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Category: Aviation

  • Airports to go cashless, FAAN holds concessionaires’ engagement 

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)  is finalising automation of payment processes at airports nationwide starting with Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

    The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, gave the assurance on Monday in Lagos.

    Kuku spoke at FAAN’s Directorate of Commercial and Business Development Stakeholder Engagement.

    The engagement  had the theme: “Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Growth and Development”.

    Kuku emphasised the need for Electronic Cash Register (ECR) devices for payments and automation of toll gates and parking facilities to enhance transparency and accountability.

    “Today, the environment is slightly porous as people are just using physical ID cards and identification to pass through.

    “We are actually going to be integrating that with BVN and  NIN  and, of course, biometrics on the domestic side,” she said.

    Kuku said that the authority was commitment to providing smart airports and processes for business partners.

    She  emphasised  the need for concessionaires to make timely payments and adhere to contract terms.

    Kuku expressed dissatisfaction at the presence of tankers, which did not have any business at airport area.

    She asked  that they should vacate the area or be sanctioned.

    “We are going to be taking very drastic actions because it is obnoxious for an airport environment.

    “I have realised that a lot of these tankers do not belong to those who operate in our environment.”

    Kuku said there was the need to update and categorise concessionaires to address fee discrepancies.

    She identified four major categories based on business type, retail mix and offerings to ensure fair and transparent fee structures.

    The Director of Commercial and Business Development, FAAN, Ms Adebola Agunbiade, spoke on FAAN’s revenue scorecard for 2024.

    Agunbiade said that FAAN  generated 92 per cent of revenue from aeronautics and  eight per cent  from non-aeronautics.

    “This is not very good for us. International standard is 55 per cent aeronautical revenue and  45 per cent non-aeronautical, and we are very far from that.

    “All of the initiatives that we have come up with and keep coming up with are to help us to drive our non-aeronautic businesses.

    “That is why you all are here. We are hoping that we will get your support to be able to achieve this,” she said.

    She said that FAAN would review its tariffs, adding that it had ‘suffered a lot from obsolete charges’.

    Stakeholders in catering, car hiring, retailing and indoor advertising, among others, were present at the event. 

  • Enugu A/port: Report of 80-year duration of concession untrue

    Enugu A/port: Report of 80-year duration of concession untrue

    The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development on Monday, in Abuja disputed online reports claiming concession of Enugu international airport had been agreed upon.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Tunde Moshood, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

    According to Moshood, the online reports are utterly baseless and untrue.

    “Our attention has been drawn to certain online reports/stories suggesting that a certain lengthy period of concession has been agreed upon regarding the Enugu International Airport.

    “It is true that Government is considering proposals for concession of five major airports, this is a proactive measure to ensure these vital facilities meet and maintain international standards, given increasing financial demands of their operations.

    “Many of our airports are presently running at a loss, so they have to be subsidised each month by the Federal Government. It is noteworthy that this initiative to concession started from previous administrations. “

    He, however, said that at this stage, prospective concessionaires have indeed submitted various proposals, including different durations for the concession.

    He further said that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development had not established any fixed duration.

    According to him, all submitted proposals are currently undergoing thorough evaluation that will eventually be reviewed by the Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) before it is presented to the Minister for conveyance to FEC for approval.

    “We can confirm that this review process has not been concluded.

    “However, for the sake of transparency, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, directed, some months ago that the Aviation Labour Unions be included as part of the negotiating teams.

    “Therefore, we must state unequivocally that the information suggesting a predetermined concession duration is false, unfounded, and intended to cause unwarranted disaffection and mistrust in this process by those with entrenched interests.

    “Please be assured that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development is committed to a transparent process that adheres strictly to due process, “ he said.

    Moshood said that with the minister`s training and track record, he would not allow anything untoward to happen under his watch.

    “ He has so far run the ministry in a transparent manner and will not fall into the same mistake of the past.

    “We will ensure that all decisions are made in the best interest of the nation and the aviation sector. 

  • Max Air Suspended for Three Months After Kano Incident

    Max Air Suspended for Three Months After Kano Incident

    Max Air has been slammed with three months grounding following an incident on January 28, 2025 at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

    In the incident the plane lost its landing tyre as it burst into fames during landing.

     The Boeing 737, with 53 passengers aboard, was safely evacuated, and the airport reopened by 8:00 AM the next day.

     This marks the third safety issue for Max Air in recent months.

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    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the suspension of the airline’s domestic flights starting January 31, 2025, to allow for internal reviews.

     During this period, the NCAA will also conduct an audit of Max Air’s safety and financial operations. 

    The airline will resume operations only after passing the necessary evaluations. 

    The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has launched an inquiry into the incident, though the exact cause remains unclear until the investigation is completed. 

    The NCAA has assured the public that passenger safety remains the top priority, and the suspension will help address ongoing concerns.

  • Air Peace Airfares: Keyamo lashes out at FCCPC

    Air Peace Airfares: Keyamo lashes out at FCCPC

    He says about the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC): “We cannot have an agency of government floating all over the place, having all the powers. That means if there is problem with yam pricing, they will go and call the agricultural minister.”

    Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister lampooned the FCCPC for their lack of circumspection for coming to the media space to attack Air Peace without due regard to the effort the ministry is putting in to develop the aviation industry.

    Earlier this December, FCCPC had threatened to probe Air Peace over what it called “exploitative practices”, especially “significant price hikes for advance bookings on certain domestic routes” following consumer complaints.

    Mr. Keyamo, while appearing on Arise TV this Sunday, berated the FCCPC for their statement, calling it “very carless.”

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    “I think it was a very careless statement – I say that with all apologies – by the agency, without even consulting the core agency involved in regulation, which is the NCAA,” the Minister said.

    “We cannot have an agency of government floating all over the place, having all the powers. That means if there is problem with yam pricing, they will go and call the agricultural minister.”

    “They should have contacted the NCAA for them to look at the figures and the books which we have been doing, so we would have given them facts. But to single out a few airlines while we are struggling to expose them to the world for them to get more enhanced capacity was a bit careless,” Mr. Keyamo, SAN, reasoned.

  • Borno Dep. Gov Escapes Engine Fire Disaster on Max Air Flight  

    Borno Dep. Gov Escapes Engine Fire Disaster on Max Air Flight  

    Borno State Deputy Governor, Umar Usman Kadafur, and over 100 passengers narrowly avoided an aircraft fire disaster on Wednesday in Maiduguri.

    The incident happened when a Max Air flight encountered an engine fire caused by a bird strike shortly after taking off from Maiduguri International Airport.  

    The flight, headed to Abuja, experienced the issue around 7 p.m., about 10 minutes into the journey. 

    The bird strike damaged one of the engines, forcing the pilot to return the plane to Maiduguri for an emergency landing.  

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    While passengers were visibly shaken, Max Air promptly arranged for another aircraft from Kano to complete the trip later that night.

     Some passengers, however, chose to abandon their travel plans.  

    The damaged aircraft remains at Maiduguri Airport for repairs.

     Authorities assured travelers of their dedication to maintaining safety standards.

  • Private Jets Must Get Clearance Before Leaving Nigeria, Says Keyamo

    Private Jets Must Get Clearance Before Leaving Nigeria, Says Keyamo

    Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, says no private jet, including those belonging to high-profile individuals can depart the country without official approval.

    Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Keyamo addressed concerns over the movement of private planes and airstrips, stressing that all departures, whether for private or military aircraft, must undergo proper clearance.

    Keyamo explained that private jets must land at international airports for customs, immigration, and other checks before flying out of Nigeria.

     He also confirmed that Oyedepo’s airstrip follows the same procedures, dispelling misconceptions that private airstrips could bypass these regulations. 

    He said: “They were only concerned about the fact that they thought that somebody can take off from a private airstrip and fly out of Nigeria or fly into Nigeria. It is not possible.

    “You must land in an international airport first. Then the Customs, immigration and NDLEA will process you before you take off from there to your private airstrip. If you are also flying out, you must land at an international airport. You will go through Customs, immigration and all the normal process before flying out.

    “So nobody uses an airstrip for any such purpose without seeking clearance. At every point in time, the authorities must approve.”

    The Minister also shared that the country operates around 40 airstrips, with 23 federal and about 8 or 9 state-owned airports.

  • Aviation unions to protest 50% IGR deduction

    Aviation unions to protest 50% IGR deduction

    Unions in the air transport sector have voiced concerns about the continued deduction of 50 per cent from the internally generated revenue of aviation agencies, saying it has concluded plans to embark on a peaceful protest over the issue.
    The unions include the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, ANAP, National Association of Aircraft Pilots And Engineers, NAAPE, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN.
  • Court hears suit against seizure of Arik Aircrafts, properties August 5

    Court hears suit against seizure of Arik Aircrafts, properties August 5

    A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Wednesday fixed August 5, for hearing in a suit seeking to stop the seizure of the aircraft and other properties belonging to ArikAir Limited over $2.5 million indebtedness.

    The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) brought the motion on notice to the High Court sequel to Monday’s seizure of Arik aircraft and other assets by the Atlas Petroleum International Ltd and its sponsor.

    AMCON is seeking to stop the continued seizure of the Arik Airlines properties on the grounds that the airline was already under another receivership following its indebtedness to Zenith Bank Plc to the tune of N37.0 billion.

    However, Justice Iheme Nwosu, could not proceed with hearing and determination of the AMCON’s suit against the seizure of the aircraft following the discovery that the Deputy Sheriff was not served with the motion as required by law.

    Deputy Sheriffs are officials of high courts who enforce and execute judgement of courts as stipulated by law.

    Justice Nwosu subsequently fixed August 5 and 12 for hearing of the AMCON’s motion.

    Speaking with journalists shortly after the proceedings, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and counsel to Atlas Petroleum Limited, Sebastian Hon, confirmed that AMCON filed the motion seeking to stop the enforcement of the order against Arik Airline over its huge debt to Atlas Petroleum.

    The senior lawyer observed that while his clients were in the process of enforcement, “AMCON surprisingly, I will say came to intervene that Arik Air is under receivership when they were aware of the matter right from the Lagos High Court to the Supreme Court and the judgments were given against Arik.

    “We are going on with the enforcement as permitted by the law, we will not flout the law or any order of court but as it is, the Minister of Aviation who was served with the enforcement orders has succeeded in grounding two aircraft which are not related to the application AMCON brought to court to stop the enforcement.

    A former judge of the FCT High Court now in Court of Appeal, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi had on June 26, 2024, issued an order directing the attachment and sale of all movable properties of the Arik Air Limited found within the jurisdiction of the court.

    Consequently, the judgement creditor in enforcing the order of the court had seized aircraft, hangers, especially Boeing 737 with registration numbers: B737.700/5N-MJF, B737.800/5N-MJQ, DASH8.Q400 and 5N-BKK in satisfaction of the $2.5 million debt against the airline

  • Keyamo orders suspension of 800% planned navigation charges on Airlines

    Keyamo orders suspension of 800% planned navigation charges on Airlines

    Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has approved the suspension of the planned 800 percent increase in navigational charges by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA.
    Abdullahi Musa, the spokesperson for the agency, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
    He explained that the suspension was on the grounds of what the Minister, Keyamo described as “current economic challenges faced by Nigerians”.
    According to him, Keyamo stressed the need for further consultation before implementing any changes.
    Earlier, it was reported that the NAMA boss, Umar Farouk blamed the planned hike on the significant economic pressures faced by the aviation industry, exacerbated by global economic volatility, fuel price hike, and currency instability.
    He proposed to increase NAMA’s fees by 800 percent from September 1, 2024.