N732m Debts: FAAN Shuts Gombe, Kebbi Airports …Plane Crash Lands At Ilorin Airport

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has withdrawn its Aviation Security and Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting personnel from Gombe and Kebbi Airports over N732 million indebtedness.
The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, confirmed the development to newsmen yesterday in Lagos.
Yakubu said the withdrawal of FAAN services from both airports, which had technically grounded flight operations took effect from mid night of May 1.
According to FAAN, Gombe Airport, which is owned by the Gombe State Government, owes the authority N607. 9 million, while Kebbi Airport operated by the Kebbi State Government owes FAAN N124. 5 million.
FAAN, in a Notice To Airmen (NOTAM), earlier in April had threatened to withdraw services from the airports and others indebted to the agency and had given them a deadline of April 30 to clear their outstanding debts.
It said: “The authority shall be constrained to commence the implementation of sanctions at the expiration of this notice If the organisations fail or refuse to pay up as advised.
“In view of the above, the authority hereby notifies private airport operators that the services of our Aviation Security and Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting personnel, will no longer be available for the operations of their airports with effect from May 1.”
The agency had noted that it could no longer keep these personnel at the airports working without payment by the operators and owners.
Meanwhile, a plane has crash-landed at the Ilorin International Airport in Ilorin, Kwara State, sending workers and passengers on panic within the airport community.
The plane, said to be a training aircraft belonging to the International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin, crash-landed at the airport, last Wednesday.
Sources said yesterday that the Diamond plane with registration Number 5N-BNH with two pilots onboard, crashed-landed at exactly 11:05am without any casualty.
The incident caused panic within the airport and Ilorin community.
It was learnt that the staff of IAC, including the rector and some of the airport workers were on the scene of the incident, which affected flight operations for three hours.
The state Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, who was said to be returning from his Abuja trip, was delayed as a result of the incident.
As at the time of filing this report, it was learnt that the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has been informed of the incident.