The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FAAN

  • Furore over allocation of land for aircraft hangar

    Furore over allocation of land for aircraft hangar

    The alleged refusal government, through Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to allocate land for the building of aircraft maintenance hangar in some airports, is causing. Some domestic carriers,  including Arik Air and start up carrier, Air Peace, allege that FAAN’s refusal to allocate land at the Lagos Airport could stall the growth and development of the sector, writes KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR.

    There has been persistent clamour for an aircraft maintenance centre for the repair  of aircraft in Nigeria. Proponents of the move which has been on for over a decade, believe that Maintenance Repair Overhaul ( MRO) organisations, the industry terminology for aircraft hangars, would save Nigeria huge foreign exchange that goes into fixing airplanes abroad.

    To them, the millions of dollars spent by domestic airlines to fix their aircraft in Ethiopia, South Africa, Morocco, Turkey, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom and the US as well as other parts of Eastern Europe, could be retained at home, if there were state-of-the-art aircraft repair centres. Besides, experts say that the  project would  generate jobs for thousands of Nigerian aviation professionals, including aircraft engineers and avionics experts.

    Worried by this trend and determined to reverse same, some indigenous carriers, including Arik Air,  Air Peace among others, applied to FAAN for land around airports nationwide for the construction of aircraft hangars.

    The operators argued that establishing an aircraft maintenance hangar in Lagos, for instance, could make Nigeria an aviation hub for West and Central Africa. But the request, according to the operators, is yet to be granted.

    The Deputy Managing Director of Arik Air, Captain Ado Sanusi, expressed dismay over FAAN’s refusal to grant the request, saying Arik Air is partnering with Lufthansa Technik of Germany to set up a major aircraft repair centre that will fix aircraft for domestic and foreign carriers in Nigeria, West and Central Africa.

    He said the company applied for land at the Lagos Airport three years ago, which the authority is yet to grant.

    Sanusi said: “There is no doubt that we have the need for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Nigeria. Arik made a request to FAAN three years ago for a parcel of land at the Lagos International Airport. He said Arik went further to sign  an agreement with Lufthansa Technik to build the MRO that will cater for Boeing B737-700 and other wide body aircraft not only for Arik, but for other airlines both in Nigeria and overseas.

    “Suffice to say that this will even generate revenue for the government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Customs Service and others. However, this has been put on hold until Arik gets final approval for allocation of land at the Lagos airport. Everything has been done; we are just waiting for final approval from FAAN. It has been on hold for the past three years,” Sanusi said.

    Also speaking, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, accused officials of FAAN of frustrating efforts by indigenous operators and other investors to set up aircraft maintenance centres around the airport due to non allocation of land. He said: “There are many ways government can assist domestic airlines. If government cannot build an aircraft maintenance hangar in Nigeria, it should assist any operator willing to invest in that area by securing a large parcel of land around any airport in the country.

    “Such a project will create more jobs for Nigerians. Civil servants should change their ways and stop frustrating private enterprise through unnecessary bureaucracy. For over one year, Air Peace has applied to FAAN to allocate it land to build an aircraft maintenance facility, but the authority has not granted the allocation. If FAAN has allocated Air Peace land at any airport, the project since the past one year, would have been completed before we start our flight operations. If they have done so, many banks, given my integrity and track record, would have funded the project because they know that I am credit worthy.

    “If we build an aircraft maintenance centre in Nigeria, our country would become a hub where African countries would fly in their aircraft for repairs. That would generate huge money for Nigeria and Nigerians. People say aviation does not generate enough money, that is not correct, Ethiopia as a country is generating huge foreign exchange from its airline  and aircraft maintenance centre in Addis Ababa. Both projects are the mainstay of its economy. Why can’t we replicate the Ethiopian model right away in Nigeria? That would create massive jobs.”

    Onyema pointed out that having an aircraft maintenance hangar in Nigeria will assure safety while also bringing investment into the country. He said FAAN should help the country, as he is tired of begging for land. “The airport authority should serve the people of Nigeria, and not  lord it over the people. You pay FAAN for offices, you cannot get the offices you paid for. The airport authority should create facilities for people. This country belongs to all of us. Some people do not own the country. There is sufficient land around the airports; they do not want to give it to serious people who can invest to develop the industry,” he complained.

    He, therefore, called on the Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, to direct FAAN to allocate land to committed investors in the aviation sector to enable them set up aircraft maintenance facility. “If FAAN is sceptical about our capacity to utilise the land, they should ask for our feasibility and bankable evidence on how we intend to develop the facility,”he  said, adding, “We have banks that can finance the projects. The new minister should talk to FAAN to release land and we are ready to give evidence of finance.”

    Onyemainsisted that it is not good for airlines to be carrying out aircraft maintenance at the ramp. He said even the Air Force hangar where some domestic airlines repair their aircraft is not big  enough. Besides, there are airlines that want to have their own hangar.

    The Nation learnt that more than 13 years ago, efforts by some individuals in partnership with American firms to set up the National Hangar Project christened Aircraft on Ground (AOG),  at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, did not materialise.

    Investigations reveal that FAAN, in the last few years, allocated some parcels of land to some fixed based/charter jet operators, including Executive Jets/Quints Aviation Centre, Evergreen Apple Nigeria Aviation for aircraft repair centres, which operate at the international wing of the Lagos Airport. Also, rotary wing operator, Caverton Helicopters was recently allocated land at the airside of the Lagos Airport where it is currently building its hangar  and simulator centre for West Africa.

    Former Secretary General of African Airlines Association( AFRAA), Mr. Nick Fadugba disclosed that a study on the construction of maintenance hangar facilities has been in the pipeline for close to 10 years. He wondered what happened to the study. He said Nigeria needs a maintenance facility urgently, as there is no serious aviation nation in the world without a MRO facility. According to him, until Nigeria is able to tap into this, the nation cannot be taken as being serious in the aviation business.

    An expert who pleaded not to named, called on  FAAN to make land available for operators willing to build aircraft hangars. He said: “As a matter of conscious policy, FAAN must give land to the airlines to build maintenance hangar. We should encourage them. You have to provide land for them at their operational base, which is Lagos.

    When you travel abroad you see maintenance hangars all over the place. But when you want to build one here they say you should pay a lot of money. It is ridiculous. In America they give land freely  to build maintenance hangar. This is because it promotes safety.

    “The airlines should be given land because that is what it is meant for. And not when you want to give, you give them small land that they cannot expand. I am saying this because for the future of Nigeria that is where we should go. You need to give more land; you must give the land out. It is at the airside that the aeroplane is. FAAN should not say it has a master plan and therefore, will not accommodate maintenance hangar for airlines at the airside of the airport.

    “What is the master plan for? In the olden days, government gave out a large place for Nigeria Airways to build a maintenance hangar; not that there are many airlines; government should give land to them to build hangar. Building hangar is a massive investment so you have to encourage them to build the facility and the airlines don’t have to pay anything. To promote safety, the aircraft will come and land there for maintenance. The hangar is very, very important. Without it we will still have safety challenges.”

    The Executive Chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison,  also argued that until Nigeria establishes its own MRO facility, domestic carriers will continue to incur more operational costs to repair their aircraft abroad. Meggison said hangars have the capacity to create jobs and retain money that indigenous carriers spent on the repairs of their aircraft abroad. Capt. Meggisson, who is also President, JedAir, said the setting up of the facility would assist in the training of professionals in the country, including aircraft engineers.

    But FAAN has denied allegations that it was frustrating efforts by some local carriers to build aircraft maintenance hangers in the country by refusing to allocate land to them. FANN’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the allegation of non allocation of land to the operators to build aircraft hangars is not true.

    Dati told The Nation that the authority is not aware of any plan to deny operators land at the airport for the building of aircraft maintenance hangar. He said: “I am not aware that FAAN is not willing to allocate land to operators to build aircraft maintenance hangar at the airport.”

  • FAAN decries high cost of power at Port Harcourt airport

    The high cost of running  power generating machines at the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) is worrying its management, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Southsouth and Southeast General Manager, Mrs. Ebele Okoye  has said.

    According to her, about four trucks of 33,000 litres of diesel are used monthly to generate power at the airport.

    The absence of reliable power, she said, has led to 100 per cent dependence on generator, which has left the airport with little or no resources to run its operation.

    On cargo delivery,  she said  the airport management  is embarking on home delivery of cargoes in conjunction with an independent company.

    According to her,  as part of the airports means of generating revenue, a new toll gate would be erected in conjunction with the Rivers State government. She lamented that funding has been the greatest challenge in running the airport daily.

    Okoye urged airline operators and passengers to bear with the ongoing work at the airport, adding that it would  benefit all when completed.

  • FAAN partners firm on shuttle buses

    FAAN partners firm on shuttle buses

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) in partnership with Skyplus Logistics has launched inter airport terminals shuttle to reduce the problem of passenger movement within the airport.

    FAAN General Manager, Commercial, Mr. Tayo Adewakun while launching the shuttle bus, said the effort is geared towards enhancing passenger’s security, comfort and boosting the image of the country.

    According to him, “There is a vacuum which FAAN has identified in the past years between the terminals in terms of passenger’s movement within the airport.’’

    He said the Airport Terminals Shuttle is designed to provide efficient system that will help solve transportation challenges within the airports.

    Adewakun disclosed that the bus will pick passengers from domestic terminal one and drop them at MMA 2 and the international wing of the airport without stopping on the road.

    He added that the shuttle bus will not pick any passenger on the road but is allowed only to pick passengers at domestic terminal one and MMIA and to also drop passengers only at MMA 2.

    Speaking during the launching of the shuttle bus, the Managing Director of Skyplus Contract and Logistics, Mrs. Shobayo said she was motivated into partnering with FAAN because of her experience as a frequent flyer.

  • N600b FAAC fund coming for states, local govts

    N600b FAAC fund coming for states, local govts

    The 36 states of the Federation and 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) are expected to get N600 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) fund this month.

    Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), Bismarck Rewane said the monthly statutory allocations approved this month stood at N654 billion of which portions of  the sum have been disbursed.

    He explained in an FDC report that the impact on interbank rates was a downward pressure, adding that money market rates would trade within an average band of 10.5 to 11 per cent per annum due to the spill over effect of the disbursed FAAC funds and barring any significant mopping up by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “We expect liquidity to increase in the second half of the month when the monthly statutory disbursements are made; approximately N600 billion is anticipated as FAAC payment in August. Interbank rates will continue to move in tandem with market liquidity,” he said.

    Rewane said the impact of 8.3 per cent inflation numbers on the money markets is likely to be minimal, even as it remains within the CBN’s target band of six to nine per cent for 2014.

    Speaking further, the FDC boss said inflation means different things to different people. “To the layman, inflation occurs when he is spending more money to purchase the same quantity of goods. To an economist, it is the general increase in price level over a period of time,” he said.

    It is also a monetary phenomenon that can be either desirable or undesirable, depending on its impact on other macro-economic variables such as unemployment, output, balance of payments, distribution of wealth among others.

    The negative side effects of inflation, he added, include the diminution of asset values and portfolios, distortion of economic decisions, and the fact that it discourages savings and investment.

    However, inflation is not always a bad thing. Inflation, at a particular level, could be desirable especially in a state of robust economic growth. “A major objective, then, for a central bank is to find this balance between the positive and negative levels of inflation to ensure price stability in an economy,” he said.

    Rewane said the average Nigeria Interbank Offered Rate (NIBOR) traded above 11 per cent per annum during the first half of August even as there is an indication of a reduction in liquidity.

    The naira, he said, continues to trade flat at the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) market. The CBN offered and sold an aggregate of $1.4 million and $1.37 million respectively at the RDAS within the first 15 days in August. This, he added, is 3.7 per cent and 17.09 per cent higher than the corresponding period in July.

    At the interbank market, the naira traded at an average of N162 to dollar even as the value of the naira was kept hovering around this average with forex funds from International Oil Companies and the CBN’s intervention at RDAS.

    “The naira depreciated by 3.1 per cent at the parallel market to close at N173 to dollar as at August 15; driven by increased speculative activities and seasonalities. Nigeria’s external reserves level grew by 3.31 per cent ($1.27 billion) to $39.59 billion as at August 15, relative to the corresponding period in July,” he said.

    This level is 18.97 per cent below the 2013 peak of $48.86 billion and 9.2 per cent lower than December’s level of $43.6 billion. The level of import cover has increased to 8.37months, while the imports plus payments cover is now 5.89 months.

  • No bomb scare at Lagos Airport – FAAN

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria on Tuesday clarified that there was no bomb scare at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    This comes as neither the Nigeria Police nor aviation authorities had given details on the outcome of investigations on the suspect found with explosive materials.

    Sources hinted that the suspect is still in police custody around the airport.

    FAAN said the clarification has become imperative in view of insinuations on what happened at the airport on Monday.

    A statement issued by the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the young man arrested at the airport was held for loitering, which attracted the attention of security personnel.

    Dati said, “The suspect, a man in his late 20s was arrested at an area of the airport close to the church of the airport internal link road, leading to the Stakeholders/Limousine car park. That is a distance of about one kilometre to the international terminal.

    “At the time of his arrest, the suspect was said to be loitering around the said area all morning. This attracted the curiosity of security guards on duty at the entrance of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency’s CENTREX Facility located along the airport internal link road, who promptly alerted the police.

    “The suspect was alleged to be in possession of a device suspected to be used in making explosives. He was promptly handed over to the Airport Police Command for interrogation. While we appreciate the need to promptly report all suspicious characters to security agencies, it is important to always cross check the facts before going to press, to avoid sending the wrong signals to the public.

    “The issue of safety and security of the airport has remained our priority and the various security agencies are collaborating with us for a secure and safe environment.

    “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria therefore wishes to reassure passengers and other airport users of adequate security architecture at MMA as well as its avowed commitment to making safety and security top priority at all times.”

  • Ex-FAAN Managing Director Yusuf is dead

    Ex-FAAN Managing Director Yusuf is dead

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) yesterday announced the death of its former Managing Director, Alhaji Mohammed Yusuf.

    A statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate Communications Mr Yakubu Dati, said Yusuf died at a hospital in India.

    Dati said the remains of Yusuf would be buried at his home in Zaria, Kaduna State, tomorrow.

    The late Alhaji Yusuf joined FAAN as the director of Administration and became appointed managing director and chief executive officer in 2006 till November 2007.

    He would be remembered for pioneering some welfare policies and his contribution to the design of airport concessions for FAAN and the automation of its operations to boost revenue.

     

  • Passenger slumps, dies at Lagos airport

    There was anxiety at the arrival floor of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday as a passenger on queue at the Port Health Unit of the terminal building slumped and died.

    He slumped while waiting to collect his vaccination and inoculation certificate otherwise known as “Yellow Card.”

    The passenger identified as a Nigerian was said to be on his way to Ghana for medical treatment.

    The passenger’s death coincided with the visit of the new Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka , who inspected facilities at both the domestic and international terminals of the airport.

    It was the minister’s maiden visit to Lagos to inspect airport facilities and engage stakeholders.

    According to sources at the airport, the passenger arrived Lagos on August 8 for business transactions and took ill.

    When his health got worse, he reportedly called his doctor in Accra, who advised him to return for further medical treatment.

    Confirming the incident, the Spokesman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Yakubu Dati, said,” The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a Nigerian passenger residing in Accra who arrived Lagos for business transactions aboard an Arik Air flight on Friday August 8, 2014 has died at the Murtala Mohammad Airport, Ikeja, on his way back to Accra.

    “The passenger, Mr. Akunne Osei took ill on Saturday, August 9 and started stooling. When the situation got worse, he called his doctor in Accra who instructed him to return to Ghana immediately for further treatment.

    “During boarding formalities for his return trip to Accra, at the international terminal of MMA, Mr. Osei, who had obviously become weak at this time, was subjected to Ebola Virus test by port health officials, the result of which was negative.

    “No further attention was paid to him after his Ebola Virus result read negative but the passenger later slumped and died around the port health office.

    This release is necessary to forestall the possible dissemination of unfounded and misleading media reports on the unfortunate incident.”

     

  • No cause for alarm, says Rivers

    No cause for alarm, says Rivers

    • Council alerts abattoirs, food vendors

    •FAAN screens air travellers

    The Rivers State Government has urged the residents to remain calm because it is ready to tackle any Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case, if it arises.

    Health Commissioner Dr Sampson Parker said there had been no reported case of the virus in the state.

    He said the Chibuike Amaechi administration had provided the personnel and materials to combat the deadly virus.

    Parker expressed Amaechi’s confidence in the capability of the Ebola Technical Committee to rise to the occasion.

    The commissioner described as “reckless, irresponsible and unfortunate” the statements by former House Representatives Deputy Speaker Austin Opara on a radio station in Port Harcourt.

    Opara allegedly said the Amaechi administration was not taking the Ebola virus seriously.

    Parker said: “Governor Amaechi has given me everything we need to fight the Ebola virus in Rivers State. He has also assured me that should we need more personnel and materials the state would provide them. However, I realise that this is political season. But we, as leaders, must be responsible in our utterances to avoid causing unnecessary panic in our people.”

    Also, the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (PHALGA) has placed abattoir operators, restaurant owners and food vendors on the alert to avert a likely spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Rivers State capital and its environs.

    This came as the management of Port Harcourt International Airport at Omagwa intensified the screening of air travellers at the city’s airport.

    PHALGA Caretaker Committee Chairman Paul Charles spoke at the weekend in Port Harcourt on the steps the local government was taking to check the spread of the virus.

    Charles said any abattoir or food vendor that operates in an unhygienic environment would be closed.

    He said the local government had dispatched its team of health workers and officials to parts of Port Harcourt to check the sanitary conditions of abattoirs, food vendors and related businesses.

    Also, the management of the Port Harcourt International Airport at Omagwa has intensified screening of travellers into Rivers State through the airport.

    The Southeast and Southsouth Regional Manager of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Mrs Ebele Okoye spoke at the weekend at a symposium organised for its workers.

    Okoye said some of the measures would ensure that the EVD does not threaten the state.

    She said the measures include the designation of an isolated centre and provision of protective kits for workers at the airport.

    Mrs Okoye said: “We actually have a lot that is going on now, starting from the sensitisation programme. We have also quarantined a space for emergencies of that nature.

    “The airport workers at the arrival and departure areas are provided with gloves and masked.

    “Everyone at the airport is aware now and airport workers are also taking measures to protect themselves.”

     

  • Anxiety at Lagos Airport over arrival of ‘suspected‘ Ebola infected victims

    Anxiety at Lagos Airport over arrival of ‘suspected‘ Ebola infected victims

    There was anxiety at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos arrival hall yesterday as Port Health and aviation security officials engaged in an argument on whether an alleged inbound passenger suspected to have been affected by the deadly Ebola Virus should be allowed into the country.

    The passenger suspected to have been infected by the deadly Ebola Virus was said to have been discovered on arrival by officials of the Port Health Service attached to the terminal.

    The suspected passenger  according to a source close to the Port Health arrived the country aboard one of the Nigerian domestic airlines from the West African coast.

    The source claimed that a hot argument ensued between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) personnel at the airport and the health officials over an attempt to allow the infected passenger come into the country while another party insisted that he should be returned to his point of departure.

    The source however revealed that since the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria about two weeks ago, the port health officials at the airport had deployed equipment meant for screening of every passengers arriving into the country especially from the West African countries.

    According to the source; “I don’t specifically know where the plane came from, but the patient was discovered during screening of inbound passengers by the port health officials at the airport. As at now, we don’t know what to do with him. Some of the officials want him return to base while others are insisting that as a Nigerian, he has the right to arrive into the country.

    “The aircraft was probably coming from Accra, Ghana onboard the airline. I just want our officials to be careful with the way they interact with some of the passengers.”

    When contacted the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati said there was nothing like that.

    Since the deadly disease was imported into the country through a Liberian, Patrick Sawyerr  who flew into the country aboard a Togolese airline, Asky, Nigerians have been living with fear.

    Following the scourge, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended the flight operations of Asky Airlines for about a week, before the suspension was lifted last Friday.

    Arik Air had earlier suspended its flight operations to Liberia and Sierra Leone, the two countries where the disease had claimed almost a thousand people since it broke out in April this year.

    Since the presence of the deadly disease, security officials at the Lagos Airport have been mandated to wear safety garments when processing passengers to avoid being infected.

     

  • 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.