The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Saleh Dunoma

  • FAAN test-run upgraded safety scanner at Lagos airport

    FAAN test-run upgraded safety scanner at Lagos airport

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has carried out a test-run on an upgraded baggage scanner machine that could detect explosives, narcotics and other prohibited items at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma while speaking at the event on Wednesday, said it was aimed at boosting safety and security at the airport.

    Dunoma said that the interest of FAAN was to make sure the airports are safe and secure, protect lives and provide machines of immense benefits to airlines and all stakeholders.

    “This scanner is intended to complement the Executive Order recently issued by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and also assist the operations of other agencies at the airport, making them more efficient.

    “Our intent is to deploy these scanners to our international airports but this depends on the outcome of its performance in Lagos,” he said.

    Dunoma said that FAAN was committed to putting all necessary measures in place in line with international aviation standards and recommended best practices to enhance safety and security at the airports.

    Also speaking, the supplier of the machine, Mr Akin Mustapha, said it was an Astrophysics Baggage Scanner which was manufactured in California, USA.

    According to him, it would identify hidden threats in carry-on items and checked-in baggage at airports, and has high penetration steel and could detect explosives and narcotics.

    Mustapha said:” It has six colour generations and that enables it to do a proper analysis of objects that go into it, better than others. It is highly reliable and very sensitive.

    “In other airports around the world, they are taking away other machines and replacing them with this machine (Astrophysics) for upgrade and efficiency.

    “With superior image quality and innovative features including six colour imaging for increased object, identification and screen assistance for automatic programmable detection.

    “Astrophysics provides operators with the advanced tools required for quick and reliable airport screening”, he said.

  • Commercial flights resume in Abuja airport Wednesday

    Commercial flights resume in Abuja airport Wednesday

    FORTY-ONE days after its runway was shut for major repairs, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NNIA), Abuja, will re- open today, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Managing Director Saleh Dunoma said yesterday.

    According to Dunoma, everything about the Abuja Airport runway was ready and awaiting the certification of the aerodrome by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ascertain compliance with operational standards.

    He said the certification will be completed in two days, before the airport runway will open for commercial flights on Wednesday.

    Dunoma told reporters that the two-day certification window will to allow NCAA to make corrections and on any area in line with civil aviation requirements.

    He said: “We will be ready by Monday (April 17, 2017). But, we are leaving the remaining two days for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). This is because the NCAA has to certify the airport that what we have done is in accordance with their standards.

    “After the NCAA does that, we will bring in the traffic. But if they do not, we have the opportunity of making corrections with the two days we have saved.”

    On the reopening of the runway on Wednesday, Dunoma said: “No doubt about that, we will open it as scheduled. Just as I have said, we have been working with the NCAA throughout the period. They have been making corrections. But, for formality, we need to check and make sure that all the necessary corrections meet the requirement of the civil aviation authority.

    “All the critical items of work are hundred per cent ready, except may be two items, which of course is the markings and the cleaning. Other critical item which is not serious work is the inspection by the NCAA who will come and certify that the repairs that had been carried out is satisfactory and give us the go ahead to bring in traffic to Abuja.

    “Asphalt work is hundred per cent complete; markings have reached almost seventy per cent; and the airfield lighting system has attained eighty per cent completion.”

    Responding to when the NCAA will carry out their inspection and certify the runway, he said: “We have written to them and they will come to do the preliminary inspection. If there is any observation as a result of the inspection, we will now make sure we carry out corrections.”

    On the terminal building: “We are improving on all the services there and repairing all the items that are bad. It will be ready by Monday (tomorrow). Most of the items there have been completed. We are just trying to clean up.”

    He said that FAAN has carried out other minor repairs at Abuja Airport, taking advantage of the closure as the perfect timing.

    Dunoma said: “There is additional work which has nothing to do with this repair but we are seizing the opportunity of the closure of the airport to do.

    This has to do with the APEX (Airport Excellence in Safety)-related items.  We are now levelling all the airfield lightings’ locations, all the installations and flash with the ground surface. In case of any skidding, there will not be concrete projection above the ground surface.”

    Concerning the calibration of Navigational Aids, he said: “We have not tampered with the Navids. We just worked on the runway. What we tampered with is the airfield lightings and the airfield lightings are being returned to the same position.

    “The runway does not need calibration. All we need to check is to make sure there is 100 per cent illumination. Calibration is done periodically. When the time comes for calibration, the appropriate authority will calibrate the Instrument Landing System (ILS).”

    The Abuja airport was shut on March 8 for six weeks to enable Julius Berger rebuild the 3.6-kilometre runway.

    The runway, which was constructed in 1982 was meant to last for 20 years, but had been in use for 35 years without major repairs and maintenance.

  • Kaduna Airport ready for international operations – FAAN, NAMA

    The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) say the Kaduna International Airport is now set for international operations.

    The Managing Director of FAAN, Mr. Saleh Dunoma, said the organisation has installed all safety equipment needed for the operation.

    “All the things we need for international operations are on ground. What is important actually is the safety equipment for the landing of the aircraft.

    “We have seen the runway is good, the Instrument Landing System (ILS) has been installed and the terminal building is ready.

    “The contractor has been directed by the Acting President to redouble his effort so that the remaining items of work that are remaining should be completed before the commencement of the international operations in Kaduna.

    “I think this is one of the luckiest airports; they have five generators as standby power supply. So we have more than enough,’’ he said.

    Similarly, Mr. Fola Akinkuotu, Managing Director of NAMA, said once the Abuja Airport was closed, NAMA would deploy the mobile tower from the airport to Kaduna to complement what is already on ground.

    He said that NAMA management had certified the capability of Kaduna Airport, adding that its engineers have done a good job on it.

     “As far as this (Kaduna) airport is concerned, NAMA management, we are very satisfied that we have done a good job.

    “At the inception of the project, the ILS (Instrument Landing System) was not accessible but as of today, I can tell you that not only have we installed a brand new ILS, we have also calibrated it.

    “We have a calibration certificate from a UK concern.

    “On the facilities for landing, like I said, the ILS which comprises the glide scope and localizer have been calibrated and they have been found satisfactory like 10 on 10.

    “Apart from that, we also have the approach light that actually complement and make sure that they have the ILS,’’ he said.

    The Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, announced the use of the Kaduna airport as alternative for the Abuja airport that would be closed for six weeks for repairs of its runway.

     

  • How to improve air services in Africa, by Dunoma

    HOW can Africa develop its air transport sector? African Airlines Association (AFRAA), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) must collaborate, Airports Council International (ACI) President for Africa Saleh Dunoma has said.

    Such collaboration, Dunoma said, would bridge the gaps in air connectivity on the continent.

    He said the ACI was ready to work with governments on how to develop aviation using regional platforms, including Africa Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to engender policies that would drive  such growth.

    Dunoma, who is the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said the regional body would impress it on governments to improve airport infrastructure.

    He said: “In Africa we need proper and improved air services. We need to collaborate with AFRAA, ICAO and IATA to develop our airlines to cover the entire African continent.

    “We need to collaborate with stakeholders.We need to make aviation industry in the continent robust and harness the sector’s potentials.Aviation in Africa is essential and irreplaceable transport service. African governments realise and recognise this fact.

    “African airlines are shrinking and non-African airlines are growing.

    “As it stands today, 82 per cent of intercontinental travel is carried by non-African airlines. Only 18 per cent market share is carried by all African airlines put together. This is a very daunting challenge. It is a concern for African airlines. Serious concern should be given to African airlines.”

    To boost intra-African air connectivity, Dunoma said ACI was helping to ensure safe and secure aviation environment by upgrading aerodromes and services.

    On the concession of four airports, the ACI chief allayed fears on the exercise, stressing that the concession was good not only for airports but many businesses all over the world.

    “We need infrastructure and require a lot of renewal and this requires capital investment. All over the world, the government starts building airports but much later, they find out that they can no longer meet up with infrastructure gaps and more money is needed. It is a win-win situation both for the government and investors,” he said.

     

  • New cargo terminals ready soon, says FAAN MD

    The six cargo terminals being constructed nationwide will be completed in 16 months, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, has said.

    Their completion will enable Nigeria reap the benefits of the projected 2bilion pounds perishable cargo market in Africa, he said

    Dunoma spoke at the fourth Annual Emerging Airports Conference & Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Emirates

    He called on foreign investors to take advantage of Nigeria’s investment climate and invest in the sector.

    Dunoma also described the remodelling of 22 airports across the country as a veritable foundation for investments in the sector.

    He said: “Opportunities abound in the aerotropolis project where investors are guaranteed return on their investments.”

    He invited investors to be part of the aerotropolis and fresh produce market, describing Nigeria’s rating as the 26th economy in the world as an indication that the country is taking its pride of place as the truly.

    The Federal Government’s transformation in the sector has received a boost as the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja emerged the Best Emerging Airport – Africa Region – in Abu Dhabi.

    Dunoma received the award at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

    The organisers of the conference who cited the revolutionary turn-around of the airports in Nigeria as some of the reasons for the award, also applauded the aerotropolis and the fresh/perishable cargo projects as indicators of an emerging giant.

    The awards also featured conferences and an exhibition which attracted over 15 airport directors, CAA’s airport companies from the emerging markets in Africa, Asia and Middle East.

  • Lagos, Abuja airports for US transportation agency’s assessment

    Lagos, Abuja airports for US transportation agency’s assessment

    The American Transportation Safety Administration’s (TSA’s) Attaché for Central and West Africa, Ms Mcneir Loretta, has arrived in the country for a three-day working visit.

    The visit is a follow-up assessment of the agency’s Aviation Security Audit which was carried out on the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, (NAIA), Abuja in December 2013.

    Ms Mcneir, who is based in Dakar, Senegal, on Monday began her programme with a visit to the Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Benedict Adeyileka.

    She inspected facilities at the MMIA, Ikeja, in company of NCAA Aviation Security officials.

    Ms Mcneir is scheduled to meet with the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, before going to Abuja for a visit to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr Jamilla Shu’ara.

     

  • Airport Terminals to be completed soon

    Airport Terminals to be completed soon

    Adequate budgetary provision has been made for the completion of remodelled airport terminals, the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, said yesterday during an inspection tour of the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos and Kaduna International Airport.

    Dunoma charged the contractors to ensure the completion of work in good time.

    The Managing Director urged the contractors to work with the expected specification and standards.

    He further expressed appreciation over the level of commitment and improvement in the work done.