FAAN Moves Against Extortion at Airports, to Apply Stiffer Sanctions on Violators

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has moved to curb acts of extortion at the country’s airports as it has promised to apply stiffer sanctions against violators.

This follows several accusations by stakeholders about extortion by some officials of some agencies in some of the airports. The disclosure was made by the Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, while addressing journalists on Monday in Abuja after the authority`s management meeting.

According to NAN, Yadudu said that such development will improve the integrity of the nation`s airports and Nigeria’s reliability among the comity of nations.

What the Managing Director of FAAN is saying

Yadudu said, “We plan to have a meeting with the airports regional managers and the Head of Departments (HODs). After the meeting with the HODs, they will meet with their stakeholders then the agencies.

“Primarily, to inform them that henceforth any violator will lose his or her ODC (on duty card) which means you lose your access card to the terminal.

“And we agreed that once you lose your ODC at the airport, you will not get it back. If it is a company, we will advise them to get a new staff. If it is an agency, we will advise them to get another personnel.’’

The FAAN boss pointed out that any staff that misplaces his On Duty Card (ODC) would permanently lose his right and privilege to come to the airport terminal.

Adding that the management further agreed that all personnel working in the airport, either private or government, should boldly write his or her name on the chest of the uniform for ease of visibility.

While Yadudu revealed that those whose names were not boldly written henceforth would lose their jobs, he noted that the stakeholders would soon be properly informed about the new development regarding violator`s penalties.

He urged all airport users to send messages of any wrong actions to a new WhatsApp number that would be available shortly. Read more

Investment: A’Ibom To Set Up Information Centre At Airport, Train Staff To Become Multilingual

As part of measures to shore up the investment processes in the state, Akwa Ibom State Government is to set up Information centers at both the arrival and departure wings of the Victor Attah International Airport for the benefit of investors and tourists trooping into the State.

Additionally, the government is set to begin training that will ensure Information Officers become multilingual for ease of business transactions with Chinese and Russian firms moving into Nigeria and particularly Akwa Ibom State occasioned by the investment consciousness of the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

These are some of the programs to be vigorously embarked upon by the state government through the Ministry of Information and Strategy during the 2022 fiscal year.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong disclosed these yesterday, while appearing before the Rt. Hon Uduak Odudoh-led House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation for the defense of the 2022 Capital Estimates of the Ministry.

He said with the commitment of the government to successfully catapult Akwa Ibom into becoming an investment hub in the sub-region, the Ministry of Information and Strategy is poised to float an information center at the VAIA, a major gateway into the state, where all relevant materials on the investment potentials of the state can be made handy to visitors while all inquiries are promptly attended to.

The State Information helmsman further stated that it is the hope of the Ministry that in the least, the first phase of the construction of the Corporate Headquarters of the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation, AKBC is commenced in 2022 as well as the development of the State Archives.

Making a case for the State Archives, Comrade Ini Ememobong said, with the importance of documentation of relevant government materials, it becomes expedient to develop an archive for the state, as very important information and documents are usually lost within 2 to 5 years, if not properly preserved in an archiving system.

Other programs budgeted for, in the 2022 capital estimates include the rehabilitation of the Government Printing Press; the activation of the Goss Community Printing Press and Press Hall of the Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation (AKNC) as well as the Provision of high definition Public Address System and Multi-media equipment to further boost the information sector of government. Read more

5 Airports Lack Air Traffic Communication Equipment, Group Alleges

The National Air traffic Communicators Association of Nigeria (NACAN) has raised the alarm that some airports involved in Hajj operations across the country lack air traffic communication equipment.

The president of, National Air traffic Communicators Association of Nigeria (NACAN), George Nkambo while speaking at the 25th anniversary of the association in Abuja, said there is a massive shortage of air traffic communications personnel in the nation’s aviation sector.

According to him, the five airports that are yet to be covered by air traffic communicators’ operations yet involved in Hajj’s operations are Jalingo, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Kebbi, and Jigawa.

The NACAN’s president identified a shortage of manpower in the department and urged the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to see the shortage as a peculiar one.

He said: “The management of NAMA should look at the shortage of air traffic communicators as a peculiar case as we needed additional 300 personnel to join the 176 on the ground to cover all the airports across the country effectively.”

However, air traffic communication in the nation’s aviation sector is set for an upgrade as the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), is set to deploy the  Air Traffic Service (ATS) Message Handling System (AMHS).

The MD of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkoutu, said the system will commence full operations in the next two weeks.

According to him, with the new system, there will be no limitation of messages to be transmitted at a high speed and adequate feedback.

Akinkoutu, however, explained that the federal government recognized the contributions of NACAN to the development of the aviation industry, and assured that the agency will ensure they get the best of treatment.

He further said that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) from the beginning, recognized aero communications as a means of communication for safety.

He assured of the growth of air transport in the near future, adding that air travel has remained the safest means of travel especially in this era of insecurity.

According to Akinkoutu, aeronautical communications remained the bottleneck threatening capacity limit in air transportation.

Kano Approves N89.9m for Airport Scanners

Kano State government has approved N89.9 million for the provision of a facial recognition system at both domestic and international wings of Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).

The state’s commissioner of Information, Muhammad Garba, said this was part of the resolutions of the state executive council, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the weekly council meeting.

The move, according to the commissioner, was part of the efforts of the state government to strengthen the security around the airport.

He said it was also envisaged to contend with the global best practices on counter-terrorism and detection of high-profile criminals on the watch list.

The council also made several other monetary approvals during the meeting, the commissioner said.

The U.S. Lifts Its Pandemic Travel Ban, Opening the Doors to Foreign Visitors

The U.S. lifted restrictions Monday on travel from a long list of countries including Mexico, Canada, and most of Europe, allowing tourists to make long-delayed trips and family members to reconnect with loved ones after more than a year and a half apart because of the pandemic.

Starting Monday, the U.S. is accepting fully vaccinated travelers at airports and land borders, doing away with a COVID-19 restriction that dates back to the Trump administration. The new rules allow air travel from previously restricted countries as long as the traveler has proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test. Land travel from Mexico and Canada will require proof of vaccination but no test.

Airlines are expecting more travelers from Europe and elsewhere. Data from travel and analytics firm Cirium showed airlines are increasing flights between the United Kingdom and the U.S. by 21% this month over last month.

The change will have a profound effect on the borders with Mexico and Canada, where traveling back and forth was a way of life until the pandemic hit and the U.S. shut down nonessential travel.

Malls, restaurants, and Main Street shops in U.S. border towns have been devastated by the lack of visitors from Mexico. On the boundary with Canada, cross-border hockey rivalries were community traditions until being upended by the pandemic. Churches that had members on both sides of the border are hoping to welcome parishioners they haven’t seen during the COVID-19 shutdown.

Loved ones have missed holidays, birthdays, and funerals while nonessential air travel was barred, and they are now eager to reconnect.

River Robinson’s American partner wasn’t able to be in Canada for the birth of their baby boy 17 months ago because of pandemic-related border closures. She was thrilled to hear the U.S. is reopening its land crossings to vaccinated travelers.

“I’m planning to take my baby down for the American Thanksgiving,” said Robinson, who lives in St. Thomas, Ontario. “If all goes smoothly at the border I’ll plan on taking him down as much as I can. Is crazy to think he has a whole other side of the family he hasn’t even met yet.” Read more

Agro Cargo Airport will turn Ogun to Agricultural Hub – Abiodun

Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun state has revealed the Agro Cargo Airport being built by his administration would turn Ogun into an agricultural hub of West Africa when it is completed next year.

Abiodun, who said this while receiving the Executive Officers of S.I.A.O Partners, an independent professional service and accounting firm in his Oke-Mosan Office in Abeokuta, also added that the airport would also be a hub for the aviation industry.

“We are confident that by the end of the fourth quarter of next year, we should commission the airport. Construction has gone very far; we are looking to turn that airport to a hub of agro cargo activities in the West coast of Africa,” he noted.

He stressed that his administration decided to ask for a special status for the state from the federal government because of the numerous federal roads that transverse the state, saying, “if the special status is granted, it will aid the state in reconstructing more roads belonging to the FG.”

The governor, who further said that his administration apart from constructing interstate roads is also constructing inter-city and intra-city roads, declared that his administration has constructed about 270 kilometers of road in less than three years.

Speaking on behalf of the S.I.A.O partners, the Managing Partner, Ituah Igbodalo, appreciated the state government for its stride in infrastructural development, adding that his organization was ready to partner with the state in other to leverage on the economic opportunities embedded in the Gateway State.

Emirates Flight Training Academy Invites Applicants to Pursue Unique Opportunities in Aviation

Dubai, UAE, 08 November 2021: The Emirates Flight Training Academy is inviting aspiring UAE Nationals and residents as well as international candidates seeking a career in aviation to join its cadet training program. Admissions are now open at the world’s most advanced flight training academy, and interested international candidates are encouraged to apply online: https://applications.emiratesflighttrainingacademy.com/

Ambitious UAE Nationals interested in the National Cadet Pilot Programme can apply here: https://www.emiratesgroupcareers.com/search-and-apply/328783

As an exclusive initiative by Emirates for the Emirates Flight Training Academy, graduates will now have the opportunity to apply for a flying career at Emirates. Interested candidates will be required to pass the selection process put in place by the airline.

Watch the Emirates Flight Training Academy video about the new initiative.

Interested international applicants, as well as UAE nationals and residents, can take advantage of competitive tuition fees for the two years training period, which also cover training materials, accommodation, dining, and uniforms, amongst other expenses. UAE Nationals seeking careers as pilots may have the opportunity to be selected for a fully sponsored pilot training program.

The Emirates Flight Training Academy reviews applications on a continuous basis, and new students are taken in every other month.

Adel Al Redha, Chief Operating Officer at Emirates Airline said: “At Emirates, we continuously explore opportunities to support and initiate programs within the aviation industry. We are pleased to offer this unique opportunity for Emirates Flight Training Academy graduates to pursue their flying careers at Emirates. This is an exclusive initiative launched by the airline to provide opportunities for UAE nationals, residents, and international students wanting to build their careers as pilots.”

Captain Abdulla Al Hammadi, Vice President of the Emirates Flight Training Academy said: “The demand for pilots will continue to grow globally and within the region, despite the recent pause that we have seen as a result of the pandemic. At EFTA, we are committed to providing state-of-the-art training programs using some of the latest aircraft and technologies as well as training methods.”

Located in Dubai South, the state-of-the-art Emirates Flight Training Academy is spread over 164,000 square meters (the area of 200 football fields) and includes 36 modern classrooms, next-generation simulators, and a fleet of 27 Cirrus SR22 G6 single-engine piston and Embraer Phenom 100EV very light jet aircraft. The Academy also boasts a 1,800-meter dedicated runway with navigation aids and lighting, an independent air traffic control tower, rescue and firefighting service, and a maintenance center.

The Academy uses a four-pronged approach to train its cadets: highly interactive theoretical learning in classrooms using advanced digital content and immersive VR technology, experiential learning through hands-on instruction of modern training aircraft, use of advanced flight simulators, and airline-focused line-oriented flight training.

The Academy has also established an innovative approach to training cadets, from learning to fly the single-engine piston Cirrus SR22 G6 aircraft to directly progressing to the Phenom 100EV very light jet (VLJ) aircraft, providing cadets with more experience on jet aircraft. In fact, the last batch of cadets that graduated in December last year clocked in over 6,000 flying hours during their training at the Academy. Cadets at EFTA graduate with a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) on a multi-engine aircraft with Instrument Rating. The total training duration for cadets ranges between 21 months and 24 months.

All enrolled cadets stay in modern accommodation and have access to a range of comprehensive sports and leisure facilities. The EFTA facilities are designed to accommodate over 600 cadets at a time.

Sources: Nairametrics, Daily Independent, Daily Trust, Leadership, Time Magazine, Voice of Nigeria