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Tag: abuja airport

  • N289.5m concealed in carton of yogurt intercepted at Abuja airport

    N289.5m concealed in carton of yogurt intercepted at Abuja airport

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted an undeclared sum of $193,000 (about N289.5 million) concealed in a carton of yogurt at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    NCS’s spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja, revealing that the seizure took place on Thursday.

    He said the suspect was aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight No. 951 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    Maiwada stated that the operation was based on credible intelligence and a thorough baggage inspection of an inbound passenger.

    “Acting on intelligence, Customs officers conducted a detailed inspection, leading to the discovery of the concealed cash,” he said.

    He explained that the undeclared funds violate the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

    Both Acts mandate that travelers carrying over $10,000 (or its equivalent in negotiable instruments) must declare it to Customs upon arrival or departure.

    Maiwada explained that advanced scanning technology helped detect the unusual density of the suspect’s luggage.

    “The seized money has been formally handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution.

    “As required by law, we are handing over the forfeited funds to the EFCC for further necessary action,” he added.

    He reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to enforcing financial regulations and curbing illicit financial flows across borders.

    He also urged travelers to comply with the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when entering or leaving Nigeria.

  • FG fires contractor handling 2nd Abuja airport runway, considers other options

    FG fires contractor handling 2nd Abuja airport runway, considers other options

    The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, says the Federal Government will not accept the N532 billion contract variation requested for by the contractors handling the Abuja International Airport second runway.

    Keyamo stated this when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation to defend the ministry’s 2025 budget. He said that the variation was against the initial N90 billion for execution of the project.

    The minister, while responding to a question on the reported stalled execution of the project, said that the contractor had moved to site after the initial release of N30 billion and payment of compensation to  communities on issues related to land.

    He said that the contractor had also done excavation on the site and carried out other works from the funds released and thereafter requested for the N532 billion variation. This, he said, was unacceptable to the government.

    “The variation that the contractors are bringing is a variation that I totally disagree with. I will not go ahead with that variation; the president himself doesn’t like variation.

    “If a contract was awarded for N90 billion, and they are proposing N532 billion variation within a space of two years, I will not accept it. The option I have is to cancel the contract.

    “So, with the situation now, we have two proposals on the table which I will take to the president, and I will consult my chairman. So we are considering various options. This country cannot go on with such unreasonable variations,” the minister said.

    He said that the ministry proposed a total of N71 billion in the 2025 budget, with capital projects put at N69 billion, personnel, one billion naira while overhead was N745 million. Keyamo said that a significant number of the projects listed for completion were already ongoing in the ministry.

    Earlier, Chairman of the Joint Committee, Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari, said that the committee must ensure efficient use of the funds allocated in order to achieve tangible results. According to him, the committee will strengthen its oversight on the ministry and the firm spending the funds. He said that the projects were so important to the aviation sector.

    Buhari also said that the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) which was removed from the Federal Government’s budget in 2023-2024, had been included in the 2025 budget.

    “Therefore, this budget event will be a critical step in our efforts to ensure that our nation’s resources are allocated efficiently and effectively,” he said.

    The senator commended the minister and his team for their commitment and the improvement recorded in the sector since the inception of the present administration. He urged Keyamo to prevail on the agencies under the ministry to always respond promptly to invitations by the National Assembly.

    He said that the national assembly had the power to invite the agencies in exercise of its oversight responsibility.

    “The only thing we just want to take and appeal to you is your agencies; whenever we call them, we don’t want to issue a second warning; we don’t want a situation where we will call them and they won’t come; we have the power to invite them.

    “So we want to appeal to you to appeal to your people that whenever they see a letter from the national assembly, they should show up,” he said.

  • UPDATE: Abuja airport runway reopened for flight operations

    UPDATE: Abuja airport runway reopened for flight operations

    The runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja has been reopened for regular flight operations, following a cargo airplane that skidded off the runway earlier today.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Federal Airports Authority Of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed the runway has been reopened.

    FAAN also confirmed that the crew members onboard the aircraft were evacuated unscathed and that they were taken to the FAAN clinic for further checks.

    A statement by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah confirmed that five (5) souls were onboard the Allied Air cargo aircraft with registration number 5N-JRT.

    Orah stated that the Allied Air cargo aircraft skidded off Runway 22 at about 10:05 am on December 11, 2024, adding that “all speculation be put on hold until the preliminary report is released by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB)”.

  • Strike: Operations restart at Abuja airport

    Strike: Operations restart at Abuja airport

    Aviation workers have restarted operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, following the suspension of the indefinite strike by the organised labour.

    Mr Samuel Wuyep, Chairman of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), Abuja chapter, disclosed on Tuesday that passengers had started coming into the domestic wing to check-in.

    It would be recalled that labour had declared an indefinite nationwide strike, midnight of June 2, to press home its demands of  non conclusion of national minimum wage fixing and non reversal of hike in  electricity tariff.

    However, in a communiqué jointly issued by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the organised labour said it had relaxed the strike for one-week, to allow continuation of negotiations

    Wuyep disclosed that following the suspension of the strike, normalcy had returned to the airport and it was fully opened for operations.

    “There are few scheduled flights that will be operated in the remaining hours of the day, so they have started checking-in  passengers.

    “Though, the traffic is very low, a lot of people came in the morning and observed that the locked -up exercise was still ongoing, so they decided to go back.

    “Some who managed to wait, got their flights rescheduled, and were told when to come back, “ he said.

    According to him, many cabin crew and pilots we nore seen working toward the expected arrival of airplanes in order to continue normal flying to other airports.

    Wuyep mentioned Value Jet, Ibom Air, Air peace and United Nigeria Airlines , among local flights that had arrived Abuja today.

    The union leader said the strike could not affect the international flights as the strike was called off before the end of the time given.

    “In the international wing, since the frame time that we gave to them would elapse today ,being June 4, the international airlines came in the morning, disembarked their passengers.

    “While they were disembarking their passengers, coincidentally, the strike was called off and some of them that were on ground decided to check-in the passengers, and normal businesses continued.

    “Everything is okay. The airport has returned to its normal businesses.  The international Airlines that arrived in the morning were Ethiopia airline, Egypt Air, among others at the international wing,“ he said.

    According to him, more international airlines are expected later in the day as the skies were opened, and the processes of check-in were on.

    Wuyep advised passengers that had scheduled flights to contact the airline toward processing their travelling documents for the  trip.

  • Abuja airport incident: NSIB begins investigation

    Abuja airport incident: NSIB begins investigation

    The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, has been notified and has commenced investigation into a serious incident involving a Boeing 737 with Nationality and Registration Marks 5N-BYQ belonging to Aerocontractors Airlines.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Dr James Odaudu, the NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, on Sunday in Abuja.

    Odaudu said there was no injury or fatality.

    “The incident occurred around 10:47am (Local Time) on 12th November, 2023.

    “The aircraft upon landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from Lagos and in a bid to exit runway via A4 had its nose wheel stuck in the grass verge with its fuselage on runway.

    “Consequently, the runway was closed pending the towing of the aircraft from the runway. There was no injury or fatality,” it said.

    According to him,the NSIB, hereby, solicits information from the general public in form of pictures, video or recording evidences to assist in conducting a comprehensive investigation.

    He said the bureau could be reached through info@aib.gov.ng and NSIB_Nigeria on its social media platforms and on its emergency line +234-807-709-0909.

    ”The NSIB will appreciate that the general public and press respect the privacy of the people on board and not assume the cause of the serious incident until formal report is released.

    “The NSIB is a multimodal investigation agency charged with the mandate to investigate transportation accidents and serious incidents in Nigeria with the aim of identifying the probable causes and proffer safety recommendations that can prevent reoccurrence,” it said.

    The director affirmed that the bureau would release the preliminary report as soon as possible.

  • BREAKING: NLC protests, blocks entry in and out of Abuja airport

    BREAKING: NLC protests, blocks entry in and out of Abuja airport

    Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) are currently staging a protest in Abuja, the federal capital territory.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the protesting NLC members blocked entry in and out of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

    Recall the aviation unions under NLC had directed their workers to withdraw services to all public and private Owerri flights (both inwards and outwards) with effect from Wednesday midnight.

    This is following the attack on Joe Ajaero, the president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Imo state last week Wednesday.

    The protest has left air travellers stranded as many were seen trekking the long distance to catch their flights.

     

    Details shortly…

     

  • NCC unveils consumer TELCARE Centre at Abuja Airport

    NCC unveils consumer TELCARE Centre at Abuja Airport

    The public concourse at the Terminal C of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja is the first beneficiary of a Telecom Consumer Assistance, Resolution and Enquires (TELCARE) Centre unveiled by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was as one of the series of events to mark the 2023 International Consumers Rights Day celebrated by the Commission in Abuja last week Wednesday.

    The Chairman, Board of Commissioners of NCC, Prof. Adeolu Akande, who unveiled the initiative, said the launch of the TELCARE, is the beginning of the helpdesk project expected to adorn some airports and other similar public locations across the country. He said it is one of NCC’s strategies for expanding the channels of engagement with telecom consumers.

    Akande said the project is a deliberate effort by the Commission to amplify its commitment to promoting the interest of consumers using various engagement strategies and initiatives to protect, inform, and educate telecom consumers.

    While expressing gratitude to the Management of the Federal Airport Authority Nigeria (FAAN) for its support in ensuring the successful establishment of a TELCARE Desk at the airport, Akande reiterated that the platform would serve as an additional channel for consumers to make enquiries on consumer issues, allowing the Commission to provide advocacy on consumer concerns as well as create awareness regarding Commission’s activities.

    The Commission, under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, has continued to re-engineer its strategies and structures to make them more effective to engage critical stakeholders to address unfair practices including but not limited to matters relating to tariffs.

    In his goodwill message, the Regional General Manager, FAAN, Kabir Mohammed, said that the Management of FAAN was delighted to partner with the NCC on the initiative, as the passengers and airport users will have the opportunity to resolve issues bothering them while in transit.

    Mohammed also noted that the first-hand interface with consumers would not only expedite the feedback mechanism in addressing telecom consumer issues but also curb unfair practices within the system and further bridge any communication gap between the consumers and its regulators.

    NCC’s Head, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ayanbanji Ojo, speaking through the Head, Consumer Protection and Advocacy at NCC, Clem Omife, expressed optimism about the expected success of the initiative.

    Ojo noted that many consumers transiting at the airport are already taking advantage of the Desk even before the launch of the TELCARE Desk, to make enquiries or lodge complaints.

    “This is a pilot project, and the Commission will ensure that the TELCARE Desk is established in more strategic locations around the nation. We believe that through adequate education, information sharing, and the provision of layers of channels for complaints and redress, we can safeguard the interest of telecom consumers and innovatively promote the prospect of more excellent consumer experience,” Ojo said.

  • Abuja airport second N78bn runway to be completed by November 2023 – Sirika

    Abuja airport second N78bn runway to be completed by November 2023 – Sirika

    The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, on Thursday in Abuja said that the construction of a second runway at Nnambdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) would be completed by November 2023.

    Sirika made this known when he received the National Assembly joint committee (Senate and House of Representatives) on Aviation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja for oversight function.

    According to him, the Federal Government is ready to speedily finance the project from the mobilisation stage to the final stage.

    Sirika , who stated that the contract was supposed to be for a period of 12 months, added that the maintenance would be for another 12 months.

    The minister affirmed that the project would be delivered before the end of the current government.

    “The work has commenced in harness, and it is our intention to deliver the project as soon as possible. It is practicable. Government is committed to this project and to fund it.

    “We are here with the two committees of National Assembly (NASS), the Senate and House Representative with their Chairmen on oversight and particularly on this spot.

    “This is where the much awaited Second runway is coming. As you can see the contractor has been mobilised to site, “ he said.

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, Mrs Abiodun Olujimi, commended Sirika for efforts made so far to kick start the project.

    She promised that the NASS would keep supporting the project toward completion as scheduled.

    “Just as the minister said, we came on an oversight visit to the site of the second runway. It has been pending for a very long time.

    “ You remember at a particular time, the airport had to be shut down because we had only one runway and it was bad. So, it is the initiative of the minister to ensure that the second runway took effect.

    “We are grateful that we are here and we have seen that the contractors are mobilised. They are here and they are working. The minister just said that the funding would be approved constantly, “ she said.

    Speaking, Mr Nnolim Nnaji, Chairman House of Representative on Aviation, said the second runway was necessary as Abuja happened to be the Capital of Nigeria.

    Nnaji expressed optimism that all relevant stakeholders would synergies and cooperate to ensure quick completion of the project.

    “ We have been expecting this construction to take off, for some time now we have been funding a budget to accommodate for the second runway.

    “ Abuja being the capital of Nigeria with an aggressive infrastructural development and economic base, we feel it is important to have another runway which is very important .

    “This runway, when completed will be the longest runway possibly in west Africa, which is about 4.2km, against the existing one that is about 3.7km,“ he said.

    According to him, the second runway is coming with a control tower, taxi way and other facilities. In the second phase of this project we will have a terminal building around this place.

    He said the project that was at the mobilisation stage at present would cost 72 billion naira for the construction.

    “As we are happy with the minister, we also congratulate ourselves to be part of this success story.

    “We will be here to witness as the chairman of the committee and members of the Aviation committee the commissioning of this project, “he said.

    Contributing, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, said he came to consider the level of compensation to be given to the indigenes and farmers, whose economic trees were affected.

    He commended Sirika for the landmark achievement regarding the commencement of the project.

    According to him, all relevant stakeholders under the current administration should be proud of it.

    “My involvement here is to look at the length of the route and have an idea of the compensation that will arise from the economic trees, to be given to the indigenous people of this territory.

    “The 2022/2023 budget of the FCT is still with us. My coming here is to see how we can probably inject some funding to meet the needs of the indigenous people,“ he said.

    “ This is to ensure peaceful construction of work and to secure the prayer and support of the indigenes for this project,“ he said.

    Newsmen reports that the new Cargo terminal and Nigeria Air headquarters buildings were also visited.

  • BREAKING: Disaster averted as Dana Air plane makes emergency landing in Abuja

    BREAKING: Disaster averted as Dana Air plane makes emergency landing in Abuja

    Disaster was averted in Abuja on Tuesday after a Dana Air passenger plane, a Boeing 737 aircraft, made an emergency landing in the federal capital territory (FCT).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the pilot in command briefed the passengers on the incident and landed the aircraft safely at the Abuja International airport at about 2.52 pm.

    All 100 passengers disembarked safely and the aircraft has been grounded for immediate attention by Dana Air’s team of engineers, TNG learnt.

    According to a statement by the airline operator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been briefed on the incident.

    Dana Air stated that the incident was due to an indication on one of the plane’s engines.

    The statement reads: “Our Abuja-bound Boeing 737 aircraft with registration number (5N DNA) embarked on an emergency landing today 19th July, 2022, due to an indication on one of it’s engines.

    “The Pilot in command briefed the passengers on the cident and landed the aircraft safely at the Abuja International airport at about 2.52pm. All 100 passengers disembarked safely and the aircraft has been grounded for immediate attention by our team of engineers.

    “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have also been briefed on the incident.

    “We sincerely apologise to all our passengers onboard the flight and reassure our customers that Dana Air will continue to maintain its high safety standards”.

  • NDLEA intercepts cocaine worth N2.7bn at Abuja airport

    NDLEA intercepts cocaine worth N2.7bn at Abuja airport

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 9.30 kilograms of cociane worth over N2.7 billion at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja.

    The NDLEA spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said a 32-year-old drug trafficker based in Liberia, Maduabuchi Chinedu, was arrested with the consignment.

    Babafemi said the suspect who hailed from Obaha Okigwe village, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo state, lived in Liberia where he worked as a miner.

    He said the suspect was arrested during an inward joint search of Ethiopian Airlines flight 911 at the Abuja airport on Nov. 24.

    He said the drug, which weighed 9.30kg cocaine, was wrapped in candies wraps and concealed in the suspect’s luggage.

    According to him, during his preliminary interview, Chinedu claimed he left Nigeria in 2018 to settle in Liberia where he now has a residence permit.

    “He, however, added that economic pressure and the need to raise money to treat his mother for an eye problem led him to seek help from a friend in Liberia,” said the statement.

    Chinedu said it was the friend who introduced him to another friend based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, who eventually gave him the drug to deliver in Abuja for a fee of N1 million.

    He added that he was initially scheduled to deliver the drug in Cote d’Ivoire but was rerouted to Nigeria at the last minute.

    Babafemi quoted the Chiarman, NDLEA, (rtd.), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and men of the NAIA Command of the agency for their vigilance and working in synergy with other security agencies at the airport.

    Marwa charged them and their colleagues in other commands to always remain two steps ahead of merchants of death who are daily getting more desperate to make money at the expense of the image of the country and wellbeing of Nigerians.