NIGERIA: Medview Airline Makes Emergency Landing After Depressurisation

Medview Airline has confirmed that its flight VL2105 en route Lagos from Abuja on Tuesday experienced cabin depressurization while descending from 32,000ft altitude.

The airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr Michael Ajigbotoso said this in a statement in Lagos on Thursday.

Ajigbotoso said the Captain noticed a warning sign of cabin depressurisation while descending from 32000ft altitude and immediately briefed passengers on board on the development.

He said the pilot then referred to the checklist and applied the necessary procedure to mitigate the situation.

The oxygen masks dropped and were in good working condition for the passengers’ usage.

The captain called for priority landing because he had been on number seven on queue.

Ajigbotoso said the pilot-in-command was obliged and he made a safe landing, adding that the passengers were calm since it did not pose a serious danger.

He said the incident was promptly reported to the necessary authorities and investigation was ongoing.

Ajigbotoso said the situation was professionally handled according to required operational standard procedures.

The Med-View Airline Boeing 737-500 aircraft, with registration number 5N-BQM, was coming from Abuja when the incident occurred around 3:10 p.m.

The aircraft had 27 passengers and six crew members onboard and there was no fatality.

The Accident Investigation Bureau has already begun an investigation to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the incident.

Med-View Airline is an airline based in Lagos, Nigeria. The airline was founded in 2007 as a charter airline, mainly operating Hajj flights, and has offered domestic passenger services since November 2012.

It has since expanded into regional and long-haul scheduled passenger routes. Med-View Airline Plc was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange on January 31, 2017.

The airline recently laid off 90% of its employees between November 2017 and June 2018. Med-View Airline owes sacked and existing workers at least N1.5billion in salary arrears, pension and other entitlements.

The airline is currently banned from operating in the European Union.

Med-View Airline had previously operated to nine domestic and nine international scheduled destinations in states across Nigeria, West Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Med-View Airline now operates to only the Nigerian capital Abuja.


Tourism Observer

AFRICA: Radisson Blu Is The Leading Individual Hotel Brand In Africa

Radisson Blu has for a second year in a row, secured the leading position as the hotel brand with the most hotels under development and the most hotel deals in its pipeline in Africa, according to the recently published 2019 W Hospitality Pipeline Report.

Radisson Blu, part of the Radisson Hotel Group™ took over as the fastest growing hotel brand in Africa last year and has for a second year claimed the title with the recent release of W Hospitality Pipeline Report 2019, the most authoritative source on the growth of the hotel industry in Africa.

The report has ranked Radisson Blu as the leading individual hotel brand with the highest number of hotel deals and within this pipeline, the largest number of rooms and proportion of its pipeline actually under construction, in Africa.

The Group's upper midscale brand, Park Inn by Radisson, has also entered the same top 10 brand list, securing the fifth position.

We are thrilled to see our flagship brand, Radisson Blu, continuing to lead the way in Africa with the most hotel deals signed and the most hotel rooms under construction, than any of the other 120 hotel brands it was ranked against.

This is a true testament of our agility as a hotel group, as we can move quickly from deal signing to hotel opening. As referenced in the report, we had several hotels which were signed and opened within the same year.

This is aligned with our development strategy, as we expect our future growth to arise from existing hotel take-overs and new build hotels.

With economic headwinds in some African markets, we have identified further opportunities to exploit our vast knowledge and experience in converting unbranded, underperforming hotels, offices or apartment buildings and re-position them to the right brand and market segment within the Radisson Hotel Group brand portfolio, says Andrew Mclachlan, Senior Vice President, Development, Sub-Saharan Africa, Radisson Hotel Group.

This growth has spiked Radisson Hotel Group's portfolio in Africa to 99 hotels (20,500+ rooms) in operation and under development across 32 countries.

We aim to add a further 12 hotels to our African portfolio this year, which will take us well over the 100 hotel mark by year end and confidently on our way to securing 130 hotels by the end of 2022.

Our five-year development strategy focuses on creating scaled hotel growth in key cities and resort locations across Africa.

With a focus on scaled growth in key locations across Africa, we can offer guests multiple hotels across different brands and market segments, at various price points and improved local hotel performance with strong local procurement and cluster select services in the same city.

Cape Town, Johannesburg and Lagos are our three gateway cities in sub-Saharan Africa where we aim to have scaled growth and an ambition of up to ten hotels within the same city.

Dakar, Abidjan, Douala, Luanda, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Addis Ababa are cities where we aim to have between three and five hotels due to the size of the economy, market, long-term fundamentals and supply and demand opportunities.

In addition, we are not ignoring the smaller cities and larger towns across Africa where we've identified potential to penetrate the market with either our midscale Park Inn by Radisson brand or upscale Radisson, concludes Mclachlan.

AFRICA: Taxify Operates In More African Cities Than Uber.

Ride-hailing company Taxify is taking the fight for market share in Africa with Uber to places where Uber isn’t.

The Estonian company which has grown to become Uber’s biggest rival in Africa is pursuing an expansion strategy that’s focused on not only operating in major cities across Africa, like Uber does.

Taxify has also been expanding to smaller cities and now operates in more African cities than Uber.

In Nigeria, in addition to Lagos and Abuja, the only two cities where Uber currently operates, Taxify has launched operations in Ibadan, Nigeria’s largest city by land size, and Owerri, a bustling commercial center in the southeast.

While neither city matches Lagos or Abuja as urban centers, they have sizable business districts and populations of over 1 million people each.

In Tanzania, while Uber has stuck only to Dar es Salaam, Taxify operates there as well as in Dodoma, the nation’s capital and in Mwanza, a tourism hotbed on the shore on Lake Victoria.

In South Africa, Taxify continues to compete with Uber in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth but has also expanded to Polokwane.

It is set to also launch in East London later this month—a move that will see it surpass Uber for the number of African cities operated in. It will also mean Taxify operates more cities in South Africa than anywhere else.

Much of Taxify’s expansion has been bankrolled by its recent $175 million capital raise—a funding round which valued the company at more than $1 billion.

Taxify’s backers include Daimler, the German car giant and Didi Chuxing, the dominant ride-hailing business in China which is also known for backing Uber’s rivals elsewhere.

As it continues to grow and attempt to win over riders, Taxify’s lower commissions on fares are also a tactic to win over drivers.

For its part, Uber, which has now operated in African cities for five years, is also eyeing more expansion with Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Mauritius among potential targets.

And showing a willingness to adapt to local markets, it has also introduced lower cost ride-hailing options with rickshaws in Kenya and motorcycles in Uganda.


Tourism Observer

MOROCCO: Royal Air Maroc Receives First 737 MAX From Boeing

Boeing on December 21, 2018 delivered the first 737 MAX (CN-MAX, msn 60008) to Royal Air Maroc, which plans to use the fuel-efficient, longer-range version of the popular 737 jet to expand and modernize its fleet.

Morocco’s flag carrier – which welcomed its first 787-9 Dreamliner last week – will take delivery of three more 737 MAX 8s and three more 787-9s over the next few months as part of its strategic plan to strengthen its operations.

The 737 MAX 8 airplanes will build on the success of Royal Air Maroc’s fleet of Next-Generations 737s. The MAX incorporates the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets, and other airframe enhancements to improve performance and reduce operating costs. It also integrates engine technology to reduce the operational noise footprint of the airplane.

Compared to the previous 737 model, the MAX 8 can fly 600 nautical miles (1,112 kilometers) farther, while providing 14 percent better fuel efficiency. The MAX 8 can seat up to 178 passengers in a standard two-class configuration and fly 3,550 nautical miles (6,570 kilometers).

Royal Air Maroc plans to deploy its 737 MAX 8 on routes from Casablanca to Accra (Ghana), Lagos (Nigeria), London–Heathrow (England), Bologna (Italy) and Paris (Orly and CDG).

Boeing has also partnered with the industrial sector in Morocco, supporting the development of the kingdom’s aviation industry through initiatives such as the joint venture MATIS Aerospace that specializes in producing wire bundles and wire harnesses for airplanes.

Boeing is also helping to educate local youth through partnerships with EFE-Morocco and the INJAZ Al-Maghrib association.


Tourism Observer

IVORY COAST: Air Côte d’Ivoire And Ethiopian Airlines Announce Codeshare Agreement

Ethiopian Airlines and Air Côte d’Ivoire, the national flag carrier of Côte d’Ivoire, have entered into a codeshare agreement effective May 2018.

Under the new codeshare partnership, passengers originating from West African countries, especially from Lagos, Bamako, Cotonou, Accra and Lomé will board Air Côte d’Ivoire flights and enjoy a fast and seamless connection to Newark on-board Ethiopian direct service to Newark via Abidjan.

Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, said: We are very happy to partner with Air Côte d’Ivoire with a view to connecting passengers from West Africa to our new flights to Newark via Abidjan. I wish to thank the

“We are very happy to partner with Air Côte d’Ivoire with a view to connecting passengers from West Africa to our new flights to Newark via Abidjan.

Ethiopian new Abidjan flights to Newark will be operated in complementarity to our existing Newark service via Lomé, which is being availed together with our strategic partner, ASKY Airlines.

Such partnerships among sisterly African airlines are crucial for African countries to fill the connectivity vacuum in the continent and for African carriers to regain their market share in their home market.

René Decurey, CEO of Air Côte d’Ivoire said:

A few months ago, Abidjan airport was certified to carry out direct links with the USA. It is now time to launch these direct flights and Air Côte d’Ivoire is very happy to carry out the operation in codeshare with Ethiopian Airlines.

This agreement will allow Air Côte d’Ivoire to sell the flights as well. We will, therefore, be able to offer passengers on our network, flights to the USA via Abidjan with a single Air Côte d’Ivoire ticket.

We are convinced that this partnership is the beginning of a long collaboration that will fully benefit our two Airlines and African passengers who used to pass through Europe to travel to the USA.

Ethiopian currently flies to 58 cities in Africa and more than 112 destinations globally.


Tourism Observer

ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines Flies All-female Crew On Their Flight From Ethiopia To Buenos Aires In Celebration Of Women’s Day

Ethiopian Airlines, the national flag carrier of Ethiopia made history once again after announcing the deployment of an all-female crew for their flight from Ethiopia to Buenos Aires, Argentina to mark and celebrate International Women’s Day.

Awaiting your arrival, hours left to dispatch our All Women-Operated Flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina. #Newdestination #girlpower #paintingtheskiesinpink pic.twitter.com/zioAhP7Zuy

— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) March 7, 2018

This, however, does not come as news to those who keenly follow the state-owned flag carrier as they broke barriers some months ago.

They deployed an all-female crew for a special flight from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria.

Lately, the Ethiopian carrier, which commands the biggest share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network, has been making major changes to its processes.

These including fully digitizing its operations and providing free Wi-Fi to all customers using its main hub.




Tourism Observer

NAMIBIA: Air Namiibia To Commence Flights To Accra And Lagos, June 2018

Air Namibia will commence its Accra route in June after cancelling it in 2013.

What is different this time around is that we are combining Accra with Lagos.

We also have traffic rights for passengers and cargo for travel between Lagos and Accra using the fifth freedom traffic rights granted by the Ghanaian and Nigerian governments, as contained in the existing Bilateral Air Service Agreements.

This makes it a totally different and much bigger operation than before, says Twakulilwa Kayofa, Corporate Communications Officer of Air Namibia.

Twakulilwa says flying to Accra and Lagos will give passengers a better travel option and reduce travel times between Namibia and West Africa by more than 60%.

We are already receiving positive feedback on the launch of this new route.

The operation fits within our existing capacity in terms of aircraft and crew, thereby improving the utilisation rates of these resources while increasing revenue catchment opportunities, he says.

The schedules for these flights have not yet been released as yet.



Tourism Observer

AFRICA: Known Dangerous Cities in Africa

Below are some of Africa's most dangerous cities or places where you have to take maximum caution while there.

Crimes rampant in these places are many, including but not restricted to muggings, scams, pick pocketing, Over charging, armed robberies, car robberies, phone,laptop and camera thefts, fake money, assaults, rapes, kidnappings,Cyber-crime,credit card skimming, Household and business burglary, car break-ins and extortion etc.

Lagos, Nigeria

With an estimated population of 21 million, Lagos is Nigeria’s largest city and one of the largest cities in the world.

Crime levels are very high, with a rating of 80.88 out of a possible crime score of 100.

Tourists,Locals and expatriates living in Lagos are prone to muggings, armed robberies, home or business burglaries, carjackings, assaults, rapes, kidnappings, and extortion.

Armed robbers in the city are known to even climb up perimeter fences and subdue guards, and others have invaded waterfront compounds by way of boats.

Criminals also target vehicle occupants in traffic, and break into stationary cars. Some of Lagos' crime hot-spots are airport roads in the days or evenings, as well as banks and grocery stores.

Street gangs called area boys cause terror in the mainland of the city when they clash.

Lagos is also an e-mail scam hotbed, from where dubious cyber criminal prey on people under the pretension that they can receive huge compensation in return some time later after parting with some money by way of electronic transactions.

Nairobi, Kenya

As Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi is the hub of the country’s economy, thereby making it attractive to both foreign and investments, and vulnerable to criminal activity.

The US Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) rates Nairobi’s crime levels as critical.

Also, Numbeo,com, as of March 2016, ranked the crime levels at of city as high, and ended up giving it a rating of 78.49 out of 100.

Serious crimes common in Nairobi, according to OSAC, are armed carjackings, home and business burglaries, kidnappings, pick-pocketing, muggings, and snatch and grab-thefts.

Other criminal threats include grenade attacks and terrorism, which in recent years Kenya has bore the brunt of.

However, those victims of robbery who cooperate without resisting are likely to be unharmed in the city, according to OSAC.

Cyber-crime and credit card skimming are other forms of criminal activities on the rise in Nairobi that its foreign visitors need to be aware of.

Rustenburg, South Africa

Rustenburg City is in the North West Province of South Africa.

It has very high crime levels, and is rated at 85.71 out of a possible crime score of 100.

Of all of the cities in the North West Province in 2015, Rustenburg had the highest total cases of criminal activities with 11,117 cases in 2015, according to Crime Statistics South Africa.

Household burglary, kidnapping, hijacking, and political violence are but some of the crimes that frequently occur in this city.

According to South Africa Dialogue, street crimes and muggings are also high in Rustenburg, and caution is necessary each and everyday.

At night, car break-ins are common, and it’s not advisable to leave one's valuables inside a vehicle. When driving on the freeways at night, stops in undesignated areas make one an easy target for robbers, and hence it’s wise to avoid making them.

Johannesburg, South Africa

Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city, with an estimated population of over 4 million people, and it’s also the capital of Gauteng province.

In recent years it has achieved notoriety for the high numbers of crime and rape cases seen there as well. Crime levels in Johannesburg are very high, achieving a 91.61 out of a possible crime score of 100 as of March 2016.

Due to the many incidences of rape reported there, it has also been dubbed as the World’s Rape Capital.

Recently, Johannesburg has had xenophobic attacks springing up in the low income townships with frequency.

In 2014-2015, according to Africa Check, the murder rate in Johannesburg per 100,000 was 28.2 people. Yet, according to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the average global homicide rate per 100,000 people was 6.2, less than a fourth of that seen in Johannesburg.

Luanda, Angola

Luanda, Angola’s capital city, has a high crime rate, and one which the OSAC reports as being critical.

Out of a possible crime score of 100, Numbeo rates it at 76.39 as of February 2016. According to the UK Government service Gov.UK, common crimes in the city are inclusive of carjackings, assaults, homicides, muggings for valuables such as mobile phones, armed robberies at either night or day especially in areas popular with foreigners, and rape incidences both in nightlife areas and even private homes.

Moving at night around within the city are not recommended, as crimes mostly happen at night in Luanda, according to the OSAC.

There also are crime hot-spots in Luanda that the OSAC particularly warns against venturing into, like the Rua Nehru, the Rua Houari Boumedienne, and the traffic circle in the last part of Rua Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Thefts from stationary or slow-moving vehicles stuck in traffic also happen.

It’s thereby wise to close the windows when stuck in such traffic situations there.

Visitors are also advised to avoid changing or withdrawing money in public places, or handling money in very crowded places.

Cape Town, South Africa

Crime levels in Cape Town, a port city in South Africa and the capital of Western Cape Province, are very high, even though it’s the country’s legislative capital.

In recent years, it has consistently been ranked among the most violent cities in the world. Cape Town has a crime rating of 82.45 out of a possible crime score of 10 as of March 2016, which is an increase from the previous 3 years.

From April 2011 to March 2012, Cape Town recorded more murders than both Johannesburg and Pretoria combined, according to Africa Check.

Criminal activities like drug dealing, mugging, vandalism, theft, assault, armed robbery, and bribery are especially common there.

Taking nighttime walks is also risky in and of itself.

Much of the violence in Cape Town is fueled by drug-related gang activity and the economic inequality still prevalent in non-white territories.

According to a 2014 report by the Institute for Security Studies, annual income in a white household was just over six times more than a black household in Cape Town.

Benghazi, Libya

Libya second largest city of Benghazi, has been engulfed in a civil war.

The city is ever at risk of radical Islamic terrorist attacks.

In September of 2012, the US Embassy in Libya was attacked by violent extremists, and 4 US government employees, the US Ambassador to Libya included, died in the chaos.

Crime levels across the whole country are still rising.

Incidences of carjackings, robberies, burglaries, and gun attacks are now more prevalent, largely due to the looting of government artillery that ensued in a mad scramble for economic and military gains after Gaddafi’s removal.

Sexual harassment of women is also rising, as well as petty and hardcore street crimes alike.

Even stricter laws on people's dress make expatriate women who don’t dress conservatively susceptible to attacks from Islamic extremist militias.

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Pietermaritzburg is both the province's second largest city after Durban and the capital of Kwa-Zulu-Natal Province in the nation of South Africa.

It has very high crime levels, with a crime rating of 87.5 out of a possible crime score of 100.

Armed robbery, sexual assault, arson, drug dealing, house break-ins, carjackings, and car theft are some crimes that are rife in Pietermaritzburg.

In the 3 years leading up to 2015, crimes levels in the city rose significantly. According to Crime Statistics South Africa, in 2015 there were 15,720 criminal incidences in the city.

This was an increase on the previous years, as in 2014 there were 14,794 reported incidents of criminal activities, and in 2013 there were 13,596.

When xenophobic attacks flare up elsewhere in South Africa, they also tend to quickly spread to Pietermaritzburg as well.

Durban, South Africa

Durban is the largest city in Kwa-Zulu-Natal Province in South Africa.

It’s a coastal city that is popular with local and international tourists who annually number within the hundreds of thousands.

Economically, the city hosts the biggest container and commodity port in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the OSAC.

But crime and criminal-related deaths have been on the rise. According to a 2014 report by the Mexican Citizens' Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice, Durban City was 38th among the 50 most violent cities in the world.

Homicides per 100,000 people stood at 34.5 in 2014, up from in 2013 when they were at 32 per 100,000.

Crime in Durban is at 87.89 out of a possible crime score of 100, indicating it as being very high.

Beyond Durban's city limits, Kwa-Zulu-Natal province in 2015 was reported as the most dangerous province in South Africa.

Taking personal precautions, like avoiding nighttime travel or walking alone, is recommended to avoid falling victim.

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Port Elizabeth is a coastal city in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Tourists are drawn to this vibrant port city, which is dubbed the Windy City for its windy coastal clime.

Port Elizabeth has a rich cultural heritage, and is among the cities early explorers like Vasco Da Gama passed through.

However, crime is very high there and is rated at 80.56 out of a possible crime score of 100.

Muggings and street crimes are common in Port Elizabeth much like in the rest of South Africa.

Xenophobic attacks against foreigners also tend flare up in Port Elizabeth when there is unrest in South Africa.

In 2014, Port Elizabeth was ranked number 35 by the Mexican Citizens' Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice among the world’s 50 most dangerous cities, and, in 2013, it was number 41.

Murders per 100,000 people in 2014 were 34.8, slightly down from 36 in 2013.

Others may be:

Mogadishu, Somalia

Maputo, Mozambique

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Kampala, Uganda

Tripoli, Libya

Kinshasa, DR Congo

Goma, DR Congo

Brazzaville, REP Congo

Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Dakar, Senegal

Conakry, Guinea

Bamako, Mali

Khartoum, Sudan

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso



Tourism Observer

SAUDI ARABIA: Emirates To Provide Extra Flights For To Cater For Hajj Season

Emirates will be operating 45 additional flights to Jeddah and 12 additional flights to Medina from 17 August until 11 September to help serve the 2 million pilgrims expected to travel to the Holy City of Mecca during Hajj this year.

These services will run in parallel with Emirates’ regularly scheduled services to Jeddah.

The airline will also be operating its A380 to Medina which will also support the increased demand during this period.

The additional services are available to travellers holding a valid Hajj visa.

This year, top inbound destinations Emirates is expecting Hajj pilgrims to come from are Yangon, Manchester, Mauritius, Jakarta, Karachi, Lagos and Nairobi.

Adil Al Ghaith Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Iran said: Travelling for Hajj is a unique experience for Muslims around the world, and we expect over 20,000 pilgrims to travel with us this year. With a sizeable increase in demand for air travel during this period.

Emirates is helping to make the journey more seamless for the scores of pilgrims making their way to the Holy City of Mecca.

Whether it’s in the air or on the ground, Emirates aims to provide all its customers with the best experience in line with their faith, particularly at this significant time and important journey.

On the ground, Emirates has appointed a dedicated group of airport staff to seamlessly facilitate the passenger ground experience for Hajj. In addition, dedicated check-in counters have been set up for Hajj passengers in Dubai.

In the air, several initiatives have been planned in keeping with the values and traditions that pilgrims uphold when travelling for Hajj.

Extra provisions will be made to accommodate Hajj traveller needs such as performing ablutions, advising passengers about Al Miqat and Ihram (the phase when pilgrims enter a state of sanctity) and other arrangements that will help ease their journey.

Emirates’ award winning ice system will also feature a special Hajj video that covers safety, Hajj formalities and information about performing the Hajj pilgrimage.

Pilgrims will also be able to tune into the Holy Quran channel.

On flights from Jeddah, Hajj passengers can bring up to 5 litres of holy water (Zamzam) which will be placed in special areas in the cargo hold.

As with all Emirates flights, Hajj passengers will enjoy extra generous Emirates baggage allowance of up to 35kg in Economy Class, 40kg in Business Class and 50kg in First Class.


Tourism Observer

MOROCCO: Air Arabia Maroc Starts Flights To Agadir

Air Arabia Maroc has announced it will launch flights from Manchester to Agadir this winter.

The Moroccan low cost airline will start twice weekly flights from October to the resort.

It makes Manchester the only airport in the UK outside of London served by the carrier.

Adel Al Ali, group chief executive, Air Arabia, said: “We look forward to connecting Manchester with Agadir and we are confident that this step will further cater to the needs of our growing customer base.

“Agadir offers a great tourism experience year around with its unique beaches, mountains, golf resorts and excellent dining options.”

The new service will operate on Thursdays and Sunday on an Airbus A320.

Stephen Turner, commercial director for Manchester Airport, said: “It’s great news that Air Arabia Maroc will start flights to Agadir from Manchester this winter.

“Agadir is a great beach resort that also offers fantastic access to the Atlas Mountains.

“This route will provide the 22 million people in our catchment area with further choice on how to reach this exciting destination.”

Royal Air Maroc has announced the launch of a new route between Manchester and Casablanca.

From Tuesday March 28th, the Moroccan flag-carrier will begin operating direct non-stop flights three times per week from Manchester Airport to Mohammed V International Airport.

The service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

This exciting launch sees Manchester Airport become only the third UK airport to operate flights to Casablanca with Royal Air Maroc, with the airline also currently running services from London Gatwick and London Heathrow.

The new service will use Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with both business and economy class seating available.

The scheduled flight time is approximately three hours and twenty minutes.

As well as offering direct flights from Manchester to Casablanca, Royal Air Maroc’s new service opens the door for connections to 33 African destinations.

Key connections through Casablanca, the second-largest hub to Africa, include Lagos, Accra, Nairobi and Banjul.

There is also an opportunity for flight connections to Brazil, as well as daily connecting flights to popular tourist destinations such as Marrakech and Agadir.

Royal Air Maroc serves over 90 destinations in four continents, bringing Africa closer to the rest of the world.

The airline’s UK & Ireland general manager, Achraf El Hassani, said: “Royal Air Maroc is delighted to launch the only non-stop service from the North of England direct to Casablanca, with thrice-weekly flights between Manchester Airport and Mohammed V International Airport.

“We are thrilled to be providing yet another invaluable link from the UK to Africa and look forward to welcoming passengers on board our service from March 28th.”

Manchester Airport is the UK’s third largest with more than 25.6m annual passengers.

It has more than 210 routes served by 70 plus airlines.

On the announcement of the Royal Air Maroc service, Stephen Turner, commercial director at Manchester Airport, said: “We are pleased to see Royal Air Maroc launch services from Manchester Airport.”

NIGERIA: Dana Air Collides With Bird Mid-Air, Returns To Murtala Muhammed Airport II, Lagos.

A Dana Air aircraft en-route Port Harcourt on Friday morning, made an ‘air return’, some minutes after take-off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport II, Lagos.

The aircraft, with registration number 5N-SRI returned after colliding with a bird mid-air.

Kingsley Ezenwa, Communications Manager of the airline, confirmed the incident in a statement.

Mr. Ezenwa said the captain took a professional decision by returning to the Lagos airport.

A bird strike is a collision between a bird and an aircraft that is airborne and as per standard safety procedure which is the hallmark of our operation, our pilot returned to base.

Our guests have however been put on another aircraft to ensure that their itinerary is not entirely disrupted.

The aircraft is currently being evaluated by our engineers to determine the effect of the bird strike on its affected engine,he said.

The manager also assured Dana Air’s customers that the airline would continue to give priority to their safety and comfort.

The General Manager, Public Relations, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Sam Adurogboye, told NAN that the air return was a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward occurrence.

Mr. Adurogboye said the pilot acted according to Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs), as such the incidences should not be sensationalised.

The pilot did the right thing by returning to base.

The aircraft had already lost one engine as a result of the bird strike and the standard practice is that the pilot should land at the nearest airport.

Once such incident occurs, it is mandatory for the airline to make a report to the NCAA, he said.

Mr. Adurogboye also restated NCAA’s commitment to the safety and security of Nigeria’s aviation sector.

This is the third incident recorded by the Nigerian aviation sector in the last 72 hours.

An Aero Contractors flight NG316 en-route Lagos, from Port Harcourt, was on Tuesday engulfed in smoke about 20 minutes after take-off, causing panic among the passengers.

Similarly, two aircraft belonging to Air Peace were on Thursday involved in a ground collision at the General Aviation Terminal of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.

Meanwhile, Less than 48 hours after an Aero Contractor aircraft was engulfed in smoke while trying to land at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, another accident occurred at the airport on Thursday when two aircraft belonging to Air Peace collided while trying to manoeuvre their way around the tarmac of the local terminal.

The Air Peace spokesperson, Chris Iwarah, said that the collision occurred around 6.15 a.m. when its B737 aircraft with registration number 5N-BQR had “partial contact” with another B737 aircraft with registration number 5N-BQP.

Although the points of contact of the two aircraft were only slightly impacted, we took the cautious decision to declare them unserviceable to enable proper investigation of the incident, checks and repair by our Engineering and Maintenance Department in line with our high safety standards, Mr Iwarah said.

There were no passengers on the two aircraft involved in the incident. We have also revised our flight schedule to cater to our esteemed guests on the 14 sectors the two aircraft were scheduled to service today.

The spokesperson of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, denied that the incident was a collision. He said the wings of both aircraft merely grazed each other.

What happened was that one aircraft was packed. The other aircraft was trying to taxi and the wings of the one coming in touched the wings of the one on ground, he said.

If two airplanes collide, they will be on fire. But the two aircraft were both on ground and they have to repair the damage and we have to check them all over again before they can be cleared to return to service, he said.

When asked if Nigerians should be concerned about safety efforts put in place following Thursday’s incident, Mr. Adurogboye dismissed the concern.

He said accidents happen everywhere in the world and that Nigeria is not an exception.

When you use a machine, assuming you drive a car, even the one you packed in the house, when you want to use it there will be an issue with it. Every machine you are using there are bound to be issues. The same thing applies to aircraft.

There is nowhere in the world there are no issues. It is only in Nigerian that we report incidences. There are incidences all over the world. Aircraft drop off in the U.S. every week. So, to say because of three incidents, it should call for concern. We have 500 landings in MMA alone.

Thursday’s incident is similar to an incident in July 2015 when two Airbus 310 aircraft belonging to FirstNation brushed each other’s wings at the airport.

NAMIBIA: Air Namibia, Ethiopian Sign Code Share Agreement

Africa’s largest airline, Ethiopian Airlines, last week concluded a codeshare agreement with Air Namibia. The codeshare agreement covers Ethiopian thrice weekly services to Windhoek and the services of both airlines beyond their respective hubs. The agreement will allow both airlines to expand their global network through the services of each airline and also facilitate the provision of competitive and convenient travel choices to their respective customers.

Mr. Girma Shiferaw, Acting Vice President, Strategic Planning and Alliances said, 'We are glad to partner with Air Namibia. It is my sincere belief that such strategic collaboration among African airlines is one of the necessities to see African aviation thrive and grow faster in line with the economic development of the continent.

Now, customers of Air Namibia will enjoy seamless connection on Ethiopian ever expanding global network across five continents with a minimum layover in Addis Ababa; conversely, our passengers will be able to access destinations beyond Windhoek on Air Namibia flights'.

In response did Air Namibia's Acting Managing Director, Advocate Ellaine Priscilla Samson say: 'We are very pleased with the signing of the codeshare agreement with Ethiopia Airlines, an airline which achieved amazing accomplishments in the global arena. This will be an opportunity for the liberalization of intra-Africa air transport in furtherance of the Yamoussoukro Decision as two African carriers.

In addition, this will assist Air Namibia to expand its network via the global reach and stature of Ethiopia Airlines. Hence the teaming of our two airlines is the consummate endeavor of our continent moving towards a fuller liberalization in the aviation sector'.

The codeshare agreement will allow Ethiopian and Air Namibia to place their codes on each other’s flights beyond their respective hubs.Ethiopian will place its code on SW flights from Windhoek to Gaborone, Luanda, Victoria Falls, and Cape town, while Air Namibia will place it’s code on ET flights between Addis Ababa and Windhoek, Beijing, Lagos, Los Angeles, and São Paulo.

Ethiopian Airlines currently serves more than 90 global destinations across five continents with over 240 daily departures.

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: Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 Crash

Sosoliso Airline crash is Nigeria’s saddest crash is not an understatement given the fact that it took with it no fewer than 50 children and some notable personalities plus all the melee that happened post crash when it was time to pay compensation to the victims’ family.

Sosoliso crash was one of the reasons government scrutinized the aviation industry and even come up with the recapitalization policy.

It was an airline that operated for just five years, one of the short-lived airlines that started with a lot of promise but ended up making air travellers recoil and start reusing the proverbial nightbus.

Originally based in Enugu Airport, Sosoliso Airlines Limited was a scheduled, domestic, passenger airline established in 1994 and started operations in July 2000.

Sosoliso Airlines operated flights to Enugu, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Abuja and Lagos and as of August 2006 the Sosoliso Airlines fleet included: 2 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30, 1 McDonnell Douglas MD-81, one McDonnell Douglas MD-82

On 10 December 2005, Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 from Abuja to Port Harcourt crashed on landing with 110 people on board. 2 persons survived. Bimbo Odukoya (A popular Christian speaker) and over 50 students of Loyola Jesuit College, an Abuja-based secondary school, were among the dead. It is reported that a witness states that the plane was struck by lightning about 40 or 50 metres from touching down and the fuel in the wing caught fire and it exploded. This has not yet been confirmed by any authorities.Following the crash, President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered all Sosoliso planes grounded.

Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 (SO1145/OSL1145) was a scheduled domestic passenger flight between the Nigerian cities of Abuja (ABV) and Port Harcourt (PHC). At about 14:08 local time (13:08 UTC) on 10 December 2005, Flight 1145 from Abuja crash-landed at Port Harcourt International Airport.

The plane, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 with 110 people on board slammed into the ground and burst into flames. Immediately after the crash, seven survivors were recovered and taken to hospitals, but it has since been reported that four of those survivors have died in hospital care, leaving three survivors, two of whom were flown to South Africa. In the end, two people survived.

It was the second air disaster occurred in Nigeria in less than three months, after Bellview Airlines Flight 210 which crashed in 22 October 2005 with reason unknown, killing all 117 people on board. It was the company’s first and only fatal accident.

The Accident Investigation Bureau concluded that the probable cause of the crash was due to the crew’s decision to continue the approach beyond the Decision Altitude without having the runway insight. The adverse weather condition, were listed as contributing factors.

Compensation controversy

After grounding of the airline, there was the issue of paying compensation to the families of the victims’ Sosoliso Airlines wanted to pay a compensation of USD10, 000 as opposed to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) stipulated USD100, 000 this generated a lot of controversy.

Sosoliso said when it got its license and all its documentation was based on USD 10,000 and was trying to exclude itself from the revised ICAO rules.

During all this hurly-burly, government set a deadline of 30 April 2007 for all airlines operating in the country to re-capitalize or be grounded, in an effort to ensure better services and safety. Sosoliso, given all its challenges and inability to operate due to its baggage was one of the seven airlines that failed to meet the deadline and as a result would not be allowed to fly in Nigeria’s airspace with effect from 30 April 2007.

What annoyed government and the general public about the Sosoliso case was the fact that among the passengers were about sixty-one secondary school students from Loyola Jesuit College in the Federal Capital Territory region of Nigeria At first Loyola Jesuit College students from Port Harcourt traveled between school and their homes via buses using the roads. Rising crime along roads during the 1990s made parents believe that road travel was too dangerous.

Also among the victims were two volunteers for Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors without Borders en route to work in Port Harcourt, Hawah Kamara and Thomas Lamy, as well as televangelist Bimbo Odukoya, pastor of the Fountain of Life Church, who succumbed to her injuries the day after the accident.

Another painful aspect of this crash is the fact that many passengers survived the initial impact and died in the resulting fire. Port Harcourt Airport had one fire truck and no ambulances calling to question the competence of the airport authority at that time.

NIGERIA: Dana Air Begins Lagos-Owerri Flights

Dana Air has commenced daily flights from Lagos to Owerri with an introductory online fare of N12, 600 for one way.

The development added to the routes of the airline which included Abuja, Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Uyo with a plan to expand its operations to other cities in Nigeria as part of its strategic route expansion plans.

The Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo, speaking in Lagos, said that the airline was committed to providing safe, reliable and pocket-friendly service to the flying public.

He said: "We commenced daily flights from Lagos to Owerri and back with an online fare we feel will be suitable for all. The fare is just our way of thanking our loyal guests on Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Uyo routes for visiting our website to book their tickets."

Explaining the choice of Owerri, Obi said: "Owerri is fast becoming a hub in Nigeria and our decision was borne out of our desire to extend our award winning service to the good people of Owerri, the Imo State capital.

"Plans are in top gear to add to our fleet and we are in talks with our local and foreign partners to see ways to fast track this. We are also aware of the demand for extension of our world-class services to more Nigerian cities and the west coast, and wish to state that plans are underway to expand our route network in the coming month in line with our growth plan,"he said.

RWANDA: RwandAir To Open Mumbai Route

RwandAir will start flights to Mumbai, India later this years, John Mirenge, the chief executive officer, has said. Mirenge said the airline would start operating four flights to Mumbai per week in December 2016 flying its brand new A330-300 aircraft.

He said the national carrier has already appointed India's Bird Travel as the general sales agent as it prepares to launch the route.

"We want Bird Travel to position our brand by creating awareness about our products and services in this market," Mirenge noted.

He explained that the sales agent will act as the liaison point for the airline's sales development in India, providing ticketing and direct support services.

He added that Bird Travel, which is part of the Bird Group founded in 1971 as an aviation management company, use its vast experience to market RwandAir in the vast travel market presented by India.

The firm specialises in representing airlines and other travel and tourism partners majorly as sales agent for operations, and aviation management.

With over 40 years of experience and more than 45 offices supported by over 6,000 staff and an impressive clientele of over 500 top corporate companies, Praful Khosla, the Bird Travel executive vice-president, is confident RwandAir made a right choice.

"Bird Group is one of the largest and most diversified entities within the industry in the Indian sub-continent. We are therefore delighted to be associated with RwandAir as their exclusive sales agent in India," Khosla said, adding that they are optimistic about the partnership. RwandAir signed a purchase agreement with Airbus A300-200 and A330-300 last year as part of its expansion strategy to Europe and East Asia, including India.

The national carrier is IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certified, which guarantees its safety and airworthiness.

Sonia Kamikazi, the airline's corporate quality assurance manager, said the certification ensures the airline is competitive in the cutthroat aviation industry.

Currently, the airline flies to 17 destinations, including Nairobi, Entebbe, Mombasa, Bujumbura, Lusaka, Juba, Douala, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Johannesburg, Dubai, Lagos, Libreville and Brazzaville.

NIGERIA: Abuja City

Abuja National Mosque

Abuja is the capital of Nigeria. Since most Nigerian government agencies are now headquartered in Abuja and most other countries' embassies have been relocated from Lagos to Abuja, it is a surprisingly expensive city.

In the aftermath of the Nigerian-Biafra War, the Nigerian government sought to locate its capital in a location not predominated by any one ethnic group.

The site of Abuja was chosen for the Federal Capital Territory as it was centrally located and had few existing residents. Plans for Abuja were first announced by decree in 1976. Most of the construction for city began in the 1980's. Today, it is Africa's only purpose-built capital city.

It has an excellent road network, beautiful rolling terrain and modern Nigerian architecture, however this focus on the car means it is a difficult city for pedestrians. As in the rest of Nigeria, electric power is erratic.

Plane
International flights to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport are offered by several airlines, notably, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa, KLM, and British Airways. There are no direct flights to Abuja from the United States.

Although it is possible to fly directly from the U.S. or other locations to Lagos, and take a domestic flight to Abuja, this is not recommended.

The international and domestic terminals in Lagos are not connected and transferring between terminals is a hassle. Furthermore, domestic Nigerian airlines will allow only one bag to be checked on without charge, even if your international arriving flight had a larger baggage allowance.

The airport is located approximately 40 kilometers from the city center. Although construction has begun on a light-rail system to the city center, for now cars are the only realistic way to get to the city.

If your hotel or employer is sending someone to pick you up, get the name of that person and the license plate number of the vehicle in advance. If you do not have a vehicle pre-arranged, take an official (green-colored) taxi.

Bus
You can travel to Abuja by bus from major cities like Lagos, Benin, Kano and Port Harcourt. Reliable services include: ABC Transport (with air conditioned luxurious bus rides), Ekene Dili Chukwu, Chisco Transport (CTN) and Young Shall Grow. The preferred bus service would be ABC transport.

However, you are advised to take only day trip buses from Lagos or Kano. You must be conscious that bus trips are not the safest as in rare situations buses have been attacked by robbers. If you're unfamiliar with the country, do not take a bus without an escort.

Buses allow you to appreciate the terrain, the towns and cities and the subtle changes in these and culture as you drive towards the capital either from the south or the north. The building is 150 meters wide and 150 meters long and 50 meters high.

Car
Abuja was a city planned for cars, with loop highway around the city and broad avenues.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to get around without a car, and the strict zoning laws mean that residences are usually far for commercial areas. Abuja does not have the problem of enormous traffic jams or "go slows" as in Lagos. However, the higher speed that cars travel at presents a higher risk of dangerous accidents.

Compounding this are the traffic signals which will stop working during the frequent power outages and the tendency of drivers to ignore lanes and drive dangerously close to other vehicles. Traffic accidents are frequent,so drive defensively. For safety's sake, keep your doors locked and windows rolled up at all times.

Abuja has a few strict driving laws that are enforced. Seat belts are required of both the driver and front seat passenger. Failure to obey this law leads to significant inconveniences as the vehicle is impounded and not released until the fine is paid.

Taxi
Fortunately, for the visitor, taxis are plentiful and cheap. Most are green and some very beaten up, but they get you there. Fares around town (eg a 5km trip) are N300-N400 depending on the mood of the driver and your bargaining skills.

Always agree the fare in advance and try to have exact change. Having a GPS app on your phone and a rough idea of where you should be heading also a good idea. Private taxi companies are also available - offering phone dispatch and better cars, fares for these companies are about N1,500 - N2,000 for a trip across town.

Abuja is a beautiful city. The tourist attractions would be:

5 Abuja Parks
- The Abuja Millennium Park
- The National Mosque
- The Ecumenical Center
- National Assembly Complex
- Aso Rock

Currency Museum of the Central Bank of Nigeria.This small museum, located inside the modern Central Bank of Nigeria building, shows the history of currency used in modern Nigeria as well as ancient mediums of exchange used in west Africa.

The Abuja Millennium Park is being expanded in an ambitious tourist project to include the Millennium Tower and a Cultural Center and Museum that would boast of some of the most expansive collections of African Art. As of February 2009, the Millenium tower is several years from completion.

Other upcoming projects include the Heritage City Theme Park that would be the largest theme park of African civilizations.

Shopping
- Go shopping at Wuse Market, the main market in Abuja. Everything is available, from fresh food to clothes, music, and electronics. And as markets go, not expensive.

Art & Craft village (across the road from Sheraton Hotel)

Abuja has two cinemas

- Silverbird Cinema, Silverbird / Shoprite mall (near Sheraton hotel). Multiscreen googolplex showing recent Hollywood offerings. N1,000 to N2,000 depending on showtime.

- Ceddi Plaza, 7th Street, CBD. Three screen cinema also run by the Silverbird group.

There is some interesting artwork all over Abuja. Wood carvings, paintings and leatherwork. Everything is available in surrounding countries quite a bit cheaper, but if you are here you might as well buy it here.

Food prices in Abuja are high, especially for Western food. There are, however, many good restaurants in Abuja that are arguably worth the money. The Wuse II area is arguably the restaurant hub for Abuja, with new places opening and closing frequently.

Of course, whether you live in Abuja or are just visiting, there are times when you are willing to pay a little extra for the simple fact that there are few to no alternatives.

Exclusive Supermarket 1202 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II. A cafe/coffeesho p at the back of the supermarket sells good salads, a few Lebanese dishes, icecream, coffee and standard pizza and grilled food. Cheap (Nicoise Salad takeout for N1000).

Mr. Biggs. All over. Burgers.

Mid-range

Rockview Classic Hotel Bar - Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II. Low key bar/ restaurant overlooking the swimming pool in this mid-range hotel (not the indoor restaurant). Worth mentioning as the price/ quality ratio is good by Abuja standards. Tenderloin steak and chips N1,900, Malaysian-style chicken Satay N1,900, Chinese style chicken wings and chips N1,400.
Love Pizza, The Gourmet Pizza People. Freshly baked Italian Pizza made with the finest ingredients. Pizza, wings, salads. Pizzeria, Take out & Delivery; 2 Bouar close, Bangui street, off Ademola Adetokuno Crescent, Wuse 2. (beside Jevenik)
First Turkish Cuisine, 33B Gana Street, Maitama (quite near the Hilton hotel). lunch & dinner. Abuja's only Turkish restaurant? Offers a range of grilled meats, kebabs and lamb chops. The chef is from Turkey and the portions large and tasty by Abuja standards. Mains N2,000 - N2,500.
Schwarma Shop, adjacent to Amigos Supermarket, Wuse II. 700 Naira for Schwarmas and they offer pizzas for somewhere from 1500 Naira.
Southern Fried Chicken. A local knockoff of KFC, but ask them to go easy on the mayo.
Woks & Koi, Silverbird / Shoprite Mall (2nd floor) (near Sheraton hotel), lunch & dinner. Standard shopping mall Chinese restaurant serving moderately unexciting east Asian cuisine, such as beef in oyster sauce. Prices don't include 15% in service & tax, but serving sizes are large, meaning you could share 2 dishes between 3. Mains around N3,000.
Schwarma Shop, adjacent to 212 Supermarket, Usuma St., Maitama. These Schwarmas have cabbage on them. About same price as the one by Amigos
City View, Cape Town Street, Off IBB Way, Wuse Zone 4. Perhaps the best Lebanese food in Abuja, excellent prices, they also host large groups, indoor or outdoor sitting.
Ceddi Plaza has a fast food Chicken restaurant on Second Floor - and Ice Cream
Drumstix, Aminu Kano Crescent. Fast food, Nigerian dishes, Grill, Shawarma and Ice cream.
Tantalizers Burgers. All over.
Cafe at Grand Square, Mohammadu Buhari Way.
Treehouse Grill, 66 Ademola Adetokubo cresent,Beside Mikano Generators, They offer delicious continental dishes with Steaks, Grilled Fish,smoothies, Chicken Kebab with wings and their Milk shake is the best in Abuja.
Cafe at Dunes, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, one on the main floor and one upstairs. Yeah!
MrPickup.biz, Delivery service. Picks up your orders and brings to you for a small fee!
Spice Food In front of Sahad Store, across from Bolton White Hotels, Ahmadu Bellu Road. 07031111005, 08034500653. Delicious Indian food and snacks at very reasonable prices. Main course N1000-N1500, snacks N300-N600. Su-F buffet 12PM-3PM N2000. Dinner 6PM-10PM
AJ's Pizza, adjacent to the Park and Shop in Wuse II, Aminu Kano Crescent, call your order in before you get there 0803 314 0469 or 0804 410 4567, if your order 5 pizzas, ask for free juice.

Splurge

Ciao, Jitau Plaza, Plot 1173, Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, After AP plaza, Wuse II. A good Italian restaurant with the usual Italian dishes. Expect to pay around 2000 Naira for a dinner with wine. Good Pizzas, but AJ's have more to them.

Chopsticks, Plot 66 Mississippi St, Maitama. Good Chinese food, a couple should share one order of a main dish and either rice or noodles. 2000-about 5000 Naira for main dishes. Has cocktail bar.
Sitar, 46 Usuma St, Maitama. Indian food.
Wakkis, Like Sitar but more reasonable prices, this might be considered moderate instead of Splurge. Amino Kano Crescent, follow signs, Wuse II. 1500-2500 main dishes, good seafood. Amazing King Prawns!
Blakes, Fish bar, add unknown, Garki District.
Ubudu Grill Steakhouse at the Sheraton You won't spend less than $50 USD here, but the steaks are excellent.
Chez Victor Reasonably high quality French food and some francophone African dishes such as yassa poulet. Sandwiches with lunchtime specials. Nice house converted into comfortable restaurant. Nigerian owned. 2000+ Naira for main dishes. Ganges Street off Alvan Ikoku Way, Maitama. Next to NEPAD Nigeria offices.
Al Basha Palace Good Mediterranean & Continental food and Pizzas, Shisha. Outdoor, indoor events & parties... 11 Cassandra Street, off Usuma St, Maitama.
LaZeez Place Recently Opened, Usuma Street, Maitama.
Golf Course Has a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, would be a good place to have large group gathering, not called Golf Course, but that is where it is.

Drink
Drinks are available all over Abuja and are very overpriced. Average $20 US for some mixed drinks. 5-9 dollars for a local beer. Buy beer from the Market and you will save a lot of money. The major hotels have bars and restaurants - watch out for the call girls, if you ignore them, they get really offended. If you are not interested, just say so and have a short conversation, then they will leave you alone.

Smoothies Parlor
Ceddi Plaza Has a bar on the basement level.
Blakes Has live music or a DJ and drinks as well as the fish bar
British Village Requires a membership to enter and is popular during different sporting events, especially during soccer games and rugby.
Amber Lounge is in Silverbird Galleria, Central Business District
Orchard Garden. Local outdoor place near Millenium Park, set in a grove. Beer around 250N, small BBQ serving e.g. whole grilled fish for 2000N.
saffron, 1,iyaraclose,off misau crescent,off ahmadu bello way,garki 2,abuja. lunch and dinner. saffron,the rooftop restaurant and bar serves INDIAN and CHINESE cuisine together,best place to have the fusion cuisine at one place,open ambience on rooftop makes the evening beautiful as you can see complete view of Abuja city....... 2000 naira to 5000 naira.
City view Resturant. Labnese food.But Awesome best in Abuja.
911 Black, Verdict Plaza, 35 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent. 8PM - 5AM. A more local crowd and more reasonably priced drinks than some of its Abuja nightlife counterparts, most lively on Fridays (obviously), ladies' night on Wednesdays. Beer - 500 Naira, liquor/champagne 7000+ per bottle.
Emeka's Beer Garden, Wuye (Across from the Peace Haven Hotel, follow the road past the local Water Board. 5PM-3AM. Charming beer garden in a relatively undeveloped part of the city, near Finance Quarters and Family Worship (use these landmarks to guide your cab driver). Owned by the friendly Emeka, recently repatriated from Japan, where he lived for 20 years. Fluent English, Japanese spoken. Food and drink both available, soccer matches screened regularly. Cheap.

Accomodation

Hotels in Abuja do not score well on the price/ service/ quality ratio.

Many hotels offer large discounts for Friday and Saturday nights. Be sure to confirm if your agreed rate includes tax (typically 10%) service charges, breakfast, internet, parking fees, if there is any early departure fee (i.e if you check out a few days early) even if the bottle of water in your room is complementary etc. and have this written down at check-in.

Most hotels expect payment up front, with the more established ones having credit card machines who are happy to block out some money on your card to cover the bill. Typically it is better to pay in cash if you can, as the black market rate is about 10% better than the official rate (March 2015).

The beacon suites, Garki 2, 1,Iyara close off Misau Crescent, off Ahmadu Bello way, Garki 2.

The Nordic Villa A brand new 4 bedroom boutique hotel furnished in a modern Scandinavian style. The villa is located in a peaceful and safe environment suited for both business and leisure travelers. No. 52, Mike Akhigbe Way, Jabi, Abuja,

Rockview Classic A little dreary but decent. Has gym, tennis courts, pool. The pool bar menu has some better offerings than the bar or restaurant. The 'Classic Hotel is better, and cheaper, than the Rockview Royale/ Annex next door.

King's Inn Hotel, Lobito Crescent Wuse 2, Abuja, Abuja Capital Territory, Nigeria (opposite from UK visa application centre). checkin: sep 4; checkout: sep 5. 10000.

Hotel De Bently N. Okonjo Iweala Way, Utako Abuja. Best Architectural design in Abuja. Its a decent place to stay.

Reiz Continental Hotel Plot 779, Cadastral zone AO, Central Area. Similar to Rockview in terms of standard, but with better service. Has pool too and free minibar (non alcoholic)

Immaculate Plot 111 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II opposite Cubana Bar, near Diamond Bank. Modern hotel with nice-size rooms and suites. Noisy on weekends because of night club next door, and rooms above kitchen are noisy all the time. Lacks social space like bar/terrace but this is good because there are less prostitutes than in larger hotels. Basic gym and small pool area. Restaurant ok. Reasonable prices and well-located.

Splurge

Decent hotels in Abuja tend to cost well above $200 US per night, despite mediocre.

Hawthorn Suites Abuja - the service is good and the Hotel is beautiful. Part of the Wyndham Group. Five Star. Food is very good. Located at 1 Balanga Street off Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki, Abuja. First left before Sahad. Good Alternative to Hilton and Cheaper - Rates from about N43,000
Transcorp-Hilton - Part of the Hilton Group, this hotel sits on a huge lot and its convention facilities make it something of a social hub in the town. Rooms are small, in serious need of renovation, and terribly overpriced. Located at 1 Aguiyi Ironsi, Maitama Abuja. Rates from About N50,000. Good for weekend lounging by the pool (N2000 entry for non-residents of the hotel) at least.
Sheraton - free wifi for guests over the whole hotel area, rooms are being renovated. The tennis, squash courts are excellent. There is now a new gym overlooking the pool. The old gym is a bit cramped but a big plus for the steam sauna. Hotel rooms are in process of renovation and everything in the hotel (eg. food, laundry) is unreasonably expensive. Although they have a nice breakfast buffet (costs extra). Service has worsened over time but the outdoor food and steakhouse are still good.
Dunes This is a well-known Lebanese-run supermarket with imported goods. Above are hotel rooms. Well run, convenient, restaurant on site.
Protea Hotels All over the city. Clean and nice.

Staying safe
Abuja tends to be a sharp contrast against the background of the rest of Nigeria. While car hijackings and armed robbery are high in Lagos, and kidnapping of foreign oil workers is prevalent in the Niger delta, Abuja in sharp contrast, is one of the safest metropolitan cites in Nigeria.

General security measures like elsewhere in the world should be observed. Like anywhere else in the world, it's always a good idea to have company when exploring unfamiliar places. If you're driving, observe simple measures like keeping your car door locked when parked to avoid opportunistic crime. Armed robbery at gun point is the most prevalent form of crime. A calm disposition and full cooperation with robbers is the best line of action in the unlikely event that you are the victim of a robbery.

Robbers tend to become violent when victims try to pull tricks. Contact your embassy in Abuja and the police if you are robbed. Occasional pick pockets target mobile phones and wallets as well. Do not carry large amounts of cash. Usually, $250 US cash (or N30,000) would more than suffice for impulsive purchases and other daily costs.

Use only the official Green Cabs. Drivers of regular cars frequently cruise around seeking paying passengers; accepting such a ride is dangerous and passengers have been robbed in this manner. Stick with licensed green cabs. Cab fares would be around N500 ($4) for trips within the city. Cab rides to the airport are significantly higher. Negotiate a fare before you enter a cab.

There have been many reports of fraudulent use of credit card details almost immediately after people have used their cards to pay hotel deposits, even in the very top hotels.

Embassies and High Commissions
Australia,Belgium,Canada,Egypt,Czech Republic,Finland,France,Hungary,Germany,Greece,India,Ireland,Israel,Italy,Malaysia,The Netherlands, Norway,Turkey,Romania,Russia,Serbia,Switzerland,Trinidad and Tobago,United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,Ukraine,United States of America,Venezuela,Zambia.

NIGERIA: Lawyer Dies Defending Hotel Thieves

There was panic on Tuesday at the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, after a lawyer, identified only as Chidi, slumped while asking for a change in the adjourned date.

It was learnt that the lawyer gave up the ghost a few minutes later on the court premises before he could be conveyed to a hospital.

He had come late for the trial of his clients – Okedairo Okedeji, 38, and Akolade Agbola, 28 – who were arraigned on February 29 for allegedly stealing meat and snail worth N28,000 from Southern Sun Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Chidi, who appeared before the magistrate, Mrs. F. M. Dalley, after the case had been adjourned till April 14, apologised to the court that he was held in traffic.

“While pleading with the magistrate for a change in the adjourned date because it was not convenient for him, he started coughing uncontrollably and gasping for breath,” a police prosecutor at the court said.

He added that the lawyer shouted ‘Obim!’ ‘Obim!’ (My chest, my chest!) as he was rushed outside the courtroom. “He was rushed downstairs by one of his clients, who tried to get a cab that would take him to a hospital.

But he died before the cab arrived,” another prosecutor said. It was learnt that his corpse had been deposited at a morgue.

NIGERIA: Man Dies On Board Arik Air Lagos –Owerri Flight

A middle-aged man, Mr Albert Nnadi, 57 aboard Arik Air’s Owerri-Lagos flight yesterday died on board Arik Air aircraft Owerri Lagos flight.

A source said that the passenger was discovered dead when other passengers were disembarking from the airplane on arriving at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

Though it was not clear what led to the man’s death but there were insinuations that he may have fallen ill before boarding the aircraft.

But reacting, the Public Relations and Communications Manager, Mr Adebanji Ola, who confirmed the development, explained that the passenger boarded the flight from Owerri in the company of a relative.

The spokesman said that the passenger was confirmed dead by doctors in the afternoon on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA),Lagos.

He added that the deceased started showing signs of uneasiness midway into the flight before the incident happened
Banji stated that the body of the man had been deposited in the mortuary by the Police while investigation into the immediate cause of death is ongoing.

TANZANIA: Etihad To Fly From Dar Es Salaam To Abu Dhabi

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, yesterday widened its presence in East Africa with the launch of new services between Dar es Salaam, the Tanzanian commercial capital and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

On touching down at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, the inaugural flight was welcomed with a traditional water-cannon salute and guets, when disembarking were greeted by a troupe of traditional Tanzanian dancers.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to mark the auspicious occasion, which was attended by:

- Dr Shaaban Mwinjaka, Permanent Secretary, Tanzanian Ministry of Transport,

- Dr Adelhelm James Meru, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources,

- H.E. Mbarouk Nassor Mbarouk, Tanzanian Ambassador to the UAE,

- H.E. Abdullah Ibrahim Al Suwaidi, UAE Ambassador to Tanzania, and

- Daniel Barranger, Etihad Airways’ Senior Vice President - Global Sales,

- Engineer Thomas Haule, Director, ‎Julius Nyerere International Airport

Dar es Salaam is Etihad Airways’ third destination in East Africa, along with Nairobi and Entebbe, and its ninth destination overall on the African continent.

The daily service will be operated by a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft with 16 Business Class and 120 Economy Class seats, designed to provide business and leisure travellers with a direct daily connection between Dar es Salaam and Abu Dhabi. From there will travelers have convenient onward connections to key destinations in the GCC region, Europe, the Indian subcontinent, North Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia but also to North America.

Mr Barranger said when addressing guests: 't'.The launch of Etihad Airways’ flights to Dar es Salaam is consistent with our strategy of targeting areas of strong growth in emerging markets. Dar es Salaam is a wonderful destination for tourists seeking to experience the great culture and history of Tanzania, and provides the gateway to numerous national and international tourist attractions, including Mount Kilimanjaro, the wildlife-rich national parks of the Serengeti, and the spice island of Zanzibar.

The UAE is also a major trading partner with Tanzania and our new point-to-point services strengthen the two-way flow of trade and commerce between the two countries. The flight scheduling offers guests convenient onward connections, and caters for the strong traffic flows between Tanzania and key destinations across our global network, such as Ahmedabad and Mumbai in India or Beijing and Shanghai in China. Not only does this service provide our guests with direct access to an exciting new business and tourism destination, it also further strengthens our presence in East Africa and across the African continent'.

Etihad Airways has steadily grown its presence on the continent since the launch of its first service to Cairo in November 2004. Since then the airline has introduced services to Casablanca, Entebbe, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Lagos, Nairobi in codeshare with Kenya Airways, and Mahé in the Seychelles, and plans to launch to Rabat in Morocco, mid-January 2016.