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...