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Minister Charges FAAN On Cleanliness

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15 years ago

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The Minister of Aviation,

Mrs Ada Oduah-Ogiemwonyi has urged the management of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to clean up the rot at airports, upgrade facilities, embrace and adopt new technologies as well as put customer satisfaction at the centre of its activities.

Mrs Oduah – Ogiemwonyi gave the charge after her maiden briefing by the management of FAAN following an assessment tour of the authority’s facilities in Lagos.

Stressing that it was no longer business as usual, the minister noted: “We must ensure that for whatever we have for now, we must make it look better than it is now and we must consider customer service, customer comfort and customer security in all we do.”

It has to be customer, customers, customer, customer all the way if you want to be in business, she continued and urged the management to alter its thinking towards investment through the production of a strategic roadmap.

The aviation minister charged the FAAN management to rise to the challenges of the 21st Century so as to remain competitive or risk going out of business, adding that the dynamics of present-day air transportation  had change remarkably, hence the agency must change its work ethic to remain competitive.

“FAAN must change its attitude to work, you must know that the dynamics of air trnasporation have changed and you must, therefore, change with the times, she stressed.

At the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), she was told of the huge debt being owed by some airlines. NAMA’s Acting Managing Director, Mazi Nnamdi Udoh told the minister that Arik Air is owning the agency over N2 billion. Expressing shock over the debt, she directed that a committee be set up to negotiate immediate terms of payment with the airline within 30 days or be stopped from operating, saying that the airline must be alive to its contractual obligations to the agency for it to be able to provide a safe airspace for Nigeria.

Mrs Ogiemwonyi, however, implored the agency to explain commitments in terms of acquisition of equipment, overhead cost and staff welfare and enjoined NAMA not to rely on the government but to look inward to boost its internally generated revenue (IGR).

The minister said immediate steps should be taken for the implementation of a single Total Rader Coverage of Nigeria instead of the different radars covering different parts of the country, noting “we need to have a total national radar coverage as a nation, that is just one radar to cover the country and I know it can be done as it has to be done now!!

On the numerous landed property of NAMA littered across the country, she directed that modalities be immediately put in place to dispose them as they no longer have any direct bearing on the operations of the agency and directed the management to seek approval from the relevant quarters to commence the disposal process.

Shedie Okpara

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Aviation

Togo Govt Scraps It’s Visa Requirements For All African Countries

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1 week ago

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May 27, 2026

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The Togolese government has scrapped visa requirements for nationals of all African countries, effective May 18, 2026, meaning Nigerians with  valid passports can now enter the country without applying for  visa in advance.
African travellers can now stay in Togo visa-free for up to 30 days counting from May 18, 2026.
Visitors must still complete an online pre-arrival registration before entering the country.
The announcement came via the official X handle of Togo’s Ministry of Security, signed by the ministry’s head, Colonel Calixte Batossie Madjoulba.
Under the new policy, eligible African travellers can stay in Togo for up to 30 days without a visa, with the government describing the move as a commitment to Pan-African ideals and regional integration.
Government based the decision within a wider Pan-African agenda, stating that it reaffirms Togo’s attachment to “Pan-African ideals, continental solidarity, and community and African commitments, relating to mobility and regional integration.”
Togo also positioned the move as part of an agenda of “openness, modernisation, and attractiveness” aimed at making the country “a regional hub for services, business, culture, and human exchanges at the heart of Africa.”
There is, however, one step travellers cannot skip. Before arrival, visitors must register on the Togolese government’s official travel portal at voyage.gouv.tg at least 24 hours before reaching the border.
Nigerians can now travel to Togo without applying for a visa in advance.
The registration generates a travel slip that must be presented at entry points across land, air, and sea. The government has been clear that this pre-arrival formality remains mandatory regardless of the visa exemption.
Beyond the registration requirement, standard entry conditions still apply. Security checks, immigration screening, and public health requirements remain in place, and the waiver does not protect travellers who overstay or enter irregularly.
All border agencies have been directed to implement the new policy immediately.
Togo’s decision is part of a broader continental shift. Across Africa, more governments are moving to ease intra-African travel in alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area’s vision of freer movement of people and goods.
Togo is now among the more accessible West African destinations for Nigerian travellers, a short trip that previously required advance visa processing and now requires nothing more than a passport and a quick online registration the day before you fly.
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Egypt Flight Moves To Prevent Explosion —- Diverts London Flight To Rome 

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1 week ago

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May 27, 2026

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An EasyJet flight from Egypt to London was diverted to Rome after a passenger was found with a power bank in checked luggage.
The airline said the diversion was made as a safety precaution due to regulations surrounding lithium-ion batteries.
Passengers landed safely in Rome and were provided accommodation and refreshments after the delay.
The aircraft, operating flight EZY2618 from Hurghada to London Luton, made an unscheduled landing at Rome Fiumicino Airport last Tuesday evening as a precautionary safety measure.
According to the airline, the decision to divert was taken after a passenger informed cabin crew that the portable charger was inside luggage stored in the aircraft’s hold.
Although no fire or malfunction was reported, lithium-ion batteries found in power banks are considered a significant safety risk on aircraft due to the possibility of overheating or catching fire.
Flight tracking data showed the plane cruising at approximately 36,000 feet over the Adriatic Sea before suddenly changing course and heading towards Rome, where it landed safely about 20 minutes later.
Passengers reportedly disembarked without incident, while the flight was rescheduled for the following day.
In a statement, EasyJet apologised for the disruption and said the diversion was carried out in accordance with aviation safety regulations.
“The safety of passengers and crew is our highest priority,” the airline said, adding that hotel accommodation, meals, and refreshments were provided for affected travellers.
“EasyJet’s policies state that power banks are only permitted in cabin baggage and must not be stored in checked luggage.
The airline also prohibits passengers from using power banks to charge devices during flights.
The incident comes as airlines around the world continue tightening restrictions on portable chargers and lithium battery devices amid growing concerns over onboard fire hazards linked to overheating batteries.
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Aviation

Delta At 20: Delta Airline Expands Travel Access Ahead 2026 World Cup

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1 week ago

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May 27, 2026

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Delta Air Lines has announced a range of travel solutions aimed at easing the journey for Ghanaian football fans planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States and North America.
The announcement was made during an event in Accra marking the airline’s 20th anniversary in Ghana, as company officials highlighted plans to work closely with local travel agencies to ensure that fans can access tickets and travel packages well in advance for the global tournament.
According to Delta’s Managing Director for International and Specialty Sales, Rob LeBel, the airline is introducing flexible options tailored to different travel needs.
These include individual ticket purchases, discounted group packages for parties of ten or more, and charter services for larger groups.
He explained that the collaboration with travel agencies would also focus on educating customers about the best ways to secure flights during the expected surge in demand.
To expand travel routes, Delta is leveraging its partnership with European carrier KLM, offering passengers alternative connections through Europe when direct routes are fully booked.
The airline believes the upcoming tournament presents a major opportunity to strengthen travel ties between Ghana and North America, particularly as interest among football fans continues to grow.
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