14092022

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14 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
Lagos airpor
port t runway y 18L/36R almost t 90% ready — FAAN
THE Federal Airport Authority of
Nigeria, FAAN, has disclosed
that the 2.7 kilometres (2,700m)
long 18 Left 36 Right ( 18L/36R)
Murtala Muhammed Airport,
MMA, domestic runway is almost
90 percent ready.
This came as the authority noted
that it intends meeting the targeted
90 days deadline but would rather
delay and do a thorough job
instead.
Speaking during the inspection
works on the Runway, the
Managing director of FAAN,
Captain Rabiu Yadudu, noted that
apart from the MMA, FAAN is
working and upgrading virtually
all airports under its purview.
Recall that FAAN on July 7 closed
the Murtala Muhammed Airport
Runway 18L for the installation of
installation of approach lights,
Runway Lights (Threshold and
Centre, edge light and others will
be installed so that runway 18L/
36R returns to full 24/7 operations.
This was after the Minister of
Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, in
March 2022 succeeded in getting
another N3,523,592,079bn
approval for safety-critical projects
of the Ministry of Aviation as the
Federal Executive Council, FEC,
approved the sum of
N3,523,592,079bn for two different
major projects on facilitation and
airfield lighting.
It was reported that of the total
amount approved, the sum,
N2,329,961,099.60 was for the
supply and installation of airfield
ground lighting for the Murtala
Mohammed International Airport,
Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport, Abuja and
also the Mallam Aminu Kano
International Airport, Kano.
However, Yadudu said: "So far, I
think we have done about 90
percent of the project. We are on
schedule and remember we are
very optimistic but if anything
would make it be delayed, I would
boldly make it delayed. I'd rather
have a good job concluded, safely.
Stories by Prince Okafor
Aviation is not about quick fixes
it's about long term fixes.
"For 12 years, this is not working
but now you're getting it in a few
hours, what is the problem. The
bottom line is we are ok target up
to this moment but anything that
will hinder and we are sure has
to do with the safety, we will not
hesitate that is our primary
responsibility but so far there is
none. And we are committed, this
is my 10th visit and there are
people here daily, monitoring,
supervising.
Aviation: Nigeria’s cargo traffic low
amidst massive global demands
•Massive demands from China, others for our products
•FG, regulatory bodies stall cargo business — Stakeholders
LAUNCH: From left: Airport Assistant Supervisor, Asky Airline, Mr. Okoro Christopher; Operation Manager, Good
NewsTravelsTour Limited, Mr. Solomon Olowo; Country Manager, Nigeria AskyAirline, Mr. Simon Mobolaji; General
Accounts Manager, Bon VoyageTravel, Ms. Nnenna Oti-Kalu; Sales Executive- South Nigeria, AskyAirline, Mr. Yakubu
Shobowale and Head Corporate Sales DestinationManagement, Wakanow, Mr. Gbenga Onitilo, during the Asky AirlineTrade
Forum with Partners and Launching into Johannesburg, SouthAfrica held in Lagos on Tuesday. Photo Lamidi Bamidele
DESPITE the massive demand for Muhammed Airport Two, ranked fifth provide information on where things
Nigeria’s goods globally, the in Africa, as it handled only 204,649 are being produced, the market and
country’s cargo traffic remains low tonnes of goods in 2021 as against service providers capable of utilising
among the top African airports Jomo Kenyatta International Airport these opportunities.
ranking by freight traffic.
which tops the list with over 363,204 They argued that they have always
Nigeria has one of the most nutritious tonnes of cargo in the same year. made assets available for traders in
fruits in the world but demand and A total of 2.15 million metric tons of the last 40 years, but the federal
supply are not meeting at the moment, cargo transited through African government and the regulatory bodies
with China, India, and some Europe airports, representing around 1.7 per have not really been involved in the
countries seeking these products. cent of the global cargo volume. process.
According to the Airports Council However, stakeholders have faulted the
International, ACI, Nigeria Murtala Federal Government's inability to
Air Peace Embraer 195-E2 in static
display in Kigali
AIR PEACE debut its E195-E2,
its largest commercial aircraft, at
Aviation Africa 2022, in Kigali,
Rwanda, yesterday.
The aircraft, belonging to Air Peace
Limited, Nigeria's largest airline, is
one of five units currently in operation
with the airline. The E2 is helping Air
Peace achieve its ambition of
connecting not just all of Nigeria, but
the whole of the African continent,
while feeding long-haul flights from
its Lagos hub.
The E195-E2, the quiestest and most
efficient single aisle aircraft flying
today, saving up to 25% carbon
dioxide emissions compared to
previous generation aircraft, has 124
seat capacity in a typical dual class
configuration, offering more space,
privacy and comfort.
The aircraft was displayed on the
static apron at Kigali International
Airport for VIPs and dignitaries
attending the Aviation Africa Summit
and Exhibition to tour the aircraft.
Jet A1 hike: Ibom Air cancelled 54
flights in August
WITH over 858 scheduled flights
for the month of August, 2022,
Ibom Air, stated that 54 flights were
cancelled due to non-availability of
Aviation Kerosene, popularly known
as Jet A1.
Ibom Air, a limited liability company
wholly owned by the Akwa Ibom state
government, currently operates seven
aircraft, with a further 10 to be added
by May 2023 to cater for African
routes.
The company in its scorecard report
for August, noted that it was able to
operate only 804 flights of the total
flight scheduled during the period.
While 179 flights were delayed beyond
15 minutes due to some logistic
challenges, 350 flights were
rescheduled during the period.
The report noted that the company
recorded 53 percent schedule
reliability, and 78 percent on time
performance in the month of June.
Why FG must establish bank of aviation now —
Prof Kila
THE Director, Centre for International
Advanced and Professional Studies,
CIAPS, Prof. Anthony Kila in this interview
with Prince Okafor, advised the Federal
Government to set up an Aviation Bank to
salvage the ailing domestic airlines. He also
established some key factors why airlines in
LOOKING at thecurrent
challenge, how can the sector be
salvaged?
With the present situation, it is not
enough to have aviation funds from
government or aviation desks in
commercial banks anymore.
It is time to think of "activating an
aviation bank that will raise and
manage funds and offer niche
financial products for the aviation
industry. With over 20 years in the
industry, I can knowledgably confirm
that luckily, aviation is not a pauper's
business.
Hence, finding depositors and
shareholders will not be an
insurmountable problem for capable
promoters, but the political will is
needed. In the spirit of rethinking of
and resting aviation, operators need
to go beyond flying or selling and
distributing tickets.
Massive demands stalled
Speaking at the just concluded
second Aviation and Cargo
Conference 2022, CHINET, in Lagos,
Chisco Logistics, Chief Executive
Officer, Obinna Anyaegbu, noted that
it is very important for everyone in the
industry to play their role, as they are
not to play all roles.
He said: “We need more African
products. We need patriotism. People
are moving out of Nigeria yet we have
very good soil to plant and harvest.
“We have these products but we lack
markets for these products. Chinese
people want to eat our bananas,
plantain and pineapples. We have one
of the most nutritious fruits in the world
but demand and supply are not met at
the moment.
“We plan to bridge this gap as a
company. We have always made assets
available for traders and this is what
we have done for the last 40 years. But
government and the regulatory bodies
have to be involved.
“We have seen aviation investments go
bad, so if we have to do this in the
aviation sector, we want to ensure we
do this correctly with the government
parastatals and traders that have
contracts for supply in Europe and
other parts of the world.
“There are cargo planes and passenger
bellies that go out of Nigeria empty.
But there are also rotten fruits in the
farm. So at the moment, there is a gap.
So we are trying to consolidate and see
how we can play in this regard. We are
a logistic solution.
“When you look at Nigeria’s Gross
Domestic Product, GDP, about 10 to
13 percent of the GDP is from the
•Prof. Kila
It is time to represent their
challenges as rewarding opportunities
to capable innovators, inventors and
investors.
Maintenance of equipment,
refining of aviation fuel, training and
development of human capital, and
other problems that are adversely
affecting the sector, can be thrown
open to the market as opportunities
for players outside the aviation sector.
To do all these and
much more, requires the ability to
conceive, shape and propose
Logistics sector because this is about
commerce and production. We eat and
drink every day and things have to
move around.
“We need to pay for logistics. Nigeria's
logistics market is about $60 billion
market. If you say our GDP is between
$500 to $600 billion market, so 10
percent of this or more amounts to $60
billion.
“For now, we try to gather information
to enable us to bring in assets. We want
to bring in assets but it has to be in the
right way. We have to see off-takers and
agree on what the products are.
“We do not see the products. We have
actually ventured into the market. We
have leased an airplane two years ago,
doing Lagos-Accra when our vehicle
service was down. Because every single
day we move from Lagos to Accra by
bus and trucks.
“But when COVID-19 hit, we leased
an airplane because we had no goods
to move. It was a 14-tonne 737 airplane
and we were struggling to get two
tonnes in a week. We saw that the
biggest player on the route was DHL
and they were bringing about 70 to 80
tonnes into Nigeria and moving it
across West Africa.
“So it is mostly imported goods that
are moving via the African routes.
Kenya is taking out a lot and they have
a great supply contract. They meet the
international standards.”
Also, the President of Aircraft Owners
and Pilots Association of Nigeria, Alex
Nwuba, noted that, “We call them
cargo airports but they are just airports.
They just have that name cargo because
they are built by State governments but
it doesn't mean that we can't take
advantage of that structure.
“The comparative advantage is where
these airports exist. Anambra has a
strategy for producing agricultural
products and vegetables for domestic
and international markets. You cannot
move this by road. The airport will be
useful to achieve this."
rewarding and sustainable
partnership between the public and
private sectors.
Aside enhancing safety in the
industry, for the sake of consumers and
citizens, operators should be working
as a clearing house for delayed or
stranded passengers.
They should ensure that stranded
passengers of delayed and cancelled
flights could fly with the next available
flights.
This is just as debit and credit card
holders issued by one bank can easily
withdraw money from the Automated
Teller Machine, ATM of any available
bank. The government, through the
presiding ministry and its regulating
agencies in collaboration with the
Ministry of Finance need to champion
the case of aviation.
What can airlines do differently?
Airlines need to start stronger, they
need very big capital and they need to
develop as a concern of a consortium
rather than as individuals. To be
sustainable, they might need to charge
fees in dollars instead of in naira, they
need to spend more capital on human
development so that they can get the
right skills. They also need partnership
with government and other sectors of
the economy.