Aviation

Senate Investigates Resurgence Of Air Mishaps

Published

13 years ago

December 21, 2012

The Senate has condemned what it described as the resurgence of air mishaps in the country, and mandated its committees on Navy, Air force and Aviation to investigate the frequency of these mishaps.

The Senate also called on government to publish all previous reports of investigative panels into air crashes in the country.

Senate took these decisions in Abuja on Tuesday following a debate on a motion sponsored by Sen. Chris Anyanwu (APGA-Imo).

The debate is on the urgent need to investigate the recent crash of Naval Augusta Helicopter in Bayelsa.

Leading the debate on the motion, Anyanwu said that in 2007 and 2011, there had been two crashes of similar Augusta helicopters owned by the navy.

She expressed concerns over the seeming recurrence of air mishaps not just in civil aviation, but also in the Nigerian Military in spite of public outcry.

“Between March and October 2011, there were three reported cases of air mishaps by the Air force at different locations in the country and the causes of these crashes remain unknown.

“On March 21, 2011, one F7-NI fighter jet belonging to the Nigerian Air Force that was on a routine training programme crashed in Kano, killing the flight instructor.

“The fighter jet, which was reported to have come from Makurdi for a two week training exercise was delivered to the Air force by the manufacturers in China only a few days before the incident,” she said.

According to her, it is worrisome that the resurgence of air mishaps in the country is suggestive of a deep seated systems problem which must be unearthed and resolved.

Contributing to the debate, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri (PDP-Bayelsa) urged the committee to ensure that its investigation was devoid of bias and should not be politicised.

“We should use this crash to stop others from occurring because this has become embarrassing, so the committee’s investigation must be total,’’ he said.

Sen. Danjuma Goje (PDP-Gombe) also advised the committee to make the investigation open and transparent.

Goje said he was in support of the position of the Governors Forum that foreign experts should be involved in the investigation.

On his part, Sen. Olubunmi Adetumbi (ACN-Ekiti) said that the death of Yakowa, Azazi and others was as a result of the failure of the system to address the issue of corruption.

According to Adetumbi, the crashed helicopter is called a military training helicopter, but it is obviously not being used for military training on that day.

He said that pertinent questions, such as who authorised the use of the helicopter for civilian purposes must be asked and answers given.

“Who gave the order for the chopper to be used. What is the purpose of private charter helicopter. Why was a private chopper not hired. Is it what the Navy appropriation is being used for?” Adetumbi asked.

He called on the parliament to do more than paying tribute to the deceased and observing one minute silence in their honour, but to take action to forestall future occurrences.

Sen. Ganiyu Solomon (ACN Lagos) also said that there had been several crashes and investigations followed, but the reports had never seen the light of the day.

He was of the view that the committee should go as far as visiting the manufacturers of these planes to ascertain their air worthiness.

He expressed concerns that if military planes were crashing frequently, it was an indication that the military was not prepared for military action should the need arise.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary said that more than 50,000 Nigerians had died in the last two years since the ugly trend of terrorism reared its head.

Ekweremadu, however, called on the regulatory agencies in the aviation sector to ensure the airworthiness of every plane that took off and landed in the country.

The deputy senate president also noted the need for the Senate to buckle up and tackle the problem once and for all.

The Senate set up two committees to pay condolence visits to all the victims of the air crash and observed a minute silence in their honour.

Meanwhile, the debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was adjourned to another legislative day.

The Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP-Cross River) had proposed that the lead debate be taken on Tuesday as the first allotted day.

Senators, however, noted that in view of the motion that had just been taken on air crash and the mood of the nation over the incident there was need to adjourn for the day.

Aviation

March 28 Rollout: FAAN Directs Airlines Integration Into National Single Window

Published

1 month ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has directed all cargo airline operators to integrate their operations with the National Single Window (NSW) platform ahead of its official rollout in March 2026, in a move aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and revenue collection in Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.

In a statement released last Tuesday to The Tide Correspondent at Omagwa Airport in Portharcourt, FAAN disclosed that its Directorate of Cargo Development and Services, in collaboration with the NSW implementation team, recently engaged key stakeholders across the aviation and cargo value chain to prepare them for the transition to the digital platform.

The statement said that during the engagement, cargo airline operators were directed by the Minister of Finance to begin submitting their air cargo manifests through the National Single Window platform as part of preparations for the official launch scheduled for March 27, 2026.

To ensure a seamless transition, FAAN said structured training sessions would be conducted for operators and other stakeholders ahead of the rollout to guarantee smooth adoption and effective utilisation of the system.

The National Single Window project, inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in April 2024, is designed to centralise and digitise the processing of trade documentation, including manifests, permits, licences and customs declarations, through a single electronic gateway.

With the platform entering its first operational phase on March 27, 2026, stakeholders expect significant improvements in the way trade-related processes are handled, particularly for freight forwarders, licensed customs agents and cargo operators.

According to project principals, the successful launch of the system is expected to boost the efficient collection of customs duties and other trade-related taxes by allowing traders to submit all required documentation electronically via one platform, eliminating the need to interface separately with multiple government agencies.

Other anticipated benefits include reduced administrative costs, improved transparency, enhanced security of trade procedures and increased foreign investment driven by a more predictable and efficient trade environment.

FAAN, MTN Nigeria Launch Free Wifi Service At Lagos, Abuja Airports

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has partnered with MTN Nigeria to provide free WiFi services at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Terminal 2 in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The service was officially launched on Thursday at the Lagos terminal.

FAAN’s Managing Director and Chief Executive, Olubunmi Kuku, who was represented at the event by the Director of Airport Operations, Abdullahi Mahmood, said the initiative is part of efforts to improve passenger experience and expand digital infrastructure at Nigerian airports.

According to FAAN, the service will be extended to the MMIA temporary terminal and other international airports across the country within the next three months.

Officials said the project is structured as a public-private partnership between FAAN and MTN Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, who represented the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, said the company would ensure the service remains reliable and secure.

While FAAN described the rollout as a step toward modernising airport facilities, details of the funding model and long-term maintenance structure were not disclosed at the launch.

Airport users have long complained about limited or unreliable internet connectivity at major Nigerian terminals, particularly during peak travel periods.

However, FAAN did not immediately indicate whether the free service would be time-limited per user or subject to bandwidth restrictions.

By: Enoch Epelle

Aviation

Payment Of Cash: FAAN set February 28 Dateline in Nigeria Airport

Published

1 month ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has firmly reiterated the Authority’s resolve to fully implement a cashless payment system across all airport payment points nationwide, effective February 28, 2026.

The reaffirmation came during a visit by executives and members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), who sought clarification on the decision to discontinue cash transactions at airports in Lagos last Thursday.

The engagement provided an opportunity for robust dialogue, reflecting FAAN’s open-door policy and commitment to inclusive stakeholder consultation.

According to a statement by Henry Agbebire, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, the MD/CE emphasised that the transition to a cashless system is not only in line with global best practices in aviation management but also consistent with Federal Government directives aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency.

She referenced a Treasury Circular dated November 24, 2025, issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and signed by the Accountant General, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, mandating the cessation of cash transactions in all government dealings.

The directive followed approval by the Federal Executive Council for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to discontinue physical cash collections and payments as part of broader public finance reforms.

According to the MD/CE, “There is no going back on this decision.” She stressed that the cashless initiative aligns FAAN with national financial management reforms while positioning Nigeria’s airports for greater operational integrity, improved service delivery, and stronger revenue assurance.

Importantly, Mrs. Kuku noted that the reform also forms part of FAAN’s broader strategic agenda to deepen stakeholder engagement by fostering transparency, building trust, and ensuring that partners, unions, concessionaires, and service providers are carried along in key operational decisions.

By proactively engaging NUATE and other critical stakeholders, FAAN continues to demonstrate that institutional reforms and stakeholder collaboration must go hand in hand.Beyond compliance with government policy, the MD/CE highlighted the enormous benefits of a cashless system to the aviation ecosystem, including reduction in leakages, improved transaction traceability, faster service delivery, and enhanced public confidence in airport operations.

Addressing concerns raised about the use of Paystack as a third-party platform, she clarified that Paystack merely serves as a payment gateway for processing transactions.

She assured stakeholders that no revenue is paid into any Paystack account, as all payments are made directly from Point of Sale (POS) terminals into designated Federal Government accounts.

The NUATE delegation was comprehensively briefed on the processes and strategies put in place to ensure a seamless transition by the February 28, 2026 deadline.

At the end of the engagement, the Union members expressed satisfaction with the explanations provided and acknowledged that the implementation framework is both tenable and practical.

The move marks another significant milestone in FAAN’s ongoing reform agenda, reinforcing its commitment to modernising airport operations, strengthening institutional accountability, and promoting constructive engagement with stakeholders across the aviation value chain.

By: Enoch Epelle

Aviation

Aviation Professionals Want Agencies Boards’ Inauguration

Published

8 months ago

July 28, 2025

The Tide

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