NIGERIA: Calabar The Tourism Capital Of Nigeria

Calabar is the capital city of Cross River State in Southeast Nigeria. It is a charming and quite peaceful city.

Calabar also referred to as Canaan City is a city in Cross River State, in south southern Nigeria.

The original name for Calabar was Akwa Akpa, from the Efik language. The city is adjacent to the Calabar and Great Kwa rivers and creeks of the Cross River from its inland delta.

Calabar is the capital of Cross River State, and has often been described as the tourism capital of Nigeria.

Administratively, the city is divided into Calabar Municipal and Calabar South LGAs. It has an area of 406 square kilometres (157 sq mi) and had a population of 371,022 at the 2006 census.

Calabar is one of the oldest trading centers in Nigeria. The city is set on a natural hill overlooking the Calabar River.

Calabar was established as a center of slave trade by the British in 17th century. It became the biggest colonial administration in Nigeria in the 18th, 19th and early part of the 20th centuries.

At the end of slave Trade, the city was a major port for Palm Oil trade and commodities exports and imports from the South East of Nigeria.

Calabar became the Capital of Niger Coast Protectorate and later the Southern Protectorate capital of Nigeria.

Currently, Calabar is the Capital of Cross River State of Nigeria. The city is a major center of tourism in Nigeria. The Calabar Carnival is the largest street cultural festival in Africa.

The Carnival holds in December of every year and attracts thousands of visitors and guests from all parts of the world.

The original town was known by the Efik name Akwa Akpa. The neighboring town of Ataba took over the name and its Efik/Qua/Efut/Biase/Akampkpa indigenes became known as Calabar.

Calabar is a large metropolis today, with several towns like Akim, Ikot Ansa, Ikot Ishie, Kasuk, Duke Town, Henshaw Town, Ikot Omin, Obutong, Bakassi, Biase, and Akamkpa.

Since the 16th century, Calabar had been a recognized international seaport, shipping out goods such as palm oil.

During the era of the Atlantic slave trade, it became a major port in the transportation of African slaves and was named Calabar by the Spanish.

By the 18th century, most slave ships that transported slaves from Calabar were English, with around 85% of these ships being owned by Bristol and Liverpool merchants.

Old Calabar (Duke Town) and Creek Town, 10 miles northeast, were crucial towns in the trade of slaves in that era.

The first British warship to sail as far as Duke Town, where she captured seven Spanish and Portuguese slavers, may have been HMS Comus in 1815.

The main ethnic group taken out of Calabar as slaves were the Igbo, from the neighboring Igbo land.

A small mulatto community of merchants was located there that had links to missionary and other merchant colonies in Igboland and Lagos, and across the Atlantic.

The city was the home the first social club in Nigeria, The Africa Club. It hosted the first competitive football, cricket and field hockey games in Nigeria.

Among the city's firsts were the first Roman Catholic Mass held at 19 Bocco Street, Calabar – 1903 and the oldest secondary school the Hope Waddell Training Institution – 1895 in eastern Nigeria.

The school later graduated Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was elected as the first President of Nigeria, .

The city has an international museum, a botanical garden, a Free Trade Zone/Port, an international airport and seaport, an integrated sports stadium complex, a cultural centre, one of the most prominent universities in the country, the University of Calabar, a slave history park and several historical and cultural landmarks.

It also has several standard hotels, resorts and amusement parks.

Former Liberian warlord Charles Taylor lived in the old colonial palace in the city, under an agreement that led to the end of his country's civil war, before fleeing extradition to Liberia in March 2006.

The Tinapa Resort, a development by the Cross River State government, lies to the north of the city beside the Calabar Free Trade Zone.

The Cross River State Annual Christmas Festival held every year attracts thousands from within and beyond Nigeria.

The festival, includes music performance from both local and international artists. Other annual events include the Calabar Carnival, a boat regatta, fashion shows, a Christmas Village, traditional dances and the annual Ekpe Festival.

Calabar features a tropical monsoon climate with a lengthy wet season spanning ten months and a short dry season covering the remaining two months.

The harmattan, which significantly influences weather in West Africa, is noticeably less pronounced in the city.

Temperatures are relatively constant throughout the year, with average high temperatures usually ranging from 25 to 28 degrees Celsius.

There is also little variance between daytime and nighttime temperature, as temperatures at night are typically only a few degrees lower than the daytime high temperature.

Calabar averages just under 3,000 millimetres (120 in) of precipitation annually.

Calabar has three principal landlord kingdoms, namely the Qua Kingdom of Ejagham (Ekoi)/Bantu origin, the Efut and the Efik Kingdoms.

The Qua Kingdom has the Ndidem of the Qua nation as the Grand Patriarch, the Efut have the Muri munene as the Grand Patriarch, and the Efik Kingdom patriarch is known as the Obong.

The Efik political authority as it concerns the Obong is hinged on a political tripod: Creek Town, made up of Ambo, Cobham and Eyo; Old Town, made up of Obutong; and Duke Town, or Atakpa, made up of Duke/Archibong, Eyamba, Ntiero, Henshaw and Cobham.

Each leg of this tripod at one time or the other was ruled by a separate Obong.

Within the last 100 years, a gentleman's agreement to merge these three zones into one, with a single titular head as the Obong, and the distribution or opening up of the title to all Efik wards, was reached.

Each of the aspirants to the throne is eminently qualified, none no more so than the other. The title of the Obong of Calabar had been held by Nsa Effiom and Ekpo Nsa in the 17th century.

These two gentlemen were from the Henshaw ward. Attempts by the Henshaw to have an Obong resulted in a war in 1870.

The Henshaws did not attain this title again until within the last 50 years, when David Henshaw became Obong.

Cobham Town, from which Bassey Ekpo Bassey hails, had its first and only Obong recently. All this was made possible because of the contract.

Before the colonial period, Calabar, originally known as Akwa Akpa, was a kingdom with the City of Calabar as the site of government, the Obong of Calabar as the ruler and the Ekpe secret society as the stool on which the Obong of Calabar sat.

Calabar people are mainly people from the Greater Calabar district, Calabar South, Calabar Municipality, Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Biase, Odukpani and Akamkpa, but as commonly used in Nigeria.

The term Calabar people could also refer to the indigenes of Greater Calabar as well as the people of the original South Eastern State of Nigeria who are at present the people of Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State.

Calabar is the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command. The city has a new model school, Nigerian Navy Secondary School, situated in Akpabuyo, about 10 minutes' drive from the airport.

This new school complements the existing Nigerian Navy Primary School and Naval Officers Wives Association Primary School, both situated at Ikot Ansa Calabar.

Like other major cities in Nigeria, power supply could be a major problem. The Federal Government of Nigeria is currently developing a major plant near the city to boost domestic and industrial power supply.

Water is easily available in the city and it is of very good quality.

Other attractions include the Slave Museum, Calabar Free Trade Zone, Tinapa Business and Tourist Resort, Cultural and Civic Center, Calabar Port and University Campuses amongst others.

The city is a few hours drive to the Obudu Ranch Resort which had hosted many Presidential Retreats and conferences in the past. There is an airport which has connecting flights to other major cities in Nigeria.

Calabar is about 1 hour from Lagos by plane. Calabar is about 25 minutes from Port Harcourt and has an International Airport - Margaret Ekpo International Airport.

Calabar is 1 hour flight from Lagos and a 4 hour drive from Port Harcourt. From Lagos you can travel to Calabar by Road with Peace Mass Transit, Akwa Ibom Transport Company Ltd, Cross Lines, and The Young Shall Grow Motors all at Ojuelegba.

Their departure time is between 5.30 am and 7:30 am daily. It takes about 12 to 15 hours drive from Lagos.

With the development of the city by the present administration, the city flight schedules have increased and you can now get a flight in or out of Calabar every day.

Also the major airlines in the country have their presence felt in Calabar and have flights to and from major cities in the country; they include: Virgin Nigeria, Arik Air and Aero Contractors.

Their flight schedules can easily be found at their respective websites.

There is also a regular boat service from various parts of Cameroon's coastline which will transport vehicles and people. You can actually get Cameroonian visas on the boat which can save you a lot of time.

However, you can use Calabar as a base before transferring into Cameroon by road slightly further north.

There are several Car Transportation services into Calabar from all parts of Nigeria including the Major Cities of Lagos,Port Harcourt, Abuja,Yola.They include ABC Tranport,The Young Shall Grow, Elim Tours Etc

The local authorities have made a great effort to make the streets safe by enlarging them, removing potholes, and adding stripes between lanes.

Local taxis are not advisable as the cars are very old and quite often the drivers are not particularly experienced. As long as you are careful Calabar is quite safe.

There is a lot of Colonial Architecture in the older parts of Calabar that are around Henshaw Town, Duke Town and the waterfront areas.

Duke Town church One of the oldest churches in Nigeria. It was established by the Presbyterian church missionaries.

If you go to Eyamba Street just past the church there is a cemetery with stunning views over the town and river.

Inside the cemetrey is the tomb of Mary Slessor, a missionary from Dundee in Scotland UK. She was very influential in this part of Nigeria.

Calabar Museum, on the hill overlooking the waterfront, in the Old Government House, the former residence of the colonial governor. The building was designed and built in Glasgow and shipped over in pieces.

The museum concentrates on the history of Calabar, the region and slavery. It has a larger quantity of original documents relating to Nigeria.

Since it is not heavily frequented by tourists you can easily get a guided tour from one of the staff. Interested persons could spend 3 hours there and barely touch the surface of the material.

There are a lot of artifacts relating to the production of palm oil in the back which are fascinating too.

Drill Monkey Rehab Centre, Ndidem Nsang Iso Road hidden behind the Jahas Guest House.

It was set up by two overlanders from the USA, Peter Jenkins and Liza Gadsby who were biologists back home but who were persuaded by the Nigerian Government to stay in Nigeria and look after the endangered Drill Monkeys.

These were traditionally hunted and eaten in the Afi Mountain range that borders Cameroon.

The couple now have staff in Calabar where they care for recently rescued monkeys e.g. those they capture from people trying to smuggle and export them and they also then return them to the wild at the Drill Ranch in Afi Mountains which is not too far from Calabar.

You need a decent vehicle and map to get you to the ranch. The Afi Mountain Ranch near Katabang has cabins for guest accommodation and a forest canopy walkway (25m high!) for people to experience the environment more closely.

You are able to visit both after prior arrangement with the team. Go, meet Mickey the chimp and experience having him sit in your lap and fiddle with your hair.

The Marina Resort is one of the most fascinating tourist destinations in Calabar.

The resort is home to buildings dating back to the colonial era as well as modern facilities like the slave museum, speed boat ride, the carrousel horse ride, film/movie theatre, and night clubs.

The resort affords visitors a rare view of the beautiful Calabar River in a relaxed atmosphere.

The Cross River State Annual Christmas Festival held every year attracts thousands within and beyond Nigeria.

The Festival which include music performance from both local and international artists, the annual Calabar carnival, Boat regatta, Fashion shows, Christmas Village.

Traditional dances and the annual Ekpe Festival is a yearly events that bring in thousands of tourists at the time of the year.

You can also visit Tinapa. Simalar to Universal studios, provides international standard wholesale emporiums, integrated shopping complexes and product distribution elements supported by business tourism and entertainment facilities.

The old town is remarkable for its great variety of small shops where you can get just about anything but expect to bargain.

There are two great markets, Watt Market and Marian market. Watt market is large, bustling, vibrant and full of beautiful materials etc.

One can buy anything from live chickens to the most stunning wax materials, jeans at knock down prices and anything from car parts to the latest trainers.

Marian market is much smaller but is where the vegetables arrive once weekly from the north of Nigeria and the atmosphere on market day is fantastic, preachers are singing, women are joining in, traders are very vocal and one just bargains for everything.

Seriously, materials in Calabar are second to none. Beautiful waxes from Ghana, stunning materials from all over Africa can be found in Calabar all at prices that will amaze.

There are many very professional tailors who can make wonderful clothing from linens etc.

For those that haven't tasted fresh live fish, you can get it direct from the sea.

A and A Farms, Ikot nakanda, akpabuyo. Poultry, fishery, Piggery, Feedmill.

Go to Bogobiri Corner and enjoy suya from the many vendors.

Freddies Restaurant is the local eaterie. Run by Ellie and a very professional staff, Freddies is a successful and well run restaurant.

Main menu is lebanese foods but Ellie will try to please everyone. Good salads, fish and best of all huge prawns are the best. Local beers, wines and all drinks are available and all at good prices.

Chinese restaurant at the Mirage Hotel is well run and although fairly limited menu, food is good - not cheap though.

Adrians Place, Plot 171 Asari Eso Layout ayoola jafojo.

Adrian's Place MCC, 58 MCC Road ayoola jafojo. This is an annex of Adrian's Place at Asari Eso Layout, where 24 hours fun is available.

Le Chateau Hotel, Plot 56 MCC road. Satellite TV, air-con, restaurant. It's possible to make online reservation at the hotel's website

The Channel View, 14 MCC Road. One of the best hotels in Calabar

Cytaro Hotel, 20 Bishop Moynagh Avenue.

G Guest House, 12 Otop Abasi Street.

Jacaranda Suites, Plots C2-C6, Off Atimbo Road. Unique ambience and furnishing with luxury hospitality services.

Montana Villa, 7 MCC Road, Calabar, Cross River State.

Exquisite architecture. The beauty once you drive in, is mind-blowing.

Marian Hotel, 125 Old Ikang Road, Off 65 Ndidem Iso Road. checkin: 11am. Holistic environment, Alcohol and Smoke free Environment! Home away from Home, Five Mins from the Airport! Authentic African dishes. #7000.

Mega Hilton Hotel, 13 Duke Town Closes.

Mirage Hotels, Plot 230 Unit D, Block B, MCC Road. Mirage is clean with basic amenities. Staff are friendly and well trained, particularly the porters.

Pyramid Hotels and Conference Center, Plot 160 Muritala Mohammed Highway.

Scholet Suites, 3 Etim Edet Close, Off Old Parliamentary Road Extension, Calabar. Luxury rooms, wireless internet (high speed broadband), reliable 24hr security,jaccuzi,cubicle ,electronic doors and excellent services await you at Scholet Hotel & Suites.



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: Arik ,Aero And Dana Most Popular And Preffered Airlines In Nigeria

A recent survey by a Nigerian business and management consulting company, Phillips Consulting Limited has revealed that out of the 20 domestic airlines operating in Nigeria to major cities such as Lagos, Calabar, Abuja and Enugu- Aero Contractors, Arik Air and Dana Airlines are the most preferred airlines.

This survey was done between May and August 2015 in order to determine the perception and expectations of domestic travellers. Despite flight delays and safety concerns of these airlines Aero contractors ranked first with 39 percent, followed by Arik Air with 34 percent and Dana Airlines with 10 percent.

Aero Contractors, which is the oldest airline in Nigeria and operates 50 daily flights across Nigeria and other West African countries was the most preferred airline by Nigerians. According to the survey, then this is because of its affordable ticketing price.

Airline fares are as low as N10, 000 and passengers enjoy discounts for booking their flight ahead of time with added incentive for paying online and booking on hold.

In August 2015, Aero Contractors won the Exceptional Safety Culture Award. Domestic routes flown by Aero include Abuja, Accra, Benin, Calabar, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Port Harcourt(Omagwa Int’l Airport), Port Harcourt (NAF Base), Owerri, Warri and Uyo.

In view of the numerous plane crashes, which have plagued the country over the past years, Arik Air which is West and Central Africa’s largest carrier has continued to lead in terms of its safety standards. As a reult of this 23 percent of the respondents chose Arik as their preferred airline.

Arik air has won several awards such as the Best Safety and Security Conscious Airline in West and Central Africa for four consecutive years (2010-2014) and the Best Airline in Africa, 2014.

Domestic routes flown by Arik in Nigeria include Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Benin, Enugu, Warri, Uyo, Yola, among others.

Despite the Dana plane crash in June 3, 2012 , which is the second deadliest crash in Nigeria, Dana is still a preferred airline by domestic travellers in Nigeria. Dana Airline is preferred by domestic travellers in Nigeria for its prompt flight departures as well as good quality service. Respondents from the survey commended the appearance and courteousness shown to passengers by Dana’s air crew, their meals, cabin cleanliness and seat comfort.

During the 2015 edition of Nigerian Customer Service Award (NCSA) held at Sheraton Lagos, Dana Airline beat all Nigerian airlines to emerge as the best customer service airline in Nigeria and Most Efficient Airline in 2014. Dana Airline’s domestic routes in Nigeria include Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Uyo.

Following an appeal from the Minister of Defence, Dan Ali Mohammed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should prolong the duration for the registration of Biometric Verification Number for officers of the Nigeria Armed Forces, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the extension to enable them access to their salaries.

Alhaji Suleiman Barau, Deputy Governor Operations, CBN revealed this to the Senate Committee on Appropriation when he appeared before them in Abuja. He also said that the bank understood the plight of military officers.

The Minister of Defense, Dan Ali Mohammed solicited support from the Senate Committee, pleading that the committee intervene and ensure that BVN registration for military operatives especially in the war front be extended. He explained that considering the circumstances, most soldiers and their families had it rough as they were unable to access their salaries before the deadline.

Dan-Ali said it was highly impossible for soldiers to leave the war front to go for the registration, as such they shouldn’t have to be punished further by being denied access to their accounts.

“Our soldiers in the field cannot access their money because of the BVN: our soldiers should be given extension so that they and their family can access their salary. “We need to appeal to the CBN governor if that can be done as it will enhance the morale of our soldiers,” he said.

The compulsory registration was extended by three months from June 30, 2015 to October 31 to provide ample time enough for millions of Nigerians to participate in the exercise. But as of the beginning of October, data from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that only 20 million out of the 52 million active bank accounts had been enrolled on the BVN network.

After the long awaited BVN deadline approached, registration continued even though CBN earlier stated that there would be no further extension of the exercise. The accounts of Nigerians who failed to meet the deadline were temporarily blocked, with the condition that they would be able to access their accounts upon registration

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) are currently the main source of job creation in Africa. They account for over 95% of firms and 60%-70% of employment. Despite this massive contribution to the economy, access to finance is still a major obstacle to the growth of the SME’s on the continent.

In view of this problem, an impact-focused equity crowdfunding portal, Malaik has been created to connect investors interested in impact investment opportunities and entrepreneurs raising equity finance. Malaik offers the global community clear and well-documented opportunities for high impact investing in African businesses, a chance to participate in Africa’s growth story.

Following the launch of Africa’s first impact focused equity crowd funding portal, Malaik, Ventures Africa spoke with the Founder and CEO, Uneku Atawodi to learn more about the portal.

Ventures Africa (VA): Why was Malaik founded?

Uneku Atawodi (UA): Malaik was founded because access to finance is a problem for entrepreneurs in Africa. So many inspiring African entrepreneurs that have amazing ideas, that deserve to be scaled don’t have funds because it’s risky for banks to give out loans to start-up businesses. Malaik helps to close that gap by selling equity in start-up businesses to interested investors.

VA: Can you tell us how long Malaik has been operating and how it works?

UA: Malaik is four months old from idea conception until date. We are proud to preview for the first time at the African Leadership network to the crowd fare. So here is how Malaik works, firstly you logon to our website and register as either an investor or an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur can apply to raise funds for their company through our platform while an investor can apply to be an investor. Once the investor is approved he would be able to see the batch of companies that have gone through our due diligence report and then put the amount he wishes invest. Our investment calculator would automatically calculate how many shares in the company that the investor would get for his investment. For example if the company is raising $100 000, and you invest up to 20% equity, you invest $10,000, you get 2% equity in that company.

VA: What makes Malaik different from other crowd funding portals?

UA: First Malaik is an equity crowd-funding portal, though it’s not just for not- for-profit businesses. We are actually helping businesses that are highly comfortable with the potential to provide a lot of impact and raise funding to scale. The difference is that we only put up companies that have a big attraction and are selling equity finance. As opposed to other crowd funding platforms, Malaik finds you a lead investor or you come with your own investor and if your company is open to the crowd on the platform we would have identified the lead investor. The lead investor takes a minimum of 25% of funds that the company is trying to raise and then the crowd can invest in the same deal terms. So, we allow the crowd to get fair value for their money because the lead investor would have invested their own money in and negotiated deal term.

VA: What are the risks involved in investing in Malaik, because as an investor you would want to know the risks involved in investing in a company?

UA: Once you go on the platform, you have to be approved to be a sophisticated investor. A sophisticated investor understands there is the risk of their shares being diluted and the risk of losing your money investing in startups. We also have a full list analysis that a sophisticated investor is required to understand and we don’t open up to people who don’t understand the basic principles of investing in startups.

VA: How much equity do investors get for their investment?

UA: Companies listed on Malaik decide how much money they want to raise in exchange for a certain percentage of its equity, and each investor’s equity interest will be proportionate to the size of their investment. So if a campaign raises $150,000 in exchange for 20% of its equity, and you invest $1,500 (1% of $150,000), you will receive 0.20% (1% of 20%) of the equity of the business.

VA: What are your Know-Your-Customer (KYC) checks and how do you ensure that the identifications given to you are valid?

UA: Before you enter the platform to make investments, you are required to send us a proof of identification, which can be a passport or a driver’s license and your proof of address. We have stringent KYC checks, if they have any doubts that the person is not who they say they are after they have had a conversation with the risk analysis crew then we will not be allowed to give passwords.

VA: So, how much can one invest in a business?

UA: The minimum investment for a company is $1000 except where specified, if the company comes up and say they want to sell their shares at a higher minimum, then that would be written on the company’s page. On Malaik you are allowed to choose what company you want to invest in, and you are advised to spread your investment through and not put all your money in one company but spread your risk in investing in either two or three companies.

VA: Is it possible for an investor to cancel an investment?

UA: There is a stipulated time that you are allowed to cancel your investment. You are not allowed to cancel if the company is already hit for funding but prior to that, you can.

VA: Do you have specific sectors which you raise funds for on your platform?

UA: We like raising funds for all sectors. We don’t raise funds for companies we see as illegal businesses or immoral businesses. We raise funds for any high impact business. If you have a business that not only provides jobs for people but if you are going to hit them with the UN Sustainable Development Goals then those are the sought of businesses that we are interested in.

VA: Can you tell us about the impact tracker that you use and why it is unique?

UA: The impact trackers focus on companies that not only can be comfortable but can also provide economic impact to the areas where they operate. We track impact using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For example If an entrepreneur comes to us and say she will provide 500 jobs we’ll input that number in our impact tracker and then the entrepreneur is required to report every quarter what impact they’ve been able to have. We target many impact investments and we believe that companies that have trackable metrics can really help Africa hit its growth potential.

VA: In a situation where the company wasn’t able to provide a particular number of jobs as promised, what happens to that company?

UA: If you said you were going to provide 200 jobs by 2018 and you came back and said you’ve been able to provide 20 jobs, we will put that number into your impact tracker and all your investors will see that you have reached 10% of your total aim. So, the impact tracker is the dial that fills up as you hit your aim with what you initially reported to your crowd of investors.

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: Why Profitable Flight Operations Not Achievable In Nigeria

How has doing business in this climate been?

We’ve been doing things to promote this economy, and we are not involved in dubious activities. We pray for every other airline everyday. We do not want the not-so-good stories of the past to happen again to any airline. In the last eleven months, we’ve airlifted over half a million passengers with five out of our seven aircraft, and that is very remarkable. Within the same period, Air Peace was called upon to undertake the development of a new route, which is the Kebbi International airport. This has never happened to a new airline in Nigeria. I believe it is because we showed strength, capacity and zeal towards doing the right thing.

Any plan to expand your operational scope to meet domestic needs? of passengers?

We started with five locations and later added Asaba to make it six. But when we discovered Asaba was a dangerous field, we pulled out. We were the first airline to do that because we have zero tolerance to anything unsafe. It was not an easy decision, but it was borne out of commitment to safety, above business considerations. I’m sure other airlines knew that Asaba runway is unsafe. I knew the Easterners wanted Air Peace so badly, but we had to take decision, when one day I flew there in an executive jet and I discovered that my plane was bumping on landing. I called my director of flight operations to refund passengers’ money. I also told him we must stop operations to Asaba. It was a decision taken with every sense of patriotism and commitment to safety. I’m sure it was when I gave a press conference that Asaba was an accident waiting to happen that the Federal Government decided to act. Aviation business is not all about making money; there is no money in it to start with. We are here to create jobs; this is my conviction. So, we replaced Asaba with Calabar.

About six months into our operations, we added two more aircrafts to our fleet, making it nine. Two months after, we acquired two more Boeing, making it eleven. However, we sold two of our jets to the British Airways. I doubt if that airline has ever bought used aircraft in Nigeria from another airline before. That this happened is a testimony to the fact that Air Peace is doing what others may not be doing. Our airline is being modeled after South West Airlines of the United States. If you ask my baggage handlers, where we are today, he or she can tell you. Communication trickles down, as it is not a one-man thing. ?One man may own the airline, but the governance structure of Air peace gives room for other people to contribute.

A young lady of less than 35 years is the Managing Director of Air Peace. I always recognise quality. I own Air Peace 100 percent with my wife and children. But in order to assure and ensure safety of the flying public in Nigeria, we decided to outsource maintenance. Everything about commercial flight operations is maintenance. Though you can buy a new plane today, but if you don’t follow maintenance schedule, the plane will crash. As it is key to safety, we decided to outsource our maintenance to BCT Aviation Maintenance Company, a UK based organisation. I brought them at a huge cost, and they are here in Nigeria, providing daily maintenance. They are so strict. The other day, some items in the First Aid box were missing; they grounded the plane and asked passengers to alight. We had to apologise to passengers for the delay. What is right must be done. At Air Peace, we don’t cut corners. We have the best pilots in the land. All the chief pilots of other airlines in this country are presently flying Air peace. So, they all have the experience.

How do you motivate your workforce?

If they are ill motivated, they can breech safety. If you owe a worker five months salary, he might be pushed into doing something bad. For instance, he can weigh a 50kg load and someone will give him N5, 000 bribery to load the luggage unto your aircraft to Abuja unaccompanied, which could turn out to be a bomb. At Air Peace, we don’t owe salaries, because we cut our coat according to the size of the material we have. We ensure that salaries are paid on the 25th of every month. If this falls on a Saturday, we pay it on the 24th, and if it falls on a Sunday, we pay it on the 23rd. These are not hidden facts. It is not because we have the money, but because I had the painful experience of being owed, where I served as a lawyer. So, I decided that when setting up my own company, I would not owe anybody. And from 1992, when I floated my company, I ensure that my staff were paid on the 25th of every month. I have carried on like that, not because my business principle is worker-friendly. I am a very proud person, so I don’t want somebody to ever come and say Allen Onyema owes me three months salary. Even the pilots are well remunerated, and they receive their salary as at when due. By doing so, you give them that comfort. So, safety begins with how well your staff is motivated.

Are there plans to expand your operational frontiers beyond Nigeria?

The Federal Government has granted another stretch to Air Peace. I don’t think any other airline in Nigeria got the approval to move beyond Nigeria in less than one year of operation, but we got it because we have proven our capability. Air Peace might be one year old, but we ensure that things are done appropriately. We have an expansion policy in sight. In the coming months, we will start hitting African nations. And of course, by next year, we would also like going international, to Asia and Europe.

Which African states are we looking at?

We have been given permission to go to Niger, Cote d’ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Senegal and Cameroun. In the long term, we are looking at Europe and Asia, and we believe that when the time comes, we would be allowed to do so. In fact, the government should allow any Nigerian airline that is ready to do all those things and bring revenue to this country. It will stop capital flight out of this country.

Are you processing IATA approval to enable you go international?

Of course, we’ve started our IATA workshop since almost two months now. They came to us, and we agreed and subscribed to it. They came from abroad to train our people. I’m sure within the first quarter of next year, we will be there.

What are the major challenges faced since you commenced operation?

First of all, within the industry itself, there is what we call devilish envy, which militates against unity and cooperation. We don’t speak with one voice. Secondly, government policies pose serious challenge. I have discovered that so many people advising government have no business doing so. There are so many people out there who call themselves stakeholders. They probably might have been in the industry, or are trained engineers and pilots. But that does not make them experts in the aviation business. If we don’t get policies right, we’ll continue to go down. Nigeria has had over 50 airlines, but only five or six are operating. That is not complimentary. And why have they gone down? While some of the faults could be traced to the owners, majority of the reasons are traceable to government policies. I am not talking about the present administration, but government over time. If this particular government does not look before it leaps, it may make the same mistakes. Because we have a lot of people out there, calling themselves experts, technocrats and stakeholders in the industry. They give government advice based on primordial sentiments.

Another challenge is that there are so many unviable airports in Nigeria. In the United States, anywhere you are going, the aircraft is full to capacity. But in Nigeria, this is not constant. When coming from Abuja, you can have full load, but going, you are flying an almost empty plane. Some airports have no one going there on certain days. We have over 170 million Nigerians, but less than one percent are flying. That is the number one factor militating against Nigerian airlines’ growth. All over the world, the price of fuel has gone down, but in Nigeria, the price has tripled.

Government should do something about it so that the airlines can grow. Airport infrastructure is another problem. Most of the airlines don’t fly at night, which means that by 6pm or 6:30pm, most of the planes must be on ground (AOG). But this should only occur, when there is technical fault. In Nigeria, it is not only technical problem that makes our aircraft AOG. The inadequacies of our airports create more AOG than technical issues. We pay through our nose to insure our aircraft. Abroad, it is cheaper to insure airplanes. But the insurance laws do not permit us to go out of Nigeria to insure our planes. It is Nigerian insurance companies that insure planes, and then they get underwriters from abroad. We paid over $1.6M to insure about four aircraft. Everything about aviation is computed in dollars. From N150 to a dollar, it has now become N235. You also buy spare parts and some members of the crew are paid in dollars monthly. To get the dollars to buy is a problem. We pay as much as 22.5 percent interest on some airplanes. In other climes, they get funding at single digit interest. Business all over the world thrives on credit. We need support.

NIGERIA: Calabar Carnival Festival Is Comming

Calabar Carnival festival in Nigeria, also tagged " Africa's Biggest Street Party", was created as part of the vision of making the Cross River State in Nigeria, the number one tourist destination for Nigerians and tourist all over the world. The carnival which begin on every 1 December and last till 31 December has boosted the cultural mosaic of Nigeria people while entertaining the millions of spectators within and outside the State, and boosting industry for all stakeholders.

The Calabar Carnival has come a long way it all started 2004, when the governor of Cross River State,Mr Donald Duke, had a vision of making his state the hub for tourism and hospitality in Nigeria and in Africa.The Carnival presents a perfect platform from brand visibility for consumer and market awareness. "According to Osima-Dokubo, the carnival aimed to include more aspects of local heritage and culture and at the same time strengthen the capacity of the locals to participate in an economically beneficial way". Recently, Cross River State and Calabar has become the pride of Nigeria or Africa as far as tourism, carnivals and hospitality is concerned.

The programme of the event at the carnival are drafted each year by the committee in charge of tourism and cultural activities and new initiatives are introduced every year. In December 2009, Carnival Committee organized "Carnival Cup 2009", a football competition amongst the five competing carnival bands - Seagull, Passion 4, Masta Blasta, Bayside and Freedom. The Festival which also include music performance from both local and international artists, the annual Calabar Carnival, Boat regatta, Fashion shows, Christmas Village, traditional dances and the annual Ekpe Festival is a yearly events that bring in thousands of tourists at the time of the year.

Other activities lined up for the year according to their work plan, include the second edition of Essay Writing Competition which will involve both secondary school and tertiary students, and this will commence in few weeks. These competitions are aimed at resuscitating the reading culture amongst the youths of the State as well as inculcating the carnival culture.

2013 Edition of the Carnival Calabar Festival which is themed "Aint no stopping Us" which was unveiled by the Governor of the State Sen. Liyel Imoke of Cross River State says it will hit an all-time high level. Please don't miss out of this opportnity. Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has restated that even though the annual Calabar Festival has been growing bigger every year, the 2013 edition will hit an all-time high level. a Nigerian artist rather than a foreign star, would headline this year’s event. This decision was taken following the observation by the Festival Planning Committee that Nigerian headliners consistently pull larger crowds than their international counterparts. This is a huge success and growth to the State. With Tinapa as the backdrop, and supported by Nollywood stars and major corporate sponsors, Governor Imoke made this declaration in a in world press conference in where he invited Nigeria and the rest of the world to Africa’s Biggest Street Party. Governor Imoke declared that the beauty of Nigeria is wholly expressed in the Calabar Festival and the unique brand should be jealously protected and promoted by all. He therefore used the occasion to call on the Federal Government and private sector to invest more in the creative industry, as it holds a lot for the country as regards revenue earnings.

About the Festival

The Calabar Festival is indisputably the biggest and longest multi-dimensional, multi-faceted tourism leisure and entertainment programme in West Africa. Thirty-two days of exciting events, colorful activities and unprecedented yearly participation by close to a million people from all over the world. A festive season that started at the turn of the Millennium has grown in popularity, scope and participation year in year out. Today, it is arguably Nigeria’s strongest tourism brand.

The Cross River State Government has employed this Festival/Carnival over the past years to drive its tourism efforts and provide exposure for its vast tourism sites and infrastructures such as the Obudu Ranch Resort, the Tinapa Business Resort, Marina Resort, etc.

The Festival starts with the Tree-Lighting ceremony on the 30th of November at the Millennium Parkcalabar festival, Calabar and culminates in the Thanksgiving Ceremony on 1st January of the succeeding year.

In between, there are musical concerts which have featured renowned national and international artistes like Lucky Dube (of blessed memory), Joe, Alpha Blondy, Hugh Masekela, Oliver Mtukudzi, Akon, Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Chevelle Franklyn, Fat Joe, NeYo, Asa, Dabanj etc have all at one time or the other graced the Festival with their rhythms and lyrics.

There are also awareness campaigns and seminars on contemporary issues of global concerns, children Christmas Camp, Theatre performances, vocational trainings for youth, Fashion and Food Fairs, a weekend at the Obudu Ranch Resort to celebrate Africa, and so many other side attractions. Of course there is a two-day Carnival Calabar to spice up the season.

Every December, all roads lead to the beautiful city of Calabar, for the Calabar Festival, the biggest and longest multi-faceted entertainment calabar festival programme in West Africa. For thirty two days, the serene, tree-lined streets of Calabar come alive with visitors from all over the world, in an exhilarating celebration of culture, dance, music and theatre. Nigeria strongest tourism brand, the Festival features the HIV/AIDS walk, musical concerts featuring top national and international artistes, a colorful cultural parade, traditional boat regatta, Christmas village, Christmas camp for children, Food Fair, fashion shows and the Childrens Carnival.

The highlight of the Festival is the exciting and colorful Carnival Calabar. Attracting over 100,000 costumed revelers and well over a million local and international spectators, the Carnival, tagged Africa Biggest Street Party, is a unique visual display of innovation and creativity, featuring cultural influences and traditions from the past and the present in its costumes, drama, dance and music.

The seductive ambiance in the city is truly special, full of joy, camaraderie and friendship.

Festivals are an irresistible part of Cross River. They are a celebration of tradition and the ways of life of the many different communities.

Celebrations and dances are an integral part of our customs and traditions—nowhere else in Nigeria will you find such rich diversity.
Every ritual and dance communicates and teaches something important. These festivals help to reinforce the values that keep our communities together and proudly celebrate their identity.

Calabar Festival
Held from the end of November to the end of December, the Calabar Festival is undisputedly the biggest and longest multi-dimensional, multi-faceted tourism leisure and entertainment programme in West Africa. Thirty-two days of exciting events, colourful activities and unprecedented participation by over one million people from all over the world. This event has rightfully become Nigeria’s strongest tourism brand.

The 32-day event incorporates the Carnival Calabar; the Calabar Carnival Queen Pageant; the HIV/Aids Walk/Conference; an African Weekend away at the Obudu Mountain Resort; musical concerts featuring local, national and international artistes; a Cultural Fiesta; Boat Regatta; Christmas Camp for children; Children’s Carnival; Christmas Village; African Food Expo; fashion shows; film festival; Carol Night; golf and soccer tournaments; fireworks and much, much more.

The Carnival attracts thousands of costumed revellers and many more spectators, both local and international, including Nigerians who have moved abroad. It is viewed across the world via various media platforms that are partners in this awesome event, including NTA, HiTV, DStv, DaarSat and CRBC.

Destiny Child Charity Fashion Show

All proceeds go to the Destiny Child Centre:
Taking children from the streets to glory! Join the fun: at the glamorous fashion show in aid of destiny's child center (DCC), a resettlement facility for former street children, you can bid for designer pieces and change lives at the same time.

Calabar Rocked

The Calabar Rocks show was a hit! featuring stars like: Tuface, Iyanya, M.I, MC Galaxy, and many other with Julius agwu as the host of the show. If you were else where on such a night you totally missed.

Carnival Calabar makes waves once again with Psquare in town

ShoutOut to MastaBlasta band! winners of 2014 Carnival Calabar
Once again the streets were filled with Colour and dancing as the Carnival Calabar proved to be (proudly) Africas Largest street party.

Childrens Carnival in Calabar SimplyAwesome

Childrens Carnival 2014 rocked the town in full colours! Children of Cross River have done it again to prove to the world that they can dance in wonderful unison. From #Shoki to #Skelewu every year there is a dance that is famous in Nigeria, and every year our young ones rock it in colourful costumes. Filling the streets of Calabar with fun and dancing all the way.

Carnival Kings and Queens Contest!
The Carnival Calabar bands come in all their colours and creativity to compete for the winner of 2014 carnival King or Queen (Senior and Junior Category). So many beautiful costumes on display today to prepare us for what to expect on the main Carnival day on December 27th!

Enter the Christmas singing heavenly carols

Carol night with Calabar Festival is always a night to remember as Choirs and an orchestra guide us into the Christmas.
Winner for of the event were : THE STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHOIR!

NIGERIA: Arik Air

Arik Air Boeing 737–800

Arik Air is a Nigerian airline operating a domestic, regional and international flight network. It operates mainly from two hubs at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Arik Air's head office is the Arik Air Aviation Center on the grounds of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.

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, 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 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 (IATA code: Q9) 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 beteween 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.Rumours have spread that Arik Air converted an order for two Boeing 747-8I aircraft back into an order for two 777-300ERs in 2013, however, no such cancellation has materialised, nor was the order of two 777-300ER aircraft confirmed by Boeing. The order for 2 747-8I aircraft still stands and is still listed by the Boeing company.

FLEET
Airbus A330-200 2
Boeing 737-700 9
Boeing 737-800 4
Boeing 747-8I Deliveries start in 2016
Boeing 787-9 Deliveries start in 2016
Bombardier CRJ900 4
Bombardier CRJ1000 1
Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 4
Total 26