Trailing history at Lokoja

While on their way to Abuja, many travellers hardly stop over in Lokoja unless their vehicle has a problem that will make them pass the night.

Yet, the Kogi State capital city is an embodiment of history and even attractions that are worth exploring. It is in Lokoja that the River Niger, all the way from the Futa Jallon highlands in present-day Guinea, meets River Benue to form the foremost confluence in Africa that is remarkable on Nigeria’s map, and from which the state derives its nickname “The Confluence State”.

Lord Lugard house 

Sadly, a lot of people zoom past Lokoja without a brief stop to bond with nature. Even when they stop to buy fish, onion or yam, they do that in a hurry without even looking up to the awesome plains that guide the rivers to the confluence point.

Of course, there are many reasons to visit Lokoja. It is the centre of Nigeria’s Centenary Celebration (100 years of existence as country) which peaks on January 14, 2014.

Even before the amalgamation of the various British protectorates, Lokoja had played a prominent role in hosting Lord Lugard, who oversaw the Northern Protectorate then, and who was also the architect of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914.

As the seat of the colonial government of the Northern Protectorate, it was in Lokoja that the amalgamation move started, and the Royal Niger flag was hoisted and later lowered in the same Lokoja.

Lokoja also hosted the headquarters of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), the first military formation which Lugard was in charge of; it was from the city that the move to the North started, that is, the invasion of the Northern Protectorate.

Besides, Lokoja houses the tomb of all the emirs in the North who resisted Lugard; they were banished to Lokoja where they died. These include emirs of Kano, Zazzau (Zaria), Bida, Futa, among others. So, Lokoja played a very prominent role in Lord Lugard’s administration of this country.

It was also on top of Mount Patti in Lokoja that Lady Shaw, the mistress of Lord Lugard, who later became his wife, coined the name ‘Nigeria’. Lugard’s rest house is still on top of the hill; his office is still in Lokoja and used to be the office of the governors in the state from the military era till 2012.

Currently, the Kogi State Ministry of Tourism is making effort to move the state, and Lokoja in particular, to its rightful place in Nigerian history so as to take advantage of its tourism potential.

Mubo Eniola, permanent secretary, Kogi State Ministry of Tourism, in a recent chat notes that Kogi is at the forefront of the centenary celebration because of the role it played as host to Lugard’s administration.

What the state is doing, according to Eniola, is to factor into the celebration’s historical wealth by putting all the relics that represent the colonial time and history together for local and foreign attention.

Cenotaph in Lokoja 

But of significance to Kogi State, he notes, is the fact that the present government wants to turn this unique product around. “The state is renovating, restoring and, where necessary, constructing old artefacts that include relics from the colonial era. Some of them are from pre-Lugard, some Lugard, and some post-Lugard era. We will do it in phases and this will end up as a big carnival, which will come up before the Abuja Carnival in November. We will also have Kogi Centenary Celebration within and outside the country. We plan to renovate and dedicate the graveyard where most of the colonial heroes were buried to make it befitting for them as a memorial,” Eniola says.

Article accredited: Business day

The First International airline to land and take off form Enugu airport- Ethiopian airline Enugu State Tourism Board

The First International airline to land and take off form Enugu airport- Ethiopian airline Enugu State Tourism Board

FG, stakeholders insist due process was followed on airport remodelling

Following the criticisms and counter claims that have followed the ongoing remodelling of Nigerian airports’ terminal buildings, some aviation stakeholders as well as the Federal Ministry of Aviation have claimed that due process was followed on the award of the contract for the projects.

The claims followed a statement allegedly attributed to Abiodun Adeleke, chairman, House Committee on Anti-Corruption, National Ethics and Values, who alleged that there was a breach of contract award processes in the remodelling of the airports.

One of the stakeholders, Usman Balarabe, a pilot, told journalists in Lagos that “it was quite shocking for any person from Nigeria who has utilised the airport for the past 30 years and had noticed the rot in infrastructure to voice any protest, given the magnitude of the rehabilitation that has so far been undertaken in just over two years.” Balarabe, a former director of aviation security and safety, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said by this remodelling programme, government had changed the old culture of neglect of the airports, and rather than heap criticisms, it should be commended for upgrading airport facilities to international standards.

Also speaking, Association of Young Aviators, said “all that Nigerians want is functional airport with modern facilities and not to biker over due process as it has not yet been proven that funds budgeted for the remodelling projects were diverted.”

Also speaking, Joe Obi, special adviser to aviation minister on media, said all the contracts awarded for the remodelling of the nation’s airports followed due process, explaining that all contracts for the remodelling of the airports and other critical infrastructure/equipment followed all due processes prescribed by the relevant law of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

“It would be misleading to insinuate that contracts awarded through a Selective Tendering Process, as is the case with some contract awards in the aviation ministry did not necessarily follow due process.

Article accredited: Businessday

A heritage worth preserving

The monoliths, standing stones or Akwanshi (living among the dead), as the locals call them, are distributed among over 30 communities and are among the heritage sites that are worth seeing in Cross River State.

In each community, the stones are found in circles, sometimes perfect circles, facing each other standing erect, except where they have been tampered with by weather or man.

The stones which stand between 1 and 1.8 metres (3 and 5 feet) high and are laid out in some 30 circles in and around some villages, especially Alok, are intriguing rather than awe-inspiring.

Hence, as Cross River State consolidates on building a full-fledged and all-year-round tourist destination, the state has also turned its attention to the proper preservation and promotion of all its heritage sites through legislation, which is expected to bring heritage tourism within the existing framework and structure of the state tourism market.

Besides the monoliths, the state has indentified other heritages that need legislation to protect them from human excesses, poaching, stealing, destruction and, ultimately, extinction.

According to the state tourism sources, the state executive council has approved a bill to provide for the preservation of the state heritage for the consideration of the State House of Assembly through the office of the state attorney-general and commissioner for justice.

Some of the provisions of the 2013 Heritage Bill include the preservation of buildings, objects, cultural materials (tangible and intangible) and structures considered to be of historical and cultural as well as economic significance to the people of the state and utilise their potential for tourism development.

To ensure proper preservation, management and promotion of these heritage sites and cultural icons, the bill will also provide for the establishment of a body of trustees made up of people with the requisite professional skill and experience who will take custody of these relics to restore and preserve them and manage their utilisation and maintenance. These trustees will be expected to bring to bear their vast wealth of experience and skill on the proper identification, demarcation, profiling and preservation of these sites and items.

When the bill is passed into law, it would open a new vista for tourists to the state to experience a most cherished aspect of the state tourism assets, which over the years has suffered neglect with little attention paid to it.

Wilfred Usani, special adviser to the state governor on Tourism Development, sees this new move as a welcome development and a step in the right direction as it is aimed at not only properly documenting and giving legal status to the various historical, heritage and cultural assets scattered across state, but also boosting and enriching the tourism offerings.

It will be recalled that since turning its attention to tourism as a vehicle for economic development, the state has not relented in the building and development of its tourism facilities and products as well as creating the enabling environment through legislations and policy direction for tourism to thrive through active Private Public Partnership model.

One of the prime products of the state is the Calabar Festival, a month-long yearly festival that is a blend of cultural and modern entertainment climaxing in the Carnival Calabar. It has since its first edition opened the state to the tourism world and continues to attract the attention of people from across the world.

Among its developed and cherished tourism infrastructure is the Tinapa Business Resort, an emporium of sorts with various facilities, which caters to primetime leisure and business tourists.

Article accredited: Businessday

IATA commends Iberia’s ‘MyBagTag’ initiative

Tony Tyler, director general, International Air Transport Association (IATA), has commended Iberia for pioneering launch of time-saving system, ‘MyBagTag’.

In the first 9 days, 12 percent of Iberia’s passengers have used the system, and 30 percent of those heading for holiday destinations.

Tyler visited Terminal 4 in Madrid-Barajas airport during the week to express his praise for Iberia’s unique new luggage tag download service called “MyBagTag”.

Some 240 airlines, accounting for 84 percent of all commercial air traffic, belong to IATA.

Antonio Vázquez, Iberia chairman, hosted Tyler’s visit to the stand where passengers could learn about the new system.

“I would like to congratulate Iberia for being the first airline to offer this new service that promises a considerable enhancement of speed and passenger convenience, as well as environmental and cost efficiency improvements. The MyBagTag service is an excellent example of one of the airline industry’s main objectives: improving our customers’ travel experience,” Tyler said.

Speaking on the development, Vázquez said, “Our main mission is to achieve the satisfaction of our customers and to do this we use the latest technological innovations in all phases of travel and in the products and services offered. The MyBagTag service is a clear example of this policy, and in a very short time it has become a success with our customers.”

In the nine days since launch, the service has been used by 12 percent of eligible Iberia passengers overall, exceeding all expectations, and by 30 percent of those bound for holiday destinations like Palma de Majorca or the Canary Islands.

MyBagTag allows passengers to download and print their own luggage tags from the www.iberia.com website, inserting them into reusable attachable envelopes supplied by the airline.

Article accredited : Businessday

FirstNation takes delivery of A319 aircraft, begins operations soon

FirstNation Airways has taken delivery of two modern Airbus A319 with registration numbers 5N-FND and 5N-FNE, respectively.

The A319s are younger fleet and part of a nine-aircraft programme for the airline.

The Airbus A319 delivery is historic as the very first set of A319 to come on Nigerian register. The Airbus A319 has the same optimised cabin cross section as the A320, which is the widest single aisle fuselage on the market and set the standard for passenger cabin comfort.

The A319 continues to prove its versatility to enable airlines around the world, such as British Airways, Lufthansa, Iberia, Air France, South African Airways, American Airways, Delta Airlines, Virgin American Airways, etc, to benefit from range option and versatility.

The airline will re-launch service in August 2013 initially serving domestic Nigeria between Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, and offering premium passenger experience.

The aircraft are installed with AFIRS 220 iridium satellite global communication equipment, one of the very few aircraft with this state-of-the-art Satellite Navigation (SATNAV) equipment operating in West Africa. The SATNAV provides crew reliable voice and simultaneously connects to aircraft systems analysing performance in-flight.

This allows the airline to track aircraft system performance in-flight from ground. This is one of the most advanced SATNAV systems that support the airline flight operations quality assurance oversight. Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is actively encouraging airlines to upgrade their fleet with this equipment.

FirstNation Airbus A319’s cabin layout is in two classes of twelve business class legroom pitch of 42 inches and the rear cabin in comfort class with legroom pitch of 32 inches. The aircraft offers the widest seat pitch for regional operation within West Africa today. The Airbus A319 registration 5N-FND is named “FAITH” while 5N-FNE is “ENDURANCE”.

The airline has, however, reinforced its management with appointment of John Brady, an Irish, as chief engineer, in addition to the appointment of Rolando Gatchalianas as quality manager. The airline is currently undergoing several refresher programmes and drills in readiness for world-class re-launch in August 2013.

Article accredited: Businessday

We want to provide value for money products for travellers, says Emirates boss

Manoj Gopi Nair, regional manager, West Africa, Emirates Airlines has said that it will continue to offer Nigerians travellers value for money products and services apart from providing opportunities that will ensure seamless connections through the airline.

Nair, who confirmed that Nigeria is an important market to the Dubai-based airline, added that its partnership with airlines like Arik Air was to further enhanced travellers’ experience from Lagos.

“Key focus area for us is about what our customers wants; ease of transactions. We want to make it easy for them to be with us, give them a value for their money with good product and services. We want to make sure our customers connect well to the network that we have got as well as making sure that our vast network is connected to Nigeria with the aim of giving Nigerian passengers a seamless travel experience.

‘’From my side, what we have started looking at is the ease of doing transactions in Nigeria. We are looking at various options through which we can make international connection through interconnectivity while working with a Nigerian partner like Arik Air to make things easier particularly from the Lagos Airport.

“We see Nigeria as a hub and those are the areas we are looking at and making key collaboration with viable stakeholders in the industry; we want to ensure smooth connections to the vast network of the airline in the East, West and even in the South-East Asia with a great value for their money,” he said.

 Article accredited to: Businessday

$4tr airlines expansion capital hinged on improved returns for investors

Unless airlines find ways to improve returns for investors, it may prove difficult to attract the projected $4 trillion of capital needed to serve the expansion in connectivity over the next two decades, experts have said.

The concern came in a study supported by analysis from McKinsey & Company, a company under the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on ‘Profitability and the Air Transport Value Chain’, which shows that returns on capital invested in airlines have improved in recent years, but are still far below what investors would normally expect to earn.

“The airline industry has created tremendous value for its customers and the wider economies we serve. Aviation supports some 57 million jobs globally and we make possible $2.2 trillion worth of economic activity. By value, over 35 percent of the goods traded internationally are transported by air.

“But in the 2004-2011 period, investors would have earned $17 billion more annually by taking their capital and investing it in bonds and equities of similar risk. Unless we find ways to improve returns for our investors it may prove difficult to attract the $4-5 trillion of capital we need to serve the expansion in connectivity over the next two decades, the vast majority of which will support the growth of developing economies,” Tony Tyler, IATA director general said.

During the 2004-2011 period, the report of the study shows that returns on capital invested in the airline industry worldwide averaged 4.1 percent, which is an improvement on the average of 3.8 percent generated in the previous business cycle over 1996-2004.

“However, this is nowhere near the average cost of capital of 7.5 percent which represents the return on capital that investors would expect to earn by investing in assets of similar risk outside the airline industry. While some airlines have consistently created value for equity investors, these are few in number.

“On average industry returns were just sufficient for the industry to service its debt, with nothing left to reward equity investors for risking their capital.

The study shows that over the past 40 years, virtually all industries have generated higher returns on invested capital (ROIC) than the airline industry. Moreover, airlines are the least profitable segment of the air transport value chain while other segments consistently generate good returns for their investors.

It noted that the biggest cost for airlines today is fuel and companies in this sector benefited from an estimated $16-48 billion of their annual net profits generated by air transport.

The most profitable part of the rest of the value chain is in distribution, with the computer reservation systems businesses of the three global distribution system companies generating an average ROIC of 20 percent, followed by freight forwarders with an ROIC of 15 percent.

“However, high profits and inefficient costs in the value chain are only part of the explanation for persistently poor airline profitability. In fact, over the past 40 years, the airline industry has more than halved the cost of air transport in real terms, owing to better fuel efficiency, asset utilisation and input productivity.

“Yet these efficiency gains have ended up in lower air transport yields rather than improved investor returns. That has created tremendous value for customers and the wider economy, but has left equity investors in the airline industry unrewarded,” he lamented.

The study also shows this aspect of the airlines’ performance lies more in the industry’s highly fragmented and unconsolidated structure and the nature of competition, rather than in the supply chain.

“More effective partnerships are required among stakeholders in the air transport industry, efficiency gains are a win-win for all concerned. We have seen that with the adoption of 100 percent e-ticketing and the introduction of global self-service standards.

“Not only did partners in the industry benefit, but consumers gained great value through more efficient and convenient processes. This study points to the active collaboration needed to find even more such solutions,” said Tyler.

An agenda for governments is also outlined in the study. According to McKinsey & Company, ‘smart regulation is needed from governments around the world in order to maximise the economic benefits of connectivity—jobs and growth.

“Unfortunately, high taxation and poorly designed regulation in many jurisdictions make it difficult for airlines to develop connectivity, on top of the cost issues, airlines also face a hyper fragmented industry structure owing to government policies that discourage cross-border consolidation.

 Article accredited to: Businessday

NCAA to recertify domestic airlines’ AOCs, says new policy not threat to agency’s autonomy

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is to embark on recertification of domestic airlines’ Air Operators Certificate (AOC) that have been issued before 1999.

Joyce Nkemakolam, acting director general of the NCAA who also said the new Aviation Policy has not threatened the autonomy of the agency, explained that for safety reasons, all AOCs issued about 14 years ago will need recertification.

“I also want to clear the air on the allusion that AOC takes a long time to be issued. I don’t agree with this. Our experience is that some intending operators will come and we tell them, ‘Please go and provide so and so.’ Some will go and will not come back in a long time and probably due to financial constraints.”

Nkemakolam explained that what was enshrined in the new policy has been in operation for sometimes adding that the agency remained a parastatal under the supervision of the aviation ministry.

He explained that grounding of airline can be avoided if operators adhered strictly to the regulatory requirements and rules guiding the airline operations without violations.

“If there is no violation or flouting of these regulations of course, there will be no sanction. We want to eradicate the culture of impunity which some operators have penchant of taking liberty of. This has got to stop.”

He said the agency was planning to invite all operators and resensitise them on adherence to regulations guiding their operations.

On private jets ownership, Nkemakolam explained that there were limitations and restrictions to the use of private jets for leisure adding that anybody flying with friends should be captured in their insurance policy.

“If you have a third party insurance policy you can fly with them. However, if you don’t, you are working outside the realm of your license. You must make sure that those you intend to carry are covered.”

On Aviation Revenue Automation Programme, he admitted that there was a high level of compliance adding that a meeting has been held between the NCAA and International Air Transport Association (IATA) on the process to collect the cargo taxes under the automation regime.

Article accredited to: Businessday 

FG turns back Portuguese aircraft over wrongful deportation

The Federal Government on Sunday turned back an aircraft and officials of Portuguese government that deported a Nigerian, Raymond Jnr, into the country, claiming he was wrongfully deported without due process by the Portuguese government.

This is barely three weeks after the same issue played out at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos by the Kenyan government. The deportees were not accepted into the country by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at the Lagos airport.

it is was gathered on Sunday that Raymond Jnr was brought back to Nigeria from Lisbon, Portugal, but the NIS requested the officials of the Portuguese airplane to return him to where he was coming from and follow the law on deportation of its nationals before he could be accepted into the country.

The NIS had requested that he should be taken back to Portugal and proper documentation filed before he could be accepted as a deportee from Portugal.

A top official of NIS explained that what the Nigerian government was only asking them to do was take back the deportee and comply with international law before bringing him back to Nigeria. 

The same situation is playing out between Nairobi and Abuja following the deportation of three Nigerians, with the Federal Government claiming that Nairobi flouted all known international law and diplomacy in deporting her citizens.

The Kenyan government, which deported three Nigerians, Christopher Nnanyelu, Oluwatosin Adebiyi and Anthony Chinedu, had brought a legislative order from their minister of interior to deport foreign nationals but Nigeria claimed that was not the acceptable process, adding that the Kenyan government had flouted all rules on deportation.

BY : Sade Williams

Nigerian authorities insisted that Kenya will not be allowed to fly out without the three men.

“On the 3rd of June at about 18:36 hours, a Kenyan aircraft with registration number 5Y-SAX, owned by Cavoc Airlines arrived Nigeria with a total of 18 persons. Among them, 15 were crew members while three were passengers.

“The three Nigerians were said to be deportees from Kenya, but the security agencies in Lagos discovered that certain procedures were not complied with and subsequently grounded the aircraft.

Article accredited to: Businessday

Arik Air signs order for seven NextGen aircraft worth $297m

In a move aimed at boosting its flight services globally, Arik Air, largest commercial carrier in West Africa, has signed a firm agreement for three CRJ1000 NextGen Regional Jets and four Q400 NextGen Tier turboprop airliners worth $297 million.

The Nigeria-based airline will be the first to operate the CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft in Africa when delivered. Bombardier Aerospace announced the Lagos based signed a firm contract to acquire three CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft and four Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners. “Based on the list price of the CRJ1000 NextGen and Q400 NextGen aircraft, the contract announced today is valued at approximately $297 million”, says Bombardier. Arik Air currently operates four CRJ900 aircraft and two Q400 NextGen aircraft. “Bombardier is the world’s only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation”, the aircraft manufacturer said. Bombardier is head quartered in Montréal, Canada.

Arik Air is Nigeria and West Africa’s largest airline and operates mainly from two hubs at Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. It operates a fleet of 23 state-of-the art regional, medium haul and long haul aircraft including two Airbus A340-500 making the airline the first operator of the wide bodied aircraft in Africa. The airline currently serves 20 destinations across Nigeria as well as Accra (Ghana), Banjul (Gambia), Dakar (Senegal), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Monrovia (Liberia), Douala (Cameroon), Luanda (Angola), Kinshasa (Congo Democratic Republic), London Heathrow (UK), Johannesburg (South Africa) and New York JFK (USA). 

Article Accredited to Businessday

Another beginning at tourism house

For the love of their country and contribution to a robust domestic tourism, Americans will have visited Orlando or Miami before they go to see the Eiffel Tower in France or Buckingham Place in London. If they want to ski, they will go to Colorado before going to Switzerland.

You can imagine the multimillion dollar investment the tourism sector has become in the ‘God’s Own Country’ through huge patronage by its people let alone foreigners who come in their droves.

Of course, it is no longer news that a total of 73,282 Nigerian tourists visited South Africa last year, contributing almost R800 million ($88.6m) to the country’s economy.

But the news is that more than that number will stay back in their next holiday on destinations across the country to visit the rains forests and rarest wildlife species that are almost extinct, to relax at the likes of Obudu Mountain Resort and Yankari Games Reserve that seem empty, and the sprawling beaches that wish all Nigerians will frolic and cool off the intensity of the sun at their refreshing coolness.

Saddened by the little or no patronage of Nigerian destinations, Sally Mbanefo, the new director general of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), insists it is time “holiday begins at home” in Nigeria by encouraging domestic tourism.

The new DG with her private sector background is assuring a commitment to pushing a transformation agenda for Nigerian of tourism starting with wooing every Nigerian to embrace domestic tourism to sustain the industry and also to enable it develop to attract tourist dollar.

She is starting with the development of local content, because she believes that before Nigerian tourism brand can be successfully sold to the outside world, the country must address the domestic market potentials, secure the buy-in and confidence of Nigerians in the sector and get Nigerians to be proud of their tourism heritage and industry.

The Corporation, according to her, is developing Tourism Value Chain across the country to enable NTDC realise the objectives for which it was set up as well as meeting the core mandate of the supervising ministry of tourism.

The development of the domestic tourism would also entail other core mandates, which includes job creation, poverty alleviation and revenue generation.

To achieve results, Mbanefo notes that the programmes of the new NTDC shall be determined and executed in line with the mission of the Tourism Ministry which is engaging with stakeholders to reinvent and reposition Nigerian Tourism sector for the emergence of an integrated, globally competitive, professional, private sector-driven industry through strategic international corporation, investment promotion and a strong regulation.

In this connection the new DG indicates that NTDC, working in close partnership with other parastatals shall be implementing the Tourism Master Plan geared towards the promotion of Nigeria’s rich tourism potentials through identification, development and marketing of the diverse tourism opportunities.

In addition and in line with the core-mandate of the supervising Ministry, the new NTDC shall be active in promoting tourism as a foreign exchange earner, income re-distributor, major revenue earner to the federal government, major employer of labour as well as a catalyst for rural development and poverty reduction.

She is also engaging poverty alleviation and job creation through the activities of the new NTDC such as encouraging the establishment and running of tourism enterprises by the poor and ensuring that proceeds and profits from tourism benefits the poor.

Her pro-poor programmes would also ensure that investments in tourism infrastructure benefit the poor in the locality where they are sited while empowerment of women, youths and the underprivileged through tourism entrepreneurship would receive high priority.

All boils down to encouraging more Nigerians to visit at least a destination in a month and help in realising her ultimate goal of making tourism count in the Nigerian economy with at least 10 percent contribution to Gross Domestic Product.

So, why wait, call your tour operator to get going!

 Article Accredited to Businessday

Lufthansa to invest N600bn on new aircraft, better services through 2015

As part of plans to transform and rejuvenate travellers experience and up its services globally, Lufthansa German airline said it is investing €3bn (N600 billion) on new aircraft, (new business class, first class and Economy) and ground services to offer better products for travellers.

While presenting incentives to some travel and tour operators in Nigeria, Claus Becker, managing director, West and Central Africa, said the plan which has been muted and being implemented since 2012 is aimed at increasing the fleet of the airline, develop its in-flight services in all cabins, introduction of new classes and ground handling services among others.

Wakanow.com and Aeroland travels were recognised by the airline. “We started in 2012, but as you know it is quite complex in introducing new classes and products, it takes a lot of time and preparation and it is also costly in introducing new class. In a fleet of 400 planes, it takes quite some time before all these planes will be equipped with the new products in them.

“We have a full fledged business class, which is also a state of the art and that is already been introduced on the new Boeing 747-800, which is also coming on the other planes and we have up to date economic class product.

“All these will be done in four years; 2012, 2013, 2014 up to 2015 and it takes a lot of money, which we have to put in the cash flow. So, it is a big effort and it requires a profitable airline to carry out.” Becker emphasised that its clients in Nigeria will also benefit from the improved services on its fleet, but could not state categorically the percentage that would be allocated to the Nigerian routes from the amount of money.

He said unlike some airlines which sometimes exclude Nigeria from their plans, ‘Nigerian passengers are sure of getting these new products.

He said that the airline had employed Nigerians as one of its social responsibilities to the country, stressing that employment generation was one of the major Cooperate Social Responsibilities supported by the company’s headquarters.

Becker stated further that the airline had a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train Nigerian flight attendance, which it has been doing over the years, adding that it has been doing this over the years.

Segun Adewale, managing director of Aeroland Travels, one of the companies which received award and commendation of the airline, pledged to increase sales of the airline’s ticket by 20 percent adding that Lufthansa was the first to show such appreciation by personally visiting Agency offices.

Article Accredited to Businessday

NCAA warns cargo agents on shipping dangerous goods

Cargo agents operating in and out of the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos have been warned to desist from shipping dangerous and prohibited goods to and from their destinations as this might land them in prison if detected.

At a seminar organised by the Greater Washington Logistics, a cargo consolidator at the Aero Airlines headquarters, Lagos Airport yesterday, the Authorities advised the cargo agents to report any suspicious cargo to the appropriate authorities or face sanction when caught.

Austin Eboigbe, safety inspector, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) told the agents to identify any dangerous goods items they are collecting from clients.

He noted that several air incidents and accidents happen regularly in the world because of improper carriage of dangerous goods onboard of airplanes, adding that the agency was currently investigating incidents relating to dangerous goods within the country at the moment.

Among the dangerous goods identified according to Eboigbe, are matches, fireworks, lighter, gas cooker, body spray and magnets among others, warning that the agency would not hesitate to withdrawn the license of any agent or sanction any airline found wanting.

“Although, there are some quantities of liquid that are allowed onboard of planes. Just for information, your license can be withdrawn as an agent while the airline can be fined too. We expect you (agents) to think about the safety of the aircraft and the passengers onboard in the cause of carrying out your business.”

Also speaking, Nasir Kotangora, head, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) domestic Airport, said drugs that can cause harm to flights if not properly packaged or concealed are all considered dangerous. “As agents, you are expected to check properly any luggage you collect from shippers. And it is important for you not to connive with any shipper and once you are tempted to carry illegal drugs, you should report such person to the NDLEA.

“Dangerous goods for shipment should be accompanied with required papers. 

Any powder you are collecting should be followed by forensic analysis. It is the responsibility of all to ensure total security within the airport,” he said. On his own part, Agbongban Bright, group head, Regional Business and Cargo Shed manager, Greater Washington Logistics, said that the company organised the seminar for the cargo agents to sensitise the agents on shipment of dangerous goods.

Bright urged them to always follow safety standards and recommendations laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and the International Air Transport Association ( IATA) in carrying out their jobs.

 “In recent times, we have had cases of some agents who ignorantly shipped items that constitute dangerous goods, but because of the process we put in place, we have had to identify these goods.

Article accredited to: Businessday

TAT Nigeria, Atlas jet bid for NCPC airlift job

As the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) prepares for the 2013 Christian Pilgrimage to Israel, Rome and Greece, the commission has disclosed that only two airlines have so far bid for air carrier’s job that would see the successful airlines lifting pilgrims to the holy land later this year.

Disclosing the commitment of the commission to ensure due process in the biding exercise at the opening of the bids held recently at recently at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja, John Kennedy Opara, executive secretary of the commission, noted that the bid was opened to interested but competent airlines with adverts placed in the Nigerian dailies since March 22, 2013.

While TAT presented their cost prize of flight from Nigeria- Israel at $1,790 and additional $420 to Rome and Greece, Atlas jet offered $1,750 from Nigeria – Israel and additional $240 to Rome and $200 to Greece. However, the NCPC in house estimate is $1,400 to Israel and additional $300 to either Rome or Greece, this excludes the administrative charges.

Despite the narrow option, the NCPC helmsman assured air carriers that the Commission would do everything humanly possible to follow due process. According to him, “if the bidders do not meet the requirements as published in the Newspapers, they would not be allowed to airlift pilgrims for the 2013 pilgrimage exercise.”

Opara averred that Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority,( NCAA) and the Ministry of Aviation would ensures that only the Air Carrier that qualifies for the bid would be selected before the final approval by President Goodluck Jonathan, noting that the insistence on due process was in order not to compromise the comfort and lives of pilgrims which are paramount to the commission.

Nicholas Okoh, chairman, NCPC who doubles as the primate of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, advised bidders to shun those who would come in disguise as NCPC representatives to ask for favour from them. He further advised the Technical Evaluation Committee to ensure that the qualified bidders are chosen.

In her remarks, Nnenna Ukaeje, chairperson, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, stated that the bidding was in line with their oversight function and the Procurement Act which is to ensure transparency. 

According to her, “we want to ensure that the bidding process is transparent and we want to be part of it.”

Article accredited to: Businessday