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Tag: Murtala Muhammed International Airport

  • N712bn airport modernisation project gets support

    N712bn airport modernisation project gets support

    A member of the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Ahmed Dankabo, has defended the plan by the Federal Government to spend N712 billion on the modernisation of the international terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

    The APC chieftain described criticisms that have trailed the contract as “politically charged and deeply unfortunate.”

    In a statement in Abuja, Dankabo commended President Bola Tinubu for the bold and visionary move to position Lagos as Africa’s leading aviation hub.

    The statement said, “The Murtala Muhammed International Airport is the pride of Nigeria. It is long overdue for an upgrade to match the standards of premier African airports like Cape Town International in South Africa, Mohammed V International in Casablanca, and Addis Ababa Bole in Ethiopia.”

    Dankabo expressed disappointment at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the “poisonous and ill-informed attacks” on the President over the project, saying such criticism fails to recognise the economic and strategic value of modernising the nation’s busiest airport.

    The statement further said, “It is amusing, frankly, that instead of applauding the foresight behind this transformative project, the ADC chooses to throw poisonous darts at a project that holds immense promise for Nigeria’s global image and competitiveness.”

    Highlighting the airport’s centrality to Nigeria’s aviation and economic ecosystem, Dankabo noted that MMIA handles over 6 million passengers annually, with an estimated 246 international flight movements daily. According to him, no serious nation jokes with such a critical national asset.

    He also praised the award of the contract under the modernisation plan to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) – the same company that successfully delivered Terminal 2 – noting that this continuity shuts down insinuations of favouritism or ulterior motives.

    Read Also: Port Harcourt Airport’s revenue hits N21b

    The statement added, “This airport is more than infrastructure; it’s a national monument. It reflects who we are to the world. A first-class facility here sends a message about Nigeria’s aspirations and capabilities.

    “It is quite exhilarating to see that the same firm that built the iconic Terminal Two has been entrusted with further phases. It speaks to performance, not politics.”

    Dankabo added that the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos generates approximately 60 per cent of the total revenue earned by all airports across Nigeria, serving as the financial backbone of the country’s aviation sector.

    He therefore urged critics to set aside partisan sentiments and embrace the Renewed Hope Agenda as a blueprint that is already delivering tangible results, particularly in critical infrastructure and international rebranding.

  • Horrors of asylum seekers (2)

    Discordant tunes over deportation of Nigerian migrants from Germany

    • Nobody was deported, claims Nigerian Immigration •We’re aware deported migrants landed on August 19 –FAAN
    • Nigerian Embassy, Germany: 27 Nigerian migrants were deported from Frankfurt •NASS to tackle inhuman treatment of deportees

    Last weekend, we published  a report about how Nigerian migrants  were put in hand and leg cuffs while being deported from Frankfurt to Murtala Muhammed International Airport by the German authorities and secretly dumped outside the airport.The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigeria Embassy in Germany, in this follow up to the report,confirmed the deportation. But despite the overwhelming evidence that the deportation took place,  the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) surprisingly  said there was no deportation from Germany. INNOCENT DURU reports the discordant tunes that trail the deportation.

    What does Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have to hide about the deportation of Nigerian migrants from Germany on August 19? This obviously is the question that would come to the mind of any rational person reading this report.

    For the past two weeks, we have published reports about the deportation of Nigerian migrants from Frankfurt, Germany. The first, published on August 17,  was an exclusive news report that Germany was going to deport some Nigerian migrants on Monday, August  19, 2019 and that they would arrive the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos,  between 2pm and 3pm.

    On the said day, the deportation took place as exactly published in the report, albeit in a very secretive manner. We adequately captured every bit of the exercise last weekend, August 24, 2019 in our elaborate special report.

    In spite of the pictorial evidence that validated the deportation, the Nigeria Immigration Service shockingly denied that Germany deported any Nigerian migrants on the said date.

    The national spokesperson of the NIS,  Sunday James, in a telephone interview  with our correspondent,  unequivocally said the Murtala Muhammed Airport office informed them that  there was no such deportation when he inquired from them. “There was no deportation from Germany to my knowledge.  Even last week, some of your media colleagues called to that effect and we confirmed from the Lagos Airport office that there was nothing like that.  Yes from the Lagos Airport, there was nothing like that.  As at the last time I spoke with our office in Lagos, they said there was nothing like that and that was last week.”

    Explaining the organisation’s role when people are deported, he said: “Our role as immigration officials is to profile them to know why they were deported, and how many they are.”

    Aside the deportation last Monday, James, also  unequivocally denied that Germany had deported any Nigerian migrants this year even when our findings revealed that some Nigerian migrants were earlier deported. The Nigerian  Embassy in Germany also corroborated our findings. A Minister Information, Culture and Education at the Nigerian Embassy in Germany, Peter Lambat,  told The Nation that 335 Nigerian migrants have been deported this year from Germany.

    But the NIS PRO said: “I am not aware that Nigerian migrants were deported in July.  I don’t know the last time people were deported from Germany. If it is Germany, I don’t know.  I don’t have any business with deportation as the PRO; it is only when the Comptroller General is informed and communicated. The process is done through the investigation section. When this is done, definitely, I will know.”

    Asked when and how the service receives information about deportation of Nigerians, he said: “Signals for deportation don’t come to me,  they go to the CGS. I don’t know of any deportation from Germany, quote me authoritatively as the service PRO.  There is supposed to be an advanced notification that people would be deported but I  as the service PRO, Iam not aware of any but the service may be aware.”

    FAAN, Nigerian Embassy confirm our report        

    Contrary to NIS’ blatant denial of the deportation, however, the Federal Aiport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Embassy in Germany have officially confirmed that the exercise took place.

    The FAAN spokesperson, Henrietta Yakubu, in a telephone interview  with our correspondent, confirmed the arrival of the deportees at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, penultimate Monday. “Yes, they landed on August 19 but I don’t have details about the aircraft that brought them. “

    Prodded further to comment on why the deportees were secretly taken out of the airport and dumped outside theNigerian Aviation Handling Company( NAHCO )premises, Yakubu said: “Honestly I don’t have that information for you.  We have ministries that take care of deportees. It is not FAAN that does that.  You need to get that information from another agency.  Ours is that they landed at the airport.”

    The Nigerian envoy in Germany, Peter Lambat, also confirmed that the deportation took place. “To the best of our knowledge, the last deportation batch was on 19th August, 2019.

    Headquarters was informed to facilitate welcome and other actions by relevant government institutions.”

    Providing statistics of deported Nigerian migrants since the beginning of the year and those currently in prison in German, Lambat said: “By our records, 27 people were deported that day. There are 129 Nigerian prisoners across German prisons; 335 have been deported from January 2019 to date.

    “Deportations are carried out after due administrative processes as initiated by the German authorities and in conjunction with the Nigerian Embassy. Hence, no estimates of future deportations can be made for now.”

    Asked why Germany put the deportees in in chain while deporting them, the envoy said the mission was not aware of what conditions the deportees were subjected to en route Lagos, Nigeria, adding:” Embassy officials do not accompany deportees on the homeward journey.

    “His Excellency, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar had a meeting with the German State Secretary of Interior, Dr. Helmut Teichmann on 23/8/19 and the following was gathered:

    “The ministry had not received any such report on this particular flight.

    Some of the deportees are convicts   that have finished serving prison terms, often for committing violent crimes;

    “Deportees are only cuffed when they become violent and also when there is a high level threat assessment to the flight crew, officials and the other deportees; even at that, the cuffs are only of plastic materials.

    “The embassy always takes allegations of inhumane treatment of Nigerians very seriously, which is why the ambassador and senior diplomats in the embassy physically met with the Interior Ministry’s Permanent Secretary and most senior civil servant, Mr Teichmann. The embassy also monitors the treatment and conditions of Nigerians in detention and/or serving prison terms and promptly responds to complaints.”

    Lambat, however, said the embassy would inquire from the German Police and other relevant organs on what transpired necessitating the inhuman cuffing of the deportees in the Frankfurt to Lagos flight. Further enquiries would also be made on earlier such treatments which run contrary to the rights of dignified home return. This will inform embassy’s next line of action.

    “The Nigerian government remains committed to the protection of the human rights of its citizens at all times anywhere in the world, including those of the deportees. This remains a sacrosanct duty of the government.”

    Debunking allegations that Nigerian embassy officials connive with the German authorities to deport the migrants, he said: “It is absurd and unthinkable that a Nigerian diplomat would/could collude with German authorities to deport Nigerians from Germany.The point is, there are agreements/protocols that are being adhered to. The whole exercise of interview of asylum seekers is transparently conducted by the German Police and embassy officials. Cases are treated on their merits.

    “Those bordering on health, marital/divorce and children custodianship cases are accorded deference until fully settled. It’s only after all the above have been considered by the Joint Team of Embassy and German Police that Emergency Travel Certificates (ETCs) are issued to enable the home bound journey.”

    Our ugly encounter  with NIS officials over deportation of migrants –Germany based  activist

    The co-ordination activist for Network Refugees 4Refugees, a political platform for refugees/migrant self-organisation based in Stuttgart, Germany, Rex Osa, told The Nation how officials of NIS allegedly harassed him and his colleagues when they moved to assist the deportees. “Before the arrival of the deportees, we went to the airport to see how we could  assist these guys when they were deported. We wrote a letter to the NIS to that effect.  One of the officials told us that we could wait for the deportees  at the entry gate where they would leave them after their arrival. He said it is  after they finish with their profiling work, that we could do our humanitarian work because they would at that point have nothing more to offer them.

    “He said as long as they are back, they are on their own.  It was really shocking. I was trying to explain to him that some of the people were sick. He didn’t seem to be interested.  The only thing he told us was that we could wait for them at the gate to render the help we wanted.  He said that  if he should find out that we were intercepting their job, then there would be problem.  Then I asked him: ‘What do you mean by intercepting your job?’

    “The next thing he told me was: ‘don’t you understand English? You don’t understand what interception means?’ I further demanded to know what he meant so that we would not cross our boundary but he didn’t answer again. The next thing he did was to say: ‘ I thought I have finished with you people’. Indirectly he was telling us to get out from there”.

    On that very day those migrants were deported, Rex said: ” I saw an ambulance  moving towards the arrival.  One of the deportees, Mike, told me that they called for ambulance because the immigration refused to take one guy because they said they didn’t want him to die in their hands.  At the time the ambulance came,  an immigration officer went over to the  German police officer in the plane.

    “When he was coming back, the same NIS officer, who rejected the guy, was the one binging him down from the flight. Who knows what might have happened? “

    We’ll work with executives to tackle inhuman treatment of deportees- House Committee Chair on Refugee and IDP matters

    The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on IDPs, Refugees and North-East Initiatives,  Hon. Muhammed Umar Jega,  has decried the alleged hand and leg cuffing of  the deportees by the German authorities, assuring that the committee would work with the executive to stop subsequent acts of inhuman treatment of Nigerians by Germany.

    “Nigeria  has not fared well in ensuring that the people were brought back with dignity. If our citizens could be deported with handcuffs, there was no dignity in that.  They should be able to respect the MoU signed with them. We would be engaging the executive on how to ensure that our citizens are treated with dignity by Germany when deporting them.

    “It was inhuman for Germany to hand cuff them inside a plane. Were they going to run away from the plane?  That is inhuman treatment that shows no respect for human rights.  We should be able to enlighten our own citizens so that even if they want to migrate, they should do so in a much more decent manner. They should not just leave the country like that and go into a derogatory life.  It is not the best.”

    The lawmaker said  the National Commission for Refugees  was “supposed to attend to the deportees when they arrived, at least to settle them down and provide some support for them to go back to their families.”

    Contacted to know why the commission was not on ground to attend to the deportees, the spokesperson of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFR), Zainab Banu, said the new  head has not been  given her mandate and cannot yet speak on public issues.

    German Embassy in Nigeria delays reply to questions on inhuman treatment of deportees

    When our correspondent contacted the officer in charge of Legal and Consula Matters in the German Embassy in Nigeria,  Hanno Hille, on Monday,  for comments on the inhuman treatment allegedly meted out to the deportees,  he demanded that the questions should be forwarded to his email as he would not want to speak on such matters on the phone.  He immediately sent his email address.

    Three days after sending the message, no response has been received from the German Embassy, prompting the reporter to  call Hille again to ask him for the response.

    Responding, he said:  “I have received the email. I have forwarded it to the press department  and they are working on it.”

    When asked when the response would be ready, he replied: “I can’t say when they would respond because we are in different sections. They are working on it and you will receive a response in due course. That is all I can tell you.”

  • Air Peace aircraft makes emergency landing at Lagos airport

    TRAGEDY was averted on Tuesday when an Air Peace aircraft carrying 133 passengers made an emergency landing on Runway 18 right of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

    The aircraft made a hard landing on the runway, forcing the nose wheel of the aircraft to collapse. The tyre was also forced to shear off.

    The hard landing of the aircraft, it was learnt, caused a major damage to the aircraft, which blocked the runway due to its huge impact.

    Besides Air Peace, another aircraft belonging to Turkish Airlines, also developed a fault at the runway.

    The two aircraft blocked the runway of the airport.

    Sources close to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said efforts were made to remove the aircraft from the runway.

    Confirming the development on Tuesday, the spokesman of Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Tunji Oketumbi said: “The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria, has been notified by Air Peace Nigeria Limited on July 23 of an accident involving a Boeing 737-300 with the registration mark 5N-BQO operated by Air Peace Limited at the MMIA at 11:28 a.m.

    Read Also: AIB to retrieve flight recorders of Air Peace aircraft

    “The aircraft, with 133 passengers and six crew members on board, was on approach to MMIA, Lagos, from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    “From the information provided, the aircraft’s nose wheel collapsed on landing on the runway (18R) and the nose wheel gear tyre sheared off.

    “The AIB was informed of a minor injury but no fatality. Our team of safety investigators have commenced investigations.

    “As the investigating agency, AIB needs and hereby solicits for your help. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence, or information any member of the public may have of the accident, which can assist us with this investigation. “

    AIB’s Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer Akin Olateru said: “I will like to enjoin the media and the public to respect the privacy of the people involved and not to pre-empt the cause of the accident.”

    Air Peace has hailed Captain Ajibola and her crew for handling the situation well.

    The airline, according to its Chief Operating Officer, Mrs Toyin Olajide, said Captain Ajibola noticed sudden weather changes when approaching Lagos and demanded to land on the international runway as it was longer and wider than the domestic runway.

    After landing safely and rolling to the runway exit, the nose gear developed a problem and partially collapsed.

    The crew notified the airport authorities, who quickly ensured the safe disembarkation of the passengers via the passenger door.

    “We are committed to the safety of our passengers at all times. We will continue to operate in line with international practices and in accordance with regulatory guidelines. We are being assisted by the various authorities to determine to cause of the incident,” Mrs Olajide said.

     

  • Passengers besiege Port Health office for Yellow Card

    Intending passengers scheduled for international flights on Monday besieged the Port Health Services Office at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to process the new electronic Yellow Card.

    The rush by passengers followed the phasing out of all versions of the card known as International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP).

    The new card comes on the heels of the proliferation of issuance of fake yellow cards by unauthorised persons, which had become a source of national embarrassment.

    As early as 7am, hundreds of intending passengers showed up at the Port Health Office, near the tollgate of the Lagos Airport.

    When The Nation visited the office, many passengers complained about the slow pace of work and absence of internet facilities. Besides, the office was thrown into darkness following heavy downpour in the early hours.

    Apart from passengers who had flights to catch yesterday, others were directed to return today to pick their cards.

    To qualify for immediate issuance, passengers were requested to submit their confirmed tickets with the date of travel.

    The new card, it was learnt, has enhanced security features that could be verified anywhere in the world by scanning the bar code or checking the card number on the Yellow Card portal.

    Effective July 1, the new e-Yellow Card would be the only valid documented proof of vaccination against yellow fever.

     

  • Libya deports another set of 137 Nigerians

    NEMA has received another batch of  137 stranded Nigerians from Libya which brought the total number of assisted voluntary returnees to 14,036 from 10 different countries since April, 2017 when the European Union  and International Organization  for Migration special programme commenced.

    The Coordinator, NEMA Lagos Territorial Office, Alh Idris Muhammed who received the Returnees on behalf of the Federal Government disclosed that 94 male adults, three male children and three male infants are among the new returnees while 34 female adults, one female child and  two female infants.

    The Returnees were brought back to Nigeria via a charter flight with Al Buraq airline with registration number MVTBRQ189/20.5A- WAC.MJIAD1505/15   landed at the Cargo Wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. about 8:20 p.m on Thursday night.

    On arrival, the Coordinator enjoined the Returnees to make better use of the opportunities they have upon their return to the country to forge ahead and tap into various government enabling facilities that are aimed at empowering every Nigerians to be successful in life.

    Read Also: 180 Nigerians deported from Libya

    Out of the total 14,036 Returnees repatriated so far, those brought back from Libya amounted to 12,457 while Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ireland, France, Gambia, Austria, Poland, Morocco and Liberia share had various minimal number of Nigerians brought back purely a facilitated by IOM.

    Meanwhile, the analysis on the total number that have been brought back indicates that 465 males and 408 females amongst those brought back have Psychosocial related needs.

    Also, 454 males and 618 females are having various degree of medical needs.

    The analysis further indicates that there were 61 males and 61 females Unaccompanied Minors who had been reunited with their relations.

    There are 37 pregnant women brought back so far in the course of the exercise.

    The Coordinator while receiving the Returnees expressed Federal Government gratitude for humanitarian gestures of the EU/IOM intervention in aid of the Stranded Nigerians.

     

  • IOM, EU bring back another 145 Nigerians from Libya

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 145 stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    Alhaji Idris Muhammad, Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, confirmed the development to newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Muhammad said the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Monday night aboard a chartered Al Buraq Air aircraft with registration number 5A – DMG.

    He said that the Nigerians were brought back by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and European Union under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees (AVR) Programme.

    “After profiling of the returnees, the analysis of the breakdown indicates that 99 adult males, two male children and five male infants were amongst them.

    “The profiling also revealed that 35 adult females and four infant females were also brought back, ” Muhammad said.

    The coordinator, while receiving the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government, admonished them to learn lessons from what they had gone through in the volatile North African country.

    He urged them to always be ready to make the best use of opportunities abundantly available in Nigeria.

    Accordng to him, Nigeria is the best and has opportunities for everyone.

    “All you need to do is tap into whatever you want to do and the present government is doing things to encourage the realisation of individual and collective potentials for the development of Nigeria of our dream.

    “Make sure you are not left behind in the development of Nigeria, ” Muhammad said.

    Read Also: 180 Nigerians deported from Libya

    He also advised those still thinking of embarking on such perilous journey through the Mediterranean Sea to Europe to have rethink on their decisions due to the associated risk.

    Muhammad said further that the IOM and Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity had jointly opened Migrants Resource Centres to assist potential migrants seeking enquiries about their intended host country.

    He said the centres located in Lagos, Abuja and Benin provide information such as the best mode of transportation to use, security situations in the host country as well as job opportunities there to help people make informed decisions.

    One of the returnees, Ms Aisha Musa, from Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, while narrating her experience in Libya, said it was worsened by the behaviour of some Nigerians in the country.

    The 22-year-old said “the problem there was that Nigerians don’t obey the laws.

    “Despite the fact that Libya is facing serious problem, they are very patriotic to their country and will not allow prohibited manners or behaviours in their land.

    “Nigerians import alcoholic drinks into the country secretly. Our girls wear skimpy or near nude dresses and all these are not permitted there but they still go out in such dresses.

    “Most of our ladies are into prostitution and Nigerians are fully involved in slave trading of their fellow nationals.’’

    According to her, some Nigerians who are lucky to be housemaids are also hostile to the children of their bosses and beat the children at any slight provocation.

    “Some of the these acts cannot be allowed by any decent society.

    “For me, Aisha, “I obeyed their laws. I am happy that I got a very good family that I worked with as housemaid.

    “Since the war broke out, the family I worked with have relocated to Turkey. I would have followed them but I didn’t have International Passport,” Musa said.

    According to her, she paid N400,000 to her friend who trafficked her to Libya and earned a monthly wage equivalent of N50,000 Nigeria currency.

    Musa further stated that her Libyan madam (employer) was like a mother to her during the period she worked with the family.

    NAN

  • Easter: Lagos airports record higher numbers of passengers

    The domestic terminals of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos recorded higher numbers of passengers on Thursday ahead of the Easter holidays.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had declared April 19 and 22 to mark the Easter celebration by Christians in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    NAN correspondents that visited the airport terminals observed that more travelers were leaving Lagos to other destinations.

    At the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), the counters of Air Peace and Arik Air had the long queues of passengers, while Dana Air and Max Air also had the long queues at the MMA2.

    The upsurge of the out-bound passengers led to increase in air fares due to lack of seats on available flights.

    Mostly affected were flights from Lagos to Abuja, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Benin which usually sell for between N25, 000 and N32,000, but have gone up to about N42,000 and 46,000.

    A travel agent, Mr Madu Ezechi, said the increase in the air fares was normal due to the high demand by passengers.

    “This is a long holiday and many people want to take advantage of it to go home, see their loved ones and settle other issues.

    “So, getting tickets is a bit difficult, especially if you are traveling in groups. Some people want to sit with their family members and are willing to pay for it,” he said.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat to unveil key Lagos road map

    A passenger, Mr George Uko, said many Nigerians have embraced air travel, especially as it was safer and faster.

    Uko, however urged domestic airlines to improve their services by reducing incidents of delayed and cancelled flights.

    “Flight delay and cancellation are still big issues. I remember one time my flight was delayed for almost two hours and I nearly missed my appointment. I was not happy at all, “he said.

    NAN reports that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had assured passengers and other airport users that her network of airports were fully prepared and ready for the usual upsurge in passenger traffic during the Easter period.

    FAAN, in a statement signed by its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, on Wednesday said that all necessary facilities, infrastructure and manpower had been deployed to ensure seamless operation at the airports.

    She said that the relevant security agencies had been mobilised to beef up security at all airports during the period.

    Yakubu advised intending travelers to endeavour to leave for the airport early enough to ensure that check-in formalities were conducted in good time.

    NAN

     

  • Police personnel assault Caverton Helicopter workers

    Protesting members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on Tuesday blocked the access road leading to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos over the assault of their members disengaged by Caverton Helicopters.

    The workers said there is no surrender in their quest to get justice for its members.

    Members of its branch who embarked on a peaceful protest at the headquarters of the company to press for the payment of its benefits after disengagement from the company were arrested and beaten on Monday by men of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad alleged to have been sent by the management to disperse them.

    Narrating their ordeal, Chairman of the Caverton branch, Comrade Tony Ibibe who had a bandage wrapped around his head and hand said, the RRS men arrived the area with eight trucks with guns to inquire  about their presence at the office .

    After the explanation, he said the police personnel  left promising that they would come back if they found out that they were there on illegal grounds.

    He said an hour later, they came back with  six trucks and a Black Maria to the venue of the peaceful protest to pick the union members up.

    Read Also: Caverton Helicopters unveil new fleet

    According to him, a member was beaten while struggling to stop them from pushing him into the black Maria van along with nine others who were forced into the van.

    He said : “In the process they hit me on the head and my legs, and they took my phone, keys, one leg of my shoe, fez cap, money, wallet and sound system”.

    According to him, they were given the letter on February 7, 2019  and instructed to drop all company property with them on the March  29, 2019 as their services were no longer required and promised that by March 31, 2019  their entitlements would be paid but unfortunately the terms of agreement was not followed.

    “Till date, they have not paid in full, some people were not paid, some people were paid, those that were paid was half payment, they short pay them, the calculations were wrong, no breakdown, they did not follow the terms of agreement, a lot of letters have been sent to them no response, we decided to picket the company, we followed due process in the picketing all protocol was observed and the area commander was aware of the picketing”.

    The redundancy letter was said to have been issued to some staff in Lagos, in operations, technical and others and all staff in Warri and Port Harcourt operations were also affected.

    After the incident ,  members of the union converged on their national Secretariat and  proceeded to the toll gate and blocked the access road leading to Caverton Helicopters headquarters at the the Murtala Mohammed International airport.

    This led to a traffic gridlock at the Lagos Airport spilling over to the domestic wing chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with different inscriptions.

    The traffic situation became chaotic as passengers, motorists and other road users were trapped in their vehicles as there was no way out of the quagmire.

    Comrade Paul Igene, Lagos state Chairman of NUATE, later arrived the scene after a meeting with the Commissioner Airport Command to appeal to his members to sheath their swords and vacant the road as the matter was being handed in the highest quarters.

    He said it was the presidency that ordered the evacuation of its members from the Caverton premises because it was  considered as a threat to security at the airport.

    He added that because the Vice President would be visiting they do not want any problem around the area.

    “It is because the VP is visiting Lagos and he will be in Lagos for about four days, so, it is his security they want to ensure”. It is not Caverton that reported the issue, it is the presidency”.

    “The commissioner has ordered the immediately release of our members arrested, I have asked our secretary to prepare paper for their bail”.

    In an interview with the first National Deputy President of NUATE, Comrade Markus Moses, he  it was agreed with the union that immediately they were disengaged,  their entitlements would be paid.

    The company, he said unfortunately went ahead and disengaged the workers with been paid.

    He said they have explained to them what the labour law says regarding redundancy but the Caverton management refused to obey the law.

    “We have talked to them on why they should not go against the labour laws, our members were laid off without following due process, when we engaged them, we took a line of reconciliation, which we say this people if you are going to lay them off lets engage ourselves in what we call redundancy arrangement which was never respected and after so many notice that this was the right thing to be done, the management were indifferent”.

    Comrade Moses emphasized after an agreement was reached, the management failed to do what was agreed that is paying the staff before they were disengaged.

    “The law about redundancy agreement when it is agreed upon is that it should be paid before the staffs are laid off, if you do not have the resources, do not lay the staffs off until you are ready to do that, by saying go without giving them what is due, how will they cope with the current challenges in Nigeria”.

    It was gathered that after a meeting with the Caverton management, the union and the Ministry of Labour, Caverton management said they should be given six months to pay.

     

  • Air Peace gets third B 777

    Air Peace has taken delivery of its third Boeing 777 aircraft.

    The airline’s latest bird touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, about 3:20pm last Wednesday.

    It was honoured with a spectacular water salute staged by men of the Fire Service Department of the Federal Airports of Authority of Nigeria, with a crowd of the carrier’s management and staff as well as aviation authorities and airline workers cheering ecstatically.

    Air Peace said the latest aircraft in its fleet was a big boost for its plans to soon start long-haul flight operations to Sharjah, Dubai, London, Houston, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

    Read also: Air Peace decorates two new captains

    Addressing reporters shortly after the aircraft marked with registration number 5N-BWI and named “Anuli Peggy Onyema” landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Air Peace Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Mr. Allen Onyema said the airline had proved beyond doubt that it was the face of the bright future of the country in the global aviation industry.

     

  • BA treats Abuja passengers to classic lounge

    Premium passengers of British Airways (BA)  flying from Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, will be treated to royal reception before departure courtesy of Strong ground Delivery Services Enterprise (SDS) Lounge Services,  which has provided a world-class lounge for BA passengers.

    Unveiled in Abuja, at a ceremony graced by major stakeholders, the newly set-up Lounge is a replica of one at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, where BA premium passengers are the treated to assorted cuisine and pleasure.

    Speaking at the cake-cutting ceremony, BA Customer Service Duty Manager ( Abuja) Mr. Jide Oladoye said BA customers deserve royal treatment. “They deserve it, and today marks a turning point for our customers, particularly our premium customers. Definitely, our passengers are going to relate with this experience. For a while now, they have been wanting great experience in our lounge.

    This is just the beginning,  because by the time we moved to the new terminal,  I’m sure we are going to even do better than what we are having here today “,said Oladoye.

    Federal Airport Authority Nigeria (FAAN) Regional Manager, Mr. Mohammed Sanni said SDS Lounge is the best of its kind.

    “This is a well-furnished, equipped lounge.

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    “We pray they move to the new terminal where you will see a more improved facility passengers can enjoy. We have always insisted we should improve our facilities time to time for the comfort of our passengers.

    ‘’With this development, I ’m not surprised it has keyed in into our plans,” the Airport Manager, observed.

    FAAN Chief Security Officer, Abuja International Airport, Mallam   Mohammed Tijani Yakassa lauded the initiative. He said: “It ’s a good innovation. I’m really impressed with the way they changed the pattern of the Lounge.   Initially, the lounge was not as large as we have it now. The way it’s transformed now is very interesting.

    ‘’They have done a good innovation job here. Initially, the lounge is for BA. I think there is a cooperation between BA and SDS. Probably, the SDS are going to manage it for British Airways.

    “The British Airways passengers will be using it. Most of the passengers will be surprised, including those that have been using it. By the time they come back they will be surprised with the changes that has taken place, “ he said. BA Global Lounge Manager Mr. Lukasz Wyrzykowski expressed satisfaction with the new lounge under the management of SDS.

    “In Nigeria, we have our lounge in Lagos at the international airport and in Abuja. I’m impressed with what I see here. The lounge is beautiful. We have been operating in Abuja for about 20 years.

    ‘’We operate a daily flight, we operate first class. Therefore, we have many customers who expect to have a lounge before they go on board of our aircraft. We are working with SDS. We refurbished it to a very high standard. We have got beautiful furniture. We improve our catering proposition so that customers can enjoy; have something to eat before they go on board the flight; they can have a drink, they can have some wine, coffee and they have a selection of foods.

    “We have a real working partnership with the SDS in Abuja.

    ‘’They helped us to developed the lounge. I have seen the two terminals and  I’m happy they are looking great.

    ‘’At some point we will move to the new terminal and this will be massive improvement for our customers,“ Lukasz said.