TheNewsGuru

Tag: NCAT

  • Reps demand NCAT director, auctioneer’s arrest over 2 choppers sale

    Reps demand NCAT director, auctioneer’s arrest over 2 choppers sale

    The House of Representatives has demanded the arrest of an alleged unlicensed auctioneer and Director, Quality Control, Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, for providing false information on oath.

    The alleged false information was in respect of the sale of two helicopters for $1.2 million.

    The lawmakers want the duo to be arrested by the police in the National Assembly.

    Rep. Ademola Kuye, Chairman, Committee on Public Assets, said this was part of the resolutions of the committee after interacting with the management of NCAT and other relevant bodies in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to take over the investigation into the alleged illegal sale of the two choppers by NCAT.

    In December 2023, the House commenced an investigation into the state of public assets in the country.

    He said the committee’s mandate was to recover assets and moribund public assets within and outside Nigeria.

    This, he said, said the aircraft was sold without the approval of the Federal Executive Council.

    Kuye expressed worry that the two choppers bought at $2.4 billion were sold at $1.2 billion without following due process.

    “We requested documents of any kind of joint venture; there has been no response to that, whether you have one or not.

    “We requested a list of assets, including a comprehensive description and specification of all your listed assets, rented apartments, including acquisition dates and methods, and the current status and conditions of such assets.

    “We cannot specifically say that you have satisfied all of these requests. Though you tried to answer some of them, your responses are not adequate,” he said.

    The lawmakers also queried the use of an unlicensed auctioneer who failed to provide the needed response to inquiries.

    Mr Musa Alkali, Coordinator of Nigerian Army Aviation, said urged the recovery of the two helicopters.

  • How we auctioned 2 helicopters for N1.2bn – NCAT

    How we auctioned 2 helicopters for N1.2bn – NCAT

    The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State, says it auctioned two helicopters at 556,200,322 USD (N1.2 billion), because of underutilisation.

    The Rector and Chief Executive Officer of the institution, Capt. Alkali Modibbo, told newsmen on Sunday in Zaria that the two Bell 206B – III model helicopters were disposed after satisfying all due diligence.

    Modibbo explained that a Federal Government licenced auctioneer, Messrs Tresmo Nigeria Limited, was appointed to dispose the affected helicopters sequel to the approval and valuation reports obtained from the Federal Ministries of Aviation and Works, respectively.

    According to him, the auctioneer paid $275,782,661.25 and $280,417,661.25 (totalling N1.2bn) vide FGN Remita receipts bearing reference numbers 3008-4333-3046 and 1008-4304-1098, accordingly.

    He recalled that the Nigerian Navy expressed interest to acquire the two helicopters via a letter dated 13th December 2022, with Ref. No: NHQ:04/61/93/OPS/VOL. VII/23.

    “I am directed to convey the compliments of the Chief of the Naval Staff to the Rector and Staff of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, and to further Express our interest to inspect the 2 Bell 206L – 3 (Long Range) helicopters proposed to be disposed by your organisation.

    “The Nigerian Navy (NN) is aware that the 2 Bell 206L – 3 helicopters are currently grossly underutilised due to none training of helicopter pilots at the facility.

    “I am to respectfully inform the Rector that the NN operates a similar type of helicopter and hereby expresses its interest to inspect the helicopters for possible acquisition with a view to bolster its operations towards ensuring a safe and secure maritime environment,” the letter  read in part.

    Consequently, the Director of Tresmo Nigeria Limited, Mr. Adeyemi Apata, applied to be appointed as the auctioneer for NCAT vide a letter dated March 3, Modibbo revealed.

    Furthermore, the NCAT chief executive said that the Federal Ministry of Aviation in a letter dated 15th March, 2023, granted approval for the disposal of the two Bell 206 helicopters to enable the college acquire Basic Trainer Helicopters.

    Again, in furtherance of following due process, the college obtained the Valuation Reports of the affected helicopters from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing via a letter dated 30th March 2023.

    This culminated to the engagement of Messrs Tresmo as the auctioneer vide NCAT.11/1204/VOL.1/043, dated 6th April 2023, Modibbo stated.

    The NCAT Rector added that the auctioneer also accepted and executed the disposal of the helicopters via a letter signed by Mr Baba Malik on 7th April 2023, which also remitted the proceeds of N1.2 billion into the Federal Government account.

    He therefore emphasised that due diligence was followed in the auctioning of the two unutilised helicopters to boost the training needs of the college.

  • FAAN reacts as aviation workers commence strike

    FAAN reacts as aviation workers commence strike

    The Management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Chapter, has urged the intending passengers and stakeholders to make contingency plans in order to avoid missing their appointments.

    The management said, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, that any inconvenience that could be experienced was highly regretted.

    “The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport wishes to inform the General Public of the  Aviation Union`s planned two days warning strikes scheduled to start Monday April 17, 2023.

    “The Nnamdi Azikiwe Intenational Airport Management wishes to inform the general public that the airport will be opened for operation as usual. You may however wish to note that there may be disruptions in flights operations as a result of the planned strike action.

    “Intending passengers and stakeholders are kindly advised and note so as to make contingency plans in order to avoid missing their flights and appointments. Any inconvenience experienced is highly regretted,“ the management said.

    Aviation unions say there is no going back on the total showdown of aviation activities in the country on Monday and Tuesday.

    The strike is being led by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Nigerian Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the Engineers Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employers.

    The unions claim that their demands, including the implementation of new minimum wage consequential adjustment with arrears for the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) since 2019 and the release of the reviewed conditions of service for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria and NIMET, have not been met despite issuing an ultimatum to the minister of aviation and the chief executive officers of the agencies.

    The unions had earlier in a notice to their members across airports in the country and aviation agencies issued a two-day warning strike to press home their demands for workers entitlements.

    Their demands include approval and implementation of the agreement Condition of Service, CoS, as agreed between them and the agencies by the Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the Office of the  Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

    Others are; non-implementation of minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet since 2019 and the planned demolition exercise of all the agency buildings in Lagos by the Minister of Aviation for an airport city project.

    Secretary General, National Union of Transport Employees, NUATE, Mr Ocheme Aba said, all that the unions want is not an appeal or negotiation but implementation of their demands.

  • Aviation workers to shut Nigeria’s airspace from Monday

    Aviation workers to shut Nigeria’s airspace from Monday

    Aviation workers’ unions will embark on a two-day strike from Monday over alleged failure to implement the conditions of service agreement between the union and some aviation agencies.

    This is contained in a statement issued and signed by officials of the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals.

    Others are the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services.

    The unions noted an indefinite strike would ensue after the two-day warning strike if their demands are not met.

    ”Our unions issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and specific aviation parastatals on Feb. 7, over non-implementation of minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet ), refusal of the Income & Wages Commission and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to release the reviewed Condition of Service of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET).

    “Also planned demolition exercise of aviation’s agency buildings in Lagos by the Minister of Aviation for an airport city project has been strong resisted by our union but the ministry remains adamant so we are commencing the warning strike,” the union said.

    The aviation union urged its members to comply with the the directive adding that its state councils, branches and executives  to enforce the directive without compromise.

  • BREAKING: Buhari makes new appointments in aviation agencies

    BREAKING: Buhari makes new appointments in aviation agencies

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved some reorganizations, and made new appointments in agencies under the ministry of aviation.

    This, James Odaudu, Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation in a statement, said was in line with the administration’s commitment to the implementation of the Aviation Development Roadmap.

    According to the statement, President Buhari approved the appointment of Professor Bako Mansur Matazu as the new Director-General of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

    He replaces Professor Sani Abubakar Mashi.

    “Professor Matazu holds a PhD in Geography (Applied Meteorology), with membership of the Nigerian Environmental Society, African Forestry Forum, Nigerian Meteorological Society, the Climate Change Network, Nigeria and the renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Nigeria (REEN).

    “He was, until his appointment, the General Manager, Meteorological Research in the Agency.

    “Also approved by the President is the appointment of Captain Modibbo Alkali Mahmud as the new Rector of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT) Zaria.

    “The new Rector holds the Airline Transport Pilot Licenses of the Federal Aviation Administration, USA, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Embraer, Citation and other international professional certifications.

    “Until his appointment, Captain Modibbo had served in various capacities, including Pilot in Training, Fleet Captain at Dornier Aviation Nigeria, Max Air and other organisations and has clocked about 6000 hours of flying career.

    “In a related development, the President has also approved the reappointment of Engr. Akin Olateru as the Commissioner / Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria.

    “An Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with Nigerian, UK and USA licenses, Olateru began his career in engineering maintenance with Pan African Airlines and the Nigerian Police Air Wing after which he left Nigeria for further studies abroad.

    “He has also worked with multiple airlines in Europe including KLM, Martin Air in Holland, British Aerospace Engineering and British Midland Airways.

    “He attended City University, London and graduated with an M.Sc. in Air Transport Management with specializations in research and simulations into accident investigations.

    “All the appointments are with immediate effect.

    “It should be noted that the reorganisation is a continuous exercise that will involve other management staff of all agencies of the Ministry,” the statement reads.

  • AIB begins investigations into NCAT aircraft incident

    The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has begun investigation into the incident involving a Tampico (TB9) aircraft belonging to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.

    The General Manager, Public Affairs, AIB, Mr Tunji Oketunbi, made the disclosure in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.

    The pilot of the aircraft with registration number 5N-CBP, had on March 1, made a successful forced landing at Rumi forest, Sabon Birnin,Birnin Gwari LGA, Kaduna State.

    Oketunbi said the flying school had immediately notified the AIB of the incident in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.

    “From the information provided by NCAT, the aircraft was on a Test Flight being conducted by a pilot and an engineer.

    “The aircraft was force landed at 2:40pm as a result of an engine failure.

    “There was no fatality after the forced landing. Our team of safety investigators has commenced investigation,” he said.