The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Henrietta Yakubu

  • FAAN records 68% revenue increase from automation of MMIA car park

    FAAN records 68% revenue increase from automation of MMIA car park

    The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) says monthly revenue has gone up by 68 per cent following the introduction of automated operation at the new car park at the Murtala Muhammed Airport ( MMIA ), Lagos.

    Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, told newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday that the automation had blocked revenue loopholes since the exercise began at the car park on Jan. 8.

    She said the new system had also reduced rowdiness and vehicular traffic associated with the manual toll collection at the park.

    Yakubu said FAAN would review the performance of the exercise by the end of this quarter and make adjustments where necessary for better service delivery.

    She explained that the authority decided to overhaul the whole system to restore orderliness and reduce complaints from passengers and airport users.

    “Then, we were wondering if all the people that park their vehicles at the car park are airport workers and travelers.

    “Also, we are in an era of technology where people no longer do things manually, but automated.

    “That was what prompted FAAN into introducing automation in its operations. Since we started, there has been a lot of sanity at the car park; there is a lot of orderliness,’’she said.

    According to her, the long queues experienced in the past has been brought under control.

    “If you are not dropping, you are encouraged to go to the car park and do your business there, rather than parking on the road and creating traffic jam,” she added.

    Yakubu said FAAN was also planning to construct a multi-storey automated car park within the General Aviation Terminal, explaining that it would help to boost the agency’s revenue generation.

    Yakubu also disclosed that FAAN was also working on the poor toilet facility at the International Wing of the MMIA.

    “We are doing complete overhaul of the facility so that we can have new toilets for users.

    “We have been getting a lot of complaints from our customers on the state of our toilets. You know MMIA is an old airport and what we are doing is in line with our core value of comfort for passengers and other users of the airport.

    “We believe it’s necessary for us to remove obsolete ones and replace them with new ones, while we are waiting for a new terminal,” she added.

    NAN

  • FAAN begins evacuation of disused aircraft at Lagos Airport 

    FAAN begins evacuation of disused aircraft at Lagos Airport 

    …Set to install CCTV cameras at airside to forestall aircraft poaching

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) has commenced evacuation of abandoned aircraft at the airside of the Murtala Muhammed Airport ( MMA ), Lagos.

    This is just as plans have also reached an advanced stage for the agency to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at the strategic locations within the airside in order to forestall aircraft poaching and other incidences.

    At least, 13 aircraft belonging to different airlines have been abandoned at the airside of the airport for several years with their owners reluctant to relocate them despite several warnings issued by the agency in the past.

    Disclosing  this yesterday in an interview, FAAN, General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, said at least 13 aircraft have been abandoned at the airside by different airlines in the past years.

    She gave the names of the aircraft relocated last Friday by the agency as Associated Air, IRS, Dana Air and Hak Air. Others that would be moved today are aircraft belonging to the liquidated carrier, Air Nigeria, Associated Cargo, Bellview, JedAir, Precision Aviation Handling Company and PAC, TopBrass and others.She lamented that FAAN had severally told the owners of these aircraft to relocate them away from where they are presently abandoned without any fruitful response from them, stressing that where they are presently abandoned constitute danger to safety and smooth operations of aircraft.

    So far, she said four of the abandoned aircraft were relocated last Friday while additional four would be moved .

    She said the relocation became necessary in order to give more space for airworthy aircraft to land, take off and manoeuvre as expected during operations at the airside, insisting that FAAN would continue to take safety and comfort of airport users as a top priority.

    She said: “As at Friday, we moved four aircraft from the airside and the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of Lagos airport told me again this morning (yesterday) that they are going to move another set of four aircraft. We have about 13 aircraft abandoned at the airside.

    “We have taken the legal issues into consideration, if you agree with me; these aircraft are not helping us in anyway. They are taking up a lot of space. Space for aircraft landing and taking off are being taken by these aircraft.

    “The airports belong to FAAN, which means that it is the property of the Federal Government and there is no airline that is bigger than Nigeria. Nigeria has given them a long time to be able to move their aircraft and they have refused to do this. FAAN is not taking possession of their aircraft, but we are moving them away from where they are to another place within the airport where they will not serve as eyesore and where they will not constitute nuisance to activities on our airside.

    “What we are doing is part of the services FAAN is providing; comfort and security. So, for security, these aircraft have been abandoned at the airport for long and miscreants can just go in there and do whatever they want. We want our airports to look beautiful and fine, the aircraft that are littered around, it defaces the beauty of our airside.”

    She also disclosed that very soon, FAAN would procure and install CCTV cameras at strategic places within the airside to further improve security at that part of the airport.

    Apart from this, she explained FAAN had embarked on grass cutting at the airside to ensure improved safety and prevention of security within that area of airport.

    “What we had in the past was that the ‘Follow Me’ vehicle used to be in the front of aircraft, but we have decided to reverse the order. The vehicles are now at the back of the aircraft to ensure that the aircraft go to parking bay without any incident or aircraft poaching,” she added.

  • Yuletide: FAAN assures air travelers of safety

    Yuletide: FAAN assures air travelers of safety

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) has assured air travelers and other airport users that her network of airports across the country were fully prepared for the usual surge in passenger traffic that is the norm during the yuletide.

    FAAN gave the assurance in a statement signed by its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, on Monday in Lagos.

    Yakubu noted that security had been beefed up at all airports, especially the major international gateways in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

    According to her, this is to ensure that passengers and airport users make use of airport facilities, without any security threat.

    She said: “At our premier airport, the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, a multi-storey car park was recently inaugurated to ease ground facilitation.

    Read also: 2 people killed as Boko Haram ambush travelers

    “The VIP lounge has also been renovated to enhance passenger comfort, the carousels are working optimally, amidst other facilities upgrade currently ongoing.

    “The stories are similar at all other airports, as the authority has put in place facilities, procedures and systems to ensure maximum comfort, safety and security of airport users during this season and beyond.”

    Yakubu, however, advised travelers to get to the airports early to conclude all check-in procedures in good time, in order to avoid the experience of missing their flights.

    “This is important because of the heavy passenger traffic that is usually the experience around this time and the ongoing construction work by the Lagos State Government on Airport Road, Lagos,’’ she added.

    NAN

  • FAAN apologises over power outage at Lagos airport

    FAAN apologises over power outage at Lagos airport

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) has expressed regret over Wednesday’s minor power outage that disrupted business at the terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport ( MMIA ), Lagos.

    READ ALSO: FAAN rejigs security arrangement airports

    Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, said in a statement on Thursday that the agency regretted the disruption which occurred on Wednesday night.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that for about an hour activities at the airport came to a halt following an outage as travellers struggled to conduct their activities in the darkness.

    READ ALSO: FAAN collaborates with states on airport land protection

    Yakubu said FAAN engineers were immediately mobilised to restore power to the public concourse.

    “The airport on Wednesday experienced a minor power outage but our team of engineers has immediately swung into action and normalcy had been restored in the affected areas.

    “FAAN wishes to apologise to passengers, airlines and the general public for the inconvenience caused by this interruption.

    “The authority is assuring airport users of safety and security at airports at all times,” she said.

    FAAN had recently attributed incessant power outage at the airport to the ongoing construction work at the new  terminal.

    Underground electric cables are being inadvertently excavated by workers at the construction site.

    READ ALSO: Stop airports’ concession, FAAN petitioners urge Senate

  • No explosion at Lagos airport – FAAN

    No explosion at Lagos airport – FAAN

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said on Tuesday there was no explosion at the Hajj /Cargo axis of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    FAAN said the anxiety and palpable fear created around the terminal in the early hours of Tuesday was caused by an unattended bag, which was blown up by the Police Bomb Disposal Unit, when nobody claimed ownership of the bag.

    In a statement, the Acting General Manager, Public Affairs at FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, advised passengers to keep their belongings close to them when undergoing profiling and check in procedures at the airport.

    Yakubu said: “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria wishes to refute rumoured bomb scare at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, today, Tuesday, August 8, 2017.

    “At about 9:30 a.m., an unattended bag was noticed at the Hajj and Cargo terminal, after the departure of the fourth flight for the intending pilgrims.”

    She said the Chief Security Officer of FAAN at Hajj and Cargo Terminal as well as the Bomb Disposal Unit were contacted and began the process of finding out the owner and the content of the bag.

    Yakubu added: “No one claimed ownership of the bag, so the decision to blow up the bag using an explosive device was made, which in turn caused some panic amongst the second batch of intending pilgrims waiting.

    “After detonation, it was discovered that the bag contained some copies of an Islamic guide; meant for pilgrims to guide them with regards to their journey.

    “Passengers are advised to be cautious of their belongings, and ensure that all properties are securely kept.

    “The Authority would like to assure the general public that there was no bomb and the Hajj and Cargo Terminal is safe, secure for flight operations.”

     

  • FAAN re-jigs security arrangement at airports

    FAAN re-jigs security arrangement at airports

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Friday effected a new inward and outward security arrangement at the nation’s ports.
    This was in line with the recent Executive Order signed by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to sanitize operations at air and sea ports across the country.

    In the new arrangement announced by FAAN’s Acting General Manager, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, only the personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS), The Nigerian Customs Services (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), State Security Services (SSS), Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD) and Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) are allowed to interface with passengers at the airports.

    Yakubu, in a notice to airlines, passengers and the general public, said only the NIS and the NDLEA “ would now operate at Arrival and Departure halls” while the Customs will operate at the arrival hall only.

    Similarly, the SSS and NAQS will operate at the Cargo Terminals only, while the EOD will operate at the baggage hall.

    She said all officers must be fully kitted at all times with their name tags conspicuously visible and must remain within the confines of their responsibilities.

    The FAAN chief said: “Management advice all affected agencies to ensure strict compliance.”

  • FAAN assures on measures to contain Ebola at airports

    FAAN assures on measures to contain Ebola at airports

    Following the declaration of Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reassured passengers and airport users of safety at Nigerian airports.

    FAAN gave the assurance in a statement signed by its Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, in Lagos on Monday.

    Yakubu said adequate measures had been put in place to checkmate the recurrence of such outbreak in Nigeria.

    She emphasised that all measures adopted in 2014 to curtail the Ebola virus were very much in place and had been fortified.

    According to her, the Ebola screening points and detecting machines have been fully reinstated at the airports.

    Yakubu said FAAN was also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health, through the Port Health Service, to reactivate the Ebola Awareness and Sensitisation Campaign.

    NAN

     

  • FAAN gives Abuja airport terminal new look

    The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has embarked on complete rehabilitation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (NAIA) terminal ahead of its scheduled reopening on April 19.

    Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the airport on Friday, reports that work was going on at the Terminal B of both the international and domestic wings of the airport.

    The Bureau de change stand at the terminal has been dismantled, most parts of the building were being repainted and the public toilets were also being fixed.

    The Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu who spoke with NAN said the ongoing renovation was to ensure that airport reopens with well-equipped facilities that would meet global standard.

    Yakubu said the bureau de change stand would be rebuilt into new style to meet with international standard in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standard practice.

    She explained that the style being currently used in Nigeria was not in accordance with what obtained in other airports especially in the developed countries.

    The spokesperson added that the authority, being also mindful of the plight of the physically challenged and aged persons had decided to provide lift and escalators at the departure hall.

    According to her, the stand will not be relocated but will be rebuilt to standard as prescribed by ICAO.

    The Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika had on Thursday, disclosed that by April 19 when the airport would be reopened, it would be wearing new look.

    Sirika said that FAAN was doing complete rehabilitation of the terminal B of the international wing with escalators and lift at the departure for the physically challenged and aged persons.

    According to him, the airport is opening on April 19 with better runway, better facilities and will be more efficient and compliant with ICAO protocol on standard and best practices.

    “Also, we are opening a lounge for the physically challenged and elderly and this is a response from the feedback that we get.

    “In terminal B building also, lift, toilets and other ancillary facilities will be provided.

    “The closure of this airport also means that we improve the terminal to be more robust and create a seamless flow of international and local passengers,” he said.

    The Federal Government had on March 8 shut the airport for six weeks to enable Julius Berger carryout complete repair of its failed 3.6 kilometres runway.

    NAN reports that the rehabilitation work has reached 57 per cent completion three weeks after the closure.

     

  • Airports ready for traffic surge during Christmas – FAAN

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured members of the public, especially passengers and airline operators of hitch-free movement of passengers and cargo during the forthcoming Christmas.

    The Acting General Manager, Public Affairs of FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    According to her, necessary operational and security measures have been put in place at all airports across the country.

    Yakubu said the authority had also charged all airport managers to employ measures to ensure that only eligible persons had access to all restricted areas at the landside, terminals and airside.

    She said bomb detection unit of the Nigeria Police Force had also been charged to be more alert to compliment the efforts of aviation security personnel at the security screening points.

    “To reiterate her commitment to safety of lives and properties, the Federal Government through the Nigerian Airforce recently conducted counter terrorism simulation live demonstration at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, “the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the FAAN spokesman as saying in the statement.

    “Passenger facilitation at all our airports has also been enhanced by the upgrade of power installations, installation of modern and bigger conveyor belts and metal walk-through detectors, servicing of lifts and escalators.

    “Stringent measures are being taken to eradicate the menace of touts and other unwholesome activities around the terminals.’’