Aviation
Airbus Launches Business Jet In Nigeria
Airbus has launched its business jet, Airbus ACJ319 in Abuja
as Nigeria has been designated the fastest jet market in Africa by aircraft
manufacturers and lessors.
The Airbus ACJ319 operated by COMLUX crew was received at
Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja by Cita-Triax Aviation Limited
recently.
According to the sales Director, Americas and Africa Airbus
Corporate jets, Laurent Goutal, the aircraft has sitting capacity for 19
passengers and is available for VIP charter.
“In day time, the cabin provides tables at which to work, a
counge area fir discussions and the privacy of two offices. At night many of
the seats convert to beds and the offices to bedrooms, making the best
practical and productive use of space”, he said.
He stated that the airbus ACJ319 like all Airbus corporate
jets features inter continental range as it can fly non-stop throughout Africa
and also get to other parts with a
single stop.
“Any corporate jet can save you time and money by making you
more productive, but only Airbus corporate jets can do so with more capacity,
making them increasingly the preferred choice of companies, individuals and
governments around the world.
For customers that want to carry more people further, we
also offer corporate jet versions of our modern wide body family, which have
non-stop to world range”, he said.
He pointed out that Airbus had sold 170 corporate jets to
date, saying that “its aircraft are the only ones flying on every continent”.
“And with more than 470 Airbus customers and operators
around the world, Airbus corporate jet clients invariably have access to
maintenance facilities in their own country – often a key issue, especially
with governments,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Cita Tiax Aviation, Cliff
Ogbede said Airbus corporate jet came to Nigeria to demonstrate their trust in
the Nigerian market which we are committed to its aviation sector development
through provision of desired corporate flying comfort, promotion of safety
standards and training/manpower development”.
He assured of their continued support to economic growth and
transformation of the country by providing aircrafts that would suit any
operation.
Stories By 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
