The Federal Government has said that the establishment of a national carrier must go on and assured that there would be no government interference in its day-to-day activities. Responding to questions from CNN anchor, Richard Ques at the ongoing World Government Summit (WDS) in Dubai on Tuesday, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said there would be no government control or membership of the government on the board of the carrier and it would be totally private. “Nigeria is situated at the centre of Africa, equidistant from all locations in Africa. If Central and Eastern Africa is the belt of the continent, then Nigeria is the buckle. There are 200 million people and a rising middle class, so the propensity to fly is high. Nigeria is a candidate for national carrier,” he said. Quest interjected asking if the airline is going to be private and Sirika answered; “Private. Yes. 5 per cent government and no government stepping right in that company. There would be no governme...

 P resident Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday directed the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to look for special funding for the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.   Speaking at the inauguration of the new Terminal Building, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the President also directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to conclude the documentation of the approved 12,000 hectares of land to accommodate the runway and other developmental projects.   Further, the President tasked the Minister of Aviation to fast-track the airport concession programme, to boost aviation practice in the country and make the aviation industry reflect global standards.   The President noted that the completion and delivery of five brand new international airport terminals since 2015, which were at 11% completion level then, aligns perfectly with the Aviation Roadmap, developed in 2016, for the purposes of establishing critic...

 The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has granted Anambra state government the approval to operate Boeing 737-700 aircraft or its equivalent at Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, Anambra State. The approval was based on a satisfactory inspection carried out by aerodrome safety inspectors at the airport on the twenty-first of January, 2022 to ascertain the preparedness of the airport for the upgrade in fire cover from Cat 5 to Cat 6.

Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika has described the Ebonyi State airport project as a worthwhile one that will definitely open up the state to both domestic and international investments. Senator Sirika who made the assertion while receiving the governor in his office Thursday, described Governor Umahi’s decision to build the airport as one of courage and foresight, believing that the airport is guaranteed to expose the state’s agricultural potentials to the international market. He told Governor Umahi that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has, since inception, embarked on creating an enabling environment for the expansion of the aviation industry in Nigeria which has been severally acknowledged by the global aviation community. The Minister also gave the assurance that the Ministry of Aviation will do whatever is required to bring the project to fruition, considering the prospects for employment generation. Earlier, Governor Umahi had briefed the Minister on the...

 IN OGUN, PRESIDENT BUHARI INAUGURATES FIVE STRATEGIC PROJECTS, ASSURES NIGERIANS OF TIMELY DELIVERY OF SAGAMU-BENIN, LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAYS President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday inaugurated five key projects in Ogun State, assuring Nigerians that two major Federal roads under construction, the Sagamu-Benin Expressway and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, would be commissioned before the end of 2022.     Addressing residents of the State, the President heaped praises on Governor Dapo Abiodun, for delivering visionary and trail-blazing projects for the people, even in the midst of prevailing and challenging circumstances occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. Describing Abiodun as the ‘‘performing Governor of Nigeria’s Gateway State,’’ the President said he is a worthy example of ‘‘promises made, promises kept.’’  The President noted that the lofty projects: the Gateway City Gate; the 42-Kilometre Sagamu Interchange-Abeokuta Road; the 14km Ijebu-Ode-Epe Expressway and t...

  The Federal Government of Nigeria is to host ICAO Air Services Negotiation in the year 2022. This followed its consideration as a good candidate at this year event in Bogota, Colombia. The Minister of Aviation, Sen Hadi Sirika accepting the offer said “I will like to personally send the greeting of Mr President Muhammad Buhari to you all and especially the Government and people of Colombia. “On behalf of our nation Nigeria, it is more than an honour that we are considered as a good candidate that will host ICAN 2022. “We accept this offer and I can assure you that you will have a very good time to see the culture, history, traditions, people and places in Nigeria just like you did during ICAO World Aviation Forum (IWAF/3) and the ICAO Workshop on Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) sometimes ago in Nigeria” Commending ICAO on the events, he said “imagine travelling to 70 or more countries negotiating air services agreements and concluding on certain agreements. It is a very ...

 A political movement for the actualization of Senator Hadi Sirika's Governorship ambition, JAMA'AR HADI SIRIKA has called on the people of Katsina State to rally round the Minister to ensure that he succeed the incumbent Governor Aminu Bello Masari. Chairman of the group, in his statement yesterday said the group has commenced consultation activities that will ensure the minister got the APC ticket. They maintained that a Sirika led administration would be an added advantage to Katsina State as he would be able to build on the progressive policies. He added, Sirika's administration will focus on Security and social welfare, Infrastructural development and urban renewal, Manpower development and training, Public-private partnership, Employment creation and social empowerment scheme. The group resolved to work hard in making sure that Senator Hadi Sirika emerges as Governor in 2023, just as it did in 2019 General election for Buhari and Masari's second term bid.

 There is excitement around the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) as international flights are expected to resume today (Tuesday), Daily Trust reports. The Federal Government had slated April 5 as the date of reopening the international flights in the commercial centre, but some staff at the airport told our reporter that the resumption had been postponed to Tuesday due to the Easter public holiday. One of the staff, who pleaded anonymity, said the first flight by Ethiopian Airline will open the international flight. "It is expected to resume today (Monday) but due to public holiday, it has been postponed. We are expecting Ethiopian Airline to land with passengers and also to fly with others today "Today we expect to have Egypt Air too. So, this is the arrangement so far, he added However, other staff and workers around the airport have expressed their views over the resumption date. One of them said, "All arrangements have been made. Security operatives hav...

 The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, on Thursday said the Federal Government was ready to create a National Council on Civil Aviation. Sirika, who was represented by Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of State for Science and Technology, made this known at the 8th Edition of the Aviation Workers` Week and Award Night (AWWAN) in Abuja. The theme of the event was “ The Challenges of COVID-19 Pandemic to the Nigerian Aviation Industry: The Path to Recovery. “ According to him, some states have started embarking on establishing their own airports which calls for holistic coordinated by the Federal Government. “ I think there is a compelling force for that of council to be established. We have seen how various forms of disciplines and other segments of the government are able to patronise theirs at the state level to achieve maximum result. “With states launching the establishment airports at the state level, I think there is need for the council to properly coordinate and regula...

 NIGERIAN Meteorological Agency, (NiMet) has advised farmers in the North-central zone of the country against hasty planting in order to avoid losses due to the false onset of rains recorded. The meteorological agency gave the warning to states like Nassarawa, Niger, Benue, Abuja and neighbouring a state like Kaduna. Director-General/CEO, NiMet, Professor Mansur Bako Matazu said, “the recent rainfall activities recorded over the central states as well as Kaduna, in the North-west between the12th to 20th March, 2021 is a false onset as captured accurately in the 2021 Seasonal Climate Prediction. “The recorded rainfall is as a result of the forcing functions namely: Mid-latitude wave and the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) that led to the Northward pull of the inter-tropical discontinuity (ITD) and increased moisture into the country”. Professor Matazu also added that, the above, coupled with the abundant energy in the atmosphere, resulted in the recent rainfall events in and around ...