Montgomery West Africa sets for the second edition of Nigeria’s leading entrepreneurial event 'Women of West Africa Entrepreneurship Conference / WOWe 2014

The second edition of Nigeria’s leading entrepreneurial event 'Women of West Africa Entrepreneurship Conference / WOWe 2014' will take place on 26 - 27 June 2014 at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria – organized by Montgomery West Africa.

Tori Abiola, Managing Director of Montgomery disclosed this adding that,“As women continue to play the most significant role in economic development, they need their own economic independence and the skills to grow their businesses to be sustainable and result in growth opportunities. The success of 2013 has been positive, fulfilling and encouraging, and the reach of the conference has made it clear that women entrepreneurs are still facing challenges that need to be addressed with the right information, proactive development and through networks of determined business leaders and mentors.



She said, ‘Chapel Hill Denham, through its Women’s Investment Fund, is proud to be a sponsor of and participant in the Women of West Africa Entrepreneurship Conference (WOWe). We believe WoWe is a great platform for young women entrepreneurs to meet and share experiences while receiving first-hand knowledge from Nigeria’s most successful female entrepreneurs’, says Mrs. Ononuju Irukwu, Director Investment Management Group. Other major sponsor are Nestlé and First Bank.


Speaking at a press briefing held at german Chamber of Commerce, Lagos, Managing Director, Management Transformation Ltd Wuraola Abiola, also opines that
WOWe 2014 Conference is basically focusing on women and it will provides high level networking platform that connects the most influential women entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and dialogue on issues related to entrepreneurship and leadership.

"Pominent personalities in their fields like Ms Genevieve Nnaji (actress, model, singer, designer), Mrs Onari Duke (Country Director EMPRETEC Nigeria Foundation), Mrs Folake Akindele (Managing Director, Tiffany Amber) and Mrs Bukky George (CEO HealthPlus Pharmacy), to mention a few will be speakers at the conference," she says.

She gave an insight to what the participants will benefit for participating:
· Insight from our high level speakers on their entrepreneurial journey of success

· Create powerful networks to drive results

· Position your business as a competitive powerhouse

· Access new tends accelerating women across industries

· Exchange critical solutions raising capital - debt vs capital

· Gain insights on capacity building initiatives, skills development and mentorship

· Receive first hand training from our highly interactive Master-classes and workshops

WOWe was created as a platform for women entrepreneurs in West Africa to be able to tap into a wealth of resources, contacts, knowledge and opportunities irrespective of their background, connections and vision.

However, not just the business owners will be participating at the forthcoming conference alone, the investment and security tribunal established to act as a watchdog over investors and their clients in the capital market will also be participating.

Speaking at the briefing, Mr. Wale Ojo, Head, Lagos Zonal office, Investment and Securities Tribunal said the tribunal was established in 2002 to handle cases involving investment and security cases, it also deals with pension cases.
According to him, the Headquarter of the tribunal is in Abuja, with its zonal offices across the states in the country. He also disclosed that the tribunal has so far handled 40 investment cases in Lagos and across board has handled N351.9bn worth of investment.

The tribunal was established as part of transformation process to boost the economy. He further advised that investors that have been having issues monetarily in their business should bring their cases to the tribunal for judgment to be carried out on such issue.
Mr. Wale claimed that the tribunal has never in any form compromise any investmenmt case due to short of funds.

His words,"We live up to expectation, besides those involved are well to do so we have never fo once compromise any case. Also section 245 of the tribunal constitution gives us opportubnity to also deal with pension cases."

SAHCOL Sets For Ethiopian And Azman Air Ground Handling Services

The skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL has achieved yet another success, as it set for full handling contracts with Ethiopian Airlines and AZMAN Air, to offer them ground handling services.
General Manager, Corporate Communications for the company, BASIL AGBOARUMI, disclosed this in a statement adding that its company will perform full handling services (Ramp, Passenger and Cargo/Warehousing) to Ethiopian Airlines' four(4) times a week passenger flights, and three (3) times weekly cargo flights, to/from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.

He explained that the company will also handle all AZMAN Air passenger, baggage and ramp handling services.
“SAHCOL, an ISAGO certified Ground Handling Company, and a 100% subsidiary of the Sifax Group continues to expand and gain credibility of airlines operating within/into Nigeria since the company became privatized in December, 2009.
“The new face of SAHCOL is witnessing massive deployment of modern State-of-the-art Ground Support Equipment (GSE), Training/Retraining of all categories of staff, Infrastructural development, Management repositioning, re-fleeting of vehicles, boosting of clients' confidence/ patronage, and massive Infrastructural Development, which includes an almost completed First-of-its-kind (West African Sub Region) Custom Bonded Cargo Warehouse, among others, all geared towards its goal of exceeding customers expectations.
“SAHCOL, an Aviation Ground Handling Provider, offers services in Cargo Handling/Warehousing, Passenger Handling, Ramp Handling, Aviation Security, Baggage Reconciliation, Executive Lounge Services, and other related Ground Handling Services; while ensuring that Ground Handling assignment is carried out in an efficient, speedy and safe manner, by deploying the right tools.
“Owing to the current boost in confidence, SAHCOL list of growing clientele includes the world best airlines, amongst which are Arik Air, The United Airlines, Air France, Egypt Air, Middle East Airlines (MEA), Allied Air, Aero Contractors Airline, Dana Air, Sudan Air, African Open Sky Airlines, Med-view Airlines, Camair-Co, South African Airways, Etihad Airways, Atlas Jet Airlines, Max Air, Kabo Air, African Word Airways (AWA), Gambia Bird Airlines, and other ad-hoc operators,” he maintained.

Ukraine: 30 killed in airport clashes

Punch Newspaper published earlier today that at least 30 pro-Russia separatists have been killed so far in fighting at the airport in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, insurgents say.

Armed separatists tried to take over the airport on Monday.

Kiev responded with air attacks and a stand-off developed.

Ukraine’s new President Petro Poroshenko on Monday vowed to continue “anti-terrorist operations” in the east, saying the situation should “last hours not months”.

A representative of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic told the BBC that reports of at least 30 dead in Monday’s fighting were accurate.

One insurgent told Associated Press the bodies had been brought to a hospital in the city.

Monday’s clashes started after separatist militants stormed the Sergei Prokofiev Donetsk airport in the early hours of the morning.

The Ukrainian military responded quickly with air strikes and an assault by heavily armed troops.

It is not clear who is in control of the airport. It was closed early on Monday.

Reporters said there was heavy gunfire throughout the day and night, with black smoke rising into the air.

The attempt to seize the airport may have been intended to prevent Mr Poroshenko from travelling there after he said his first trip in office would be to visit the restive east.

However, Mr Poroshenko has also said he wants to talk to Russia to end the crisis.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was “open to dialogue” with Poroshenko but insisted that military action against separatists must end.

Ukraine’s military is engaged in an offensive in the east to tackle armed separatists who declared independence in the provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk.

The insurgency developed after pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev amid bloody street protests and calls for closer ties with the EU.

Union suspends warning strike over merger of aviation agencies

Members of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ATSSSAN have shelved its planned two days warning strike to protest the proposed merger of aviation parastatals.

In a communique jointly signed by Comrade Benjamin Okewu and Captain Tarnongu, the national president and deputy general Secretary of the union respectively, the members explained that they have decided to suspend the strike due to a positive signal that the Federal government is likely to stop the proposed merging of the aviation parastatals.

The union said its only awaiting the final pronouncement of Jonathan's discontinuation in merging the agencies before it will know the next line of action to take. "But presently we have suspended the strike," the union said in the release. Affected agencies includes; NAMA, NIMET and NCAA.

It would be recalled that major aviation players and the union had earlier faulted FG merger of aviation agencies.

The unions had earlier this month in Lagos said they would be going on a two-day national warning strike over the recent merger plan by the Federal Government of some agencies in the industry.

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).
ATSSSAN has concluded plans to get the endorsement of the strike from all its organs as its National Administrative Council Meeting and the National Executive Council meeting are scheduled for May before this development.
The union also use the communiqué as a medium to pass warnings to some management of the aviation industry that have been trampling on the rights of workers to join and belong to a union and, for collective bargaining.
They said sister unions particularly in the aviation, transport and oil and gas sectors were ready to partner ATSSSAN to picket anti- labour dispositions of management and put pressure on their clients.
ATSSSAN called on the ministry of labour and productivity, ministry of aviation, stakeholders in the industry and well meaning Nigerians to call hardened hearts of management that were hostile to labour rights before they will be forced to deploy tools of engagement of their last resorts that may disrupt production process.

BREAKING: Presidency convoy ‘shoots at’ protesting OAU students-premiumtimesng reported noe

“The security details shot at us. We have held them hostage. We will not let him go.”Hundreds of protesting students of the Obafemi Awolowo University have held a presidential convoy hostage in Ile-Ife, Osun State.The convoy led by a Toyota bullet proof SUV with ‘Presidency’ inscription and registration number, FG902-B02, tried to drive through the students who were protesting an increase in fees by the university management.Security details attached to the convoy then shot, perhaps to scare the protesters, with two of the students reportedly sustaining injuries.“The security details shot at us. We have held them hostage. We will not let him go.” one of the leaders of the protest told PREMIUM TIMES on phone.The students were protesting, on the Ife Expressroad, the increase in their school fees by the university management when the 6-vehicle convoy arrived.The university management increased the fees from about N17,000 to over N100,000.“We demand a total reversal to statusquo,” the student leader said.It is not yet clear who the occupants of the presidential convoy are as some students said the main occupant is a relative to President Goodluck Jonathan.Details later...

UK offers spy plane to aid Nigeria schoolgirls search

IRS plane crash: Investigation to be handled by Niger Republic Pre

A Fokker 100 with registration number 5NSIK, belonging to the IRS airline, lost contact with the control tower at Ganla, Niger Republic, and crashed.The Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Benedict Adeyileka, said on Monday that investigation into the crashed IRS aircraft was being handled by Niger Republic.He disclosed this while briefing aviation correspondents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.A Fokker 100 with registration number 5NSIK, belonging to the IRS airline, lost contact with the control tower at Ganla, Niger Republic, and crashed.He noted that the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB) and the NCAA would provide assistance in the course of the investigation.“As soon as we have an update on the pilot, we will let you know. The investigation is being handled by the Niger Republic because it is within their territory.“The NCAA and the AIPB are offering assistance, so we have a team together and we are trying to contact them so that we can work together,” he said.The director-general, however, said that the important thing was that the crash did not occur within the Nigeria airspace. Premiumtimesng.com reported.

Easyjet enjoys boost from business passengers

]Easyjet has reported a narrowing of half-year losses, helped by a rise in the number of business passengers and tight control on costs.

The carrier recorded a pre-tax loss of £53m for the six months to 31 March, against a £61m loss a year earlier.

The firm traditionally runs at a loss in the period because fewer customers fly in winter.

However, an 8.5% growth in business passengers, ahead of overall passenger growth of 4%, helped it to cut losses.

Over the past four years, Easyjet has increased the number of business travelers

by 44%.

Easyjet chief executive Carolyn McCall told BBC's Radio 4 that the airline had taken business travellers from "legacy carriers" such as Air France, Lufthansa and British Airways.

"I think allocated seating has been the single most popular thing we've ever done with our passengers and it's definitely taken a barrier away from people who would never have tried us before, particularly business travellers," she said.

Easyjet said a "ruthless focus on cost" had also helped it to narrow losses.

It said it had made annual savings worth £14m in the period, thanks in part to the benign winter weather, which meant lower de-icing costs and fewer disruptions to flights.

The airline said it was "well placed" for the second half of the financial year.

ALL AIRPORTS WILL BE OPEN DURING THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

The Management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to inform the general public, especially air passengers and other airport users, that Government's directive closing all schools and public offices in Abuja between May 7th and 9th, 2014 for the World Economic Forum does not affect  operations at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and all other airports in the country.Normal flight operations will continue to take place at all airports, as scheduled, throughout the period of the forum.We are constrained to issue this release in view of possible misconception in some quarters that the Abuja Airport, being a public utility, is affected by the closure order.We also wish to assure all passengers and other airport users that adequate security and operational arrangements have been put in place at all our airports to ensure hitch-free passenger facilitation during and after the World Economic Forum.

MILLENNIUM AIRPORT DUBAI SCOOPS MAJOR AWARD

The award for the Middle East’s Leading Airport Hotel has been won by the Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai for the second year running at the World Travel Awards 2014.

Presented at a gala ceremony at the JW Marriott Marquis prior to the opening of Arabian Travel Market, the award marks the third time the hotel has beaten off regional competition to win the public vote – having originally captured the title of best airport hotel in 2008.

According to general manager Simon Moore, the ranking as preferred accommodation for travellers transiting the region is an acknowledgement of the professionalism of the hotel staff and their ability to cater instantly to demanding guests with little time to spare.

“We often run at 100 per cent occupancy and have to cope with large numbers of passengers at times when weather or other circumstances might delay their departure,” he said. “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of my team.”

MILLENNIUM AIRPORT DUBAI SCOOPS MAJOR AWARD

The award for the Middle East’s Leading Airport Hotel has been won by the Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai for the second year running at the World Travel Awards 2014.

Presented at a gala ceremony at the JW Marriott Marquis prior to the opening of Arabian Travel Market, the award marks the third time the hotel has beaten off regional competition to win the public vote – having originally captured the title of best airport hotel in 2008.

According to general manager Simon Moore, the ranking as preferred accommodation for travellers transiting the region is an acknowledgement of the professionalism of the hotel staff and their ability to cater instantly to demanding guests with little time to spare.

“We often run at 100 per cent occupancy and have to cope with large numbers of passengers at times when weather or other circumstances might delay their departure,” he said. “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of my team.”

GULF HOTELS GROUP TO OPEN IN DUBAI

CEO and board member of Gulf Hotels, Aqeel Raees, today announced at Arabian Travel Market that the Bahrain-based hospitality group has acquired land for the construction of a five-star, 230-room hotel in Business Bay, Dubai, that will open in 2017.

“We are also sourcing a second site in Dubai and currently considering a number of prime locations,” he added.

In addition, Raees said plans were in hand for a new serviced apartment facility in Juffair, Bahrain, the third addition to the Gulf Residence chain of luxury serviced apartments operated by Gulf Hotels.

In other news, he said work had begun on a 3,100 sq metre spa facility at the flagship Gulf Hotel in Bahrain, as well as a new commercial laundry.

The group manages the Ocean Paradise Resort in Zanzibar and the four-star K Hotel in Juffair as well as the Gulf Residence Amwaj, the latter including two fully-serviced apartment buildings opening later this year.

SAUDI AVIATION MARKET SET FOR GROWTH WITH FLYNAS ENHANCED LOW COST OPTION

CEO of Saudi Arabia-based flynas, Raja Azmi, has predicted its enhanced low cost model (LCC+) will reap rewards by offering non-stop routes in to the Kingdom from international markets as an alternative to one-stop services on other regional carriers.

The Jeddah-based airline launched a three-times weekly A330 direct service from Jeddah to London Gatwick last month – its first European route - as part of an expansion strategy that aims to connect Saudi Arabia to Manchester, Paris, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Karachi and Casablanca.

Speaking at Arabian Travel Market, Azmi said flynas had amended its business model from that of a traditional LCC to accommodate demand from the regional market: “We had added a dedicated business class as the market in the Middle East is different to that in Asia or Europe, for example.”

While high fuel costs and a cap on domestic airfares handicap competition in the Saudi market, Azmi said the airline was tapping in to a variety of markets through a strategy that combined hub/spoke and point to point operations, low cost operations with a value proposition.

“Saudi Arabia has the biggest domestic market in the region but other GCC carriers are carrying (religious) tourists in to the country – we need our share of that market and can offer short haul connectivity with our new long haul routes.”

MOVENPICK ADDS MORE IN SAUDI ARABIA

Expanding on its presence in Saudi Arabia - where it currently has nine properties - Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts revealed plans at Arabian Travel Market for a new hotel in Jeddah - the 230-room Mövenpick Hotel Heraa Jeddah will be the group’s third property in the city.

Mövenpick currently operates 27 hotels in the Middle East, out of a global portfolio of 80, and according to president and ceo Jean Gabriel Pérès, is looking at the potential for additional properties in the UAE to augment its portfolio of six hotels in Dubai.

“During the course of the next 12 months, Mövenpick will launch seven new additions spread between Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia,” he said.

As well as opening the 137-room Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul Golden Horn this summer, a 184-room hotel will be launched in Casablanca and a 380-room hotel in Marrakech early next year.

In addition, the group will open a 167-room hotel in Kochi, India, plus a new resort in Pattaya, Thailand, early in 2015.

Meanwhile, summer promotions being circulated to the trade at ATM include offers of discounts of up to 30 per cent on room rates between June and end September.

Congestion in the skies affect Headlong growth by regional carriers of Middle East-Azmi

The CEO of Flynas, Raja Azmi has yesterday, said that despite Middle East being potentially the fastest-growing and most important global aviation market, congestion has been a major concern for regional carriers as it affect their headlong growth.

Speaking at an aviation seminar at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, he said congestion was already an issue at hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as availability of slots at Jeddah.

“This has to be tackled when airlines here have orders for 200 aircraft or more each,” he said.

A reassuring note was given by Bashar Jawhari, VP corporate strategy & communications at Abu Dhabi Airports, who said there were ongoing talks at government level within the GCC and a breakthrough was expected to tackle potential congestion: “We expect to resolve this issue in the near future,” he said.

Despite these concerns, the outlook for the GCC aviation market remains bullish, with Boeing predicting a demand for at least 2,600 new aircraft over the next 20 years, according to Michael L Warner, Boeing customer leader for airplane development, who cited three key reasons for continued growth.

“The geographical location with 80 per cent of the world’s population within eight hours’ flying time, plus close co-ordination between players such as airlines, airport and governments and strong brands such as Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways are sustainable drivers for growth and an advantage over competition in regions such as Asia and Europe,” he said.

ABU DHABI LAUNCHES SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT SEASON AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET

By: ZAINAB JUNAID

Abu Dhabi will host a three-month season of summer entertainments running from June 5 to August 31 that includes top international shows, film and theatre premieres, ballet, music concerts, comedy nights, illusionists, contemporary circus spectaculars, live shows for children and special arrangements to screen FIFA World Cup football matches, as well as a host of locally-produced activities in hotels, malls and attractions.

Announcing the programme at ATM in Dubai yesterday, Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director at Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) said that by linking with leading event producers and stakeholders in the emirate, the programme of events was designed to deliver an unforgettable season for residents and visitors, particularly those we are hoping to attract from throughout the GCC and India.
“We are moving towards becoming a year-round destination with this programme designed to appeal to all nationalities and ages to extend our seasonal appeal – and we want to persuade travellers that any time is a good time to have a great time in Abu Dhabi,” he added.

FLASH Entertainment will stage six headline events from July 28 until August 29. The du Forum, Yas Island, will be transformed into Abu Dhabi’s largest FIFA World Cup viewing venue seating 800 fans and the hub of Ramadan festivities from June 12 - while FLASH will also run family events in Al Gharbia, Abu Dhabi’s Western Region, and the emirate’s heritage heartland of Al Ain during August.

Other highlights include the inaugural event with the Royal Moscow Ballet performance of Cinderella from June 6 to 16 at ADNEC, plus shadow theatre performances and the contemporary circus theatrical La Verità – which features a gigantic, original backdrop created in New York in 1944 by the Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dali.

Meanwhile, Yas Island’s hotels and attractions are offering 2 for 1 deals which will run until September 30. This includes offers at restaurants, spas and the key leisure attractions of Yas Marina Circuit, the Yas Links golf course, Yas Waterworld and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.

TCA Abu Dhabi will promote the summer season with a GCC roadshow from May 18-27 and through a partnership marketing deal with DNATA which includes mall activations in the UAE and India

SHAZA HOTELS sets for regional expansion

The 203-room Shaza Amman Hotels will open on December 6 this year, according to the group’s hotel operations manager, Jamal Wick, who said it marked an important step in expansion plans that will take in four additional properties in three Middle East countries.

Speaking at the on going Arabian Travel Market, Jamal said that the Amman hotel would be the second Shaza hotel to open after the Shaza Al Madina in Saudi Arabia.

“In 2015 we will open at The Wave development in Muscat, and then the following year we will launch hotels in Salalah and in central Doha,” he said. “This will be followed in 2017 by a landmark property in Jeddah that will be connected on three floors to the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce building.”

The Shaza Amman will be part of a mixed use complex in the Jordanian capital, the nearest five-star hotel to the international airport, and will feature the city’s largest hammam and spa, two specialty restaurants and a ballroom with panoramic view.

It will have 45 suites, three Silk Floor executive floors, a rooftop garden cinema lounge, a theatre-style restaurant and another destination restaurant and a kids’ club.

Shaza Hotels is an independent five star hotel operator, supported by an affiliation with Kempinski and Guidance Hotel Investment Company - Shaza’s regional financial partner. It is also a member of the Global Hotel Alliance.

Aviation workers to begin strike over planned

The date of the strike will be decided later.Nigeria’s aviation workers have warned of a two-day warning strike in protest of the federal government’s plan to merge all aviation regulatory bodies in the country, their unions said Sunday.The unions have yet to decide on the timing of the industrial action.The government had approved the recommendations of a presidential committee headed by former head of service, Stephen Oronsaye, for the merger of three aviation agencies: Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA; the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA; and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET.The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN), the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE, have kicked against the decision.The National President of ATSSSAN, Benjamin Okewu, said the unions were currently meeting to take a stand. He said the National Executive Council meeting of the unions would be scheduled for some time in May.“ATSSSAN has concluded plans to get the endorsement of the strike from all its organs as its National Administrative Council Meeting and the National Executive Council meeting are scheduled for May.“We have put our members on red alert, in preparation for the two-day warning strike aimed at paralysing the country’s aviation sector,” he said.Mr. Okewu said that the unions vowed to close down airports across the country as the warning strike would be the first of its kind in the country.He said that the unions have written to the National Assembly, the presidency and the National Security Adviser over the planned strike.He added that the unions have also itemised reasons why government should not go ahead with its plan on the merger.(NAN)

SAHCOL BAGS AWARD FOR EXCELLENT SERVICE DELIVERY

Dear Colleagues, The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL has received tripartite awards, as the 'most improved Aviation Handling Company of the year 2013', 'Aviation/Cargo Handling Company of the year 2013', and the 'United Airlines Outstanding Baggage Performance for entire year 2013.'The award as "Most Improved Aviation Handling Company of the year 2013" was presented to SAHCOL by the 'Transport Day Newspaper (Supported by the Nigerian Television Authority, Nigerian Transport Round Table, as well as Transport Editors of some reputable Nigerian Newspapers)' at the Second Nigeria Transport Awards & Lecture, held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. While the award, as the "Aviation/Cargo Handling Company of the year 2013" was administered to SAHCOL by the Nigerian Communications Week, at its Fifth Beacon of Information & Communication Technology (BoICT) Awards, held amidst lade crème of the public and private sectors, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Nigerian Communication Week at the award ceremony, stated that SAHCOL emerged winner of the award after "over 250,000 Nigerians voted in the different categories with the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited emerging as clear winner in the Aviation/Cargo Handling Company of the Year category, with 96,703 votes cast from December 1, 2013 to March 29, 2014". They said, the award is a "testament to your talents, innovations, contributions and commitments to the growth of the ICT industry and we are happy that Nigerians have recognized your hard work, sincerity and dedication towards the development of the sector." Furthermore, SAHCOL came out best in Baggage Performance, as it won for the second time (2012 & 2013) the "United Airlines Outstanding Baggage Performance for the entire year 2013". This is an annual assessment of baggage performance done for all Stations providing handling services to the United Airlines' flights across its network of operations.

FG bars securitive operatives from restricted areas at airports

Starting from May 1st, 2014Beginnin, unauthorised security personnel, both in uniform and mufti, will no longer have access to restricted areas within the nation’s international airports. The Chairman, Presidential Committee on Airport Security, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Prof. Sylvester Monye, disclosed this yesterday in Lagos at a media briefing. Monye, who disclosed that the new directive was fromBeginning from Thursday, unauthorised security personnel, both in uniform and mufti, will no longer have access to restricted areas within the nation’s international airport. The Chairman, Presidential Committee on Airport Security, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Prof. Sylvester Monye, disclosed this yesterday in Lagos at a media briefing. Monye, who disclosed that the new directive was from the presidency, insisted that it would be followed to the letter by the authorities. Monye noted that over the years, security officers, aides of dignitaries, protocol officers of private companies, as well as unauthorised uniformed and un-uniformed military men and others had been abusing the restriction order and continually having unhindered access to the nation’s airports. He stated that the idea was to stop the impunity of government officials, military officers and personnel who are not supposed to be at airports from using their position to operate in such facilities. Monye said that, henceforth, no protocol officer or aides would be allowed into the arrival and baggage halls at international terminals. He, however, stated that only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ protocol officers might be allowed into the restricted areas. He also said that the new security measure is to also stop those that are not supposed to be within the vicinity of airports from using such facilities for loitering. According to Monye, “This unwholesome milling around in the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, and Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, areas is a threat to national security. A stop will be put to the practice forthwith. “The composition of this committee should make it clear that we are also taking certain informed measures bordering on national security at our international airports. “For obvious reasons, I may not need to spell out the details of the message at this press conference.” He said the new directive is in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. On the gridlock at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Road, Monye said that the committee would soon find a lasting solution to it, maintaining that the situation could no longer be tolerated by the government. Members of the Presidential Committee are drawn from the Police, National Security Adviser, NSA, the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Air Force, NAF, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, and the State Security Service, SSS.