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Tag: FAAN

  • Tension as FAAN blows up unclaimed Hajj luggage at MMA

    Tension as FAAN blows up unclaimed Hajj luggage at MMA

    There was panic at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Tuesday after the Bomb Control Unit of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria used an explosive device to blow up an unclaimed bag that was abandoned at the terminal.

    According to FAAN, the incident happened at about 9.30am after the departure of the fourth flight that conveyed pilgrims from the airport’s Hajj Terminal to Saudi Arabia.

    FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, who confirmed the incident, however, refuted rumours of a bomb scare at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal of the MMA.

    Explaining what happened at the facility in a statement she issued on Tuesday, Yakubu said, “At about 9:30 am, an unattended bag was noticed at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal after the departure of the 4th flight for the intending pilgrims.

    “The chief security officer of the Federal Airports Authority, Hajj and Cargo Terminal, as well as the Bomb Disposal Unit, were contacted and (they) began the process of finding out the owner and the content of the bag.”

    She added, “No one claimed ownership of the bag, so the decision to blow up the bag using an explosive device was made, which in turn caused some panic amongst the second batch of intending pilgrims waiting.”

    Yakubu stated that after the detonation, it was discovered that the bag contained some copies of an Islamic guide that was meant to guide pilgrims with regards to their journey.

    FAAN, therefore, advised passengers to be cautious of their belongings and ensure that all properties were securely kept, adding that it would like to assure the general public that there was no bomb and the Hajj and Cargo Terminal was safe and secure for flight operations.

  • Executive order: NAQS calls for modification of FAAN notice

    Executive order: NAQS calls for modification of FAAN notice

    The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has called for the modification of the public notice issued by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in its attempt at enforcing the Executive Order No. 001 of 2017.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had on May 18 signed three far-reaching executive orders expected to ease business, fast-track budget submission and promote made in Nigeria products.

    The participating agencies include the Nigerian Police Force, Directorate of State Security, Quarantine Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Immigration Services, Nigeria Customs Services, FAAN Aviation Security amongst others.

    Dr Vincent Iseghe, Coordinating Director of NAQS, made the call while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday.

    “The notice addressed to airlines and passengers, itemises and attempts to direct agencies of government on where they should be positioned at the airport during the discharge of their duties.

    “This is at variance with paragragh 20 of the executive order and it was not addressed to any government agencies.

    “The public notice by FAAN in an antithesis to the executive order it served and should therefor should be modified especially as it concerns NAQS,”Iseghe told reporters.

    He said that this has led to a situation at the international airports where NAQS officials have been forcefully removed from their posts at the departure and arrival terminals only to be confined to cargo terminal.

    “The Executive Order says; MDAs at the airports shall within 30 days merge their respective departure and arrival interfaces into a single customer interface, without prejudice to necessary backend procedures.

    “The order simply implies that all the MDAs should work together to achieve a common goal and not to send officers of the quarantine service away at entrance or departure point at the airports.

    “Nigeria is a member of the World Trade Organisation and the NAQS remains very prominent in both arrival and departure of any border inspection point at the seaport and land borders.

    “NAQS is to safeguard any agric produce that is entering and leaving the country. That is why government in its wisdom created quarantine service.

    “The main function of quarantine service is to prevent the entry of any disease of animals, plants, aquatic resources entry into Nigeria and to ensure food safety,” he said.

    Iseghe said: “if the Nigeria Quarantine Service is not properly placed, there is no way we can fulfill our obligation of meeting the international community.

    “My appeal is for the authority of FAAN to be aware of this convention and ensure that the NAQS officers are properly placed where we are supposed to be.”

    Worldwide, he said, NAQS are present in all the international airport, seaports.

    Those items reach Saudi Arabia, asides heralding a possible cycle of rejection and bans for Nigerian agricultural products.“

     

     

    NAN

  • FAAN test-run upgraded safety scanner at Lagos Airport

    FAAN test-run upgraded safety scanner at Lagos Airport

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has carried out a test-run on an upgraded baggage scanner machine that could detect explosives, narcotics and other prohibited items at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma while speaking at the event on Wednesday, said it was aimed at boosting safety and security at the airport. Also Read; Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Recruitment Update

    Dunoma said that the interest of FAAN was to make sure the airports are safe and secure, protect lives and provide machines of immense benefits to airlines and all stakeholders.

    “This scanner is intended to complement the Executive Order recently issued by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and also assist the operations of other agencies at the airport, making them more efficient.

    “Our intent is to deploy these scanners to our international airports but this depends on the outcome of its performance in Lagos,” he said.

    Dunoma said that FAAN was committed to putting all necessary measures in place in line with international aviation standards and recommended best practices to enhance safety and security at the airports.

    Also speaking, the supplier of the machine, Mr Akin Mustapha, said it was an Astrophysics Baggage Scanner which was manufactured in California, USA.

    According to him, it would identify hidden threats in carry-on items and checked-in baggage at airports, and has high penetration steel and could detect explosives and narcotics.

    Mustapha said:” It has six colour generations and that enables it to do a proper analysis of objects that go into it, better than others. It is highly reliable and very sensitive.

    “In other airports around the world, they are taking away other machines and replacing them with this machine (Astrophysics) for upgrade and efficiency.

    “With superior image quality and innovative features including six colour imaging for increased object, identification and screen assistance for automatic programmable detection.

    “Astrophysics provides operators with the advanced tools required for quick and reliable airport screening”, he said

    Recall that TheNewsGuru.com last week investigated and reported that the manual baggage checking counter had been completely removed in compliance with Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s order.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had on Thursday, May 18 signed three far-reaching executive orders expected to ease business, fast-track budget submission and promote made in Nigeria products.

  • FAAN pensioners urge Senate to stop airports concession

    FAAN pensioners urge Senate to stop airports concession

    The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Chapter, has urged the Senate to urgently stop the planned concession of the four major airports in the country.

    Mr Emeka Njoku, Secretary-General, NUP, FAAN, made the call while speaking at the monthly general meeting of the union at the premises of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Tuesday.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the Federal Government had recently appointed Transaction Advisers for the concession of the Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt airports.

    Njoku, however, faulted the move, stressing that the unions in the sector would continue to resist any plan to concession the viable airports by the Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.

    He said: “The Senate recently stopped the concession of Port Harcourt Refinery because the process was not transparent.

    “We hereby solicit further intervention from the National Assembly on the planned concession of our four viable airports.

    “If this government is known for zero tolerance on any act of impunity, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari, we cannot understand the refusal of the minister on the recently passed National Assembly Public Hearing resolution suspending the planned concession of the four viable airports.’’

    According to him, past concession agreements were not beneficial to both government and its agencies.

    Njoku noted that revenue collection points of FAAN such as the toll gate, car parks, bill boards, fuel surcharges, shops and VIP lounges were all put under concession and have all become sad stories today.

    He said the union would not allow FAAN to go the way of the defunct Nigeria Airways which was liquidated by an executive fiat.

    “We want the minister to tell the public what he wants to concession. What happens to FAAN workers, pensioners, its assets and liabilities?

    “Is there a government blueprint on the proposal and what are contained therein?

    “These and many more are begging for answers and should not be swept under the carpets,’’ Njoku said.

     

  • Ebola: We’ll step up surveillance in airports to ensure victims are caught – FAAN

    Ebola: We’ll step up surveillance in airports to ensure victims are caught – FAAN

    The Management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured Nigerians of adequate surveillance at the nation’s airports following the outbreak of Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had on Friday declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, saying that at least one person had been confirmed dead due to the virus in the country’s north-east.

    FAAN’s Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, who spoke to the newsmen on Saturday, said there was no direct flight from Congo to Nigeria.

    Yakubu also assured that all the preventive measures being put in place at the airports were still in place.

    She said that the Port Health officials were at alert at all airports, adding that the authority had also informed them of the need to increase surveillance.

    “We don’t have direct flights from Congo, we only have from Rwanda but I want to assure members of the public that we still have all preventive measures in place at our airports.

    “There are sanitisers at our arrivals with the scanning apparatus called Thermal scanners being installed by the Port Health Services.

    “The scanners have camera monitors that display pictures aside the capturing of temperature.

    “Passengers still fill that form to ensure that everybody arriving the country through our airports are not potential carriers of deadly diseases.

    “The port health officials are always at alert and we will also inform them of the need to increase their surveillance.

    “So, there is no cause for alarm,” she said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the WHO had last Thursday warned that there might be an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus again. It, however, assured that the new vaccine and rapid-response measures will contain the expected outbreak.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that Nigeria experienced the Ebola virus in July, 2014 when a Liberian American, Patrick Sawyer, who had the disease flew from Liberia to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and died five days later.

    In response, the Federal Government observed all of Sawyer’s contacts for signs of infection and increased surveillance at all entry points to the country.

    Nigeria was able to curtail the disease and was subsequently declared Ebola free by WHO.

     

     

     

    NAN

  • FAAN headquarters on fire

    FAAN headquarters on fire

    The headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos was on Tuesday engulfed by fire.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the fire affected some offices including the Audit, Communications and Engineering Departments.

    A source at the FAAN fire service said the incident, which occurred around 7 a.m., was caused by an electrical fault.

    Although there were no casualties, files and other equipment belonging to the authority were completely destroyed.

    The Lagos Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni and other top police officers were on ground to maintain law and order.

    The incident caused heavy vehicular traffic around the airport and its environs.

    As at the time of filing this report, firefighters from FAAN and the Lagos State Fire Service were still battling to put out the fire.

  • FAAN opens 2017 IGR contract bids

    FAAN opens 2017 IGR contract bids

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has commenced the bidding process for the award of contracts under its 2017 Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Budget.

    A statement signed by Herrienta Yakubu, FAAN Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, said that the process was advertised in newspapers as well as the Federal Tenders Journal on Feb. 20.

    The advertisement requested qualified organisations to express interest for the award of contracts in tax collection, audit assignment, medical equipment, goods and works.

    According to the statement, the process began on April 3 when tender documents were opened in line with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

    Yakubu said the exercise was witnessed by a Technical Evaluation Committee and three independent observers to ensure transparency.

    The observers included officials of the Builders Association, Centre for Transparency Watch, Project Development Network as well as the Federal Ministry of Transport.

    “Successful bidders will be contacted after the evaluation process had been concluded,’’ Yakubu said. (NAN)

  • FG appoints General Manager, 3 directors for FAAN

    FG appoints General Manager, 3 directors for FAAN

    The Federal Government has appointed three new Directors and a General Manager for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    This was disclosed in a statement signed by FAAN’s Acting General Manager, Mr Henrietta Yakubu in Abuja on Friday.

    Yakubu said the newly appointed directors are Group Captain U.S.A. Sadiq, Director of Security Services (DSS); Mr Rabiu Yadudu, Director of Airport Operations (DAO) and Mr Salisu Daura, Director of Maintenance and Engineering.

    He added that Mr Aniefiok Umoh was also appointed as General Manager, Finance.

    According to him, the management and staff of FAAN welcomes the new directors and General Manager and looks forward to a good working relationship that will add value to the system.

    The federal government had in October 2016 sacked all the directors except one and 21 general managers over irregular appointment.

    Also in another major shake up, the Federal Government had terminated the appointments of all directors in the Nigerian civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) earlier on Friday.

     

    NAN

  • Closure of Abuja airport runway will be counter-productive – aviation unions

    The unions in the aviation sector on Friday kicked against the plan by the Federal Government to close the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for repairs.

    The unions said the planned closure of the airport scheduled to begin from March 8 for a six-week period would be counter-productive for the nation’s economy.

    They made their position known in an open letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The letter was signed by Mr. Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Mr. Frances Akinjole, General Secretary, Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN).

    It was also signed by the General Secretary of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Mr. Aba Ocheme.

    A part of the letter read: “Your Excellency, we hasten to use this open medium to draw your attention to the proposed closure of the Abuja airport for turnaround maintenance of the runway for six weeks out of the six months that work shall continue at the said airport.

    “The necessity for the proposed exercise could not only be due to the audit findings against our country but, more importantly, as a long-overdue safety measure, which we appreciate.

    “While we accept that the Abuja runway has turned bad and requires a quick fix, our unions are of the opinion that total closure of the airport should be the last ineluctable option in repairing the international airport’s runway.’’

    According to them, stakeholders were not carried along by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) before the decision to close the airport was taken.

    The unions suggested that instead of a total closure of the airport, an additional runway should be effectively considered for construction as a long-term measure while the subsisting one continues to be put in use, under some phase reconstruction.

    They said: “Skeletal repairs of the runway could be adopted by allowing the airport for use likely between 6.00am and 6.00pm while fixing of the major damaged portions of the runway continues during the nights.

    “This has been done in several parts of the world. Why should Nigeria’s case be different?

    “Our opinion is premised on the fact that the proposed exercise, being a reactive formula, can be achieved without total shutdown of the international airport.

    “The consequential effect of such total closure will impact so grandiosely negatively on the already dire economic environment of Nigeria, given the dependence of several low and middle-income earners on aviation business in and around Abuja airport,’’ the union leaders said.

    According to them, the aviation agencies will also be deprived of their internally generated revenue during this period while some low business operators will lose their businesses completely and forever.

    The unions said: “we do not wish to believe that your government will set out to jeopardize the livelihood of its citizens at such dire time as this.

    “Total closure of an international airport, particularly Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja in an ailing economy like ours will be counter-productive at this period.

    “It is obvious that the volume of operations at the Abuja airport cannot be accommodated by the size and facilities of Kaduna Airport (Domestic and International).’’

    They further argued that other issues such as operational cost to airlines, sales of tickets to passengers as well as passenger insurance have not been well thought out.

    “Therefore, sir, it is our candid submission that the whole hoopla about Kaduna being an alternate airport to Abuja is all but a hoax.

    “In reality, most persons, especially international travellers, but also senior important local personalities, will simply shelve all activities in Abuja for the six weeks of closure.

    “Then the whole investment in Kaduna airport will be in vain. The airlines, aviation agencies and other businesses around aviation will lose colossal sums of money.

    “Some businesses will fold up and be unable to recover. This situation must be avoided by all means in our considered view,’’ the unions said.

     

  • Nigerian airports well positioned to handle traffic flow during Christmas – FAAN

    Nigerian airports well positioned to handle traffic flow during Christmas – FAAN

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured members of the public, especially passengers and airline operators of hitch-free movement of passengers and cargo during the forthcoming Christmas.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Acting General Manager, Public Affairs of FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu on Tuesday in Abuja.

    According to FAAN, necessary operational and security measures have been put in place at all airports across the country.

    Yakubu stated that the authority had also charged all Airport Managers to employ measures to ensure that only eligible persons had access to all restricted areas at the landside, terminals and airside.

    She said that Bomb Detection Unit of the Nigeria Police Force had also been charged to be more alert to compliment the efforts of aviation security personnel at the security screening points.

    “To reiterate her commitment to safety of lives and properties, the Federal Government through the Nigerian Airforce recently conducted Counter Terrorism Simulation live demonstration at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    “Passenger facilitation at all our airports has also been enhanced by the upgrade of power installations, installation of modern and bigger conveyor belts and metal walk-through detectors, servicing of lifts and escalators.

    “Stringent measures are being taken to eradicate the menace of touts and other unwholesome activities around the terminals.’’

    Yakubu noted that the expansion and modernisation of airport terminals had provided better ambience and more space for restaurants at the terminals, as well as newly opened duty free shops.

    According to her, these provide duty-free shopping experience and help passengers relax comfortably while waiting for their flights.

    “FAAN, however, advises air passengers to make early arrangements for their travels and to leave home early on their travel dates, in order to complete their boarding facilities in good time.

    “We wish all passengers safe and enjoyable yuletide,’’ Yakubu added.

     

    NAN