Airport Reporters

Keyamo begins process for aviation industry national policy direction  Nigeria's drone sector has rapidly expanded since this administration introduced a seemingly liberalised registration and oversight process, viewing the emerging sector as a job-creation opportunity for Nigeria.  Across the country, young people are increasingly involved in using drones for a variety of applications, from agricultural spraying to filmmaking, aerial surveys, and video documentation.  Recently, Barr. Festus Keyamo mandated the NCAA to proceed with the development of a national policy framework for Unmanned Aerial Systems in Nigeria to complement the Remote Piloted Aircraft regulation Part 21.  The policy framework, when operational, will help close gaps in the proliferation of commercial development and create a more organised and coordinated commercial development industry in Nigeria.  This approval, stemming from the report of the Dronetecx 2024/2025 conference, was adopted t...

 NSE Repositions for National Development Role  Inaugurates  New 2026 Boards ,  Committee President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, has inaugurated the Society’s 2026 Boards and Committees, describing the new structure as a major step in his administration’s plan to reposition the NSE for stronger relevance, resilience and national influence. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held via zoom Wednesday, Engr. Rabiu said the year 2026 marks the beginning of what he called a “defining phase” for the Society, one that will strengthen its foundations and restore its standing as a key voice in national development and policy direction. He noted that the NSE must not only remain a professional body but evolve into a confident institution that sets engineering standards, drives innovation, shapes national policy and delivers measurable value to members and Nigerians at large. According to him, the Boards and Committees represent the e...

  Green Africa , Access Bank partner for aircraft acquisition   Green Africa Airways has unveiled  the acquisition of its second owned aircraft packaged with asset financing partnership with Access Bank . The incoming aircraft, an ATR 72-600 with manufacturer’s serial number 1064 and registration mark 5N-GAC,  according a statement by the carrier will help it  increase capacity on its existing routes across the country.  The aircraft, the airline said  is expected to enter into service shortly after customary regulatory approvals. The statement reads :" As with the carrier’s first aircraft acquisition, Access Bank, one of the largest financial institutions on the continent, provided the naira debt facility to partly fund this strategic fleet expansion." Babawande Afolabi, Founder & CEO of Green Africa, said: "We are delighted to welcome our second owned aircraft (5N-GAC) to the fleet. The addition of 5N-GAC will help strengthen a sustainable f...

  Cargo agents canvass dialogue on implementation of tariff hike  Licensed cargo agents and freight forwarders operating at airports nationwide have called for dialogue in the implementation of the proposed N20 per kilogram rolled out by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). They said FAAN's decision to increase the cargo charge from N7 per kilogram to N20 per kilogram, without consultation and negotiation falls short of the prescribed global  standards. Speaking at a briefing at the Lagos Airport yesterday, Dr Segun Musa on behalf of the agents and other stakeholders said they are ready for discussions with the Federal Government and its agencies to resolve the impasse , so as not to create any negative impact on government's revenue drive. Musa said , the agents are prepared to see reasons with FAAN , on how to increase the volume of cargo processed through the airports, which could earn the government more revenue than the arbitrary increase in cargo levy. ...

A Necessary Step: The Unvarnished Truth Behind the FAAN Cargo Tariff Adjustment  Necessary Step: The Unvarnished Truth Behind the FAAN Cargo Tariff Adjustment As the February 2nd implementation date for the revised air cargo tariff took effect, a coordinated campaign of misinformation and intimidation threatened to derail a critical national reform. The narrative, aggressively pushed by certain agent unions in Lagos, paints a picture of an insensitive Authority imposing unbearable costs. But when one scrapes away the emotional rhetoric and examines the cold, hard facts—spanning nearly two decades—a very different and far more compelling story emerges. This is a story not of imposition, but of a long-overdue legal, economic, and essential correction for Nigeria’s future. The 18-Year Freeze and the Non-Negotiable Arithmetic At the heart of this issue is a simple, staggering number: 18 years. Since 2008, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has charged N7 per kilogram for ...

 NDLEA EDO ARRESTS 46, SEIZES 6,439KG AND CONVICTS 7   The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, said that its ongoing battle against drug trafficking in 2026 had commenced on a positive platform with the successful arrest of forty-six (46) suspected traffickers with six thousand, four hundred and thirty-nine (6,439 kilograms) of narcotic drugs and seven (7) convictions in the month of January.  Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Commander of Narcotics Mitchell Ofoyeju, PhD, disclosed in Benin City while presenting the January 2026 operational scorecard. According to Commander Mitchell, those arrested included thirty-six (36) males and ten (10) females. One of the outstanding seizures within the month under review was the interception of sixty-six (66) bags of cannabis hidden inside bags of charcoal weighing 792kg. Shaibu Yusuf was arrested in connection with the bags of cannabis along the Auchi-Abuja expressway while attempting to convey th...

Stakeholders Push for NAMA's Navigational Charges Review The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is sounding the alarm on the need for increased funding to maintain and upgrade its navigational aids, crucial for ensuring safe air travel. With equipment replacement overdue and revenue deductions impacting operations, stakeholders urge the government to reconsider the 50% revenue deduction and review navigational charges, last updated 18 years ago.  NAMA holds the ace in Navigational aids provision ensuring the safety of aircraft from take off and landing relying on facilities operated by unsung heroes. The agency has continued to ensure the provision of seamless navigation of aircraft in its airspace both for foreign and domestic airlines not only because of the the reliability of it's equipment but as a result of ingenuity of professionals in the system. Most of these navigational aids are yearning for replacement. Over the years, different managements have tried to sust...