Two Kids die in Building Collapse

 Building Collapse: Two Children Die, three Sustain Injury

ZAINAB JUNAID 

No fewer than two children have died in another building collapsed with three adult males sustaining injuries at Adeleye street, Ladilak, Bariga area of Lagos State on Sunday.

According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the three adult males have been taken to nearby hospitals.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, affirmed that the Agency’s Cobra team is currently at Onipanu en route the scene of the incident.

“The Agency activated its response to the above incident and upon arrival at the incident scene, discovered that the tank scaffolding of a two-storey building collapsed on a bungalow beside it and affected two rooms.”

“Unfortunately 2 children died from the impact. 3 adult males sustained injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals.

“The Agency’s response team alongside Lagos State Fire and LASBCA are responders at the incident scene,” he said. 

 

NPA Revenue

NPA Generates #172. 286 billion, remits #78. 497 billion to CRF in Six months 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has generated revenue of N172,285,626,312.00 from its operations in the first half of 2022 and has simultaneously remitted N78,496,966,862.20 to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the federation within the same period.

These were contained in a half-year 2022 operational report released by the Managing Director of the Authority, Mr. Mohammed Bello Koko.

Koko said: “The Authority generated total revenue of N172,285,626,312.00 and remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) with the sum of N78,496,966,862.20.

While explaining the breakdown of money remitted to CRF, Koko said: “A breakdown of the figure indicates that N50,255,925,779.20 represents cash remittances, the compulsory deduction of 25% of revenue generated and other sundry payments for the absolute period of January-June 2022.”

While describing the performance of the authority as encouraging amidst global economic and inflation crises, NPA Chief noted that the remaining sum of N28,241,041,083.00 relates to the remittance concerning other periods.” 

According to him: “Global economic and inflation crises, global reduction in household incomes and purchasing power and scarcity of foreign exchange all of which has negatively affected business environment, affected government revenue and constrained expenditure.

The development in the port industry cannot be severed from the macro-economic environment with galloping inflation that has grossly reduced the disposable income of the households, the depreciating exchange rates that stifle business environment and the dwindling government revenue that constrains expenditure.

“In the face of these harsh macro-economic indices, the Nigerian Ports Authority has forged on to deliver port and harbour services to the teeming operators in the export and import businesses across the country.”

The NPA boss explained that the remittances indicate the operational performance of the ports.

According to him: “In the 1st half of 2022, a total of 1,992 ship calls were recorded and the aggregate of the Gross Registered tonnage (GRT) of vessels was 60,235,133 tons.

“The Authority achieved total cargo throughput of 38,672,392 metric tonnes and 849,175 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of container traffic. Vehicle traffic handled, during the period under review, was 132,543 units.

“Also, the average turn-around-time (TAT) of vessels, indicating port efficiency, stood at 5.16days. This is an improvement and we are strategising to perform better in the second half of the year.”

Koko while noting that port represents the yardstick

to measure the pulse of the economy added that it remains the gateway of the national economy.

“The Authority remains committed to providing improved services to increase efficiency at the ports that impact on higher revenue generation and economic growth of the nation.”

IATA Disappointed

IATA Blames Nigeria as Foreign Airlines' trapped funds hit $464 million 

ZAINAB JUNAID

The International Air Transportation Association (IATA) has expressed dissatisfaction over Nigeria’s position towards the repatriation of foreign Airlines trapped funds which has increased from $450 million in May to $464 million in July 2022. 

IATA declared this, few hours after Emirates Airlines announced the suspension of all its Nigerian routes starting from September 1, 2022, as the carrier said it could not continue flights to Nigeria, lamenting its trapped $85 million.

IATA’s Regional Vice-President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Alawahdi in a statement on Thursday expressed disappointment with Nigeria as the amount of airline money blocked from repatriation by the Nigerian government grew to $464 million in July.

His words, “IATA is disappointed that the amount of airline money blocked from repatriation by the Nigerian government grew to $464 million in July.

This is airline money and its repatriation is protected by international agreements in which Nigeria participates. IATA’s many warnings that failure to restore timely repatriation will hurt Nigeria with reduced air connectivity are proving true with the withdrawal of Emirates from the market.

“Airlines cannot be expected to fly if they cannot realize the revenue from ticket sales. Loss of air connectivity harms the local economy, hurts investor confidence, and impacts jobs and people’s livelihoods. It’s time for the Government of Nigeria to prioritize the release of airline funds before more damage is done.”

SAHCO

 SAHCO Reaffirms Continuous Support for NDLEA on War Against Drugs 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC (SAHCO) has declared its continuous support to Nigeria’s fight against peddling of controlled substances.

The Managing Director of the company, Basil Agboarumi made this declaration recently adding that SAHCO can boast of it’s well-trained staff that are well equipped to know what to look out for when it comes to rules and guidelines for accepting Cargo and have been trained to comply with Government’s agencies like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) assigned to SAHCO’s Import and Export warehouses.

Agboarumi said SAHCO, which is a major gateway to Import and Export in Nigeria has one of the best warehouses in West Africa and these warehouses are Customs bonded.

The warehouses according to him, were built with the latest technology and are constructed with the customers’ best interest at heart and also for the purpose of maintaining clients’ trust by ensuring that clients of questionable businesses are not allowed to use SAHCO’s warehouses as gateways for their nefarious activities.

“Our company has a campaign titled “See Something, Say Something, Do Something” where all staff are trained to always call attention to unscrupulous activities and crooked acts. 

“We have a long-time commitment to support Government’s agencies that are stationed at every point where SAHCO conducts businesses by giving them unhindered access to every nook and crannies of both Import and Export Warehouses, providing the necessary scanning machines and other screening technologies to support NDLEA and other Government agencies operations,” he said. 

 LASG Disbands Ministry of Transportation (MOT) Enforcement Team 

The Lagos Ministry of Transportation has placed an indefinite ban on the operations of its enforcement team tagged M.O.T Taskforce. 

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, in a statement released, stated that the decision was reached after a thorough appraisal and review of the enforcement teams operating under the Ministry of Transportation. 

Giwa explained that the ban is part of measures initiated to streamline transport enforcement activities in Lagos State to achieve the required effectiveness in line with global best practices, warning that the ban is not an excuse for drivers to disobey the traffic laws of the State

The statement partly reads that, ''The Special Adviser averred that Traffic Management and Transportation is a cardinal pillar in the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stressing that the readjustment of the enforcement strategy was to enhance service delivery to the people of the State.

He, therefore, enjoined the general public to report the activities of any unauthorised enforcement team still operating with the tag M.O.T Taskforce to the Ministry of Transportation for prosecution. 

Appealing to Lagosians to cooperate with the State Government in its effort to improve the traffic situation across the metropolis, the Special Adviser gave an assurance that a lot is ongoing behind the scene to bring the much-desired change in the transport sector.''

Aero Plans coming back

 Aero Contractors take Delivery of Aircraft, Ink Deal with UMZA Express 

ZAINAB JUNAID

Few weeks after suspension of its scheduled flight operations, Nigeria’s oldest carrier, Aero Contractors has not relented efforts in hastening its resumption back to Air as it has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with UMZA Air to take delivery of the first set of two Dash-8 (Q-400) aircraft.

The aircraft which was delivered on Thursday is owned by UMZA Air and will be operated by Aero Contractors under a JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT between both parties.

The Dash 8 Nigerian registered aircraft is said to be one of the most fuel efficient and modern aircraft in the market and has a capacity of 74 seats.

According to the airline, the second aircraft is due to be delivered in a couple of days. 

Speaking on this development, the Managing Director of the Airline, Abdullahi Mahmood, said: “We are pleased to inform our customers and stakeholders of the delivery of this aircraft under a joint venture agreement with UMZA Air

“We missed our customers over the last few weeks and we are eager to offer our services to our highly esteemed passengers. 

“Once we are ready to commence operation we shall officially inform the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

“We shall announce our resumption of services with a new schedule soon once we are ready,” he said. 

Stakeholders Praise

Stakeholders Commend Apapa Customs Command Over Improved Port Security

 ZAINAB JUNAID

 

Stakeholders in Apapa Port Lagos have praised Comptroller Yusuf Malanta, the Nigerian Customs Area Controller Apapa Customs Command, for restoring sanity back to Apapa Port just as peace and orderliness now triumph in Port environment for business to thrive. 

 While fielding questions with Maritime Journalists at the ports, some clearing agent/ Freight Forwarders sighted sign of relief as the day of delays in examination and false declaration, extortion and bringing in prohibited items are over. 

 Mr. Patrick Offodile, one of the clearing agent said that the professional expertise brought to bear on the command by the Present Enforcement officer, DC Musa Yusuf is largely responsible for this appreciable peace and tranquility in the port. 

Another clearing agent, Chief Bright Ekekwe, also praised the method adopted by the DC saying that, “The DC is making sure that his officers are present at the examination spot to ensure things are in order. DC Yusuf has made visiting the terminal at odd hours to see how the terminal operator are complying a hobby. He sometimes move around the port with his patrol team. This method has brought members of the public closer to the Customs. Thus, there is understanding and synergy in line with the detect of Customs Operations,” he said.

With this achievement, Bright described DC Yusuf as a disciplined, informed and committed to creating a good and orderly society. 

Other freight forwarders who spoke on condition of anonymity to Maritime Connect online, said that if these decent crop of Customs officer in Apapa port are replicated in other parts of the country, one can be sure of having a better Nigeria.

Rethink and a Reset Aviation

 Industry Experts Call for A ‘Rethink and a Reset’ in Aviation Manners 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

Stakeholders in the aviation sector have called on various players in the industry to deploy decisive actions that requires a total rethink and resetting of the way they conceive and manage their aviation manners. 

Speaking at the 26th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondence (LAAC) themed Sunset Airport: Economic and Safety Implications, Director, Centre for International and Professional Studies (CIAPS), Professor Anthony Kila, affirmed that industry operators need to go beyond flying, selling or distributing tickets, but to represent their challenges as rewarding opportunities to capable innovators, inventors and investors. 

“Maintenance of equipment, refining of aviation fuel, training and development of human capital, deployment of distribution systems and other problems that are adversely affecting the sector can and should be thrown open to the market as opportunities for players outside the aviation sector. 

“To do all these and much more, requires the ability to conceive, shape and propose rewarding and sustainable partnership between the public and private sectors, it requires a collaboration of thinkers and doers but above all, it requires a leadership that can clearly and boldly rethink and reset aviation,” he agitated. 

Rating the Nigeria’s aviation industry higher compared to other sectors with the multiple challenges it currently faced is nothing to move near as it’s key players-airlines, airport operators, oil marketers, ground handlers, catering services and all safety stakeholders in recent months have had to contend with mirage of challenges, which have hitherto brought adverse effect on them.

 A situation where a litre of Jet A1 goes as high as N800 and simultaneously having our Naira to a dollar standing at over N720 is ridiculous which has forced a major carrier, Aero Contractors, to fold the wings of its scheduled flights. 

The exorbitant and unsustainable expenditures they have to incur in order to operate their scheduled flights and lack of equipment needed for their processes pushed them to this level. Another carrier on its part, Dana Air was forced to quit the field operation over poor liquidity by the apex regulator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

In both cases the results are stranded angry and, in some cases violent passengers, that have to deal with disrupted plans and the challenges of looking for replacement flights at prices way higher than what they initially budgeted and paid for. Besides, frustrated airline staff faced with uncertainty about their professional lives. 

Professor Kila described the prevailing issues as an anachronistic misconception that needs to be deliberately and assertively corrected. 

“The deep and hurting reality is that we have an aviation crisis and emergency in our hands in this country. It is a crisis because high cost of flights and shutting down of airlines in a country as big as ours in the times we live in looks very bad and it is leading to serious disruptions. 

“It is an emergency because we cannot afford to let the situation play out itself and we cannot be patient and wait for long term solutions. We need to act swiftly and decisively to deal with this situation so that this very bad situation we have at hand does not turn into an unmanageable disaster,” he said.

 However, while deliberating on the implications of Sunset Airport in Nigeria, Bankole Bernard, Group Managing Director Finchglow Holdings opined that the country can start with modernisation of the airport terminals with shopping malls which will attract sunset operations at the airports. 

Group MD Finchglow Holdings, Bankole Bernard. 

He said, “Given the numerous challenges faced in the industry indicates that what we currently have in the sector requires some improvement before we can run 24 hrs operations. On the part of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) , the airport operator, has reported that on different occasions, it has requested that some airports should be given room to operate 24/7 but in the end pulled back when it came to financing. Having said this, it is clear that both the operator and the facility manager have challenges of their own, however, if properly done, the economic impact of putting our airports to maximum use will be actualize. A shift from only aeronautical sources of revenue can better position us economically in the Nigerian Aviation Industry. We can also start with the modernization of airport terminals with shopping malls. This will contribute to the commercial viability of the airports and other necessary infrastructures like the internet and constant power supply to support businesses. 

He continued, “We must begin to think of an alternative power supply like renewable energy to keep the airport functional and reduce the cost of operation in the long run. This will also make the airport viable and attractive. 

“Another area to consider is providing affordable hotels which will give credence to investments. The ability to provide BnB (Bed & Breakfast) hotels around the terminals of some of these airports will be of great attraction and will increase the viability of the airport as well. 

“Lastly, there is the area of interconnectivity within the airports. The interconnectivity of the local airports to the international airports will contribute to the economic viability of these airports. It will also bring the connection to such airports, hence it will not be limited to one drop-off and pick-up. When all these are in place, we can then talk of 24 hrs operations at our airports, “ he said