NIGERIA: Nigeria Air, Is It A National Carrier Or National Airline And Will It Survive Where Others Have Failed?

Anytime Senator Hadi Sirika, minister of state for aviation, spoke about setting up a national carrier, I always switched off. Even though I like his ideas and I still salute his single-mindedness in closing down the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for a critical runway reconstruction last year.

I just could not see eye-to-eye with him on the matter of a national carrier. It was going to be a waste of time and resources, I argued. I had evidence.

For decades, the Nigerian government has satisfactorily shown that it cannot run any business professionally. There is no single commercial entity run by the government that does well. We always end up burning money.

The defunct national airline, Nigeria Airways, started off so well in 1958 but eventually crashed in 2003 as the Nigerian disease of mismanagement ate it up.

Its business class seats were reserved for government officials and their cronies, girlfriends and families most of whom flew free of charge.

That is the way government business is run in Nigeria. Nigeria Airways flew from turbulence to turbulence despite the economic opportunities in the aviation industry.

Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and South African Airways, owned by their respective governments, were doing fairly well but our own Nigeria Airways was descending both in service quality and profitability.

President Olusegun Obasanjo assumed office in 1999 lamenting that Nigeria Airways had 32 aircraft when he left office as military ruler in 1979.

Twenty years later, only one aircraft was functional. He promised to revive the airline. I was in the team of journalists that flew to South Africa in 2000 for the signing of a lucrative code-sharing deal with South African Airways on the Johannesburg-Lagos-New York route.

We were told the deal would breathe a new life into Nigeria Airways. It was only on paper. While SAA is still going strong, our own national airline finally collapsed under heavy debts in 2003, unable to keep head above water despite subventions and subsidies.

The climax of the sad Nigeria Airways story, as narrated by a passenger, was in May 2002. A New York-Lagos flight was delayed for 24 hours because the airline couldn’t pay for fuel. Passengers had to contribute to fuel the aircraft. One passenger gave a loan of $5,000 to the airline.

It turned out to be the last flight. Another sad story is that of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL), set up by government in 1959. It sank in 1995 under the weight of debts and mismanagement.

All its 21 vessels were sold off. With these stories at the back of my mind, I was not excited when the Buhari administration started talking about setting up a national carrier.

But I am having a rethink with the unveiling of the Nigeria Air brand on Wednesday. Sirika said the federal government will own only 5% as well as raise the start-up capital for operations to commence in December.

He said it is going to be a public private partnership (PPP) to be privately managed. Investors will own the remaining 95%. There is already an international drive to market the venture to partners and investors.

The proposed carrier is expected to be a major player in the aviation sector, serving domestic, regional and international routes. The business projection is that in five years, it will be carrying four million passengers and boasting of a fleet of 30 aircraft.

For starters, national carrier is not the same as national airline. A national carrier flies the country’s flag and gets preferential treatment in international operations while a national airline is owned by the government.

A national carrier, sometimes called flag carrier, does not have to be government-owned. There are different models. For instance, British Airways is the UK flag carrier but it is not owned by the British government. It’s the same for Lufthansa (Germany) and Japan Airlines.

But Ethiopian Airlines and EgyptAir are 100% state-owned. Kenya Airways was wholly state-owned until 1996. It is now public-private.

Actually, my interest in Nigeria Air is fuelled by many factors. One, government will not have a say in the management. With 5% stake, it will be a minority shareholder. If the airline runs well, therefore, Nigeria will be reaping dividends rather than burning subventions.

We will now have to pray that Nigeria Air will not be managed by the mindless and clueless Nigerian big men and buccaneers who have not the foggiest idea about how the airline business is run. There are too many failed examples in our aviation industry.

The success of Nigeria Air will depend on the quality of management. But, to start with, the government will not be involved. That sounds better.

Two, the benefit of solid start-up capital means we can be assured of good aircraft. When Arik launched operations in 2006, its selling point was the tear rubber or brand new aircraft. Despite all its troubles, Arik’s safety record is still intact.

That is a benefit of a well-invested capital and maintenance. Government should invest in businesses that require huge capital outlay in order to spark off investors’ interest.

When no investor was interested in building hotels in Abuja, federal government built Hilton and Sheraton, which it later privatised. Can you count the number of hotels in Abuja today?

Nigeria is not enjoying much benefit from its bilateral air service agreements (BASA). For instance, British Airways flies to Lagos and Abuja daily and Virgin Atlantic flies to Lagos also daily, but there is no Nigerian airline flying to the UK.

Not even one flight! You are not likely to find this anomaly in many countries with a huge market like ours. According to Sirika, Nigeria Air will fly 41 international routes, in addition to 81 domestic and 40 regional.

If anything, virtually every sector of the Nigerian economy should benefit from the business, not forgetting the little matter of job creation in a country direly trying to tackle unemployment.

Four, the fact that government is investing in a business does not mean it is doomed. A ready example is Nigeria LNG Limited, in which government owns 49% but which it does not run. It is one of the best NLGs in the world.

If it was run by government, it would have become another NNPC — which is just a sleazy centre for the distribution of political patronage. We have not only recovered our investment in NLNG, we have continued to enjoy the fruits of our seed capital.

Therefore, that government is investing in an idea does not necessarily doom it. What makes the difference is who manages it. The government must not have the power to play patronage politics with Nigeria Air.

Economists will say everything has an opportunity cost. I agree that the money government is going to invest in Nigeria Air can be used for other pressing needs in education, healthcare, water, roads, bridges, and so on.

However, the fact that we need roads and schools does not mean we don’t need to improve options for Nigerian travellers and incentivise competition in the aviation space. We can do many things simultaneously. One does not stop the other.

Given the expected multiplier effect, this looks like an investment worth making, all things being equal. It is more than national pride, it is sowing seed in an economic driver.

Virgin Nigeria was running fairly well until the Nigerian factor ruined it. Its successor, Air Nigeria, was a natural disaster. Arik was considerably successful until it was infected by the Nigerian disease of mismanagement.

Nigerian billionaires are always guaranteed government bail-out whenever they ruin their businesses. The moral hazard encourages bad behaviour.

If Nigeria Air ends up in the hands of these buccaneers, then its fall will be mightier than that of Nigeria Airways. Ironically, Nigeria Airways was profitable when it was managed by KLM. Nigerians took over in the 1980s and please help me complete the sentence.

Ex-workers of Nigeria Airways are still being owed. In September 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari approved N45 billion for the settlement of their severance benefits. The national assembly did not pass it. This issue has to be resolved before we can start a new carrier.

Investors are expected to inject between $150 million and $300million over a number of years. We need to know how much in total Nigeria will be committing to it and how the funds will be raised. We can use all the transparency at this stage. Already, the PDP has described it as a scam.

Finally, my understanding is that PPP has three stages — development, procurement and implementation. The idea has been developed. That is what we saw with the unveiling of the brand at the Farnborough Airshow in the UK last week where the biggest guys in the global industry usually gather.

The next phase is procurement. Where will Nigeria get the funds to pay for the aircraft? Will it a recoverable loan from the federal government? Will we source funds from Exim Bank, AfDB or commercial banks? We need to know.

Investors are expected to inject at least $150 million by 2019. Have investors started showing interest? We need answers, Senator Sirika.

Except there is a supernatural dimension to this issue, I still don’t know why the federal government will not release Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) from detention. The former national security adviser has been granted bail by the court countless times.

The attorney-general, Mallam Abubakar Malami, says Dasuki was responsible for the death of 100,000 people and will not be released on bail. Does that mean Dasuki is already serving a prison sentence?

Normally, it is a court of law that pronounces an accused guilty. The attorney-general would be better off arguing his case against bail in court. But he has now assumed the role of a judge.

While we await the final word on the controversial NYSC discharge certificate of Mrs Kemi Adeosun, the minister of finance, I must confess that I have learnt a lot from this saga. For one, I never knew you have to serve even if you are 60, as long as you graduated before clocking 30.

I just assumed if you return to Nigeria after 30, you will be exempted. I also never knew that even if you never set a foot on Nigerian soil, as long as one of your parents is a Nigerian, you are automatically a Nigerian.

Meanwhile, now that a generation of Nigerians are schooling abroad, I hope their parents will remind them to come home and serve, even if they will still return to live abroad.

Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, on Thursday ruled out government’s interference in the recruitment and operations of new national carrier, Nigeria Air.

Sirika gave the assurance at a lecture, held at the Air Force Institute of Technology’s 47th convocation in Kaduna.

He explained that the airline was unveiled in London for visibility but that investors in the company would decide the running of the airline.

Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, on Thursday ruled out government’s interference in the recruitment and operations of new national carrier, Nigeria Air.


Sirika gave the assurance at a lecture, held at the Air Force Institute of Technology’s 47th convocation in Kaduna.

He explained that the airline was unveiled in London for visibility but that investors in the company would decide the running of the airline.

There will be no management control whatsoever. But I want to warn you that the people who are going to do recruitment ab initio will be a company that is world-class, he said.

Sirika said that Nigeria Air would be different from the grounded Nigeria airways.

The ownership is different. It is different because it is private sector-driven.

Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, on Thursday ruled out government’s interference in the recruitment and operations of new national carrier, Nigeria Air.

Sirika gave the assurance at a lecture, held at the Air Force Institute of Technology’s 47th convocation in Kaduna.

He explained that the airline was unveiled in London for visibility but that investors in the company would decide the running of the airline.

There will be no management control whatsoever. But I want to warn you that the people who are going to do recruitment ab initio will be a company that is world-class, he said.

Sirika said that Nigeria Air would be different from the grounded Nigeria airways.

The ownership is different. It is different because it is private sector-driven.

Government will own minority share of less than five per cent.

Nigeria Airways died due to so many reasons, including governance issues and also that of finance.

Nigeria Airways was owned by the government of Nigeria and over time it lost track and lost funding and someone, therefore, decided to shut it down and it died, he added.


Tourism Observer

NIGERIA: Dana Air Added To IGOM Registry By IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has listed Dana Air as the latest African carrier on its Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) registry.

The airline in a statement by Mr. Kingsley Ezenwa, its spokesman said IGOM registry was for companies and airlines who had demonstrated full compliance with internationally recognized standards for ground handling processes.

The IATA Ground Operational Manual concept which was initiated by the global carriers’ association, defines ground handling standards for airlines and ground service providers to ensure safe, efficient, and consistent ground service activities.

According to AITA, ground operations are essential task for all airlines and ground service providers to deliver smooth turnarounds and on time departures, with safety being the number one priority.

The IATA Board of Governors has set a target - 50 per cent of member airlines in 2006, to start to implement the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) as their minimum standard for ground operations.

The statement quoted Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo, Dana Air’s Accountable Manager as saying that the airline was listed after the international association confirmed its full adherence to global ground handling manual.

He expressed delight on the listing of the airline, stressing that it had consistently adhered strictly to global best practices in its operations.

He lauded IATA for recognising the airline’s ground handling safety standards and unwavering commitment to operational excellence.

We wish to also take the moment to reassure our ever-supportive and loyal guests of our strong desire to continue to provide safe, reliable and affordable air transport service in Nigeria, he added.

Dana Air is a Nigerian airline headquartered in Ikeja and based out of Lagos's Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

Dana Air serves the following destinations:

Abuja – Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport

Lagos – Murtala Muhammed International Airport base

Owerri - Sam Mbakwe Airport

Port Harcourt - Port Harcourt International Airport

Uyo - Akwa Ibom Airport

Dana Air fleet consists of the following aircraft:

McDonnell Douglas MD-82: 1

McDonnell Douglas MD-83: 3

Total: 4

On 3 June 2012, a Dana Air McDonnell Douglas MD-83 operating as Flight 992 crashed into a two-storey building at Iju Railway, Ishaga, a suburb of Lagos.

All 153 people on the aircraft were killed. Following the crash, all flights by Dana Air were halted by Nigeria's Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) until further notice.

On 7 February 2018, a Dana Air flight landed in Abuja and was taxiing on the runway when one of the emergency exit doors fell off.

No casualties resulted from the incident. Passengers claimed that the door rattled throughout the flight.

A spokesperson for the airline, however claimed that the door could not have fallen off without a conscious effort by a passenger.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority instituted an investigation into the incident to determine what exactly happened.

On 20 February 2018, a Dana Air MD-83 with registration 5N-SRI veered of the runway at Port-Harcourt international airport during a night landing.

There were no casualties, but the aircraft suffered significant damage.

Both the airline and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria stated that the cause of the accident was inclement weather as there was torrential rain at the time of the landing.


Tourism Observer

NIGERIA: RwandAir Commences Kigali - Abuja Flights

Rwand Air on Friday inaugurated its maiden flight to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with 30 passengers on board Boeing 737-700 aircraft from Kigali, Rwanda’s capital.

Miss Ibiyemi Odunsi, the airline’s Country Manager, Nigeria, said that the commencement of Abuja-Kigali route was part of the airline’s determination to expand its business to the nation’s capital.

Odunsi said the airline decided to give the diplomatic community and government officials the opportunity to experience direct flights to Kigali and other parts of the world through the destination.

She said that Rwand Air would be operating four times weekly flight to and from Abuja – Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday unlike Lagos where it operates daily flights.

Nigerian travellers can now fly direct from Abuja through Rwand Air without having to go to Lagos because; if you have not started business in Abuja you have not started in Nigeria.

We have been in Nigeria since 2012 but this is significant for us because it is something that has been on our minds before now, but we have made it happen.

All this while, the diplomatic community, government officials probably have been segregated because they have not been able to enjoy Rwand Air.

This is because most people won’t have the luxury of going through Lagos, but effective today, they can fly seamlessly without having to go to Lagos.

As an airline, we know that this is the political capital of the country and as Nigeria is expanding we have to be part of what it is doing.

Now we know we are doing what Nigerian travellers want because we cannot just be in the commercial capital without being where the stakeholders are, she said.

Odunsi said the airline was aware of the competition in the industry, adding Rwand Air’s unique selling point would stand it out such as its safety record and on-time performance.

She expressed optimism that the airline would be able to achieve 80 to 85 per cent load factor on the Abuja route through efficient service delivery.

The Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Stanislas Kamanzi, commended the Federal Government, aviation agencies and management of Rwand Air in Nigeria for making it possible for the opening of Abuja route.

Kamanzi said the new route was a product of the long standing friendship between Nigeria and Rwanda, adding that the Abuja-Kigali route would deepen trade relationship between the two countries.

According to him, this is coming at the right time when Africa is moving toward integration and the fastest mode of transportation is through air.

We look forward to growing trade and diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Rwanda as well between East and West Africa.

That is what we need for our people to tap the wealth of our continent, he said.

Also, International Terminal Manager, FAAN, Mrs Hajara Musa, who represented the Airport Manager, said the authority was ready to give the airline the needed cooperation to enable it succeed.

Musa said the airport was always ready to receive more flights to encourage trade facilitation by the government.


Tourism Observer

NIGERIA: Arik Air Plane In Emergency Landing In Accra, Ghana

A Nigerian plane made an emergency landing in Ghana after smoke was detected in the cabin, officials said Friday, in the latest incident to hit domestic and foreign airline operators.

The aircraft, owned by Arik Air, was travelling from Lagos to Accra on Tuesday when the fault was detected but no-one was hurt, a company statement said.

Arik Air flight W3 304 from Lagos to Accra on March 6, 2018 declared an emergency in line with standard operating procedures, when an unknown source of smoke was detected in the cabin, it said.

The incident occurred 130 kilometres from the Ghanaian capital but the plane landed safely in Accra without further incident, it said.

It was the latest in a string of incidents involving the aviation sector over the past month.

On February 7, an emergency exit door fell off a Dana Air jet as it landed in Abuja after flying in from Lagos.

Six days later, an Atlanta-bound Delta airlines jet was forced to return to Lagos after a fire was detected in one of its engines with passengers using emergency slides to evacuate the plane, officials said.

On February 17, an Air Peace plane had to delay landing in the southwestern city of Akure because cows had strayed onto the runway.

Another Dana Air plane overshot the runway at Port Harcourt on February 20 due to heavy rain and flooding.

And on Wednesday, the Nigerian government ordered a complete audit of Dana Air's operations to determine the technical fitness of its fleet.

The airline was grounded after a 2012 crash outside Lagos that killed all 153 on board and six on the ground. Mechanical failure and pilot error were blamed.

Arik Air yesterday explained the smoke incident that happened on it’s flight W3 304 from Lagos to Accra,Ghana. A passenger aboard the said flight had on Thursday night accused the airline of not given passengers medical attention after the plane landed in Accra

Explaining what happened, Arik Air Communication Manager, Mr Banji Ola said : Arik Air flight W3 304 from Lagos to Accra on March 6, 2018 declared an emergency in line with standard operating procedures, when unknown source of smoke was detected in the cabin 81 miles from Accra.

The captain of the flight briefed the passengers accordingly assuring them that the aircraft was under control and safe for landing in Accra.

The aircraft, a Dash 8 Q400, landed safely in Accra without further incident and all passengers disembarked normally.

The aircraft is currently parked in Acrra and our team of engineers are conducting comprehensive inspections on the aircraft to ascertain the cause of the smoke, after which the aircraft will be flown without passengers to a maintenance facility for rectification and testing.

The relevant aviation authorities in Ghana and Nigeria have been briefed appropriately on the incident, he added.

Arik Air is a Nigerian airline operating mainly from two hubs at Murtala Muhammed International Airport near Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Arik Air's head office is the Arik Air Aviation Center on the grounds of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja. Arik Air serves a network of regional and mid-haul destinations within Africa.

On 3 April 2006, Arik Air took over the former Nigeria Airways facilities in Lagos, some three years after its liquidation, and began reconstruction work.

On 14 June 2006, Arik took delivery of 2 new Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft to fly domestic routes throughout Nigeria and, within the African continent from Summer 2006, 2 ex-United Airlines Boeing 737–300s and 3 50 seat Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft.

In August 2006, the Federal Ministry of Aviation granted Arik Air authorisation to fly to Trinidad and Tobago and Amsterdam, London and Madrid in Europe.

Furthermore, the airline then planned to fly to Atlanta, Miami, and Houston in the United States and Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

On 30 October 2006, Arik Air began scheduled passenger flights with four flights between Lagos and Abuja using CRJ 900 aircraft.

Flight operations began to Calabar on 15 November 2006 and services to Benin City and Enugu started on 7 January 2007. The airline is wholly owned by Ojemai Investments.

The Nigerian government set a deadline of 30 April 2007 for all airlines operating in the country to re-capitalise or be grounded in an effort to ensure better services and safety.

The airline satisfied the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)’s criteria in terms of re-capitalisation and was re-registered for operation.

On 4 April 2008, Arik Air was given permission to fly to the United States by the US Department of Transportation.

Arik Air started international operations to London-Heathrow on 15 December 2008, using an Airbus A340-500 aircraft damp-leased from Hi Fly. It added Johannesburg on 1 June 2009, New York JFK on 30 November 2009, and Dubai on 28 July 2014.

Subsidiary airline Arik Niger commenced operations in April 2009, but was shut down in February 2010.

Arik Air transported its 5 millionth passenger on 6 August 2010 and it transported its 10 millionth passenger on 18 September 2012, both on flights between Johannesburg and Lagos.

On 20 September 2012, the airline cancelled all its domestic operations after aviation officials raided the airline's office in Lagos, Nigeria. Flights resumed on 23 September.

Arik Air had placed an order for five Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which was cancelled in 2011.

Arik Air then placed an order for two Boeing 747-8I aircraft 2013. However, in early 2017, Arik Air converted the 747-8I orders to two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners instead.

Arik Air had been the last remaining airline customer for the passenger 747-8 who had not yet received any examples, and now the United States Air Force and UPS Airlines are the sole remaining customers.

The conversion of the 747-8 order to Dreamliners came shortly after the airline, owing to major financial stress and most aircraft not being operational.

It was taken over by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) at the start of 2017, deeming the airline as too big to fail.

Since the takeover, all flights leaving Africa, along with flights to O.R. Tambo International Airport, have been gradually suspended.

Simultaneously, KPMG was appointed by AMCON to conduct a forensic audit on Arik Air's books.

Since then, AMCON is gradually in the process of reviving and stabilising the airline and its operations.

Arik Air in the restructuring has suspended all international operations except to Ghana, Senegal, and The Gambia, resulting in the A330 fleet being parked in France.

Arik Air has built up a domestic network covering mainly Nigerian and several other Western African destinations.

The Arik Air fleet includes the following aircraft

- Boeing 737-700 9

- Boeing 737-800 4

- Bombardier CRJ900 4

- Bombardier CRJ1000 1

- Bombardier Q400 2


Tourism Observer

NIGERIA: Aviation Industry Limping

Nigeria closed its airport in Abuja for urgent repairs to the runway. This further exacerbated financial losses in the aviation industry which saw the biggest carrier Arik Air taken over by government.

Serious safety risks are forcing the aviation industry in Nigeria's capital Abuja to come to a temporary halt. The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport will be closed for six weeks of urgent repair work to the airport's only runway. The closure of one of the country's two main airports heavily impacted business schedules and add further financial losses to the already ailing economy. Major international airlines canceled flights to Abuja for the repair period which was due to start on March 8.

The latest to do so is South African Airlines (SAA). It followed British Airways, KLM, Air France and Lufthansa. Flights to Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub, continued. Officials said the runway in Abuja was in shocking disrepair and that attempts to fix it piecemeal since its lifespan ended 14 years ago had failed. An SAA plane was damaged while landing there last August.

This is really not a good development to allow the airport to deteriorate and then close it down because they only have this one runway, said a passenger. It can be seen as negligence and will have a negative impact economically, but perhaps not to such a large extent as one might think, he added optimistically.

Travellers landed in Lagos and travel on to the capital Abjua. But that was not the preferred option if one wanted to save time and costs. The option of flying to Kaduna was rejected by many passengers since the road from there to Abuja was unsafe.

Many airlines refused a government proposal to divert flights to northern Kaduna city and then bus passengers the 250 kilometers (155 miles) south to Abuja - a three-and-a-half-hour ride on a road which is notorious for accidents, hijackings and kidnappings. That proposal "would impact on aircraft availability and connectivity for passengers," SAA spokesman Tlali Tlali said in media reports.

The refusals came despite promises by Nigeria's government to provide security on the highway from Kaduna to Abuja and to upgrade facilities at Kaduna's airport. Three months ago, the airport still did not have computers and airline staff issued handwritten boarding cards.

Lack of maintenance affected not only the aviation industry in Nigeria but also the country's entire infrastructure, despite its status as one of Africa's largest economies.

The country's aviation sector has been hard-hit by Nigeria's currency crisis, with tickets paid in devalued naira but scarce foreign currency needed for fuel. To avoid the closure of the country's biggest airline, the government stepped in taking over Arik Air, a heavily indebted company with erratic operation challenges.

According to Jude Nwauzor, spokesman for the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Arik failed to repay loans totaling 135 billion naira ($429 million, 402 million euros) by the end of 2016 and was also in debt to numerous foreign creditors. "AMCON has taken over the management of Arik because the whole place is in a mess. "We have appointed a new management to stabilize the airline and prevent it from going down like other airlines in Nigeria," Nwauzor said.

In December, planes were grounded by a 24-hour strike over unpaid wages. The airline was unable to pay workers for months and had its aircraft seized for non-payment of leases. The company was almost bankrupt,mostly due to mismanagement and corruption.

They have 500 workers and many lost their jobs if government did not taking over." The takeover seems to be in line with government's wish to bring back a national carrier.

The dilemma worsened when Arik Air had to cancel flights regularly because it could not pay for fuel. Thousands of passengers were stranded during the past year.

Arik is the biggest airline in West Africa and flies 55 percent of domestic flights in Nigeria as well as transcontinental routes to London and New York.

The aviation industry in Nigeria is in turmoil and Arik is not the only airline struggling: Nigeria's second-biggest carrier, Aero Contractors, halted services for four months because of "serious financial difficulties." Airlines say a lack of foreign currency caused by the economic recession in Nigeria has left them unable to pay fuel suppliers and, in some cases, pay landing charges at airports outside the country.

Last year two other Nigerian airlines stopped operating and United Airlines and Iberia also pulled out of Nigeria over the currency crisis in which international airlines lost millions of dollars while the government blocked their remittances in foreign currency and the naira tumbled.

Aviation analysts have previously criticized the running of Nigerian airlines for trying to minimize operating costs in order to boost profits.

That has seen more than 40 operators go bust in 35 years, including Nigeria Airways, which collapsed in 2003. However air travel is the only viable way to get around Nigeria relatively quickly because of the underdeveloped road and rail infrastructure.

NIGERIA: Woman Gets 10 Years For Smuggling Cocaine

Justice B.O. Quadri of the Federal High Court, Abuja has sentenced a 55-year-old female pilgrim, Basirat Iyabo Binuyo, caught last September smuggling 76 pellets of cocaine weighing 931 grammes to Medina, Saudi Arabia to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour with effect from Monday.

In his judgement, Quadri said the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others.

Besides, he said that the hard labour was added because the convict failed to reveal the identity of her sponsors.

Binuyo tested positive to narcotic ingestion at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia last September.

She was immediately placed under observation by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, during she excreted 76 pellets of substances found to be cocaine.

The NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Hamisu Lawan, said the convict hails from Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

She is married with three children and a trader at Dosumu Market, Lagos.

In her statement to the NDLEA, she agreed to smuggling the drugs for a fee.

Binuyo wrote: “I am a trader in Lagos, married with three children.

“I wanted to expand my cosmetic business but I have no money.

“My sponsor offered to foot my expenses to Saudi on pilgrimage.

“I was excited until I was asked to take drugs along.

“I wanted to decline but considering the offer of a million naira, I accepted.

“I swallowed the drugs in Lagos and took flight to Abuja on my way to Medina, but I was caught in the process.”

The Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd), while applauding the sentence, warned against drug trafficking.

Abdallah said: “The war against drug trafficking in Nigeria is on course. Stopping the woman from going to Saudi with the drugs was highly commendable and the punishment is right. No drug traffickers shall go unpunished.”

NIGERIA: Ethiopian Airlines To Make Daily Flights To Kaduna

The Ethiopian Airlines says it will fly Kaduna route with daily frequency with its Dream Liner aircraft during the six weeks closure period of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Firiehiwot Mekonnen, Traffic and Sales Manager of the Airline in Abuja, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

Mekonnen spoke after a closed door meeting between the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, and representatives of foreign airlines operating in the country in his office.

She said that the airline’s team of experts had inspected the airport, urging the Federal Government to address the areas of concern raised by the team in order to ensure smooth operation in Kaduna.

She said: “Ethiopian airlines have been flying to Nigeria since independence and never suspend or reduce its flights since then rather we have increased our flight for both passenger and cargo.

“We have been here through thick and thin so we will always be here to support Nigerians.

“In this decision of closing Abuja airport, the airline stands by Nigerian government so we will fly to Kaduna with daily frequency with dream liner.

“And we hope the government will work on the Kaduna airport based on the remarks we gave during our inspection in order to help smooth operation.”

Mekonnen also disclosed that the airline flew to four destinations in Nigeria, explaining that it flew Dream Liner aircraft to Abuja seven days a week and Boeing 777 to Lagos seven days a week.

She added that the airline flew Kano and Enugu three and four times a week and sometimes up to 5 times a week depending on the season and scheduled cargo flights to each city.

According to her, in 2017, the airline is planning to open more new destinations, receive more new and modem aircraft and give a reliable safe air transport service to our esteemed passengers.

“As a successful pan African airline, we are helping to sustain Africa’s market by connecting the continent to the rest of the world,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government had invited foreign airline operators to inspect the Kaduna International Airport ahead of the March 8 closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport, Abuja.

Sirika the Kaduna airport was fully ready to accommodate traffic diversion from Abuja between March 8 and April 9, when Abuja runway would undergo repair.

NIGERIA: Lafia Airport Will Be Functional In Next 2 Years

Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Umar Tanko Al-Makura, has given an assurance that in the next two years, the Lafia airport will be ready for operation.

He said the ongoing Lafia Airport, when completed will be the most viable alternative to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport which is in Abuja.

“With the commitment of the contractors, there is every assurance that in the next two years the airport will be ready for use”.
The governor affirmed that with the 65 kilometer road to be constructed from the Airport to Keffi, passengers from Abuja will be able to access the Airport within one hour ten minutes.

He explained that depending on the location of passengers in Abuja, the Lafia Airport will be closer to those around Karu, Asokoro and other locations in Abuja looking at the distance to the Abuja Airport and that of Lafia.

He further maintained that the airport will also open up more business channels and activities that will boost both the economy of the state, FCT and equally create employment opportunities for the people.

He added that the people of the state and business partners interested in the project should be rest assured that the Airport will be a reality.

NIGERIA: Buhari Medical Status Remains A Top Secret, He May Not Be Seen Soon

Only the doctors currently attending to President Muhammadu Buhari in the United Kingdom have the last say on when he can return to Nigeria, according to an update on his vacation yesterday.

The doctors, Buhari said in his February 5 letter to the Senate seeking an extension of his vacation, must be “satisfied that certain factors are ruled out” before he can be let back home.

An online newspaper published the letter in full yesterday for the first time.

Simultaneously, Wife of the President Aisha Buhari thanked Nigerians for their prayers for the President and asked them to sustain the tempo.

She spoke on her arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from the lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The President’s letter reads: “Further to my letter dated 18th January 2017 in which I notified the Distinguished Senate of taking part of my annual leave.

“During my leave, I took the opportunity to have routine check-ups and consult my long standing doctors in London.

“In the course of the routine examinations, certain test result indicated the need for a course of medications and further appointments have been scheduled for next week.

“I am therefore notifying the Distinguished Senate that I am extending my leave until the doctors are satisfied that certain factors are ruled out. In the circumstances, the vice president will continue to act on my behalf.

“Please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

The medical status of the President remains a top secret.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said last week that only the President can divulge his medical details to whoever he wants.
But he said he had spoken with him and he was doing well.

Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara also confirmed during the week that Buhari spoke with them separately by phone from UK.

They said there was no cause for anxiety on his state of health.

National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and former Interim Chairman of the party, Chief Adebisi Akande, last week visited him in London.

Mrs. Buhari whose plane touched down at 3.15pm said: “I want to use this opportunity to thank all Nigerians for the goodwill and support for my husband and Nigeria in general.”

She asked for more.

She said she used the opportunity of the lesser hajj to pray for Nigeria and her leaders.
“We should not relent in prayers and good deed,” she said.

On hand at the airport to welcome her back home were the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki, former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Mrs Pauline Tallen; wives of the service chiefs – Mrs Omobolanle Olonishakin, Mrs Ummu Kulthum Buratai, Mrs Theresa Ibok Ibas, Mrs Hafsat Sadiq and Mrs Asma’u Idris.


Also at the airport were the wives of Kebbi State Governor, Mrs Zainab Bagudu, and that of Kogi State, Mrs Rashidat Bello.

NIGERIA: Medview To Fly From Maiduguri And Yola To Kaduna Airport

Medview Airline has said that with the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from March 7 to April 18, 2017 for the rehabilitation of the runway, all its flights to Maiduguri and Yola will be routed through the Kaduna airport.

The airline also said that the departure and arrival time for the flights as well as flights originating from Lagos would remain unchanged and that there would be five daily flights on the route.

“Medview Airline has rolled out a special schedule with five daily flights from Lagos to Kaduna International Airport. The flight schedule will be operational on March 8, 2017, a day after the Abuja airport has been closed.

With the schedule, all Medview Airline flights to Maiduguri and Yola will be routed through the Kaduna airport, but their departure and arrival times remain unchanged as well as flights originating from Lagos,” the airline said in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Obuke Oyibotha.


The Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, was quoted to have sid the schedule was a proactive measure taken to ensure that all its passengers going to Maiduguri and Yola had a seamless transition to their various destinations, while flying Abuja-bound passengers to Kaduna.

He said the airline had put in place all the necessary logistics to cope with the traffic expected at the Kaduna airport.
“This is a call to duty and we are equally duty bound to render uninterrupted services to air travellers on all our routes,” Bankole stated.

NIGERIA: Kaduna Airport Ready For Flights, Says Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority,

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has announced that the Kaduna International Airport, Kaduna, KIAK, is now fit and ready for a 24-hour operation.

Sam Adurogboye, General Manager Public Affairs of NCAA, said in Lagos on Tuesday that the airport was ready for local and international flights.

Mr. Adurogboye explained that all necessary steps to ensure that the status of the airport as an alternative airport to the Abuja International Airport during the closure had been taken.

The Federal Government had announced the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, effective from midnight of Wednesday to allow for extensive repairs on the runway.

The NCAA official assured all passengers of safety and security in all airports in the country.

“The navigational aids have been well calibrated and fully functional to facilitate continuous smooth landings and takeoffs.

“Therefore, towards seamless flight operations in line with Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) all relevant departments and directorates with full complement of staff have been redeployed to Kaduna.”

Adurogboye said the Regional Managers of NCAA for Abuja and Kaduna offices were on ground to allow for smooth integration of the additional staff coming to Kaduna.

He said to sustain the safety and security of airline operations, a team of Aviation Safety Inspectors, ASI, from the Directorate of Airworthiness Standards, DAWS, had already moved to the airport.

Mr. Adurogboye said the Directorate of Consumer Protection, DCP, Directorate of Air Transport Regulations, DATR, Directorate of Aerodrome and Airspace Standard, DAAS, and Aviation Security Personnel were already at the airport.

The official named other agencies deployed as NCAA, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Customs and Exercise, and Nigerian Immigration Service.

Mr. Adurogboye said that a National Security Committee had been designed and approved for the security programme to cover the airport and its environs during the six weeks closure.

He noted that at the commencement of flights, the Ethiopian Airlines would be the first scheduled airline to arrive the Kaduna airport upon the closure of Abuja airport.

NIGERIA: Abuja Airport Closing For Six Weeks, International Airlines Reject Kaduna As Not Safe For Flights

Hardly 24 hours to the closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport 9NAIA), Abuja for total rehabilitation of its runway, foreign airlines have continued to shun the alternate airport, Kaduna, insisting the airport is not safe for flight operations.

This is coming as local carriers jostle to increase their frequencies to Kaduna Airport in order to capture more passengers on the route pending the complete renovation of the Abuja runway.

Virtually all the foreign airlines spoken to by our correspondent said that they won’t relocate their operations to Kaduna despite the appeal of the Federal Government for them to do so.

The Airlines said that they have already informed the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika that they would be suspending operations to Abuja the moment it is shut for total rehabilitation. For instance, British Airways in a statement signed by its Regional Commercial Manager West Africa, Mr. Kola Olayinka said that the airline considered several factors before deciding not to fly to Kaduna Airport.

The statement reads: “‘I can confirm that BA will not be operating to Kaduna during the planned closure of the Abuja Airport. “Many factors were considered before this decision was reached, major ones are concern about the safety and security of our passengers as well as difficulties around some key operational issues. “We are currently evaluating all options for our customers planning to travel at that time and we will be reaching out directly to them for information about their trip.”

Also, South African Airways in its letter to Sirika, informed him that it would cease flight operations to Abuja starting from today, March 6th 2017.

The letter was made exclusively available to our correspondent by a source close to the Ministry. The letter was signed by the Ag. Chief Commercial Officer, SAA, Mr. Aaron Munetsi.

The letter read in part: “SAA commends the Nigerian authorities concerning the planned repairs of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport runway. However, due to network and fleet operations planning, SAA regrets to advise that the airline will suspend its Abuja operations with effect from 6th March until April 18th 2017.

“The airline promised to be in constant touch with the Nigerian aviation authorities as the repair work progresses in order to establish its readiness for revised operations in accordance with the work schedule.” Besides, the media consultant to Lufthansa Airways, Mr. Hakeem Jimoh in a telephone conversation with our correspondent said that the carrier would not operate to Kaduna as directed by the government. Rather, he explained that the airline would continue to operate to Port Harcourt and Lagos, stressing that it would only return to Abuja Airport once it is re-opened for flight operations.

He explained that the airline has already stopped the sales of Abuja airport tickets for passengers intending to travel to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from March 8, 2017. Jimo explained that passengers who had already booked ahead, the airline would offer them “no fee booking option,” which would allow them to change their travel plans to Lagos and Port Harcourt Airports without collecting additional charges from them.

He, however, said that for those who still prefer Abuja Airport to any of the alternatives offered by the airline, the management would make refunds to them without any charges.

He said: “There is no plan to operate to Kaduna Airport by the airline. We will soon suspend our operations to Abuja and return to the airport once it is re-opened for flight operations. We don’t have any codeshare arrangement with any Nigerian airline at least for now.


“So, for those who have already book ahead, we will give them alternatives, which is either Lagos or Port Harcourt that we still fly into in the country. We will offer them ‘no-fee booking option,’ which is the industry standards and if any passenger still doesn’t want to fly with us, we will make a full refund of their payments to them without any charges.”

Other airlines that operate into Abuja, but have declined to fly to Kaduna are Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, EgyptAir, Air France and Lufthansa Airways.

However, indigenous carriers have indicated their willingness to operate direct flights to Kaduna as from tomorrow.
Dana Air in a press statement to journalist early this morning said I would commence four daily flights to the state from March 8, 2017.

The airline put the frequencies at 7.02am, 10.53, 13.23pm and 18.25pm, while there would be one flight each from Uyo and Port Harcourt to Kaduna keeping strictly to its scheduled time of departure.

Also, Med-View in a statement by its media consultant hinted that it would as from Wednesday commence five daily flights to Kaduna from Lagos.

The statement explained that with the schedule, all Med-View Airline flights to Maiduguri and Yola would be routed through Kaduna airport, but their departure and arrival time remain unchanged as well as flights originating from Lagos.

Commenting on the increased frequencies, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole said the schedule was a proactive measure taken to ensure that all its numerous passengers going to Maiduguri and Yola have a seamless transition to their various destinations while flying Abuja-bound passengers to Kaduna.

The troubled Nigerian Arik Air, has also announced a special promotional fare that would enable passengers to buy a one-way ticket to any destination in Nigeria from N16, 000 especially those on the Kaduna route.

Arik also introduced a new schedule for the airport. The airline said that it would be operating three daily flights between Kaduna and Lagos and one daily flight between Kaduna and Accra, Ghana during this period.

Abuja Airport runway was constructed in 1982 alongside the commissioning of the airport. Rather than the industry standards of 20 years before total overhauling, the runway was in use for 34 years without any major repairs.

While it is closed, Abuja-bound passengers will have to fly to Kaduna and travel by bus to the capital, guarded by security agents, on a road where kidnappings have become recurrent in the last few years.

The plans for Kaduna to handle Abuja flights have been met with skepticism. The airport handled just 12 flights in December 2015, the last month for which Nigeria’s airports authority has figures, compared with 812 that used Abuja.

NIGERIA: South African Airways Introduces Flights To Abuja

South African Airways (SAA) has introduced a second entry point to Nigeria in its quest to enable trade and unlock mobility, which will considerably add to business travel options in the West African region.

Adding a second gateway in Nigeria to SAA’s existing daily service to Lagos materially strengthens SAA’s position in West Africa. The addition of Abuja to SAA’s network follows closely on the successful introduction of the Accra, Ghana to Washington Dulles, USA route, as a West African platform in August 2015. SAA launched flights between Accra, Ghana and Washington DC in North America.

The introduction of the Accra to Washington route has seen a steady growth in the number of passengers using this route and has performed in line with expectations. This has provided SAA with the confidence to invest further and enhance its footprint in West Africa.

“Nigeria is one of the fastest growing air travel markets in Sub-Saharan Africa and will be well served with our additional services to Abuja. Introducing Abuja as a second entry point in Nigeria will add more travel options, especially for the business community, and will enhance our footprint on the continent,” says Sylvain Bosc, SAA Chief Commercial Officer.

Abuja, built in the 1980s, became Nigeria’s capital in December 1991, and is known for being one of the few purpose-built capital cities in Africa. With Abuja, SAA will be serving eight destinations in Central and West Africa, with flights from its Johannesburg hub to Lagos (Nigeria); Abidjan (Ivory Coast); Cotonou (Benin); Accra (Ghana); Douala (Cameroon), Dakar (Senegal) and Libreville (Gabon) already forming part of the extensive regional route network.

The three weekly flights will operate non-stop between Johannesburg and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja aboard modern Airbus 330-200s, offering SAA Business class comfort and luxury, with the latest in In-flight entertainment.

The first flight is scheduled to depart O.R Tambo International Airport on 26 January 2016. Flights are open for sale on all SAA’s distribution channels.

NIGERIA: Lagos Airport Terminal Almost Complete

Murtala Mohammed International Airport

Passengers and stakeholders at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos will soon witness improved services at the airport as the new terminal under construction has reached completion stage.

Our correspondent who was at the international wing of the airport reports that the terminal with the capacity to process 30 million passengers is almost ready for hand-over to the government.

Unlike before, when the project was kept away from the glimpse of people as the work progressed, visitors and passengers especially airport officials are now able to view the level of work done.

Looking at the new terminal from a distance, it really gives an impression of a project that is about to be completed.

The Lagos terminal is one of the four terminals being constructed, with other three being the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Port Harcourt International Airport and Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.

The new terminal when completed is expected to ease passengers' facilitation at the airport and increase passengers' volume from the present 15 million to 30 million as envisaged by government.

The spokesman of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Yakubu Dati, confirmed that the new terminal is at the stage of completion.

He said: "From what we can observe physically, the work is nearing completion. In fact they are just putting finishing touches and we believe that they would be able to meet up with their deadline which is actually the end of the year to deliver the facility.

NIGERIA: AES Apartments Abuja: Pinnacle Of Pleasure And Luxury

AES Luxury Apartments is one of Nigeria's leading luxury apartments and hotels with ultra-modern facilities that give maximum comfort to its guests.

With less than 20 minutes drive from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, AES is precisely situated on Plot 1118 Daki Biyu, Opposite Citec Estate, along Jabi Airport Road, in a tranquil and secured environment. Without any stress, AES is just about 15 minutes drive to the Central Business District in Abuja.

AES building is a dignifying edifice which has a superlative dazzling exterior and beautifully designed.

The hotel is delectable to sight, the pristine marble used for the floor, golden chandeliers, ornamental artworks , Italian special POP, Gothic columns, iconic furniture set as a living room affairs with the big Plazma TV while the front desk managed by apparently well tutored staff overlooks the reception.

AES Luxury Apartments have over 66 elegant, fully serviced and tastefully furnished apartments with state-of-the-earth facilities in all rooms.

The Single Studio Apartment is stately in setting, well apportioned and well dressed. It is a wide room of a room affair, but has all the necessary facilities and fittings needed for a long stay.

The bedroom is fitted with a bed with five pillows, four throw pillows, blanket as white as snow, thermal studded duvet, reading table, chest drawer with mirror, electrical appliance including a press board and iron.

The Superior Suite Apartment enjoyed more generously with superior fittings and fixtures, Jacuzzi bath which set the value for the price while the Luxurious Suite Apartments are exercise in posh and coziness.

Every item in the Ambassadorial Apartment is fitted and pampered to the taste of any high class diplomat. The door is incased with a CCTV. It comes with another room for aides or personal assistant.

A living room with Baroque furniture, meeting arena, dinning platform for, musical gadgets, big Plazma TV, and a out of the world bedroom with an enviable bathroom as large as a living room with all the facilities needed to tend the body of a skillful and debonair diplomat.

Half Olympic size swimming pool, a pool bar and a natural enclave with nature for the guest pleasure trek can take place are being planted. This garden can accommodate over 300 guests for social events.

The hotel has two restaurants, two bars, night club and business centre. Not just bars for drinking sake. Each is located strategically and configured for comfort, convenience and privacy of guests. Each is designed as avenue to relax, discuss business and have fun.

The night club which can conveniently accommodate more than 100 fun seekers is set on hi-tech modulated musical equipment with sound proof wall.

On Fridays and Saturdays, there are seasoned DJ and comedians at the night club known as AES Royal Lounge Club to entertain the guests.

Being luxury apartments and all en suites, the hotel has multi- purpose stores where all condiments for soups, food items daily needs and other necessities can be procured while there is a supermarket and a sophisticated boutique.

One significant virtue of AES Luxurious Apartment is that the opulence and luxurious fixtures and fittings, exquisite facilities, well mannered staff, excellent culinary products , the almost perfect customers' relations and affection.

Capping this is the robust sense of vigilance and security measure put on ground and spread at AES Luxurious Apartment.

The entire environment is well protected with able body and experienced private security officers supported by Nigerian Police.

AES value added hospitality services are provided by well trained, highly motivated and experience professionals.

NIGERIA: FAAN Begins Passenger Screening For Diseases At Abuja Airport

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said it had intensified surveillance at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to checkmate "import" of infectious diseases.

Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN's Deputy General Manager, Corporate Affairs, who disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja, to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that all agencies operating at the airport had been put on alert.

Yakubu said that the authority was working closely with the Port Health Services and other relevant agencies to ensure that all international passengers were properly screened on arrival.

She disclosed that FAAN's medical team had been put on red alert, adding that all staff had also been cautioned on the need to maintained restraints in their contact with passengers.

According to her, FAAN has sensitised all agencies' representatives in the airport on the need to watch out for any incoming passenger with either high fever, headache or body aches.

"The officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the rest have all been informed about this.

"Recently, we heard over the media that Ebola had resurfaced in Liberia; the head of the port health services in the airport consequently sent a circular to all agencies informing them to be alert.

"The circular also asked the staff to be wary of being too close to passengers," she said.

Yakubu said that health officials at the port had increased surveillance of passengers coming into the country through the international wing of the airport.

She said that the surveillance was currently being carried out at the international arrival area, but would be extended to the local wing.

An official of the port health services, who pleaded anonymity, said that the surveillance was a response to the reported case of Ebola in Liberia.

The official said all staff of the agencies at the airport had been advised to avoid close contact with arriving passengers before they were screened.

According to the official, health officials have also been reminded to always protect themselves before having contact with passengers by always wearing their gloves and other kits.

"And so far, the response has been very impressive because there is high level of compliance from the agencies.

"We will do everything within our power to make sure that the virus does not resurface in this country because we don't want to imagine that experience again," the source said, and urged passengers to cooperate with the authorities.

NIGERIA: Dana Air

Dana Air is an airline based in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria and flying domestic services.Following a fatal air crash in 2012 its licence was suspended, but it was cleared by Nigeria's Civil Aviation Authority to resume flights in 2014

Dana Air serves the following destinations, all of which are in Nigeria:

Abuja – Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
Lagos – Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Port Harcourt - Port Harcourt International Airport
Uyo - Akwa Ibom Airport

Before June 2012, Dana Air also served Calabar, Kano.

With an average age of 23 years per airframe, the Dana Air fleet includes the following aircraft:

Boeing 737-500 1
Boeing 737-800 5 Planes - To be leased from Ryanair
McDonnell Douglas MD-83 4 Planes- To be replaced by 737-800
Total 5 5

On 3 June 2012, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 operating as Flight 992 crashed into a two-story building at Iju Railway, Ishaga a suburb of Lagos. All 153 people on board the aircraft were killed. Following the crash, all flights by Dana Air were halted by Nigeria's Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The airline's license was restored in September 2012 before the inquiry into the accident was concluded. However, in October 2013, the airline's license was once again suspended. The airline was audited and resumed flights on 26 January 2014 with 1 Boeing 737-500

Nigeria has numerous other airlines as below:

Aero Contractors
Allied Air
Arik Air
Associated Aviation
Chanchangi Airlines
Dana Air
Dornier Aviation Nigeria
First Nation Airways
IRS Airlines
Kabo Air
Med-View Airline
Max Air
Overland Airways
Pan African Airlines
Wings Aviation

NIGERIA: Azman Air Services

Azman Air Services Limited is a Kano based domestic airline company established in 2010 by a business mogul Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina. The airline operates scheduled domestic passenger services with its main base in Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano,Nigeria.

The airline was established in 2010 and began operations in 2014 with its first commercial flight that touches Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on 15 May 2014 from Kano.

Azman Air currently operates services to the following domestic scheduled destinations (as of May 2014):

Kano - Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Hub
Abuja - Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
Lagos - Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Kaduna - Kaduna Airport
Yola - Yola Airport