Why 22 Nigerian airports still lack ICAO certification

In spite of Nigeria being reffered to as the West African hub in the aviation sector, none of its 22 airports are yet certified by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

This is mainly because policy makers in the country have failed to pay proper attention to most of the international standard requirements of the body since 1980.

Disclosing this on Friday, in a phone-in programme on Radio Continental, Lagos, two experts, namely Group Captain John Ojikutu, (rtd) and a former Director of Operations with the defunct Nigeria Airways, Captain Dele Ore, said until Nigeria accords aviation regulator, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) its independence in decision making, the international agency would have no authority to base its certification of any of the airports on.

But they said that experts have already advised the government to put plans in place towards ensuring that it secures certification for at least two of the country’s major airports: the newly renovated Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja, as the ICAO inspectors are expected to visit Nigeria mid of June 2017.

Said Ore, “What the regulators are interested in is not the airport buildings, because they are seen as mere shopping malls. Rather they are after the functionality of the aviations facilities, including navigational aids, aeronautics devices and illumination on the runways.

“But what has been regarded as important in most developing countries, especially Nigeria is undue emphasis on building structures, but what the inspectors are after is the safety measures in the airports.

“Until recently most airports in Nigeria were not allowing planes to land or take off from its airport from 6pm, because of poor lighting of the runways, but it calls them international airport.”

Answering a listener’s question on the financial difficulties that the sector is passing through, Ore, who is the former Chairman of the Aviation Round Table, a think tank for the industry, regretted that the operators missed the opportunity given them by the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration, which in 2013 doled out a N34 billion life-line to the operators.

“The irony is that rather than utilize the money to turn their airline around, they used greater part of it in settling some old debt with banks, as against re-negotiating the loan servicing, and today the same banks are still after the operators for the balance of the loans whereas the sector is becoming insolvent.”

On his part, Ojukutu frowned at attempts to have any private airline fly the Nigerian flag, by way of meeting up with the country’s Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), without such airline first being asked to get quoted on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

“There are two sides to the coins,” the former Air Force officer said, adding “rather than government floating another national carrier at this time, it could jolly well encourage merger of the airlines and ensure that one or two of such merged companies have their shares, which Nigerians could buy, as investors, before they are allowed to fly the national flag.”

Ojikutu insisted that the government should have an aviation policy, as contained in the Aviation Act of 2006.

“The NCAA should no longer be subordinated to the ministry, just like ICAO does not take orders from any government.

“The law establishing NCAA makes its chief executive officer independent of the Minister, but rather, he is a consultant to the minister on aviation matters.

“But we need the officials in the agency to understand this and take up regulation duties professionally, as the Act stipulates”.

On the safety of Nigerian Airspace, Ojukutu said there have been some improvements, as per having some navigation instruments in some places, but stated that the air controllers (ATCs)s are still being over tasked.

“The standard practice is that at no time will less than four ATCs be on dirty, meaning that a maximum of three hours is supposed to be spent on the control room, but in Nigeria, an ATC spends more than six hours.”

Ohanaeze says INEC’s voters registration mere cosmetics, urges Southern govs’ to discuss north’s dominance

Home » Politics » Ohanaeze says INEC’s voters registration mere cosmetics, urges Southern govs’ to discuss north’s dominance

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has described the provision in each local government

with one registration machine as deliberate attempt by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disenfranchise many Nigerians of voting age.

The goup which stated this on Friday, while condemning the ongoing national voters’ registration exercise, further harped on the need for southern Nigeria governors to regularly meet to assess and proffer
solutions to emerging national issues.

According to Ohanaeze, the ongoing voters’ registration is too cosmetic and different from the last registration exercise of 2014, which ensured that every voting centre in Nigeria had a machine configured to it.

The group said that the present INEC has continuously shown that it was bereft of good initiatives.

This was contained in a statement the group issued in Abakaliki after its National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting at the Enugu National Headquarters.

The statement had the president general of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nnia Nwodo Jnr, positing that it was proper for all southern governors to meet and look at how political issues in the country affect the government and people of that part of Nigeria.

He said that a formidable and virile bloc of governors of the southern divide will reposition them as an indispensable body in the growth of the nation’s economy.

He said, “The deliberate and continuous lopsided federal appointments in favour of the North, the blatant, incessant and unfettered destruction of farms, rape of women and killing of innocent Nigerians
by herdsmen among other issues demand that Nigerians of all walks of life rise up in defence of their right to life and human dignity.”

Again kidnappers of Igbonla Model College students reduce ransom, now want N100m

Once again, the kidnappers of six pupils of Igbonla Model College, Epe, have reached out to concerned parents informing them that the ransom for the release of their kids has been reduced from N600 million to N100m.

Reports say two of the parents were contacted by the kidnappers and were informed about the ransom reduction.The militants also advised them to inform other parents about the reduction and even advised them to put pressure on the Lagos State Government to help them raise the sum.

“I was contacted at about 7.30pm. I was told to tell others that the ransom has been reduced to N100 million. They asked if I had anything to say. But when I requested to hear from my son, he said that was not the important issue,” said one of the parents who spoke to the kidnappers on phone.

Continuing, the parent added that; “I told them we have been able to raise N380,000 and he asked if I was bargaining crayfish with him. He spoke in pidgin saying we should go and meet Ambode for assistance or else our children will remain with them until we are ready. He hung up before I could utter another sentence.“

However, the police have continued to assure concerned parents that their children will be released.

“We will get the children. We already know where they are. We are only being careful of their safety, that is why we are biding our time. We have done it in time past and this will not be different,” a police source said.

London under siege, 6 killed after car and stabbing attack

The city of London came under siege again after assailants ploughed into pedestrians before embarking on a stabbing spree which claimed the lives of no less than six victims.

The incident which occurred close to the Borough Market area saw the attackers’ van plough into unsuspecting pedestrians on London Bridge before the attackers numbering up to three stabbed innocent bystanders.

Reports say the attackers were shot by the police after killing six people, and wounding 30 others in the attack which occurred in a busy area with many restaurants and pubs.

Read also: Hate crimes on the rise in the UK after Manchester attack

“Armed response officers then responded very quickly and bravely and confronted the three male suspects who were shot and killed on Borough Market,” Mark Rowley, Britain’s top anti-terrorism officer said.

“Sadly, six people have died in addition to the three attackers shot by police,” he added.

The attack is coming about two weeks after a suicide bomb attack at the Manchester Arena on May 22 that killed 22 people and injured dozens of others.

N’Assembly members to buy N50m Abuja flats

Members of the National Assembly are currently subscribing to a mortgage facility that will make each lawmaker cough out N2.5m every month, SUNDAY PUNCH has reliably learnt.

It was gathered that the lawmakers are buying flats in an estate close to Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja at N50m each, while payment for each unit will be spread over 20 months.

The Senate had, at the resumption of plenary on April 4, 2017, entered an executive session, where the mortgage facility was discussed behind closed doors.

“An estate developer brought the idea, believing that payment for the facility will be secure, being that members of the National Assembly will have regular income during the two-year payment period. It is a smart move for the developer,” a senator who was at the meeting told our correspondent.

The source said the legislators were facing accommodation challenges in the Federal Capital Territory.

He said, “The Chairman of Senate Services Committee,Ibrahim, Gobir, announced that some estate developers wanted to sell housing units and those interested would pay in installment.

“You will put your name down if you are interested and N2.5m installment will be deducted from your account monthly for 20 months. It is more like the federal mortgage facility.”

According to him, several senators who were governors of their states had acquired houses in choice areas in the country’s capital.

Punch, May 4, 2017

IGP visit Gov Rochas Owelle Okorocha

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris NPM, mni paid a courtesy visit to Imo State governor, Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday 2nd June, 2017 in Imo State government house.

Constituents to recall Dino Melaye

Residents of Kogi West Senatorial District on Friday marched in protest to INEC office in Lokoja to demand a recall Of their Senator, Dino Melaye.

The constituents, who carried placards with anti-Dino inscriptions, said they want him recalled as they can no longer stand a 'fraudulent senator'.

They also listed several atrocities allegedly committed by Dino Melaye including Thuggery, continuous flow of irresponsible utterances, certificate scandal, insulting Buhari, Sultan of Sokoto, Bola Tinubu and the questionable source of his wealth.