Aviation
Nigeria to construct new Imo airport terminal on PPP agreement
The Imo State Government in Nigeria has indicated its interest in building an ultra modern airport terminal on the Public- Private-Partnership (PPP) agreement.
By Oyise Oghene
The Imo State Government in Nigeria has indicated its interest in building an ultra modern airport terminal on the Public- Private-Partnership (PPP) agreement.
Disclosing this development during a press briefing at the Imo State Liaison office, In Lagos, Special Assistant to the Imo State governor, Lagos Liaison office, Hon. Lisa Chinwe pointed out that the administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha was poised toward making Imo State a place of haven for its citizenry through the construction of several projects to which building a brand new airport terminal in the state was not an exemption.
According to her,”most of these projects that the government is intending to embark upon including the building of a brand new airport terminal in the state will be on the PPP thing, Public-Private-Partnership, agreement, so that is how they will be done”
Hon. Chinwe further noted that when completed, the airport terminal would bring greater advancement in airport infrastructure and foster development in the state.
The intention of the Imo State government is coming in corroboration with the renewed call by the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Group Limited, Mr. Olawale Babalakin for more Nigerian private investors to consider entering into the PPP agreement with the government in order to foster development in the aviation industry.
Dr. Babalakin said”there will be greater advancement in airport infrastructure if more Nigerians toe the line of PPP arrangements such as that of Bi-Courtney”
Enumerating the various laudable projects embarked upon by the administration of Governor Okorocha, Hon. Chinwe stressed that Governor Okorocha was on a rescue mission agenda to ensure that Imo State become a very vibrant state amongst other states in the country.
She said”Governor Okorocha is doing everything possible to make Imo State good, in just one year in office, he has commissioned 1,000 new roads, he has built a new Deputy Governor’s office, he has also completed about 27 hospitals in the various local government areas of the state, he has paif off all the pension arrears, he has provided 100 cars for community policing and the most prominent amongst others is the free education in the state from primary to secondary school, he even give the students stipends to support them”
Rolling out the plans for the Imo State citizens based in Lagos, Hon. Chinwe said”for Imo State citizens based in Lagos, we are going to create a data-base of the citizens based in Lagos, they are the highest in Lagos and we will make sure that we make our liaison office strong in order to make the people feel what is going on in Imo State”
“We are going to have what is called, Imo City in Lagos to showcase the rich cultural heritage in Imo state and by next month, we are going to start a free Igbo education centre here in the liaison office, whereby we can teach people Igbo language freely. We are also going to have a Lagos Villa, it is an estate project that will afford Imo State citizenry in Lagos to have access to housing, also an insurance scheme will be put in place to assist those doing business in Lagos in the event of fire outbreak and other unpredicted disaster. We are poised towards assisting our business men in Lagos to do big business” she stated.
Accoridng to her, the goverment was doing every thing possible to make sure that all the Imo state citizenry in Lagos were carried along in all that was happening in the state.
Aviation
NCAA Cracks Down On Pilots Working For Multiple Airlines
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced stringent measures against pilots and crew members who work for multiple airlines concurrently, a practice it describes as a serious safety violation.
In a letter dated November 6, 2024, Acting Director-General, Chris Nojomo warned that pilots operating for more than one airline without specific safety protocols pose significant risks to Nigeria’s aviation sector.
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The directive, titled “Prohibition of Ad-Hoc Flight Operators for Multiple Airlines,” noted that NCAA surveillance reports revealed multiple cases of unauthorized cross-airline work by flight crews, which the agency now plans to address.
According to the NCAA, simulator and proficiency checks endorsed on a pilot’s license are valid only for the specific airline and training program under which they were issued.
The letter stated, “With effect from the date of issuance of this directive, all operators and holders of pilot licenses are informed that this action will be treated as a violation of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.”
The NCAA’s new policy, effective November 11, 2024, warns that violators will face strict enforcement actions. Moving forward, simulator renewals will also be filed directly with individual operators, further tightening the agency’s oversight.
Aviation
Akwa Ibom Boosts Ibom Air Fleet With Two New Aircraft
In a bold step to strengthen Akwa Ibom’s position in Nigeria’s aviation industry, Governor Umo Eno announced the addition of two new Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft to the fleet of the state-owned airline, Ibom Air, on Friday.
The two aircraft, registered as 5N-CED and 5N-CEE, mark a milestone in the state’s commitment to strategic investment, with the governor stressing that the acquisitions were fully funded by state resources without loans from financial institutions.
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At a welcoming ceremony attended by local officials and residents, Governor Eno emphasized his administration’s mission to drive revenue-generating ventures for Akwa Ibom rather than relying on debt.
He called the move a step toward breaking the cycle of government investments that only serve to pay off loans, vowing that the state’s funds would go towards projects that bring returns to the people.
The governor challenged Ibom Air to turn a profit by 2025, stating that the airline’s management should ensure routes in and out of Uyo remain dependable to prioritize the needs of Akwa Ibom travelers.
“As long as I remain governor, we will continue to use state funds for the benefit of all, not for private gain,” he said, noting that his administration aims to ensure that public investments deliver real value to the state.
Governor Eno also provided updates on several ambitious state projects, including an 18-story commercial complex underway in Lagos and an upcoming 4-star hotel in Abuja, both designed to generate revenue for Akwa Ibom.
Plans for an international market in Ikot Ekpene and the phased opening of a new terminal at the Victor Attah International Airport were also announced, with the airport terminal set for partial operation by December and full activation in early 2025.
Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, commended Eno’s financial management, highlighting that the administration has avoided seeking loans over the past 18 months despite launching significant development projects.
Ibom Air’s Chairman, Pastor Imoabasi Jacob, expressed appreciation for the state’s investment in the airline, which has seen its fleet grow to nine aircraft.
Jacob credited the governor’s support with enabling Ibom Air to boost flight capacity, meeting demand on popular routes such as Uyo-Lagos-Abuja.
Captain Mfon Udom, CEO of Ibom Air, stated that the expanded fleet will improve efficiency and allow the airline to scale up its operations in time for the Christmas travel season.
Udom also noted that the airline anticipates the delivery of nine additional Airbus planes, which will further strengthen Ibom Air’s market presence.
Traditional leaders, including HRM Edidem Ita Edet Okokon III of Okobo Local Government Area, lauded the governor’s leadership, pledging continued support from the traditional institutions.
Anie Essienette, Group Manager for Marketing and Communications at Ibom Air, noted that demand for the airline’s services has surged nationwide, with the new CRJ900 aircraft helping meet this increasing need while the airline awaits further fleet expansion.
Aviation
BREAKING: Private Air Strip Owners Pay Handsomely – Keyamo
Nigeria’s Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo is of the view that there’s no cause for alarm over the approval of a private airstrip for a religious organisation, which attracted the attention of the House of Representatives.
He took to his verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Friday morning to shed light on the subject, and explained that it could be a great source of revenue for Federal Government.
Keyamo asserted that the issue was raised by an honourable member at plenary, out of ignorance, but was “unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into.”
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Keyamo expressed confidence that by the time his Ministry was done enlightening them, “they will be satisfied”.
He added that “the privates air strip owners pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services.”
Keyamo wrote, “I think this is not correct. The House of Reps. as a body did not call on the Minister to revoke the license of any private airstrip.
“I think what happened is that someone moved a motion in that regard and it was unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into it.
“Whilst the intention of the Hon. Member who moved it is very patriotic, it was based on a complete lack of knowledge of the aviation sector.
“By the time we explain to them how private air strips work and the processes they undergo by our agencies before the final approval, they will be satisfied.
“The responsibility of the owners of private air strips is just to build the runway and terminal building. But after they build the control tower in particular, it is completely handed over to the Federal Government through NAMA (Nigerian Airspace Management Agency) which is in complete control of the entire airspace in Nigeria. An MOU is usually signed with NAMA in this regard before the airstrip is approved for operations.
“It is NAMA that provides the Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers in ALL AIRPORTS and AIRSTRIPS IN NIGERIA. And the privates air strip owners pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services.
“No object flies into Nigeria without the prior clearance by NAMA and without filing a clear flight plan, eg, where it is taking off from and where it intends to land.
“And I have recently directed that all aircraft coming into the country MUST first land at our international airports where they would be properly processed and checked before they make their local flights into whatever airport or airstrip they intend to go. So, it is COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY impossible for any private airstrip owner to just jump on an aircraft and fly in and out of the country through that facility. The Federal Government does not permit that. You will not be cleared for take off or landing without prior request and authorisation.
“I thank the Member for his patriotism, but I wish he contacted us first to explain to him before rushing to move such a motion.
“I attach herewith for public consumption the NAMA Act that gives exclusive control of the Nigerian airspace to the Federal Government through NAMA.”