The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport

  • Oba of Benin makes historic visit to Abuja

    Oba of Benin makes historic visit to Abuja

    His Royal Majesty, Omo N, ‘Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Ewuare II- Oba of Benin, on Wednesday made an historic visit to Abuja after his coronation in October 2016.

    The Oba who arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 5:05p.m., was received by some Benin traditional chiefs, prominent Benin indigenes and friends.

    Chief Odigie Oyegun, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), one of the Edo indigene at the Airport to receive the Monarch, said that the visit by the Oba was historic being his first after his coronation.

    “The Oba’s visit is bringing peace, hope to the country and change in the nation.

    “Everybody is here as you can see came to give him a rosy welcome. It is an historic occurrence, our new Oba, a unique Oba with a unique culture.

    “We also have a unique president in the person of Muhammadu Buhari with a unique way of doing things. A lot of good things will come out of this visit,’’he said.

    Similarly, Mr Johnson Agbonayinma, a member of the House of Representatives, said the Edo indigenes in Abuja are excited to welcome the Oba which he described as caring.

    “There is a saying that if you do not value what you have, somebody else will help you devalue it.

    “I value my traditional Institution and all I can do is to tell my Honourable colleagues, friends of Edo to let them know that we have a caring King.

    “I am happy to see the crowd that came to receive the Oba; I ask God to bless them and the chiefs as well.

    “This is to tell you that our Oba is one who deserves all the respect accorded to him without being sentimental.

    “It is a glorious day as his mission is to also show appreciation to all those who supported him during his coronation.

    “It will be an honour to understand that we have an Oba who cares about the unity of the country.

    Also Mr Dickson Omoregie, the President of Benin community in Abuja described the visit as a multi-dimensional as he would move from one place to another to appreciate those that supported him during his coronation.

    “That is why he is starting here in Abuja to visit his children, we are delighted to receive him.

    “When your daddy comes to visit you, you are so excited; It is a joyful day for us Edo people in Abuja.’’

    Also, Mr Osazuwa Imasuen described the Oba as a man of the people, a highly trained diplomat who knows the value of friendship.

    “We are glad to receive the Oba as he brings us peace and goodwill,’’he said.
    Traditional dancers from Benin Kingdom and Abuja thrilled the crowd who came to receive the Oba.

    NAN

  • Unbreakable bond

    Those still in doubt about the closeness between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo might have seen a clearer picture penultimate weekend.

    After 103 days in the United Kingdom on medical ground, President Buhari returned to Abuja that Saturday.

    First to welcome him as he stepped down from the plane at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport was the Vice President.

    With the way Buhari gripped Osinbajo’s hands with one hand and waved to the crowd with the other hand, it reflected the deep love and bond between them.

    If not for protocol, the President would probably not have hesitated from hugging and carrying the Vice President in his hand as he was so pleased with the way Osinbajo steered the ship of State in his absence.

    The length of period of the President’s stay in London was not only enough to give an over ambitious deputy some selfish ideas, but more than enough time to perfect plans with other influential elements for political gains.

    This was the main reason most past leaders stay tight and never give their deputies opportunities to act in their absence,  even for a day.

    But President Buhari in his previous 50 days stay in London on medical ground, between January and March, didn’t think twice before communicating to the National Assembly to pave the way for Osinbajo to be Acting President in his absence.

    Osinbajo even remained more committed in the latest President’s 103 days in the UK.

    In the two instances, the Vice President did not let the politics of the day get into his head as he remained focused and not letting his eyes off the ball.

    Although Buhari and Osinbajo have severally claimed that the relationship between them was a father to son relationship, the bond between them has proven to be more than that.

    While there have been several stories where sons go to the extend of betraying their biological fathers one way or the other, the case of Buhari-Osinbajo has been different.

    Osinbajo has proven to all that his loyalty to his superior can never be in doubt.

    Even when there were reported controversies on whether the 2017 Appropriation bill will be taken to London for the President’s assent, Buhari had insisted then that Osinbajo, who was the Acting President should sign the bill into law.

    Because of his respect for the rule of law and the bond between them, Buhari was even reported to have sent back some top government officials who took files to him in London for approval.

    Osinbajo, who is a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), have no doubt exhibited the fruits of the spirit found in the Holy Bible in Galatians chapter 5: 22-23 including love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

    So, President Buhari’s firm grip on Osinbajo’s wrist on his arrival at the airport on that Saturday really spoke volumes about the unprecedented relationship between the number one and number two citizens.

    Speaking on the President’s return, Osinbajo said: “As you can see from the many Nigerians who lined up on the road to receive the President as he came back, many Nigerians are happy that the President is hail and hearty and that he has come back.

    “It was a natural reaction, most people heard of his arrival only a few hours before then, but as you can see, the response was so spontaneous. So, I think that people were so excited and very happy.” he said

    On the message to Nigerians, the Vice President said “Oh, the message to Nigerians is that, the recovery and recuperation of the President is in some sense symbolic of the recovery of Nigeria.

    “Nigeria is going to recover. We are on the path of strong economic recovery and this is an excellent sign that the country is on the right side.

    “There is great hope, there is great excitement and we are going to make it as a nation.” he stated

    Commending Osinbajo on how he ran the country in his absence, Buhari said “The efforts by the Vice President are commendable. He used his intellect to run all over the place. I was seeing him 24 hours on NTA.

    “I congratulate them and I allowed him to come and see me to thank him personally for what he has done.” he stated

    This relationship of peace and harmony at the top will no doubt reflect positively on the development of the country.

    It is also hoped that such will continue to the end of the administration and the future number one and number two citizens that will come after them.

  • Buhari lands in Abuja

    Buhari lands in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday afternoon arrived the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Buhari, who has been in the United Kingdom since May 7th on medical ground, landed at the airport around 4:35 p.m in Nigeria Air Force Plane 001

    He wore a  black coloured caftan and trousers with multicolored cap to match.

    Buhari arrived Abuja with his Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Lawal Abubakar, Chief Security Officer (CSO), Bashir Bindawa, Chief Police Security Officer (CPSO), Abdulkareem Dauda, and Personal Assistant one, Mohammed Sabihu (Tunde) among others.

    He alighted from the plane and shook hands with the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo before rendition of the National anthem.

    Buhari, after rendition of the National anthem, went round to shake hands with governors and top government officials who had formed a single file.

    He then departed for Presidential Villa by road.

    The governors at the airport to welcome him  included governors of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, Muhammed Abubakar of Bauchi, Abubakar Bello of Niger,  Nesom Wike of Rivers,  Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Deputy governor of Kaduna state, Mr Barnabas Bala.

    Among those at the airport to welcome the president included members of the National Assembly, service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari as well as other presidential aides.

    Others at the airports are the National Security Adviser to the President (NSA) retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno; the Director-General, Department of State Security (DSS), Alhaji Lawal Daura and other dignitaries from and within Abuja.

    The President took a national salute from the Presidential Guards Brigade while cultural groups were also singing and dancing to welcome him back home.

  • NCAA: July target for Abuja, Lagos airports certification

    NCAA: July target for Abuja, Lagos airports certification

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Thursday said it was optimistic that the certification of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, would be achieved by July.

    Mr. Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the certification process of both airports was going on simultaneously.

    He said the regulatory authority was working with representatives of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Western and Central Africa (WACAF), to ensure the completion of the project.

    Adurogboye explained that there were still some open items that needed to be closed before the airports could be certified.

    He said:“What happens is that the process is in phases and you move from one phase to the other and it is only when the people involved are through that you can move to the next phase.

    “We are actually in the third phase and when we are through, we will move to the fourth phase, which means we are almost getting there.

    “The certification of both airports is being done simultaneously and we are hoping to complete it by July.’’

    NAN reports that the certification of the airports is being done by the ICAO WACAF, under its implementation of the Africa-Indian Ocean (AFI) Plan Aerodrome Certification Project.

    The AFI Plan was adopted by the 36th ICAO Assembly to address the safety status of aircraft operations in the AFI Region.

    It is meant to address focal areas which are: to establish and maintain a sustainable oversight system (infrastructure/capacity building) and assist states to resolve identified deficiencies within a reasonable time.

    The plan also aims to enhance the aviation safety culture of African aviation service providers.

  • Kaduna International Airport records 189,734 passengers, 3,274 aircraft movements in 6 weeks

    The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), says a total of 189,734 passengers and 3,273 aircraft movements were processed at the Kaduna International Airport between March 8 and April 17.

    FAAN made this known in its monthly statistical report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by its Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu on Friday in Abuja.

    The report indicated that a total of 175,931 passengers were processed on scheduled domestic flights, comprising 89,655 arrivals and 86,276 departures.

    It also revealed that 1,474 passengers, comprising 472 arrivals and 1,002 departures were processed on non-scheduled domestic flights during the period under review.

    According to the report, the airport also processed 12,329 passengers on scheduled international flights, comprising 5,638 on arrivals and 6,691 on departures.

    On the whole, a total of 3,274 domestic aircraft movements comprising 2,340 scheduled and 736 non-scheduled flights were recorded according to the statistics.

    It also showed that the aircraft movements for scheduled international flights were 122, while non-scheduled flights recorded two aircraft movements during the period.

    According to the report, the airport received 84 cargo flights through courier service.

    Flight operations began at the airport on March 8, following closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for its runway rehabilitation.

    Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines was the only international airline that operated in Kaduna during the period.

    The airline processed 11,568 passengers in and out of the airport.

    Out of this figure, according to the Airline’s Traffic and Sales Manager, Mrs Firiehiwot Mekonnen, 6,456 were processed on departures, while 5,112 were on arrivals

     

  • PDP chief sad over absence of tangible FG’s projects in Rivers

    PDP chief sad over absence of tangible FG’s projects in Rivers

    The Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, has expressed sadness over the absence of tangible Federal Government projects in the state.

    He alleged that two years into the administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led, Muhammadu Buhari’s government, the Niger Delta state had not benefitted from capital-intensive and people-oriented projects of the Federal Government.

    Obuah, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, said the ruling party in the state frowned on the alleged obvious indifference towards Rivers.

    The PDP chairman cited the Port Harcourt International Airport, which he claimed had remained abandoned by the Federal Government.

    He alleged that the APC-led Federal Government had failed to complement the efforts of Governor Nyesom Wike in the execution of capital projects,  which he said would have improved the wellbeing of the people of the state.

    Obuah claimed that the APC-led Federal Government deliberately abandoned the Rivers and also accused the Buhari’s administration of treating the state badly, despite all the support Wike was giving to the Federal Government.

    He mentioned the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, as projects completed in record time, whereas the Port Harcourt International Airport remained allegedly abandoned.

    Rivers PDP chairman also urged the APC-led Federal Government to have a rethink, by giving deserved attention to the state, described as the treasure base of the nation.

  • Abuja Airport reopens for operation after six weeks

    Abuja Airport reopens for operation after six weeks

    After six weeks closure, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja was on Tuesday reopened for operation.

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika was said to be on board the test flight from Kaduna international airport which landed at the Abuja airport on Tuesday morning.

    Details later…

  • Air Peace resumes Abuja flights, commends FG

    Air Peace resumes Abuja flights, commends FG

    Air Peace has announced the resumption of all its flights into and out of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja starting from Wednesday, April 19, 2017.

    A statement issued by the carrier’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah on Monday commended air travellers for keeping faith with the airline and making a huge sacrifice to ensure repair of the bad portions of the runway of the Abuja airport.

    The airline also praised the Federal Government and the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika for ensuring speedy completion of the repair work on the runway of the facility.

    “We are pleased to announce resumption of all our flights into and out of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport with effect from Wednesday, April 19, 2017.

    “The Federal Government shut the facility to traffic on March 8 to enable a six-week repair of its runway and diverted all Abuja-bound flights to the Kaduna International Airport.

    “We considered the decision of the Federal Government to shut down the airport for quick repair of its runway in tandem with the high safety standards of our flight operations. At Air Peace, the safety our esteemed guests is our first rule of business. We do not compromise on that for any reason.

    “Although the decision to shut the facility to traffic came with huge costs, for us, nothing compares with safety. We are also aware that our numerous guests and the entire travelling public had to make a lot of sacrifice to enable the repair of the runway possible and wish to commend them for their understanding and cooperation.

    “We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to the Federal Government, the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika and the contractors for delivering on their promise to ensure completion of the repairs within schedule. The repair of the runway has further intensified our enthusiasm to deliver the best flight experience to our valued guests in a very safe atmosphere. Our Abuja schedules are live once again and we promise to give the best of air travel services as we resume our flight operations in the Federal Capital Territory,” Air Peace said.

     

     

  • Minister installs countdown clock at Abuja airport

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika has installed a countdown clock at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to mount pressure on contractors to meet the six weeks deadline.

    This is in fulfillment of his promise to install the clock to remind contractors that the April 19 reopening date of the airport would not be extended.

    Sirika said the clock was a sign of seriousness and commitment of government to ensuring that the programme of work was followed by contractors, and remind to them that time was of essence.

    According to his twitter @hadisirika, the countdown clock installed at the gate of Abuja airport to remind and pressure contractors to deliver in 6 weeks.

    When the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) visited the airport on Wednesday, the clock was displayed, “13 days: 13 hours: 24 minutes: 40 seconds” to the reopening of the airport.

    One of the clocks was installed at the access gate (toll gate), the second one at the entry of the terminal and the third in the main hall.

    However, the contractor handling the runway has achieved an appreciable progress in the rehabilitation work while the electrical installations on the runway were being done.

    Sirika also announced on his twitter handle that the rehabilitation work had reached 75 per cent as at Tuesday night.

    “Happy to announce we are at 75% completion of Abuja airport rehabilitation. Programme of work is running as outlined,” he said.

    NAN reports that the Federal Government shut the Abuja airport on March 8 for six weeks, to enable Julius Berger to carry out much needed repair on the failed 3.6 km runway.

    The runway was said to have been in use for 35 years without any major rehabilitation and proper maintenance as against the original 20-year life span.

     

  • Ethiopian Airline airlifts 4,500 passengers from Kaduna airport in 28 days

    Ethiopian Airline airlifts 4,500 passengers from Kaduna airport in 28 days

    Ethiopian Airlines says it has airlifted over 4,500 passengers from Kaduna International Airport since it commenced flight operations from the airport on March 8.

    Mrs Firiehiwot Mekonnen, the airline’s Traffic and Sales Manager, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that it had so far operated 28 flights from the airport.

    “We have airlifted more than 4,500 passengers; we also operated 28 flights from March 8 to April 4 and our experience so far is good.

    “Ethiopian Airlines, having a vision of being the leading aviation group, is working hard to have more than 120 destinations as one of the vision 2025 goals,” she said.

    Mekonnen described as encouraging the level of work so far done on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and expressed optimism that the airport would be reopened on April 19.

    She, however, urged the contractor to maintain the high pace of work on the runway and ensure that the deadline was met.

    “We have not seen the runway yet but from the report we are getting we think the government will meet the deadline,” she said.

    NAN recalls that the Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika had on March 30, disclosed that over 50 international flights had been operated from Kaduna airport with about 4,000 international passengers in three weeks.

    He added that about 73,000 domestic passengers had been airlifted with about 1,119 aircraft movements for domestic operations.

    NAN reports that Ethiopian Airline is the only foreign airline operating from Kaduna, while two Nigerian airlines, Arik and Medview, also operate international flights from the airport.

    As at March 29, Arik had airlifted about 165 international passengers with 11 aircraft movements for both arrivals and departures.

    NAN reports that the Federal Government shut Abuja airport on March 8 for six weeks to carry out major repairs on its 3.6 km runway.

    The rehabilitation work has reached 75 per cent completion two weeks to the reopening of the airport, according to a tweet by the minister on Wednesday.