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Tag: Murtala Muhammed Airport

  • NUATE commends airline for recalling 69 disengaged workers

    NUATE commends airline for recalling 69 disengaged workers

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees ( NUATE ) on Friday commended the management of Aero Contractors Limited for recalling 69 workers earlier declared redundant by the airline.

    Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, NUATE, made this known in Lagos that the unions in the aviation sector were impressed by the efforts of the Aero management to reposition the airline.

    Abioye confirmed that 41 of the recalled workers were members of NUATE while the others belonged to the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria ( ATSSSAN ) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers ( NAAPE ).

    He noted that the airline, under the management of Capt. Ado Sanusi, was being revived gradually after being taken over by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria ( AMCON ) due to its huge debt profile.

    According to him, when Sanusi came on board, over 600 Aero workers were declared redundant in March 2017 as a way of keeping the airline afloat, despite opposition from the unions.

    Abioye said the management had, however, continued to forge ahead, culminating in the recent successful conduct of C-Check on Boeing B737-500 at the airline’s maintenance facility at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

    He said that based on this, the management had started recalling some of the disengaged workers to the delight of the unions.

    “The management, in its wisdom and which we appreciate, have decided that those who are currently on contract will be reintegrated into the system as if they have never been declared redundant.

    “The second leg of that is that a sizeable number of those still outside will be recalled, and by March, another sizeable number will be recalled.

    “This tentatively means that over two-third of the disengaged workers would have been recalled into Aero, which is a good one for us,” Abioye said.

    He said the unions and the management would continue to work together as responsible social partners to stabilise and sustain Aero Contractors, so that the airline could reclaim its rightful place as the number one domestic airline.

    NAN

  • Police debunk alleged poaching of aircraft at Lagos airport

    Police debunk alleged poaching of aircraft at Lagos airport

    The Murtala Muhammed Airport , Lagos, Police Command, has debunked the recent allegations of poaching of aircrafts and stealing of baggage at the airport leveled against its personnel.

    The command’s spokesman, DSP Joseph Alabi said on Friday in Lagos that the allegations could not be substantiated by those making them.

    The two incidents of alleged poaching were recently reported, the latest being that which was said to have occurred on a chartered flight from Uyo to Lagos on December 26.

    However, Alabi said the command, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) and other security agencies, were still investigating the alleged incidents.

    Read also: Truck hits Air Peace aircraft at Lagos airport

    According to him, so far, the purported victims have failed to appear before the inter-agency committee and have also not lodged any complaint with the police.

    He said: “if anything of such happens at the airport, the victim is expected to report it to the police, but nobody has come to us to make any such report.

    “We have our officers who patrol the airside with the FAAN security operatives and it is practically impossible for anyone to burgle an aircraft in motion as being alleged.’’

    Alabi urged travelers and other airport users not to fret over the allegations, stressing that the command was adequately prepared and equipped to guarantee their security, especially during this festive season.

    NAN

  • Truck hits Air Peace aircraft at Lagos Airport 

    Truck hits Air Peace aircraft at Lagos Airport 

    A truck operated by one of the ground handling companies on Thursday rammed into and damaged an aircraft belonging to Air Peace at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, disrupting some of its flights.

    The incident occurred in the morning during the loading of passengers’ luggage into the cargo hold of the aircraft scheduled to service the carrier’s Lagos-Uyo route.

    A statement issued by the Corporate Communications Manager of Air Peace, Mr. Chris Iwarah said the door of the rear cargo hold of the aircraft was impacted and damaged in the incident.

    The aircraft, it added, had been declared unserviceable. The airline’s Uyo-bound passengers, the statement said, were rescheduled to fly later in the day.

    The airline said it deeply regretted the disruption of its Lagos-Uyo service and the delay the incident caused its passengers. It assured that arrangements had been made to take the affected passengers to their destinations.

    It would be recalled that a truck belonging to another ground handling company also hit and damaged an aircraft belonging to Air Peace at the Benin Airport in April this year.

    Air Peace confirmed that officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) were already investigating the incident at the Lagos airport on Thursday.

  • 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

  • NCAA certifies Lagos Airport

    NCAA certifies Lagos Airport

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has certified the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The certification came after many years of work to ensure compliance with international standards and regulations.

    A certificate endorsing the safety rating was handed over to the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, by the Director- General of NCAA, Capt. Usman Mukthar.

    The General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu disclosed this to The Nation on Monday.

    She said the certificate for the Lagos airport safety endorsement would be formally handed over to the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, in Abuja Tuesday.

     

  • Silver winning D’Tigers to arrive today

    Silver winning D’Tigers to arrive today

  • FAAN pensioners urge Senate to stop airports concession

    FAAN pensioners urge Senate to stop airports concession

    The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Chapter, has urged the Senate to urgently stop the planned concession of the four major airports in the country.

    Mr Emeka Njoku, Secretary-General, NUP, FAAN, made the call while speaking at the monthly general meeting of the union at the premises of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had recently appointed Transaction Advisers for the concession of the Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt airports.

    Njoku, however, faulted the move, stressing that the unions in the sector would continue to resist any plan to concession the viable airports by the Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.

    He said: “The Senate recently stopped the concession of Port Harcourt Refinery because the process was not transparent.

    “We hereby solicit further intervention from the National Assembly on the planned concession of our four viable airports.

    “If this government is known for zero tolerance on any act of impunity, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari, we cannot understand the refusal of the minister on the recently passed National Assembly Public Hearing resolution suspending the planned concession of the four viable airports.’’

    According to him, past concession agreements were not beneficial to both government and its agencies.

    Njoku noted that revenue collection points of FAAN such as the toll gate, car parks, bill boards, fuel surcharges, shops and VIP lounges were all put under concession and have all become sad stories today.

    He said the union would not allow FAAN to go the way of the defunct Nigeria Airways which was liquidated by an executive fiat.

    “We want the minister to tell the public what he wants to concession. What happens to FAAN workers, pensioners, its assets and liabilities?

    “Is there a government blueprint on the proposal and what are contained therein?

    “These and many more are begging for answers and should not be swept under the carpets,’’ Njoku said.

  • Photo: Ambode, VP Osinbajo, Obasanjo at Lagos airport

    Photo: Ambode, VP Osinbajo, Obasanjo at Lagos airport

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Acting President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport.
    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Acting President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport.

     

    The dignitaries at the Presidential lounge of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos
    The dignitaries at the Presidential lounge of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos
  • Olateru seeks AIB’s staff cooperation to reposition agency

    Olateru seeks AIB’s staff cooperation to reposition agency

    Newly appointed Commissioner of Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Engr. Akin Olateru has appealed to management and staff to cooperate with him in order to move the agency forward.

    This is just as he said that his vision for the agency is to make it the biggest in the sector.

    Olateru stated this during the handing-over ceremony at the agency’s headquarters at Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA.

    He commended the immediate past Commissioner, Dr Felix Abali for improving the parastatal from where he met it and keeping it together over the years despite the challenges.

    He also promised to make training a priority for staff, stressing that through this, their technical know-how would improve.

    “I thank you for keeping this place together despite the missiles. I have heard a lot about AIB. I know it is the smallest in the ministry, but, before the end of my tenure, I will ensure that the agency becomes the biggest of all. That’s my mission.

    “However, for that to happen, I will require the maximum cooperation of all staff. I can’t do it alone, but we are here to make it happen. It is for the benefit of all staff of AIB if we can make this organisation to work. It’s not about size sometimes, but about efficiency and effectiveness.

    “This is a new dawn and I am begging everyone to give this new administration a chance. Whatever that has happened in the past, let it be in the past. Aviation is highly technical, very expensive and the most regulated in the world. At the end of the day, we are all going to be happy because everyone will go on training and more opportunities would be given to people.”

    Earlier, Abali commended the entire staff for their support towards him as the Commissioner of the agency and called on them to support the new administration.

    He, however, appealed to some of the disgruntled elements in the system to sheath their sword for the growth of the organisation.

    “I thank the management and staff for their supports for me through thick and thin. And for those who were bent on destroying the agency, I don’t know what else to tell them to change their minds. I’ve spoken with them, but all to no avail,” he said.

  • Debt: Arik Air resumes claims payment of N18.9bn to FAAN

    Debt: Arik Air resumes claims payment of N18.9bn to FAAN

    Arik Air on Thursday claimed that it had paid a total sum of N18.9 billion to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from January 2007 till date.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Managing Director of Arik Air, Mr Chris Ndulue, made the claim while briefing aviation correspondents in Lagos.

     

    NAN reports that the airline’s operations at the Murtala Muhammed Airport were disrupted on Wednesday by aviation unions and some FAAN workers, over its alleged N12.5 billion indebtedness to the agency.

     

    However, Ndulue, while apologising to the airline’s passengers for the inconveniences caused by the development, confirmed that Arik Air had resumed both domestic and international operations.

     

    He noted that it was very strange that while the airline’s records showed the payment of N18.9 billion, FAAN claimed that it received only N11.4 billion.

     

    According to him, every efforts have been made over the years to reconcile the disputed figures, including the setting up of a ministerial committee by the former Permanent Secretary of the aviation ministry, Mrs Binta Bello.

     

    Ndulue said while the committee was still trying to resolve the issue, FAAN instituted a suit against the airline in October 2015 at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

     

    He said FAAN again informed the court on Feb.3, 2016 that parties should be allowed to explore an amicable resolution to the dispute by appointing an independent auditor, to reconcile the figures.

     

    “So the issue of whether Arik Air is indebted or not to FAAN has been put before a competent court in a suit initiated by the agency.

     

    “For FAAN to resort to self-help or by its staff is an affront on the Federal High Court and the Nigerian State.

     

    “A situation whereby staff of FAAN and union members turn themselves into debt collection agents, on behalf of the Federal Government is absurd,” Ndulue said.

     

    Also speaking, the Chairman of Arik Air, Mr Arumemi Ikhide, confirmed that the airline’s management had met with the Minister of State for Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, over the unions’ action.

     

    “We are prepared and want to pay for services rendered, but we will not be bullied. What happened yesterday (Wednesday) is not good for the image of the country,’’ he added.