Transportation

FAAN Shelves Date of New Toll for Nmamdi Azikwe Airport

By Web News 412

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has shifted the date to effect the new toll fare at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport from July 17 to August 1, 2023.

According to a statement by the management of FAAN on Sunday in Abuja, the postponement was to allow airport users to enjoy more of the current charges.

The statement noted that the fare for cars would change from N200 to N300, while buses and Sport Utility Vehicles would change from N300 to N500 only.

It added, the fare for trucks (six tyres) would change from N500 to N1,000 while the trailer and container tariff would be N2,000.

The management urged the public to take note of the changes in the effective date and tariff.

It also appealed to all airport users that owned vehicles to use the dedicated ‘Park and Pay’ for car parks that had been provided for the comfort of airport users, noting that drop-off zones rules and regulations guiding movement should be respected to create free traffic flow to enhance a calm and serene environment around the airport.

The statement partly reads, “Commercial drivers are to use the drop-off zone to drop their passengers but not to engage in pick-up of passengers as the airport already has registered car hire services (FAAN Taxi, Bolt, Uber) situated along the airport exit way.

“There is an exclusive parking lot for heads of MDAs, MDs of private companies, and highly recognised individuals for their comfort as frequent fliers and their status in society.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Transportation

Lagos Bound Overland Aircraft Catches Fire Mid-Air

By Web News 633

A four-member flight crew of Overland Airways with registration number 5N-BRQ  made a successful landing of a distressed aircraft on the Runway 18R of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday evening, after the plane’s engine caught fire mid-air.

The ATR 42 aircraft, which has 37 passengers on board, was en-route Ilorin-Lagos when the plane suddenly developed a major fault.

The pilots had sent out a Mayday to the Lagos control tower.

Mayday is an emergency procedure word used internationally as a distress signal in voice-procedure radio communications. It is an international radio distress signal used by ships and aircraft.

The Pilot-in-Command of the distressed plane was reportedly on approach to Lagos when the incident happened.

The Lagos airport control tower consequently put the airport emergency response team, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s fire services department, on notice, following the Mayday.

The pilot finally landed the faulty plane safely on the international airport’s runway amid a fully prepared airport emergency response team.

Overland later issued a statement confirming the incident.

The statement read in part, “Overland Airways wishes to inform the general public that its flight OF1188 from Ilorin to Lagos experienced an unusual high turbine temperature on one of its engines today, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, around 7:50pm.

“This occurred in the approach phase of flight and the aircraft landed very safely as the crew skillfully implemented their standard procedures for such abnormal situations.

“All 33 passengers remained calm through the process and safely disembarked row by row in accordance with post-COVID-19 procedures after the aircraft came to a halt on the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos runway 18 Right. No passenger was hurt in any way.

“Overland Airways salutes the professional interventions of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria (AIB-N) which were very prompt and reassuring.

“Overland Airways regrets any inconvenience to its passengers and assures the traveling public of its full commitment to the safety of its services and passengers.”

Multiple airport officials who spoke on the development on condition of anonymity said it was good the flight was already on approach to Lagos when the aircraft developed the problem.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

Security

Gunmen Attack FAAN Staff Quarters in Kaduna Airport

By Web News 1201

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have reportedly attacked the staff quarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at Kaduna airport.

It is not yet clear how they gained access but some staff living in the quarters who escape say families have been abducted, though the number is yet to be ascertained.

Sources however pegged the number at 11, including a staff of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, with his entire family; and a wife and child of a staff of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMET.

Two houses were said to have been attacked and the gunmen later moved to the airside of the airport, according to residents.

’Immediately the attack was ongoing there was a cry for help that attracted the military personnel which led to a serious gun battle between the bandits and the security personnel…,’’ a source was quoted as saying.

An eye witnessed described the situation as bad and rough calling for prayers from all Nigerians for their safety as serious exchange of gun fire was currently ongoing.

Ongoing security meeting

FAAN spokesperson, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu said the attacks happened last night and a security meeting was ongoing.

She confirmed that a staff of FAAN, NiMET and NAMA with his entire family were taken away by the armed men.

She said the airport was not affected by the attack even though it was alleged they came in through the airside.

An unscheduled flight had landed the airport this morning without any problem, Mrs. Yakubu added.

Nosa Aituamen