immediately embark on strike until all issues raised with the NAMA are resolved.

    The bulletin was signed by Olayinka Abioye (ATSSSAN), Aba Ocheme (NAAPE) and Odinika Igbokwe (NUATE).

    The union leaders also expressed bitterness over NAMA’s failure to invite them for dialogue since the ultimatum was issued. They also raised concerns over the non-payment of 13-month areas that have accrued on the new salary scale.

    On May 6, the unions wrote a letter to NAMA’s Managing Director, Nnamdi Udoh, to immediately resolve all issues raised by the workers.

    He was given a 14-day ultimatum to act, failing which they threatened to embark on strike.

    Two months ago, aviation unions threatened a one-day warning strike.

    NAMA failed to implement the approved salary structure for its personnel.

    The agency said it would implement the new condition of service.

    NAMA attributed the delay to some critical omissions in the document approved by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.

    Addressing  members of the union at the Freedom Square, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, NUATE’s National President Safianu Mohammed said the strike  was imminent.

  • Aviation minister’s sop to the North

    Aviation minister’s sop to the North

    SIR: Permit me to highlight the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah’s hijab attire at the commissioning of the refurbished Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. As a Christian lady and minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there is no compulsion on her to wear a hijab for an official ceremony in Kano. Again the hijab has not been her normal mode of dressing as a public servant. The only safe assumption therefore is that she dressed the way she did as a sop to Northern culture and purely through self censorship.

    That is very shameful.

    At the psychological level, Nigerian politics is a battle of cultures. One culture is insular and conservative while the other is egalitarian and out-going. The tragedy of the Igbo who belong to the latter is that they go all out to court the others in the belief that they are thereby showing brotherhood.

    Ironically, this self-same thirst for camaraderie engenders more resentment against them. Historically, while the late Zik preached forgetting of differences, the late Sardauna preferred the understanding thereof. The portents haven’t changed today. It is instructive that at the same ceremony at which Princess Oduah tried to be full of unspoken apologies for who God made her, the CBN governor and Kano prince, Alh. Sanusi Lamido, came attired in full royal regalia the same attire he dons with petulant arrogance as a public servant.

    At some level therefore, the Kano event was a battle of two royalties, a prince and a princess. The princess came up real short and a disgrace to her culture, if you ask me.

    • Dr. Adighi Eme Ngene

    Akoka-Lagos.