Category: Aviation - Page 2 - African News Today

Abuja Air Crash Victims to be Buried on Thursday

24Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Aviation, News, Nigeria, Safety, Transportation

Abuja Air Crash Victims to be Buried on Thursday

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has announced that the Seven officers who died in the air crash that took place in Abuja on Sunday will be buried at the National Cemetery, Lugbe, Airport Road, Abuja, on Thursday. This was disclosed by NAF on Wednesday in an invitation to journalists. The officers were victims of the fatal Beechcraft King Air B250i crash that occurred close to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after reporting engine failure. Among the deceased were the Captain, Fl. Lt. Haruna Gadzama; Fl. Lt. Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System Specialist); Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist); Fl. Sgt. Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist); Sgt. Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Jo...

BREAKING: Seven Dead in Abuja Jet Crash – Air Force

21Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, News, Nigeria, Transportation

BREAKING: Seven Dead in Abuja Jet Crash – Air Force

Seven passengers aboard the Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft lost their lives when the jet crashed in Abuja on Sunday (today), the Nigerian Air force has disclosed. The crash took place close to the runway of the Abuja airport after the jet which was on its way to Minna, Niger State reported engine failure. Reacting to the development, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, in a statement said the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal IO Amao, has ordered an immediate probe of the accident. Daramola said, “This is to confirm that a Nigerian Air Force Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure enroute Minna. First responders are at the scene. Sadly, all 7 personnel on ...

BREAKING: Tragedy as Military Aircraft Crashes in Abuja

21Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, News, Nigeria

BREAKING: Tragedy as Military Aircraft Crashes in Abuja

A military aircraft, King Air 350 has crashed on the runway in Abuja, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika announced on Sunday. This was contained in a tweet by the minister on Sunday, noting that the incident appears calamitous. He said, “A military aircraft King Air 350 has just crashed short of our Abuja runway after reporting engine failure enroute Minna. It appears to be fatal. We should remain calm & wait for the outcome of investigation by the military, while we pray for the departed soul/souls if any.” Details later…

NDLEA Seizes Cocaine Worth N28bn From Hair Stylist, Others at Lagos Airport

31Jan

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, Crime, Drug Abuse, Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria, Transportation

NDLEA Seizes Cocaine Worth N28bn From Hair Stylist, Others at Lagos Airport

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, recovered cocaine worth N21bn from a hairstylist, identified as Jennifer Onyejegbu at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Reports say the operatives also discovered another drug confirmed to be cocaine worth N7bn in luggage abandoned at the E-arrival hall of the airport after the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian airline. It was gathered that information on the luggage tag suggest it arrived in Nigeria from Sao Paulo, Brazil, a destination classified as a high-risk country going by records and trends of arrest and seizures. The agency arrested four persons; Abubakar Aliyu, Ikechukwu Eze, Emmanuel Aniebonam and Onwurah Kelvin in connection with the drug. The two seizures were reportedly made ...

21Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Safety, Transportation

Ban Flights from UK, Atiku Urges FG

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has advised the Federal Government to act quickly to avert preventable casualties by banning fights from the United Kingdom as the country battles the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. The flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 presidential election urged FG to learn from European countries that banned flights from the United Kingdom. This was contained in a statement he issued on Sunday in Abuja titled ‘An Ounce of Prevention Is Better Than a Pound of Cure’. Atiku said, “We must face the reality that our health sector is not sufficiently prepared to handle a sudden and unpredictable surge of this pandemic. We have already lost lives needlessly. We need not lose more. “Already, prudent nations are taking prompt action, ...

Osun State Solicits FG’s Support to Build Airport

11Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, Infrastructure, News, Nigeria

Osun State Solicits FG’s Support to Build Airport

Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State has solicited support from the Federal Government for the state’s airport project. The governor on Thursday visited the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika where he sought support from the ministry to help the state accomplish the construction of its airport. A tweet by the official Twitter handle of the Federal Ministry of Aviation disclosed the visit. The tweet read, "Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State has visited Aviation Minister, Sen. @hadisirika in his office to solicit support for the state's Airport Project." https://twitter.com/fmaviationng/status/1337023925402939394 The airport site is located at Ido Osun, Ede North/ Egbedore Local Government Area.

4Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, News, Nigeria

Arik Air Dismisses 300 Workers

The management of Arik Air has terminated the appointment of 300 members of staff of airline. The airline disclosed this in a statement titled, “Arik Air management declares 300 staff redundant” released on Friday. It said the decision to sack some staff members was informed by the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on business operation. It added that a redundancy package would be made available to the affected workers with the assistance of the aviation unions. The statement partly read, “Arising from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the constrained ability of the airline to complete heavy maintenance activities and return its planes to operations, stunted revenues against increasing operational costs, the management of Arik Air (In Receivership) has decla...

FG Walks the Talk, Bars Emirates Airlines from Operating in Nigeria

19Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, News, Nigeria, Transportation

FG Walks the Talk, Bars Emirates Airlines from Operating in Nigeria

The Federal Government has banned Emirates Airlines from operating in Nigeria in adherence to its principle of reciprocity in granting permission to airlines to resume flight operations. The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika disclosed the ban will commence on Monday, September 21, 2020. Sirika in a tweet on his official Twitter handle tweeted, “The PTF sub-committee met today with EU Ambassadors to discuss Lufthansa, Air France/KLM ban. The meeting progressed well. Emirates Airlines’ situation was reviewed and they are consequently included in the list of those not approved, with effect from Monday, September 21, 2020.” The ban is in line with the federal government’s commitment to reciprocating flight restrictions. Recall that the Federal Government had prior to resumption of...

FG Ratifies $3.1bn Customs Automation Concession Project

3Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, News, Nigeria

FG Ratifies $3.1bn Customs Automation Concession Project

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has ratified the concession of the automation project of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). Minister of finance, budget and national planning, Zainab Ahmed said the automation project will cost $3.1 billion. She noted the project will be concessioned for 20 years. The council also approved N13.122 billion for automation of airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt and consequent transformation of the airports from their current analogue to full digital operations Ahmed said, “The main objective of this project is to completely automate every aspect of the customs business and to institutionalize the use of smart and emerging technologies that will enhance the statutory function of the Nigerian Customs Service in the areas of revenue gener...

NIS Issues Entry Guidelines Ahead of September 5 International Flights Resumption

3Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

NIS Issues Entry Guidelines Ahead of September 5 International Flights Resumption

The Comptroller General, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandele has disclosed guidelines for immigrants ahead of resumption of international flights and visa payment. The NIS boss stated this during a remote meeting with relevant stakeholders to look into travel concerns and automation of Travel Work Permit on Wednesday in Abuja, Punch reports. Public Relations Officer of NIS, Sunday James in a communique Stated the adopted procedures took note of Federal Government’s guidelines for the resumption of international flight operations from September 5. Babandede identified Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, as airports approved by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola for the implementation. He went on to list the p...