The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MMIA

  • Woman excretes wraps of hard drugs

    Woman excretes wraps of hard drugs

    A 32-year-old woman, Chizoba Anya Vivian, is being quizzed by anti-narcotic officers for allegedly excreting wraps of a substance which tested positive for methamphetamine on-board a Qatar Airline flight from Malaysia.

    The suspect was said to have aroused suspicion following her frequent visit to the toilet. On arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, three wraps of methamphetamine were found in her possession.

    The NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, said the suspect excreted two additional wraps, while under observation.

    His words: “The suspect was found with three wraps which she excreted in the aircraft. While she was under observation at the Lagos airport, she excreted two additional wraps of drugs. The five wraps which tested positive for methamphetamine weighed 80 grammes.”

    Preliminary investigation also revealed that the suspect left Ghana where she ingested the drugs to Malaysia.

    In Malaysia, she was denied entry and made to board another flight back to Nigeria. She started excreting the drugs at the airport in Malaysia.

    The suspect said she was offered M500,000 to smuggle the drugs to Malaysia.

    “I was promised the sum of half a million naira but my problem started when I had immigration problem in Malaysia. I was denied entry and made to return to Nigeria after two days. While in the aircraft, I excreted three wraps and two other wraps in the NDLEA office,” Vivian said.

    Vivian, who hails from Onitsha, Anambra State said she just completed her Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration at the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State. “I just completed my HND programme and I am from a very poor family. I wanted to use the money they promised me to assist my siblings by smuggling the drug to Malaysia,” she added.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, warned against what he called the get-rich-quick syndrome.

    “Drug traffickers must avoid get-rich-quick syndrome and understand that a good name is better than ill-gotten wealth that comes without peace of mind,” Giade said.

    The NDLEA boss also urged passengers to be vigilant and report suspicious passengers to the authorities.

    The suspect will soon be charged to court.

  • FAAN forecasts 9.7m passengers for MMIA by 2017

    Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) George Uriesi has taken a look at the authority’s operations, predicting what they will look like in four years.

    Passenger traffic, he said, would rise from over 9.7million and aircraft movement to over 1,138,639 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos in four years.

    Cargo volume, he said, would rise from 170million kilogrammes to 188 million kilogrammes in 2017.

    Uriesi said passenger traffic at the Lagos airport grew from 5,117,034 in 2008 to about 7,185,669 last year while aircraft movement increased from 84,198 to about 105, 334 during the same period.

    The same trend, he said, was replicated in cargo. Freight rose from a total of 164 million kilogrammes to 170 million kilogrammes within the period.

    Lagos airport, Uriesi said, was expected to be a hub as the on-going construction of transit in facilities would have come on stream within the next five years, adding that the number of the airlines are expected to increase as a result of improved infrastructure.

    He called for a cordial relationship with stakeholders in a bid to foster industrial relationship.

    “I am glad to say that in the years under review, we have maintained healthy relations with our stakeholders while fostering positive industrial relations in MMA. Nothing will give me greater joy than the sustenance of the existing cordial relations and industrial peace,” he said, adding that effort is being made to improve working condition for enhanced productivity.

    Uriesi said the authority was yet to get the best because of several battles he had been fighting to liberate FAAN from the clutches of some selfish Nigerians who see the agency as a cash cow and want to milk it dry with different obnoxious concessions and agreements .

    He said he was satisfied with the progress being made in some of the regions, lamenting that most of his energy is wasted on what he termed, “distractions’’.

    “I don’t normally regret anything, but I do have one regret and that is that in my estimation, I am really able to give about 10 per cent of my capacity to FAAN and that is the truth,” he said, adding: “The remaining 90 per cent is distractions, and if I had the opportunity to give even 50 per cent of my capacity, a lot of things would have been different. I keep fighting to get more capacity allocated to FAAN. So, in general, whatever is happening is 10 per cent of my capacity; that is the truth,” he stressed.

    The FAAN boss explained that the regional meeting of the airport managers has remained useful and has served as a source of feed back to him. ‘’I always feel happy when am being briefed by the Regional General Managers. I get feedback from the regional meetings. You will find out that this is very useful in the near future as we begin to realise the resources of the organisation and make it more better.’’

    The Regional General Manager, South West, Edward Olarerin said the Southwest Region of the airport authority has continued to play a leading role among airport regions, especially in operations and revenue generation.

    He said it is the resolve of the region to further consolidate its leading position.

  • Firm introduces cargo wrapping technology

    To protect cargoes at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, a firm, FMC Aviation Limited has introduced a wrapping an equipment to minimise pilferage at the cargo terminal.

    Besides providing a plastic seal around cargoes meant for export, the equipment will also save cargo from the negative effects of weather.

    Speaking to The Nation, in Lagos, the Managing Director of the firm, Mr Herbert Odika, said the equipment was provided for cargo and clearing agents as one of the measures to improve the safety of cargoes meant for export.

    Odika spoke of plans to engage agents and other players in the cargo sub-sector to consider the consolidation of cargo, which will be put in pallet and wrapped for export using the plastic seal.

    He said the provision of the new equipment would assist freight forwarders to standardise their operations as is done in other parts of the world.

    He said such technology is already in place in Ethiopia and South Africa, urging the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) to consider it as a prerequisite for the protection and packaging of cargo meant for export.

    Odika said: “This technology of wrapping cargo in a plastic seal in pallets is already the norm in other parts of the world. It is one of the steps to enhance the safety and security of cargo meant for export.

    “It will bring about consolidation of cargo, a practice that is already in place in other countries. It will also assist to eliminate the challenge of cargo pilferage at the airport.”

  • Businessman petitions police over eviction

    A businessman, Mr Boniface Ezeisi, the Chief Executive Officer of Boney Marcus Industry Limited, has petitioned the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko over his “illegal eviction” from his office situated on 26, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Road, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, by a man simply identified as Major Okoro.

    Okoro, Ezeisi said, claimed to be Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Globacom chairman Mr Mike Adenuga.

    He said Okoro invaded the building one morning with some security operatives to eject its occupants.  Addressing reporters yesterday, Ezeisi said: “I called you people here because I was ejected from my former office by one Major Okoro who claims to be CSO to Mr Mike Adenuga. He said he got directives from Adenuga to remove all tenants from the property. I asked him if he had any court order , quit notice or written directives from Adenuga to carry out the said action, he (Okoro) said he didn’t need them, adding that he is above getting court orders or quit notices from anyone.

    “I still have properties worth about $750,000 inside the safe in the shop; they locked everywhere and station private security men within the building’s premises; we don’t have access to our properties.”

    Ezeisi spoke further: “I don’t believe Mr Adenuga knew about this action because if he did, there would have been a court order. I am 100 per cent sure that Mr Adenuga never made such order to evict us form the building.”

    In his letter to Manko through his lawyer, David Adjarho, he said Okoro perpetrated the act on May 24, at about 8am when he came in a black Toyota Prado SUV with some riot policemen who stormed the place in a Toyota Hilux Van.

    “ … Our client has lost over N20 million worth of goods due to the illegal and malicious acts of these fellows,” he added.

    The legal practitioner condemned Okoro’s alleged action and urged the police to ensure that his client gets justice.

    The letter has been referred to the Area F police Command “for immediate action,” while Mr Robert Obasogie is the inspector in charge of the case.

  • 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.

  • Drug barons abandon cocaine at airport

    … Suspect excretes 54 wraps

    Cocaine weighing 5.9kg has been abandoned by a suspected drug trafficking syndicate.

    The drug was detected by men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

    The drug which was hidden inside industrial equipment originated from Panama, Central America.

    The discovery was made as a suspected drug trafficker excreted 54 wraps of cocaine he ingested in Brazil.

    NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr Hamza Umar, said the cocaine consignment was left unclaimed.

    “The luggage was imported from Panama. When nobody came forward to claim ownership, we invited other security agencies and carried out search. It was in the process of search that the cocaine was discovered inside industrial equipment.

    “A 36 year old man, Onyema Watson Goodman Nnamdi was also apprehended in connection with the ingestion of 54 wraps of cocaine weighing 875 grammes. Both seizures weighed 6.775kg,” Hamza stated.

     

  • Why govt is upgrading MMIA

    Why is the Federal Government upgrading infrastructure at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport(MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos?

    It is to make the airport a hub in West and Central Africa, the coordinating spokesman for aviation, Mr Yakubu Dati, has said.

    The government, he said, was determined that Nigeria meets the minimum requirements for airport facilities in line with global standards.

    The upgrade of facilities, he said, would improve safety and security, such that the airport could drive more passenger and cargo traffic for these was regions.

    He spoke of plans by the government to expand facilities at the MMIA, which he said, would raise the bar in overhauling the safety and security system.

    He said intervention programmes in terminal expansion and passenger facilitation were being executed under the exercise.

    Dati said a template has been designed for the construction of a five-star hotel and multi-layer car park at the airport.

    The project will be private sector driven.

    Such projects, Dati said, would add value to the airport in service delivery and the creation of jobs.

    To attain the hub status, Dati said the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is pursuing the certification of the airport in line with the prescribed requirements by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    He said: ”The government is seriously pursuing a hub status for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. This is key given the strategic location of the airport to many parts of the world. Airlines fly over Lagos towards Europe, Middle  East and other West African countries.

    “To take advantage of this strategic window, that explains the reason government is carrying out an aggressive infrastructure upgrade of facilities at the Lagos Airport, to bring them in line with global standards.”

  • NDLEA arrests Malaysia-based Nigerian student

    … Caught with 1.430kg of methamphetamine

    Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have prevented a Nigerian student studying in Malaysia from premature death.

    The 31- year old suspect, Dike Chibuzor Vitalis, was caught in possession of 1.430kg of white crystalline powder that tested positive for methamphetamine on his way to Malaysia where drug trafficking attracts death penalty.

    He was intercepted at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, on Wednesday during screening of passengers on a Qatar Airline flight.

    He was immediately apprehended after the substance was discovered in his luggage.

    Vitalis could have joined other Nigerians in death row in the Southeast Asia nation if not for the intervention of the anti-narcotic Agency.

    The suspect who hails from Orlu, Imo State said that he was promised 4,000 dollars to deliver the drugs in Malaysia.

    In his words, “I was asked to take an empty bag to Malaysia for a fee of 4,000 dollars. When I got to the airport, the drug was discovered. That was how I got involved.”

    Speaking on the arrest, the NDLEA Airport commander, Mr Hamza Umar, explained that the drug was concealed inside the bag.

    “The drug was industrially packed in a way that we have to cut the sides of the bag open with a knife to discover the drugs. It will take a professional to detect the drugs,” Hamza stated.

     

  • High traffic at Lagos Airport for Xmas

    AS Christmas is celebrate today, there has been an upsurge in passenger traffic at the Lagos airport. People are travelling out in large numbers to celebrate Christmas in their home towns.

    Other passengers were also seen arriving from other aparts of the country.

    At the new General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Lagos, passengers were seen on long queues trying to buy their tickets while others were on their way to board the plane to their various destinations.

    The situation was not different at the International wing of the airport as the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).

    One of the passengers at MMA2, Mr Michael Onocha, who was travelling on Aero Contractors airlines to Benin, said he was going to visit his family in Asaba so that he could spend the Christmas holidays with them.

    Onocha further said he had to fly to Benin because it was the shortest destination he could fly to before taking a bus to connect to Asaba where his family lives.

    He said: “I’m travelling to Benin. Actually, I am going to visit my family in Asaba, but I have to take Benin because that is the shortest possible place I can fly to, then I will take a bus to connect to Asaba.”

    Onocha, however, noted that he was not impress by the passengers traffic as there were no adequate airlines to carter for the growing need of the flying publics.

    According to him, “It is not impressive, it shows that the country is not even improving at all. the leaders are not really doing anything to improve the situation, we should have up to five domestic airlines flying and I want to believe that they can do this by reviewing the policies on aviation.”

  • Fire at Lagos airport

    Fire at Lagos airport

    Fire engulfed the reconstructed D wing section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday.

    The fire was caused by electrical spark from a welding machine used by workers at the site of the expanded D wing of the terminal.

    According to an eye witness , attempt by the welder, one of the workers on site to use the synthetic foam to put out the raging flame, failed, causing the fire to spread a few metres from the point where it started.

    As news of the outbreak spread around the terminal complex scores of airport workers and passengers were gripped with anxiety.

    The General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Yakubu Dati, confirmed the incident.

    He said,”There was a minor fire incident at a construction site beside the ‘D’ wing extension of the MMIA about 11:30am, today, December 20, 2012.

    “The fire was caused by the activities of welders working on the site and lasted for about 15 minutes.

    “The prompt intervention of the fire service attached to the airport immediately brought the fire under control.

    “There were no casualties. The only fall out of the incident was the switching off of the power source which has since been restored.

    “Normal activities at the Airport which were not interrupted by the fire have continued as planes are taking off and landing without hitches.

    “FAAN commends the rapid response of the officers and men of its Fire Department and other relevant agencies for restoring normalcy.

    We remain committed to providing secure, safe and comfortable airport environment as enshrined in the aviation master plan.”