The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FAAN

  • Akpabio calls for Ibom Airport privatisation

    GOVERNOR Godswill Akpabio has called for the privatisation of Akwa Ibom International Airport in partnership with Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for greater result and productivity.

    Akpabio made the call Friday when a 13-member committee on the “Production of Scheme and Conditions of Service for Akwa Ibom Airport Development Authority” headed by Mrs. Cecilia Udoessien, the state’s Head of Civil Service presented the report to him at the Governor’s Office, Uyo said, “My suggestion is that in future, the airport needs to be privatised in serious partnership with the aviation sector”.

    He remarked: “The Ibom airport is a state-owned organization, but airport business belongs to the Federal Government where all aviation agencies of the Federal Government are involved.” Agreeing that the airport was over-staffed, Akpabio allayed fears of workers by saying the state was not going to retrench.

    “The State Government is giving the airport staff confidence that you won’t be left behind and would make sure your interest is protected,” he said. “And while we are struggling to build the airport, we would not want you to grow old before promotion as you had already waited for five years now.

    “For now, we have frozen further employment at the airport until the staff are properly placed, which some of the staff would be sent to the state civil service depending on their disciplines and some who are professionals in their field could be sent to Akwa Ibom State University.”

  • We bought two limousines for N120m for Oduah, says FAAN

    We bought two limousines for N120m for Oduah, says FAAN

    The Senate Committee on Aviation yesterday said the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has confirmed that it purchased 202 vehicles.

    It said that FAAN also confirmed that two Lexus Limousines and two Toyota Prado Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are part of the vehicles.

    The Committee said FAAN claimed that two of the vehicles were bought for Aviation Minister Stella Oduah while another two were purchased for the FAAN Managing Director, Mr. George Uriesi.

    It said some of the vehicles were bought for the use of directors of FAAN.

    Uriesi told the committee that the limousines were bought for N60m each.

    He however, said he did not have details of the cost of the Prado SUVs.

    He told the committee the cars were in the custody of an unnamed bank which funded the purchase of the four top of the range vehicles.

    The MD claimed that the Aviation Minister approved the purchase, while somebody whose name  he did not disclose signed on his (Uriesi) behalf.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzondinma, spoke on the car purchase at the continued Public Hearing on the crisis in the aviation sector.

    Uzodinma said,  ”Investigation is still ongoing and it will not be fair for me to preempt it. FAAN did confirm that among the operational vehicles they purchased, four of them are armoured vehicles, two for the MD and two for the minister.

    “We told them (FAAN) to go back and put everything in writing and make a comprehensive statements on all vehicles purchased.

    “FAAN said they bought a total number of 202 vehicles for different operations. So until they come back on Monday we cannot rush into conclusion. The MD FAAN said they did a funding arrangement with a commercial bank.”

    He said his committee would do a thorough investigation of extra-budgetary spending by the agencies in the Aviation Ministry.

    According to him,”This investigation will be a very deep one so that at the end of the day, we do a holistic approach and look at how the sector will be repositioned so that all anomalies will be corrected…”

  • ‘FAAN bought 202 vehicles’

    The Senate Committee on Aviation on Wednesday said the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed that it purchased 202 vehicles.

    It said that FAAN also confirmed that two Lexus Limousine cars and two Toyota Prado jeeps are part of the vehicles.

    The committee said that FAAN claimed that two of the vehicles were bought for the Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah while another two were purchased for the FAAN Managing Director.

    It said that some of the vehicles were bought for the use of directors of FAAN.

    FAAN MD, Mr. George Uriesi, had told the committee that the limousines were bought for N60m each.

    The MD said that he does not have information on the cost of the Prado jeeps.

    He also told the committee the cars were in the custody of an unnamed bank which funded the purchase of the four vehicles.

    The MD claimed that the Aviation Minister approved the purchase, while somebody whose name he did not disclose signed on his (Uriesi) behalf.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzondinma, spoke on the car purchase at the continued Public Hearing on the crisis in the aviation sector.

    Uzodinma said, “Investigation is still ongoing and it will not be fair for me to preempt it. FAAN did confirm that among the operational vehicles they purchased, four of them are armoured vehicles, two for the MD and two for the minister.

    “We told them (FAAN) to go back and put everything in writing and make a comprehensive statements on all vehicles purchased.

    “FAAN said that they bought a total number of 202 vehicles for different operations. So until they come back on Monday we cannot rush into conclusion. The MD FAAN said that they did a funding arrangement with a commercial bank.”

    He that said his committee will do a thorough investigation of extra-budgetary spending by the parastatals in the Aviation Ministry.

     

     

  • ‘We the People’ NC in 2014; Babangida; Abacha; Airport carpark vs cars; One student: one backpack

    ‘We the People’ NC in 2014; Babangida; Abacha; Airport carpark vs cars; One student: one backpack

    Politicians and military interventionists have failed over our 100 ‘Amalgamarriage’ or 53 post independence years. Will the politicians fail this amazing opportunity to ‘Resit’ and ‘restructure’ the future or will it succumb to more political mathematical futility like 12 2/3?

    The examiners, the citizens, the nation, want to adjust ‘The Syllabus’. So far the politicians have wasted fruitless selfish years since 1999 failing to achieve that. ‘The Syllabus’, The Constitution, review will allow all Nigerians a part and an input to replace the Abacha military constitution of 1999. We have an opportunity as sovereign people to actually have a ‘WE THE PEOPLE NATIONAL CONFERENCE in the auspicious year 2014, well before the 2015 elections.

    Why does the press disseminate the uncharacteristic ‘words of wisdom’ from failed rulers? So Babangida has just discovered what millions have known since 1980 – that ‘True Federalism or Fiscal Federalism’ and ‘more powers to state and LGAs’ are the solutions for Nigeria’s boiling troubles and lack of a feeling of citizenship and Nigerianship? Now we are forced by an ignorant press to listen to Babangida singing sweet democracy true federalism songs. So it is at last time for true federalism? The dance is complete. The masquerade is exhausted. Is that a conversion, paradox or a 419?

    It is sad that the Abachas, who arrogantly run for governor, punch Nigeria in the face for the $185m ‘Abacha Loot’ held in Lichtenstein.  Their lawsuit is an attempt to keep stolen property, property stolen from Nigeria –surely a criminal act. The Abachas can therefore be charged for being ‘Receivers of Stolen Goods’ and ‘Illegally Benefiting from the Financial Crime of Others At Large or Dead’. It is of note that $185m is as much as Buhari and Babangida paid to stop Lagos getting a rail line- ‘Jakande rail’ in 1983. Wow! How much hate they must have had to stop a railway which would have carried millions totalling 1+billion now? Of course Obasanjo’s too had a ‘Jakande rail’ moment with the cancellation of the then successfully on-going World Bank funded Lagos-Ibadan third lane in favour of Babalakin’s Bi-Courtney with disastrous results and death and time delays for millions daily. And how much was paid by the Obasanjo government as compensation to the contractor for that contract cancellation –perhaps the recurring number $184m?

    As we are forced to witness the nauseating scenario around the purchase of two bomb-proof cars with N250m we Fellow Nigerians get nothing. Angry users of rubbish FAAN international pot-holed car park at the MMAirport Lagos have to pay a parking fee. Why did the collective aviation agencies not tar that ‘rubbish FAAN car park’ area for ordinary Non-VIP travellers? Nigerians don’t ask for bomb-proof cars but we do expect a fraction of the N250m to be spent on making public airport car parks welcoming and usable.

    The company Julius Berger had students marching with JB blue logo plastic bags full of educational goodies. Now Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC is also donating educational kits. We live in a country that expects its private companies after paying education tax to still contribute to education while government irresponsibly misapplies the earnings of two million barrels of oil per day at $105/barrel and spends N250m on two vehicles while children lack books. Nigeria can easily kit all students with the 15 textbooks and novels and 12 exercise notebooks needed annually and placed in adire or other home-grown backpacks/satchels from the proceeds of one day’s oil earnings and still have change to steal. This systematic ‘ONE NIGERIAN STUDENT- ONE BACKPACK OF BOOKS METHOD’. Education and living basics are the sole responsibilities of government. Private companies and Corporate Social Responsibility funds should be the icing on the education cake- travel, exhibitions, scholarships, competitions and prizes –not toilets and running water. The 40million students deserve immediate books, this month before buildings and we do not need another 2013 Ladi Kwali Hall multibillion naira Education Summit. Books build brains. A book is the life saver and Gold Standard and goes further than a beautiful bookless classroom.

    Fires cause global warming. Massive fires burn millions of trees causing forest destruction and global warming. Is it not more environmentally friendly to try to save the forests from fires by making tree-free corridors between tree blocks? This would also provide tree trunks for the wood industry. Talking of global warming, what is the contribution of festive period fireworks displays ay New Year and Christmas global warming and smoke pollution? It is worth a study because major firework displays are entirely under the control of man. What is the carbon footprint of New Year fireworks worldwide?

    If Nigeria had been hit by the ‘Fires of Australia’ what would have been our fate from the emergency services? Already we have a new cholera outbreak officially claiming more than 60 lives caused by poor hygiene and water supply. Cholera in 2013?  Imagine the real figure of deaths.

    The very public suggestion that the whistleblowers for the N250m cars did wrong means that the Freedom of Information Bill is still not accepted by government agents. This was made clear by the ‘forced’ resignation of Odimegwu from the census Commission for ‘whistle-blowing’ by revealing the well-known truth about the last census figures. Remember Justice Salami and Professor Grange. Truth is the first casualty of war, civil or military, declared or not! It is obvious that we are still at war in Nigeria.

  • FAAN blames it all on political opponents

    FAAN blames it all on political opponents

    Minister of Aviation Ms Stella Oduah is in Israel to sign an agreement today with Israeli officials on behalf of Nigeria.

    A Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) to be signed, is to enable airlines from both countries fly directly to each other’s territory without stop-overs in other destinations.

    Oduah left Abuja yesterday ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan’s trip to Israel on pilgrimage today.

    The BASA agreement signing is the culmination of 12 months of negotiations between officials of the Department of Transportation of Israel and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Aviation.

    Three other Middle East countrieshave air services agreement with Nigeria.

    The aviation agencies yesterday denied that the embattled minister is involved in the the purchase of bullet proof cars.

    In a statement, the agencies linked the minister’s travails to the political opponents of the government.

    Coordinating spokesman of aviation agencies, Mr Yakubu Dati , said the purchase of official vehicles by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities (NCAA) has assumed a comical dimension as every car, bus and van in all the aviation agencies now allegedly belong to the minister of aviation.”

    He said:”No mention is made of the fact that, of all the documents paraded for the vehicles, none mentioned the name of the Minister of Aviation. This is not withstanding the fact that the NCAA has come out to clarify the issue that entered into the transaction.

    “Indeed, Nigerians are mischievously sold the lie that the cars have been paid for, meanwhile they were purchased on higher purchase and payments are yet to even commence.

    “Nigerians must brace up for more misinformation on this matter as very soon, pictures of trains and ships will soon be published as belonging to the minister of aviation.

    “Nigerians must also note that the main target of this sinister plot is President Goodluck Jonathan who must be stopped from running for re-election in 2015, in line with the dictates of the Group of Seven governors (G7), who have demanded that (Finance Minister) Okonjo Iweala, (Minister of Petroleum) Diezani Alison-Madueke, and Princess Oduah must go as a condition for a truce (?).

    “These same spoilers mounted and orchestrated campaign for the removal of other shinning stars. And now, they have turned their searchlight on Princess Stella Oduah, another rising star of this administration. Should they be allowed to succeed this time?

    “To the discerning mind, their ultimate target is not Princess Stella Oduah, or the other Ministers but the 2015 re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan. They will stop at nothing to achieve their aim.”

    The statement also listed the “numerous achievements” of Ms Oduah.

     

  • Chinese firm begins construction of new terminal at MMIA

    Chinese firm begins construction of new terminal at MMIA

    • AIC alleges impunity by FAAN

    Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) yesterday mobilised to site at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos to begin construction work on the new ultra-modern international terminal.

    The commencement of preliminary work by the firm is part of the agreement the Federal Government signed with the Chinese Government for the development of five ultra-modern international airport terminals in major cities, including Abuja, Port Harcourt , Kano and Enugu.

    General Manager, Corporate Communication, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN), Yakubu Dati, who confirmed the development, said the Chinese firm has started preliminary work, namely, soil tests and site mapping, adding that this was a follow up to the project that started in Enugu on May 18, this year.

    He said on completion, the new terminal would enhance the chances of the airport becoming the major hub in West Africa.

    The MMIA project is the second of the five projects in which work has started. The Enugu project was the first and its foundation laying ceremony was performed by President Jonathan on May 18, the same day that the remodelled terminal of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, was also inaugurated.

    On completion, the new terminal at MMA would enhance the chances of the airport becoming the major hub in the West African Air Transport Region.

    Meanwhile, AIC Limited has kicked over the construction, alleging that FAAN colluded with the Chinese firm. It described the take over of the land for its proposed hotel as an impunity.

    AIC Limited’s Director, Mr Niyi Akande, said FAAN, violated its lease agreement by granting access to the Chinese firm to get into its site, adding that FAAN had violated the court order which directed that parties to the disputed land to await further decisions.

  • Stowaway’s action stirs fresh security debate

    Stowaway’s action stirs fresh security debate

    How did he get into the wheel of the Lagos-bound Arik Air plane undetected at the Benin Airport in Edo State last Saturday? Some say thay saw him going under the plane, yet nothing was done to fish him out until the plane took off and landed in Lagos. Did he do it alone or was he aided? KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports.

    SOMETHING must have wrong. What went wrong remains the question. If nothing had not gone wrong, tenager Daniel Ihekina, would not have accessed the wheel well of an Arik Air plane to stow away.

    Since that incident, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Arik Air have been bickering over what went wrong. None wants to accept blame.

    While FAAN is blaming the airline for the lapse, Arik is pointing fingers at the authority. It challenged the authority to explain how the teenager beat security checks at the Benin Airport in Edo State to hide in the wheel well of a plane.

    Arik said: ”We are worried by the incessant security lapses at our airports. We are appealing to the management of FAAN to immediately address the problem.”

    FAAN Managing Director George Uriesi said the authority has taken steps to ensure that all airports are secured through the phased airport perimeter fencing that started a few years.

    He said the government’s assessment tests have been carried out to block leakages, adding that FAAN is training its personnel on how to secure the airports.

    FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Communication (FAAN), Mr Yakubu Dati, said perimeter fencing remains one of the cardinal areas in the airport infrastructure project, saying since 2011, the authority has worked out a schedule for the fencing.

    He cited airports where the operational and non-operational areas have been completed, to include Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Margeret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, and the Port Harcourt International Airport.

    Dati said the authority had acquired some operational vehicles for its security personnel to carry out surveillance on the airside, to prevent interference.

    The personnel were being trained, adding there is huge investment in technology.

    A security expert Babatunde Olu said FAAN should de-emphasise physical security and focus on intelligence gathering and use of technology.

    “The security protocols implemented at any airports 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.”

    He said the training of security staff and other security operatives was also required.

    Last year, security agencies devised ways of securing the airports. The personnel from FAAN, security unit, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, State Security Service, National Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Air Force promised to redouble their efforts at improving security.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Mr Haliru Gwandu, said the synergy among the agencies must be strengthened to keep potential unauthorised persons at bay from the airport.

    Gwandu called for more logistics for the Police to do their job, especially in perimeter patrol, arrest of miscreants and other unlawful interferences on the land and airside.

    He appealed to the authorities to put the right pegs in the right holes to avoid compromise among security agencies, adding that security is everyone’s duty.

    Other participants called for the deployment of the latest security technologies to assist airport security agencies achieve success in protecting the airports and its teeming passengers.

  • FAAN, NAMA excited over Enugu Airport

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), have said the opening of the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu for international flights will open a window to earn more foreign revenue.

    FAAN’s Managing Director, George Uriesi and his NAMA counterpart Nnamdi Udoh spoke on the sidelines during the inaugural flight of Ethiopian Airlines into Enugu Airport.

    Uriesi said FAAN was excited over the development, noting that is a money spinner for his agency.

    He said the authority would put facilities in place to attract more foreign airlines, describing Enugu Airport as one strategically located to serve the Southeast.

    Many agencies, including Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and others, he said, had opened offices at the Enugu Airport to serve the anticipated passengers and cargoes into the airport.

    Uriesi said: ”The first thing we have done to make Enugu Airport attractive for airlines is to build the infrastructure to bring the airport to an international standard. The first flight out of here was fully booked. Now the airport is attracting more traffic, and once the airline puts its acts together, that would make it easy for FAAN to earn more money.

    “We have expanded the runway from 2.6 to 3.1 kilometres and we are providing the same level of security as you have in other airports.

    “We are building the infrastructure to accommodate daily international flights out if this airport. We have started collecting passenger service charge, that is a lot more revenue for FAAN. It is going on very well,” he said, adding that the international terminal would be completed in 2015.

    Udoh noted that the airport’s opening was a blessing, saying: ”This is a good opportunity for NAMA to earn additional revenue from the ticket sales charge that we share with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). This would give us more revenue in navigation service charge and provide more funds.”

    On the safety, Udoh said: ”The airport and airspace are safe. We are going ahead after the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) endorsement to do our own calibration. Many airlines would come to Enugu and that would give more revenue to the aviation agencies.“

    He said the automation of the aeronautical information system was about over 70 per cent completed.

    At least 96 of its Aeronautical Information Service (AIS), personnel, he said, were on training at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).

    This, he added, was part of the efforts to beef up capacity and manpower preparatory to the imminent take-off of AIS automation in November.

    ICAO has set November 15, this year as deadline for the implementation of AIS automation worldwide while the project in Nigeria has reached an advanced stage of completion.

    AIS automation when in operation, he said, would enhance air safety with pilots sending their aeronautical messages online and this would reduce excessive telephone conversation between pilots and air traffic controllers.

    The airports to benefit from the project include Lagos Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Jos, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Owerri and Yola. Others are Zaria, Calabar, Osubi, Minna, Kadunna, Enugu, Katsina, Ibadan, Benin, Akure, Bebi, Bonny, Eket, and Escravos.

     

  • Tax evasion: Benin Airport manager, FAAN officials docked

    Tax evasion: Benin Airport manager, FAAN officials docked

    THE Benin Airport Manager, Ayodele Sunday and two other officials of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) , Adeboye O.F and Aliu Isimhaipe, have been arraigned before an Edo State High Court on a six-count charge.

    Among the charges are conspiracy to assault, molest and hinder officers of the state Internal Revenue Service, from performing their lawful duty of enforcing the payment of due taxes, refusing revenue officials to give effect to a detraining order issued by a High Court of Edo State against FAAN.

    The accused were also alleged to have conspired to remove and destroy the distrain notice of the court, including the lock and key used by officials of EIRS to distrain the FAAN Administrative Office; refusal to pay or remit to the state Internal Revenue Service of N17.473million, being amount deducted as PAYE taxes from salaries of staff. All offences are punishable under sections 55, 50, 48 & 49 of Edo State Revenue Administration Law, 2012.

    When the cahrges were read to the accused, they pleaded not liable.

    Counsel to the defendants, Emmanuel Akhigbe, prayed for bail for the defendants, saying that they came to court on their own volition and would be ready to stand trial.

    Prosecuting counsel, Augustin Aleghe Aliyu (SAN), raised objection on the grounds that there was no bail application for the defendants.

    The trial Judge, Hon Justice J.I. Acha, however, granted the defendants bail for N500, 000 each, and a surety for each of the defendants, who must be residents within jurisdiction of the court and must own a house. Each surety must be gainfully employed and swear to affidavit of means.

    Each surety must show evidence of payment of tax at least for the last three years and deposit two passport photographs.

    The Judge ordered that the three accused are not to travel out of the country without express permission of Court. They were able to meet the bail conditions yesterday.

    The case was further adjourned to September 25 and 26 for trial.

  • Nigeria, 13 others on aviation safety list

    Nigeria, 13 others on aviation safety list

    The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has listed Nigeria as one of the 14 countries in Africa that have achieved effective air safety implementation.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Yakubu Dati, General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Dati said in the statement that the achievement was in line with air safety implementation above the global average of 61 per cent.

    According to him, the rating is contained in the ICAO 2013 Safety Report, compiled by the organisation’s auditors.

    “The auditors investigated the compliance with stipulated International safety standards by individual countries across the world, especially its 200-member countries,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the FAAN spokesman as saying in the statement.