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Tag: Henrietta Yakubu

  • FAAN collapses makeshift tent at P/Harcourt Airport

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Wednesday said it has collapsed the makeshift tent at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State.

    Its spokesperson, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu disclosed to The Nation.

    She said the move was occasioned by the recent commissioning and movement of international operations to the new terminal at Port Harcourt International Airport.

    She said with the development, all domestic arrivals have moved to the old international terminal.

    Mrs. Yakubu said the former local departure lounge will henceforth serve as local arrival hall while the erstwhile international departure lounge has been converted to local departure lounge.

    Last week, three foreign airlines- Air France, Lufthansa and Cronos Airlines from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea- commenced operations into the airport.

    Read Also: Court summons NCAA, FAAN bosses

    Yakubu said the terminal became fully operational when movement of agencies and installation of technical facilities were concluded.

    Cronos Airlines arrived from Accra, Ghana followed by Lufthansa from Frankfurt and Air France from Paris .

    According to Yakubu, the terminal, measuring 27, 000 square metres, has the capacity to process five million passengers per annum.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, had in October 2018, inaugurated the new terminal, saying it had become necessary for the government to take decisive action to ensure the nation’s airport terminals met minimum international standards for the travelling public.

  • No bomb on Abuja-Lagos Air Peace flight – FAAN

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) has described as false the alarm that a bomb was planted on an early morning Air Peace flight from Abuja to Lagos on Wednesday.

    Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, made the rebuttal in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Yakubu siad that the passenger, who allegedly raised the alarm, was said to have a history of mental illness.

    She said that the passenger had been handed over to the security agencies and medical experts for assessment.

    She said: “Following the false information, officers of FAAN’s aviation security swiftly evacuated passengers, crew and cargo on board the flight and a bomb squad immediately conducted a thorough check on the aircraft and baggage, which confirmed the information to be false.

    Read Also: Attempt to steal aircraft: Court summons NCAA, FAAN bosses

    “After due diligence test has been carried out on the aircraft, a fresh boarding call has been made and passengers have boarded the flight for take-off to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

    “FAAN will like to re-assure passengers and all airport users that our airports are safe and secure.

    “They should carry on their lawful activities without any fear,” she said.

    News Agency of Nigeria reports that there was panic in the aircraft on Wednesday morning, after a passenger raised an alarm that a bomb was planted in the aircraft.

  • Reason for power outage at Lagos Airport, by FAAN

    Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ), on Thursday attributed power outage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos to a minor electrical fault.

    The outage threw parts of the terminal into darkness. A source hinted that the outage affected the D Wing of the terminal

    Confirming the development, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, said the power disruption was caused by a minor electrical fault

    Yakubu said: “FAAN wishes to inform the general public of a temporary power outage at the D Wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    Read Also: Power outage hits Lagos airport again

    “The outage is due to a minor electrical fault.

    “Meanwhile, our engineers are already working to rectify the fault and normalcy will be restored soon.’’

    She, however, explained that the outage did not affect flight operations at the nation’s busiest airport.

    Yakubu said FAAN remained committed to the safety and comfort of travelers at all times.

  • Power outage hits Lagos airport again

    The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos was on Thursday hit by a temporary power outage which affected the D Wing of the terminal.

    Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said the power disruption was caused by a minor electrical fault.

    Yakubu said: “FAAN wishes to inform the general public of a temporary power outage at the D Wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The outage is due to a minor electrical fault.

    “Meanwhile, our engineers are already working to rectify the fault and normalcy will be restored soon.’’

    She however explained that the outage did not affect flight operations at the nation’s busiest airport.

    Read Also: ‘Lagos better under under APC leadership’

    Yakubu said that FAAN remained committed to the safety and comfort of travellers at all times.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MMIA was on November  7, 2018 affected by a power outage lasting several hours which affected flight operations.

    Aviation stakeholders had expressed concern over the ugly development and called on the Federal Government to create an independent power supply for the MMIA to befit its Category One status.

    NAN

     

  • Traffic peaks at Abuja Airport after New Year holiday

    Traffic and flight activities have peaked at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja following resumption of work after the new year celebration.

    The airport had witnessed a drop in activities since December 24, 2018 after most passengers traveled for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

    When our reporters visited the airport on Wednesday, many travelers were seen rushing to board their flights at the departures while many others were coming out of the arrivals.

    Traffic was more at the arrival hall than the departures, while the international wing also witnessed an increase compared to what it had been since Christmas period.

    Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it recorded hitch-free operations during the festive period nationwide in terms of passengers and staff conducts.

    Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, said it was first time that there were no reports of confrontations between passengers and airport staff.

    Yakubu said the authority had earlier put adequate measures in place to ensure that every traveler enjoyed maximum comfort in the airport.

    She added that FAAN also gave out Christmas gifts to 300 children at their arrivals in various airports, across the country on Dec. 24, 2018 to make them happy.

    Yakubu gave assurance that FAAN would continue to ensure comfort and satisfaction of passengers at the nation’s airports.

    “It was a hitch-free and peaceful operation throughout the festive period because there no reports of confrontations between our staff and passengers and airlines.

    Read Also: Abuja airport records low traffic on Christmas eve

    “For the first time in many years, we had peaceful operation throughout Christmas and new year without a single report of staff or passengers unruly behaviours.

    “FAAN put in place adequate measures to ensure passengers comfort and we even gave out Christmas gifts to 300 arriving children on December 24,” she said.

    A passenger, Mr. Clement Adaji, said there was improvement in service delivery at the airport in recent times and called for standardization of the nation’s airports.

    Adaji said that more airlines were needed in the country to make it easier for travelers to buy tickets at affordable prices during festive periods.

    He said it was difficult for many travelers to get tickets during the rush hours due to inadequate number of aircrafts in the country.

    According to him, government should continue with the plan to establish a new national carrier to grow the economy.

    Mrs Mary Johnson, a civil servant, said she expected a better air transport sector in 2019 considering the recent improvement in the airports, especially Abuja and Lagos.

    Johnson urged government to also encourage local airlines to succeed and ensure reduced cost of air travels.

    She also prayed that the coming general elections would be peaceful and usher in new era for the people.

    “I want government to improve air travel in Nigeria but my major concern is the coming election which I am praying should end peacefully and usher in a new era for us,” she said.

    NAN

     

  • ICAO to inaugurate FAAN facility as global training centre

    The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is set to commission the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s (FAAN) Training Centre, designated as Global Training Centre by Airports Council International (ACI) for Africa region, General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu.

    The facility situated at the international wing of the Lagos Airport will be inaugurated this Friday.

    According to her, the commissioning and designation of the facility as ICAO/ACI Global Training Centre would further enhance training of technical personnel for the industry.

    Yakubu explained that before the facility was approved, inspectors from ICAO had visited the facility regularly and discovered some open items, which she said were closed by FAAN’s management before the final approval was given by ICAO.

    She recalled that the facility was designated as an ICAO/ACI training facility in Mauritius in 2017 during the ACI meeting in that country.

    She said the nod given the facility by the global body  would make it easier and cheaper for technical personnel on the continent to be trained on aviation matters, adding that ICAO’s approved instructors would be engaged for training of personnel.

    Yakubu said FAAN’s Managing Director, Saleh  Dunoma;  who also doubles as the President of ACI-Africa  accelerated the upgrading the facilities to its present status.

    She said: “Sometime last year, during the ACI meeting in Mauritius, FAAN training school was designated as an ICAO training centre. By this Friday, ICAO will be coming to Nigeria for the commissioning of the facility.

    “One of the advantages of the training centre is that it will make it easier for member countries to train their personnel in Nigeria and it is also cheaper for them to come to Nigeria to be trained, rather than going to United Kingdom, United States and other countries around the world.

    “Another advantage is that there will be more opportunity for those in the region to get trained. You know when cost is not really a factor; more people will be factored in for training. There is also accessibility for trainees and the weather conditions are favourable in Nigeria, while the learning facilities are fantastic and new.
    “For ICAO to designate us as a training centre, you will know that everything that we needed to put in place have been put in place. The training facilities are up to date. The instructors will be coming from all over the world and they are ICAO trained instructors.”

    On the ongoing certification of some international airports by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Yakubu assured that some of the airports would be certified by 2019.

    She recalled that the international wings of Lagos and Abuja were certified in 2017 by the regulatory authority, stressing that officials from ICAO were also assisting FAAN in the certification exercise.

    “You know there are certain conditions that must be met before an airport is certified and before MMA and Abuja Airports were certified last year, we had to fulfill all these conditions and before any other airport would be certified, same conditions, too have to be met.

    “Recently, a team from ICAO came around during the Airport Excellence (APEX) training, which was held in Nigeria, the team went to Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu Airports. I can assure you that next year, one or more airports would also be certified after we have fulfilled all the conditions,” she assured.

     

  • Abuja Airport runway reopens after hours of closure – FAAN

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ), has announced the reopening of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following an incident involving a Gulfstream four aircraft being operated by Skybird on Wednesday night.

    A statement by Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, on Thursday disclosed that the aircraft overshot the Runway while landing and consequently got stuck on the Runway End Safety Area (RESA).

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    Yakubu said that FAAN had reopened the Runway to take arrivals and departures, subject to a reduced threshold of 3000 metres.

    She assured airlines and passengers that the airport was safe for normal operations, adding that FAAN was committed to her core values of safety, security and comfort.

    “This is following the partial closure of Runway 22, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 2200hours, on Wednesday night.

    The closure was due to an incident involving a Gulfstream four aircraft being operated by Skybird that overshot the Runway while landing and consequently got stuck on the Runway End Safety Area (RESA),” she said.

  • Sallah: FAAN assures airport users of safety

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured   airport users that airports under its management are fully ready to play host to air travelers during this Sallah celebrations.

    General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the authority, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu disclosed this on Tuesday.

    Yakubu said maintenence of conveyor belts and escalators at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos have been completed and functioning optimally.

    Besides, she said airport security and other logistics have been upgraded and strengthened to provide for the expected increase in passenger traffic in and around our airports.

    She said: “As part of our commitment to ensure seamless facilitation of our highly esteemed passengers during the Sallah celebrations and beyond, the VIP Protocol lounges at both the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and General Aviation Terminal, Lagos, have been refurbished to give maximum comfort and value to our customers.

    Read Also: FAAN goes for modern scanners to boost security at airports

    “In anticipation of traffic surge owing to the season, Management is set to open the Departure Hall at the Terminal D of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to ease facilitation formalities of departing passengers at the airport before the celebrations.

    “We have also installed new directional display units to guide travellers, especially new ones, at our airports.

    “While we advise the general public and intended travellers to make early preparations towards completing their travel requirements in good time, we will also like to re-state that receiving of dignitaries at restricted areas by security agents and airport officials is prohibited and anyone found wanting will be apprehended and prosecuted.”

  • Buhari’s visit: travelers, commuters, groan over restriction of movement

    President Muhammadu Buhari  travelers and commuters were on Thursday, forced to walk long distances to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos to catch their flights, following restriction of movement around the airport vicinity by security operatives, The News men report that the movement restriction around the airport is due to.

    The President is expected to inaugurate the newly constructed Ikeja Bus Terminus among other engagements.

    The News men reports that as early as 5 a.m, commercial buses and other unauthorised vehicles were restricted from plying the Agege Motor Road, Airport Road, Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way and other link roads.

    Activities of shuttle buses and taxis within the airport were also restricted, forcing commuters and travelers going to the airport, to walk long distances to their destinations.

    The News men  observes that the situation had also affected flight operations by domestic airlines, which had to delay their 7 a.m flights for about an hour to enable stranded passengers catch up with fights.

    Air Peace, in a statement posted on its Facebook page empathised with its guests over the situation.

    “We empathise with our esteemed guests who are having a challenge accessing the airport to catch their flights due to the diversion of traffic at various points In Lagos.

    “This is currently affecting flights out of our base in Lagos despite the availability and readiness of our crew to operate their flights.

    “We urge our valued guests to remain calm, while we monitor the development and take steps to minimise the impact of the resulting flight disruptions,’’ the airline said.

    Similarly, Arik Air, in continuous public announcements, appealed to passengers already checked in on its 8 a.m Lagos-Port Harcourt flight to exercise patience with other passengers yet to arrive due to the movement restriction.

    However, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs,
    Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), explained that the restriction on commercial vehicles was to allow smooth movement during the president’s visit.

    Read Also: Lagos declares tomorrow work-free day for Buhari’s visit

    An aviation expert and a member of the Aviation Round Table, Retired Capt. John Ojikutu , faulted the early closure of the access way to the airport which caused discomfort to travelers.

    “Knowing that most flights outbound Lagos are between 7 a.m/7.30 a.m, the closure of the airport that is built within urban developed area like MMA should not have come before 7.30 a.m.

    “Access control for vehicular movement should have been limited not beyond the roundabout near the Forte Oil and the roundabout near the Bisam Police Station.

    “The experience of passengers into the airport today should not be on the president as most people would want.

    “Rather, on the state government and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) mainly and FAAN which could have jointly assess the impact of the visit to the airport on the public,’’ he said.

    Two travelers, Mr Ejike Agu and Mr Augustine Iweh, told The News men, advanced notices should have been sent to travelers to enable them prepare for the inconveniences caused by the restriction.

    Agu said “some of us are going home for the Easter holidays and it is not good that we are treated this way. It took me hours to get to the airport as I had to trek from Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way.’’

    Iweh said he was lucky to get a cab driver who was able to navigate his way to the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the airport in spite of the restriction.

    “But it cost me N5, 000; At least, I got here without too much stress unlike some other people,’’ he said.

    The news men observes that a number of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority personnel, the Nigeria Air Force, Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have been deployed around the airport to beef up security ahead of the president’s visit.

    NAN

  • Runway incursions : FAAN to capture airport perimeter fence in 2019 budget

    Runway incursions : FAAN to capture airport perimeter fence in 2019 budget

    Begins fixing of Akure Airport collapsed perimeter fence

    Worried over  the rising spate of runway incursions at airports nationwide,  the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said on Tuesday that it is set to address the challenge by factoring construction of  airports’ perimeter fences in  2019 budget.

    The general manager public affairs FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu disclosed this in Lagos saying the authority is increasingly becoming worried over issues bordering on security at airports.

    Yakubu said the incident at Akure Airport, where a herd of cows invaded the runway when an aircraft was getting ready to land is being addressed .

    She said though, Akure Airport has perimeter fence, but the cows gained access to the runway through sections of the fence that had collapsed.

    According to her, FAAN civil engineers were already at the Akure airport to fix the collapsed section of the fence.
    As part of measures to strengthen the security of the airports across the country, Yakubu said  FAAN has stopped the renewal of On Duty Cards (ODCs) for former airline and FAAN workers to ensure strict personnel monitoring.

    According to her, cards renewal will be thoroughly scrutinized by the authority.

    Yakubu said security measures have been reviewed while 10 vehicles have been added to the ones on ground to enhance runway patrol in order to minimize aircraft runway attacks.

    While grass cutting has been stepped up  Yakubu said abandoned aircraft on the air side have been moved to the ‘mortuary ‘ , adding that those in Kano, Jos and Benin airports will be moved out soon in order to create space.

    She said aviation security personnel AVSEC have been working hard to ensure that the activities of touts and touting is curtailed.