Aviation
Airports record 57.55 million passengers in four years
LAGOS-A total of 57,550,193 passengers used 22 Nigerian airports between 2010 and 2013, the latest statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics have shown.
The report titled Summary Report of Passenger Traffic: 2010-13 and Q1, 2014 which was released by the NBS in Abuja on Thursday showed that the number of passengers handled by the airports attained its peak in 2011 with a total of 14,899,958 passengers.
In 2010, a total of 13,891,677 passengers passed through Nigerian airports, increasing by 908,281 passengers or 6.5 per cent in 2011 to reach 14,899,958 passengers.
There was a drop in 2012 of 5.19 per cent or 773,168 passengers to give a total of 14,116,790 passengers, a figure which went up by 524,978 passengers or 3.72 per cent in 2013, reaching 14,641,768 passengers.
In 2010, domestic passenger travel stood at 10,753,725 passengers, increasing by 549,491 passengers or 5.11 per cent in 2011, yet decreasing by 1,627,356 passengers or 14.4 per cent in 2012 to reach a total of 9,675,860 passengers.
Growth was positive in 2013, although it slowed to 4.12 per cent, representing an increase of 398,668 passengers, reaching 10,074,528 passengers, the report said.
For international passenger travel, from the 3,227,952 passengers recorded in 2010, there was an increase of 358,790 passengers or 11.12 per cent in 2011. In 2012, the number of passengers rose by 854,188 or 23.82 per cent to reach 4,440,930 passengers.
By 2013, there was a marginal increase of 126,310 passengers or 2.84 per cent, although the total recorded was 4,567,240 passengers.
The report showed that the airport most frequented by passengers was the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, which had the greatest number in all years under review.
In 2010, 6,273,545 passengers travelled through the airport, making up 44.87 per cent of the annual total.
The number increased each year, by 472,745 passengers or 7.54 per cent in 2011; 132,996 passengers or 1.97 per cent in 2012 and 381,892 passengers or 5.55 per cent in 2013.
The airport’s share of total passengers also expanded over the period to 45.31 per cent of the total in 2011, 48.73 per cent in 2012 and 49.59 per cent in 2013.
According to the report, the second most used airport in Nigeria is Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe, which had 3,922,547 passengers in 2010 or 28.05 per cent of the passengers. The number increased in 2011 by 293,600 passengers or 7.48 per cent, increasing its share to 28.32 per cent of the total.
However, in 2012, there was a decline of 536,923 passengers or 12.73 per cent to reach 3,679,224 passengers. The airport’s share of the total dropped to 26.06 per cent.
There was a slight uptick in 2013, with 266,673 or 7.25 per cent more passengers, reaching a total of 3,945,897 or 26.95 per cent of the annual total.
Port Harcourt was the third most frequented airport in Nigeria. At 1,211,816 passengers, it held 8.67 per cent of the total in 2010. After growing by 134,795 passengers or 11.12 per cent in 2011, passenger numbers dropped by 154,465 people, or 11.47 per cent in 2012.
From the 1,192,136 passengers travelling through Port Harcourt in 2011, there was a marginal increase of 28,170 passengers or 2.36 per cent in 2013, reaching 1,220,306 passengers or 8.33 per cent of the total in the year.
The airport with the fewest passengers is Akure airport in Ondo State, which carried just 6,640 passengers in 2010, making up 0.05 per cent of the total.
The busiest airport for the quarter remained Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, with 1,683,375 passengers or 49.27 per cent of the total. This was followed by Abuja airport, which hosted 907,989 passengers, or 26.57 per cent of the total.
For domestic flights Murtala Muhammed Airport had 898,896 passengers or 38.21 per cent of the total and Abuja had 701, 249 passengers or 29.81 per cent of the total. Port Harcourt had 274,186 passengers or 11.66 per cent of all passenger traffic, while Owerri airport in Imo State had 75,356 passengers or 3.2 per cent of the total.
Punch-
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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