Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Nigeria, Germany to seal new air pact written by Wole Shadare (The Guardian)
GERMANY has unfolded plans to have a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement with Nigeria; an indication of likely expansion of its operations to Nigeria.
The development is a fall out of the current talks between the two countries on air pact, among others.
Also on the table for discussion and approval is the liberalization of traffic right that could afford Lufthansa German Airline more frequencies into Nigeria, just as there plans for the carrier to partner with Nigeria airlines on code-share arrangement.
Speaking recently on the occasion to mark Lufthansa’s 50 years of operations in Nigeria, Managing Director (West Africa) of the airline, Claus Becker said discussions were still ongoing on several issues between both nations.
Already, the German airline has a total of 14 frequencies (flight right) to Nigeria, with operations to Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
There were indications also that the Federal Government could be holding talks with the German airline as a strategic partner with a soon-to-be floated national airline which Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi said would come on stream very soon.
The Minister, last week at the Ministerial Aviation Safety summit held in Abuja unfolded government’s plans to set up a new national airline as call for a new national carrier is gaining momentum.
She stated that unlike the previous exercise that was wholly owned by the government, the new airline she noted would be public owned.
Becker said it was imperative for the country to build right aviation infrastructure and very sound air traffic management.
He however commended the government for efforts in upgrading some of the airport facilities to international standard, adding that the sooner they finish the better for the airlines, travelers and other airport users.
His words: “The facilities are being upgraded. Nigeria deserves proper, functional airports. The construction of airport we see in Lagos gives us hope”.
Speaking in the same vein, Vice- President, Sales and Services (Southern Europe, Africa and Middle East), Carsten Schaeffer expressed concern over exorbitant taxes being charged by the authorities especially by aviation ground handling firms.
He described the taxes as outrageous, ‘’and one of the most expensive in the world. For the Port-Harcourt airport which is still undergoing renovation, these taxes of $80 is one of the most expensive in the world. The airport should be made to be up to standards’’.
Giving an overview of its operations in the past 50 years, the airline chief said for 2011, Lufthansa Airline airlifted 300,000 passengers to and from Nigeria and earned 60 million euros, adding that royalties, multiple taxes were some of the constraints the carrier and many face operating to the country.
Many airlines, including domestic carriers have heavily criticized too many taxes imposed on air passengers and airlines by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). Many described them as huge constraints to their bottom line.
On the contentious remittance of five per cent fuel surcharge, Schaeffer disclosed that discussions were still going on the issue but noted that the government could not retroactively take action on an issue that is not in the law.
He however, accepted that the airline would comply if it decides to introduce the policy.
Senate Committee on Aviation had in April this year when controversy raged over high fares charged by foreign airlines, directed the NCAA to compute and recover from the airlines operating in the country the five percent passenger fuel surcharge and pay into government coffers.
The directive followed admission by the airlines that they were not paying the five percent fuel surcharge as statutorily required from all tickets sold to passengers after claiming that they were not aware of any law mandating them to pay.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93897:nigeria-germany-to-seal-new-air-pact-&catid=31:business&Itemid=562
Nigeria’s airspace is safe, says NAMA written by Wole Shadare (The Guardian)
Govt urged to investigate radar project
THE Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), yesterday affirmed that the nation’s airspace remained one of the safest in the world, stressing that its operations have been complemented with state-of-the-art equipment.
NAMA made the affirmation in a reaction to The Guardian’s report on Monday, which raised concern over the management of the country’s air airspace, more so with airlines allegedly evading over-flying the country with concomitant loss of revenue and status.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) has requested the Federal Government to investigate the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) project because of its “ineffective performance due to poor state of the equipment.”
But NAMA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nnamdi Udoh, said his agency had been proactive over the years to ensure safer skies for flights.
For instance, he said, “NAMA recently concluded the implementation of Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, which provides total radar coverage of the Nigerian airspace and beyond. Therefore it is virtually impossible for an aircraft to enter Nigerian airspace without the knowledge of the air traffic controllers as claimed.
“Statistics available showed that the frequency of international aircraft movement increased by 12.8 per cent from January to June 2012 over the same period last year. Revenue from over-flyers increased by five per cent resulting in eight per cent passenger movement over Nigerian airspace.
“NAMA has invested huge resources in providing adequate communication for the Nigerian airspace. Toward this, a total VHF project geared toward providing total VHF coverage for the Nigerian airspace is nearing completion. The project is currently on a test-run and once fully activated, it would check redundancy in all areas of controller-pilot communication in any part of Nigerian airspace.”
According to Udoh, “NAMA recently concluded her World Genetic Survey Geodetic (WGS-84) project, which will enable the full implementation of performance based navigation. This makes it very easy for pilots to carry out trajectory approach in our airports.
“In spite of the security and power challenges in most of our installations, NAMA has continued to provide services for the expeditious movement of all aircraft flying to our airspace.”
In his presentation to the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) President, Mohammed Safiyanu, wondered what happened to the Very High Frequency (VHF) radios that were part of the TRACON design and suppose to come along with the TRACON equipment “instead of the one that was improvised.”
The Director of Operations of NAMA, Alhaji R.O. Raheem, in his submission to the chairman, ministerial committee that is investigating the TRACON project, dated October 4, 2011, said although “this modern radar technology is indispensable to Air Traffic Control, the reliability of the various sub-systems and peripheral systems in use in Lagos radar unit has been its Achilles heel.”
He noted that the concept of TRACON is about the integration of radar stations in Nigeria to capture a single airspace under surveillance at all times, adding that it was vitally important to have a seamless network of these stations.
He however expressed regret that the Lagos Flight Information Region (FIR) was not fully connected, disclosing that this had shortened the radar coverage to the East of the sub-FIR.
Raheem disclosed that lack of communication with adjacent airports still poses serious challenge to air traffic controllers’ operations “as there is no effective traffic coordination.”
The summary of his report indicates that the radar stations were not yet functionally linked for air traffic control operation, while the EUROCAT-C ATC simulator has never worked, “and no group of controllers have been trained with it.”
According to him, “radio ranges are prohibitively low and sometime, aircraft are seen but cannot be communicated with. Coordination is mostly lacking within both Kano and Lagos FIRs and epileptic with adjacent FIRs. Power generation issues need to be given serious attention if the goal of TRACON is to be realized.
The multi-billion naira aviation safety and surveillance equipment has come under increased scrutiny because of its alleged unreliability; stakeholders have urged NAMA and the Federal Government to urgently address some shortcomings observed with its functionality.
“Penultimate week, United Kingdom-based Nigerian aviation expert, Captain Dung Pam, said the €67m ($81m) Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria project is at least 500 per cent costlier than that of Namibia, completed with just $14m.
Nigeria and Namibia completed total radar coverage of their airspaces in 2011.”
However, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency that executes the project, has faulted the analysis.
A statement by the agency read, “TRACON project delivered co-located PSR-MSSR, Air Traffic Management System including Simulator, BVCCS, VRS, MF- TDMA VSAT network, fibre optics, generators, AVRs, UPS and civil works at nine sites for €67 million.
“New technologies like ADS-B, ADS-C and MLAT are all complementary and not meant to replace the radar. Though they are cheaper at deployment but the aircraft need to have enhanced equip page in terms of transponders and other compatible avionics. It is quite absurd and preposterous comparing what the TRACON project delivered with a project on ADS-C. It’s like comparing an apple with orange.”
THE Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), yesterday affirmed that the nation’s airspace remained one of the safest in the world, stressing that its operations have been complemented with state-of-the-art equipment.
NAMA made the affirmation in a reaction to The Guardian’s report on Monday, which raised concern over the management of the country’s air airspace, more so with airlines allegedly evading over-flying the country with concomitant loss of revenue and status.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) has requested the Federal Government to investigate the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) project because of its “ineffective performance due to poor state of the equipment.”
But NAMA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nnamdi Udoh, said his agency had been proactive over the years to ensure safer skies for flights.
For instance, he said, “NAMA recently concluded the implementation of Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, which provides total radar coverage of the Nigerian airspace and beyond. Therefore it is virtually impossible for an aircraft to enter Nigerian airspace without the knowledge of the air traffic controllers as claimed.
“Statistics available showed that the frequency of international aircraft movement increased by 12.8 per cent from January to June 2012 over the same period last year. Revenue from over-flyers increased by five per cent resulting in eight per cent passenger movement over Nigerian airspace.
“NAMA has invested huge resources in providing adequate communication for the Nigerian airspace. Toward this, a total VHF project geared toward providing total VHF coverage for the Nigerian airspace is nearing completion. The project is currently on a test-run and once fully activated, it would check redundancy in all areas of controller-pilot communication in any part of Nigerian airspace.”
According to Udoh, “NAMA recently concluded her World Genetic Survey Geodetic (WGS-84) project, which will enable the full implementation of performance based navigation. This makes it very easy for pilots to carry out trajectory approach in our airports.
“In spite of the security and power challenges in most of our installations, NAMA has continued to provide services for the expeditious movement of all aircraft flying to our airspace.”
In his presentation to the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi, the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) President, Mohammed Safiyanu, wondered what happened to the Very High Frequency (VHF) radios that were part of the TRACON design and suppose to come along with the TRACON equipment “instead of the one that was improvised.”
The Director of Operations of NAMA, Alhaji R.O. Raheem, in his submission to the chairman, ministerial committee that is investigating the TRACON project, dated October 4, 2011, said although “this modern radar technology is indispensable to Air Traffic Control, the reliability of the various sub-systems and peripheral systems in use in Lagos radar unit has been its Achilles heel.”
He noted that the concept of TRACON is about the integration of radar stations in Nigeria to capture a single airspace under surveillance at all times, adding that it was vitally important to have a seamless network of these stations.
He however expressed regret that the Lagos Flight Information Region (FIR) was not fully connected, disclosing that this had shortened the radar coverage to the East of the sub-FIR.
Raheem disclosed that lack of communication with adjacent airports still poses serious challenge to air traffic controllers’ operations “as there is no effective traffic coordination.”
The summary of his report indicates that the radar stations were not yet functionally linked for air traffic control operation, while the EUROCAT-C ATC simulator has never worked, “and no group of controllers have been trained with it.”
According to him, “radio ranges are prohibitively low and sometime, aircraft are seen but cannot be communicated with. Coordination is mostly lacking within both Kano and Lagos FIRs and epileptic with adjacent FIRs. Power generation issues need to be given serious attention if the goal of TRACON is to be realized.
The multi-billion naira aviation safety and surveillance equipment has come under increased scrutiny because of its alleged unreliability; stakeholders have urged NAMA and the Federal Government to urgently address some shortcomings observed with its functionality.
“Penultimate week, United Kingdom-based Nigerian aviation expert, Captain Dung Pam, said the €67m ($81m) Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria project is at least 500 per cent costlier than that of Namibia, completed with just $14m.
Nigeria and Namibia completed total radar coverage of their airspaces in 2011.”
However, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency that executes the project, has faulted the analysis.
A statement by the agency read, “TRACON project delivered co-located PSR-MSSR, Air Traffic Management System including Simulator, BVCCS, VRS, MF- TDMA VSAT network, fibre optics, generators, AVRs, UPS and civil works at nine sites for €67 million.
“New technologies like ADS-B, ADS-C and MLAT are all complementary and not meant to replace the radar. Though they are cheaper at deployment but the aircraft need to have enhanced equip page in terms of transponders and other compatible avionics. It is quite absurd and preposterous comparing what the TRACON project delivered with a project on ADS-C. It’s like comparing an apple with orange.”
Friday, July 27, 2012
‘Airlines Lose N1.5bn Annually to No Runway Lighting’w written by Chinedu Eze(Thisday)
Aviation experts have put the cost of having no lighting on runways of major airports to domestic carriers at over N1.5 billion annually.
The Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Captain Akin George, explained to THISDAY that the absence of runway lights in Lagos alone costs Aero N60 million a year and lack of night operations at the other airports in the country also cost the airline $35 million (about N5.454 billion).
The Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Captain Akin George, explained to THISDAY that the absence of runway lights in Lagos alone costs Aero N60 million a year and lack of night operations at the other airports in the country also cost the airline $35 million (about N5.454 billion).
According to George, “Airport infrastructure needs to be overhauled; lack of runway lights in Lagos alone cost Aero N60 million a year, lack of night operations at the airports is a loss of $35 million and lack of lighting of taxiways means a drastic reduction is safety of passengers. Failure of runway lights in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Calabar has cost Aero an additional N40 million in 2012 alone.”
The Lagos runway 18L, which is meant for domestic airlines was rehabilitated four years ago but the airfield lighting has not been installed since then, a period that recorded three Aviation Ministers.
The Chairman of IRS Airlines, Alhaji Isyaku Rabiu, once commented on the effect of none installation of airfield lighting on the domestic runway of Lagos airport.
The Lagos runway 18L, which is meant for domestic airlines was rehabilitated four years ago but the airfield lighting has not been installed since then, a period that recorded three Aviation Ministers.
The Chairman of IRS Airlines, Alhaji Isyaku Rabiu, once commented on the effect of none installation of airfield lighting on the domestic runway of Lagos airport.
He said that there were many problems of infrastructure at the airports, remarking that in the last three to five years domestic carriers could not land after 7:00 pm at the domestic airport runway 18L in Lagos.
“We have to land at the international airport. That, you may think is not much but it is a lot of money that we waste in doing that. It cost money on your wear and tear, on tyres, on your brakes, on your airplanes an on your engines and fuel burnt is excessive.”
Rabiu lamented that to taxi all the way from international airport to domestic airport, which is just one long distance could take so much fuel.
“We have to land at the international airport. That, you may think is not much but it is a lot of money that we waste in doing that. It cost money on your wear and tear, on tyres, on your brakes, on your airplanes an on your engines and fuel burnt is excessive.”
Rabiu lamented that to taxi all the way from international airport to domestic airport, which is just one long distance could take so much fuel.
“Sometimes you get held up at the threshold because there are so many airplanes coming and it is practically almost being done manually. And it takes time waiting there burning fuel and wasting a lot of time. For the airline and for the passengers, it is negative thing. And it is one of the things that can actually affect your departures, because if you are going at 9:00 o’ clock flight and you don’t leave until 9.45 due to problems at the threshold, you will not be able to make it.”
Many in the industry still wonder why this important equipment has not been installed to ease airline operation and to save these airlines loss of revenue.
Many in the industry still wonder why this important equipment has not been installed to ease airline operation and to save these airlines loss of revenue.
Recently the provision of airfield lighting was handed over to the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) but the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) which used to handle it had subsisting agreement for the provision of this important lighting system for some of the airports.
Friday, July 20, 2012
FG considers 15yrs age limit for aircraft Written by Shola Adekola and Clement Idoko (NigerianTribune)
OPPONENTS of the use of old aircraft in the country's airspace may have won the struggle, following the Federal Government’s declaration on Thursday that it was considering reducing the age of aircraft that could be certified to operate within its airspace to 15 years.
This is against the current 22 years age limit policy.
Speaking at the ministerial conference on Aviation Safety in Africa, in Abuja, Nigeria's Minister of Aviation, Stella Adaeze Oduah, said government was not unmindful of the short term impact of the policy. She, however, added that when implemented, it would encourage the growth of domestic airlines.
She explained that the main issue was how to strengthen the carriers and enhance their viability.
The Aviation Minister said the issue of aviation safety on the continent was worrying, noting that available empirical data still indicated that, “Africa is at the lowest rung of the ladder in terms of ensuring safety in our airspace.”
She was, however, optimistic that the appalling record could be changed through collaborative and cooperative engagements of African nations and institutions.
Government equally disclosed that it would fashion out appropriate guidelines and institutional framework that would facilitate the growth of domestic airlines and the emergence of a national carrier driven by core private sector with substantial public ownership.
This revelation was made by President Goodluck Jonathan at the conference. Represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Jonathan challenged aviation stakeholders all over the continent to chart a path for safety and sustainable aviation development.
He lamented that the aviation safety situation in the continent had become a source of concern both in Africa and the international community, just as he called for development of initiatives, resolutions, declarations and action plans to address the situation.
He, however, noted that despite the initiatives, resolutions, declarations and action plans currently in place to address the issue of safety deficiencies in Africa, the overall success had been too little and too slow to achieve the stated objectives, mainly because of the lack of political will, as well as institutional and procedural constraints.
President Jonathan urged experts to assist the country on ways to remove geriatric aircraft from the nation’s airspace as one of the first steps in tackling air disasters, including the implementation of rigorous oversight functions by the civil aviation authority.
The president further disclosed that his administration was working towards the construction of a Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) hangar that would assist domestic airline operators to maintain their aircraft in the country rather than ferrying airplanes due for heavy maintenance abroad.
His words: “Nigeria faced aviation safety challenges in 2005 and 2006, and recently, many lives were lost. This is unacceptable. Nigeria has made significant improvement in aviation safety matters. We have made giant strides in making our airspace the safest. We have all it takes to grow our airlines.
“The efficient infrastructure drive safety and airport upgrades are currently ongoing. The success story of Nigeria in aviation safety matters indicates that safety can be achieved in Africa with hard work and focus,” he added.
He further disclosed that the government was working at securing single digit interest loan for airlines, a departure from 15 per cent banks were reported to charge on interest on loan taken by them.
In his remark, ICAO president, Roberto Kobe Gonzalez, urged Africa to put in place sustainable safety programmes with corresponding investment, just as he appealed to investors and states to collaborate, so as to tackle the challenges of air safety in the continent.
In the same vein, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Africa Union (AU), Dr Elaim Ibrahim, expressed her dismay over the backward position of the continent in addressing aviation safety issues, adding that the onus laid with the ICAO, the global aviation regulatory body, to provide the legal framework for all contracting states.
In attendance at the conference were ministers of transport/aviation from 33 African countries, AU, Airport Council International (ACI), ICAO, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Boeing and Airbus companies, among other international aviation bodies.
http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/44542-fg-considers-15yrs-age-limit-for-aircraft
Nigeria Adopts IATA Safety Standard for Domestic Operation written by Chinedu Eze(Thisday)
Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, has announced that the Federal Government may adopt the International Air Transport Association (IATA) safety standard, known as IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), as minimum safety operational standard for Nigerian airlines.
What this means is that before a Nigerian airline will be licensed to operate scheduled commercial service, it must have obtained the IOSA certification, which has stringent safety conditions.
Demuren made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during his opening speech at the African Ministerial Meeting on Aviation Safety.
The meeting which ends Friday (today) opened Tuesday in a mourning atmosphere as the event of the Dana Air flight crash in Lagos that killed 153 people on board and others on ground just happened about six weeks ago.
There seemed less to cheer at the event in terms of safety because the continent comes with the unflattering baggage of having the least flight operations and the highest number of air accidents among other regions of the world.
But Demuren said that in spite of the tragic accident on June 3, 2012, Nigeria has operated one million flights and carried 50 million passengers since the last major air crash happened in 2006.
“On June 2, Allied Air, a Nigerian registered cargo aircraft overran the runway in heavy rain, killing 10 commuters in a bus beyond the perimeter fence of the airport in Accra, Ghana. Less than 24 hours later, Dana Air’s flight 0992 crashed in a densely-populated area of Lagos, killing 153 people on board and others on ground.
“These accidents occurred after we had successfully carried 50 million passengers, operated more than one million flights and grown our traffic by almost 40 per cent in the last five and half years,” Demuren said.
The Director General expressed regret that the accident was a devastating blow to Nigeria and a setback to the reform agenda that it is pursuing in the aviation sector. “This clearly underscores the fact that safety is a journey, not a destination. There is only a departure; there is never an arrival with safety,” he added.
He said that African Region and Indian Ocean (AFI Region) would adopt five point safety improvement plans that would provide the tools to improve the picture of safety in Africa because “safety is the greatest watchword for any successful aviation industry.”
Doubt Persists over Melting of Black Box in Dana Crash written By Chinedu Eze(Thisday)
Aside the relatives of the crash victims, many stakeholders still doubt part of the preliminary report released two weeks ago by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) which indicated that the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) (black box) melted in the fire that exploded after the Dana Air flight 0992 crashed into the suburb of Lagos.
Aviation industry operators who spoke to THISDAY lend credence to that doubt, especially when none of the FDR of past three major accidents before the Dana Air crash was found.
A Nigerian pilot with many years of experience, and who is still operating, told THISDAY on Wednesday that the doubt about the melting of the flight data recorder should not be criticised because the report that the equipment melted was not convincing.
He said that the FDR has a temperature it can be subjected to before it can melt and that temperature is about 1,000 degree of heat.
He argued that AIB has to explain to Nigerians the intenseness of the heat that subjected it to melt, remarking that if the equipment really melted, it is expected that other parts of the aircraft should also melt.
“Why was it only the FDR that melted, it has a temperature it can withstand before it can melt and that temperature is 1,000 degrees of heat and if the equipment melted, it is expected that all the iron in the aircraft around the black box should also melt. So, we should get the serial number of the equipment and go to Internet and find out its profile so that we should know that degree of heat that can melt it.”
Also, another pilot who is also an engineer shared the same view, saying that the fire that engulfed the aircraft was not enough to melt the equipment because “it is meant to survive intense heat.”
But the President of Aviation Round Table (ART), Captain Dele Ore, expressed a contrary view and said he believed that the report of the AIB was true.
“It is true that the materials from which flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder are made from are materials that are shock proof, fire proof and they cannot get corroded under the sea for few months, but the intensity of some heat will melt the flight data recorder.
“There are several examples round the whole world when because of very high intensity of heat FDR was melted and this, to me, is not any exception, it is not peculiar thing to Nigeria that this has happened.
“But they will still reconstruct and find out what really happened in that accident. If they came out and say, that both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder got melted, then you can say that something is fishy there,” Ore said.
He also observed that when an accident happens the whole world is interested, “not only the passengers and the relations of the passengers, the country where the accident happened, the country of the manufacturer of the aircraft and the manufacturers themselves are also interested. They would want to get to the bottom of it. If they said that it melted I have every reason to believe them; that there is no foul play.”
http://www.thisdayonline.com/
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Airlines gasp for life as cost of aircraft repairs hits N23 trillion written byWole Shadare (The Guardian)
Two airlines grounded, one halts operations
Passengers scramble for seats, outlook gloomy
IT is still not the best of times for Nigerian airlines as their fortune continues to nose-dive. Faced with a dearth of infrastructure and rising operational costs, some of the domestic carriers are scaling down their operations.
The worsening plight of most of the airlines, The Guardian learnt, is due to their huge expenditure on maintenance and repairs of their aircraft abroad.
At the last count, Nigeria reportedly lost N23.2 trillion ($150 billion) in capital flight through offshore aircraft repairs due to the non-availability of a functional national hangar in the country.
The absence of the vital equipment six years after the Presidential Task Force on Aviation Industry recommended to the Federal Government to initiate and hasten the completion of the National Hangar Project has been condemned by stakeholders.
The government, in spite of issuing a White Paper on the report and adopting the recommendation of the Presidential Task Force, is yet to lay the foundation-stone for the project.
The best the government has done since then is the release of a feasibility study on the project.
However, Nigerian air travellers are paying the price for the apparent non-committal of the government to the scheme as they now scramble for a fewer seats provided by the airlines still in operation.
At present, three airlines among the big carriers are down. The first is Air Nigeria, which was grounded by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) a month ago. Chanchangi Airlines, once accounting for over 60 per cent air traffic in Nigeria, has stopped operations, albeit temporarily while Dana Air remains grounded following the June 3, 2012 crash involving one of its planes in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos where 153 passengers aboard died and the suspension of its operation licence.
First Nation Airline, penultimate week took its three A320 aircraft to Europe for the mandatory checks thus leaving a few airlines on the country’s airspace.
The situation may get worse as The Guardian learnt that another carrier with its base in the North could be grounded soon over alleged insolvency.
Some aircraft maintenance engineers in separate interviews with The Guardian, claimed that lack of Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facilities had cost the operators and the government over $150 billion since the essence of the hangar project was highlighted over two decades ago.
It was learnt that a Comprehensive (C) Check on B737 classic and maintenance in Europe, the United States or in Cairo, Egypt, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia costs $1 million. For Next Gen aircraft such as the B737-700/800, the airlines pay $2 million for maintenance.
Before the current worrisome situation, there were about 16 airlines in Nigeria but now only Aero, Arik Air and IRS are the most visible in the sky.
Mr. Nick Fadugba, United Kingdom (UK)-based Chief Executive of African Aviation Services and former Secretary-General of African Airlines Association (AFRAA), lamented the government’s failure to actualise its plan to build the maintenance facility several years ago. He said if the project was executed Nigeria would have saved the country’s airlines from expending huge revenue on aircraft maintenance overseas.
He said half of the amount was used in ferrying the airplanes abroad, crew accommodation, allowances, over flier charges, landing and parking in the country of repair and other sundry charges.
The report of the Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike panel submitted to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in June 2006, recommended that the government should approve the use of the Nigerian Air Force hangars by interested private airlines, “pending the fruition of the national hangar project.” It proposed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should provide oversight functions. The government rejected this recommendation and directed the Ministry of Aviation to ensure the early completion of the project.
Obasanjo had on December 13, 2005 summoned an emergency stakeholders’ forum after three tragic aircraft accidents, which occurred within 40 days involving Bellview Airline in Lisa Village, Ogun State on October 22, 2005 where 117 people died; the Beechcraft mishap on November 28, 2005 in Kaduna, killing two persons and the Sosoliso Airline crash in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on December 10, 2005, which claimed 108 lives.
Members of the Dike team were Mr. Rowland Iyayi, Mr. Tunji Bolu, Mr. Tony Elumelu, Capt. Elendu Ukeje, Mr. Conrad Clifford, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Baba, Capt. Jonathan Ibrahim, Captain Augustin Okon, and Alhaji Rahman Shedu, who served as secretary.
Aircraft maintenance facilities in the country are limited, both in number and scope of services. The national hangar project is yet to be realized, while the few hangar facilities available belong to private airlines and offer only rudimentary services.
The Dike panel had linked the alleged cutting of corners by airlines to the prohibitive cost of aircraft maintenance overseas vis-Ã -vis the poor revenue base of the operators.
Dike also identified the non-availability of aircraft spares as another problem militating against aviation safety in Nigeria, noting that airlines complained of substantial revenue loses due to prolonged aircraft downtime.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had also blamed the cumbersome custom clearance procedures as hindering the airlines from taking prompt delivery of spare parts for Aircraft on Ground (AOGs).
The body advocated a special aviation desk at the Customs to fast-track the clearance of spare parts.
Aviation expert, Olumide Ohunayo, said lack of coordination and opportunism by some operators and some state governors had made the hangar project unrealistic.
“What we have are small hangars that handle corporate jets and act as parking bays with the aim of generating un-taxable revenue. The other hangars owned by operators have limitation in maintenance, which may not go beyond a B- check.”
With the interim exit of three airlines, air traffic has been concentrated on Aero and Arik for the popular triangle route of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Carriers like Overland and Associated Airlines and others with smaller aircraft service the Akure, Ibadan, Minna, Gombe routes.
Arik and Aero have been finding it difficult to cope with the huge passenger traffic.
Since Friday last week, passengers have facing problems getting seats on board aircraft owned by the two airlines.
Consequently, the fare for the economy class has risen to between N30,000 and N35,000 at peak period.
An airline operator confirmed that his outfit was finding it difficult to cope with capacity, particularly on the Abuja, Port Harcourt route.
Ohunayo said the regulatory and voluntary grounding of some airlines had “reduced seats drastically and enplanement after the Dana crash.”
“The regulatory and voluntary grounding of some airlines has led to the reduction of seats drastically following the crash of Dana. Sadly, the operators have capitalised on this with phenomenal fare increase on routes and annoyingly, loading 60 per cent of the fare on aviation fuel surcharge which naturally fleece passengers and government agencies”.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=92549:airlines-gasp-for-life-as-cost-of-aircraft-repairs-hits-n23-trillion-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559
Passengers scramble for seats, outlook gloomy
IT is still not the best of times for Nigerian airlines as their fortune continues to nose-dive. Faced with a dearth of infrastructure and rising operational costs, some of the domestic carriers are scaling down their operations.
The worsening plight of most of the airlines, The Guardian learnt, is due to their huge expenditure on maintenance and repairs of their aircraft abroad.
At the last count, Nigeria reportedly lost N23.2 trillion ($150 billion) in capital flight through offshore aircraft repairs due to the non-availability of a functional national hangar in the country.
The absence of the vital equipment six years after the Presidential Task Force on Aviation Industry recommended to the Federal Government to initiate and hasten the completion of the National Hangar Project has been condemned by stakeholders.
The government, in spite of issuing a White Paper on the report and adopting the recommendation of the Presidential Task Force, is yet to lay the foundation-stone for the project.
The best the government has done since then is the release of a feasibility study on the project.
However, Nigerian air travellers are paying the price for the apparent non-committal of the government to the scheme as they now scramble for a fewer seats provided by the airlines still in operation.
At present, three airlines among the big carriers are down. The first is Air Nigeria, which was grounded by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) a month ago. Chanchangi Airlines, once accounting for over 60 per cent air traffic in Nigeria, has stopped operations, albeit temporarily while Dana Air remains grounded following the June 3, 2012 crash involving one of its planes in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos where 153 passengers aboard died and the suspension of its operation licence.
First Nation Airline, penultimate week took its three A320 aircraft to Europe for the mandatory checks thus leaving a few airlines on the country’s airspace.
The situation may get worse as The Guardian learnt that another carrier with its base in the North could be grounded soon over alleged insolvency.
Some aircraft maintenance engineers in separate interviews with The Guardian, claimed that lack of Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facilities had cost the operators and the government over $150 billion since the essence of the hangar project was highlighted over two decades ago.
It was learnt that a Comprehensive (C) Check on B737 classic and maintenance in Europe, the United States or in Cairo, Egypt, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia costs $1 million. For Next Gen aircraft such as the B737-700/800, the airlines pay $2 million for maintenance.
Before the current worrisome situation, there were about 16 airlines in Nigeria but now only Aero, Arik Air and IRS are the most visible in the sky.
Mr. Nick Fadugba, United Kingdom (UK)-based Chief Executive of African Aviation Services and former Secretary-General of African Airlines Association (AFRAA), lamented the government’s failure to actualise its plan to build the maintenance facility several years ago. He said if the project was executed Nigeria would have saved the country’s airlines from expending huge revenue on aircraft maintenance overseas.
He said half of the amount was used in ferrying the airplanes abroad, crew accommodation, allowances, over flier charges, landing and parking in the country of repair and other sundry charges.
The report of the Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike panel submitted to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in June 2006, recommended that the government should approve the use of the Nigerian Air Force hangars by interested private airlines, “pending the fruition of the national hangar project.” It proposed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should provide oversight functions. The government rejected this recommendation and directed the Ministry of Aviation to ensure the early completion of the project.
Obasanjo had on December 13, 2005 summoned an emergency stakeholders’ forum after three tragic aircraft accidents, which occurred within 40 days involving Bellview Airline in Lisa Village, Ogun State on October 22, 2005 where 117 people died; the Beechcraft mishap on November 28, 2005 in Kaduna, killing two persons and the Sosoliso Airline crash in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on December 10, 2005, which claimed 108 lives.
Members of the Dike team were Mr. Rowland Iyayi, Mr. Tunji Bolu, Mr. Tony Elumelu, Capt. Elendu Ukeje, Mr. Conrad Clifford, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Baba, Capt. Jonathan Ibrahim, Captain Augustin Okon, and Alhaji Rahman Shedu, who served as secretary.
Aircraft maintenance facilities in the country are limited, both in number and scope of services. The national hangar project is yet to be realized, while the few hangar facilities available belong to private airlines and offer only rudimentary services.
The Dike panel had linked the alleged cutting of corners by airlines to the prohibitive cost of aircraft maintenance overseas vis-Ã -vis the poor revenue base of the operators.
Dike also identified the non-availability of aircraft spares as another problem militating against aviation safety in Nigeria, noting that airlines complained of substantial revenue loses due to prolonged aircraft downtime.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had also blamed the cumbersome custom clearance procedures as hindering the airlines from taking prompt delivery of spare parts for Aircraft on Ground (AOGs).
The body advocated a special aviation desk at the Customs to fast-track the clearance of spare parts.
Aviation expert, Olumide Ohunayo, said lack of coordination and opportunism by some operators and some state governors had made the hangar project unrealistic.
“What we have are small hangars that handle corporate jets and act as parking bays with the aim of generating un-taxable revenue. The other hangars owned by operators have limitation in maintenance, which may not go beyond a B- check.”
With the interim exit of three airlines, air traffic has been concentrated on Aero and Arik for the popular triangle route of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Carriers like Overland and Associated Airlines and others with smaller aircraft service the Akure, Ibadan, Minna, Gombe routes.
Arik and Aero have been finding it difficult to cope with the huge passenger traffic.
Since Friday last week, passengers have facing problems getting seats on board aircraft owned by the two airlines.
Consequently, the fare for the economy class has risen to between N30,000 and N35,000 at peak period.
An airline operator confirmed that his outfit was finding it difficult to cope with capacity, particularly on the Abuja, Port Harcourt route.
Ohunayo said the regulatory and voluntary grounding of some airlines had “reduced seats drastically and enplanement after the Dana crash.”
“The regulatory and voluntary grounding of some airlines has led to the reduction of seats drastically following the crash of Dana. Sadly, the operators have capitalised on this with phenomenal fare increase on routes and annoyingly, loading 60 per cent of the fare on aviation fuel surcharge which naturally fleece passengers and government agencies”.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=92549:airlines-gasp-for-life-as-cost-of-aircraft-repairs-hits-n23-trillion-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559
Monday, July 16, 2012
Arik Air, Air Force planes in wing-tip brush written by Oyetunji Abioye(PUNCH)
An Arik Air’s Boeing 737-700 aircraft marked 5N MJI and a Nigerian Air Force C-130 (NAF 917) aircraft were involved in an incident on the tarmac of Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heipang, Jos on Saturday, July 14, 2012.
A statement by the airline’s Media Officer, Mr. Banji Ola, said Arik Air aircraft on a scheduled flight from Jos to Lagos brushed the wing of the parked NAF aircraft while taxing causing minor damages to the wings of both aircraft.
According to the statement, the tank 1 wing tip of the NAF C-130 as well as the left winglet of the Arik Air’s Boeing 737-700 Next Generation (NG) aircraft were damaged.
The airline claimed that contrary to reports in the media, the incident did not lead to the gushing out of fuel from the damaged area of the Boeing 737-700 as the aircraft’s tanks are well protected.
The carrier said its officials comprising the Chairman, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide; Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue; the Chief Pilot, Captain Adetokunbo Adekunbi, and Safety Manager, Captain Jide Bakare were in Jos on Sunday to assess the damage caused by the incident.
According to the airline, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority was also in the team that visited Jos on Sunday.
The statement quoted Arik Air Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue, as saying the incident was blown out of proportion by a section of the Nigerian media for some ulterior motives.
He blamed the incident partly on the apron markings of the airport which had not been done to suit modern aircraft’s wing-span.
“The markings on the tarmac of the Jos Airport are old markings which did not take into cognizance the use of bigger aircraft like Boeing 737-700 or 737-800 which we have in our fleet and are capable of misleading pilots during taxing. We hope this incident will make FAAN to re-do those markings”.
He also debunked the claim that another of the airline’s aircraft had an incident in Abuja on Saturday.
“Arik Air continues to operate to the highest safety standards as recommended by the NCAA, EASA and Federal Airport Administration of the United States of America. Our guests are assured of their safety aboard our flights at all times,” he said.
Friday, July 6, 2012
NCAA urges pilots to adhere to weather forecast By Wole Shadare(The Guardian)
THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has urged pilots to exercise restraint when adverse weather is observed or forecast and be patient enough to wait and allow it subdue or pass over the airfield before commencing flight.
The aviation regulatory body, urged pilots, airlines to ensure that they strictly comply with the laid down regulations.
The Director General of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren in a circular issued to pilots yesterday said it became necessary in view of the continuous down pour in Lagos State in the past one week.
According to him, “We are in the mid-stream of rainy season which is usually characterized by severe thunderstorm and line squall and its attendant turbulence, microbusts, lightning and low-level wind shear. Suffice it to say that such weather conditions can be deadly to aircraft on approach or departure from an airport and have been responsible for a number of fatal accidents in the world and in our country, Nigeria”.
“It is therefore mandatory for Pilots to obtain weather briefing from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) including departure, en-route and destination weather information prior to flight operations”.
It would be recalled that the torrential rains have raised fresh concerns over aviation safety in the wake of the Dana plane crash that claimed over 153 lives in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.
There are fears that the flooding could cause aircraft to skid off the runway.
Experts said weather continues to play a significant role in a number of aviation accidents and incidents. While the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports often find human error to be the direct cause of accidents, weather is a primary contributing factor in 23 percent of all aviation accidents.
The total weather impact is an estimated national cost of $3 billion for accident damage and injuries, delays and unexpected operating costs.
A top official of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) who spoke to The Guardian on condition of anonymity said the agency had advised pilots to exercise restraint when adverse weather is observed or reported and that they should also have enough patience to wait and allow the adverse weather to subside or pass over the airfield before commencing flight.
He argued that no thunderstorm can be considered slight, adding that as a result, pilots should be aware that almost any thunderstorm can pose severe threat to the operations of aircraft.
He disclosed that the Nigerian aviation industry had in the past experienced two runways overrun, adding that the advisory circular describes the hazards of thunderstorms to aviation as well as offers guidance to assist in preventing accidents caused by thunderstorm.
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had stated that pilots must obtain adequate departure, en route and destination weather information and briefing from the NIMET offices and flight crew briefing rooms at airports before the commencement of flight operations.
Demuren had recently said that just like the rain is affecting roads in the country, the airport is not immune to rain and that as a result, great care and patience must be exercised.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91386:ncaa-urges-pilots-to-adhere-to-weather-forecast&catid=32:business-travel&Itemid=563
The aviation regulatory body, urged pilots, airlines to ensure that they strictly comply with the laid down regulations.
The Director General of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren in a circular issued to pilots yesterday said it became necessary in view of the continuous down pour in Lagos State in the past one week.
According to him, “We are in the mid-stream of rainy season which is usually characterized by severe thunderstorm and line squall and its attendant turbulence, microbusts, lightning and low-level wind shear. Suffice it to say that such weather conditions can be deadly to aircraft on approach or departure from an airport and have been responsible for a number of fatal accidents in the world and in our country, Nigeria”.
“It is therefore mandatory for Pilots to obtain weather briefing from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) including departure, en-route and destination weather information prior to flight operations”.
It would be recalled that the torrential rains have raised fresh concerns over aviation safety in the wake of the Dana plane crash that claimed over 153 lives in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.
There are fears that the flooding could cause aircraft to skid off the runway.
Experts said weather continues to play a significant role in a number of aviation accidents and incidents. While the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports often find human error to be the direct cause of accidents, weather is a primary contributing factor in 23 percent of all aviation accidents.
The total weather impact is an estimated national cost of $3 billion for accident damage and injuries, delays and unexpected operating costs.
A top official of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) who spoke to The Guardian on condition of anonymity said the agency had advised pilots to exercise restraint when adverse weather is observed or reported and that they should also have enough patience to wait and allow the adverse weather to subside or pass over the airfield before commencing flight.
He argued that no thunderstorm can be considered slight, adding that as a result, pilots should be aware that almost any thunderstorm can pose severe threat to the operations of aircraft.
He disclosed that the Nigerian aviation industry had in the past experienced two runways overrun, adding that the advisory circular describes the hazards of thunderstorms to aviation as well as offers guidance to assist in preventing accidents caused by thunderstorm.
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had stated that pilots must obtain adequate departure, en route and destination weather information and briefing from the NIMET offices and flight crew briefing rooms at airports before the commencement of flight operations.
Demuren had recently said that just like the rain is affecting roads in the country, the airport is not immune to rain and that as a result, great care and patience must be exercised.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91386:ncaa-urges-pilots-to-adhere-to-weather-forecast&catid=32:business-travel&Itemid=563
Customs arrests man with pistols, knives, others at Lagos airport By Wole Shadare (The Guardian)
IN a major crackdown, the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos (MMIA) has arrested a passenger with two Barretta pistols, 10 pieces of bulletproof vests, five pieces of jacket knives and three pieces of military camouflage attires.
Other items found on him include uniforms, military combat caps, fez caps, eight pieces of purse, walkie-talkie, shocker, knee pads, tear gas, head caps, chargers flight light, radios, batons, traffic bars.
The passenger was arrested on July 1, 2012 on arriving the country aboard South African Airways.
The passenger was alleged to have smuggled the prohibited items into the country aboard South African Airways without permit from relevant authorities.
The passenger, whom the Customs Area Controller of the MMIA Command, Mr. Eporwei Charles Edeke, identified as one Bashir Alli, allegedly tried to bribe Customs officers on duty at the airport with $400 when he was approached to surrender his bags on the trolley for routine search.
Edeke explained that when Alli was rebuffed by the Customs officers he offered the $400, he became unsettled, and after hours of dilly-dallying, he eventually approved of the search which revealed the prohibited items.
He explained that on conducting the search, it was discovered that Alli had brought in the prohibited items, which had contravened relevant sections of the Customs and Excise Management Act, as well as other laws concerning the importation of such prohibited items.
He affirmed that the suspect was being held in the Command’s custody pending when interrogation was concluded before he would be handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution.
Eporwei expressed shock that a passenger would attempt to bring into the country such deadly weapons at a time there were security challenges.
He described the Barretta air pistols as high calibre ammunition, which could be converted to regular pistols with its attendant danger.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91456:customs-arrests-man-with-pistols-knives-others-at-lagos-airport&catid=1:national&Itemid=559
Other items found on him include uniforms, military combat caps, fez caps, eight pieces of purse, walkie-talkie, shocker, knee pads, tear gas, head caps, chargers flight light, radios, batons, traffic bars.
The passenger was arrested on July 1, 2012 on arriving the country aboard South African Airways.
The passenger was alleged to have smuggled the prohibited items into the country aboard South African Airways without permit from relevant authorities.
The passenger, whom the Customs Area Controller of the MMIA Command, Mr. Eporwei Charles Edeke, identified as one Bashir Alli, allegedly tried to bribe Customs officers on duty at the airport with $400 when he was approached to surrender his bags on the trolley for routine search.
Edeke explained that when Alli was rebuffed by the Customs officers he offered the $400, he became unsettled, and after hours of dilly-dallying, he eventually approved of the search which revealed the prohibited items.
He explained that on conducting the search, it was discovered that Alli had brought in the prohibited items, which had contravened relevant sections of the Customs and Excise Management Act, as well as other laws concerning the importation of such prohibited items.
He affirmed that the suspect was being held in the Command’s custody pending when interrogation was concluded before he would be handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution.
Eporwei expressed shock that a passenger would attempt to bring into the country such deadly weapons at a time there were security challenges.
He described the Barretta air pistols as high calibre ammunition, which could be converted to regular pistols with its attendant danger.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91456:customs-arrests-man-with-pistols-knives-others-at-lagos-airport&catid=1:national&Itemid=559
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Airlines stop crew’s stay in Abuja over insecurity By Francis Obinor and Wole Shadare (The Guardian)
U.S. warns citizens after fresh threats
THE nation’s security challenge is taking its toll on the aviation sector as foreign airlines’ crew no longer night-stop in Abuja after operating to the area. They now pass the night in Lagos or in Accra.
This development is emerging amid a warning by the United States (U.S) embassy in Nigeria to its citizens of threats to American targets following renewed threats by Boko Haram to step up attacks this month in Abuja.
Before now, all foreign airlines crew operating to Abuja were accommodated in four- or five-star hotels but the deteriorating security situation in the country, especially in the North informed their decision to land their aircraft in Abuja, disembark passengers, while the crew depart for Lagos or Accra, Ghana.
A top official of one of the European carriers told The Guardian yesterday under a strict condition of anonymity that the situation was causing a lot of problems for the carrier, just as he noted that it had also affected their schedules.
Apart from aviation that is suffering as a result of the situation, tourism is also losing as most of the hotels and tourism sites are recording low patronage.
Cumulatively, the sectors are losing several millions of dollars, as the security situation is yet to abate.
There are indications that one of the United States carriers designated to Abuja is putting finishing touches to stopping its operations to the area because of security reasons and low traffic on the route. The carrier said it would consolidate on its U.S-Lagos route where it is doing well.
Many of the carriers have already entered into agreement with some Nigerian airlines to help them airlift their crew whenever they arrive.
Already, Air France has a deal with Aero, but the airline is not pleased with delays that have become the norm in domestic air travel. The delays have made nonsense of their schedule out of Abuja, as the crew do not get to arrive to take charge of their aircraft for early departure.
Apart from the delay encountered before they get to Abuja to operate their flight, the airlines also miss out in connecting their passengers to other destinations from their hubs.
To avoid the situation, the crew disembark their passengers in Abuja, Kano, fly the aircraft to Lagos where a new set of crew take control of the airplane, fly it back to Abuja, pick passengers and depart to their destinations.
Already, the airlines are counting their cost, as they have had to spend more on fuel, risk having to shuttle between Lagos, Accra and Abuja.
The situation would also make them to pay double charges for landing and parking in Lagos, Abuja and more in Accra because it is seen as an international flight.
Speaking to The Guardian on the issue, President, Aviation Round Table (ART), Captain Dele Ore said airline crew love where they can have freedom to shop, walk freely without obstruction.
According to Ore, when these things are lacking as a result of threat to security, it would be practically impossible for them to night-sleep in troubled areas.
The airline captain stated that their various high commissions or embassies could also have warned them of staying in a volatile area, adding that it was really an insult to the country.
“This is a big slap on the face of the government. You can’t blame these people if they have elected to protect their people. This has definitely defeated the idea of making Lagos or Abuja aviation hub in Nigeria,” he said.
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travellers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations.
Many hubs of the airlines are also situated at airports in the cities of the respective head offices. Some airlines may use only a single hub, while other airlines use multiple hubs. Hubs are used for both passenger flights as well as cargo flights.
Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana, has become the regional international airport where long-distance flights are available to the rest of the world, far more in number than Lagos.
The Assistant Secretary General of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mohammed Tukur urged government to find a way of nipping in the bud the security problem, adding that as a result, airlines were involved in extra expenditure.
The statement by the U.S. embassy posted on its website said the American government was working with Nigeria’s security to boost security measures through the U.S. independence holiday which is observed every July 4.
“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria is issuing this emergency message to inform U.S. citizens of potential threats against U.S. installations during the July 4 holiday week,” said the statement.
Abuja was hit by fresh violence late on Tuesday, when a blast went off outside a shopping centre popular with both foreigners and locals.
American citizens in Abuja remain barred from visiting places of worship as well as nearby commercial establishments and must return to their homes by midnight, according to the embassy’s statement.
It added: “The embassy is working with the government of Nigeria to implement additional security measures, through the July 4 holiday week”.
Last month, Washington designated three Boko Haram leaders as global terrorists, a move it said was aimed at helping to stem the violence in Nigeria.
On Monday, during her first visit to the country since taking office, the International Criminal Court’s new chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, urged the Nigerian authorities to investigate crimes claimed by Boko Haram.
Bensouda said she briefed President Goodluck Jonathan on the ICC’s preliminary examination of the Boko Haram insurgency, but stressed that the court was not formally investigating the violence in northern Nigeria.
“Crimes are taking place,” the Gambian-born prosecutor said.
She continued: “These crimes may be called terrorist attacks but they could also qualify as crimes against humanity. Provided Nigeria takes action through its own judicial system, the ICC does not plan to intervene.
“The intention is not to intervene, but the intention is to ensure that Nigeria has the primary responsibility of investigating.”
Boko Haram has claimed attacks that have killed more than 1,000 people since mid-2009 and the violence has escalated in recent months.
Following the group’s deadliest-ever attack in which at least 185 people were killed in the city of Kano on January 20, Jonathan encouraged Boko Haram to enter into negotiations.
But Jonathan told the ICC prosecutor that his government would not encourage impunity for major crimes, according to a presidency statement.
Bensouda became the ICC’s chief prosecutor on June 15, replacing Luis Moreno-Ocampo, an Argentine, who was repeatedly criticised by some African leaders for what they termed the court’s excessive focus on African conflicts.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91371:airlines-stop-crews-stay-in-abuja-over-insecurity-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559
THE nation’s security challenge is taking its toll on the aviation sector as foreign airlines’ crew no longer night-stop in Abuja after operating to the area. They now pass the night in Lagos or in Accra.
This development is emerging amid a warning by the United States (U.S) embassy in Nigeria to its citizens of threats to American targets following renewed threats by Boko Haram to step up attacks this month in Abuja.
Before now, all foreign airlines crew operating to Abuja were accommodated in four- or five-star hotels but the deteriorating security situation in the country, especially in the North informed their decision to land their aircraft in Abuja, disembark passengers, while the crew depart for Lagos or Accra, Ghana.
A top official of one of the European carriers told The Guardian yesterday under a strict condition of anonymity that the situation was causing a lot of problems for the carrier, just as he noted that it had also affected their schedules.
Apart from aviation that is suffering as a result of the situation, tourism is also losing as most of the hotels and tourism sites are recording low patronage.
Cumulatively, the sectors are losing several millions of dollars, as the security situation is yet to abate.
There are indications that one of the United States carriers designated to Abuja is putting finishing touches to stopping its operations to the area because of security reasons and low traffic on the route. The carrier said it would consolidate on its U.S-Lagos route where it is doing well.
Many of the carriers have already entered into agreement with some Nigerian airlines to help them airlift their crew whenever they arrive.
Already, Air France has a deal with Aero, but the airline is not pleased with delays that have become the norm in domestic air travel. The delays have made nonsense of their schedule out of Abuja, as the crew do not get to arrive to take charge of their aircraft for early departure.
Apart from the delay encountered before they get to Abuja to operate their flight, the airlines also miss out in connecting their passengers to other destinations from their hubs.
To avoid the situation, the crew disembark their passengers in Abuja, Kano, fly the aircraft to Lagos where a new set of crew take control of the airplane, fly it back to Abuja, pick passengers and depart to their destinations.
Already, the airlines are counting their cost, as they have had to spend more on fuel, risk having to shuttle between Lagos, Accra and Abuja.
The situation would also make them to pay double charges for landing and parking in Lagos, Abuja and more in Accra because it is seen as an international flight.
Speaking to The Guardian on the issue, President, Aviation Round Table (ART), Captain Dele Ore said airline crew love where they can have freedom to shop, walk freely without obstruction.
According to Ore, when these things are lacking as a result of threat to security, it would be practically impossible for them to night-sleep in troubled areas.
The airline captain stated that their various high commissions or embassies could also have warned them of staying in a volatile area, adding that it was really an insult to the country.
“This is a big slap on the face of the government. You can’t blame these people if they have elected to protect their people. This has definitely defeated the idea of making Lagos or Abuja aviation hub in Nigeria,” he said.
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travellers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations.
Many hubs of the airlines are also situated at airports in the cities of the respective head offices. Some airlines may use only a single hub, while other airlines use multiple hubs. Hubs are used for both passenger flights as well as cargo flights.
Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana, has become the regional international airport where long-distance flights are available to the rest of the world, far more in number than Lagos.
The Assistant Secretary General of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mohammed Tukur urged government to find a way of nipping in the bud the security problem, adding that as a result, airlines were involved in extra expenditure.
The statement by the U.S. embassy posted on its website said the American government was working with Nigeria’s security to boost security measures through the U.S. independence holiday which is observed every July 4.
“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria is issuing this emergency message to inform U.S. citizens of potential threats against U.S. installations during the July 4 holiday week,” said the statement.
Abuja was hit by fresh violence late on Tuesday, when a blast went off outside a shopping centre popular with both foreigners and locals.
American citizens in Abuja remain barred from visiting places of worship as well as nearby commercial establishments and must return to their homes by midnight, according to the embassy’s statement.
It added: “The embassy is working with the government of Nigeria to implement additional security measures, through the July 4 holiday week”.
Last month, Washington designated three Boko Haram leaders as global terrorists, a move it said was aimed at helping to stem the violence in Nigeria.
On Monday, during her first visit to the country since taking office, the International Criminal Court’s new chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, urged the Nigerian authorities to investigate crimes claimed by Boko Haram.
Bensouda said she briefed President Goodluck Jonathan on the ICC’s preliminary examination of the Boko Haram insurgency, but stressed that the court was not formally investigating the violence in northern Nigeria.
“Crimes are taking place,” the Gambian-born prosecutor said.
She continued: “These crimes may be called terrorist attacks but they could also qualify as crimes against humanity. Provided Nigeria takes action through its own judicial system, the ICC does not plan to intervene.
“The intention is not to intervene, but the intention is to ensure that Nigeria has the primary responsibility of investigating.”
Boko Haram has claimed attacks that have killed more than 1,000 people since mid-2009 and the violence has escalated in recent months.
Following the group’s deadliest-ever attack in which at least 185 people were killed in the city of Kano on January 20, Jonathan encouraged Boko Haram to enter into negotiations.
But Jonathan told the ICC prosecutor that his government would not encourage impunity for major crimes, according to a presidency statement.
Bensouda became the ICC’s chief prosecutor on June 15, replacing Luis Moreno-Ocampo, an Argentine, who was repeatedly criticised by some African leaders for what they termed the court’s excessive focus on African conflicts.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91371:airlines-stop-crews-stay-in-abuja-over-insecurity-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559
Air Nigeria Going Into Liquidation ? *As GECAS Repossess 4 Boeing 737-300
Posted By Lateef Lawal
 |
| Going, Going,Going !!! |
The aircraft were repossessed, it was learnt due to the inability of the management of the airline to honour the monthly financial agreement it entered into with the lessor.
It could be recalled that two weeks ago the airline’s operations were grounded by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA) over its insolvency problems which could impact on safety if steps were not taken to temporarily ground its operations so as to address all the lingering debt issues especially to service providers, staff salaries, fuel marketers, maintenance firms and non-remittance of taxes to the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS) among others.
A fortnight ago, officials of FIRS had stormed the premises of Air Nigeria and effected the arrest of the Managing Director,Kinfe Kassaye over the airline's persistent refusal to remit taxes due to the government and subsequently filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja against the airline and its top management.
The FIRS had claimed in the suit that between, January -December 2008, Air Nigeria failed to deduct Value Added Tax (VAT) amounting to the sum, (N633, 548,119.00k). Between January -December 2009, outstanding VAT: (N1, 265,537,250.00k); 2010: (N1, 516,582,660.00k).
Air Nigeria, failed to file Annual returns for 2011 and 2012 as prescribed by Section 55 (1) of the Companies Income Tax Cap C21 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010.
Outstanding Withholding Tax between January-December 2006, against Air Nigeria totals (N394, 165,820.00k). This represented 10% of payments for direct services to Air Nigeria.
This offence contradicts Regulation 5 of the Companies Income Tax (Rates, etc, of Tax Deducted at Source (Withholding Tax) Regulations Cap. C21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 Outstanding Withholding Tax against Air Nigeria, between January and December 2007 is (N775, 207,713.00k).
In January this year, Air Nigeria presented a counterfeit Companies Income Tax Clearance Certificate purportedly issued by the FIRS, in favour of Air Nigeria Development Company Ltd.
This TCC was presented to the Interior Minister to, inter-alia renew quota positions for Twenty (20) Pilots and Ten (10) others.
Documents in possession of the FIRS show that Air Nigeria submitted a counterfeit seal of the FIRS on a Companies Income Tax Clearance Certificate purportedly issued by the FIR.
Last week Monday,Air Nigeria, sacked 12 pilots and engineers that associated themselves with National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).
The decision to sack the technical staff was reportedly connected with the role they played in recent strike, which the pilots and engineers embarked upon since recently and backed by their national body, NAAPE.
Pilots and Engineers in Air Nigeria had embarked on strike on June 1 2012 over: Delayed salaries of both local and foreign staff, Pension deduction not remitted for over seven (7) months, Tax refund and tax clearance issues, Co-operative deductions not yet remitted, Staff travel unresolved and Engineering tier system still pending.
The FIRS had claimed in the suit that between, January -December 2008, Air Nigeria failed to deduct Value Added Tax (VAT) amounting to the sum, (N633, 548,119.00k). Between January -December 2009, outstanding VAT: (N1, 265,537,250.00k); 2010: (N1, 516,582,660.00k).
Air Nigeria, failed to file Annual returns for 2011 and 2012 as prescribed by Section 55 (1) of the Companies Income Tax Cap C21 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010.
Outstanding Withholding Tax between January-December 2006, against Air Nigeria totals (N394, 165,820.00k). This represented 10% of payments for direct services to Air Nigeria.
This offence contradicts Regulation 5 of the Companies Income Tax (Rates, etc, of Tax Deducted at Source (Withholding Tax) Regulations Cap. C21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 Outstanding Withholding Tax against Air Nigeria, between January and December 2007 is (N775, 207,713.00k).
In January this year, Air Nigeria presented a counterfeit Companies Income Tax Clearance Certificate purportedly issued by the FIRS, in favour of Air Nigeria Development Company Ltd.
This TCC was presented to the Interior Minister to, inter-alia renew quota positions for Twenty (20) Pilots and Ten (10) others.
Documents in possession of the FIRS show that Air Nigeria submitted a counterfeit seal of the FIRS on a Companies Income Tax Clearance Certificate purportedly issued by the FIR.
Last week Monday,Air Nigeria, sacked 12 pilots and engineers that associated themselves with National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).
The decision to sack the technical staff was reportedly connected with the role they played in recent strike, which the pilots and engineers embarked upon since recently and backed by their national body, NAAPE.
Pilots and Engineers in Air Nigeria had embarked on strike on June 1 2012 over: Delayed salaries of both local and foreign staff, Pension deduction not remitted for over seven (7) months, Tax refund and tax clearance issues, Co-operative deductions not yet remitted, Staff travel unresolved and Engineering tier system still pending.
GECAS, it was gathered last night, had written to the management of Air Nigeria and copied the NCAA on the airline default in payment and its plan to terminate the lease agreement and repossess the 4 aircraft leased to the company.
The embattled airline had been having running battles with both workers and regulators. It had not operated flight operations for its domestic and regional route for more than a month.
The NCAA, it was gathered has had an emergency meeting with Air Nigeria on June 11, 2012, to discuss moves by GECAS and Shannon Engine Support (both lessors to Air Nigeria) to repossess their four B737-300 aircraft and four CFM56-3C1 engines respectively.
On the 25th June,2010 this medium disclosed that there were indications that Air Nigeria’s lessors are about to repossess especially the 4 B737-300 aircraft in its fleet due its non-payment of accumulated monthly rentals
The airline currently has 11 aircraft, made up of two E-190,5B737-300 and four B737-400 and an A330 leased for its London operation from Egypt Air.
At the sideline of the just concluded African Aviation 'Air Finance' conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, it was gathered that one of the airline's lessor, General Electric Capital Aviation Services(GECAS), was reviewing the financial exposure of the airline and have concluded plans to recall its five B737-300.
The lessor, according to statements credited to the Aviation Ministry indicated that the airline had been defaulting in the prompt payment of its fleet lease rentals and is therefore auditing the finances of the airline.
Nigeria is a signatory to the Cape Town convention which make a lessor able to recover its aircraft without let and hindrance if it believes an airline is continually incapable of payments.
The lease rentals for the B737-300 is $181,000 for an aircraft.
The airline, then known as Virgin Nigeria had negotiated down ward the lease rental of each B737-300 to $120,000. It then had 5B737-300 and two E-190's.
The airline is still operating to London. Analyst said this is in view of the fact that the wide body A330 being used is on an ACMI bases from Egypt air. In aviation parlance an ACMI indicates that the lessor provides the Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance(ACMI) cover for an aircraft.
But Air Nigeria performs poorly on their load factor(passengers carried) on the London route. The average number of passengers in business class on the route oscillates between 5 and 9. The seat capacity is 44.
The NCAA, it was gathered has had an emergency meeting with Air Nigeria on June 11, 2012, to discuss moves by GECAS and Shannon Engine Support (both lessors to Air Nigeria) to repossess their four B737-300 aircraft and four CFM56-3C1 engines respectively.
On the 25th June,2010 this medium disclosed that there were indications that Air Nigeria’s lessors are about to repossess especially the 4 B737-300 aircraft in its fleet due its non-payment of accumulated monthly rentals
The airline currently has 11 aircraft, made up of two E-190,5B737-300 and four B737-400 and an A330 leased for its London operation from Egypt Air.
At the sideline of the just concluded African Aviation 'Air Finance' conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, it was gathered that one of the airline's lessor, General Electric Capital Aviation Services(GECAS), was reviewing the financial exposure of the airline and have concluded plans to recall its five B737-300.
The lessor, according to statements credited to the Aviation Ministry indicated that the airline had been defaulting in the prompt payment of its fleet lease rentals and is therefore auditing the finances of the airline.
Nigeria is a signatory to the Cape Town convention which make a lessor able to recover its aircraft without let and hindrance if it believes an airline is continually incapable of payments.
The lease rentals for the B737-300 is $181,000 for an aircraft.
The airline, then known as Virgin Nigeria had negotiated down ward the lease rental of each B737-300 to $120,000. It then had 5B737-300 and two E-190's.
The airline is still operating to London. Analyst said this is in view of the fact that the wide body A330 being used is on an ACMI bases from Egypt air. In aviation parlance an ACMI indicates that the lessor provides the Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance(ACMI) cover for an aircraft.
But Air Nigeria performs poorly on their load factor(passengers carried) on the London route. The average number of passengers in business class on the route oscillates between 5 and 9. The seat capacity is 44.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
NAMA, expert differ on Nigeria’s €65m radar project written byWole Shadare (The Guardian)
THE €65 million (N13.3 billion) Total Rader Covergae of Nigeria (TRACON) project, may soon be listed among the major scams rocking the nation’s aviation sector, as an industry expert has faulted the expenditure profile.
The United Kingdom-based Nigerian aviation expert, Captain Dung Pam, disclosed that the project was at least 500 per cent costlier than that of Namibia, which was completed with just $14 million (N2.3 billion).
Nigeria and Namibia completed total radar coverage of their respective airspaces in 2011.
Pam, who is also the President of the Nigerian Aviation Safety Initiative, an industry pressure group, stressed that authorities must be held accountable for their actions and decisions if Nigeria hopes to achieve a considerable level of safety in the aviation sector.
He spoke with reporters at a news conference, adding that it was illogical for Nigeria, which has almost the same land area with Namibia, to spend €65 million to put its approximately 923000 square kilometres land area on the radar, while Namibia spent just $14 million to accomplish same feat on its 825,000 square kilometres land area.
The pilot said the situation became worrisome due to the fact that the project was done for the two countries by the same French company, Thales of France.
He said: “Namibia has almost the size of airspace with Nigeria. The same company, Thales of France gave Namibia in three years full ADFC wide area multilateration. But the amount of money Namibia used to accomplish the project is less than one quarter of what Nigeria paid. It will be counter- productive if conflicting strategies are being implemented simultaneously by different interested parties in the region.
He further explained, “Thales of France recently completed airspace upgrade for two African countries. Nigeria has spent over €65 million within eight years from 2003 to 2011 to procure an inefficient surface radar programme for its 923,000 square kilometre airspace.
“Namibia having spent less spend less than $14m within three years January 2009 till December 2011 has launched a more sophisticated wide area multi-lateration surveillance system for its airspace of 825,000 square kilometres.”
But the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) rose in stout defence of the expenditure profile, stressing that the multi billion radar project delivered co-located PR-MSSR, Air Traffic Management System including Simulator and VSAT network, fibre optics, Generators, AVRs, UPS and civil works at nine sites for 67 million euros.
Spokesman for the agency, Supo Atobatele, in a statement recently, said “new technologies like ADS-B, ADS-C and MLAT are all complementary and not meant to replace the radar.
Though they are cheaper at deployment but the aircraft need to have enhanced equip- page in terms of transponders and other compatible avionics.”
He said it is quite absurd and preposterous comparing what the TRACON project delivered with a project on ADS-C, stressing, It’s like comparing an apple with orange.”
“You only compare cost of similar projects and not dissimilar ones. If we chose to implement ADS-B, it will just serve as an overlay on the TRACON as the Eurocat Air Traffic Management System is not only ADS-B compatible, we also have the servers (ADS-B) already installed as AGDPs in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt,” he added.
He explained that Nigeria “is on the right path as far as airspace infrastructure is concerned. We just need to sustain the tempo, stay focused and we will get there.”
But Pam noted that “obviously, Namibia made a more sensible and future plans, hinting that it is arguable that the buyer always have the final decision and choice.”
If you look at it, the same consultant that they have the same type of equipment that they are trying to buy and we paid €65 million and it took us eight years. But three months ago Namibia ATC were there and what they have is ADFC while we have ADFB so these are the kind of things that are happening. It is worth knowing that without pressure to be accountable and transparent, this sort of things will continue to happen in the industry.”
“Namibia completed its project in three years, whereas Nigerian did hers in eight years.”
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91218:nama-expert-differ-on-nigerias-65m-radar-project&catid=31:business&Itemid=562
The United Kingdom-based Nigerian aviation expert, Captain Dung Pam, disclosed that the project was at least 500 per cent costlier than that of Namibia, which was completed with just $14 million (N2.3 billion).
Nigeria and Namibia completed total radar coverage of their respective airspaces in 2011.
Pam, who is also the President of the Nigerian Aviation Safety Initiative, an industry pressure group, stressed that authorities must be held accountable for their actions and decisions if Nigeria hopes to achieve a considerable level of safety in the aviation sector.
He spoke with reporters at a news conference, adding that it was illogical for Nigeria, which has almost the same land area with Namibia, to spend €65 million to put its approximately 923000 square kilometres land area on the radar, while Namibia spent just $14 million to accomplish same feat on its 825,000 square kilometres land area.
The pilot said the situation became worrisome due to the fact that the project was done for the two countries by the same French company, Thales of France.
He said: “Namibia has almost the size of airspace with Nigeria. The same company, Thales of France gave Namibia in three years full ADFC wide area multilateration. But the amount of money Namibia used to accomplish the project is less than one quarter of what Nigeria paid. It will be counter- productive if conflicting strategies are being implemented simultaneously by different interested parties in the region.
He further explained, “Thales of France recently completed airspace upgrade for two African countries. Nigeria has spent over €65 million within eight years from 2003 to 2011 to procure an inefficient surface radar programme for its 923,000 square kilometre airspace.
“Namibia having spent less spend less than $14m within three years January 2009 till December 2011 has launched a more sophisticated wide area multi-lateration surveillance system for its airspace of 825,000 square kilometres.”
But the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) rose in stout defence of the expenditure profile, stressing that the multi billion radar project delivered co-located PR-MSSR, Air Traffic Management System including Simulator and VSAT network, fibre optics, Generators, AVRs, UPS and civil works at nine sites for 67 million euros.
Spokesman for the agency, Supo Atobatele, in a statement recently, said “new technologies like ADS-B, ADS-C and MLAT are all complementary and not meant to replace the radar.
Though they are cheaper at deployment but the aircraft need to have enhanced equip- page in terms of transponders and other compatible avionics.”
He said it is quite absurd and preposterous comparing what the TRACON project delivered with a project on ADS-C, stressing, It’s like comparing an apple with orange.”
“You only compare cost of similar projects and not dissimilar ones. If we chose to implement ADS-B, it will just serve as an overlay on the TRACON as the Eurocat Air Traffic Management System is not only ADS-B compatible, we also have the servers (ADS-B) already installed as AGDPs in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt,” he added.
He explained that Nigeria “is on the right path as far as airspace infrastructure is concerned. We just need to sustain the tempo, stay focused and we will get there.”
But Pam noted that “obviously, Namibia made a more sensible and future plans, hinting that it is arguable that the buyer always have the final decision and choice.”
If you look at it, the same consultant that they have the same type of equipment that they are trying to buy and we paid €65 million and it took us eight years. But three months ago Namibia ATC were there and what they have is ADFC while we have ADFB so these are the kind of things that are happening. It is worth knowing that without pressure to be accountable and transparent, this sort of things will continue to happen in the industry.”
“Namibia completed its project in three years, whereas Nigerian did hers in eight years.”
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91218:nama-expert-differ-on-nigerias-65m-radar-project&catid=31:business&Itemid=562
Monday, July 2, 2012
Air Nigeria cannot distance itself from Virgin Nigeria indebtedness,says FIRS
By
The storming of the Air Nigeria office in Lagos a fortnight ago by officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) was the last resort after several unfulfilled commitments by officials the airline to pay outstanding tax debts totalling N4.868, 496,152:00 billion.
The storming of the Air Nigeria office in Lagos a fortnight ago by officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) was the last resort after several unfulfilled commitments by officials the airline to pay outstanding tax debts totalling N4.868, 496,152:00 billion.
This clarification was contained in a statement issued by FIRS in response to the allegation of illegal invasion of the premises of Air Nigeria to effect the arrest of some officials of the airline over the debt issue and the presentation of counterfeit Company Income Tax Clearance Certificate. The statement further explained that:
''The FIRS Management wishes to state that these claims are concocted by Air Nigeria in an attempt to obfuscate issues and whip up public sentiment against a lawful agency of government, doing its utmost to ensure that all business that operate within Nigeria, fulfill their minimal corporate obligation to the Nigerian state.
Air Nigeria is an offshoot of Virgin Nigeria and some of these debts are old. But a substantial parts of the debts are as a recent as two/three/four years ago. Discussions with Virgin Nigeria and its successor had been on for quite a while with promises by the airline to fulfill its obligation.
In any case, it is trite law, clear to even university law undergraduates that when you take over a business, you inherit all the acquired business’ assets and liabilities. Thus, Air Nigeria is deemed to have inherited all assets and liabilities when it acquired Virgin Nigeria.
To try to distance itself from the liabilities of Virgin Nigeria is not in sync, with known business practice, law and international precepts.
AIR NIGERIA DEBT FIGURES
Between, January -December 2008, Air Nigeria failed to deduct Value Added Tax (VAT) amounting to the sum, (N633, 548,119.00k). Between January -December 2009, outstanding VAT: (N1, 265,537,250.00k); 2010: (N1, 516,582,660.00k).
Air Nigeria, failed to file Annual returns for 2011 and 2012 as prescribed by Section 55 (1) of the Companies Income Tax Cap C21 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010.
Outstanding Withholding Tax between January-December 2006, against Air Nigeria totals (N394, 165,820.00k). This represented 10% of payments for direct services to Air Nigeria.
This offence contradicts Regulation 5 of the Companies Income Tax (Rates, etc, of Tax Deducted at Source (Withholding Tax) Regulations Cap. C21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 Outstanding Withholding Tax against Air Nigeria, between January and December 2007 is (N775, 207,713.00k).
In January this year, Air Nigeria presented a counterfeit Companies Income Tax Clearance Certificate purportedly issued by the FIRS, in favour of Air Nigeria Development Company Ltd.
This TCC was presented to the Interior Minister to, inter-alia renew quota positions for Twenty (20) Pilots and Ten (10) others.
Documents in possession of the FIRS show that Air Nigeria submitted a counterfeit seal of the FIRS on a Companies Income Tax Clearance Certificate purportedly issued by the FIRS
ALLUSSION TO BLACKMAIL
As a responsible organisation, sworn and committed to the highest moral integrity and ethical conduct, expected of a tax authority, the FIRS and its officials. abide with the highest codes of ethical conduct.
FIRS wishes to state that there are recorded versions of encounters between FIRS officials/ management with management staff/representatives of Air Nigeria, over the airline’s N4. 86 billion debts due to the Government of Nigeria.
The allusion to blackmail is a figment of the company officials’ imagination to obfuscate issues.
ALLEGATION OF “INVASION” AND “UNCIVILSED” CONDUCT
The tax enforcement drive was led by Mr. James Binang, an Assistant Director in charge of Debt Enforcement and Special Prosecution Unit (DESPU) of the Service.
There are video and documentary evidence of their invitation of Air Nigeria MD.
We wish to state that FIRS is a law abiding institution, that knows, lives, breathes and acts in consonance with civilised conduct and known democratic norms.
This is not the first Enforcement FIRS is carrying out. No company has complained about the conduct of our officials''.
The statement concluded,:''We enjoin Air Nigeria to be a good corporate citizen and discharge its minimal obligation by paying up these long due debts''.
''The FIRS Management wishes to state that these claims are concocted by Air Nigeria in an attempt to obfuscate issues and whip up public sentiment against a lawful agency of government, doing its utmost to ensure that all business that operate within Nigeria, fulfill their minimal corporate obligation to the Nigerian state.
Air Nigeria is an offshoot of Virgin Nigeria and some of these debts are old. But a substantial parts of the debts are as a recent as two/three/four years ago. Discussions with Virgin Nigeria and its successor had been on for quite a while with promises by the airline to fulfill its obligation.
In any case, it is trite law, clear to even university law undergraduates that when you take over a business, you inherit all the acquired business’ assets and liabilities. Thus, Air Nigeria is deemed to have inherited all assets and liabilities when it acquired Virgin Nigeria.
To try to distance itself from the liabilities of Virgin Nigeria is not in sync, with known business practice, law and international precepts.
AIR NIGERIA DEBT FIGURES
Between, January -December 2008, Air Nigeria failed to deduct Value Added Tax (VAT) amounting to the sum, (N633, 548,119.00k). Between January -December 2009, outstanding VAT: (N1, 265,537,250.00k); 2010: (N1, 516,582,660.00k).
Air Nigeria, failed to file Annual returns for 2011 and 2012 as prescribed by Section 55 (1) of the Companies Income Tax Cap C21 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010.
Outstanding Withholding Tax between January-December 2006, against Air Nigeria totals (N394, 165,820.00k). This represented 10% of payments for direct services to Air Nigeria.
This offence contradicts Regulation 5 of the Companies Income Tax (Rates, etc, of Tax Deducted at Source (Withholding Tax) Regulations Cap. C21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 Outstanding Withholding Tax against Air Nigeria, between January and December 2007 is (N775, 207,713.00k).
In January this year, Air Nigeria presented a counterfeit Companies Income Tax Clearance Certificate purportedly issued by the FIRS, in favour of Air Nigeria Development Company Ltd.
This TCC was presented to the Interior Minister to, inter-alia renew quota positions for Twenty (20) Pilots and Ten (10) others.
Documents in possession of the FIRS show that Air Nigeria submitted a counterfeit seal of the FIRS on a Companies Income Tax Clearance Certificate purportedly issued by the FIRS
ALLUSSION TO BLACKMAIL
As a responsible organisation, sworn and committed to the highest moral integrity and ethical conduct, expected of a tax authority, the FIRS and its officials. abide with the highest codes of ethical conduct.
FIRS wishes to state that there are recorded versions of encounters between FIRS officials/ management with management staff/representatives of Air Nigeria, over the airline’s N4. 86 billion debts due to the Government of Nigeria.
The allusion to blackmail is a figment of the company officials’ imagination to obfuscate issues.
ALLEGATION OF “INVASION” AND “UNCIVILSED” CONDUCT
The tax enforcement drive was led by Mr. James Binang, an Assistant Director in charge of Debt Enforcement and Special Prosecution Unit (DESPU) of the Service.
There are video and documentary evidence of their invitation of Air Nigeria MD.
We wish to state that FIRS is a law abiding institution, that knows, lives, breathes and acts in consonance with civilised conduct and known democratic norms.
This is not the first Enforcement FIRS is carrying out. No company has complained about the conduct of our officials''.
The statement concluded,:''We enjoin Air Nigeria to be a good corporate citizen and discharge its minimal obligation by paying up these long due debts''.
NigerianAviationNews
ICAO, IATA pledge to assist Nigeria on aviation safety By Wole Shadare (The Guardian)
GLOBAL aviation regulatory body, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the Air Transport Association (IATA) and the umbrella body for global airlines, have pledged their support to help Nigeria overcome its aviation safety challenges.
In a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan signed by the ICAO Council President, Mr. Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez and the Secretary-General, Mr. Raymond Benjamin, ICAO offered its support, saying: “Please, know that ICAO stands ready to assist you in any way as you investigate these accidents and have every confidence that you will personally implement any recommendations emanating from the investigations.”
Gonzalez, however, reinforced his confidence in the President’s “strong leadership and commitment to aviation safety in Nigeria and indeed, in Africa as a continent.”
Following the Dana crash in which over 153 persons died, precisely on June 3, 2012, the Federal Government enlisted the help of Boeing (along with ICAO) in the evaluation of the airworthiness of airline fleet in the country.
IATA, the umbrella body for 240 airlines, said the regrettable accident must not be allowed to derail the reforms instituted in the industry since 2006.
In a letter to President Jonathan, IATA Secretary-General and CEO Mr. Antony Tyler, said: “We at the IATA stand ready to support you and your government during this difficult period. While aviation remains the safest form of travel in the world, accidents unfortunately still do happen.
“Nigeria should be proud that the commitment of your government to the safety and security of your air transport system has resulted in an impressive overall safety record. While we can and must learn from these tragedies, it is important that we also not allow these exceptional events to lead us to lose perspective on the overall safety of the system,” he added.
Tyler offered IATA’s support, saying the global airline body remains committed to working with Nigeria’s civil aviation authorities and authorities around the world to continue to improve the safety of this already safe industry.
He noted that as part of its safety initiative, the association has vigorously encouraged governments to mandate airlines to meet the requirements of its Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control system of an airline.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91035:icao-iata-pledge-to-assist-nigeria-on-aviation-safety-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559
In a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan signed by the ICAO Council President, Mr. Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez and the Secretary-General, Mr. Raymond Benjamin, ICAO offered its support, saying: “Please, know that ICAO stands ready to assist you in any way as you investigate these accidents and have every confidence that you will personally implement any recommendations emanating from the investigations.”
Gonzalez, however, reinforced his confidence in the President’s “strong leadership and commitment to aviation safety in Nigeria and indeed, in Africa as a continent.”
Following the Dana crash in which over 153 persons died, precisely on June 3, 2012, the Federal Government enlisted the help of Boeing (along with ICAO) in the evaluation of the airworthiness of airline fleet in the country.
IATA, the umbrella body for 240 airlines, said the regrettable accident must not be allowed to derail the reforms instituted in the industry since 2006.
In a letter to President Jonathan, IATA Secretary-General and CEO Mr. Antony Tyler, said: “We at the IATA stand ready to support you and your government during this difficult period. While aviation remains the safest form of travel in the world, accidents unfortunately still do happen.
“Nigeria should be proud that the commitment of your government to the safety and security of your air transport system has resulted in an impressive overall safety record. While we can and must learn from these tragedies, it is important that we also not allow these exceptional events to lead us to lose perspective on the overall safety of the system,” he added.
Tyler offered IATA’s support, saying the global airline body remains committed to working with Nigeria’s civil aviation authorities and authorities around the world to continue to improve the safety of this already safe industry.
He noted that as part of its safety initiative, the association has vigorously encouraged governments to mandate airlines to meet the requirements of its Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control system of an airline.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91035:icao-iata-pledge-to-assist-nigeria-on-aviation-safety-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559
Govt mulls merger for airlines, experts seek four strong carriers for Nigeria written byWole Shadare (The Guardian)
WITH a view to strengthening operations and enhance air safety of the nation’s airlines, the Federal Government is said to be considering a policy that could lead to two or more airlines to merge.
This came, as indications emerged that virtually all the carriers in the country were financially insolvent and heavily indebted to a staggering $5billion.
A Presidency source told The Guardian that should government go on to carry out financial audit on the airlines, many of them would not pass the test.
He said that already some of the perceived big airlines were showing signs of resistance to the proposed policy while others had welcomed the idea.
For those planning to resist the idea, he said government intends to raise the stake that would make it difficult to “go it alone’’, leaving them with no other option than to merge as it is being done in Europe, United States and Asia.
Air France in 2004 merged with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, changing the operating name to Air France-KLM, although the two airlines still operate as separate airlines.
In 2006, Cathay Pacific Airways acquired full ownership over Dragonair, which continues to operate as a separate airline.
Delta Air, with headquarters in Atlanta Georgia, started as Huff Daland Dusters 1924. It was purchased in 1928 by C.E. Woolman and renamed Delta Air Service after the Mississippi Delta. Between 2008 and 2010, the carrier merged with Northwest Airlines and became the world’s largest carrier by passenger traffic in 2008, just as it kept Delta name.
The decision to encourage mergers was as a result of insinuations and accusations that because of the insolvency of the airlines, they are tempted to cut corners on maintenance.
Not all of them are able to pay salaries, meet their obligations to aviation fuel marketers and other sundry charges.
Speaking to The Guardian at the weekend, President, Nigeria Aviation Safety Initiative (NASI), Captain Dung Pam said his only advice to the operators was to consolidate or die.
He said it was left to the government to support and restructure the system or lose strategic control of the industry.
His words: “I spoke to Patrick Ekunwen, the Director of Airworthiness and I said you are regulating safety but remember it is your duty to economically regulate the airlines, make sure they operate with financial discipline or else safety will be compromised.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91041:govt-mulls-merger-for-airlines-experts-seek-four-strong-carriers-for-nigeria-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559
This came, as indications emerged that virtually all the carriers in the country were financially insolvent and heavily indebted to a staggering $5billion.
A Presidency source told The Guardian that should government go on to carry out financial audit on the airlines, many of them would not pass the test.
He said that already some of the perceived big airlines were showing signs of resistance to the proposed policy while others had welcomed the idea.
For those planning to resist the idea, he said government intends to raise the stake that would make it difficult to “go it alone’’, leaving them with no other option than to merge as it is being done in Europe, United States and Asia.
Air France in 2004 merged with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, changing the operating name to Air France-KLM, although the two airlines still operate as separate airlines.
In 2006, Cathay Pacific Airways acquired full ownership over Dragonair, which continues to operate as a separate airline.
Delta Air, with headquarters in Atlanta Georgia, started as Huff Daland Dusters 1924. It was purchased in 1928 by C.E. Woolman and renamed Delta Air Service after the Mississippi Delta. Between 2008 and 2010, the carrier merged with Northwest Airlines and became the world’s largest carrier by passenger traffic in 2008, just as it kept Delta name.
The decision to encourage mergers was as a result of insinuations and accusations that because of the insolvency of the airlines, they are tempted to cut corners on maintenance.
Not all of them are able to pay salaries, meet their obligations to aviation fuel marketers and other sundry charges.
Speaking to The Guardian at the weekend, President, Nigeria Aviation Safety Initiative (NASI), Captain Dung Pam said his only advice to the operators was to consolidate or die.
He said it was left to the government to support and restructure the system or lose strategic control of the industry.
His words: “I spoke to Patrick Ekunwen, the Director of Airworthiness and I said you are regulating safety but remember it is your duty to economically regulate the airlines, make sure they operate with financial discipline or else safety will be compromised.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91041:govt-mulls-merger-for-airlines-experts-seek-four-strong-carriers-for-nigeria-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559
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