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Tag: Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria

  • Travel stakeholders call for enhanced technology for airlines turnaround performance at airports

    Travel stakeholders call for enhanced technology for airlines turnaround performance at airports

    Stakeholders in airlines and travel agencies have called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to improve and enhance its technology for the new international protocols on check-in procedures for passengers to facilitate the turnaround performance of airlines.


    Speaking on Friday at the Sabre Africa Network Webinar conference with the theme: ‘Understanding Travel Complexities Post-Covid-19:”, Views from the Stakeholders,’  they also charged investors in the travel business to improve on technology deliveries in order to remain relevant post Covid-19 era.


    They stressed that without technology and dissemination of adequate information, the recovery level of air travel in the country would be slow when compared to other countries around the world.


    Country Manager, Cabo Verde airlines, Gbenga Onitilo, said the global travel sector would never remain the same post-Covid-19 virus until vaccines are developed to combat the disease, adding that the advent of coronavirus had reduced capacity for airlines by over 90 per cent, while about 30 million people are directly and indirectly unemployed globally.


    He explained that on resumption of flight operations, no airline would operate beyond 40 to 50 per cent capacity and expressed doubt about the preparation of Nigerian airports towards post-Covid-19 era.


    Mr. Onitilo stressed that airport performance would determine airline’s turnaround performance expressing doubt about the preparation of Nigerian airports towards post-Covid-19 era.


    “Airports will determine aircraft turnaround and not the airlines alone. We don’t know the pre-checking procedures in our airports. Dubai International Airport has embarked on automation process for air travellers, yet, we don’t have information from FAAN and NCAA.”


    “We are not going to return to pre-Covid-19 era again in the way we do our businesses. So far, we have about 600,000 deaths globally, which has brought changes in human interactions. A lot of air travellers are bothered about aviation and the possibility of contracting Covid-19 onboard aircraft.”


    “Everybody is now innovative about taking the business to their customers, even, the airlines are having a lot of shifts. The travel sector can never be the same again until you have the vaccines, which may come in the next 18 months. People have lost jobs and thousands of people are redundant. The protocols of airlines to ensure safety will determine the travel for the future.


    Sales Manager for another regional airline, Mr. Abiola Bakare, however expressed optimism that the travel industry would return to the pre-Covid-19 era in the next two or three years and charged air operators to be ingenious and think out of the box in order to compete post-Covid-19 era, work with Travel Management Companies (TMCs) for improved delivery to clients.


    He also called for harmonised health certificate for all travellers worldwide, saying that people would not travel if they would be isolated for 14 days in any country.


    “Going on 20 days holidays and having to spend the first 15days in isolation will not worth the while.”

    “Covid-19  has come to stay here with us and may end up like a way of life just like malaria, yellow fever and others in Africa. For Air Cote D’Ivoire, passengers would need about three hours to go through the check-in. Even, FAAN in a statement said passengers should expect delays at airports.


    “Air Cote D’Ivoire is putting in a lot of measures to enhance safety in its operations. We will be able to return to pre-Covid-19 pandemic in the next two to three years. People are willing to travel inasmuch as the airports are safe. We are embarking on aircraft sterilisation,” he added.

    On her part, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, President, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agency (NANTA), called on travel agency practitioners to equip themselves with more relevant information and charged government to release more necessary information on new procedures to the body for easy transition.


    “The government should stop thinking that we as travel agents will come to ask them for money. What we need is international standards in our operations for the country. People want to travel, but are also careful about safety.”


    Earlier, Director of Operations at Sabre, Mrs. Hannah Ogunsulire  in her opening remarks, decried that the travel industry had been heavily impacted in recent time, while jobs are being lost regularly.
    She hoped that with adherence to international standards on safety, the sector would return stronger.

  • Nigerian Aviation unions threaten strike action over salary

    Nigerian Aviation unions threaten strike action over salary

    The unions in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, have threatened to embark on an industrial action over the proposed reduction in salary payment for the month of May.

    The unions, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, ANAP in a letter addressed to the Managing Director, FAAN today and signed by the scribes of both unions have given FAAN management 24 hours to call for an urgent meeting with the unions to discuss the matter.

    They say industrial harmony will not be guaranteed and the consequences which may follow if the meeting is not called.

    The Management of FAAN had on the 19th of this month in a memo informed the workforce of the agency that due to the dwindling revenue generation amidst COVID19 pandemic, management may not be able to pay full salary to staff as from May 2020 but however assured that as soon as the revenue generation improves, the balance will be paid to ensure the survival of the organization.

    The Secretaries General of the unions, Comrade Abdulrazak Saidu and Comrade Frances Akinjole say, they are amazed and disturbed by the FAAN’s management unilateral decision despite the agreement with the unions that before any decision is taken, they will be carried along.

    According to the letter, the unions say if such affront could be willfully mete out to a component of the staff Conditions of Service, CoS, without the knowledge of the National unions, it portends a possibility of waking up one day to find the the CoS document clandestinely reviewed.

  • COVID-19: FAAN express worry over dwindling revenue

    COVID-19: FAAN express worry over dwindling revenue

    The Management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN has expressed worry over the dwindling revenue of the agency following the continued lockdown due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

    The Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, FAAN, Dr. Clifford Omozeghian, who disclosed this to newsmen monitoring the lockdown at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Ikeja, said, FAAN Management would liaise with the federal government to see how the issue of revenue generation would be addressed to meet up with airport infrastructure challenge.

    Dr. Omozeghian explained that only recently April salaries of FAAN
    workers was paid saying that it was the directive of the federal
    government that workers salaries should be paid and to take care of
    other key critical projects in the aviation industry.

    “Revenue for FAAN has dwindled drastically, management will liaise
    with the Federal Government to see how this issue of revenue
    generation would be taken care of because it may be difficult to pay
    salaries but I know that a fact that with the federal government on
    our side, certain measures will be put in place.

    “Federal Government has said salaries must be paid and that is a key instruction from the FG and that will be taken care of as much as
    possible and that has been done.”

    Dr. Omozeghian noted that with the global problem, the global economy
    is in recession and FAAN is not excluded as it generates its revenue.

    He expressed optimism that the present situation would be quickly
    taken care of so that FAAN would not have issues with the payment of
    salaries and taking care of very key critical projects that are
    essential in the aviation industry.

    The FAAN Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, explained that FAAN
    would continue to provide services to approved airlines during the
    period of lockdown adding that evacuation of nationals of some
    countries have been carried out at various times.

    “We had Europeans, we had Americans, and we had British citizens, citizens of various nationals being evacuated at various times.
    Because we render essential services, some of our key staff has been on ground rendering these services ensuring that these flights and their operations are smooth and there is easy take off and landing and these have been some of the activities we have been carrying out and everything has been smooth.”

    He said the management of FAAN had given out palliatives to essential staff that come to work every day in order to make them happy at this critical time adding that the process of distribution was still ongoing.

  • MMIA Toll Gate: FAAN to earn N100m by March Ending- Danjuma

    MMIA Toll Gate: FAAN to earn N100m by March Ending- Danjuma

    The chairman, Air Transport Services Senior Staff, Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), FAAN Branch, Comrade Ahmed Danjuma has projected an expected income of about N100 million by March ending, as proceeds from the collection of tolls at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) access road.

    Comrade Danjuma who disclosed this figure in a chat with newsmen yesterday stated that FAAN has been able to garner N80 million from toll fees collections, added that by ending of March, FAAN will be able to know precisely how long they can stay.

    “I assure you that we would be able to hit N100 million”, Danjuma stressed.

    He added that “Within the first month of operation, I think we generated over N80 million despite the teething problems. Initially, we had the issue of change despite the fact that l- cube has sold off all the stickers and even 2019 stickers are still being used coupled with the fact that there are so many challenges we had in that place”.

    Explaining the security aspect of the task, the labour leader said, “you know our members were not guarded at night, we don’t operate beyond 11pm, so you see the difference between 11pm and 5am; any car passing through there is passing free. Despite all these, we have been able to hit N80 million. So by the ending of March, we will be able to know precisely. I assure you we will be able to hit N100 million.

    Danjuma also informed that, in a recent meeting with FAAN MD, Capt Rabiu Yadudu and others, the union had raised the need to establish a free trade zone around the airport environment.

    He stated that the idea was brought to Capt Yadudu, based on the information they got on how the establishment of the free trade zone would benefit the people. He however, pointed out that, the concern of the union is that, the free trade zone will give room to business owners within the confine of that zone to operate without paying taxes.

    Recall that one month ago, the union took over the collection of tolls at the MMIA.

    Emphasising that FAAN went after the facility because they believe that they can do it better, Danjuma further explained “that was even the main reason we even went there and to God be the Glory, up till date, we have done creditably well, our members are working very hard. The fear of inconsistency in government and managing businesses have been abused here, we have not seen that and we have been able to prove to everybody that yes, we can do it and we can do it better”.

    On the series of indebtedness to FAAN by operators, Danjuma said the union has written to some of their debtors, requesting them to offset their bills within a shortest possible time, just as they have advised management to call these debtors, sit down with them and negotiate on how best the debts could be paid.

    He said the essence of a union, is for them to ensure that the welfare of their members are taken care of. He however, maintained that they do not only emphasise welfare for workers, but that they first and foremost, find out how they can make the system better so that welfare will now be second issue.

    Lamenting discrepancies in signing of MoUs between FAAN and state owned airports, Danjuma said “All the welfare issues were outlined. I think the most important one is the issue of those of our members that are domiciled in most of these state owned airports. Most of the MoUs signed between FAAN Management and the state owned airports were not properly done; it is in such a way that most of our members are exposed to hazards. They were not captured in the MoU’s based o medicals, their accommodations and so many benefits they are supposed to be deriving from those airports.

    He therefore, appealed to the management to ensure that they look at those MoUs and ensure that their members are captured fully.

  • FG acquires new anti-wildlife equipment for airports

    FG acquires new anti-wildlife equipment for airports

    The Federal Government has acquired new anti birds equipment for airports to ensure Flight safety.

    Statistics from the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO, show that globally over 3.6 per cent of flight incidences are traceable to bird strike and other wildlife hazards.

    Director of Operations, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Captain Muktar Muye who disclosed this at the symposium on Reduction on wildlife strike hazard at Nigerian airports said, the equipment called Phonix bird wailers would be shipped into the country in few weeks and deployed to the four major airports in the country.

    According to him, the Phoenix bird Wailer deters birds from airport runways and helipads, using high-fidelity natural alarm and distress calls together with local raptor calls.

    He emphasized that increased traffic and growing bird population near airports together raises the risk of bird-aircraft collision.
    According to him, data from ICAO shown that 89% of bird strikes occur near or on the aerodrome.

    Captain Muye stated that the responsibility for the elimination of collision hazard fell on the airport operators, adding that FAAN was working with the regulatory agency to develop and implement a wildlife management plan for each airport which includes training of personnel to manage the programme.

    He, however, noted that the onus was on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA to put in place appropriate legislation and regulations to address the safety concerns including those related to land use around the aerodrome.

    “Airline Operations are complex and operating cost is high. Time is one of the most valuable commodities and schedules are finely turned to ensure on Tim performance. Striving to achieve this, flight crew are constantly weighing safety and economics”.

  • FAAN Boss Calls For Attitudinal Change In Aviation Sector

    FAAN Boss Calls For Attitudinal Change In Aviation Sector

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu has appealed to stakeholders in the Nigeria’s aviation sector to come up with the right attitude so as to achieve the desired developments in the industry.

    Capt. Yadudu who spoke at the launch of a book titled “Troubled Skylines, Travails of Nigerian Commercial Aviation” by Group Captain John Ojikutu stated that it is not enough to have people with intelligence and that what is more important is to have people with the right attitude.

    Yadudu advised stakeholders to endevour to fix their attitudes so that they can be led to the right commitments that would eventually lead to great achievements.

    Yadudu identified the biggest challenge in the industry to be partisanship. He therefore, advised that all stakeholders should start working together to fix their attitude so as to show an example in the aviation industry.

    While admonishing critics to come up with constructive criticisms, the FAAN boss equally urged airlines, pilots, ground handlers, government agencies and other stakeholders to work together and also try as much as possible to be open to constructive criticisms.

    He said that, it is educated people and people with experience with high pedigree are the ones causing problem in Nigeria.

    According to him, once a professional has partisan inclinations, that undermines professionalism, stressing that, this is the more reason countries lesser in terms of resources and human beings doing much greater than what Nigeria is doing.

    He said “So I think ART and all other stakeholders should start, behind the scene to coordinate a kind of program and initiative that will see that Nigerian aviation coordinate as one, work as one and achieve as one.

    “Without proper coordination, it will never happen; we will sit as one after another book written by Group Captain Ojikutu or any other person and keep on lamenting. But let’s take charge. Let’s do the right thing, after all; when you write a book, it is a sign that you have intelligence, so with your intelligence let’s coordinate our actions”.

    Let’s not act according to stereotype. Let’s start working to fix our problems; let’s not reserve our lamentations for when we are launching books, when we are doing conferences, when we are going to different locations”.

    He suggested that stakeholders in the aviation industry should have a committee, made up of senior people to coordinate other stakeholders and to ensure that the industry is talking as one.

  • Coronavirus: FAAN urges travelers to comply with Health checks at Airports

    Coronavirus: FAAN urges travelers to comply with Health checks at Airports

    In an effort to protect passengers from the Coronavirus epidemic ravaging some countries in  South East Asia, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has  urged  passengers and other airport users to comply with all quarantine procedures at the nation’s airports.

    FAAN said the new move became necessary to prevent the spread of such communicable disease into Nigeria.

    In a statement, the General Manager,  Public Affairs,  Mrs Henrietta Yakubu said the authority had already taken proactive steps by ensuring that  equipment and personnel used in combatting the deadly Ebola virus in 2014 were still   in place at airports.

    According to her, FAAN had  always had thermal scanners in her airports that monitors the  temperature of passengers as well as  capture their pictures.

    She said, “When passengers walk pass the scanner, it registers their temperature and If too high, they are pulled aside for observation.”

    Recently, a deadly virus known as CORONAVIRUS broke out in China and has since killed six people, with over 300 reportedly infected.

    The highly communicable virus  has already spread to border countries including  Japan, Thailand and South Korea.

    Mrs Yakubu said: “The Authority, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, have  confirmed the adequacy of the facilities at the nation’s airports to prevent the importation of the virus through the airports.

    “Passengers are therefore advised to submit themselves for routine quarantine checks  whenever they are asked to.”

  • Bush Fire around MMIA airfield, ARFFS battling to put out fire

    Bush Fire around MMIA airfield, ARFFS battling to put out fire

    The fire fighting and rescue officers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN are currently battling to put out a bush fire reported at the RESA of 36L of the Murtala Mohammed International airport, Lagos.

    The bush fire was said to have started about 5minutes ago and the fire officers were immediately notified and swiftly moved to the site.

    The General Manager Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu says in a statement that the incident has not affected flight operations in and out of the airports.

    “However, the incident did not affect flight operations as normal flight Operations continues unhindered”.

    “Officers of the Fire Rescue and fire fighting services,(ARFFS) are presently on ground and fire fighting is in progress”

    Barely a month ago, a similar incident was reported to have occurred at the Port Harcourt international airport resulting in scores of passengers stranded at the airport as the runway was closed for some hours.

    The runway was later reopened after the fire was curtained by the officers of the fire rescue and fire fighting services.

  • NCAA fumes, suspends Turkish airline from Nigeria over baggage issues

    NCAA fumes, suspends Turkish airline from Nigeria over baggage issues

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has asked Turkish airline to suspend its operations from Nigeria beginning from December 16, until it has the right size of aircraft that can transport all passengers with their baggage at the same time, into the country.

    The NCAA is fuming because the incessant  baggage issue has cost many Nigerian travellers a fortune, as the carrier continues in the same pattern .

    In a letter titled: OPERATIONS OF TURKISH AIRLINES INTO NIGERIA and dated December 11, 2019, with Ref No: NCAA/DG/12/16/20 and addressed to the country manager of the airline, the regulatory authority expressed its displeasure over recent cases of not bringing passengers into Nigeria with their checked-in baggage.

    The letter signed by Captain Sidi Abdulahi, acting director general of the NCAA and was copied to the Managing directors of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA), noted that the airport authority had been facing serious crisis controlling the passengers at the airport whenever they arrive without their luggage.

    It added that it had no choice other than to call for the suspension of operations of the airline into Nigeria since all meetings held with the management over the issues had not yielded any positive result.

    “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority wishes to extend its compliments to Turkish airlines and also to express serious displeasure about the recent cases of not bringing passengers into Nigeria together with their checked-in baggage.

    “These incidences which have been going on for over two weeks, have become so bad that the most recent flight arrived without more that 85 percent of passengers’ baggage on board. This issue has made passengers to carry out several mob actions at out airports and it is a great threat to our airport facilities .

    ” In view of all these and the series of meetings held with Turkish Airlines personnel which did not yield any solution to the problem, the NCAA is therefore left with no option that to direct Turkish airlines to suspend its operation into Nigeria until such a time when the airline is ready to operate with the right size of aircraft that can transport all passengers with their baggage at the same time.

    “If no remedial action is carried out by your airline, this suspension shall be effective from the 16th of December, 2019”, the letter reads.

  • FAAN/FCI: Sign agreement to build Aviation Expo centre as NIGAV awards is set for 14 Dec.2019

    FAAN/FCI: Sign agreement to build Aviation Expo centre as NIGAV awards is set for 14 Dec.2019

    The Aviation industry is set to witness another milestone in airport landscape improvement with the recent agreement signed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and FCI International Ltd (the initiator of NIGAV award).

    This follows the approval of Capt. Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu, the Managing Director of FAAN on a land lease agreement which was conveyed by the
    Company Secretary/Legal adviser (Head of the Directorate of Legal Services) to FAAN Mr. Clifford Imade Omozeghian to Fortune Idu the
    Managing Director of FCI International Nigeria/Chairman of NIGAV.

    The agreement is the setting up a permanent befitting centre for development and international trade promotion within the corridor of
    the Murtala Mohammed International Airport called the Nigeria Aviation (NIGAV) Conference and Exhibition Centre.
    This is coming as the FCI and the Nigeria Aviation industry is warming up towards one of the most iconic events of the industry, the
    prestigious Nigeria Aviation Award and the Ministerial gala on the 14th December 2019 at Oriental hotel Victoria Island.

    The 2500sqm centre is to project the best of Nigeria’s businesses and
    enterprises and stand as a centre of industry promotion excellence.

    The centre which will take off early next year is planned through three development stages as envisioned by Mr. Idu. The first stage is to develop a 1000 sitter capacity hall that can
    hold 100 exhibition booths where all kinds of industry activities including open-to-public ceremonies can be held.

    Then the second stage is to expand by building meeting rooms, cafeteria for workshop and business hub meetings and the 3rd stage will be a multistory facility with aerial hall, underground parking, meeting rooms, recreation and learning facilities.

    Centres of such at the international airport axis’s are often considered as investor’s gateway and the foresight to sign this project by the Managing Director of FAAN is in line with the President Buhari’s administration’s mandate of increasing indigenous capacity in creating wealth by opening a platform within the airport corridors where the numerous indigenous produce can be showcased for export market using the air cargo services.

    This also reflects on various good gestures of the administration towards the development of the aviation industry. The industry definitely needs the centre that can project development and serve as meeting point for not just Nigeria but Africa in general.

    Exhibition and conference is a uniting force and it will bring peoplefrom all over the world to Nigeria. This of course means greater air traffic flow to Nigeria and with direct impact on the aviation economy and the Nigeria economy too.

    The NIGAV centre is a win-win for the air transport industry and Nigeria. It is planned to start hosting events from February 2020 such as the Airport Business Summit and Expo, OPITeX for the oil and gas pipeline expo, NIMPORT, Agro Air Logistics Conference, WedExpo and hopefully the next Nigeria award will be held at the centre in 2020.

  • We have plans for Ibadan Airport- Makinde

    We have plans for Ibadan Airport- Makinde

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has assured that soon, Ibadan Airport located at Alakia Area would be upgraded to facilitate cargo operations and international flights, adding that the state government is already discussing with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, on the realization of this goal.

    Makinde, who stated this at the weekend while addressing a crowd that gathered for a civic reception in his honour at his ancestral village, Ajia, in Ona Ara Local Government Area of the state prepared the minds of the residents for unprecedented development that his administration would bring to the state.

    Pointing out that agro-allied services would benefit heavily from the impending upgrade of the Airport, the governor said, “As I stand in front of you, I promise that I will not disappoint the people of the state. I am telling you here today, prepare yourself for the unprecedented development of the state. I have begun discussion with the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and they have given us certain conditions on the upgrade of our airport so that it can accommodate bigger aircrafts.

    “When that is done, those travelling from Osun, Ekiti and Ondo will not need to get to Lagos before boarding flights and what that tells you is that Ajia and other rural communities around the airport as well as the economy of Oyo State, will soon witness a new dawn.”

    The governor equally restated his commitment towards fulfilling all his campaign promises, noting that his government has begun different efforts to see to the development of infrastructure, education, agriculture and health sectors in the state.

    He, however, admonished the youths to take their education seriously by making judicious use of the free education policy of his administration so as to become useful and productive to themselves and the society.

    “It has been said that a prophet is without honour in his own town. But today, the people of Ajia, my kinsmen, have honoured me and you have not made selfish demands from us, you have asked us to govern with integrity and the fear of God; you have warned us to be wary of sycophants and to continue to pay attention to the welfare of the people as we have been doing. I assure you that we will do all these and many more in fulfillment of our promises”, the governor said.

    Assuring that the reconstruction of the Ajia Road would soon commence, he stated that as a private citizen, he had offered to construct the road but that the previous administration in the state turned down the offer.

    Makinde also stated that he had equally faced similar hostility from the previous administration in the state, as its agents destroyed the borehole and the equipment deployed by his contractor when he was trying to build a borehole for Alesinloye Market in the state capital.

    Earlier, a foremost Head of Service in the state, Pa. Theophilus Akinyele, expressed joy that Ajia Village could produce the governor of the state after producing about three heads of service.

    He urged the governor to continue to place premium on the welfare of people, as he had been doing as a private citizen, demanding that Ajia be made a model village.

    Also speaking, Chairman, Ajia and its Environs Descendants Union, Engr. Amos Fakayode, commended Makinde for making Ajia and Oyo State proud through his achievements within the first 100 days in the office.