Sunday, 25 August 2013
Thursday, 8 August 2013
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
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