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Tag: kano airport

  • Customs intercepts undeclared $1.1m at Kano airport

    Customs intercepts undeclared $1.1m at Kano airport

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has intercepted undeclared 1.1 million U.S. dollars and 135,900 Saudi Riyals at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.

    Its Spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    Maiwada said the seizure was made recently during a routine baggage check on an inbound passenger who arrived on Saudi Airline Flight No. SV401 from Saudi Arabia.

    He explained that during a physical examination of the passenger’s luggage by NCS officers, the undeclared currency was found concealed within packs of palm dates.

    The interception, he said, aligned with the NCS’s commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.

    “In line with established procedures, the suspect and the seized foreign currency have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and necessary legal action.

    “Subsequently, the court convicted the defendant as charged and ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared money to the Federal Government in line with provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022,” he said.

    He stressed that the NCS is determined to ensure that all travelers complied with Nigeria’s financial regulations, particularly the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when traveling in or out of the country.

    He stated that the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995, provided clear guidelines on currency declaration.

    “ Non-compliance with these regulations constitutes a violation of Nigerian law and attracts severe penalties. The service, therefore, urges the public to adhere strictly to these requirements to avoid legal consequences.

    “Under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, the service remains resolute in its enforcement efforts to combat smuggling, illicit financial transactions, and other trans-border crimes.

    “This latest seizure highlights the service’s unwavering dedication to protecting the nation’s economic interests and ensuring compliance with financial regulations,” he said.

    The spokesperson reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to collaborating with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to strengthen border security, enhance compliance with financial laws, and safeguard Nigeria’s economy.

    He urged travelers and stakeholders in the financial sector to remain vigilant and always adhere to lawful financial practices.

  • Kano airport shuts down runway after Max Air suffers tyre burst

    Kano airport shuts down runway after Max Air suffers tyre burst

    Officials of the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport have temporarily shut down the airport’s runway for inspection and clearance following a tyre burst incident involving a Max Air plane carrying 53 passengers burst while landing on Tuesday, January 28.

    This was revealed via a post on Max Air’s X handle on Wednesday, January 29.

    The post read, “As a result, the Kano runway will remain temporarily closed for inspection and clearance, which may lead to delays in flight operations today, Wednesday, 29/01/2024.

    “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience as we await further updates on the runway reopening.”

    Max Air further assured the public that the situation was managed with the highest level of professionalism.

    Adding that, “Our crew handled the situation professionally, ensuring the safe evacuation of all passengers and crew members.

    “There were no injuries, and the aircraft has since been removed from the runway as of 04:28.”

    The airline commended its engineering team for their quick response and assured passengers that flight schedule updates would be shared as soon as possible.

    The incident caused flight delays, but fortunately, all passengers and crew were safely evacuated without injury.

  • Drug trafficking: NDLEA arrests 7 at Kano airport

    Seven suspects have been arrested by the Natiional Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for alleged drug trafficking at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano in May and June.

    Its commander at the airport, Mr Sani Abubakar, made the disclosure on Friday in Kano in commemoration of the 2022 UN International Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking.

    He said the suspects were arrested with Indian hemp, tramadol, pentazocine and khat, among others and would soon be arraigned.

    “They were arrested at the airport while attempting to smuggle drugs into the country.

    “A total of 470.21 kilograms of drugs were seized from the suspects.

    “NDLEA operatives are determined to thwart attempts at using the airport for drug trafficking,’’ he said.

    Abubakar added that increased manpower, provision of logistics and enhanced staff welfare contributed to the positive strides the NDLEA was making.

    The theme of the Day is: “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crisis”.

  • FG to install Category 3 ILS in 3 airports in Nigeria – NAMA

    FG to install Category 3 ILS in 3 airports in Nigeria – NAMA

    The acting Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr Mathew Pwajok, has revealed plans by the Federal Government to install Category 3 Instrument Landing System (ISL) in 3 airports in the country. The airports are Malam Aminu Kanu International Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport and Katsina Airport.

    He made this known on Sunday in Abuja when he featured in a forum organised by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Pwajok said the move would increase the number of the airports that had Category 3 ISL in the country to five.

    According to him, an instrument landing system is a piece of navigational equipment that provides lateral guidance for an aircraft, sky guidance for the aircraft, and longitudinal guidance for the aircraft when coming into landing.

    “Navigational facility is one of the very critical requirements for access into an airport safely, efficiently and economically. We place a very high premium on the procurement and installation of navigational equipment.

    “Over the last five years, we have deployed significantly a large number of navigational equipment. I can go through some of them by justifying my statement.

    “ Currently, we have installed what we call Category 3 Instrument Landing System (ILS), in Lagos and Abuja.

    “We are also planning to install additional ones in Kano, Port Harcourt and Katsina, “ he said.

    NAMA boss, who explained that Category 3 landing system was the highest category for landing facility anywhere in the world, said that the government was set to invest heavily to ensure all the nation’s international airports had it.

    Pwajok said that the lighting system would complement Category 3.

    He said that Category 3 approach system was required to guide the pilot using the instrument landing system.

    “ Currently, we have installed an instrument landing system of Category 2 that requires what we call low visibility operations.

    “Operation, where the visibility is below 800 meters and not lower than 300 meters, we use what we call a Category 2 instrument landing system.

    “For a Category 1 instrument landing system which is few, you need 800 meters visibility or more.

    “That is, visibility must be about 1km (1000m) for you to be able to do a Catigory1 landing system, the lowest of the three categories.

    “For Category 3, when the aircraft and the flight crew are adequately certified for it, with the visual lighting system available, you can basically land in zero visibility, “ he said.

    He said Category 2 ILS was installed in Sokoto, Kano, Minna, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Yola, Jos, Enugu and Benin airports.

    He said that Category 2 ILS was currently being installed in Ilorin, Ibadan and Akure.

    He said some state airports such as Gombe, Kebbi, Bayelsa and Anambra had already installed Category 2 ILS.

    The NAMA boss said the airport in Lafia, which also had Category 2 ILS, had not been opened; had not yet been commissioned.

    Pwajok said Categroy1 was in very few airports, adding that the government had planned to replace them with Category 2 ILS.

    “We have other equipment that will bring aircraft to the airport and we call them Very High-Frequency Omni-Directional Range (VOR), a ground-based electronic system that provides information for high and low altitude routes and airport approaches.

    “The VOR is like a broadcast station. It transmits information. Unlike radio stations where you tune and hear music. For this navigational facility, when you tune, it gives you directional guidance.

    “ It directs you, for example, if you are going to Lagos, it shows you where the direction to Lagos is. So you fly on that flight path.

    “And it will also give you the distance to where you are going as well as the distance from where you are coming from, “ he added.

  • Kano Airport runway now in perfect shape – Minister

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, says the runway and taxi pavement of the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport are in perfect shape.

    Sirika disclosed this during a facility tour to the airport in Kano on Sunday.

    He said the existing runway had the capacity to carry all types of aircraft, adding that he had high confidence in the airport facility.

    “The runway is okay, it is in good condition, we just inspected it and we are happy with it,” he said.

    The minister said the ongoing new terminal project at the airport was at advance stage, saying the contractor has not given any definite date of completion.

    According to him, the project will be completed in a very near future because it is at advance stage now.

    “The terminal building project is a very good job and I think that with a little more push we should be there and it will be ready for completion.

    “We will discuss on the completion date with the contractor and made it available to you.

    “This is purely a federal airport and so there is no need for any kind of contribution from the state government and this is a tour of facility to ascertain the level of work done at the airport,” he said.

    On the issue of lighting at the airport, Sirika said government was already handling the issue of power generation differently.

    He expressed confidence that the current power source on ground at Kano airport was adequate for its current and existing facility.

    “With the coming up of the new terminal building, we will not have that challenge. We have planned for it, we are seeking for an alternative power supply.

    “It has not been captured in the 2017 budget but we have made arrangement and FAAN is in the process of ensuring that there is adequate power supply, which is not part of what the new terminal building covered,” he said.

    The minister had been on facility tour to the Kaduna International Airport, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Zaria (NCAT) and Kano Airport since on Friday.

    At Kaduna Airport, he disclosed that the airport was fully ready for the six weeks flight operations due to thw closure of Abuja Airport for repair of its runway.

    At Zaria, the minister tasked the management of the college to utilise the world-class equipment and facilities at the college for the progress of the country’s aviation industry.

    He also pledged to support the college towards becoming a full fledged higher institution to be able to be able to produce highly qualified professionals for the sector.