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Tag: FAAN

  • BNSG Donates N20 million to FAAN Towards Completion of Aviation Termination at Air Force Base

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Benue State Government has committed the sum of Twenty Million Naira to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, as part of its contribution to assist the agency complete the ongoing Aviation Termination Project at the Air Force Base, Makurdi.

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom gave this indication while inspecting ongoing work on terminal, which is one of the requirements for people to commence civil flights.

    The Governor explained that the desire to provide air transportation services to the people which will open the state for several opportunities informed the basis of his administration to assist FAAN to enable it complete the project on time.

    Continuing Ortom further explained that” this is not Benue sponsored project but Federal Government and Benue State Government are supposed to complement each other, that’s what we are doing here because we want to provide air transportation services to our people.

    We thought coming in to assist the Federal Ministry of Aviation to provide enough conducive working environment for the civil services in the NAF Base is a welcome development”.

    The Governor who expressed satisfaction over the quality of work done, contended that when completed Government would acquire the required fire fighting equipment to ensure commercial flights commence operation.

  • FAAN, Customs face off over ‘security breach’ at Lagos Airport

    FAAN, Customs face off over ‘security breach’ at Lagos Airport

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says no agency is above standard security procedures at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, or any other airport in the world.

    FAAN said this on Tuesday via its official Twitter handle in confrontation with tweets made by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) over an alleged security breach at the airport.

    Earlier, FAAN had accused the “customs area comptroller of Hajj and Cargo Terminal, MMIA and an officer of forcefully gaining access into the security restricted area (SRA) of the Lagos airport.”

    According to International Civil Aviation Organisation, the SRA is a high-security area of the airport – and only persons who are authorised (including having a genuine need to access the area) can enter.

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    But NCS described FAAN’s statement as a lack of understanding of the customs role.

    “Saying that a gate is restricted to Customs in an international cargo airport shows lack of understanding of NCS roles. Could it be that the gate is being made available for Smugglers?,” NCS had tweeted.

    Replying via Twitter, FAAN said MMIA is not a dedicated International Cargo Airport for reasons tied to national security.

    It added that ‘all airfields in the world’ are security restricted areas.

    “It’s a Cargo terminal in Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, is not a dedicated International Cargo Airport,” FAAN tweeted.

    “In the interest of National security, All airfields worldwide are Security Restricted Areas (SRA), be it cargo or non-cargo airport.

    “No staff or agency is beyond or above submitting to standard security procedures in any airport..no matter what ‘role’ the agency plays. There is no role that Justifies serial indiscipline and assaults on fellow citizens.

    “FAAN assumes no superiority over any other agency. We support and cooperate with all agencies in the national interest, provided the safety and security of our staff is assured, otherwise, NO.”

    The agency added that the matter must not be trivialised as an affair of FAAN or the Nigeria Customs.

    It said the issue is about the dignity and safety of its security personnel that are regularly being assaulted and humiliated in public.

    “It is unacceptable because they are also human with families and fellow citizens discharging a no less important national responsibility,” it tweeted.

  • FAAN Tackles Corrupt Practices, Arrests 90 Touts at Lagos, Abuja Airports

    FAAN Tackles Corrupt Practices, Arrests 90 Touts at Lagos, Abuja Airports

    In line with its decision to wipe out corrupt practices at the airports, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has arrested over 90 persons, caught at Nigeria’s busiest gateways, the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The suspects were arrested for carrying out nefarious activities, including facilitating the issuance of fake COVID-19 test results, providing illegal yellow card for travellers, shortchanging travellers under the pretense of assisting them in their boarding process and acting as interface between passengers and airlines.

    Other illicit activities include unauthorised entry, trespass, illegal facilitation, forgery, loitering, theft, public nuisance and crowding the departure halls, among others.

    FAAN in statement signed by its spokesperson, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu said some of those arrested were staff of Patovilki Nigeria Limited, Lakewood Services, Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) and other airport staff.

    “Of the total arrested, 59 were handed over to the airport police command in Abuja for prosecution, while 30 were handed over to the police force in Lagos for same.

    “FAAN will like to use this opportunity to warn those that do not have any legitimate business at the airports, as well as airport staff carrying out illegal duties to desist from such acts, as the authority will not hesitate to arrest and hand over such individuals for prosecution,” the statement said.

    The management of FAAN had earlier identified those who throng the airports to engage in illicit activities.

    These include former airline workers, retired aviation agency workers, their relations and others who may be familiar with the airport environment.

    The agency alleged that they connived with some airport workers to carry out their illicit activities and vowed that these touts must be eliminated from the airports because their activities could encourage insider threat, which could constitute critical security breach at the airports.

  • FAAN Beef Up Security In Car Park At Lagos International Airport

    FAAN Beef Up Security In Car Park At Lagos International Airport

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has beefed up security at the car park facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    FAAN disclosed this via a statement issued on Wednesday by its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Henrietta Yakubu.

    The agency noted that contrary to social media reports, the car park managed by Messrs Seymour Nigeria Limited is safe for travellers and vehicles.

    “With respect to a story making the rounds on social media and other traditional media on the above subject, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wish to state that the car park facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, being managed by Messrs Seymour Nigeria Limited is safe for travellers and vehicles, as additional security measures have been put in place to forestall the re-occurrence of such act,” the statement read.

    “The unfortunate incident, which has been thoroughly reviewed and addressed, is an isolated case in the history of the Management of the facility.

    “While we have reached out to the victim of the incident, we will like to assure our esteemed customers that the airport, as well as its parking facility is safe and secure.”

  • FAAN suspends Airport workers for ‘extorting passenger’ in Lagos

    FAAN suspends Airport workers for ‘extorting passenger’ in Lagos

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it nabbed and suspended some officials for allegedly extorting a passenger at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The sanction was announced in a statement released on the agency’s Facebook page on Saturday.

    The statement, which was signed by Henrietta Yakubu, general manager, corporate affairs of FAAN, revealed the officials are staff members of the aviation security and customer service departments of the authority, and they have been dealt with accordingly.

    She also added that the on-duty cards of their accomplice from the Nigerian Immigration Service have also been immediately withdrawn.

    Yakubu said the action “is in line with the management’s determination to rid the nation’s airport of corrupt officials.” She concluded that the development will “serve as a deterrent to other bad eggs in the system that is bent on tarnishing the image of the nation”.

    “In line with the management’s determination to rid the nation’s airport of corrupt officials, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has apprehended and suspended officials caught extorting a passenger at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos,” the statement read.

    “The officials, who are staff of Aviation Security and Customer Service departments of the Authority, were immediately suspended, while the on-duty card of their accomplice from the Nigeria Immigration Service has been withdrawn.

    “This action was taken to serve as a deterrent to other bad eggs in the system that is bent on tarnishing the image of the nation.”

    The development is the second time this month that FAAN will be sanctioning airport workers.

    On November 10, the authority seized the on-duty cards of some staff members of an unnamed airline and handed them over to appropriate bodies for allegedly soliciting bribes from travellers.

  • FAAN deploys IED detectors in Lagos, Abuja airports

    FAAN deploys IED detectors in Lagos, Abuja airports

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigerian (FAAN) says it has deployed new security equipment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

    The development comes months after FAAN said it had received a report on planned attacks on airports across the country.

    In an interview with NAN on Saturday, Usman Sodiq, aviation security services director at FAAN, said the equipment include screening machines, improvised explosive device (IED) vapour detectors and hand-held scanners.

    While noting that some areas in the airports were now automated, he added that the federal executive council (FEC) had approved deployment of K9 dogs — animals trained to assist law enforcement agencies.

    He said FAAN had concluded the issue of arms for its personnel to cover areas that ordinarily would not be covered without such kind of protective equipment.

    “The deployment of the security equipment was based on the dynamic challenges at the various airports, as well as their respective threat assessments,” Sodiq said.

    “Based on threat assessments, we looked at areas that require these equipment. For instance, they called from Makurdi today that they needed additional screening machines. So, we have to work towards that.

    “Therefore, it is based on demand and the availability of budget, because we present our budget demands and await results. But we don’t relax. Rather, we ensure that we are provided with most of these requirements.”

    According to him, a lot has been covered regarding the new terminals constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

    Sodiq, who said the federal government had approved the provision of CCTV cameras airports across the country, added that the aviation security department was currently trying to see available gaps that required full coverage.

    The director also gave the assurance that all international airports would be well covered security-wise very soon.

  • FAAN To Close MMIA Departure Drop Off Zone Temporarily

    FAAN To Close MMIA Departure Drop Off Zone Temporarily

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced the temporary closure of the regular Drop Off Zone at the departure frontage of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The closure, which takes effect from Wednesday, October 6, is to allow for the completion of the ongoing canopy installation works at the concourse of the old international building.

    A statement by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Henrietta Yakubu says to ease vehicular and human facilitation around the area, the authority has temporarily opened the Drop Off Zone of the new international terminal to serve airport users, while the project would last.

    Also, covered walkways have been put in place to link the old and the new terminal. FAAN will also open the new departure bridge to serve as an exit to motorists.

    The agency appealed to airport users to bear with them while the project is completed.

    “We will like to appeal to passengers and other stakeholders to please comply with directives from security and traffic agents that have been deployed to ensure orderliness,” FAAN added.

  • Federal Government Cries Out Over N37bn Debt Owed By Airlines

    Federal Government Cries Out Over N37bn Debt Owed By Airlines

    The Federal Government has raised concerns over a 37 billion naira debt owed by airlines.

    The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika told a media conference today that the airline debt owed agencies like Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has accumulated for over thirteen years and contributes to the poor management of Nigeria’s civil aviation sector.

    According to Mr. Sirika, the Federal Government will, in line with current reforms double down on such debtors like the Bi-Courtney which owes 13 billion naira.

    Sirika said the government is in the process of intensifying plans towards the concessioning of international airports in the country by the early second quarter of 2022. He said labour has been duly consulted.

    The minister also stated that a total of 67 accidents have occurred in the last five years, of which 48 have been reported under the present administration to drive transparency in the system.

  • Bandits Attacks Kaduna Airport, Abducts Entire Family, Other Staffs

    By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna

    Suspected bandits, armed with dangerous weapons were said to have attacked the staff quarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at Kaduna International Airport.

    It was not clear how they gained access into the Staff quarters at the time of filling this reports, residents of the village bordering the airport however said some staff of FAAN living in the quarters who managed to escaped reported that some staff with their families have been abducted by the bandits.

    One of them bearing Abubakar Sani, put the number of those abducted at 11, among them a staffer of the NAMA, with his entire family, and a wife and kid of a staffer of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET).

    “Two houses were attacked inside the quarters and they later moved to the airside of the airport around 2am today (Saturday).

    “The situation is as bad as that. Many of us the villagers have left the village and have evacuated their families this morning. Even the remaining airport staff are leaving for a safe place. The kind of gunshots we heard is very scary,” a staffer of one of the agencies, who pleaded anonymity, said.

    When contacted, ASP Mohammed Jalige, Spokesperson, Kaduna State Police Command, told journalists that he was unaware of the attack but would get back when confirmed.

  • FAAN Removes Obstruction, Reopens Runway At Lagos Airport

    FAAN Removes Obstruction, Reopens Runway At Lagos Airport

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reopened Runway 18R/36L at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.

    This was after the removal of Azman Air’s Boeing 737-500 aircraft which was grounded in the middle of the runway causing an obstruction.

    The aircraft with registration 5N SYS, and flight number ZQ2325 was grounded in the middle of the runway on Tuesday after a tyre burst while it was landing on this runway.

    This caused the airlines to cancel flights.

    The spokesperson for FAAN, Yakubu Henrietta in an update posted on the agency’s official Twitter handle said that the aircraft was removed in the early hours of Wednesday and the runway is now opened for operation.