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Tag: Murtala Muhammed International Airport

  • Passenger dies aboard Delta Airlines en route Lagos

    A passenger aboard Delta Airlines Flight DL54 on Monday died in the airplane during the about 12 hours flight between the carrier’s bade in Atlanta in the United States and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    Sources closed to the airline said it is unprofessional to disclose the identity of the passenger without informing the family.

    In a statement, Delta Airline said local medical professionals met the plane upon arrival and confirmed the passenger had sadly passed away.

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    The statement reads: ” A passenger on Delta Flight DL54 traveling from Atlanta to Lagos today, March 11, 2019, was found unresponsive before landing. Local medical professionals met the plane upon arrival and confirmed the passenger had sadly passed away. Delta Airlines extends its deepest condolences to the family at this sad time. As a matter of passenger privacy, Delta Airline will not release additional information.”

  • Death on the highway

    •The killing, on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, by a Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) trooper, must be probed and punished

    It reads like a bizarre tale, which started when a group of Nigerians, reportedly travelling from France, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on the evening of February 16.   The next morning, travelling by road from Lagos to Benin via Iyare Motors, a private public bus shuttle, they encountered officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit, at the Sagamu intersection, of the Sagamu-Benin Expressway.

    As one of the passengers, Mr. Oliver Joseph, narrated what happened, the occupants of the vehicle had been asked to disembark by the Customs men.  He not only asked where they were coming from, he also expressed the intention to check the luggage in the bus, one by one. Even before the search commenced, the driver who had reportedly been called aside by one of the Customs men, returned and said that a bribe of N5, 000 was being demanded to allow the vehicle to go, an amount he claimed not to have.

    Apparently not inclined to pay the alleged bribe, the passengers agreed to have their luggage searched, with one of them insisting he would record the operation with his mobile phone, to prevent contraband material from being deposited among their items. The effort to do so must have provoked a struggle as the passenger reportedly refused to surrender the phone as demanded by one of the Customs men.

    In his eyewitness account, Mr. Oliver Joseph said, “The officer just took some steps back, cocked his gun and fired. Immediately he fired, a man fell down…We were 10 passengers in the bus and when we took a head count, we were complete. There was blood all over the victim’s face, so we could not recognise him”. As it turned out most strangely, however, the unintended victim of the gunshot was one Godwin, who lived in a nearby community and used to supply water to the Customs base on the highway.

    The Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Mr. Joseph Attah, blamed the incident on “an attempt to obstruct the lawful performance of duty by passengers of a commercial bus suspected to be carrying bales of used clothing”. He stressed that “preliminary findings indicate that it was during the skirmishes and struggle to disarm the officer that the rifle discharged and the bullet hit the friend of the Customs, who lost his life”.

    Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Police Command, confirmed that one of the Customs officers on the scene was rescued by police operatives from being lynched by an angry mob, and taken to hospital.

    The passengers involved in the fracas, however, reportedly boarded their vehicle and left the scene before the arrival of the police. This is disturbing.

    It is certainly critical to ascertain from which destination they had arrived Nigeria and what items were contained in the passengers’ luggage. What was responsible for their alleged hostility to the luggage in the vehicle being searched by operatives of the NCS if they had nothing to hide?

    On the other hand, did the Customs men demand a bribe of N5,000 as alleged by the driver of the bus? If they also had no ulterior motive, why were the NCS men averse to one of the passengers filming the search of the luggage with his mobile phone? Under what circumstances did an innocent Nigerian lose his life as a result of the gunshots by the Customs operative?

    Only a thorough investigation both by the NCS and the police will ensure that the truth is uncovered in the interest of justice for the deceased, the integrity of the NCS and the image of Nigeria, especially as the video of the incident had gone viral on the internet.

  • 160 Nigerians deported from Libya

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)  has received another batch of 160 stranded Nigerians from Libya

    The Returnees were received by the Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, Alh Idris Muhammed at the Cargo Wing of MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

    They were brought back by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with EU’s special intervention on Assisted Voluntary Returnees (AVR) Programme and arrived Nigeria at about 7:50 p. M on Thursday evening via Nouvelair Airline of Libya.

    The Returnees were made up of 68 female adults, 1 female child and 5 female infants.

    Also, there are 79 male adults, 2 male children and 5 male infants making up 74 females and 86 males including a psychologically traumatized adult male

    The Coordinator while receiving them implored other Nigerians still aspiring to travel out of the country to desist from irregular migrations which removes the fundamental rights that such migrants could have enjoyed and by this expose them to avoidable risks.

    A Returnee, Mrs Adebisi Komolafe from Osogbo Osun State while narrating her experience explained that “Nigerians need to be praying fervently for Our leaders especially the President.

    Despite the bad situations in Libya, the people believe in their leaders and are praying fervently for them. They still see hope in their country”

    “If Nigerians can avoid blaming Government for everything, with faith and sincerity our prayers will be accepted by God.

    God will guide our leaders right if we direct our supplications to Almighty God to guide our leaders right.”

    I don’t wish any Nigerian should think of traveling to Libya, I never knew the situation in Libya before I left, if I had known, I wouldn’t have traveled there.”

    Nigeria is far better than that country.

    We need prayers and sincerity in Nigeria

    “I worked as a housemaid and had opportunity to make some money but the lack of government is a serious problem there.

    “I could nott send money back home since I left Nigeria in 2016.”

    ” The only thing I did was to buy goods that I can sell when I get back to Nigeria and I brought everything back now”

    Miss Aisha Ibrahim from Oyo State on her own, totally regretted her ordeal, my sister told me that there are opportunities in Libya, I thought it was an opportunity to travel and make better life like in London or America.

    My sister paid for my transportation and after a week on arrival at Libya, I got a housemaid work.

    “You must work and carryout any instructions given by those people. You must do whatever directives given.

    Failure to comply obey them will attract still punishment or arrest.”

    At times, I will not come back to my sister’s house for 3 or six months.

    In Libya, you don’t have freedom, once they hear you are a Nigerian, trouble starts. They don’t like us.”

    You cannot change work.

    “If you have travelling documents and you are caught, those documents will not be returned to you and you will be arrested.

    They can raid your house and cart away all your savings and property.”

    Miss Ibrahim explained that she worked for 6 months without break and when she wanted to visit her sister, she was accosted on the road

    I was arrested, all my money were taken away from me and above all, about 400,000 naira were paid to free me by my sister and this made me come back to Nigeria by going to Nigerian Embassy.

    No Nigerian should think of going to Libya please.

    Nigeria is far better than Nigeria

  • Osinbajo: Landing in dusty environment caused chopper’s crash – AIB

    ……Attributes crash to effects of landing in dusty environment

     

    The Accident Investigation Bureau ( AIB ) on Wednesday released the report of the helicopter crash involving Agusta Westland W 139 Caverton Helicopters which flew Vice President to Kabba in Kogi State.

    The AIB attributed the February 2, 2019 crash of the Chopper marked with registration number 5N – CML to effects of a brown out generated during its landing in a dry dusty environment.

    It said Caverton should have carried out risk assessment test at the Kaaba stadium before the flight.

    Brown out in aviation par lance means a condition generated during landing in a sandy, dusty environment.

    The chopper operated by Caverton Helicopter occurred at Kaaba Stadium in Kogi State. It flew Osinbajo his entourage and three crew members.

    The chopper was manufactured in 2012.

    Speaking at a briefing at its headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, AIB Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru said though the investigation into the crash is ongoing, it has however issued two safety recommendations to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the operator : Caverton Helicopters Limited.

    Olateru said the NCAA should issue advisory circular to helicopter operators on the effects of brown out and how to mitigate its effects.

    The second safety recommendation, Olateru said is for Caverton Helicopters to carry out proper risk analysis and assessment before operating flights into unapproved landing pad.

    He said the final report on the accident will be released in few months.

  • NAHCO boss urges NCAA, FAAN to clear air side

    THE Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Aviance Plc has asked the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to clear the air side of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos to avoid security disaster.

    NaHCO Aviance Group Managing Director (GMD) Mrs Olatokunbo Fagbemi said if the overcrowding at the air side was not reduced, it could pose serious safety and security  threat to ground handling firms and others doing business at such critical parts of the airport.

    In an interview with The Nation   in Lagos, Fagbemi said the regulatory and airport authorities should design some standard procedures and other initiatives that would reduce the number of persons, structures and equipment at the air side.

    She said too many people and structures at the place could have negative impact on the safety and security of critical activities.

    Fagbemi said the NCAA and FAAN should set up committees to address this obvious gap so as not to endanger the nation’s premier gateway.

    She said ongoing safety and technical audits by international civil aviation regulatory bodies should factor this into their programme while carrying out assessments.

    Fagbemi urged the regulators to  to create a conducive operating environment for airlines and ground handling firms without compromising safety.

    On the price war and competition among ground handling firms, she said NCAA and FAAN have major roles to play in ensuring that the drive for improved market share does not expose the industry to unsafe practices.

    She said the business of ground handling is becoming more competitive as global airlines are divesting from the business as part of efforts to maximise costs.

    Citing the divestment of Lufthansa German Airlines  from NAHCO Aviance, Fagbemi said it was a corporate decision taken by the carrier since 2016.

    She said it had nothing to do with competition or price war, as the carrier remains one of  its biggest clients in ground, passengers and ramp services.

    The NAHCO Aviance boss said: “Lufthansa’s exit has nothing to do with NAHCO; rather, it has to do with Corporate decision in 2016. Lufthansa is still in some business with us, so it shows it wasn’t an issue with NAHCO.

    “ There is no doubt that some customers have left NAHCO but others have also come into NAHCO, there are areas of competition we need to improve on.

    “ We have to think about the issue of anti-trust. We have to ensure that we do not compete in such away that safety is not considered but the regulator should ensure that safety and security are not compromised.’’

    She said the company will reenergise its system to ensure improved customer service in line with international standards.

    “My top priority is very simple. It is to get everything right because when we get everything right for the customer and we deliver the right kind of service, then we get the right kind of income. Such income that can trickle down to profit and from the profit we will be able to pay the right kind of dividend,” Fagbemi said.

    According to her, going forward, the company will enhance its processes to create an enviable place to work in, a company that  operates in line with international standards, and follows all the regulations and deliver greater stakeholder value.

    “A lot of work has been done in the past, what I will do is build on what is there, work on the areas where there are gaps. My priority will be to close those gaps and ensure that we deliver services in a safe and secured manner,” Fagbemi said.

    She said the company will invest in human capacity and technologies to ensure that the company continuously has the requisite people with the right knowledge and the right processes to deliver world-class services in line with International Civil Aviation Organization  and International Air Transport Association  standards.

    “What we are going to do is put into our people the right kind of knowledge, the right kind of vision and passion that drives everybody to excel. Because even if we put in the best systems, we have the best facilities, we have the best equipment, if we don’t get the people right, it is going to be a waste,” Fagbemi said.

     

     

     

  • Four pregnant women, 158 others return from Libya

    A fresh batch of 162 Nigerians, including four pregnant women, have voluntarily returned from Libya with the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

    The Coordinator, Lagos Zonal Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Idris Muhammed, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Muhammed said the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 3.30a.m on board a chartered Libyan Airlines aircraft.

    He said the returnees comprised of 100 females, including four pregnant women and 62 males.

    The coordinator, while welcoming the returnees, urged them to be agents of positive change by joining the campaign against irregular migration.

    “Migration is protected by International and national statutes for movement of people through proper regularisation of papers that will protect and save you against risks of irregular migrations,” Muhammed said.

    Read Also: NIS nab Libya deportees on human trafficking

    He disclosed that NEMA recently hosted a team from European Union on monitoring and evaluation of the special EU intervention on assisted voluntary return of migrants.

    According to him, NEMA interfaced with them on the ways of improving the present EU Assisted Voluntary Returnees programme being run by IOM.

    He said gaps were identified, especially on logistics.

    Muhammed said that efforts were being put in place to close such gaps to make the process much smoother for the stakeholders and the returnees.

    He said the exercise, which began in April 2017, is expected to end by April, 2020.

    According to him, no fewer than 8,808 returnees have so far been repatriated back home to Nigeria from the volatile North African country.

  • Airport Police Command gets new commissioner

    Mr Joseph Mukan has been appointed as the Commissioner, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Police Command, Lagos.

    The spokesman for the command, DSP Joseph Alabi, confirmed the development to the aviation correspondents in Lagos on Wednesday.

    He said Mukan, was a former Police Commissioner of Bayelsa before he was recently transferred to the nation’s busiest airport to replace AIG Aminchi Baraya.

    “The new CP is a thoroughbred professional and he will bring his wealth of experience to bear towards improving security at the Lagos airport.

    “He has since resumed duty with a stern warning to touts and other unscrupulous persons to stay clear of the airport or face prosecution, ” Alabi said.

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    Meanwhile, Alabi said no fewer than 165 persons were charged to court for committing various offences at the Lagos airport between January and December 2018.

    According to him, some of the suspects were charged with assault, stealing, obtaining by false pretenses as well as unlawful entry and touting, which contravene the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) bye Laws.

    Alabi said the command made 257 arrests and secured 46 convictions within the period under review.

    The spokesman said 32 persons were still under investigation while 60 others were awaiting trial.

    He stressed that the command was committed to making the airport and its environs safe and secure for travelers, airline operators and other airport users.

  • RAS KIMONO goes out after 60

    The cold hand of death snatched one of the Nigeria’s best reggae artistes, ‘Rhumba Stylee’ crooner, Augustine Onwubuya popularly known as Ras Kimono, on June 10. He suffered a heart attack, June 9, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja on his way to United States. He was rushed to a Lagos hospital where he eventually died on second day.

    The artiste who had recently clocked 60 was laid to rest at his hometown, Onicha-Olona in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State on August 25 .

    Sadly, three months later, EfemenaOkedi, his wife and manager, also died on September 23.

  • Trafficker bags 37 years for importing cocaine

    A Federal High Court in Lagos Friday sentenced a drug trafficker, Efobi Onyeka Innocent, to 37 years imprisonment, for unlawful importation of 1.515 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil.

    Justice Ayotunde Faji convicted Innocent, 36, following his second plea of guilty to a three-count charge of unlawful possession of cocaine and conspiracy to unlawfully import the said drug.

    The judge sentenced Innocent to 15 years imprisonment on count one, seven years on count two and fifteen years on count three. The terms shall run concurrently.

    The convict was arraigned by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    NDLEA counsel, Mrs. Juliana Imaobong Iroabuchi, said offences contravened sections 11(d,) 11(b) and 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, 2004.

    But Innocent pleaded not guilty.

    During the trial, Iroabuchi called six witnesses, who testified that the convict was arrested at the arrival hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on September 27, 2017, when it was discovered that he ingested the cocaine from Brazil en route Morocco.

    They told the court that he excreted same six times during interrogation.

    Midway through the trial, Innocent changed his plea to guilty.

    His counsel prayed the court to be lenient in sentencing his client, on the ground that he was a first time offender with no previous criminal record and had become remorseful in detention.

    The lawyer said the convict engaged in the act to raise money for his collapsed business.

    Following the plea, Justice Faji adjourned for sentencing.

    But delivering judgment yesterday, Justice Faji turned down Innocent’s plea.

    The judge held: “I do not agree that the convict is remorseful, he only changed his plea after the prosecution had gone far with his trial.

    “One must not lose sight of the rampant nature of the crime. Consequently, I shall sentence you, Efobi Onyeka Innocent, to 15 years imprisonment on count one, seven years on count two and fifteen years on count three. The terms shall run concurrently”.

  • NEMA receives 193 Nigerians from Libya

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 193 stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    Mr Segun Afolayan, Acting Zonal Coordinator, NEMA, South West Zone, confirmed the development to the newsmen on Friday in Lagos.

    Afolayan said the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at 8.32 pm on Thursday aboard a chartered Nouvel Air aircraft with registration number UZ 189.

    He said the returnees were assisted back home by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) under its Assisted Voluntary Return Programme.

    Afolayan the returnees comprised 81 female adults, one female child and 14 female infants.

    He said they also included 87 male adults, five male children and five male infants.

    Afolayan urged Nigerians to stop stigmatizing returnees who went outside the country in search of greener pastures.

    “It is a right for everyone to live free and comfortable lives but the process or the means of seeking the fulfillment of the rights are the ones in contention.

    “Many of these innocent victims are not aware of the dangers on the means and the routes of the journey. They fall easily to the deceitful and deceptive promises of  better life outside the country.

    Read Also: NGO, NEMA train stakeholders on contingency plan devt

    “Nigerians need to accept the challenges of the menace of irregular migration as evil and inhuman and all hands must be on deck to save our innocent youths from embarking on such perilous journeys henceforth,” he said.

    Afolayan advised the returnees to remain positive and undaunted by their unfortunate experiences in the volatile North African country, adding that they should be focused on how to improve their lives in Nigeria.

    According to him, the Federal Government, IOM and the European Union have been providing opportunities for the returnees through various skills acquisition programmes.

    Afolayan, therefore, appealed to the private sector to assist the government in the reintegration of the returnees to make them more productive

    NAN