Airport Reporters

Bi-Courtney insists on readiness for regional operations at MMA2 ..... Says over N600m spent on facilities Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd (BASL) has insisted it has the facilities required for regional flight operations from the Murtala Muhammed Airport terminal two (MMA2), saying over N600 million has been expended in it in preparation for the service. Blessing Ewah, head of operations, BASL, who disclosed this while taking journalists on tour of facilities at the terminal on Wednesday, said all the agencies, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), had assessed and approved the facilities after all necessary requirements were met, wondering why operations were yet to commence. “We are actually ready, the terminal is ready, gates 5 and 6 here have been dedicated for regional flights. We have invested over N600 million in the facilities for this operation and we have not recouped one naira, it all started in 2014, “he said. Recall that Ministerial Committe...

Safety is our number one priority, says Max Air Max Air, one of Nigeria’s domestic airlines, yesterday said the airline would remain committed to safe operation which has been its number one priority since inception. “What we sell is safety and we pride ourselves by our sincerity and commitment to safe and secure operation which we have guarded jealously from the beginning of our operation,” an Executive Director of the airline, Barr. Shehu Wada said in a chat with aviation correspondent. He stated that the airline would remain focused on delivering safe and efficient flight services to Nigerians despite attempt by some individuals and those he called fifth columnists to drag the airline back. In addition, he said the airline has absolute confidence and belief in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over the recent audit of the airline, saying the regulatory authority had done a very thorough job.  “We will not allow anybody to drag us back. Our audit is open. We may not ...

  FG Compensates Community With 825m For Abuja Second Runway Project The federal government has settled the issue of compensation with the Jiwa Community to allow the eventual take-off of the delayed second runway project of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.  In a meeting with the community leaders earlier today, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo and his FCT counterpart, Barrister Nyesom Wike released the sum of Eight Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, Eight Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eleven Naira, Forty-Three Kobo Only (₦825, 819, 911.43) being the total money agreed with the community for compensation.  Meanwhile, the community leaders had earlier disagreed with the federal government's offer and had insisted on a whopping ₦2billion compensation, but at the resolution meeting  the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo said “The second runway ought to have been commissioned by now,...

  NEXIM Bank to lift  air cargo export with financial instrument  In a bid to increase the volume of agro-produce export within Nigeria and to other international markets, the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, NEXIM, has pledged to assist Nigerian agro-exporters in facilitating the processes of export by providing the needed financial instrument. Managing Director, NEXIM  Bank, Abba Bello made the pledge during a visit of the Aviacargo Cargo Committee to the bank’s headquarters on  in Abuja. He said it is heartbreaking to note that foreign airlines that fly into the country with cargo still depart empty while there are abundant products that could be exported from Nigeria. He said the bank is willing to assist Nigerian local carriers to build capacity in the area of agro-product export and also suggested that the country’s domestic airlines can also look at expanding their operations to other countries to earn the needed foreign exchange. He said: “We promote the exp...

  FXTM Academy offers  financial  training programme To navigate  escalating cost of living and the emerging market dynamics,  a Nigerian firm : FXTM Academy is organising a free training programme in Lagos to enable families diversify income streams for their economic survival. The training will not only empower the participants to navigate around uncertain economic  times propelled by global financial turbulence, but equip them with the skills needed to secure their financial future. Disclosing this in an interview, the organiser and Senior Market Analyst of FXTM Academy, Lukman Otunuga said the programme will provide  a window  for participants to learn from experts , how  to learn, trade and grow in turbulent markets. The organiser said the training will create opportunities  for  experts to offer  actionable insights to enable participants harness market potential, set them on the path to success with  cutting-edge te...

  NAMA, ASECNA SIGN MOU ON IMPROVED AIRSPACE COORDINATION  In a bid to address challenges arising from the flow of air traffic between Flight Information Regions (FIRs), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has signed Letters of Agreement with the Agency for Aerial Navigation and Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA). NAMA's Managing Director , Engineer Tayip Odunowo disclosed this at the weekend. According to Odunowo , the agreement was signed in Lagos at the end of a five-day coordination meeting with ASECNA officials from Lome and Cotonou sought to enhance air traffic coordination between the Lagos Area Control Centre (ACC) and Lome Area Control Centre as well as between Lagos ACC and Cotonou Approach Unit.  Specified in the Letters of Agreement , Odunowo  said  were procedures for separation of aircraft between the two ACCs in terms of radio frequencies, the point at which aircraft are  transferred and altitudes for transfer of aircraft acr...

  Air safety : NCAA,  agencies , NAF ink civil - military MoU  In a bid to further enhance security and safety in the Nigerian civil aviation industry, the agencies in the sector are set to sign a Civil - Military Memorandum of Cooperation with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). A statement signed by Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director-General Civil Aviation (DGCA) and made available to journalists, said that the memorandum of cooperation would formalise, deepen, and strengthen the existing relationship between the two organisations. Nuhu who led the other Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of aviation agencies to the headquarters of NAF in Abuja on Monday, said that the collaboration between civil and military would lead also to the enhancement of airspace security and safety. Other CEOs who visited the force headquarters with Nuhu included Mr. Tayib Odunowo, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Mohammed Kabir, the Managing Director of the Feder...

  Ethnic Nationalism Has Slowed Nigeria's Development- Onyema ...Says Harsh Operating Environment Stunts Growth of Local Businesses  The Chairman of Air Peace, Barrister Allen Onyema, has said the practice of ethnic nationalism has slowed Nigeria's development while also stressing that the country's ease of doing business is poor. Onyema made these statements in an address he delivered on August 28, 2023, at the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association held in Abuja. The Air Peace CEO harped on the issue of regional and tribal nationalism as one of the major banes besetting the Nigerian state and remarked that attaining nationhood with that kind of mindset is impossible. "It is only when we start fighting for each other that we can have a nation. What we are doing now is fighting against each other which is the bane that has stunted our development. It is not good. Nigerians are fighting against each other instead of fighting for one another. Until we fight fo...

  Nigeria Air :  Chief Judge reverses decision to transfer suit to Abuja Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho  has reversed the  decision to transfer the suit filed by the  Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) against Nigeria Air to Abuja. The matter is now to be entertained at the Federal High Court , Lagos. Reversing the decision, Justice Tsoho faulted the judgement of Justice J. K Omotosho , alleging that counsel to Nigeria Air concealed some facts that rendered the judgement given by Justice Omotosho null and void. According to the case file in respect of the said suit, it is remitted to the Federal High Court , Lagos , for hearing and determination of the pending application for transfer to Hon. Justice Lewis - Alogoa. He referred Omotosho to a letter dated May 4, 2023, on the subject matter with reference, “Re: Judgment in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/271/2023 between the registered trustees of Airline Operators of Nigeria & ORS V.J.T Tsoh...

  Ankara Chamber of Commerce, Top Hospitals from Turkiye , Ghana Partners Akwaaba Travel Market for 2nd Medical Tourism Expo 11:26 (2 hours ago) to  me L-R: Mrs Adamma Oni- Director, Tourism Promotions, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism; Mr. Yilmazturk Ozgun- Turquaz Serenas; Ms. Diker Seda - Turquaz Serenas; Mrs Oloruntoyin Adekoja - Permanent Secretary Lagos State Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture;  Amb. Ikechi Uko -Organiser Akwaaba Travel Market; Ms. Alinak Sureyya Umran - Turquaz Serenas, Mr. Biyikli Hakan - Turquaz Serenas More hospitals from Turkiye and Ghana have registered for this year’s Akwaaba African Travel Market. They will be joining other Hospitals from Nigeria and the Philippines at the biggest travel expo in West Africa. The event will be providing an excellent platform for networking with Health and Tourism Professionals. This year's event will be in partnership with the Turkish group Turquaz Serenas. The 3-Day event will include the Food Fair, Medical...

  Air cargo export : $6trillion opportunity beckons on Nigeria  The Federal Government is not leaving anything to chance to improve revenues from non- oil exports as it consolidates strategies and interventions that will position Nigeria as the leading player in aviation cargo export in the next five years in the global value  chain estimated to be over $6trillion. With air cargo, including export of agricultural produce from Nigeria accounting for approximately 35 percent of global trade in last year according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Federal Government is seeking more participation in this value chain by putting place Action Plans / Interventions that will bridge the turnaround time for cargo facilitation at Nigerian airports, redress financial gaps in the building and maintaining of modern cargo infrastructure/facilities,  stimulate the interest of local airlines in domestic cargo business , address challenges of ...

  Controversial national carrier, airports ' concession to set tone for Keyamo  As Mr Festus Keyamo assumes duty as Minister of Avation and Aerospace Development this week, he is expected to hit the ground running defining a clear path in the mud that littered the strategic sector in the twilight of the last administration when Senator Hadi Sirika presided over the affairs of the industry. Significantly, experts in the sector expect optimism in the horizon in resolving the controversies that characterized the unveiling of the controversial National Carrier - Nigeria Air, which is still a  subject of litigation in the Federal High Court in Lagos. Given Mr Keyamo's legal pedigree as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), industry experts are looking forward to him to categorically declare of the stake of the Federal Government on the vexed issues in terms of what shape the project is taking going forward. For accountability sake, industry watchers say full disclosure on the hi...

  NAHCO Aviation Academy gets NCAA’s approval Becomes accredited ATO NAHCO Aviation Academy, a fully – owned subsidiary of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance), has been accredited as an Approved Training Organization (ATO) by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The accreditation, according to a statement by the company's spokesman , Mr Tayib Ajakaye   came after a very rigorous and painstaking process evaluation process conducted by the regulatory body which saw the new company excel in all aspects. In a letter to the Head of the Academy dated March 21, 2023, the NCAA stated that having met all the requirements set forth before accreditation can be enabled, “NAHCO Aviation Academy has met the requirements for approval as an approved training organisation in compliance with the Nig. CARs.” The approval of the Aviation Academy, according to Ajakaye as an ATO is in line with NAHCO 's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of training and s...

  NCAA issues enhanced operations  specifications to airlines    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued enhanced Air Operator Certificate (AOC) Operations Specifications (Op.Specs) to all current AOC holders. According to its Director Genetal, Captain Musa Nuhu , the authority considered  it imperative to issue the new OpSpecs with the validity of the previous AOC and Op. Specs retained. The directive is contained in an All 0perator Letter referenced NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/370 dated 18 th  August, 2023 and  applicable to holders certificated by the authority, and personally signed by the Director General of Civil Aviation. Recall that NCAA published the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 which came into effect on 10 th  July 2023 and subsection 9.1.1.7 of Nig. CARs Part 9, the NCAA redesigned the layout and format of the Operations Specifications associated with the AOC. These new and enhanced multi-paged Op.Specs conta...