Why Nigeria Must Turn Airports Into Engines of Growth

Why Nigeria Must Turn Airports Into Engines of Growth

Across Nigeria, new airports are appearing on the landscape with growing frequency. Governors commission them with pride, supporters celebrate them as symbols of progress, and critics dismiss them as expensive vanity projects. Yet both sides often overlook the essential point. An airport, by itself, is neither a development strategy nor an economic achievement. A runway is not an economy. The real question is not whether a state can build an airport, but whether it can…

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Ebola: FAAN Activates Preventive Surveillance At Airports

Ebola: FAAN Activates Preventive Surveillance At Airports

Following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) declaration of the Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has activated strict preventive protocols across all international gateways. Just on Tuesday, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) issued a high-alert directive to all domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria, ordering immediate, enhanced port health surveillance at all…

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Beyond The Wire: The vulnerability of Nigerian airports’ perimeter fencing

Beyond The Wire: The vulnerability of Nigerian airports’ perimeter fencing

The age-long commitment to securing Nigeria’s airport perimeters has become a saga of shifting deadlines, budget cycles, and evolving security threats. For decades, the Federal Government has identified perimeter fencing as a top priority. The government has now categorised such projects as a priority, writes WOLE SHADARE The recent security incident at Akure Airport has indeed reignited the long-standing debate over the underbelly of Nigerian aviation: perimeter security. The breach, which occurred around March 15,…

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‘Many African airports operate 50% less capacity’

‘Many African airports operate 50% less capacity’

Attributes poor performance to high charges Senior Lecturer at Digital Marketing and Tourism at the University of Bedfordshire, Dr Augusta Evans, has stated that many of Africa’s airports are operating less than 50% of their total capacity. This, she said, is contained in the 2022 report of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). This significant underutilisation, she said, is driven by several interconnected factors that hinder the growth of the continent’s aviation sector. ICAO, she…

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NAMA extends advanced satellite system to 26 Airports, to migrate to global air traffic network

NAMA extends advanced satellite system to 26 Airports, to migrate to global air traffic network

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has taken another bold step in strengthening aeronautical communication across the nation with the extension of the Advanced Satellite System Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network (AFTN) from 14 airports to 26 airports nationwide. The upgraded AFTN, which operates on X.25 protocols, is designed to serve as a backup system to the soon-to-be-commissioned Aeronautical Message Handling System (AMHS) that runs on X.400 and X.500 protocols. This initiative forms part of NAMA’s…

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Sosina: Airports, airlines reaping liberalization benefits

Sosina: Airports, airlines reaping liberalization benefits

A former Secretary-General of African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), Iyabo Sosina said the Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM) otherwise known as Africa’s version of the United States ‘Open Skies policy has helped the continent to increase capacity and flight services in the continent. Describing it as a win-win for as many countries in Africa that has adopted the air transport policy, Sosina said, “If you are actually going to look at the passenger figures…

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Nine years after, NAMA restores wifi services to airports

Nine years after, NAMA restores wifi services to airports

Nine years later, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) restored WI-FI services to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. This is a major boost for travellers and airport users who need the facility to stay in touch with their loved ones after their trip. With it, passengers waiting at airports and other airport users will be able to connect wirelessly to the internet using their smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other smart devices. WI-FI As part…

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Kuku’s ‘Operation AirClean’ to stop bad practices at airports, says Dati

Kuku’s ‘Operation AirClean’ to stop bad practices at airports, says Dati

The charge by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Mrs Olubunmi to security agencies to stamp out touting at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and other airports across the country should not be seen as an indictment but a wake-up call to weed out persons soiling the image of the nation. This was disclosed by a former spokesman for FAAN, Yakubu Dati who called on airlines, service providers and stakeholders…

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Exploring the tangibles in Nigerian airports’ recertification

Exploring the tangibles in Nigerian airports’ recertification

The certification of the Lagos and Abuja airports has shown the remarkable efforts and the resilience of the aviation industry. It would help to solve airlines’ high insurance premiums. The certification which has a catalytic effect on the aviation value chain is one thing. The other is to ensure that the country sustains the closure of safety gaps at the aerodromes, writes, WOLE SHADARE A break For four years, virtually all the country’s international airports operated…

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Iyayi: Dormant airstrips, airports stunt aviation, tourism growth

Iyayi: Dormant airstrips, airports stunt aviation, tourism growth

President of TopBrass Airlines and a member of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Roland Iyayi has lamented that many of the 31 airports and 91 airstrips across the country are not helping the growth of tourism because they lie dormant. He said the airstrips and airports should be opportunities for the domestic market with smaller airplanes like 19 seater air shuttles to many places with airstrips to boost commerce and tourism. Speaking to Aviation Metric…

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