Aviation
Med-View To Commence Domestic Flights In Nigeria
In spite of the numerous challenges facing the Nigerian
aviation industry, Med-View Airline has concluded plans to commence domestic
flights in the country.
Consequently, the airline has acquired two Boeing 737-400
from the United States which will fly Port Harcourt and Abuja routes.
The managing director of the airline, Munir Bankole told
newsmen at the Mortala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos that the carrier
was going through the last leg of certification from the Nigerian Civil
Aviation Authority (NCAA).
According to him, the aircraft are configured to accommodate
144 passengers with 12 leather seats for business class and 132 economy seats.
He pointed out that the airline had already signed a
maintenance agreement with a foreign company, Mytechnic, stressing that the
carrier would comply with all safety and international standards in the sector.
Although the Med-View boss could not confirm the exact date
the airline would commence flight operations, he explained that it would do its
flight demonstrations before the end of this week.
“We want to ensure that the aircraft you are flying is
air-worthy with standard in-flight services on time departure and reliability
of your service so that people will have comfort and believe on whatever you
say you are doing,” he said.
He stated that the airline had been functional for about 30
years, saying “that is why we believe what we are giving out to Nigerians is
something for them to sleep.
“Truly we’ve been doing good on hajji, carrying over 20,000
Nigerians annually for hajj operations out of this country yearly for over
seven years and we found out that there is a need for us to make contribution
in the domestic market and that is why we believe we are coming in to give our best.
“Very soon in a couple of days from now, we will commence
flight operations after going through the remaining certification process by
the NCAA which is the last leg of it. We are presently in the final leg and
that is why you find NCAA officials with us who came for inspection of the
aircraft. We have done all the necessary demonstrations, evacuation and
others”.
Reward Akwu
As a measure to curb corruption and restore accountability, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), has called on the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to push for the urgent formation and inauguration of governing boards for all other aviation agencies.
ANAP’s Secretary General, AbdulRasaq Saidu, made this call at the weekend when interacting with aviation correspondents, in reaction to recent inauguration of Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Keyamo had recently inaugurated the FAAN board, more than six months after its members were appointed by President Bola Tinubu, where Dr. Umar Ganduje was named Board Chairman, with FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, as the Vice Chairman.
Other board members include representatives from the Ministries of Justice, Defence, Tourism, and Aviation, as well as professionals from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, and FAAN’s legal department.
The ANAP scribe there urged the aviation Minister not to stop at FAAN but to ensure that all aviation parastatals are given functional boards to restore order and credibility to the sector.
He, however, commended Keyamo for recently inaugurating the board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria but stressed that more needed to be done.
Saidu also warned that the continued delay in constituting boards for other aviation agencies creates room for unchecked abuses, including illegal contracts, fraudulent employment practices, and mismanagement.
“The absence of governing boards violates the enabling Acts that established these agencies. Only properly constituted boards can enforce discipline, ensure due process in decision-making, and provide oversight to prevent corruption”, Saidu said.
He emphasised that the aviation unions, including ANAP, have consistently raised concerns about poor governance and lack of transparency within the aviation system.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to act swiftly by appointing board members for all relevant agencies, in the interest of fairness and aviation safety.
Saidu also tackled the former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, for failing to inaugurate any boards during his eight-year tenure, despite appointments being made by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“ANAP raised the alarm several times under Sirika’s leadership, but nothing changed. That lapse has continued under the current administration, and it must be addressed now”, Saidu stated.
By: Corlins Walter
