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The Federal Government penultimate week took a far reaching step to sanitise the aviation industry, particularly the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) where over 22 Directors, General Managers, Deputy General Managers and others who were said to have been sneaked into the agencies by a former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah were asked to go, or demoted.   The action was roundly applauded because of many years of injustice where majority of the people…

By Tayo Ojuri Among news currently making headlines in the Aviation sector is the recent move by the Cross-River State Government to launch a state-owned airline “Cally Air” in partnership with Dana Group. While this move is lauded as a step in the right direction towards boosting the state’s tourism, certain factors must be brought to light in the interest of sustainable development. It is imperative to understand the rational and economics of airline operations…

 By Olumide Ohunayo   The Minister of State for aviation should, as a matter of urgency, convene a Stakeholders’ Conference that will draft and present a National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP}. We need the policy to tackle common bottlenecks to propel Nigerian aviation. The new policy should reflect liberalisation and be pro-growth. Some countries have done it. India’s new NCAP is designed to empower carriers negotiate commercial partnerships with little or no interference from the regulator,…

by Yakubu Dati Last Tuesday, September 13,2016,the  Minister of State, Aviation, Sen Hadi Sirika landed in Lagos from a trip and immediately moved to settle a trade dispute between Aero Contractors and its workers. When he got to the airline’s headquarters, the situation had even become worse as the workers were on a protest, over the shut down of operations amidsts unpaid salaries by its management. But rather than beat a retreat to take a…

Adewale Kupoluyi A few days ago, I had the privilege of chatting with a friend and colleague, who just came back to the country after a trip abroad. After sharing with me the reason why he embarked on the trip, he took time to express his dissatisfaction that Nigeria has been unable to float a national carrier despite our mantra of being the Giant of Africa.  He lamented that many opportunities associated with having a…

By Ernest Odeh   EVERY year, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria’s busiest airport, experiences no fewer than two major power outages and this year  alone the airport has experienced five blackouts yet somehow the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has somehow played the ostrich, blaming everything else but its incompetence. On Sunday, May 9, 2010, there was a power outage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, which grounded flights and left…

It is becoming a routine without solution in sight. The incessant power outage at the Lagos airport and other major airports across the country is becoming embarrassing. I am sure many reading this article would say what is the big deal if the airports are without electricity considering the fact that many homes in Nigeria are without light? Many would have thought that the problem that started over four years has been resolved, but the…

Call it a case of dog eat dog and you will not be far from the truth. The on-going face-off that has pit the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), members of Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Air craft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has assumed a different dimension. But it is good to situate facts and try to call a spade a spade.   While NAAPE is holding…

Not many are impressed with the performance of Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika. They had bottled up their frustration over the drifting of the aviation sector. If one were to conduct a survey, it would be doubtful if the Minister would score 20 per cent in a performance-based rating. It took the courage of National secretary of Nigeria Aviation Professionals Association (NAPA), Abdulrasaq Saidu to bring to the fore the seeming apathy of…

  For a country the size of Nigeria, with a huge travelling population, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos, Nigeria’s major gateway, is an eyesore. This is beyond the dysfunctionality of the structure and its atmosphere. Everything is wrong with the airport. Many feel that it is one of the most unfriendly airports in the world. It’s very unwelcoming to visitors, passengers and airline staff; and probably the operator. The remodeling exercise of the airports…