Aviation
Air Nigeria: Rep tackles Sirika over allegation of 5% demand
Air Nigeria: Rep replies Sirika, says he never demanded 5% equity
A former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Nnaji Nnolim, has responded to an allegation that he demanded five per cent equity in the controversial Nigeria Air.
Ex-Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made the allegation while on Arise TV interview on Sunday.
Sirika had said, “He (Nnaji) asked (us) to give him five percent of Nigeria Air to carry him along with his people, and I said to him at that time that honourable, this is a bidding process that has taken place, and some people won.”
The former minister was responding to the lawmaker’s remarks that the launch of the national carrier was “fraudulent”.
But Nnolim in his reaction to the allegation said Sirika was a drowning man and challenged him to speak directly to the issue.
In a statement on Sunday, he said the former minister came up with the claim because “I remained consistent in demanding that he followed due process”.
He said the committee had commenced a probe of the former minister and his team since last year.
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“Ordinarily, l would not have bothered to reply to his allegations of my demand for five percent equity in Nigeria Air as he claimed during his interview on Arise Television but l believe l owe my constituents and indeed Nigerians, a duty to put the records straight,” he said.
He also said, “It is on record that last year when the minister announced Ethiopian Airlines as the core investor in Nigeria Air, my committee which was also inundated with petitions from various stakeholders regarding that announcement invited the minister and his team to furnish the committee with the details of the project.
“The committee requested the evidence of the bid process that gave Ethiopian Airlines the award and the full business case as prepared by the Nigerian Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) which was supposed to spell out the details of all the investors and their equity contributions.
“Sirika at that meeting said the full business case was still being worked out by the ICRC and promised to make it available to the committee as soon it was ready which he failed to do before Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) took the ministry to court and got injunction restraining it from going ahead with the project.”
The lawmaker said all enquiries were suspended to avoid court contempt.
Nnolim said he also had an encounter with the former minister when there was a threat of mass resignations by key officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over alleged pressure from the ministry to give waivers to Nigeria Air for its air operators certificate (AOC).
Background
The purported Nigeria Air was discovered to be a hired aircraft from Ethiopian Airlines, repainted and rebranded in Nigeria colours.
The scam has put the country in bad light globally.
Aviation
FAAN begins sale of e-tags at airports
FAAN begins sale of e-tags at airports
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Friday commenced the sale of electronic tags (e-tags) at airports.
The initiative, it said in a statement, was in line with the presidential directive that mandating the use of e-tags for accessing the nation’s federal airports.
“Following the presidential directive that all citizens are mandated to pay for e-tags at all the 24 federal airports across the country, we wish to inform the general public that the e-tags are available for sale from Friday, 17th May, 2024 at the following locations,” FAAN said.
“Lagos: Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, Terminal 1, 5th Floor) Office of HOD Commercial. Contact: 08033713796 or 08023546030.
“Abuja: Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, HOD Commercial Office (General Aviation Terminal) Contact: 08034633527 or 08137561615.”
FAAN however said there would be an option to pay in cash at the access gates for motorists without e-tags.
On May 14, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced that everyone, including the President and Vice President, would pay tolls at the airports.
Keyamo said the government was losing over 82 per cent of the revenue it should have earned from the access fee.
Aviation
Updated: We’ll resume Lagos-Dubai flights on October 1, says Emirates
Updated: We’ll resume Lagos-Dubai flights on October 1, says Emirates
Emirates Airlines on Thursday announced that its flight operations to Nigeria would resume on October 1, 2024.
It said this in a statement, “The service will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER. EK783 will depart Dubai at 0945hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1520hrs. The return flight EK784 will leave Lagos at 1730hrs and arrives in Dubai at 0510hrs the next day.
“Tickets can be booked now on Emirates.com or via travel agents.”
It quoted Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, as saying the Lagos-Dubai service has traditionally been popular in Nigeria.
“We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership and support in re-establishing this route and we look forward to welcoming passengers back onboard,” Kazim said.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Wednesday said the Emirates Airlines had given a definite date to resume flight operations to Nigeria and would make the announcement in a matter of days.
Emirates Airlines suspended flight operations to Nigeria in October 2022 over its inability to repatriate its $85 million revenue trapped in Nigeria.
Aviation
Dana Air lays off workers amid govt audit
Dana Air lays off workers amid govt audit
Dana Air has sacked some of its workers amid an operational audit being conducted and by the Nigerian regulatory authorities.
Dana disclosed this through its head of corporate communications, Kingsley Ezenwa, in a statement on Saturday, May 11.
The audit coming after some incidents is to ensure the airline complies with necessary standards and regulations.
Ezenwa stated, “In light of the ongoing audit, Dana Air has made the decision to temporarily disengage some staff members pending the conclusion of the audit.
“This decision has been made to ensure efficient management of resources and to facilitate a thorough review of operational procedures.”
He said the management appreciated the sacked workers’ resilience and dedication and recognised the difficulties they had faced.
Ezenwa also said that the airline pledged to provide updates and support for its staff members throughout the audit process.
He said the airline had commenced talks with lessors and was engaging stakeholders on the progress made so far.
“Dana Air therefore urges for calm and understanding from our very dedicated staff for their altruism,” he added.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) recently suspended the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Dana Air after one of its aircraft skidded off the runway at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos State.
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