Airport Reporters

BASL holds mid - year management retreat  ......Seeks leadership for quality delivery  .......Pursues next phase of growth  Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), has concluded a three-day mid-year strategic management retreat themed “Leadership for Total Quality Delivery,” aimed at reinforcing its core values and positioning the organization for its next phase of growth. The retreat brought together senior management and key stakeholders to reflect on the organization’s journey, strengthen leadership alignment and agree on strategic priorities for the road ahead. In his opening remarks, the Chairman of BASL, Dr. Wale Babalakin, reaffirmed the company’s vision and reflected on its resilience in navigating various challenges over nearly two decades. “From the outset, I believed in the potential of this project, even when many doubted that a private company could successfully develop and operate an airpor...

 Ground Handling, Backbone of Safe, Secure Air Transport- Dr Afolabi, SAHCO Chairman The chairman of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) PLC, Dr Taiwo Afolabi says, ground handlings in the aviation industry is an essential component of the value chain that supports safe, secure, and efficient air transport.  This is just as Afolabi said the company remained committed to embracing innovation, adopting global best practices, investing in modern equipment, and developing a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting the evolving demands of the aviation industry. Dr Afolabi, represented by the managing director of SAHCO Mrs Adenike Aboderin at  the international conference of Aeronautical Engineers with the theme  'Aeronautical Engineering and National Development: Repositioning the Nigerian aviation industry' said the conference provided  an excellent platform for knowledge exchange, strategic partnerships, technological advancement, and policy dialogue. ...

 NDLEA EDO DISCOVERS 3 WAREHOUSES, INTERCEPTS 2 VEHICLES ARRESTS 49 WITH 2,596.28KG OF DRUGS  DECORATES 73 NEWLY PROMOTED OFFICERS The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Edo State Command has announced the discovery of three illicit drug warehouses, interception of two vehicles and the arrest of 49 suspected drug traffickers with 2,596.29 kilogrammes of drugs in a renewed effort to tackle the drug problem in the state. Commander of Narcotics Mitchell Ofoyeju, PhD, the Edo State Commander, gave the impressive July 2026 operational scorecard at the decoration ceremony of 73 newly promoted officers. “We have observed that females top the list of persons arrested, with 29, while males are 20. This is concerning, as it highlights a shift in the socio-economic vulnerability of women and a breakdown of traditional family stability. The command is strategising on family value re-orientation to address this negative development,” the commander noted.   The assessmen...

  Nigeria, Canada intensify  talks towards direct flights  The  Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to deepening aviation cooperation with Canada as both countries intensify discussions aimed at establishing direct air connectivity between Nigeria and Canada. The Minister gave the assurance while receiving the Chargé d'Affaires of the High Commission of Canada to Nigeria, His Excellency David Sproule, who led a delegation comprising the Deputy High Commissioner, Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, and the Trade Commissioner, Ms. Funmike Sojinuga, on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja. The meeting focused primarily on the expansion of bilateral air services between both countries, with particular emphasis on creating a framework that would pave the way for the commencement of direct flights between Nigeria and Canada. Speaking during the meeting, Ambassador Sproule disclosed that a high-level Canadian ...

 Air Peace, Onyema Clinch Top Honours at NTTSE 2026   ....As Airlines Prepares For Landmark Regional Expansion West and Central Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace, has secured double recognition at the 9th National Tourism Transportation Summit & Expo (NTTSE) 2026, with the airline and its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Allen Onyema (CON), receiving prestigious awards for their contributions to aviation growth, regional connectivity and continental integration. The honours were presented at the Gala Night of the summit, held at the prestigious Banquet Hall of NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, just days ahead of Air Peace’s planned launch of new regional routes connecting Lagos with Bamako, Conakry, Douala and Libreville. Air Peace received the Nigeria’s Largest Airline & Regional Expansion Leadership Award, while Dr Onyema was honoured with the Aviation Leadership & Continental Connectivity Award for his outstanding contributions to strengthening African a...

 Air Peace Hosts Travel Agency Forum .....Deepens  Partnerships For New Regional Routes  Ahead of the commencement of its new regional services to Bamako, Conakry, Douala and Libreville on  August 1, 2026, Air Peace, West and Central Africa's largest airline, recently hosted a Travel Agency Forum reaffirming its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the travel agency community and expanding regional connectivity across Africa. The forum brought together travel partners and industry stakeholders to showcase the airline's regional expansion plans, highlight new commercial opportunities, and deepen engagement with the travel trade ahead of the launch of the four new routes. Delivering the opening remarks, Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Nowel Ngala, underscored the strategic importance of the new regional routes, noting that they would improve connectivity across West and Central Africa, facilitate trade and tourism, and create greater opportunities for both pass...

  Aeronautical Engineers' Institute confers gold award on United Nigeria Airlines' boss ...Cites safety culture, rapid growth, capacity building       The Executive Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has been conferred with a Gold Medal Award by the Institute of Nigerian Aeronautical Engineers (INAE). The award is in recognition of the airline's safety culture, capacity building and rapid growth despite a turbulent economic climate.   Presented by the National President  of INAE, Dr. Ebitei Charles at the International Conference Fellowship Conferment , in Lagos on Wednesday, the body said it is reserved for individuals whose work has significantly advanced the field of aeronautical engineering. INAE, a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) regulated by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). It said Okonkwo was honoured for steering UNA’s rapid expansion in  five years since its inc...

  Aeronautical Engineers' Institute confers gold award on United Nigeria Airlines' boss ...Cites safety culture, rapid growth, capacity building       The Executive Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has been conferred with a Gold Medal Award by the Institute of Nigerian Aeronautical Engineers (INAE). The award is in recognition of the airline's safety culture, capacity building and rapid growth despite a turbulent economic climate.   Presented by the National President  of INAE, Dr. Ebitei Charles at the International Conference Fellowship Conferment , in Lagos on Wednesday, the body said it is reserved for individuals whose work has significantly advanced the field of aeronautical engineering. INAE, a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) regulated by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). It said Okonkwo was honoured for steering UNA’s rapid expansion in  five years since its inc...

 NDLEA EDO DISCOVERS 1,359KG OF CANNABIS IN A FOUR-BEDROOM FLAT AT ILLUSHI The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in a combined operation with men of the military army, successfully executed an intense intelligence-driven raid operation in the Illushi community, Esan South East Local Government Area.  The operation led to the discovery of a four-bedroom bungalow used as a cannabis warehouse located in a residential building area in the Illushi community, considered a cannabis hub. NDLEA Commander Mitchell Ofoyeju, PhD, said that a staggering seizure includes fifty-two giant bags, three gallons of cannabis seeds and a bag of cannabis seeds. The cannabis is one thousand, two hundred and seventy-three kilogrammes, (1,273kg) with eighty-six killogrammes (86kg) of cannabis seeds, totaling 1,359kg were recovered at the warehouse.  “During the raid on a four-bedroom bungalow that was being used as a warehouse for storing large quantities of th...

  Jedlof Foundation empowers widows, small businesses with grants, financial literacy  The Jedlof Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering widows and small business owners through financial support, business training, and educational assistance, with beneficiaries sharing inspiring testimonies of transformed lives during the foundation's business empowerment outreach held on July 25, 2026. Speaking at the event, the Founder of the Jedlof Foundation, Dr. Mrs. Ebele Okoye, said the organization has remained committed to improving the lives of widows, vulnerable families, and children through business empowerment, payment of school fees, food support, and other humanitarian interventions since 2022. According to her, the foundation's latest outreach focused on equipping members with practical business management skills, financial literacy, health education, and biblical principles for sustainable entrepreneurship. Dr. Okoye encouraged participants to always put God ...

 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 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 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...

 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   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 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 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...

 Minister, Board Chairman Commend FAAN MD on Pilgrim Terminal Upgrade The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo  and the Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, have commended the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, for the successful upgrade of the Pilgrim Terminal Building at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The commendation came during an inspection of the newly upgraded facility, where the Minister and the Board Chairman expressed satisfaction with the quality of work and the Authority's commitment to modernising airport infrastructure. Speaking after the inspection, Keyamo praised the FAAN management for delivering a project that aligns with global aviation standards and supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that the upgraded terminal reflects the Federal Government's determination to provide world-cla...

 MINISTER, FAAN BOARD CHAIRMAN UNVEIL PHASE ONE OF FAAN’S SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME   The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, the Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Alhaji Umar Ganduje, and the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, on Wednesday, unveiled Phase One of FAAN’s Sustainable Waste Management Programme at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The initiative, which introduces indoor colour-coded waste recycling bins across the terminals, marks the first phase of a three-stage programme aimed at promoting environmental sustainability, reducing waste and aligning Nigeria’s airports with global best practices. Speaking at the unveiling, the Minister commended FAAN’s management for introducing the initiative, noting that it reflects the Authority’s commitment to cleaner, greener and more sustainable airport operations. In his remarks, Alhaji Ga...

  Fed Govt mulls  waste to power initiatives for airports   ….As Keyamo orders installation of solar infrastructure at MMIA The Federal Government has concluded plans to activate its ambitious Waste to Power Initiative, aimed at turning waste/ refuse materials into a valuable source of energy. The new move is part of Nigeria's  compliance with global commitments for the Airports Carbon Accreditation programme managed by Airports Council International (ACI). Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, disclosed this yesterday during the launch of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Circular Economy at the Conference Room of the new terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA),in Lagos. Keyamo, while lauding the move by FAAN to pursue the Clean/Green Energy Initiatives for airports , said Nigeria was switching to global best practices as many countries , had taken steps to migrate from the use of fossil fuels in runn...