“Accordingly, Your Excellency is respectfully requested to reschedule the foundation laying ceremony of the Osun State Airport pending the resolution of the petitions and selection of a mutually agreed date. Please, accept the assurances of the Honourable Minister’s highest regards.”
Aviation
Mounting debts worry airlines, discuss N22bn repayment plans with NCAA
Airlines owing the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority a total of N22bn have held a meeting with the agency on reconciliation and plans for payment.
The Director-General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, said this when the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation led by Nnolim Nnaji paid him a visit on Wednesday.
Apart from the devastating effects of COVID-19 on businesses, airlines say the recent rise in naira-to-dollar rate has exposed them to more financial needs.
Except workers’ salaries and ticket sales, everything other thing in the aviation business is denominated in dollars.
A chief operation officer of one of the local carriers said the major worry was the high cost of maintenance.
For instance, according to him, the C-check, which is required every 18 months, now costs an average of $2m per commercial aircraft.
On the meeting with airlines, Nuhu said, “Under your guidance, we have carried on that agreement that we had. We had a meeting with the operators on the issue of the debt collection and agreed to notify each airline on the level of debt that they have.
“We will sit down with them and do the reconciliation. We will then implement a payment plan. We do not expect everyone to pay all their money at a go because of the difficulties in the industry and economic downturn.”
He said the agreement would be a win-win for all parties at the end of the day.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had in November given the total debt airlines owed the agency over a period of 10 years as N22bn.
Experts have said unless the Federal Government bail out the airlines and give them a special forex window, airfares might continue to rise and become unaffordable for the travelling public in the festive season.
It was observed last week that many of the local airlines had raised their fares by about 100 per cent due to high exchange rate that hit N500 to $1 at the black market.
This has seen an average one-hour economy class seat of N33, 000 rise to N75, 000 over the counter of some airlines. And average return trip variants also climbed to N121, 000 from about N60, 000 two weeks ago.
Aviation
Nigeria’s rail revenue drops 4% to N2.2bn in three months
Nigeria’s rail revenue drops 4% to N2.2bn in three months
Revenue generated from rail transport fell by 4.7 percent year-on-year (YoY) to N2.19 billion in the third quarter of 2024 (Q3’24), from N2.3 billion in the corresponding period of 2023, Q3’23.
The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, disclosed this yesterday in its Rail Transportation Data for Q3’24.
The breakdown of the revenue shows N1.7 billion was received from passengers while N412.57 million was collected on goods/cargo, and N51.85 million received from the movement of goods/cargo through pipelines. It also generated N34.77 million from income line categorized as ‘Other Receipts’.
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The Bureau also said that 743,205 passengers travelled through the rail system during the period.
It stated: “In Q3’24, a total of 743,205 passengers travelled via rail system relative to 594,348 reported in the corresponding quarter of 2023, indicating a growth rate of 25.05 percent.
“The volume of goods/cargo transported via rail in Q3 2024 stood at 96,401 tons compared to 69,003 tons recorded in Q3 2023.
“In the quarter under review, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) reported an additional volume of goods/cargo transported via pipeline which stood at 7,320 tons, lower than 12,960 tons in Q3 2023.
“In terms of revenue generation, N1.7 billion was received from passengers during the reference period, showing an increase of 13.83 percent from the N1.49 billion recorded in the same quarter of the previous year”.
Nigeria’s rail revenue drops 4% to N2.2bn in three months
Aviation
JUST IN: Six crew members escape unhurt as Cargo plane crash-lands in Abuja
JUST IN: Six crew members escape unhurt as Cargo plane crash-lands in Abuja
A cargo plane operated by Allied Air made an emergency landing at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport due to a malfunctioning landing gear.
The aircraft, bearing registration number 5N-JRT, experienced the failure on Wednesday at 10:00 am with six crew members on board.
“Fortunately, no casualties were recorded,” a source familiar with the incident said.
“Crew members were quickly evacuated and are undergoing medical evaluations at the 063 Nigerian Air Force medical unit.”
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“Emergency responders swiftly secured the crash site, cordoning off the area under Military Airport Commandant supervision.”
The source revealed that the airport’s runway is temporarily closed, causing flight delays.
Airport authorities, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, are working to remove the aircraft and inspect the runway for potential damage.
This incident occurs three months after a Port Harcourt helicopter crash claimed three lives.
JUST IN: Six crew members escape unhurt as Cargo plane crash-lands in Abuja
Aviation
FG stops Adeleke’s move to relocate Osun Airport to Ede
FG stops Adeleke’s move to relocate Osun Airport to Ede
The federal government has suspended the relocation of the Osun State International Airport project from Ido-Osun to Ede, following widespread controversies and protests.
Governor Ademola Adeleke had announced that the foundation-laying ceremony for the new airport would be held on December 16, 2024, in Ede, his hometown.
The event was to feature key dignitaries, including Ministers of Works and Aviation, David Umahi and Festus Keyamo.
However, the proposed relocation drew sharp criticism.
The Ido-Osun community staged protests, condemning the move as nepotistic and undemocratic.
Critics argued that the relocation prioritised personal interest over public good.
In defence, the Osun state government cited encroachment on the Ido-Osun airport land, the presence of gullies, and the inadequacy of the runway as reasons for the decision.
In a letter dated December 6, 2024, signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace, Dr. Emmanuel D. Meribole, and addressed to Governor Adeleke, the ministry directed the state government to suspend the project indefinitely.
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The letter, obtained exclusively by The Nation, stated: “Re: Invitation as a Special Guest of Honour at the Foundation Laying Ceremony of the Osun State International Airport. I wish to refer to your letter Ref. No. 5.12/19/1/Vol.VI/188 dated 21st November 2024 on the above subject and to respectfully request Your Excellency to suspend the foundation laying ceremony of the Osun State International Airport until the issues regarding the petitions over the existing airstrip/airport are resolved and to harmonize the state’s efforts with that of the federal government.”
This development marks a significant setback for Governor Adeleke’s administration amid ongoing disputes over the airport’s future.
“Your Excellency may wish to note that the airstrip is a federal project that is captured in the Ministry’s 2024 Appropriation. We also note that you have made arrangements to expand the airstrip to an international airport. In addition, there is a petition indicating there is an existing airstrip where funds have been expended and the need to use the site for the present airstrip instead of a new site.
“The federal government is mandated to ensure judicious use of funds to curtail wastage of resources. As this Airstrip Project is a collaboration between state and federal governments, we must be in synch before the project takes off.
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