Air traffic controllers threaten to ground Nigeria’s airports Wednesday

Flights across airports in the country may be grounded on Wednesday, September 18, as air traffic controllers are set to protest the 50 per cent deduction made by the Federal Government from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of aviation agencies.

The National President of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Abayomi Agoro, said in a statement, yesterday, that the safety-critical activities of Nigeria’s aviation sector are ‘slowly grinding to a halt, reaching levels that are unacceptable.’

Agoro said that the agencies within the sector are financially constrained, rendering the sector dysfunctional, hence the urgent need for the Federal Government to exempt aviation agencies from the 50 per cent deduction.

He claimed that the policy is severely undermining the safety and efficiency of Nigeria’s aviation sector and should be stopped.

“We want to place it on record that the safety-critical activities of the entire aviation sector are slowly grinding to a halt, reaching levels that are unacceptable. The agencies within the sector are financially constrained, rendering the sector dysfunctional. This alarming situation, if left unaddressed, poses significant risks to the safety and operational effectiveness of Nigerian airspace.

“It should also be on record that NATCA will not assume responsibility should a strain on the sector’s safety and operational needs result in any critical incident or accident. The continued financial constraints imposed by these deductions are compromising our ability to deliver safe, efficient air traffic control services.

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“Considering these developments, NATCA’s council, by this press release, places all air traffic controllers on notice that our mother union has directed a nationwide protest effective from ‘00:00 hours on the 18th of September 2024’, all controllers are to comply with the instructions from our mother union until further notice.

“Further instructions will be communicated in due course through the secretariat. We call on the Federal Government to act swiftly to exempt aviation agencies from the IGR deduction policy and address the financial challenges threatening the safety and functionality of Nigeria’s airspace,” Agoro said.

Daily Sun had on Thursday reported that unions in the aviation industry would on Wednesday, September 18, stage a nationwide protest over the same issue.

The unions comprising the National Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Practitioners (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees  (AUPCTRE) and the Air Transports Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSSAN), stateed that the protest is to demand the discontinuation of the 50 per cent deduction.

The unions led by their leaders, Ocheme Aba (NUATE), Abdul Rasaq Saidu (ANAP), Francis Akinjole (ATSSSAN), Olayinka Abioye NAAPE) and Sikiru Waheed (AUPCTRE), directed their members in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA), the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) at the all airports nationwide to join the protest.

The unions said that information available to them indicates that some critical safety activities of agencies like FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, and NiMet are grinding to a halt over lack of funding.

They also stated that all efforts on their part to convince the Federal Government to stop the deductions, as agencies are cost recovery and not profit-making organisations, have failed.

They stressed that the agencies cannot survive on half of their incomes under the model of administration or any other guise whatsoever.

Air traffic controllers threaten to ground Nigeria’s airports Wednesday

Keyamo gets Tinubu’s approval for airport concession

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development,  Mr.  Festus Keyamo at the weekend disclosed that  President Bola Tinubu has given the go-ahead for the concession of four international airports terminals namely :  Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja;  Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano; and Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

Speaking during the inspection of facilities at the E-Wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Keyamo  said the big plan for the airports, especially the international terminals, remains the option of concessioning them to the best operators/managers with global pedigree.

He said : “We are looking for the best partners in the world to come and collaborate with us in turning the airport around and running them professionally. And all will be to the ultimate benefit of Nigerians.

“We are going public very soon and it is going to be the best. I spoke to Mr. President about it. Mr. President said, Minister, go for the best. Nobody is interested in whoever is coming to do it. The process that was done before, maybe you asked that there was a process before we came into the office. We halted that process because there were complaints. I am sure you know that. There were litigations. People went to court. It was not transparent enough. But under this government, under Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, it is going to be as transparent as possible.

“The president gave us marching orders, and said go and do it as transparently as possible. Look for the best bid, the best hands to come and turn around our efforts and run our airports. And that is where we are going ultimately,” he said.

He said the improvements at the E-Wing is aimed at providing excellent customer satisfaction and creating more awareness about government zero tolerance for harassment, touting and extortion.

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“There is a great improvement here. The management and staff, they worked very hard at making this place look very welcoming and a big lift from where it was before. This is not where we are going. This is not our big plan for the airport.

“But this is a low-hanging fruit we can hang on to for now. We want to make the place as conducive as possible for passengers who are coming into Nigeria. And that is why you can see that the management, they have actually initiated very simple ideas and executed very simple ideas to make the place very cozy. More lighting, new toilets, new signs. For instance, I want to show Nigerians this in particular. Now, we have been very concerned, Nigerians have been very concerned about the issue of harassment at the airport, touting at the airport, and extortion by even uniformed personnel.

“Now, our first step in addressing this issue is what you have seen here. So for Nigerians, please look at this. When you come into the E-Wing of the international airport in Lagos, you are going to see a sign discouraging, touting, extortion and general harassment of passengers coming into Nigeria.

“Now, there is a QR code. You must make use of it. Don’t come and go to the media and complain that there is nobody to speak to when you are harassed by law enforcement agencies. Use the QR code, use the hotlines and make a call there and then. Don’t say, oh, there was nobody, they dragged you to one corner and they took money from you. Make that call.

“Pick your phone and make that call and you will be attended to. We also encourage people to be courteous, to be respectful also to the law enforcement agencies at the borders. But at the same time, we have also taken measures to ensure that we put a leash around our law enforcement agencies. So here you will see it and you will see not only this, you will see it as strategic positions around the airport. It is not the final solution to it but this is the first big step towards addressing the issue of touting,” he added.

Also speaking,  the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku said the Authority is ready for business, adding: ‘but the investments we need to improve the facilities and the infrastructure in the aviation sector cannot only come in from the federal government.’

She added that the Minister for this reason, has over the past few weeks,  engaged with the private sector as well as other government institutions globally ‘to make sure that we can better collaborate. Especially around new terminal development, when it comes to increasing our routes so there is some work around route development too’.

Keyamo gets Tinubu’s approval for airport concession

Updated: Nigeria, Boeing sign agreement on aircraft purchase, training, others

The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boeing, one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers to tackle challenges in the country’s aviation sector, particularly aircraft shortage.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria, according to a statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood.

He said the agreement included a comprehensive plan to enhance the operational efficiency of Nigerian airlines.

This plan is said to cover specialised training in airline operations and business models, aimed at improving the business practices of Nigerian carriers.

A key aspect of the MoU is the facilitation of aircraft acquisition.

Boeing will leverage its extensive network of financiers and lessors to assist Nigerian airlines in acquiring newer generation Boeing aircraft, thereby modernizing their fleets. Additionally, Boeing will provide enhanced technical support to ensure the seamless integration of new or used Boeing aircraft into existing airline operations.

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The MoU also grants Nigerian airlines access to Boeing’s extensive repository of maintenance documents, engineering drawings, parts purchasing, and flight operations documents, which will help streamline maintenance practices and reduce operational downtimes.

Boeing will further support Nigerian airlines by providing on-site Field Services Representation to help navigate operational challenges.

The statement added that the agreement included a leadership-development training program designed to strengthen the leadership pipeline within Nigerian airlines, ensuring sustained growth and excellence.

Boeing will collaborate with Nigerian airlines on various aspects of in-flight operations, maintenance, and engineering to enhance safety and operational efficiency.

The statement said in partnership with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), and in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and regional regulators, Boeing would work to bolster safety oversight within the region.

Minister Keyamo emphasized the importance of the MoU, stating, “This partnership with Boeing represents a significant milestone in our efforts to modernize and enhance the capabilities of Nigerian airlines.

“The benefits of this MoU will be far-reaching, not only in improving the operational efficiency of our airlines but also in ensuring the safety and reliability of air travel in Nigeria.”

Updated: Nigeria, Boeing sign agreement on aircraft purchase, training, others