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A Runway Excursion Is Not a Crash: What Aviation Owes the Travelling Public

 A Runway Excursion Is Not a Crash:  What Aviation Owes the Travelling Public By Alexander Nwuba I have loved airplanes since I was a child. It is that love, long before any title or office, that brought me into aviation, and it is what still brings me to the airport.  So, I have never been able to run an airline from behind a desk. As CEO, I spent more time at the airport than in the office: standing in the terminal, watching passengers, watching their experience, their anxieties, their small frustrations, and sometimes stepping in personally.  One occasion has stayed with me for years. A crew, in a hurry to resolve a snag, informed passengers of a technical problem and then opened the engine cowling in full view of the cabin.  For more than thirty minutes the passengers sat watching engineers work inside an open engine. When the work was done, and the aircraft declared serviceable, the passengers refused to go. I do not blame them. Nobody had translated what t...

When an Aircraft Leaves the Runway, Let the Facts Land First

  When an Aircraft Leaves the Runway, Let the Facts Land First By Henry Agbebire  The runway excursion involving an Enugu Air Embraer E170 at Benin Airport on Thursday, 23 July 2026, understandably attracted widespread public attention. Images and videos of the aircraft resting beyond the runway, surrounded by muddy terrain after heavy rainfall, spread rapidly across social media within minutes of the occurrence. As expected, the incident generated anxiety among Nigerians. What was less expected, however, was the speed with which conclusions were drawn. Before the emergency response had fully run its course, before investigators had secured the site, before passengers had been interviewed, and before the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) commenced its technical analysis, many social media commentators had already reached their verdicts. Some blamed the pilots. Others condemned airport rescue procedures. A few went as far as questioning the competence of Nigeria's avi...

Overland Airways Appointed Official Airline Carrier For Itsekiri Global Homecoming

  Overland Airways Appointed Official Airline Carrier For Itsekiri Global Homecoming Overland Airways has announced its appointment as the Official Airline Carrier by the organisers of the Itsekiri Global Homecoming holding August 16 to 22, 2026. The Itsekiri Global Homecoming, which also features activities marking the 5th anniversary of the coronation of the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwase III, is billed as the premier gathering of sons, daughters and friends of the Itsekiri nation from Nigeria and the diaspora. Chief Executive Officer of Overland Airways, Capt. Edward Boyo, who is a prominent Itsekiri said: "The Management and Staff of Overland Airways congratulate His Majesty Ogiame Atuwase III on the 5th anniversary of ascending the throne of his fathers and join the millions of Itsekiri worldwide to pray for health, peace and prosperity during his reign. Overland Airways is proud to be associated with the Itsekiri Global Homecoming. This celebration aligns with Ov...

ETIHAD AIRWAYS SET TO RETURN TO NIGERIA

 July 23rd, 2026 ETIHAD AIRWAYS SET TO RETURN TO NIGERIA .....AVIATION MINISTER RECEIVES  TOP EXECUTIVES Nigeria's aviation sector received another major boost  as a high-powered delegation from Etihad Airways formally announced plans to resume flight operations to Nigeria during a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK), in Abuja. The Etihad Airways delegation was led by Capt. Khalid Humaid Al Ali, Senior Vice President, Aeropolitical, International & Government Affairs, and included Jurriaan Pieter Stelder, Senior Vice President, Network, Alliance & Commercial Strategy; Asma Khalifa Al Mheiri, Head of Aeropolitical and Industry Affairs; and Mouza Khadem Al Ghaithi, Diplomatic Affairs Manager. The meeting was also attended by the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo; the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),...

Air Peace, Etihad Airways sign pact to expand flight connectivity

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  Air Peace,  Etihad Airways sign pact  to expand  flight connectivity   Etihad Airways  and Air Peace  have signed an interline agreement that connects the two carriers' networks, opening 20 destinations across Nigeria, West and Central Africa to Etihad's passengers. Under the agreement, Etihad passengers  will be able to travel on a single ticket beyond Lagos and Accra onto Air Peace's extensive network,  including : major Nigerian cities such as Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Benin City, Owerri, Warri and Asaba, as well as regional destinations across West and Central Africa, among them Abidjan, Dakar, Banjul, Freetown, Monrovia, Conakry, Bamako, Douala and Libreville. Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and one of its largest economies, business between the two countries has accelerated since the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed in January 2026, and a fast-growing Nigerian community lives and works across...

FAAN Unveils 2025 By-Laws

 FAAN Unveils 2025 By-Laws The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has unveiled its 2025 By-Laws, marking the first comprehensive review of the Authority's regulatory framework in 21 years. The new by-laws were officially launched by the Chairman of the FAAN Board, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who commended the Management for successfully reviewing the legal framework to reflect current realities in the aviation industry. He described the revised by-laws as a significant milestone that will strengthen airport governance and enhance operational efficiency across the Authority. Speaking at the unveiling, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, said the previous by-laws, last reviewed in 2005, had become outdated and were no longer effective in addressing the demands of the modern aviation environment. She explained that the 2025 By-Laws were developed in line with current aviation realities and FAAN's evolving operational framework to ensure the...

FAAN UNVEILS PHASE ONE OF SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME AT MMIA

  FAAN UNVEILS PHASE ONE OF SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME AT MMIA The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has officially unveiled Phase One of its Sustainable Waste Management Programme at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, in a significant step towards achieving cleaner, greener and more environmentally sustainable airport operations. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, described the initiative as part of the Authority's strategic efforts to advance from Level 3 of the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme while strengthening environmental sustainability across Nigeria's airports. Mrs. Kuku explained that the programme is designed to significantly reduce the volume of waste generated within airport environments, minimise environmental impact and lay the foundation for future waste-to-power initiatives. According to her, the Sustainable Waste Management Programme w...