FAAN MD loses bid to stay action on contempt charge

Vanguardngr.com

Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, yesterday, lost its bid to have a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to stay proceedings on a  contempt charge filed against its  Managing Director, George Uriesi, over alleged disobedience of court order.

The court, in its ruling, refused the motion on the ground that the court was expected to guide its integrity jealously and adjourned till May10 for the hearing on the contempt proceeding.

The trial judge, Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, added that she would take FAAN’s objection alongside the contempt charge at the next adjourned date.

Maevis, had filed a suit, dragging FAAN to the court, over alleged breach of contract for the provision of the Airport Operations Management System platform in four international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

The court had ordered the parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the case, but it was alleged that FAAN terminated the contract between it and Maevis as against the ruling of the court. Maevis consequently filed contempt proceedings against FAAN Managing Director.

NDLEA seizes N160m drug at Lagos airport

By DANIEL ETEGHE Vanguardngr.com

LAGOS— Operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday, made a major seizure of 16 kilogrammes of high grade heroin worth about N160 million by a suspected drug syndicate at the National Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO, shed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The drugs were packed in white transparent polythene hidden inside metal pipes. The drugs, which were industrially- packed, were brought as cargo on a KLM flight from Republic of Iran.

Speaking on the seizure, Chief  Executive of  NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, confirmed that the agency was able to detect the drugs because of the alert given by its sniffer dogs, adding that it was a major seizure that was recorded by the agency so far this year.

He stressed that the drugs were abandoned by the syndicate at the Nacho shed, pointing out that with the seizure, it meant that drug trafficking syndicates were losing out on the drug war.

“This is another important seizure to the Agency and the country. It points to the fact that our control measures at the exit and entry points are getting better by the day. No doubt, it is a huge loss for the drug cartel behind the illegal shipment. This is a very successful operation and we have launched full scale investigation into the illegal import. We hope to unveil the culprits soonest,” Giade said.

Fare disparity: FG stays ban on foreign airlines

By Kenneth Ehigiator Vanguardngr.com

LAGOS — The federal Government has stayed action on ban of foreign airlines over fare disparity to allow the Senate conclude its investigation on the matter.

It, however, said the halt of the ban was temporary, as it would still be effected after the Senate had concluded its probe on the issue.

Government had planned to ban the airlines at midnight yesterday should they fail to adjust their fares to tally with those charged in other countries in West Africa, especially Ghana.

But a statement in Abuja, yesterday, by Special Adviser, Media, to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, on behalf of his boss, Princess Stella Oduah, said going ahead with the ban without allowing the Senate to conclude its investigation would amount to disrespecting the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

Besides, Obi said the Aviation Ministry had been in serious negotiations with the foreign airlines, particularly British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways, on reduction of fares.

The statement read:  “On March 26, 2012, a 30-day ultimatum was issued to all foreign airlines operating in Nigeria to dismantle their fare disparity within the West African coast or face a ban from operating into the Nigerian airspace. That ultimatum expired today.

“Ever since the ultimatum was issued, a lot of developments have occurred. There have been consultations and negotiations between the Nigerian and British authorities with regard to the operations of BA and VAA.

“Negotiations involving other foreign carriers have also been on-going.  But the most significant development since the issue broke out was the intervention of the House of Representatives and the Senate, given the high interest the question of fare imbalance generates across the country.

“Currently, the intervention /investigation of the Senate Committee on Aviation is still on-going. The first phase of that investigation was the public hearing where all interested/affected stakeholders made various representations to the committee.

“While the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, insists that the regional fare imbalance must be dismantled, with severe consequences for all airlines that fail to comply, it is, however, imperative to allow the Senate investigation to take its full course.

“As a result, the proposed ban of all airlines that fail to restore fare parity has been put on hold in the interim  in deference to the ongoing intervention effort of the Senate and the National Assembly.

“Action in this regard will be determined at the conclusion of the Senate investigation in order not to prejudice the outcome of the committee report as well as accord due respect and recognition to the current effort of the institution of the National Assembly at resolving the issues in the best interest of the nation.”

Senate’s report

The Senate is expecting the probe report from its Committee on Aviation in the next two weeks.

Charging the committee with responsibility for the probe, Senate President, David Mark, had described fares charged by the airlines, especially British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways, as exploitative of Nigerians.

He had said:  “It (high fares) has been on for a long time and our regulatory agencies are, in fact, part of the problems because they have refused to act in anyway that would force British Airways to reduce its fares.

“It is exploitative and no body should be allowed to exploit Nigerians.  The prices given are completely out of range; it is unreasonable; it is exploitative and nobody should tell us to sit down here and not do anything about it because Nigerians are willing to pay.”

Court Refuses to Stay Proceedings on Maevis, FAAN Suit

By Davidson Iriekpen Thisday.ng

A Federal High Court in Lagos Wednesday rejected a motion filed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) seeking the court  to stay proceedings on the contempt charge filed against its  Managing Director, George Uriesi, over alleged disobedience of court order.

Trial judge, Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, in her ruling on the matter refused the motion on the ground that courts are expected to guide their integrity jealously.

The judge who adjourned the ruling to May 10, however resolved to take FAAN’s objection alongside the contempt charge at the next adjourned date.

On that date, the court will hear the objection and determine it first before deciding  whether or not to hear the contempt charge.

Maevis, had filed a suit against FAAN over alleged breach of contract for the provision of the Airport Operations Management System platform in four international airports Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

The court had ordered that parties should maintain status quo pending
the determination of the case, but it was alleged that FAAN terminated the contract between it and Maevis as against the ruling of the court.

Following FAAN’s  alleged disobedience of the court order,  Maevis through its lawyer, Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), filed a contempt proceeding against FAAN and its management

But FAAN's counsel, Kola Awodein (SAN), urged the court to stay further proceedings in the matter, as he had filed four separate appeals in respect of the matter at the Appeal Court.

Awodein contended that the appeals had been entered, and urged the court to stay further proceedings in respect to the superior court as the matter will go on for hearing at the Appeal Court on Wednesday (April 25).

He also told the court that Maevis had discontinued the contempt proceedings against three other FAAN directors, leaving only Uriesi as the alleged contemnor.

Responding, Maevis’ lawyer, Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), said Awodein’s submissions were meant to confuse the court as he misrepresented the position of the Court of Appeal.

He said there was nothing in respect of stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal, and that the appeal merely sought to regularise the records of the appeal filed by FAAN.

He had submitted that no valid appeal had been filed by FAAN before the Appeal Court.

According to Osinbajo: “The order of this court has been flagrantly violated by the defendant (FAAN) and there is no appeal against it. What this court is to consider now is the contempt proceedings against the MD of FAAN.”

“Even the four appeals Awodein had claimed to have filed were just meant to stall further proceedings in this matter and none had been validly entered at the Court of Appeal,” Osinbajo explained.

While stressing that the Federal High Court has the jurisdiction to hear the substantive matter as well as the contempt proceedings, Osinbajo urged the court to dismiss FAAN’s application to stay further proceedings in the matter pending the determination of four separate appeals filed by FAAN in respect of the matter at the Lagos division of the Court of Appeal.

When the matter however came up on Monday, the judge had insisted  that the Managing Director of FAAN, George Uriesi must appear in court to face the contempt proceedings filed against him over alleged disobedience of court order.

Wellness introduces massaging at MMA 2

Tribune.com.ng


The tourism sector in Nigeria is developing fast in Nigeria and the players are making sure that Nigerians are consuming the best of its products.

Tourism is about relaxation and banishing of stress which is  mainly due to overwork and tiredness out of long journey and the others.

Realising that passengers who were running away from stress at home were unwittingly subjected to another stress when flying over a long journey or distance, which also compound what it set out to ameliorate the science to world has developed a machine which offers complete massaging for whoever is travelling.
The machine christened Aqua massage is designed to offer relief for tourists and travellers who must have been stressed by the preparation for the journey.

Travellers having hours to spend at the airport waiting to board can utilise the time tending their body.
The machine has been planted in international airports in developed countries like, London, Germany, South Africa and France.

It has helped travellers in those countries in beating the effect of the  jet lag  and stress of long distance travel.

However, since Nigeria is a major travel hub, a Nigerian company, Wellness has planted this machine at MM2, Airport, Lagos.

The auto massage machine employs water in doing the tending and beating of the flesh and muscles which has been the work of ladies.

“It is a simple act of you getting into the cubicle, lying down and the massaging commences as the cubicle is locked. You don’t need to dress your flesh or expose what is meant only for your partner to a stranger.
“The massaging is total except your hands which are stretched out of the cubicle into a bell thump because of emergency which Mr Appolos Sunday, the tenderer of the machine at MM2 said “you may want to stop massaging or something else can happen and you need help. What you need to do is to use your finger to punch the bell and the officer will attend to you.

“A 15-minute body work of massaging  inside the cubicle has proved to be a wonderful experience as it was soothing, thorough, from the neck to the sole of the fees.

“Thinking about the fee is surprising as the amount paid for 15 minutes aqua massaging is  worth more in terms of value, effect and impact in comparison to the human effort where someone you don’t know his state of mental health,  background,  religious belief and disposition rubbing your body with unholy hand, said Appolos.

‘FG Can Float National Airline With N985bn’

By NKEM OSUAGWU Leadership.ng

A group of aviation professionals has said that with N985 billion the Federal Government can realise its dream to establish a National Flag Carrier that will generate about 19,500 jobs at inception.

The group led by the Managing Director of AirGold Aviation,Mr Ifeanyi Okocha spoke to journalists at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2(MMA2) Lagos, while contributing to the debate on the establishment of a national flag carrier for the country yesterday.

Okocha, an aeronautic engineer who has also worked in several airlines in the country, said his team of aviation professionals have carried out a feasibility study which they plan to submit to President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that his group would like to start the project but would need the Federal Government’s assistance  in realising the fund needed.

He explained that the government could oversee the implementation of the project through the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ministry of Aviation and Ministry of Finance, while the loan would be repaid after 10 years of operations, after which the proposed airline - ‘Nigeria Airlines’ will become a public quoted company at the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

He stressed that the airline would be successful because it would be managed professionally unlike the liquidated Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL) which was handled like a pubic service.

He hinted that as at the time NAL was liquidated, the national carrier had a functional aircraft maintenance department, which could have been converted to Maintenance Overhaul and Repair (MRO) facility.

He regretted that instead, it was closed down, thereby denying the Federal Government opportunity of generating revenue, while Nigerian airlines spend a lot of money taking their aircraft overseas for maintenance.

Blackout: Senate Directs PHCN to Open Service Station at Abuja Airport

By  Kunle Akogun   and Chinedu Eze Thisday.ng

The Senate Tuesday directed Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc (PHCN) to establish a full-fledged service centre at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja to avoid a repeat of last Saturday’s incident of power outage which disrupted flight activities at the airport.

Also, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) directed airlines operating in Nigeria to submit the total fares they charge passengers so that the Federal Government would stem the culture of exploitation of air travellers, especially by international carriers.

But, the power outage which occurred around 5a.m. coincided with the arrival of a British Airways aircraft from London, which made it impossible for the over 200 passengers on board to disembark for more than one hour. The passengers were said to have been advised to remain on board while the outage lasted for security reasons.

The directive, which was handed down by the Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, was part of the agreement reached during a meeting the committee held with the officials of PHCN, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).

At the meeting, which was also attended by the Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji, it was also agreed that, “NIPP, PHCN and FAAN shall collaborate to construct a new 33kv line from Apo transmission sub-station to the airport unto which all the street lights and other customers will be connected in order to free the double circuit 33kv feeders dedicated exclusively for the Airport.”

Other resolutions at the meeting included: “That the PHCN shall set up a full-fledged service centre at the NAIA, Abuja, while the FAAN shall provide office accommodation where PHCN technical crew  that would work alongside them will be stationed permanently.

Meanwhile, international operators, prior to the directive, were asked to submit their base fares, which might just be about 30 per cent of the total fare charged passengers and it is from this base fare that the regulatory body deducts its passenger service charge (PSC).

THISDAY learnt that any airline that fails to abide by this directive would be subjected to swift and total suspension of its operation in the country.

The directive was given by the Authority so that it would be able to capture the entire revenue and also ensure the full remittance of the PSC.

The regulatory body issued a letter to the airlines yesterday with reference number, NCAA/DG/OR/12.1 and titled, “Re: In the Issue Regarding Tariff and Fare Components”, which partly read, “This is an order made pursuant to Section 30(4) (a-d) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006, which requires every airline to file and keep open for public inspection, tariffs showing all rates, fares and charges in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the Authority, and to approve or reject tariffs so filed.”

“FAAN shall endeavour to send all their switch room operatives to the National Power Training Institute for intensive technical training, while there is need for the installation of a second 5MVA Power Transformer to serve as a back-up to the existing one in the station.

“FAAN shall also incorporate Uninterrupted Power Supply, UPS of adequate capacity to all strategic locations to provide backup lighting and illumination to facilities at the airport, while similar measures shall be adopted in all the remaining airports across the country. 

The letter ordered that every airline shall file every tariff, whether seasonal, discounted, promotional or otherwise and provide within the tariff, the different specific classes or types of passenger service (that is whether it is economy, business class or first class, or whatever other class or type of service.)

The airlines must also declare in their submission the availability of the class of ticket, the type of aircraft and the seating configuration used on such aircraft for each class or type of passenger service.

“The filed tariffs shall, in all cases, include all booking classes available within the different travel classes or cabins and the specific fare for that booking class including all applicable terms and conditions,” the letter said.

NCAA also ordered that every airline must immediately remove any distinction between surcharges and base fare on their tickets and cargo sales (excluding any third party fees or taxes) and have one single integrated fare.

“Other than approved statutory taxes which are collected component of the cost of travel shall be included in the single integrated fare.”

The regulatory body said that every airline must provide within its tariff, in relation to the different specific classes or types of passenger service, the integrated fare applicable, its availability, the existence of special or promotional fares, and the general fare basis code.

Over the years foreign airlines and some domestic carriers have devised ways to unduly exploit and rip off Nigerian passengers and at the same time pay little passenger ticket charge to the regulatory authority.