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Tag: FAAN

  • Air disaster averted as FAAN security arrests man climbing moving plane at Lagos airport

    ***saves 171 passengers, 6 crew aboard

    An air disaster was averted when a 25 years old man was apprehended around the air field by Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel manning the Charlie One (C1) link/holding area of the domestic terminal (GHQ) in Lagos.

    According to reports, the intruder was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos when he attempted to access an Air Peace aircraft heading to Owerri.

    In a swift response, the AVSEC personnel on static guard duties at the area rushed to stop his further movement to a taxiing aircraft (CS-TQU) and a struggle ensued. All efforts to stop the intruder by the unarmed AVSEC personnel failed as the intruder continued to resist arrest.

    While the struggle was ongoing, the AVSEC personnel called for reinforcement and alerted the pilot of CS-TQU of the intrusion, and to delay the aircraft to allow for a successful apprehension of the intruder.

    The intruder was eventually apprehended by the AVSEC personnel with the support of the reinforcement and was taken into custody for investigations.

    The aircraft was also advised to return to base for necessary safety/security inspections in line with standard procedure. Subsequently, the aircraft departed Lagos at 10:16hrs with 171 passengers and 6 crew members.

    The Managing Director of FAAN, Captain Rabiu Hamisu in company of the Directors of Aviation Security Services, Grp. Capt USA Sadiq (rtd) and Airport Operations, Capt Mukhtar Muye, the Regional General Manager (SW), Mrs. Victoria Shina-Aba and the Airport Chief of Security (MMA), Mr. S.M Mamman inspected the site of the incident and discussed with the Captain of the aircraft.

    It was disaster averted , and the Captain CS-TQU who spoke with FAAN Management team, commended the action of the Aviation Security team. According to him, it was a timely and professional action that protected the flight as he was not even aware of any intrusion until they alerted him.

    Speaking on the incident, Air Peace spokesman, Stanley Olisa who confirmed the development said while the man was attempting to access the aircraft, there was another private jet behind. It was the pilot-in-command of the private jet that informed the Air Peace’s pilot-in-command that a young man was trying to force his way into the aircraft.

    They therefore alerted the Aviation Security arm of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who stopped the man and whisked him away.

  • One month after closure, FAAN yet to commence rehabilitation of Enugu Airport runway

    One month after closure, FAAN yet to commence rehabilitation of Enugu Airport runway

    The rehabilitation of the runway at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, is yet to begin one month after the airport was closed by the Federal Government.

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, confirmed the development on Thursday in Lagos.

    Recall that FAAN had on August 24 announced the closure of the airport, which is the only international airport in the Southeast region, for the reconstruction of the runway.

    Yakubu said that the airport was closed due to safety concerns regarding its operations.

    “Work is yet to begin on the runway, but it will soon, once the processes are concluded,” she said.

    Following the closure of the airport, international flights run by Ethiopian Airlines have been diverted to Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers.

    Similarly, domestic flights were diverted to Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Port Harcourt Airport and the Asaba Airport in Delta.

    The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had in a meeting with Southeast governors assured that the Enugu airport would be reconstructed to meet the standard of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.

    Sirika also disclosed that the runway repairs and other renovation works would be completed by December.

  • FAAN seals off unauthorized business outlets at Lagos Airport

    FAAN seals off unauthorized business outlets at Lagos Airport

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) during the week sealed off some business outlets and shops at the cargo wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos over unauthorized activities.

    The directive to carry out the sanitization exercise, sources hinted was on the orders of its managing director, Captain Hamisu Yadudu.

    Part of business outlets sealed off at the cargo wing of the airport, it was learnt include food vendors, clearing and cargo agents offices and other businesses at the terminal.

    Investigations reveal that FAAN management was irked over the uncouth attitude of some of the business outlets, who besides operating crossed the threshold in terms of time of operations at the airport.

    Sources hinted that some of the affected outlets were using their premises for unauthorized activities not covered by the terms of their contractual agreement with the airport authority.

    Irked over the unauthorized activities, the FAAN boss, the source said has insisted that the sealed off premises will remain closed until the operators sign a performance bond to desist from activities that will subject them to ridicule.

    Investigations reveal that FAAN has set up a task force to sanitize the activities of persons carrying out business at the cargo section of the terminal.

  • FAAN reveals identity, nationality of Lagos Airport stowaway

    The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu on Saturday in Kano revealed the identity of the stowaway that climbed the Azman Airline at Murtala Mohammed International Airport as Nigerien-born Usman Adamu.
    According to him, FAAN has launched thorough to investigation which warranted the suspension of four staff, with a view to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the security breach, adding that, “With regards to the identified suspect, investigation is ongoing to ascertain his intent, be it criminal or not and his mental/psychological state.”
    Briefing Reporters at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in reaction to the incident, Yadudu said, “the suspect, identified as Usman Adamu suspectedly of Nigerien origin, and who claimed to be residing at No 1 Araromi Street , Iyana Ipaja on the 19th July, 2019 was reported to have appeared at the domestic end of the taxi way and attempted to gain access to the aircraft, while it was taxing to the holding point.”
    According to him, “the pilot alerted the Air traffic control and the message was intercepted by the Aviation Security control monitoring centre who mobilized the patrol teams to the incident. He was apprehended, detained and is currently with the Airport Police Command, as our investigation progresses.”
    The FAAN, Managing Director, however, admitted that, “the FAAN authority considers this incident a serious security breach and an Airside incursion. This is unfortunate and most embarrassing bearing in mind the huge effort and resources dedicated to the maintenance of the integrity of Airside and Airport safety.
    “We do understand that the security wheel is ever revolving with new and emerging threats daily and we have been working with all our stakeholders and the regulatory agency (NCAA) in addressing our living security challenges.”
    The FAAN boss recalled that the same suspect had been arrested before in the same airport, pointing out that, “the patrol security team arrested the same suspect on the night of Sunday the 14th of July 2019 within the Airport premises.”
    He added that, “his profile pictures were taken and he was subsequently evacuated out of the Airport to a very far location in accordance with our standard procedure. We are now reviewing this procedure in the light of this incident.”
    Yadudu noted that, “at the conclusion of this investigation, all officers who are found negligent in the discharge of their assigned duties shall be held fully accountable.”
    He, however, Yadudu said FAAN assures the travelling public that security measures would be scaled up at the airports across the country so as to forestall future occurrence.

  • US Embassy wants FAAN to provide mobility access in Lagos Airport

    The United States Embassy, has urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to link the international and domestic terminals of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, to facilitate transit of passengers.

    Mr Michael Carney, Deputy Economic Councilor, US Embassy, made the call when he visited the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Hamisu Yadudu on Thursday, in Abuja.

    Carney said that the current arrangement, where transit international passengers would have to struggle to access the domestic terminal before flying to other destinations, was not good for its personnel.

    He urged the authority to take urgent action to address the situation, adding that the embassy was ready to provide technical support to FAAN, if called upon.

    According to him, the airport transfer in Lagos was not effective and convenient for travellers.

    The councilor said it was especially cumbersome, to take another private transport in order to move from one terminal to another.

    He, therefore, advised FAAN to provide authorised vehicle for the transfer of passengers between terminals at the airport.

    “At US Embassy, we have many people who want to travel to Nigeria and often times they would want to combine trips.

    “Some may be coming from South Africa, some from Uganda and different places. But my point is this; Abuja is very limited in the number of international flights.

    “Trying to work schedules out is not as convenient as trying to get people to Lagos.

    “The problem is that US government is not going to allow its personnel to go on public transport and find their way on public travel, to get away to Abuja.

    “It is not going to happen for obvious reasons.

    “Our request is that, if there are ways in which FAAN can mobilise transport between the various terminals, behind the secured parameter, to facilitate transfers of passengers even if they have to wait for an hour, it is okay.

    “There should be some sort of route in which the bus can move from one terminal to the next.

    “I just want to put the request to you, that at least it is in the interest of the country to facilitate passenger traffic, especially in Lagos, where you have the highest number of flights and passengers.

    “But particularly for US government, we will directly benefit from that because we need to facilitate travels for our personnel who travel to Nigeria,” he said.

    While responding, FAAN MD, Yadudu, assured the delegation that the authority had a plan to construct a short monorail, between the domestic and international terminals.

    He said that the authority nevertheless, also had plans to do something as a palliative before such major project would be executed to facilitate passenger movements at the airport.

    According to him, such development would make the airport more attractive to passengers because FAAN is for passengers and stakeholders.

    Yadudu pledged that FAAN would take urgent steps to address the challenge.

    “I am guaranteeing you that we will sit down and go through this, ahead of the completion of the expanded terminal.

    “Ahead of the completion of the building, let us see how we can connect the airports, even if it is a shuttle service using luxury buses and create proper routes for them, where they can embark and disembark.

    “In the next two months, we will keep you updated in case we might need some kinds of technical advice from you since you have the experience,” he said.

    Yadudu also informed the delegation that the government had developed a plan on how to remodel the existing terminal when it moved operations to the new terminal.

    He also pledged to always assist the US diplomatic staff and personnel in Abuja, for easy facilitation and visa, on arrival processes.

    According to him, Nigeria is committed to keeping to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards for safety and security in and around the airports.

    He called on the officials to always endeavour to adhere to standard procedures at the airport.

  • FAAN closes MMIA apron gate 1 for six weeks

    FAAN closes MMIA apron gate 1 for six weeks

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the closure of Apron Gate 1 and some sections of Taxiway F of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, with effect from Friday (June 7).

    FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, said in a statement on Friday in Lagos, that the apron would be closed to human and vehicular traffic for six weeks.

    “This closure is to enable the contractor handling the construction of the new terminal to link the apron under construction to the existing one.

    “To maintain orderliness and ensure safety of operators while the project would last, the authority has developed and deployed specific procedures for vehicular movements,’’ she said.

    She said that officers of Aviation Security Department had been mobilised to ensure compliance.

    Yakubu said that FAAN solicited the understanding and cooperation of all concerned towards ensuring a safe airside for aircraft movement and personnel safety while the construction would last.

  • Abuja Airport: Operation resumes in new terminal after fire scare

    Abuja Airport: Operation resumes in new terminal after fire scare

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced resumption of flight operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja new terminal hours after fire scare on Saturday.

    FAAN’s Regional General Manager, North Central, Mr Sani Mahmud, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that normalcy had since returned to the terminal.

    Mahmud said that Turkish Airlines’ Abuja-Istanbul flight TK064 had commenced checking in as at 9 p.m.

    “This is to inform you that THY FLT TK064 enroute ABV-IST has commenced checking in processes in the NITZ and everything has been hitch free,” he said.

    There was panic earlier at the terminal when smoke emerged from a section of the facility leading to suspension of operations at the terminal.

    FAAN later disclosed that there was no fire outbreak, explaining that the incident was as a result of the system that came up when it sensed high ambient temperatures and sprays fire extinguishing agent.

    FAAN further explained that the residue of powder sprayed by the system was what was seen in the cloud as smoke.

  • No fire incident at Abuja airport – FAAN

    No fire incident at Abuja airport – FAAN

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said no fire incident has occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Saturday.

    The General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, in a statement in Abuja, said there was only an equipment alarm triggered by high temperature.

    Yakubu explained that the new international terminal was equipped with fire alarm that squarely responds to high temperature.

    She explained that because of the prevailing high temperature in Abuja, the equipment triggered an alarm at the terminal, adding what appeared like smoke was actually the powder from the equipment.

    According to her, the incident was however swiftly curtailed by the in-built fire detection and protection system at the new terminal that triggered automatically.

    “The building was designed and built with this protection system.

    “The system comes up when it senses high ambient temperatures and sprays fire extinguishing agent.

    “The residue of powder sprayed by the system was seen in the cloud, there was no fire at all.

    “The Authority will like to reassure passengers and the public that there is no cause for panic, as the incident has been put under control and our firemen are clearing the remnant of powder after which operations will resume,” she said.

    An eye witness, who pleaded anonymity, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident, which occurred at about 3pm was earlier believed to be fire.

    He said the incident also caused a lot of panic that led to suspension of operations at the terminal.

    According to him, it appears the fire alarm is very active which made the situation to be quickly curtailed.

  • FAAN confirms fire incident at Owerri airport

    FAAN confirms fire incident at Owerri airport

    An inferno on Monday affected some parts of the terminal building of the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri in Imo.

    Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, confirmed the incident in a statement in Lagos.

    Yakubu said the fire started at about 2.00p.m but was however, curtailed swiftly by officers of the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services Department of FAAN.

    “There was no casualty and normal operations has since resumed at the airport.

    “The authority has commenced preliminary investigations into the cause of the incident,” she said.

    Yakubu said that FAAN was committed to its core values of safety, security and comfort.

  • Abuja Airport: FAAN directs foreign airlines to relocate to new terminal before March 31

    Abuja Airport: FAAN directs foreign airlines to relocate to new terminal before March 31

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has directed all foreign airlines operating at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja to move to the new international terminal on or before March 31.

    Mr Sani Mahmud, FAAN’s Regional General Manager, North Central, disclosed this on Wednesday, when Emirates Airlines commenced flight operations at the new terminal.

    Mahmud said that the deadline given in order to enable the authority carryout repairs and renovations on the old Terminal C, where foreign airlines had been operating.

    He said that Emirates was the fifth international carrier to move operations to the new terminal in addition to Ethiopian Airlines, Air Côte d’Ivoire, Asky and Air Peace.

    “(The Emirates Airline) arrived with 176 passengers and 16 cabin crew on board at exactly 3:00 pm with a Boeing 777 aircraft and it is expected to depart with 222 passengers on the same flight at 6:00 pm.

    “This is the fifth international airline to relocate operations into the new terminal out of 14.

    “We have met with the remaining airlines and gave them up to March 31, to move into the new terminal that was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari on Dec. 20, 2018.

    “We believed that they have ample time to have moved into the new terminal and the old terminal is due for renovation.

    “As such, we have given them up to 31st of this month to move into the new facility and we will commence renovation of the old terminal.

    “We are confident that they will all move because we have given them offices and the connectivity is in place,” he said.

    The former Inspector- General of Police (I-G), Ibrahim Idris, who was one of the passengers on board the Emirates flight, said he was impressed with the comfort at the new terminal.

    Idris said that the facilities at the new terminal were of world class standard, urging the management of the airport to ensure that the standard was maintained.

    “This is obviously a world class airport like you see in Dubai and elsewhere and it is impressive.

    “It shows that Nigeria is moving forward because it is a dramatic change and I want to urge FAAN to ensure that this facility is properly and adequately maintained.”

    Another passenger, Joyce Mekebo, said she could not believe that Nigerian government could build such a standard airport facility, adding that it was the first time she had tasted comfort in a Nigerian airport.

    “When I arrived, I said so the government could do something this amazing all these years and they denied us.

    “So for the first time I am landing in Nigeria and I am not sweating, everything seem standard and international and the airport is really beautiful.

    “I hope they will maintain the stand because it is one thing to build a structure and it is another thing to maintain it, but let see how it goes in the next couple of years.

    “Other than that, this airport is amazing, everything is standard, it is working,” she said.

    Another passenger, Alhaji Wahab Adeniran, said that the facility and the quality of services rendered at the new terminal was impressive, saying that he could not differentiate the airport from that of Dubai.

    Adeniran said that proper maintenance was key to sustaining the current standard, and that maintenance culture in Nigeria had been an issue.

    “Actually, I am just coming from Dubai and when I entered this airport, I thought I was still in Dubai because this kind of facility and the treatment that we got here today is beyond expectations.

    “We have seen that the government is actually working, the president is doing pretty well and I hope we sustain this.

    “I don’t think I spent more than three minutes at the immigration point because the system is working perfectly.

    “What we need now is to sustain this service because Nigeria is very good at starting thing on a good note but sustaining that standard is always a problem.

    “We are happy that things are now working in the present day Nigeria,” he said.

    Asky Airlines was the first to start flight operations at the terminal on Jan. 6.

    The remaining airlines that were yet to relocate their operations include: the British Airways, Lufthansa, Turkish, Air France, African World Airline, Egypt, Rwanda Air, Arik and Medview that suspended operations at present.