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Tag: Festus Keyamo

  • 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.

  • Ekiti Airport ready for commercial operations – Keyamo

    Ekiti Airport ready for commercial operations – Keyamo

    Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), on Tuesday said that the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, Ado-Ekiti, is ready for full commercial operations.

    The Minister disclosed this to newsmen shortly after inspecting facilities at the airport, accompanied by Gov. Biodun Oyebanji and top government officials of the state.

    According to him, the airport is 99.5 per cent completed and full commercial operations will soon start.

    The Minister also disclosed that the runway was of international standard, and has an apron, large enough to park many 737 small-body aircrafts, thereby, making it adequately comparable to airports in the developed world.

    “I landed here to show the world that it’s now safe for landing, which is why Aviation 001 had to land here, it’s a testament that I have confidence in the facilities here for public use.

    “The commercial airlines will start coming in, anytime from now,” he said.

    Oyebanji, in his comment, thanked the Aviation Minister, legal icon, Afe Babalola, and President Bola  Tinubu for making the dreams of the founding fathers, and the entire Ekiti people, come to reality, with their unwavering support towards the completion of the airport project.

    The Governor said that the state economy would benefit a lot from the project as jobs would be created, through agriculture, commerce, and tourism.

    He also said that it would add value to properties in the area, because of the anticipated in flow of traffic.

    “It is a dual-purpose airport, it’s going to serve agro-allied products as well as commercial passengers,” he said .

    The Minister, who landed at the airport on Monday, also departed through the same airport on Tuesday, with the same aircraft, shortly after inspecting the airport project with the State governor.

  • Abia airstrip project upgraded to international cargo airport

    Abia airstrip project upgraded to international cargo airport

    Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, on Tuesday, performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the Abia Airport project.

    In a speech at the event held at Ubaha-Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, Keyamo said that the project was upgraded from an airstrip to an international cargo airport.

    He described the airport as a presidential initiative because President Bola Tinubu instructed that no part of the country, particularly the South-East, should be left out of aviation development.

    Keyamo said that the president specifically requested an airstrip for Abia State in the 2024 Budget due to his affection for the state and its governor.

    He also said that Abia Government expressed willingness to partner with the Federal Government through counterpart funding to upgrade the project to an international cargo airport.

    The minister highlighted the economic importance of Abia in the country’s industrial ecosystem.

    He said that the state is considered the industrial hub of the South-East, producing many “Made in Nigeria” goods.

    Keyamo further said that siting a cargo airport in the state would allow goods to be processed and exported directly, boosting logistics and economic activity.

    He said that the airport would primarily focus on cargo operations to support industrialisation and trade in Abia and the South-East.

    Keyamo said that an airport stands as an enabler that generates economic activities, and its construction should not be dependent on existing commercial demand.

    He said that airports play a key role in enhancing connectivity and response to emergencies and Abia being excluded from the aviation ecosystem was deemed unacceptable.

    He directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to prioritise employment for people in Nsulu, where the airport will be located, to give them a sense of belonging.

    He said that funds were allocated in the 2024 budget to commence clearing and development.

    Keyamo also said that the Deputy Speaker had promised prompt approval of subsequent funding in 2025.

    He said that the initiative underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to equitable infrastructure development, regional economic integration, and industrial growth in Abia.

    In an address, Gov. Alex Otti of Abia said that the airport would accelerate the socioeconomic development of the state.

    Otti thanked the president for his  commitment to boost socioeconomic advancement of the zone.

    He said that the State Government had commenced preparation for the payment of compensation to genuine land owners.

    Otti also said that the project would be completed in 36 months and thanked everyone that  contributed to marking it a reality.

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Benjamin Kalu, expressed confidence that the project would be completed in record time because “Abia is blessed with a governor that understands the importance of synergistic partnership”.

    Kalu said that he would work assiduously to ensure that any fund appropriated for the project received speedy approval by the House.

    “The people with me here are members of the House from different parts of the country.

    “We are promising Abia people that when the budget comes we will look out for the budget that is  going to benefit Abia Airport and we will approve it,” he said.

    Also, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, expressed the determination of the president to deliver the dividend of democracy to the citizens.

    Onyejeocha said that the people of Abia stood to gain enormous economic benefits from the siting of an airport in the state.

    The lawmaker representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Chief Ginger Onwusibe, thanked the president for the resolve to build an airport in Abia.

    Onwusibe said the project would contribute greatly to the achievement of critical infrastructure development in the area.

    In a remark, the Chairman of Board of Trustees, Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, expressed delight over the fact that “an airport would be built in Abia in our lifetime”.

    Wabara also expressed delight over the upgrade of the project from an airstrip to an international airport, where Boeing 737 aircrafts would land.

    The Commissioner for Transport, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, described the project as a foundation for the future of economic growth and progress in Abia.

    Ukaegbu said that the vision of the airport aligned with the government’s commitment to position Abia as a key economic hub in Nigeria and  beyond.

    In separate speeches, the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr Chaka Chukwumerije, and the Airport Project Coordinator, Mr Okorougo Aji, said that 1,325.86 hectares of land were acquired from nine Nsulu Communities for the project.

    They said that Abia Government was working assiduously to ensure that compensation was paid to all those whose land made up the project space.

    They also said that Nsulu was chosen as the site for the airport because “all the analysis indicated that the place passed the requirements for an airport”.

    A prominent son of Nsulu, Chief Ncheta Omerekpe, thanked the Federal and State Governments for the decision to site an airport in the area.

    Omerekpe described the project as a welcome development and appealed to Abia Government to ensure that due compensation was paid to land owners.

    The event was attended by top government functionaries and prominent Nigerians from different walks of life. The project is being handled by Craneburg Construction Company.

  • FG to enhance aviation safety with digitalisation – Keyamo

    FG to enhance aviation safety with digitalisation – Keyamo

    Mr Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has stated that the Federal Government would advance digitalisation in the aviation sector to enhance safety and security.

    Keyamo made this declaration at the inauguration of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Flight Data Centre (FDC) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to him, the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to modernising various sectors, moving from analog to more digital and efficient systems.

    Keyamo explained that the FDC would help NCAA regulate more effectively by improving efficiency, saving costs, and enhancing the customer experience within the aviation sector.

    “One of our five-point agenda is to improve safety within the sector. This initiative directly contributes to that goal,” Keyamo said.

    He emphasised the importance of the FDC in enhancing safety, noting, “This system is not just for handling incidents or serious events; it can be used routinely to track flight patterns, human errors, and mechanical issues during flights.”

    Capt. Chris Najomo, the Acting Director-General of NCAA, added that the FDC was a vital part of modern aviation, responsible for collecting, processing, and analysing vast amounts of flight data.

    He outlined the key components of the FDC, which include data acquisition, data processing, event detection, and a feedback loop.

    Najomo stated that the FDC would help enhance Nigeria’s global credibility by aligning NCAA with international best practices and boosting global confidence in Nigeria’s aviation safety standards.

    “As an ICAO Contracting State, Nigeria is obligated to ensure the highest safety standards, and the NCAA’s collaboration with APS Aerospace Corporation supports this effort,” he said.

    He further explained that APS Aerospace, with over 100 years of combined experience in Flight Data and Cockpit/ATC Audio Analysis, worked with NCAA to train selected staff in Flight Data Analysis (FDA) and Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) systems.

    “These systems systematically collect, process, and evaluate flight data to identify trends, anomalies, or safety issues, which are crucial for modern aviation safety management systems (SMS)’’.

  • What we aim to achieve with Nigeria International Airshow – CEO

    What we aim to achieve with Nigeria International Airshow – CEO

    The Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria International Airshow, Mrs Bria Williams, on Friday expressed   confidence that the airshow would draw global  attention and investments into Nigeria’s aviation industry.

    Williams said in Lagos that besides the social benefits, the airshow would present an opportunity to showcase giant strides  in Nigeria’s  aviation sector.

    Nigeria International Airshow is a conference set to bring together pillars in aviation and aerospace development to unlock new opportunities in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

    The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, had,  fews weeks ago, announced that the Nigeria’s first-ever international airshow would hold in Lagos in 2025.

    Williams said on Friday that  the event would be an opportunity to attract foreign investment into Nigeria.

    She said: “We are talking about bringing people into the industry to get more aircraft, bringing the lessors and saying: give us more aircraft so we can service more routes.

    “We are saying:  come and help us to build, come and help us optimise our airports. We are talking to the  different stakeholders within the sector to come in and invest and work with us, to come in and take the vision  to the next level.”

    According to her, the airshow was an opportunity for Nigeria to do something different to achieve more  to maintain its status as a key market in Africa.

    Williams said that the airshow, modelled after the Dubai Airshow,  would bring  local and international aviation stakeholders to fashion out ways to get the industry on a stronger pedestal.

    “The Airshow will have aircraft displays, exhibitors –  from catering services prividers to aircraft manufacturers,” she said.

  • Port Harcourt helicopter crash: Keyamo releases details on black box recovered

    Port Harcourt helicopter crash: Keyamo releases details on black box recovered

    Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, says a team of specialists has recovered the Black box of Helicopter SK76 registration 5N-BQG that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima on Oct. 24.

    The minister, who disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said it took the specialists 14 days to locate and recover the Black box and some other parts of the aircraft.

    “As you may recall, the ill-fated helicopter crashed about 1.4km from its destination on the NNPC`s Floating Production Storage Offloading vessel (FPSO)(Nuim Antan). The area of the crash was identified.

    “Immediately, the Nigerian Air Force conveyed a NSIB Go-Team to Port Harcourt, from where the Go-Team was transported to the Nuim Antan vessel on a Nigerian Navy Agusta Westland (AW109) helicopter on the same day of the accident.

    “Meanwhile, the search and rescue was activated, and a team comprising teams from the NNPC, Nigerian Navy, NSIB, Hydro Dive, NIMASA and the ships sailing around the vicinity of the accident site, “ he said.

    According to him, underwater recovery of victims and wreckage is a significant project that requires careful planning and provision of technology, expertise, and substantial financial resources to support the operation.

    The minister said over 60 personnel were mobilised to the site including professional divers and other technical experts.

    “We deployed marine vessels and diver boats equipped with sophisticated state-of-the art gadgets for scanning the sea bed and tracking. The depth of the sea around the vicinity of the accident site varied from 40 to 1000 meters.

    “The search and rescue operation was interrupted several times by heavy rains, oceanic currents and strong winds.

    “It is imperative to mention that the search and recovery operations continued unabated day and night on a 24 by 7 basis for 14 days,“ he said.

    Keyamo stated that three bodies of some debris suspected to be from the crashed helicopter were spotted floating and were picked up on the first day.

    He added that so far, five bodies identified to be of the deceased passengers were recovered, while one passenger and two crew members were yet to be found.

    “At midnight on Oct. 31, the wreckage of the helicopter was finally located at a depth of 42m, Latitude 04  13.634`N and Longitude 008 19.442`E.

    “Although scattered in pieces, major parts and components of the helicopter, except for the flight recovery (Black box), were recovered including the fuselage, two engines, main gearbox, land gears, main and tail rotor, tail rotor shaft among others.

    “The search and recovery efforts continued until the flight recorder was found on Friday Nov. 8. The search and recovery operation took over 14 days, “ he said.

    According to him, the specialists have brought the flight recorder to Abuja for the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to commence readout of the recordings immediately .

    The minister said that the preliminary report would be published on the NSIB website within 30 days while the final report and possible safety recommendations might take a year.

    “Our objective is to conduct a thorough investigation using available techniques to find a safety issue and recommend a safety change to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.

    `We will examine the roles of man, machine and the environment that might have directly or indirectly contributed to this accident.

    “In this process, we will review the certified maintenance documents of the crashed helicopter and the crew`s training and medical records. We have received full cooperation from the cooperators, NCAA, NAMA and NiMet, “ he said.

    According to him, the helicopter engines and related components will be thoroughly examined at the NSIB hanger in Abuja after being subjected to a team down exercise.

  • First in history: Nigeria to start ARFF training domestically

    First in history: Nigeria to start ARFF training domestically

    For the first time, Nigeria is poised to start conducting Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) training domestically, after the certification of the Aerodrome Emergency Training School of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Aerodrome Emergency Training School of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria was on October 29, 2024 granted the certification to provide ARFF training in the country.

    The ARFF training will equip aviation officers with essential skills in emergency response, mitigation, evacuation, and rescue operations for passengers and crew involved in aviation incidents and accidents.

    According to a statement by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Monday, the accreditation is in line with the vision and mantra of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo on the ease of doing business in the sector.

    The statement reads: “In a significant  move to enhance Nigeria’s aviation standards, the Honorable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, continues to drive  his  five-point agenda focused on advancing safety, infrastructure, support for local operators, human capacity development, and revenue generation in the sector.

    “During his visit to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria,  on June 19, 2024, the Honourable Minister, in reinforcing the Federal government’s commitment towards advancing aviation education and infrastructure, emphasized the vision of positioning Nigeria as a leading aviation hub in Africa, aligning with national objectives for growth and development in the sector.

    “In line with this vision, and his mantra on ease of doing business, the Acting Director-General Civil Aviation Authority (Ag.DGCA)  Capt.Chris Najomo on October 29, 2024 granted certification to the Aerodrome Emergency Training School of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria to provide Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) training in Nigeria.

    “As the regulator of Nigerian airspace, the NCAA ensures strict compliance with safety standards, overall enhancement of Nigeria airspace safety, standardization of rescue and firefighting protocols across airports. Hence, for the first time, Nigeria will conduct ARFF training domestically, equipping aviation officers with essential skills in emergency response, mitigation, evacuation, and rescue operations for passengers and crew involved in aviation incidents and accidents.

    “This accreditation will further position Nigeria as a key player in international aviation safety, fostering positive foreign exchange inflows through  increase enrollment in ARFF training programs and elevating Nigeria’s recognition among domestic and international aviation stakeholders.

    “Credit must be given to the Flight Standards Group (FSG) at the NCAA, led by their Chairman, Engr. Godwin Balang for driving the DGCA’s mantra”.

  • Why FG won’t revoke Bishop Oyedepo’s airstrip licence- Aviation minister explains

    Why FG won’t revoke Bishop Oyedepo’s airstrip licence- Aviation minister explains

    Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development on Friday clarified that the House of Representatives has not directed the revocation of the airstrip licence granted to the founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo.

    The clarification comes at the heels of reports alleging that the lawmakers during plenary in Abuja  ordered the revocation of Oyedepo’s airstrip licence.

    A motion titled, ‘Need to Stop Issuance of Airstrip Licence to Private Individuals and Organisations in the Country,’ was moved by Rep Sulaiman Abubakar Gumi.

    In his remarks on Friday, Keyamo explained that the adoption of the motion was misinterpreted by some platforms to mean the withdrawal of the newly licenced airstrip in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.

    According to reports, the motion was adopted but Keyamo said, “I think this is not correct. The House of Reps. as a body did not call on the Minister to revoke the license of any private airstrip. I think what happened is that someone moved a motion in that regard and it was unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into it. Whilst the intention of the Honourable Member who moved it is very patriotic, it was based on a complete lack of knowledge of the aviation sector.

    “By the time we explain to them how private airstrips work and the processes they undergo by our agencies before the final approval, they will be satisfied. The responsibility of the owners of private airstrips is just to build the runway and terminal building.

    “But after they build the control tower in particular, it is completely handed over to the Federal Government through NAMA (Nigerian Airspace Management Agency) which is in complete control of the entire airspace in Nigeria. An MOU is usually signed with NAMA in this regard before the airstrip is approved for operations.”

    Keyamo further explained that the primary responsibility of private airstrip owners is to construct the runway and terminal buildings. Once they build the control tower, control is handed over to the Nigerian government through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which oversees the entire airspace of Nigeria.

    He added that private airstrip owners pay the Federal Government “handsomely” for these services.

    Keyamo said, “No object flies into Nigeria without the prior clearance by NAMA and without filing a clear flight plan, where it is taking off from and where it intends to land. And I have recently directed that all aircraft coming into the country must first land at our international airports where they would be properly processed and checked before they make their local flights into whatever airport or airstrip they intend to go.

    “So, it is completely and totally impossible for any private airstrip owner to just jump on an aircraft and fly in and out of the country through that facility.

    “The federal government does not permit that. You will not be cleared for take-off or landing without prior request and authorisation.”

  • Keyamo to foreign airlines: Patronise local caterers for onboard meals,

    Keyamo to foreign airlines: Patronise local caterers for onboard meals,

    The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Tuesday asked foreign airlines to patronise local caterers for onboard meals.

    Keyamo’s call was contained in a statement signed by Odutayo Oluseyi, the Head of Press and Public Affairs, at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

    According to the statement, Keyamo stated this while receiving Lufthansa Group at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

    The minister “mandated all aircraft leaving or coming into Nigeria to ensure they treat Nigerians well on board of their flights.”

    “He said the essence of requesting local dishes during airlift is to promote Nigeria cultural heritage, and economic development and encourage local caterers,” the statement read.

    “Keyamo appealed to foreign airlines to ensure all aircraft coming to Nigeria are in good shape. He decried the level at which some foreign airlines lift Nigerian Passengers with outdated aircraft while using the most modern ones in other countries.

    “Keyamo informed the Lufthansa Group that the Nigeria government has upgraded Muhammadu Buhari Airport Maiduguri to International airport and urged them to utilise this opportunity to harness the huge market awaiting all airlines when the airport commences operation in January 1, 2025.”

     

  • FG reacts to Bishop Oyedepo’s airstrip approval claim

    FG reacts to Bishop Oyedepo’s airstrip approval claim

    The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed the construction of a  private airstrip for Canaanland, the headquarters of the Living Faith Church, located in Ota, Ogun State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the founder of the church, Bishop David Oyedepo in a short video,  had earlier announced to his congregation during the Tehillah Night Special Edition, a thanksgiving event held at the Covenant University Chapel, the government’s approval of the airstrip, explaining that it would  enhance significantly his travel logistics.

    “I’m sure you’ll be glad to know that the Federal Government has approved an airstrip for Canaanland. I won’t need to fly a helicopter to the airport anymore; I can now travel directly from here,” he said.

    He also noted that the airstrip would accommodate planes owned by church members, providing them with a dedicated space to land and park.

    Speaking recently, the minister’s media aide, Tunde Moshood, confirmed the development, stating, “Yes, the minister approved the airstrip. It is a private airstrip, and the minister granted the approval.”

    The new airstrip is expected to streamline transportation for worshippers and visitors, particularly during major church events, which often attract large crowds from around the world.