Dana to restart Calabar route as business improves

Business is looking up at Dana Airlines as the airline says that plans are underway to recommence flight operations to Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar.

This is just as it resumed flight operations to Port Harcourt Airport on Monday, increasing the daily flights to 14.

Speaking to reporters on its recommenced flight operations, Tony Usidamen, the group corporate manager of the airline, said that the request of its loyal clients propelled it to recommence operations to the route.

He also said that the airline, which currently has five McDonalds 83 aircraft in its fleet hopes to increase the fleet with Boeing 737 aircraft in the coming months.

He however promised the airline’s clients to any of the routes in the country of world class flight experience.

He said, “We received lots of requests from our clients asking us to recommence the route. We are happy to offer them world class service we’ve been offering them in the past.

“We want to connect our passengers to as many locations as possible. We are looking to relaunch operations to Calabar and other cities in the coming months. This is going to be a boost on our consolidation drive.” Also speaking, Ebele Okoye, the general manager, South-South airports, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said that the resumption of flight operations to the airport by Dana would further afford passengers more choices on airline to fly with.

She explained that before now, the airline made applications to return to the airport, which was immediately granted them by the management due to its antecedents in giving air passengers prompt and comfortable air experience.

“I’m impressed that they are staging a comeback to the airport. Before now, the airline made applications for some assistance, which we are happy to oblige theicle m. We all know what happened to them and we are happy to welcome them back to the airport.”

Article accredited to: Businessday

$6.4 trillion of goods travel by air

There is no doubt that air transport is the backbone of any economy and upon which a continent or country must develop to actualise the gains therein.

The airline sector is the only one that promptly delivers goods to markets, connect people and foster opportunities for development through.

The sector, according to Tony Tyler, the director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global airlines body would this year be responsible for over 35 percent of all world trade by value.

According to him, ‘$6.4 trillion of goods travel by air,’ adding that this year, the industry will safely and securely transport some 3 billion people and 48 million tonnes of cargo.

“This activity supports 3.5 percent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) equivalent to $2.2 trillion annually and transports around 35 percent of world trade by value, or around $6.4 trillion. We deliver goods to markets, connect people to business and reunite family and friends. And by bringing people of different cultures together, we foster opportunities for understanding and friendship.

But we are challenged in turning the great value that we create as an industry into consistent and sustainable earnings for ourselves and airline shareholders,” he said.

Tyler, who spoke at the Annual General Meeting, International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA), added that since 2003 airlines, generated about $5 trillion in revenues but had struggled to cover costs while the industry barely broke even with a net margin of only 0.1 percent.

“There’s no denying it—we work in a very challenging business. And everyone involved in the airline industry—and the value chain for that matter—must keep that in mind. Knowing that I am addressing you today, my members will want me to remind you that pilots are no exception,” he added.

He was however quick to say that so many changes have been brought into the system through hard work.

“But if you look back over the $5 trillion break-even decade, you will see change in every aspect of our business. That airlines are making even a small profit this year—with weak economies and jet fuel around $130 per barrel is evidence of the enormous improvements and efficiencies that have been achieved through hard work and sacrifice—including by pilots.

“We might all wish that we could sit back and enjoy a period of prosperity as a result. But with a 1.6% net profit margin that’s not the case. Airlines can and do go bust. We saw that with Malev, Spanair and others last year. The only way to ensure sustainable companies and employment is with constant improvements in productivity—and everybody needs to contribute—from those in the head office, to those who sell tickets, operate the check-in counters or fly and maintain the airplanes.”

Meanwhile, the Airline business confidence improved further in April according to the global airlines’ body quarterly of airline CFOs and heads of cargo.

The survey indicates that 73 percent of respondents expect an improvement in profitability over the next 12 months while the the improvement in outlook compared to January largely reflects the outcome of structural changes rather than an acceleration in global economic growth.

“The outlook for passenger and cargo demand was mostly unchanged in April compared to January, but respondents still anticipate an increase in traffic over the next 12 months.

“Yields are reported to have increased over the past 3 months compared to a year ago and the 12 month outlook is up on the January survey for both passenger and cargo.

Article accredited: Businessday

Ezeagu Tourist Complex

The untold story about Ezeagu tourist complex was revealed today. Ezeagu has a cluster of attractions and that is what makes it a tourist complex, a visit to the site will really tell you that tourism is the economy of the 21th century.

Travellers get seamless access to tickets as Medview opens booking offices in Yola, Jalingo

Domestic air travellers that had hitherto travelled kilometres to get to the airport in order to purchase flight tickets can now heave a sigh of relief as Medview Airline, a relatively new entrant into the domestic travel, has commenced sales of its flight tickets in Yola and Jalingo in Adamawa and Taraba states respectively.

The Management of the airline  said its decision was informed by the need to bring its services to the door steps of the people.

Until now, the only booking office serving Adamawa and Taraba States was at the Yola International airport.

“What we have done is to save our numerous passengers the rigours of going to the airport to pay for their reservation before their flight date,” Phineas Ndukodon, the airline station manager in Yola said.

Article accredited to Businessday

Cronos Airlines, Peacock collaborate to commence Port Harcourt-Malabo flights

Equatorial Guinea-based carrier, Cronos Airlines, has partnered with Nigeria’s Peacock Travels and Tours Limited to open the Malabo-Port Harcourt route soon.

This development followed an agreement inked recently by the two companies. With this, Peacock has now obtained the exclusive General Sales Agency (GSA) right to issue the airline’s tickets all over Nigeria. 

A statement by Segun Phillips, executive chairman, Peacock, quoted him as saying that Cronos also has an ambitious plan to commence flights from Malabo to Lagos and Abuja before the end of the year.

According to him, Malabo as a destination has historical link with Nigeria, especially the Efik speaking tribe who are found in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

The Malabo-PH service, he said, came at the right time for the sizeable number of Ibo traders plying the route.

“Previously, the traders go by ship which is slow, hazardous and unsafe. The new air link between Port Harcourt and Malabo, which lasts for just 45 minutes, becomes a comfortable, fast and reliable option than going by ship.”

Other segments of people plying the route are business executives and oil exploration workers. The route also comes handy for leisure travellers, who want to go to Equatorial Guinea to enjoy their vacation, according to the travel management company.

“It is an interesting tourist’s destination which boasts of upscale holiday and recreational facilities, including luxury hotels and one of the best golf courses in Africa,”  Phillips added.

He said with the popularity of golf game in Nigeria, the airline and Peacock would give priority to golf players for easy access.

The company said that it would offer total package, including entry visa and flight tickets for prospective passengers. To do this effectively, Peacock has three offices located at Aba, Port Harcourt city and Port Harcourt International Airport.

Peacock will assist prospective passengers to facilitate the issuance of visas while passengers can also connect Lome and Cotonou through Cronos.

He said the airline was already looking forward to signing interconnectivity with some foreign airlines in order to link Malabo to other oil producing cities in the world including Houston in United States and Dubai in United Arab Emirates.

Equatorial Guinea has the highest per capita income in Africa. This attests to the prosperity and business opportunities in the country, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) plc does ground and cargo handling for Cronos.

Article accredited to Businessday

Arik keeps business on despite domestic travel crisis

Despite the crisis that has eaten deep into the operations and profits of domestic airlines in the country thereby crippling the system, Arik Air may have kept on with its operations as business continues to look up for the airline.

Even though there is the general problem of shrinking operational funds for the sector, Arik Air has continued to maintain its large business areas across the routes both domestic and regional.

Apart from making good use of the festive period to increase frequencies, many of the flight frequencies initiated during the major crisis of the airlines, especially, the one that grounded the entire fleet of Aero, second largest domestic airline which controls about 34.86 percent of airline business in the country, for two week, continued to be as the airline sees profit in having an ‘every hourly’ flight on the triangular route of Lagos-Abuja-Port-Harcourt.

“We are doing a lot of things right and that is why we are where we are. You know when the crisis was on, this is not to spite any company, we increased our flights to the ‘golden triangle’ to 8 flights daily and we called it ‘Abuja-Port-Harcourt shuttle’, we made sure that there was flight at every one to two hours especially between Lagos and Abuja.

“We put that in place to cope with demands of the travelling public on the golden triangle. Apart from the past crisis, the immediate past fell within the Easter period so the pressure was too much on us. We therefore increased flights to Uyo, Enugu, Calabar and Asaba to cater for the travellers,” a source close to the airline said.

Apart from the domestic routes, Arik Air also seized the opportunity on the regional scene to increase frequencies to Accra.

“You know the regional route is not as flexible as domestic but we increased our flights from two to three on Lagos-Accra but we have since reverted the services,” he said.

 Analysts say “the sector crisis inflicted by unexplainable disagreements with unions and lack of operational funds naturally created a market for Arik which also used the occasion to bloat its revenue. That was a lot of money for the airline.

“Recall that the crisis that crippled Air Nigeria, which used to control 5.56 percent of the market started with  the unions then to insolvency; that of Aero was mainly union problem. I believe that as much as the union problems would have been contained, that of funds was a major problem of the airlines,” an analyst said.

There is no gainsaying that domestic airlines are in dire straits and there should be an urgent intervention to salvage the situation from further plunging.

Article accredited to Buinessday 

ATQ, NANTA move to boost air travel as airlines, agents converge for 2013 AGM

Atqnews.com, the online travel news portal and the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA) are partnering to bring airlines and travel and tourism practitioners from across Nigeria to the 2013 Annual General Meeting in Lagos.

 NANTA is the largest travel association in West Africa with over 1000 members all around Nigeria.

 With Aminu Agoha as its president, NANTA is at the forefront of growing the travel and tourism business in Nigeria, adding that “there will be an overwhelming and fantastic representation by all travel professionals in Nigeria especially the airlines beyond what NANTA has had in the past.”

 According to Ikechi Uko, the publisher of Atqnews.com, “this is the first partnership we are doing in Nigeria, already we have such partnership with Zambia and UNWTO programmes in Africa.”

Article accredited to Businessday

Aviation chiefs meet on Africa’s air safety

African aviation personnel including the heads of civil aviation organisations and airspace agencies will converge on Abuja as Nigeria has been nominated by the executive of the Civil Air Navigation Organisation (CANSO) in Africa to host its first regional conference in the continent.

The conference, which is intended to review air navigation safety globally and especially in Africa, will also chart the way forward for aviation safety as well as develop and enhance strategies for improvement.

Boni Dibante, regional director, Africa Affairs, who paid an official visit to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA), described the forthcoming event which holds from October 7 in Abuja, as historic being the first to be organised by the newly established CANSO Africa Regional Office.

 Article accredited to Businessday

Airport remodeling significant step at reviving infrastructure

It is a known fact that Nigeria’s airports have suffered untold neglect and decay over 15 years with successive ministers making policy statements on what to do to revive them.

However, some of them are beginning to wear new looks due to the ongoing remodeling projects which some stakeholders have describe as a significant step towards reviving airport infrastructure, as a way of efforts at making them at par with what obtains globally.

Balarabe Usman, a retired pilot who led a group of aviation professionals known as Stakeholders’ Square Table, said they took a critical look at development in the sector, at the end of an executive session, and noted that the country’s airports, which had suffered infrastructural decay in the past, “had suddenly turned into construction sites, due to the ongoing airport remodelling projects, designed to modernise Nigerian airports, in line with existing international standards and practices.” Balarabe, who was a pioneer aviation security staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and its first Director of Aviation Security Services, noted that “the airport remodelling project is the second most significant airport development project of the country so far after the Aerodrome Development Programme of the mid-1970s that led to the creation of the then Nigerian Airports Authority, the precursor of FAAN.  Usman identified the remodeling of airport terminals across the nation of which four (Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Benin) have been commissioned, as a “good way of injecting fresh breath into the system.

 “We are in a path to strengthening aviation sector and giving sighs of relief to travellers after some years, all these, including the plan to create  designated terminals for perishable and non-perishable cargo are what will drive fruitful investment for the sector,” he said.

 Meanwhile, Aviation Round Table (ART), a non-governmental organisation has called on government to provide necessary facilities at airports in a bid to prepare it for security audit by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Dele Ore, president of the group noted that over the years, no Nigerian airport has been certified by ICAO adding that it behooves on government to make available necessary facilities that will give Nigeria the edge that is needed to pass the audit as the officials prepare to carry out another one.

Article accredited to Businessday

SAHCOL’s expenditure on GSE hits N20bn in four years

Business is looking up at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL), a former subsidiary of Nigeria Airways Limited, as it has expended over N20 billion on Group Support Equipment (GSE) in the last four years.

SAHCOL serves as a major gateway to import and export in the Nigerian Aviation sector, ensuring that cargo, courier and mails are properly handled, managed and warehoused in its custom bonded warehouse, pending the due process of clearing.

It also provides customer friendly passenger handling services, including automated Check-in, Gate/Boarding, Baggage Tracking and Interline.

On Tuesday, more of the GSE arrived the company’s shed at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja as Olu Owolabi, its managing director says the company has made a big difference in ground handling business since it was handed over to Sifax Group in 2009.

At the commissioning of some of the ground handling equipment, Owolabi disclosed that SAHCOL has spent a lot of money on equipment that would make its service delivery to its numerous customers very effective and efficient, adding that the ultra modern warehouse being constructed by the organisation has attained 80 percent completion.

Owolabi had said that cargo warehouse when completed would be ‘the largest of such facility in West Africa’ with modern IT driven security and safety cover. He informed that the patronage of SAHCOL by airlines and other clients has improved tremendously, as the modern equipment has further boost the service delivery of the entity. He added that with the these equipment, there is no type of airplane SAHCOL cannot handle.

 Owolabi added that presently SAHCOL has one of the best equipment in the West Africa sub-region and that it is ready for the present and challenges ahead as far as ground handling is concerned. The essence of commissioning the multibillion equipment, he said it is to showcase what SAHCOL has in place for effective service delivery, just as he tells clients to expect a revolutionised ground handling services .

 He listed some of the equipment to include commanders’ 15i, 30i, 40i loader and 45i, which according to him are ultimate in ground handling company. The 15i loader is a single operated vehicle capable of lifting and carrying very high capacity cargo, adding that it is hydraulically powered and electronically controlled.

 The 15i, he said is capable of handling B757, 767, 777, 787, A340 and any other lower deck ,passenger and cargo aircraft. The 30i and 40i loaders, he said are not only hydraulically powered and electronically controlled, but that they also have the capacity of handling A380, 747 and all wide body aircraft and heavy cargo and container.

 He added that the vehicle said is equipped with stabilisers, side guides, emergency pumps for ease and safe handling of heavy cargo loads in aircraft.

Article accredited to: Businessday 

Dana Air launches low fares

Dana Air has announced a special fare offer for its esteemed guests.

Beginning from April 1 to April 30, 2013, travellers can fly for as low as N15,300 one-way on its Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route.

Obi Mbanuzuo, the airline’s Head of Commercial, who made the disclosure said, ”We decided to open up seats for sale at N15,300 throughout the month of April as a mark of appreciation to our loyal guests, and also to offer more guests the opportunity to experience our world class services.”

“We encourage all business and leisure travellers to Lagos and Abuja to take advantage of this special offer and purchase their tickets online at www.flydanaair.com or at any Dana Air sales outlet nationwide.”

Currently, Dana Air operates ten flights daily on the Lagos-Abuja-Lagos route and plans are underway to commence operations to other major Nigerian cities shortly.

Dana Air’s vision is to be recognised and respected as Nigeria’s most reliable and customer-friendly airline, and her mission is to earn the loyalty and respect of her customers by consistently demonstrating her commitment to service and providing affordable regional air transport services that focus on innovation, quality and service excellence.

 Article accredited; Businessday

Aero crisis signals beleaguered sector’

Even though Nigeria’s foremost airline resumed skeletal flight operations two days ago, it will take the airline months, if not a year, to recover from the effects of the crisis which crippled its operations for 18 days.

Already, the airline is still counting its losses as industry analysts say it has lost close to N630 million during the 18 days of what they termed ‘avoidable crisis’.

“The whole thing, not just Aero crisis alone goes to show that there is trouble in the sector. What kind of message are we sending to air travellers when such crisis persists in a sensitive sector like Aviation?” an analyst observed.

Aero operates at least 70 flights in a day and at between N19,000 and N30,000 depending on the time and platform on which the ticket is purchased.

Already, some passengers are accusing the airline of being insensitive adding that they knew about the strike but allowed them to buy non-refundable tickets online.

“I know the money is non-refundable but that should have stopped Aero from still selling tickets on-line before, during and after the crisis; this is unfair,” a traveler, who simply identified herself as Abiodun lamented.

For instance, Yinka Adebo, one of the passengers who was supposed to leave for Lagos to Port Harcourt, said that the passengers would file a suit against Aero Contractors for making them to miss their important engagements for the day due to the cancellation of their flights.

According to him, ‘this is a breach of contractual agreement and the airline must answer this in the court of law.’

Since Aero controls over 35 percent of the market share, its teeming travellers were left to scamper for limited seats during the period.

Aero Contractors’ indebtedness to commercial banks, estimated to be over N32 billion, which had been bought over by Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) during the banking sector reforms, had been converted to equity stake for the corporation, it was learnt.

Prior to the development, Aero was 100 percent owned by the Ibru family, which acquired full stake in the airline about three years ago after its Canadian partner, CHC, pulled out its equity.

“Aero Contractors was the most admired airline in Nigeria. In addition to being the oldest operating aviation company it was also the most profitable. Aero became a brand, an institution because of professional discipline among its crews and its operating principles,” Daniel Omale, a pilot had said in an analysis.

He noted that ‘the disregard for unions’ demands, which led to Aero’s grounding for weeks, is one those issue that lead to bankruptcy of any company, especially, some airlines even in developed nations.

It was the same union problems that started the crisis which eventually crippled Air Nigeria.

“As it is now, Aero would have to pay recertification of aircraft by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), pay its lessors and at the same time, pay certain amount to AMCON, that is not in the interest of a profit making organisation,” Francis Ayigbe, an analyst said.

Before the crisis started, the union had demanded that Aero management recall about 41 staff it sent on training to another company while giving it a 21-day ultimatum.

The unions under the Air Transport Senior Staff Services of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), embarked on strike after the Airline refused to reverse the redeployment of the workers.

 “How can dedicated and experienced workers like us continue to work and baboons begin to chop our sweat and money? While Temitope Fagbemi worked in Air Nigeria on N500,000.00 monthly, only for her to be recruited in Aero Contractors on N1.8million per month between April to December 2012 and by January 2013, through some magical hoodwinking, her salary rose to N2.4million per month with a brand new Prado Jeep purchased by management in her name at N9.7million and yet the Managing Director is claiming that the company is going through hard times?’’ the union accused Aero in another statement.

So Aero should watch out for anything that would disrupt its operations and cause unbearable loss, especially, disagreement from workers, in the future.

 Article accredited; Businessday

Countdown to tourism, culture showcase

Barely a fortnight to go, the marriage of Nigeria and Ghana in a cultural and tourism show is already drawing attention of global travel industry, African Diaspora and tourism stakeholders from both countries to take advantage of the great potential across the two English-speaking West African countries that would be offered on a new pedestal.

Now in its second edition, Ghana-Nigeria Tourism and Culture Showcase is unarguably the first privately-organised bilateral arts, tourism and culture forum in the West African sub-region, and the biggest Private Public Partnership (PPP) collaboration for arts, tourism and culture in the sub-region. It is geared towards promoting Africa’s tourism potential as well as the restoration and sustenance of the people’s cultural heritage.

The 2013 edition of the showcase awaits guests; it has also continued to receive big boost ahead of the event scheduled between April 18 and 19, 2013 at the Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana.

Oluseyi Onafowokan, the Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, who is also the chief host of the event, is lending full support of the Nigerian government to the show.

Confirming his willingness to play host to the event on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Onafowokan told a delegation of Tribe Media Company, Nigeria and Pan Africa Ghana, co-organisers of the event, which paid him a courtesy visit at the Nigerian High Commission, that the government was especially committed to the promotion of Nigeria’s diplomatic cultural policy at such a crucial time the nation is marking her centenary.

The High Commissioner further assured the team led by Bayero Agabi, president, Tribe Media, and Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi, president, Pan Africa Ghana, that the Nigerian House in Ghana would gladly host a cocktail in honour of the Nigerian contingent to the event, adding that the bilateral tourism and culture initiative was one that should be sustained given that both countries share so much in common.

As well, Henry Seidu Daana, Minister of Culture and Traditional Affairs, Ghana, and Elizabeth Ofosu-Aggyare, Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Ghana, both expressed the support of the government and people of Ghana for the tourism and culture showcase that is expected to emphasise on the potentials of the sector and cultural integration between the two countries.

Speaking during a courtesy call to his office by the organisers, Daana pointed out that the close socio-political and historical tie between both countries was a good basis to annex the cultural values of the two nations for socio-economic development and bilateral growth.

Responding, Agabi told the minister that the organising team was driven by the need to promote understanding, foster sub-regional integration and economic development using tourism, arts and culture as a tool. Bayero, a seasoned media strategist, added that with Africa fast becoming an emerging global market across different spectrum, it was pertinent that westernisation is not allowed to sweep away the people’s ethics, norms and ideas which are often expressed via language, fashion, food, music and religious belief around which the conference is centered.

Ofosu-Aggyare commended the collaborative efforts of the organisers towards the promotion and sustenance of African values through culture and tourism with such a laudable bilateral forum such as the Ghana-Nigeria Tourism and Culture Showcase. The recently appointed minister then assured of her ministry’s full support during the event.

On his part, Appiah-Levi briefed the minister that the two-day event would feature a conference with stimulating intellectual discussions, presentation of papers, interaction and exhibition of arts, craft, fashion while the gala/award night would, aside from other varieties, entail a musical concert featuring top Ghanaian and Nigerian artiste with the theme ‘One Band, One Stage, One Tribe’.

The team had earlier on been received at the Ghana Tourism Authority by the management of the agency led by Abigail Tagoe, acting executive director, who recalled that the 2011 edition was quite a memorable one. She promised that her organisation would accord the event all necessary logistic support.

Article accredited to; Businessday

Yet another feast on water

From afar, the sight depicts a unique parade of colour by revellers in popular carnivals. On getting closer, it looks just like the epic Opobo regatta that gets the creeks and ocean banks busy with many cultural displays by able-bodied men on water.

Similar colour display made sitting at the waterfront of Oyinkan Abayomi Drive in Ikoyi most pleasurable and rewarding for fun seekers this Easter. They thronged the waterfront to enjoy an endless display of aquatic culture and strength on the Lagos Lagoon by various participating communities and interest groups at this year’s edition of Lagos Water Regatta.

As they relaxed, they were excited watching large fleets of decorated canoes and modern boats with flags and buntings displayed by artistic paddlers. One question that came to mind was how the boat paddlers (both male and female) felt more comfortable on water than on land.

The creative ingenuity of the coastal communities was brought to the fore with breathtaking artistic designs that adorned each boat uniquely depicting the social, cultural and traditional background and occupation of Lagos people.

The dexterity and acrobatic skills of each member of the over 26 participating communities, 13 racers, and other non-competing boats were mind-blowing. From the riverine communities they all came to display their water heritage and sportsmanship along the stretch of Lagos Lagoon just by the newly-constructed waterfront on Oyinkan Abayomi Drive that serves as the Regatta Village.

Defying the sweltering afternoon, over 50,000 people kept the cheers on while the fleets rowed the more. They rowed from the Regatta Village to almost a kilometre on the lagoon and turned on getting to the Falomo Bridge. The return seemed to bring out the best in them as they danced more, displayed more, sang more and paddled more just to impress the high profile guests at the pavilion of the Civic Centre, including Governor Babatunde Fashiola. 

Besides the guests, each of the competing communities and racing boats needed to convince the five judges with a spectacular performance in order to make good attempt at the prizes. After minutes of display at the Civic Centre waterfront, they returned to entertain the guests at the Regatta Village.

But while the display was on, passersby and the neighbourhood were truly held spellbound by the displays that complemented the Easter celebration in Lagos and also marked the fourth edition of the annual Lagos Water Regatta. Besides the various cultural and water sports, the newly-constructed waterfront that effortlessly provides best relaxation and sightseeing for leisure seekers served as viewpoint for those who are aquaphobic. At least they were able to further explore the tranquil waterfront which ordinarily might be difficult for many.

However, the event organisers exceeded their expected number of participants and crowd as over 50,000 fun seekers visited the Regatta Village. As he delighted on the improvement, Olusegun Jawando, chairman, Lagos Water Regatta Working Committee, reiterated the fact that the Lagos Water Regatta is a water-based cultural sporting and recreational activity put together to exhibit diverse functions of the boats put to use in yesteryears, from community to community. He expressed his satisfaction that the regatta surpassed the previous two editions in organisation, participation and excitement. The greatest success of the event for him was the hitch-free outing, uncompromised security and sustained excitement for all the guests.

“Aside tourism, the Lagos State governor has expressed desire to have our waterways protected and treasured, as it is one of the major assets of the state. Hence, the need for a collective effort to maximise this asset’s potentials for sports, recreation, transportation and business through the regatta,” Jawando said.

Despite enjoying the action on water, Governor Fashola stole out time to appeal to the residents along the waterways to protect it, while calling for the rejuvenation of socio-cultural values in the state.

He most importantly wants the private sector take advantage of the waterways to promote tourism and transport business. “This administration is poised to exploit the commercial essence of its content by heightening the interest of corporate organisations here in Lagos and around the country in promoting it into tourist’s delight. Our ultimate goal is to register the Lagos Water Regatta in the map of world tourist’s destinations,” he said.

For slugging it out in swimming, rowing, Kayak race, power boat, Jet Ski and sea school displays, the various participants received fantastic prizes.

With the success of the fourth edition, the organisers hope to sustain the socio-cultural heritage which the event preserves, as well as further exploring opportunities that abound in the waterways.

Established four years ago, Lagos Water Regatta, a part of activities for the celebration of the Lagos Black Heritage Festival, is geared towards promoting the state’s tourism potentials as it provides the participating communities opportunities to showcase their best to the world.

Article accredited to; Businessday