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Tag: Murtala Muhammed International Airport

  • US deports 34 Nigerians

    No fewer than 34 Nigerians were on Wednesday deported from the United States of America for allegedly committing offences in the country.

    The deportees arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMlA), Lagos at about 2.30 p.m.

    The deportees, comprising 32 males and two females, were brought back in a chartered Omni Air International aircraft with Registration Number W342AX.

    Spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command, DSP Joseph Alabi, confirmed the development to our reporter.

    Alabi said, “at about 14.30 hours (2.30 p.m.), we received 34 Nigerians who were brought back from the United States. They were made up of 32 males and two females. ”

    He said the 25 of the deportees were alleged to have committed criminal offences, with one involved in narcotics while others were alleged to have committed immigration-related offences.

    Read Also: 20 Kenyans, others deported from United States

    Alabi said the deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police.

    Also on ground to receive them were officials of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    He said that the deportees were profiled by the relevant authorities and allowed to depart to their various destinations.

  • 157 including nine pregnant women return from Libya

    Another batch of 157 Nigerians, including nine pregnant women, on Friday voluntarily returned from Libya with the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

    Mr Abraham Tamrat, Programme Manager, Migration Management Unit, IOM, Lagos, confirmed the development to Our Reporter  in Lagos.

    Tamrat said that the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at 4.15a.m. aboard a chartered flight.

    He said that the returnees comprised 89 males and 62 females, including three children and three infants, with six medical cases.

    Tamrat said that the Nigerians returned from the Libyan cities of Janzour, Salah Adden and Tajoura.

    According to him, they were received by officials of government agencies including the National Emergency Management Agency and the Nigeria Immigration Service.

    He said that officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the police were also on ground to receive the returnees.

    He said that the IOM had assisted the return of no fewer than 8,500 Nigerians from the North African country where they had been stranded enroute Europe.

    Tamrat noted that Friday’s arrival brought to 514, the number of Nigerians who have voluntarily returned from Libya in June under the Voluntary Return Assistance Programme.

  • Surgery: Davido donates N15m to staff of MMI Airport, Lagos

    A female worker at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, became a beneficiary of N15 million from popular musician Davido, a gesture to offset her medical bills.

    The `IF’ and `FIA’ hits maker posted the video on his Instagram Story @davidoofical to share the joy of being appreciated after the surgery was successful.

    “Aaww I paid for the surgery of a lady that works at the airport and they did this to thank ME! SO CUTE!’’

    In the video, some of the airport staff held placards with inscription that reads “OMO BABA OLOWO THANK YOU 15 MILLION NO BE JOKE ooo’’

    Though the name of the female colleague was not mentioned but the video clearly showed the appreciation to the `Aye’ crooner for his humanitarian gestures.

    It was learnt that the 26-year old HNK and DMW boss quietly gave an airport staff the sum of 15million naira for a surgery and medical bills.

    Read Also: Davido supports uncle’s gubernatorial campaign

    The singular act of philanthropy was not made public, not until April 18 when the airport threw a stunt at the airport to thank the music star.

    This was not the first time the self acclaimed OBO was dishing out philanthropy gestures to people in need in the country.

    Davido, who is known for his philanthropic gestures to the needy recently, built a house for Utibet, from Akwa Ibom who was recorded singing Davido’s `IF’ that went viral.

    He had also given scholarships to indigent students and assisted others with school fees.

    NAN

  • Buhari to commission Ikeja Bus Terminal

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday commission the world class bus terminal built by the Lagos State Government in Ikeja.

    The terminal, located just behind the rail line of the Nigeria Railway Corporation and about 1km from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, is to offer connect to 22 routes and transport a projected 70,000 people daily.

    The bus terminal, an initiative of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration in Lagos State, is one of 13 such terminals being constructed across the state in the first phase of the project being executed by Planet Projects.

    Read Also: Buhari inaugurates Food Security Council

    The one in Alapere is scheduled for commissioning today.

    Also already completed is the one at Tafawa Balewa Square.

    The same company handled the removal of the huge roundabouts in the Lekki area, and the replacement with traffic lights and well situated exits, which has greatly reduced traffic and commuting time in the area.

    The company is also handling the world class bus terminal at Oshodi, which is expected to radically transform the area once considered a slum.

    For the Ikeja Bus Terminal, the buses to service it will come from the over 5,000 already acquired by the Lagos State Government, which have started arriving in the country.

  • Panic at Lagos Airport as Delta Airlines develops problem midday

    Panic at Lagos Airport as Delta Airlines develops problem midday

     

    There was anxiety in the wee hours of Wednesday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos as a Delta Airlines Airbus 330- 200 with capacity for 244 passengers developed an engine problem about one hour after it took off from the airport.

    During the emergency evacuation , five passengers were injured.

    According to sources, the pilot sensing danger with the engine on fire initiated an emergency return to the Lagos Airport.

    Airport sources hinted that the pilot had informed Aerodrome Fire and Rescue Safety Unit of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to prepare for emergency landing .

    A source hinted that with sufficient mobilization from the relevant safety emergency agencies, a section of the runway was closed for the aircraft to land.

    While, a section of the runway closed to traffic and the fire in the aircraft engine put out, some operations were disrupted.

    According to investigations,  with the incident occurring at a section of the runway, international departures were reorganized on request with contingency measures in place.

    An official of FAAN confirmed that the Delta Airlines aircraft is still on ground .

    She said the aircraft has been towed from the runway to pave way for other aircraft that are either landing on taking off.

    An official of another aviation agency said though the fire has been put out, the aircraft is still lying near the runway.

    Read Also: Why we stopped flights into Abuja, by Delta Airlines

    Meanwhile, officials of Delta Airlines have confirmed that an Atlanta-bound flight from Lagos, Nigeria was forced to turn back Tuesday after the plane experienced engine issues.

    According to the airline , flight 55 from Murtala Mohammed Internationl Airport in Lagos took off from the airport around 10:50 p.m. Nigeria time.

    Flight tracking website FlightAware indicates the flight had only been in the air for a little less than an hour and a half, and had only traveled 29 of its roughly 5,800-mile journey, before one of the A330-200’s two engines reported issues.

    Delta said the flight landed safely shortly after midnight, but passengers had to use the emergency slides to exit the plane onto the runway.

    Airport fire crews met the plane on arrival, and passengers were bussed back to the terminal.
    At this time, Delta said it is aware of five customers who reported non-critical injuries during the evacuation.

    The company said it’s now focused on trying to find overnight hotel accommodations for customers, and will likely rebook them on a Wednesday afternoon flight.

    “The safety of Delta’s customers and crew members is always our top priority,” the company concluded.

    In a statement issued in Lagos, the airline said :” Delta flight 55 from Lagos, Nigeria to Atlanta returned to Lagos International Airport Tuesday after an issue with one of the A330-200’s two engines.

    The flight landed safely and customers exited the aircraft on the runway via emergency slides. Airport fire authorities

     

  • Union shuts operations of Newrest Aviation Services at airport

    Union shuts operations of Newrest Aviation Services at airport

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees ( NUATE ) has for the second consecutive day shut down the operations of Newrest Aviation Services Limited at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The General Secretary of NUATE, Mr Olayinka Abioye, said that the workers’ action followed refusal of the in-flight catering services provider to allow the employees to belong to unions in the sector.

    Abioye told our reporters on Tuesday that Newrest ASL provides in-flight catering services to some foreign airlines operating in Nigeria.

    It also has lounges and restaurants at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Abioye said: “Before now, the workers belonged to a union in the hotel and hospitality sector, and overtime, they realised that they were not getting benefits from being members of the union.

    “They also took cognisance that since their work revolves round the aviation sector, they should belong to one of the unions in the sector.

    “They got in touch with us and we looked at their books and advised them accordingly.

    “So, they notified their former union individually as allowed by law that they wanted to leave and join unions in the aviation sector.”

    He said NUATE wrote the Newrest ASL informing the company that some of their employees had joined the association.

    Abioye said that the management, however, sought for clarification which led to a meeting between the parties and the Federal Ministry of Labour.

    He said the ministry urged NUATE to allow the workers to remain in the hospitality union, but the workers rejected the move.

    Abioye said the workers insisted that they wanted to belong to the aviation unions.

    According to him, the management thereafter made it compulsory for the workers to belong to the hospitality union and allegedly sacked those opposing the directive.

    “We have been dragging the issue for sometime before the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ); enough is enough.

    “So, the employees wrote two letters to the management.

    “They did not respond, which led to the shutting down of the company’ s operations since Monday,” Abioye said.

    NAN

  • Group commends EFCC for investigating Ochekpe , others over campaign funds

    Group commends EFCC for investigating Ochekpe , others over campaign funds

    The Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC ) has been commended for investigations into the embezzlement of government money by previous administration to fund the 2015 elections.

    The group, Coalition of Youths Congress of Nigeria said what EFCC is doing is instructive as another election year approaches and expressed the hope that those involved in diverting public fund to finance elections must be punished to deter others in future.

    The group, which addressed journalists  on Monday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos was reacting to the arraignment of a former Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State, Mr. Raymond Dabo and the Coordinator of Jonathan/Sambo re-election campaign in Plateau State, Evangelist Lyons Sunday Jatau who were dragged to court over allegation of embezzlement of N450 million belonging to the federal government.

    The leader of the group, Mr. John Pam  said the anti-corruption stance of the present administration would ensure that such perfidy and use of money meant for the development of the country by politicians at the corridor of power would not happen again.

    The trio would be arraigned on February 13, 2018 at a Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau state capital on charges of receiving the money from the former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, to finance the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his deputy.

    At the first hearing of the suit, Ochekpe had told trial Justice Justice Musa Haruna Kurya that she gave the money to the late PDP governorship candidate in the 2015 gubernatorial election in Plateau G.N.S Pwajok.

    The group therefore urged EFCC to leave no stone unturned to make sure that money politics in Nigeria is discouraged and also to ensure that those in the custody of public fund do not deep their hands into the till to serve themselves.

    “We are commending EFCC for taking these people to court so that when found guilty justice will take its cause, which will sound as a warning to others who may want to so corrupt themselves by diverting public funds meant for the provision of social amenities for our citizens. The interest of our group is to ensure corrupt free society and for the first time we have seen a government that is determined to rid this scourge from the country,” Pam said.

     

  • NEMA urges state govts to rehabilitate Libyan returnees

    NEMA urges state govts to rehabilitate Libyan returnees

    National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged state governments of the federation to facilitate the rehabilitation of their indigenes, who voluntarily returned from Libya.

    The Director-General, NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Maihajja, made the call in Lagos on Tuesday while receiving 142 Nigerians who voluntarily returned from Libya.

    Maihajja, who was represented by Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu, NEMA’s South-West Zonal Coordinator, stressed the need for every state to complement the efforts being made at the national and international levels to rehabilitate the returnees.

    The director-general, who noted that Edo and Osun had keyed into such the rehabilitation programme, called on more states to emulate them by offering assistance to the returnees from their states.

    Read also : 149 more Nigerians return from Libya

    Maihajja applauded the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU) for facilitating the repatriation of the returnees and also providing assistance for their rehabilitation.

    The returnees arrived  Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 11.25p.m aboard a Nouvelair Airbus A320 aircraft with registration Number: TS-INA, comprising 52 adult females, 86 adult males, two children and two infants.

    The first batch of 245 returnees had earlier arrived at about 8.25p.m at the airport aboard an Afriqiyah Airbus 330-300 aircraft with registration Number 5A-ONR.

    The returnees were also received by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    NAN

  • Aviation union grounds operations of Kenyan Airways 

    Aviation union grounds operations of Kenyan Airways 

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees ( NUATE) on Tuesday grounded the operations of Kenyan Airways at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos  following prolonged disagreement between the union and the airline management over failure to implement welfare programme for workers.

    Placard carrying members of the Union in the early hours stormed the counters of the airline at the terminal of the Lagos Airport to prevent Kenyan Airways from carrying out any operations.

    The union said it embarked on the action due to failure on the part of the airline to resolve lingering issues.

    As evidence its seriousness, members of the union hoisted Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) flag at the check in counters of Kenyan Airways to shut down its operations.

    Last week, NUATE gave the airline an ultimatum to comply with its demands.

    The union made this known in an online statement signed by the General Secretary of NUATE, Comrade Olayinka OluAbioye

    In a statement titled, “Notice Of Industrial Action Against The Management of Kenya Airways, Nigeria” the union stated that it had  waited patiently over the months for Kenya Airways, Nairobi management  to respond positively to the fundamental welfare demands of its Nigerian employees and implement the collective bargaining agreement with the union but that the airline has refused to respond.

    Abioye added that as a result of the refusal of Kenya Airways to address the issues raised, “Notice is hereby given by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) to all intending passengers on KQ that with effect from 1200midnight of Tuesday 5th. December 2017, all operations of Kenya Airways in Nigeria shall be grounded.”

    “We hereby appeal to all intending passengers and other airport users and partners to bear with the workers and its Union as they embark on this industrial action for the safety and security of all parties, as you all know that a “disgruntled worker is an accident waiting to happen”, which we intend to prevent,” The union stated.

    The union stated that the industrial action would be indefinite until the management of the airline address the issues and do the needful.

    According to NUATE, “Nigerian worker’s patience in Kenya Airways has been exhausted and they cannot continue to suffer at the expense of certain other persons.”

    The union solicited the cooperation and support of security agencies as the union embark on the industrial action, bearing in mind that an injury to one is an injury to others, while an injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.

     

  • Another 257 Nigerians arrive from Libya

    Another 257 Nigerians arrive from Libya

    A few hours after 144 Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya, another aircraft carrying 257 of their compatriots on Wednesday landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The spokesperson for the Lagos Airport Police Command, Mr Joseph Alabi, confirmed this in an interview in Lagos.

    Alabi said the returnees arrived aboard a Libyan Airlines aircraft at the Cargo Wing of the airport at about 1.30 a.m.

    He said they were assisted back to Nigeria by the International Organisation for Migration ( IOM ) and the European Union ( EU ) after being stranded in the volatile North African country enroute Europe.

    Alabi said “We received another batch of Nigerians early this morning from Libya.

    “They comprised of 65 adult females, 179 adult males, seven children and six infants.”

    He also confirmed that four of the returnees had medical cases and were promptly taken away on an ambulance for treatment.

    According to him, the returnees were received by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Immigration Service, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

    Report says another set of 144 Nigerians had arrived on Tuesday at about 6.45 p.m. aboard a chartered Buraq Airlines aircraft with registration number 5A-DMG.

    They were received at the Hajj Camp area of the airport by the Wife of the President, Haija Aisha Buhari, represented by the Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Bolanle Ambode.

    Also on ground to receive them was the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa and officials of other government agencies.

    Report also says the Federal Government said it has a record of 2,778 Nigerian migrants registered in “accessible” detention camps in Libya, ready for repatriation.

    The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement signed by the Spokesperson, Mr. Tiwatope Elias-Fatile on Tuesday, said the country’s embassy in Libya had been visiting detention camps to identify Nigerians for registration.

    The ministry stated that those registered were issued Emergency Travel Certificates.

    Read also: More Nigerians return from Libya

    The ministry also explained that the embassy, in collaboration with the IOM, repatriates 250 migrants weekly and had returned 3,000 of them so far.

    “From the 2,778 registered Nigerians who are still in detention camps, another set of 250 Nigerian migrants will be arriving on Tuesday December 5 via the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, at 7.00pm, to be received by NEMA officials.

    “The Embassy, in collaboration with the IOM, repatriates 250 Nigerian migrants by flight to Lagos weekly – each flight can accommodate only 250 passengers.

    “The repatriation is a continuous exercise and the Embassy routinely issues the requisite travel documents to the migrants.

    “The Embassy will continue to engage the legitimate government in Libya and other stakeholders in addressing the plight of Nigerian migrants in that country.”

    The ministry further said the Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, had invited the Nigerian Embassy’s Head of Mission, Mr. Iliya Fachano, to Abuja for consultations.

    “He is in Abuja already and during the period of the consultations, arrangements have been made for him to address press conferences on the issue.

    NAN