The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FAAN

  • FAAN to build Abuja airport’s second runway

    FAAN to build Abuja airport’s second runway

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said yesterday that it is stepping up efforts to build a second runway for the Abuja airport.

    FAAN’s Managing Director Saleh Dunoma stated this at the weekend.

    According to him, a second runway is very important because it is key to our operations.

    Dunoma said due to increase in passenger and airline movement at the airport, the building of a second runway would prevent the deterioration of the existing one.

    He envisioned that given the present rate of growth in the industry, the existing runway might not effectively sustain traffic.

    He explained that a committee comprising officials of the authority and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has been set up to determine what the runway would look like, including facilities to be included in its design.

    Dunoma added that a survey to determine the location of the second runway at the airport has been carried out so that the new facilities to be provided would work smoothly with the existing ones.

    His words: “Well, the second runway is very important; it is key to our operations. The present runway has deteriorated so much such that we need to do a major work on it to make it better.

    “So the second runway will be necessary. You cannot afford to close Abuja airport because it is the seat of government and it is important to our economy.”

    “A committee was setup last year between FAAN and FCDA and we have come out with a scope of what we want in terms of the facilities that should be included in the second runway design.

    “That scope have been developed, we have advertised also both in the nationally and internationally for consultant that will develop that scope into working drawings and bill of quantities so that we can both tender them. But we are yet to select the consultation because the process of procuring a consulting firm is what we are doing.

    “Already, preliminary survey had been carried out in Abuja by our in-house engineers; we have a fair idea of the location of the second runway and the facilities that we need to provide there.”

    He added: “Because we need to provide link taxiways, taxiways, aprons and some other things that will make both the new and the existing facility work together as an airport.

    “These locations have been identified, it is part of the brief that we are going to give the consultant; that this is the area that we want the second runway to be located and these are the facilities we want to be included in this project and the consultant will go ahead to do a detailed survey, detailed design and a detailed bill of quantity will come out with which government can go to tender.”

     

  • FAAN to partner Kwara on perishable cargo export

    FAAN to partner Kwara on perishable cargo export

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is to partner the Kwara State government to develop a perishable cargo in the state.

    FAAN Director of Cargo Development Dr. Uchenna R. Ofulue disclosed this last week in Ilorin, when he visited Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

    Ofulue noted that the initiative, when implemented, will stimulate the economy of the state.

    He listed some of the benefits of the initiative as employment, improved standard of living for farmers, reduced rural-urban migration, foreign exchange generation, investment opportunities in logistics services and reduced youth restiveness, amongst others.

    Ofulue informed the governor that many incentives aimed at creating a conducive environment for the take-off of the initiative had been put in place by  the Federal Government to encourage investors.

    He noted that FAAN has designated 14 airports as cargo terminals to enhance the seamless movement of agricultural produce within and outside Nigeria.

    Ahmed welcomed the FAAN team, lauded the initiative as one that was capable of adding value to the state and Nigeria.

    He noted that the state is collaborating with farmers from Zimbabwe, Kenya and other agrarian countries to build capacity of farmers and improve their yield.

    He assured the FAAN team that the state was ready to key into the initiative to make the programme a reality.

  • FAAN, immigration officers’ clash disrupts activities at Lagos airport

    Flight operations and other activities were yesterday disrupted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, following a clash between Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigeria Immigration Service officers.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the clash occurred around 8.30 am. after FAAN’s security outfit, Aviation Security (AVSEC), prevented other security agencies from entering restricted areas of the airport.

    AVSEC personnel demanded that all security officers attached to the airport must present their On-Duty Cards (ODCs) before being allowed into the restricted areas.

    During the screening, it was discovered that most of the personnel were using expired ODCs . This prompted FAAN to deny them access to the terminal.

    Those affected by the restriction included officers of NIS, Department of State Security Service (DSS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    Some officials of the NigeriaAirspace management Agency (NAMA) and Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) were also turned back by the security personnel.

    A source, who witnessed the screening, told NAN that an Immigration officer, Mr C.S.I. Obasi, while resisting the AVSEC security officers, was injured in his left eye.

    The development degenerated to a heated exchange between officers of both agencies, which led to the discontinuation of the processing of outbound and in-bound passengers.

    Passengers were left stranded for over two hours as the airlines could not carry out their flight operations.

    The Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Airport Command, Mr Adebola Adetula, told aviation correspondents that Obasi was assaulted by AVSEC officers.

    Adetula said the NIS officer arrived at the airport and proceeded to the E-arrival of the airport but was prevented from carrying out his duty by AVSEC based on the allegation that his ODC had expired.

    He added that despite entreaties to AVSEC to allow him in and process the passengers, he was refused and attacked by the AVSEC officers.

    While confirming that Obasi’s ODC had expired since Aug. 15, he argued that it was the responsibility of FAAN to issue a fresh one.

    Adetula said: ”The attacked officer just did surgery on that part of the eye and it was in the same eye he was slapped by AVSEC officers on duty and his glasses got broken.”

    However, a FAAN source who spoke on condition of anonymity, debunked the claim that Obasi was assaulted by AVSEC officers.

    The source said it was a security risk for people to be allowed into restricted areas  without a valid ODC.

    According to the source, this was the major reason AVSEC officers were demanding the card, adding that it was in line with global aviation safety regulation.

    A similar clash between FAAN officers and those of the Nigeria Customs Service took place on June 3 over the same issue.

  • FAAN to partner Kwara on perishable cargo export

    FAAN to partner Kwara on perishable cargo export

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is to partner the Kwara State government to develop a perishable cargo in the state.

    FAAN Director of Cargo Development Dr. Uchenna R. Ofulue disclosed this last week in Ilorin, when he visited Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

    Ofulue noted that the initiative, when implemented, will stimulate the economy of the state.

    He listed some of the benefits of the initiative as employment, improved standard of living for farmers, reduced rural-urban migration, foreign exchange generation, investment opportunities in logistics services and reduced youth restiveness, amongst others.

    Ofulue informed the governor that many incentives aimed at creating a conducive environment for the take-off of the initiative had been put in place by  the Federal Government to encourage investors.

    He noted that FAAN has designated 14 airports as cargo terminals to enhance the seamless movement of agricultural produce within and outside Nigeria.

    Ahmed welcomed the FAAN team and lauded the initiative as one that was capable of adding value to the state and Nigeria.

    He noted that the state is collaborating with farmers from Zimbabwe,  Kenya and other agrarian countries to build capacity of farmers and improve their yield.

    He assured the FAAN team that the state was ready to key into the initiative to make the programme a reality.

  • Sallah: FG deploys sniffer dogs, bomb detectors to airports

    To enhance security at airports nationwide during the Eid –el-Kabir celebration, the Federal Government has deployed sniffer dogs and bomb detectors at major screening points at the airports.

    The new security measures, according to the spokesman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Yakubu Datti, is to ensure hitch- free movement of passengers and cargo at airports.

    He said in a statement issued on Sunday that the airports have been fully mobilized to cater for the upsurge in passenger traffic during the Sallah celebration.

    Datti said,” The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria wishes to assure members of the public, especially passengers and airline operators, that necessary operational and security measures have been put in place at all our airports to ensure hitch-free movement of passengers and cargo during the forthcoming Eid-el- Kabir holidays.

    “Our airports are expected to experience considerable upsurge in passenger traffic during this period.

    “Apart from the statutory security and safety measures already in place at the airports, sniffer dogs and members of the bomb detection unit of the Nigerian Police Force have also been deployed at the airports, to complement the effort of our aviation security personnel at the airports’ screening points.

    “Passenger facilitation at all our airports had also been enhanced by the installation of more modern and bigger conveyor belts and walk-through metal detectors.

    “The expansion and modernisation of all the airport terminals in the country now provide better ambience and more space for shops and restaurants at the terminals. This also helps passengers relax comfortably while waiting for their flights.

    “FAAN, however, advises air passengers to make early arrangements for their travels and to leave home early on their travel dates, in order to complete their boarding facilities in good time. “

  • Airport security arrests cleaner with $271,135 

    Aviation Security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria  (FAAN) on Thursday  prevented the trafficking of $271,135 through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

    The Deputy General Manager Public Affairs FAAN, Mr Nnaekpe Onyekwere disclosed this saying the huge amount was found on a worker with one of the cleaning contractors at the airport, Mr. Tijani Owolabi, during a comprehensive screening at one of the screening points at ‘D’ Finger of the international terminal.

    Some of the foreign currency was found on Owolabi while the rest was recovered from the sanitary bucket he was trying to pass through screening.

    The airport cleaner who was suspected to be conveying the foreign currency to an accomplice at the sterile area of the terminal was immediately apprehended by Aviation Security staff on duty and handed over to the appropriate security agencies at the airport for further investigation.

     

  • FAAN gives debtor-airlines seven days ultimatum

    Worried by the huge debts owned it, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN), yesterday gave a seven-day ultimatum to all debtors, including airlines and concessionaires to pay up..

    The final demand notice according the spokesman of the authority , Mr Yakubu Dati will expire on Monday, August 24, 2015 .

    He said FAAN at the expiration of the notice will pursuant to a presidential directive be compelled to take necessary measures to recover the huge debts .

    In a statement yesterday Dati said : “All affected debtors have earlier been communicated with details of their respective indebtedness to the Authority.

    “The affected debtors where in doubt, are advised to liaise with the Authority’s Credit Control Department at its Headquarters for reconciliation of their accounts within the period of this Notice.

    “At the expiration of this notice, the Authority would, pursuant to a Presidential directive, be compelled to take necessary measures to recover these debts.

    “FAAN is self sustaining and cannot meet its responsibilities within the burden of these huge debts.”

    Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Engr Saleh Dunoma has paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Deputy General Manager/Head of Department , Corporate Affairs Department, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Mr Chris Ishiekwene.

    Mr Ishiekwene died on Saturday August 1 , 2015, after a brief illness.

  • FAAN boss seeks central quality control for aviation fuel

    FAAN boss seeks central quality control for aviation fuel

    The managing director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) Saleh Dunoma  has advocated a central quality control procedure for aviation fuel supplied by independent marketers to domestic and foreign carriers operating in Nigeria.

    Dunoma said the central quality control measure has become imperative to ensure that aviation fuel supplied complied with the required standards by the International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO).

    Towards this end, he said FAAN, fuel suppliers and airlines would meet soon to arrive at the best quality of the product to be certified by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Organization ( NCAA).

    He also urged aviation agencies  to initiate quality control procedures to strenghten controls over Jet A1, otherwise known as aviation fuel .

     Dunoma stated this  while delivering a keynote address at the 2015 Annual public lecture organised by the Aeronautical Division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

    He commended the enginers for contributing positively to the development of the aviation  sector. Dunoma advocated strict adherence to the Public Procurement act so as to safeguard the integrity of the profession.

    The FAAN boss revealed  that his Authority  has all engineering drawings and manuals for all facilities at the airport to facilitate easy repairs of airport facilities.

    He assured that FAAN will continue to comply with all procurement requirements, to enable it run an efficient air transport system.

    The Director General of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mr. Emeka Ezeh ,at the lecture, implored stakeholders to adhere strictly to provisions in the Public Procurement Act. He charged engineers  to checkmate corrupt tendencies that could hamper the intergrity of the process.

    Earlier in their separate remarks,  the chairman of the occassion, Prince  Julius Adelusi Adeluyi,  and  host of the lecture Group  Capt John Obakpolor enjoined engineers to live up to the ethics of the profession.

  • Firstnation blames FAAN for ground incident

    Firstnation blames FAAN for ground incident

    Firstnation has attributed the ground incident collision of two of its aircraft last Friday to lack of diligence on the part of marshallers employed by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    It said the collision would have been avoided had the marshallers been ‘diligent to avoid marshalling the aircraft wrongly.”

    The airline tasked FAAN to “retrain the marshallers as we understand that the marshallers at MMA2 are deployed by FAAN under an MOU with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, the operator of MMA2, Ikeja.”

    Its spokesman, Rasheed Yusuff, in a statement yesterday, also called on the regulatory authorities to enhance oversight of the marshallers and their authorisation to arrest the growing incidents of aircraft damage on ground.

    Describing the situation as embarrassing, the airlines lamented that ground incident, which it said was avoidable, was making affected carriers to suffer economic losses.

    Recalling that a similar incident involving Emirate aircraft occurred only a couple of days ago, Firstnation assured it takes the safety of passengers seriously.

    While stating that the NCAA had been informed of the incident, the airline said the affected aircraft was undergoing repairs.

    It pledged that it would ensure the aircraft return to service “in strict compliance with the highest safety standard in accordance with industry best practices.”

  • First Nation blames FAAN for aircraft collision

    First Nation blames FAAN for aircraft collision

    First Nation Airways has blamed officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria for the incident involving two of it aircraft .

    An official of the airline, Rasheed Yusuf said in a statement said if FAAN officials were diligent, the incident would have been avoided.

    The statement read: ” This Press Release is to clarify the ground incident that occurred on Friday, July 17, 2015. Our Aircraft Registered No. 5N-FND wing tip touched the wing tip of another sister aircraft already parked at another gate. This incident is avoidable if the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria marshallers had been diligent to avoid marshalling the aircraft wrongly.

    ” We urge the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to retrain the marshallers as we understand that the marshallers at MMA2 are deployed by FAAN under an MOU with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, the operator of MMA2, Ikeja. It is important to emphasize that at no time was the safety of passengers at risk.

    “The regulatory authorities will also need to enhance oversight of the marshallers and their authorisation to arrest the growing incidents of aircraft damage on ground in Nigeria which is embarrassing. Besides the huge losses that Firstnation and other airlines suffer as a result of avoidable ground incidents. You will recall that a similar incident involving Emirate aircraft occurred only a couple of days ago.

    ” Firstnation Airways takes passengers’ safety seriously. The regulatory authority (NCAA) has been informed of the above incident. Aircraft has been assessed and repairs is ongoing to ensure that the aircraft return to service in strict compliance with the highest safety standard in accordance with industry best practices.

    ” First nation Airways since launch in 2011 continues to build high standard of operation with safety as the airline’s essential focus.”