Aviation
Pilferage of cargoes: FG urged to enhance security at airports
LAGOS – Following incessant complaints of cargo pilfering at the Sea and airports, The Nigerian Government has been urged to enhance security measures at these points of entrance as one of the ways of eliminating pilfering of cargoes and luggages at the Country’s ports.
Managing Director, HontGlobal Services Nigeria, Limited, Mr. Humphrey Okonkwo who made the call said that not a few millions of dollars has been lost to the pilferage of luggages and cargoes at both these ports.
Mr. Okonkwo further appealed to the government to install sophisticated scanning machines as well as Close Circuits Television cameras, (CCTVs) at the airports and seasports as one of the ways of checking pilferage of cargo stressing that the normal routine of customs officers by cutting cargoes were destroying the goods.
According to him,”Government should put in place better technology, enhanced security system at both the airports and seaports and with this, I think pilfering at the airports and seaports can be eliminated. In addition, Installation of CCTVs is part of it, this can be done but who is going to implement it”
Mr. Okonkwo however said that when compared to the past the rate of cargo pilferage at the airports and seaports have reduced but stressed that the government needs to put in place adequate security agencies to eliminate the problem once and for all.
“In the case of pilfering of cargoes and all that, the major challenge is in the seaport and at the airport, when you go into the ports, you will find out that even your cars are been vandalised before it gets out from the gate and those things were been done by the so call staff, employees of these ports authorities” he added.
Mr. Okonkwo added that apart from the challenge of pilferage, the company is faced with numerous and hidden charges levelled on her by authorities at the airports and seaports.
“During the process of clearing our goods and cargoes at the airport and seaports, we found out that the charges especially the terminal charges and handling charges, they are so expensive and again the duty that is been paid on the goods are so high hence we have tariff issues”
“So you find out that there are a lot of hidden charges even though, you have given your client quotation but you still incure a lot of hidden charges, charges that are not receipted, so you can’t claim it back from your clients so with that, if the government can help us in standardising this process so that all those things can be eliminated, I think we should be fine” Mr. Okonkwo said.
The HontGlobal Services MD also pointed out that the company has been contributing about $US100million to the nation’s economy through the payment of services rendered to her by the airlines as well as vessel at the seaports and airports respectively.
According to him, HontGlobal is the fourth largest logistics company in Houston, United States noting that the aim of the company was to move, equipment, goods and cargoes from one part of the world to another.
He further stressed that the company was starting its operations in Nigeria inorder to help Nigerians all around the world to move goods, equipment and cargoes from any part of the world to their doorstep.
He said”We move equipment worth millions of dollars for Exxon Mobil and other oil companies who are our clients. We have bidded for jobs and our competitors in the energy sector right now is DHL, Fedex, UPS. In Houston, we are the fourth largest logistics company, we handle projects worth millions of dollars for oil and gas companies.
“In a year, we pay the airlines close to $40million just the airlines for their services for helping us to freight cargo then we pay the vessel companies at least $50million dollars a year, so if we put those together it gives us $90million, we pay like $90million to $100million but that is just for the airlines and vessels, we are not talking about procurement and the rest of them” Mr. Okonkwo said.
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.
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.
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.”
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