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Tag: FAAN

  • Osubi airport: No definite date to commence operations yet – United Nigeria airlines

    Osubi airport: No definite date to commence operations yet – United Nigeria airlines

    United Nigeria Airlines Company Ltd, operated by Private Airlines Services Ltd has said there is no definite date yet to commence operations at the Osubi Airport.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika on Monday granted approval for Osubi airport, located in Okpe LGA of Delta State to resume operations.

    The State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had said his government had fruitful discussions with the management of United Nigeria airlines to commence full operations at the airport.

    He stated that the airlines gave assurance to operate the route immediately after approval is given for the airport to reopen.

    However, when contacted, the management of United Nigeria airlines said “there hasn’t been a definite date of commencement of operation yet”.

    Earlier, Independent had reported that the managers of Osubi airport still owe aviation agencies several billions of naira from services rendered to them by the parastatals.

    According to the report, the managers still owe the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) about N864 million for air traffic services despite the withdrawal of services by the agency over a year ago.

    It was gathered that the managers also owe the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) about N1 billion for the provision of security, aerodrome rescue and firefighting services over the years.

    However, United Nigeria denied there were challenges impeding them from commencing operations at the airport.

    “We don’t have any challenges to worry about as we will soon commence operation but there hasn’t been a definite date of commencement of operation yet,” the airlines stated in an email response to TNG.

    TNG gathered that a gentleman’s agreement with aviation agencies to pay back the debts had been reached.

  • JUST IN: Disaster averted at Murtala Muhammed Int’l Airport, Lagos

    JUST IN: Disaster averted at Murtala Muhammed Int’l Airport, Lagos

    Disaster was averted on Wednesday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos after fire engulfed a session of the airport.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the fire incident occurred at the office of the station manager of Kenyan airways.

    A source said the fire incident started from a faulty air conditioner (AC) at the station manager’s office.

    “But everything under control now,” the source told TNG.

    Firefighters from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) helped to subdue the fire.

  • JUST IN: Disaster averted at Murtala Mohammed Airport; FAAN shuts down runway

    JUST IN: Disaster averted at Murtala Mohammed Airport; FAAN shuts down runway

    A major disaster was averted at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos State on Tuesday evening, TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports.

    Disaster was averted when an Azman Air aircraft with registration 5N SYS and flight number ZQ2325 had a tyre burst on landing.

    TNG reports the incident caused the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to shut down the runway.

    FAAN in a statement revealed that it only temporarily closed the Runway 18R/36L at the Airport.

    The airport authority stated that all passengers and crew on board the aircraft were safely evacuated and that investigation into the incident has started.

    FAAN also stated that work is going on to ensure the aircraft is towed out of the runway, so as to restore normalcy.

    The statement reads: “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria hereby announces a temporary closure of Runway 18R/36L at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.

    “The closure is due to a landing incident involving a Boeing 737 Azman Air aircraft with registration 5N SYS, and flight number ZQ2325. The aircraft had a tyre burst after landing on this runway.

    “All passengers and crew on board the aircraft were safely evacuated at 1908 hours, and officials of FAAN Air Rescue and Fire Fighting Services, AIB and NAHCO are already working to ensure the aircraft is towed out of the runway, so as to restore normalcy”.

  • COVID-19: FAAN tightens measures at airports

    COVID-19: FAAN tightens measures at airports

    Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has stepped up measures to ensure safety of passengers and other airport users across the nation, as the world grapples with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, who disclosed this in a statement, in Lagos, on Thursday, said the Authority would not leave any stone unturned to ensure the safety and secured facilitation of travelers.

    She said that airports ranging from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Port Harcourt International Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and others, within its network, will be protected.

    According to her, “across the airports, car parks have been rearranged for seamless pick-up and drop off to avoid congestion.

    “We have also created new drop off zones for passengers with reduced mobility.

    “Operational and directional signages have also been conspicuously remarked at both the airsides and landsides to make movements easier for airport users and to promote social distancing protocols,” she said.

    Yakubu said that FAAN had also intensified the process of disinfecting all baggage before entering the terminals, as well as enhanced temperature screening of all passengers and staff, using infrared scanners.

    “We have also separated access entry points for passengers and staff to reduce congestion and improve on facilitation.

    “The Authority will like to use this opportunity to advise all travelers and airport users to strictly abide by all laid down travel protocols”, she said, reiterating that only passengers will be allowed into the terminals.

    “A compliance monitoring team has been constituted for each of our airports to ensure total compliance,’’ she added.

  • FAAN conducts facility tour of nation’s 23 airports

    FAAN conducts facility tour of nation’s 23 airports

    The management of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has commenced a 10-day facility tour of the nation’s 23 airports, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, said in a statement on Tuesday.

    She said that the delegation would be led by the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the authority, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, and a team from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    “The tour is aimed at assessing the infrastructural needs of the airports.

    “While also evaluating their preparations for the annual surge in passenger traffic usually occasioned by the yuletide season, as well as the level of compliance with COVID-19 protocols at the airports”, she said.

    She disclosed that while at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos, yesterday, the MD/CE used the opportunity to address members of staff at the airport.

    He assured them that management would continue to prioritise staff welfare and improved conditions of service, while urging them to continue to discharge their duties with the highest level of professionalism and dedication.

    Meanwhile, the FAAN spokesperson says the management was also preparing for the commissioning of the world class, newly completed international terminal at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

  • FAAN hikes passenger service charge by 100 percent

    FAAN hikes passenger service charge by 100 percent

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has disclosed a plan to increase Passenger Service Charge (PSC) by 100 percent.

    The new charge according to the agency will take effect from September 1st, 2020.

    With the new charge, domestic passengers who used to pay N1000 will now pay N2000 while international passengers within the ECOWAS region will pay $80 and others $100.

    Before the increment, international passengers generally paid $50 as service charge.

    The agency explained the increment was imperative in view of the loss recorded in the aviation sector.

    According to it, its current revenue was down by 95percent, hence the need to review the passenger charge.

    Managing Director of FAAN, Cap. Rabiu Yadudu disclosed these on Thursday during a press briefing.

    He said: “Airport management is capital intensive. FAAN has not increased Passenger Service Charge (PSC) since 2011, despite all the huge capital investments at our airports.

    “This increase is just a matter of necessity. If it is not necessary for us to increase, you will never see this increase.

    “Secondly, our revenue is down by over 95percent. FAAN is a service delivery agency and if you are delivering service and your revenue is down by 95percent, what do you do?

    “You will do whatever you can legitimately to continue to deliver the service with the same level of quality.

    “The increase of PSC does not even assure or guarantee us that we will be back to normal but it is just the beginning.

    “This is just one aspect of the necessity because we need to survive and keep delivering and that is why we are increasing it.”

    On the timing of the increment, he said: “You have to understand that almost every aspect of our operation is business and in this modern-day, it is relative.

    “If you look at it from the aspect of the passengers and airlines, it is clearly not the most appropriate time but if you look at it from the point of view of the service providers that are about to be consumed by the pandemic and the economic situation, then there is no better time for FAAN than this time because it would have been worse if we just sit down and fold our arms.”

  • COVID-19: FAAN declares N17.5b loss in 23 weeks

    COVID-19: FAAN declares N17.5b loss in 23 weeks

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it lost N17.5billion of aeronautic charges in 23 weeks and incurred N1.4 billion loss of non-aeronautic charges between April and June, 2020.

    Its Managing Director, Capt. Hamisu Yadudu who disclosed this at a virtual stakeholders meeting said the agency’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) dipped by over 90 per cent in the last six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Yadudu said that notwithstanding the challenges posed by COVID-19 on FAAN’s revenue, the agency has ensured that local airports under its management commenced domestic operations after meeting the requirements set by Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

    He said it was upon meeting the conditions prescribed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other regulatory agencies issued clearance to airports to reopen.

    Yadudu said during the lock down, its managers opened airports that were involved in evacuation flight arrangements.

    This according to him, further made the agency incur cost on maintenance and utilities despite the total decline in traffic as well as revenue.

    According to him, “In spite of the drastic drop in revenue, FAAN has managed to ensure that all its local airports have commenced domestic operations having met the requirements by Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, NCAA and other regulatory bodies and have been issued clearance to reopen.”

    “Plans are also at advanced stage to ensure that the International Airports are set for re-opening on the 29th of August, 2020 as announced by the Minister of Aviation as we will be seeing during the course of this meeting. All these have come at a huge cost to the Authority with little or no cash inflow,” he said

    Speaking on the protocols put in place for the commencement of international operations as guideline to ensure that more than 1,280 international passengers are allowed on a daily basis, Yadudu said that it would translate to reduced revenue for the agency, as fewer passengers would be coming in.

    “The above automatically translates to fewer passengers and limited income even with the resumption of international operations. All these are issues of great concern to the authority and partly what has necessitated the need for all our stakeholders to rub minds on strategies to adopt to ensure that the industry remains in operation to provide the very much needed service,” Yadudu said.

    The Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA), Mrs. Nike Aboderin in her presentation titled, “Ongoing COVID-19 and Implications on FAAN” revealed that the agency lost over N17.5 billion of aeronautic charges in 23 weeks and also N1.4 billion loss of non-aeronautic charges from April to June, 2020.

    She explained that the loss is huge compared to the same period in 2019.

    Aboderin lamented that compared to 2019, only 8.7 per cent of the agency’s non-aeronautical revenue charges were collected from April to June 2020.

    She pointed out that as a result of the pandemic FAAN customers were not only defaulting on payment for services rendered to them but that there is an increasing request for payment suspension, deferral and waivers

    Aboderin further stated that 87 per cent of 2020 budgeted overhead cost was wiped out in six months with up to 95 per cent decline in weekly revenues.

  • DSS reacts to report of assault on FAAN official at Abuja airport

    DSS reacts to report of assault on FAAN official at Abuja airport

    The Department of State Services (DSS) had dismissed report of assault on an official of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) by its Head of Formation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The Public Relations Officer of DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that FAAN had also accused its official of breaching security protocol at the Airport, adding that it had not been established that any FAAN staff was assaulted.

    Afunanya said DSS personnel were well mannered and could not have slapped or fought a worker of another agency.

    He said the news, as reported in some sections of the media, had left an impression that was not factual.

    The public relations officer, therefore, called on the public to disregard the report.

    According to him, for the record, no DSS staff fought or engaged in any acts prejudicial to discipline or inimical to public safety at the airport under reference.

    “In line with its statutory duties, the Service recognises the Airports as one of the country’s most important assets and has remained at the forefront of protecting them and other critical ones.

    “It takes their security seriously and cannot breach it. As a strategic partner, the Service holds FAAN and its staff in good esteem.

    “Both agencies have, over time, enjoyed robust working relationship in the areas of training and exchange programmes,” he said.

    According to him, there are other avenues than the social media to resolve any misunderstanding among staff of two agencies that have had long history of unity of purpose in the execution of their mandates.

    He said the service had high value for effective interagency collaboration needed to achieve positive outcomes for good of the country.

    Afunanya urged travellers to go about their normal businesses as the Service, in conjunction with relevant authorities including FAAN, were committed to their safety.

  • DSS Boss, Safiyu Abba slaps aviation security official on duty at Abuja Airport

    DSS Boss, Safiyu Abba slaps aviation security official on duty at Abuja Airport

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reported another breach of its security protocol at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    This time it involved the head of the Department of State Services(DSS) at the airport, Safiyanu Abba.

    According to FAAN, Abba not only breached the security procedure at the airport, he also slapped a security officer, who wanted to ensure compliance.

    “We note with dismay that Mr Safiyanu Abba, the Head of DSS at NAIA deliberately obstructed airport Security process, and slapped an Aviation Security Officer”, FAAN tweeted on Wednesday.

    FAAN said the assaulted officer was performing his duty by calling on Mr Safiyanu Abba to desist from doing so.

    “This happened on the 17th July at about 15:25 hours. He breached security procedure by obstructing further searching of a visitor who had just walked through the metal detector and activated the alarm.

    “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria strongly condemns this abuse of power and the Security process in our airport. This has also been duly escalated.

    “FAAN committed to our core values of safety Security and comfort”.

    FAAN had similarly reported such breaches in recent days.

    On 16 July, FAAN blew the whistle on Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa state, who arrived Port Harcourt international Airport aboard aircraft 5N-IZY, at 17:08 hrs on 14th July 2020, along with an entourage of eight.

    All of them refused to comply with the COVID-19 protocol and security procedure.

    FAAN said they flagrantly refused to have their temperature checked, or being sanitised by the health officials.

    “His whole entourage of 8 did exactly as he did. The team that came to receive them drove right through the barricades up to the terminal building ignoring traffic and Aviation Security instructions”, FAAN said.

    FAAN also recently reported former Governor Abdulaziz Yari for refusing to allow his luggage decontaminated.

    However, none of the infractions degenerated into an assault like Safiyanu Abba’s.

  • Aviation Minister speaks on full resumption of flights across Nigeria

    Aviation Minister speaks on full resumption of flights across Nigeria

    Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has said domestic flights would fully resume at Kano, Maiduguri, Benin and other airports across the nation on July 15.

    Sirika, who made this known while addressing newsmen at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano (MAKIAK) on Saturday, however, said that any airport not yet ready would be given enough time to prepare not to risk people’s lives.

    He commended the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for measures put in place at the airports to curtail spreading of COVID-19.

    The minister led a team of aviation industry stakeholders and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja to MAKIAK on a simulation exercise with MaxAir Flight.

    He said the two organisations had done extremely well on physical distancing and good hygiene being established and properly followed at the nation`s airports.

    “I am very glad and I think the NCAA with FAAN have done extremely very well under our watch to ensure that everything we put in place on physical distancing and good hygiene is being established and followed.

    “So, we believe this airport is one of those airports that are safe to operate in and out during this COVID-19. I am happy with what I saw and it is good enough for us to go,“ the minister said.

    Sen. smart Adeyemi, Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, commended the Aviation Ministry for good supervision to ensure right things were done towards safety to ensure COVID -19 was not spread at the airports.

    “Quiet a measure of things have been put in place as far as this airport is concerned to ensure that there is adequate protection and safety for passengers who will be coming in and going out.

    “When you talk about this pandemic, the airport is key to eradicating and minimising the infection. Today we have gone round to see the measures already on ground with the objective of minimising the spread,” he said.

    Adeyemi urged the ministry to ensure adequate water supply in the Kano Airport as it was done in Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    “I want to suggest that the minister look at the possibilities of extending supply of water to the departure point of this airport. All other things that are needed have been put in place.

    “I also believe that there is still need to be information on the board to direct passengers who will be coming in, especially those who will be coming in newly.

    “When we compare to that of Abuja we discovered that the departure needs few things to be put in place.

    “A lot of campaign still needs to be done within and outside the airport against the spread of COVID-19. With this exception, I know they have done the best that is required of them,“ he said.