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House Committee Tasks FAAN, NAMA On Airports’ Upgrade

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The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has called on the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to provide modern safety equipment in other airports.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, made the call during an inspection tour of the Kaduna International Airport on Tuesday.
‘‘I am impressed with NAMA facilities at this airport and we want them to replicate it in other airports in the country.
‘‘We are concerned about safety of passengers and we have seen the perimeter fencing and other work ongoing.
Onyejeocha said that the airport had met the minimum safety standards in terms of navigational aids such as Instrument Landing System (ILS), power supply and terminal building.
According to her, the terminal building is small considering the numbers of passengers that currently patronise the airport.
The chairperson disclosed that the purpose of the visit was to ascertain the level of safety compliance of the airport based on the allegations of safety standards issues.
She added that the committee would come out with its findings in due course.
‘‘Generally speaking, we have seen and we hope that they will fast track to make sure that passengers are comfortable and safety is ensured.
‘‘Seriously speaking, the terminal building is small to contain the huge traffic that we are experiencing now.
“We believe that before long, they would finish because we found out that some parts of the building is yet to be completed.
‘‘I won’t deceive anybody, at least they have achieved minimum standard of safety,’’ she said.
Onyejeocha also called on FAAN and NAMA to replicate those safety measures at Maiduguri and Bauchi airports being security flash point in the country.
She stated that due to the security challenge we have in Maiduguri, that airport should be very active in case there is any emergency.
‘‘So, the ILS should operate 24 hours non-stop because of security of lives and property is very paramount and you know in aviation, we preach safety up to XYZ and Maiduguri is a flash point,’’ she said.
The Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma, assured the committee members that all safety measures were being taken care of at the airport.
He gave assurance that the remaining works would be completed very soon.
Dunoma said that airport was being operated within the required standards by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
He, however, debunked the allegation that ordinary fuel tankers were being allowed to dispense Jet A1 to aircraft, describing it as false.
‘‘All the allegations raised are not true because you have gone round and have seen things for yourselves with the members of the House Committee on Aviation.
‘‘There is no where a 33,000-litre tanker is dispensing fuel to aircraft.
‘‘At the FAAN apron, and the fuel dump, they have gone there and have seen it, there is none there.
‘‘There is nothing like ordinary tanker that comes from the city to come here and dispense fuel,’’ he said.
Gov. Darius Ishiaku of Taraba, commended the Federal Government for doing a good job at the Kaduna International Airport.
Ishiaku urged the Federal Government and Kaduna State Government to ensure the sustainability of international flight operations at the airport.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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