TheNewsGuru

Tag: FAAN

  • NDLEA arrests owner of drug consignment that caused Lagos airport furore

    NDLEA arrests owner of drug consignment that caused Lagos airport furore

    NDLEA now has in their custody the suspected owner of a consignment of tramadol concealed in a bottle of dietary supplements, which caused a furore at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja on Tuesday.

    NDLEA’s spokesman, Mr Mr Femi Babafemi, stated on Sunday that the suspect was arrested on Friday.

    A viral video had claimed that the suspect being tortured on his knees while being slapped by another on Tuesday was an employee of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    The man was being tortured by a passenger for attempting to use the latter to traffic drugs to Accra.

    FAAN on Wednesday distanced itself from the man and declared that he was an employee of an aviation services company operating within the airport premises.

    FAAN stated that the passenger resorted to slapping the officer whom he had compelled to kneel before him after he had raised an alarm alleging that he was being set up for drug trafficking.

    Babafemi stated on Sunday that FAAN transferred the suspect and the exhibit to the NDLEA on Thursday.

    “Preliminary findings by NDLEA showed the parcel contained 50 pills of tramadol concealed in a bottle of dietary supplements.

    “A follow-up operation by the NDLEA led to the arrest of the suspect upon his return from Ghana on Friday. He has confirmed ownership of the drug,’’ Babafemi stated.

    He added that two freight agents and a traveller have also escaped being roped into two drug trafficking operations by desperate traffickers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

    Babafemi said that the two agents were contacted to send a consignment of 1kg Indian hemp concealed in tins of chocolate drink to Turkey.

    The agents chose to submit the shipment to NDLEA checks before processing the cargo, however.

  • Why we relocated our headquarters from Abuja – FAAN

    Why we relocated our headquarters from Abuja – FAAN

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Thursday said that it relocated its corporate headquarters from Abuja to Lagos to reduce expenditures.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja, by Mrs Obiageli Orah, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN.

    According to her, Mr Festus Kayamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, gave the order for the relocation, with a view to stopping the waste of public resources and rip-off on the public purse.

    She said that the FAAN Management with stakeholders, which also involved the Unions, agreed that the action was in the best interest of the authority and the country for now.

    “Those affected by the decision to move the headquarters to Abuja have since returned to Lagos as there is no office space for them in Abuja.

    “It was ill-advised in the first place to move the headquarters to Abuja when there was no single FAAN building in Abuja to accommodate all of them at once.

    “Having returned to Lagos, the Authority will be liable to pay them DTA because technically they are working out of station as their official posting is to Abuja,” she said.

    She noted that more than 60 per cent of the FAAN activities was in Lagos, given the huge passenger volume of the Lagos airports.

    “The Minister has rolled out plans to get concessionaires to build befitting offices for the Authority in Lagos and Abuja.

    “Until that is done, the authority will continue to manage its old building in Lagos that can accommodate all its directors and senior officials for now”, she also said.

    She added that Abuja would continue to have full operational offices as the FAAN had not scaled down operations in Abuja one bit.

    “It is just the technical decision of where the authority has its ‘corporate headquarters’ that has been taken without affecting the structure of operations as they are for now in both cities.

    “⁠In the near future, when befitting corporate buildings have been built for the authority in both Lagos and Abuja, a final decision will be taken as to the location of the permanent headquarters.

    “This will depend on the exigencies of the time,” she said.

    The director stressed that the FAAN was determined to continue to act in the best interest of the public and the country.

    She added that the minister was committed to taking decisions that are in the best interest of the country, especially as it concerned public funds, and would not yield to ethnic or sectional sentiments that would derail his commitment.

  • New MD reveals mission at FAAN

    New MD reveals mission at FAAN

    The new Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, on Monday assured aviation sector stakeholders of excellent service delivery and blockage of waste in the agency.

    A statement on Monday by Mrs Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, Acting Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, quoted Kuku as saying this during a meeting in Lagos.

    Hope-Ivbaze said the meeting was with the agency’s top management after the new MD received handover notes of the previous leadership from the Legal Adviser/Secretary to the Board, Mrs Gold Iwinose.

    She said General Managers and Airport Managers from across the country were also present at the meeting.

    Kuku said her vision was to improve on the agency’s professionalism in enhancing user experience, passengers’ seamless facilitation, security, safety and standards.

    She promised to block leakages and improve Nigeria’s image.

    “Under my leadership, revenue generation will be optimised and waste will be eliminated as much as possible.

    “Staff welfare will also be a priority but I also expect the staff to be committed to put their best.

    “As every institution is only as powerful as the human resources managing it, we will prioritise the improvement of institutional and human capacity.

    “Working in collaboration with national and international bodies, we will promote the image of Nigeria and strengthen the network of FAAN,” she said.

    She said she was glad to be returning to the sector where she had previously worked and thanked the management and staff for the good work they had been doing, assuring that she would build on their efforts.

    “My mission at FAAN is simple. I’m here to complement the good work you have all been doing and consolidate on the foundation that previous managements have laid.

    “We will pursue and deliver on all our obligations to the nation and the international community. Together with you all, we can make FAAN a greater institution than it already is,” she said.

    She said she would run with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda vision and also policies and programmes of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Chief Festus Keyamo.

    She described FAAN as a national asset designed to operate airport infrastructure and equipment and as a tool for economic development.

    Speaking on challenges the aviation sector faces during the Yuletide, Kuku explained that she was already drawing up strategies to tackle eventualities during this busiest season of the year for airline operations.

    She assured that FAAN would collaborate with the various professional interests, sister agencies and partners to ensure smooth, safe and secure operations throughout the season.

    She admonished the staff of the agency to work diligently with patriotism to put smile on faces, spreading the joy of the Yuletide.

    “Let us join hands to build a FAAN that you will always be proud of. Our mission is to transform the agency into the most efficient and effective institution in Nigeria.

    “As Management, we carry a huge responsibility to the nation, the flying public(s); the airlines; the international community. Join me to give our customers the best airport experience that is efficient, safe, secure and fun,” she said.

  • FAAN speaks on banning ‘Ghana must go’ sacks in all airports

    FAAN speaks on banning ‘Ghana must go’ sacks in all airports

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) denied claims that it had banned the use of matted woven bags, popularly known as Ghana-Must-Go by travellers.

    The agency in a tweet on Friday, said Ethiopia Airlines issued a prohibition of the use of Ghana-Must-Go bags on their flight, not FAAN or the federal government.

    It would be recalled that a section of the media had reported that FAAN had placed a ban on the use of Ghana-Must-Go bags at the airport nationwide.

    While sharing a circular from Ethiopia Airline to that effect, FAAN tagged various online platforms debunking these claims to its name.

    The memo from Ethiopia Airlines read: “Dear valued passengers, we would like to inform you of a restriction regarding the usage of irregularly shaped packages on Ethiopian Airlines flights.

    “It is strictly prohibited to bring “Ghana-must-go” bags unless they are adequately packed in a carton or hardcover rectangular container.

    “This restriction has been implemented due to the frequent occurrence of damages to conveyor belts at various airports, resulting in significant costs incurred by the airlines involved.

    “We kindly request your cooperation in complying with this rule to ensure the smooth operation of our flights and to minimize any potential disruptions caused by damaged conveyor belts.

    “We appreciate your understanding and continued support in adhering to these guidelines.

    “Thank you for choosing Ethiopian Airlines.”

  • FAAN clarifies Ghana Must Go bags ban at airports

    FAAN clarifies Ghana Must Go bags ban at airports

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has addressed a confusion surrounding the recent ban on “Ghana must go” bags, asserting that the directive originated from Ethiopian Airlines and not the Federal Government.

     FAAN in a statement posted on its X page on Friday refuted claims circulating about a purported ban on the iconic bags within Nigeria’s airports.

    The regulatory body clarified that the source of the ban was a circular issued by Ethiopian Airlines to its customers.

    “The Ban is from Ethiopian Airlines, not FAAN or the Federal Government of Nigeria,” stated FAAN in its social media post.

    The clarification comes in the wake of widespread reports on the ban, with many attributing the decision to Nigerian aviation authorities. However, FAAN sought to dispel these misconceptions by setting the record straight regarding the true source of the directive.

    The circular from Ethiopian Airlines, cited by FAAN, explicitly outlines the restrictions on the use of “Ghana must go” bags during their flights.

    The airline informed its customers that bringing these irregularly shaped packages is strictly prohibited unless they are appropriately packed in a carton or hardcover rectangular container.

    “We would like to inform you of a restriction regarding using irregularly shaped packages on Ethiopian Airlines Flights. It is strictly prohibited to bring ‘Ghana must go’ bags unless they are adequately packed in a carton or hardcover rectangular container,” the airline’s circular stated.

     

  • FAAN bans use of ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags at airports

    FAAN bans use of ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags at airports

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has banned the use of ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags by passengers at all airports in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Ghana Must Go bag is a type of cheap matted woven nylon zipped tote bags, used to move belongings.

    The bag got the moniker after a January 1983 executive order by President Shehu Shagari, which forced the deportation of West African migrants from Nigeria.

    According to a circular by FAAN, titled, ‘Re: Prohibition of Usage Of Ghana Must Go’,  signed by Manager, Airport Services, Henok Gizachew, the ban is particularly for passengers travelling through the country’s international airports.

    Gizachew stated that the sack was banned by the authority as it has cost the airlines huge losses and also damaged airports conveyor belt systems across the country.

    He noted that passengers who wish to use ‘Ghana Must Go’ to travel must have the same well package in cartons or hardcover of rectangular size.

    “The use of the ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags have been attributed to the breakdown of many of the country’s airports’ conveyor belt systems and one that has put enormous costs on the shoulders of the airport authority,” Gizachew stated.

  • FAAN strengthens surveillance at MMIA

    FAAN strengthens surveillance at MMIA

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Friday inaugurated a mobile surveillance vehicle to curtail incidences of cable vandalism and insecurity at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).

    Mr Kabir Muhammad, Managing Director, FAAN, said at the unveiling of the vehicle, at the international wing of the airport, that the organisation had also enhanced the CCTV cameras, physical surveillance and number of staff in a bid to improve security at the airside.

    He said that the agency was in the process of procuring more operational vehicles for security purposes.

    “FAAN has purchased six so far, and an additional 10 are still expected, and we are still looking at other airports across the country, but for now, Lagos is the major concern.

    “We are putting one here for a start. We have some radars at 18R and 18L and they will be feeding information to this, and we will be able to also monitor it from the tower,” he said.

    On his part, Mr Sunday Ayodele,  the Regional Manager, South West, commended the management for the provision of the facility.

    Ayodele, who doubles as the General Manager, MMIA, said the move was to enhance the surveillance of the airside.

    He gave assurances that the surveillance of the airport and airside would be better enhanced and get the desired result.

    “On the number of vehicles the agency currently has, we have only one now, but we are still expecting more of this.

    “It has the static and the roving cameras in it and the essence is to be able to project the airside so that in case of any intruder, it will send a signal to us there and it will send a signal to the control room.

    ”Once we are able to sense the place, our people will go straight to the exact place. It was manufactured in Slovenia,” he said.

    Amina Tijani, the Project Manager, explained that the mobile surveillance vehicle tarmac camera had an inverter with batteries and rechargeable, with a generator provided in the vehicle.

    “The mobile surveillance also comes with two multi-central cameras that are going to be mounted at the control towers with five radars; three on the 18R runway and the other two on the 18L.

    “This monitors events on the runways and its environment. It would be mounted on the cameras, which would be monitored on the control towers and every single movement would be detected.

    “The cameras are long range cameras that can detect long distance range to about 5km. it can detect a person and put an ID to the person, which means visual recognition of the person.

    “It also has a GPS signal, which will download all the maps of the environment and with that, you can calculate the distance where the person is from you and you can give the location of the person through the map,” he said.

    Tijani said the equipment works under all weather conditions.

    Recall that FAAN arrested 21 cable thieves and other miscreants at the airport in August.

    Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, spokesperson of FAAN, said the Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMTF) and the Aviation Security Crime Investigation and Intelligence (AVSEC-CII) Unit conducted raids leading to the arrest of the cable thieves and other miscreants.

  • Fire: FAAN redirects flight operations to MMIA Terminal 2

    Fire: FAAN redirects flight operations to MMIA Terminal 2

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has redirected flight operations and processing of passengers to terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

    Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, Director, Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, FAAN disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

    The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, had during his maiden visit to the airport, ordered airlines to relocate to  terminal 2 by Oct. 1.

    He noted that the relocation was a necessity for the renovation and total overhaul of terminal 1.

    Yakubu-Funtua said the expedited relocation to the new terminal was deemed necessary due to the fire incident that occurred at Terminal 1 on Sept. 7.

    He appealed to travellers to arrive at the airport  early in order to complete their check-in formalities.

  • MMA: FG gives 90-day ultimatum for disused aircraft

    MMA: FG gives 90-day ultimatum for disused aircraft

    The Federal Government has given a 90-day ultimatum to owners of disused aircraft littering the strategic areas of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos to remove them.

    The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, gave the directive during his tour of facilities at the airport on Thursday.

    Keyamo said the disused aircrafts were  constituting danger to the airport environment.

    He stressed that the three months notice would afford the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) time to expand the Lagos airport apron to accommodate aircraft that were still in service.

    “A common sight strikes the eyes of passengers in airports throughout Nigeria’s major airports.

    This old aircraft belonging to bankrupt airlines shares the ground with on-duty planes and wears out in the weather,” the minister said.

    Keyamo also clarified on his decision to suspend Nigeria Air and concession projects.

    He stressed that it was not a total cancellation but to ensure transparency and due process were followed.

    The minister said he suspended the project, at least for now, until he briefs President Bola Tinubu with a view to taking a position on the two projects.

    He said: “We have not cancelled any project. We have only suspended some things that people complained about.

    “We must be very responsible to the feelings of Nigerians. Nigerian people must know the processes by which you give out their commonwealth.

    “Nigerians must be aware of how you give out their commonwealth to individuals in the name of concession.

    “Therefore, I want to clarify that the Nigeria Air should be suspended.”

    Keyamo said 90 per cent of why he was appointed as the minister was to ensure aviation laws and regulations were followed by the regulatory authority and service providers.

  • FAAN denies buying N200 million vehicle for MD

    FAAN denies buying N200 million vehicle for MD

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has denied buying the 70th Anniversary Edition of Toyota Land Cruiser, worth N200 million for its Managing Director (MD), Mr Kabir Yusuf Muhammed.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this is contained in a statement released on Saturday by Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection.

    Reports had emerged Mr Muhammed appropriated N200 Million for the purchase of a 70th Anniversary Edition Toyota Land Cruiser for himself as his official vehicle.

    However, FAAN in the statement expressly denied the reports, saying since the assumption of office, the FAAN MD does not have any official car and did not buy any for anyone.

    “When some old vehicles were refurbished for the newly appointed Directors, the MD was given one but he had to return it because the vehicles did not go round.

    “A contract for the Procurement of operation vehicles was awarded by the former Managing Director. They are yet to be supplied.

    “The vehicle he is using to work does not belong to FAAN. The vehicle’s registration number could be verified through the appropriate authorities,” FAAN stated.