Aviation
AIC battles FAAN over concession agreement
By Oyise OGHENE
LAGOS: The airport environment was thrown into a state of pandemonium and free for all as the nation witnessed yet another war yesterday, now between the A.I.C Limited owned by Chief Harry Akande and FAAN over the construction of A.I.C Hilton Hotel at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Biztellers was at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Lagos and gathered that the situation at the VIP car park where the tussle between both parties were going on, officials of A.I.C Limited chased out FAAN officials from the landed property which was concessioned to it to build the A.I.C Hilton Hotel in 1998.
It was further gathered that FAAN had illegally broke into the landed property by destroying the fence and the gate house sited by A.I.C Limited on the land against court interlocutory injunction given by Justice R.O. Nwodo on the 18th, February 2002 restraining FAAN from taking possession of the land as well as disturbing A.I.C Limited’s workers or contractors whenever they want to carry out their construction work.
Biztellers also reports that after chasing out the officials of FAAN off the land, A.I.C officials erected the fence that was hitherto broken by FAAN which gave the agency the opportunity of using the land as a VIP car park for some days now.
Speaking to Biztellers, General Manager, Administration and Business Development, Chief Niyi Akande who spoke on behalf of the International Business mogul who was also present at the site, Chief Harry Akande said that A.I.C Limited got a bid from FAAN on the 17th, February 1998 to build an A.I.C Hilton Hotel in a concession agreement spanning for 50 years but added that FAAN came all of a sudden to disrupt the project while the construction work of the hotel was in progress which was against the initial agreement entered into by both parties.
According Chief Akande, since then both parties had been in the Federal High Court which ruled in favour of A.I.C Limited restraining FAAN from taking over the landed property adding that in the arbitration headed by Justice Friday Esun, he also awarded a fine to FAAN to pay A.I.C Limited 46 million dollars for lost of profit and income that A.I.C had suffered for the hotel that should have been built and opened ten years ago.
He said ’’By bid that was dated 17th, February 1998, FAAN gave us a 50 years lease on this land stretching all the way down for the construction of our international 5 star hotel that will be connected to the airport terminal, this portion is where it is supposed to link the terminal and we have been in peaceful concession since that time. But at a time when FAAN decided to determine the lease, we challenged it at the Federal High court, you know they chased our men off the site around 2000, 2001, so we went to court and at the Federal High Court Justice R.O. Nwodo gave an interlocutory injunction that FAAN or its servants or its agents should not disturb, harass or eject A.I.C Limited people, our workers or contractors from the site and that was even in May 2002 and that has been subsisting subject to us going to arbitration’’
‘’We went for arbitration and the arbitration ran from 2002 which was just decided about two years ago. It was done by late Justice Friday Esun, he gave an award which he said that FAAN was wrong to have prevented A.I.C from building the hotel and FAAN was wrong for disturbing and harassing A.I.C on the site, so he gave a fine against FAAN that they should pay A.I.C about 46 million dollars for lost of profit and income that A.I.C had suffered for the hotel that should have been opened ten years ago’’ he stressed.
According to Chief Akande, ‘’FAAN officials came in last week, broke the fence and then destroyed our gate house and they came in and started clearing the land and ask people to come in to park their cars which is a criminal bridge of law, so we have blogged the place so that they cannot take out that truck because that will serve as evident in court’’
When contacted at the time of filing this report, General Manager Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati said that he was aware of the situation pointing out that, he was going to issue a statement to that effect to lay bare the side of FAAN on the on-going dispute between the agency and A.I.C Limited.
An Abuja-Accra flight experienced technical difficulties mid-air on Friday, forcing it to return to Abuja, shortly after departure.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Board (NSIB) made the disclosure in a statement, adding that it has launched investigation into what it described as a serious accident.
Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji stated that preliminary investigations revealed the aircraft experienced an engine number two indication issue.
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It was gathered that the aircraft, with registration number 5NKAL which was operating a flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja (DNAA), to Kotoka International Airport, Accra (DGAA).
She explained that four persons were onboard when the incident occurred. The crew immediately requested for a diversion back to Abuja due to the engine indication.
Oladeji added that the crew managed to safely land the aircraft at Abuja Airport at 18:16 UTC.
There were no injuries reported, and all individuals on board are safe.
Nigeria has acquired 12 pre-owned Alpha Jets from the French Air Force as part of efforts to enhance the operational capacity of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The deal, facilitated through SOFEMA, a French military and aeronautics company, was announced by Olusegun Dada, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on via X on Thursday.
He said, “All the 12 aircraft are ready for shipping.”
The Alpha Jet, a product of Franco-German collaboration, is a versatile military aircraft designed for light attack and advanced training missions.
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Equipped to carry bombs, rockets, and missiles, the aircraft also features a gun pod for close air support.
The NAF already operates 11 Alpha Jets, but this latest procurement signals a significant boost to its fleet.
Dada also confirmed that the Air Force is expecting 24 M-346FA light attack aircraft, ordered during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The first batch of these Italian-made aircraft is expected to arrive early next year.
Air Chief Marshal Hasan Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff, described the acquisitions as a testament to President Tinubu’s commitment to bolstering the armed forces.
“This renewal of our aircraft fleet reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Nigerians,” Abubakar said.
The announcement comes on the heels of President Tinubu’s three-day state visit to France, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The visit, which took place from November 27 to November 30, highlighted deepening ties between the two nations.
To ensure the sustainability of its expanding fleet, the Air Force has proposed establishing a local maintenance hub.
Speaking in October, Abubakar noted that six units of the M-346FA aircraft were already in production, with the initial batch of three expected to be delivered in early 2025. The full fleet is projected to arrive by 2026.
“These developments underscore the importance of creating a domestic support system for the long-term upkeep of our aircraft,” Abubakar added.
As the holiday season draws near, Aero Contractors has introduced a minimum ticket price of N80,000 for all local flights.
The move, which will last until January 2024, aims to ease the financial burden on Nigerians amid the high cost of living.
Ado Sanusi, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, made the announcement on Tuesday during a press briefing, describing the fare reduction as a gesture to help Nigerians celebrate Christmas and the New Year without the stress of steep ticket prices.
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Sanusi said, “We understand the economic hardship Nigerians are facing, especially with high ticket prices, and we know the holiday season is nearby.
“In the spirit of Christmas, Aero Contractors has introduced what we call pocket-friendly Christmas prices. These fares, starting at N80,000, will apply to all our destinations, allowing Nigerians to travel without excessive costs.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, an economy class ticket from Lagos to Abuja was priced at N99,643, while business class tickets were being sold for N189,167.
Sanusi further explained that the initiative was designed to make it easier for families to reunite during the holidays.
“This is a way for us, as an organization with a long history of serving Nigerians, to give back to our loyal customers. We want to make it possible for families to meet their loved ones during this festive season without worrying about exorbitant travel costs,” he added.
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