Arik Air to resume flight services to Benin Airport in September 6, 2015

Arik Air, Nigeria has announced the resumption of flight services to Benin Airport effective Sunday, September 6, 2015 following the re-opening of the airport by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The airline disclosed this in a release yesterday adding that it will operate one flight each from both Lagos and Abuja into Benin on Sunday and thereafter revert to its normal schedule as from Monday, September 7, 2015.

Benin Airport was temporarily closed by FAAN on June 20, 2015 to facilitate rehabilitation works on the airport’s runway. The closure was initially scheduled to last 20 days but was further extended by FAAN.

Bristow Chopper Crash: AIB Releases Passengers’ Manifest

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) on Thursday officially released names of the victims on board the Bristow helicopter that crashed last week in Oworonshoki area of Lagos, Nigeria.
Tunji Oketunbi, spokesperson for AIB in a press statement said the manifest of the ill-fated flight according to includes- Ita Ekpeyong; Joshua Emekeme; Dolu Ebiejuara; Onoriode Onojete; Chukwuma Erise; Solomon Udeh; Chidi Ukwunta; Iniala Opaimi; Chris Abua; Chukwudi Onah; Joseph Wyatt (Captain); Peter Kayode Bello (Co-Pilot). Of the 12, those that survive were: Joshua Emekeme; Dolu Ebiejuara; Onoriode Onojete; Solomon Udeh; Iniala Opaimi; Chukwudi Onah.
The Sikosky S76 C+ helicopter crashed into the lagoon in Oworonshoki area of Lagos on Wednesday 12 August, 2015 shortly before landing at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The helicopter marked 5N-BGD and operated by Bristow Helicopters departed SEDCO oil platform offshore en-route Lagos airport before it crashed at about 3pm.

Fracas between FAAN and CUSTOM ...both team agree for improved airport security

Following the fracas between the Aviation Security and Customs officials stationed at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on the 2nd of June, 2015, the Chief executives of both organizations, Dikko Inde Abdullahi and Engr Saleh Dunoma expressed regrets over the incidence and agreed to work together to avoid future occurrence.
The facts of the incidence was reviewed and resolved to maintain periodic consultations to facilitate airport security in a joint meeting held in Abuja on the 9th of June, 2015.

In a release signed by both Yakubu Dati, General Manager (Corporate Affairs), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Wale Adeniyi, Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service, both organizations agreed that:

• The Comptroller General of Customs will investigate the involvement of Customs Officers in the fracas and will take appropriate punitive action if they are found guilty.

• The Comptroller-General of Customs will review current deployments at MMIA, to ensure that only officers who meet the requirements of civility are retained.

• FAAN will not restrict the movement of Customs Officers deployed at the airport, but will continue to manage access control to ensure airport security in line with global standards.

• Operations in the Airports will be guided by strict adherence to processes and procedures established by the Law.
• Current conflicts in the enabling Acts of the two organizations will be harmonized through a joint legal committee in line with International Best Practice.

It would be recalled that Men of the Department of Customs and Excise stationed at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on June 2, 2015, manhandled four aviation security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, leading to serious injuries to these officials, press release from the Airport Authority confirmed.

The release affirmed that two Customs officials attempted to gain entry onto the air side of the airport without any form of identification, in breach of security regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and were prevented from doing so by Aviation Security officials. The Customs men then resorted to beating the aviation security officials in full public glare, leading to brief disruption of operations in the immediate vicinity.

The affected Avsec staffs it said were taken to the Aviation Clinic near the airport for treatment.

Managing Marital Distress-Islamic Perspective

Marital distress is a phenomenon that pops up at any point in time in marriages. It is of course seen as natural phenomenon because of differences between couples, parents, families among others and if not properly addressed could escalate to a dangerous level.
Alhaji Nuraini Titilayo Odunsi, Amir, Islamic Study Group of Nigeria, ISGON,and Dr. Fauziyah Taiwo Oduguwa, Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Hospital Yaba, Lagos spoke as guest speakers about tips for couples dealing with marital distress at the 1436 AH/2015 annual seminar of The Criterion held on Sunday 22nd February 2015/ 3rd Jummal Awwal, 1436 AH at the Lagos State House of Assembly Mosque.
The topic “sustaining social and spiritual stability in time of marital stress” became a major concern because majority of our Muslim women erroneously believe that they are at the receiving end in their respective marital relationship, or put differently they believe that they are at the mercy of their male partner as far as Islamic marriage is concern, whereas the authentic sources of the Quran and Hadith of the holy Prophet (SAW) is very clear about the restoration of women’s rights in all the sphere of human endeavor including marriage that is contracted according to Islamic rules.
It is not as if men are not affected by these marital stress, but research has revealed that the social and spiritual effect are common in women more than men and the reason is not far-fetched (Islam provides that men-folk can marry more than one woman), an important provision that exclude women folk, hence the aforementioned after effect is prevalent among the Muslim women, which is not supposed to be the case if we understand our religion simply because Almighty Allah (SWT) always take human weakness into consideration, before He prohibit, the reason must be logical if we can reflect deeply. Secondly He (Allah) must have provided alternative to that which He prohibit.

They pinpointed some causes of marital stress and provided tips on how to deal with them:
The potential changes in circumstances that can possibly arise in a marriage leading to social and spiritual instability especially in women according to him include:
• Failure in the spouse obligation: Q4:34 explain that "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other and because they spend from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient and guard in the husband's absence that Allah orders them to guard. as to those women on whose path you see ill-conduct, admonish them, refuse to share the beds, beat them, but if they obey you ,seek not against them means. Surely, Allah is Ever Most High , Most Great"
And the Prophet (SAW) said “The best of you is the best to his family and I am the best among you to my family”. He also said “The most perfect believers are the best in conduct and the best of you are those who are best to their wives”(Ibn Hanbal No.7396)

 Infertility & Reproduction: Infertility related stress is known to take its toll on relationships, and now a new study shows it can also affect the success of fertility treatments. Researchers reported that the stress of infertility on marriages is a stronger predictor of divorce, particularly relationship that lack understanding of ISLAM (i.e. FAITH). It was reported that the most marital stress required more assisted reproduction cycle to get pregnant than women who reported less stress in their marriages. The bottom line is that if infertility is causing a lot of stress in a partnership it could very well have an impact on whether the woman get pregnant or not.

 Unforgiveness : Of particular interest for understanding negative reciprocity are the findings that greater commitment is associated with more constructive , accommodative responses to a partner's negative behaviour and that the dis-positional tendency to forgive is a predictor of spouse's responses to their partners transgressions. Hence spouse's, having a greater tendency to forgive are less likely to avoid the partners or retaliate in kinds following a transgression by the partner. Indeed , spouse's themselves who do not acknowledge that the capacity to seek and grant forgiveness is one of the most important factors contributing to marital longevity and satisfaction will definitely be overwhelmed with marital stress.

 Lack of social and emotional support: Studies have however found that women who perceive a lack of emotional and social support are more likely to suffer marital stress.

 In-laws and Friends: In this part of the world where the self is only seen and recognised as an integral part of others, it is very difficult for couples to separate themselves from significant others. Therefore for many couples the first few years of marriage is usually a period of adjusting to each other's friends and families.

 Widow and Widower: Sudden death of a partner at his or her prime age, resulting in the other partner becoming a widow or widower at the early stage of marriage.

 Divorce resulting from unreasonable behaviour from one of the partner.

 Separation due to irreconcilable differences between two partners

 Abandonment due to the arrival of the new wife or relocation

 Impotency on the part of one of the partners in a marriage or illness

The speakers both affirmed that Marital stress is worst when partners take their stress out on each other. Spouse may be blamed even when it is not his or her fault, because she or he is the one who is there for you to take out their anger.
"There are tons of ways to reduce or control marital stress,"they said. Developing a healthy and mature relationship with partners has helped to manage the stress of marital relationship.
The following tips should help break this cycle:

 Taa-lim/Prayer session : Every Muslim homes should engage in acquisition of knowledge from Quran and Hadith. They should also ensure that Allah's dictates become their live ideals and cultivate attitude. Through this, increase in Iman is achieved. Religious practice is also related to positive outcomes for the stability and quality of marriage and well behaved children. This nurtured home grown understanding of deen is fertilized with fear of Allah to generate greater sense of wellbeing, more satisfaction and in most cases less likely to commit act of domestic violence.

 Constituting counselling body : This unit must maintain high level of confidentiality and expected to proffer timely and adequate advice

 Healthy communication is key : Partners should learn to resolve conflicts without doing damage to the relationship or to each other. They should learn to develop the capacity to be genuine and heart--vulnerable. Listen without judgement.

 Spend more time alone together: Many couples get so busy that they lead separate life's and understandably feel disconnected. Schedules regular dates to be together and discuss serious conversation.

 Ask partner if anything is upsetting him or her: Talk with partner and ask what is bordering him or her. Do not try to guess.

 Learn how you and your partner react to stress: Some react by talking; others by complaining, sleeping or taking it out on loved ones. Once you understand how you and your partner react to stress your relationship should get better. it is important to remember to try not to take it personal when your partner gets angry while under stress.

 Ask each other of what you need: it is important to tell your partner what you want and need.. The more specific you can be the more likely your partner will be able to do it.

 Forgiveness: Forgiveness is important for a successful marriage. on the other hand, both men and women can improve their health by marrying wisely,working hard on solving marital problems and avoiding cataclysmic conflict.

 Have more sex: Couples that have regular sex feel better about their lives, better about their relationships and they are less stressed.

 Engagement in a serious business enterprise or educational pursuit

 Integrating widow and widower into the society: This will enable them live an happy life , socialize freely, increase their level of IBADAH and encourage them to contribute their quota to the upliftment of the Ummah.

NAMA bags 40 ATCs ratings

The Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has attained another rating of 40 Air Traffic Controllers by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

A release signed by Olajumoke Adetona, Ag GM, NAMA stated this adding that the ATCs who cut across different cadres got their ratings after successfully passing the oral, practical and written examinations conducted in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, PHC as well as Benin airports and supervised by the regulatory authority.

It added that a total of 43 ATCs took part in the rigorous rating examinations held between November and December 2014 on Aerodrome, Approach Radar, Area Control Surveillance but 40 were successful.

While commending the successful ATCs, Engr Abdulsalam Ibrahim, Managing Director of the Agency was reported to have expressed confidence that the latest ratings would further boost the critical manpower need of NAMA especially in Area Radar Control Service.

He stressed that as part of management strategy to build a roboust safety infrastructure across the Nigeria Airspace, training and retraining of critical manpower has remain the focus of his administration.

The Criterion holds its 1436 AH/2015 annual seminar

The Criterion, an Organization of Muslim Women in Business and the Profession, Lagos District, has announced plans to hold its 1436 A.H/22nd of February 2015, Annual Seminar with the theme: Stability/Perseverance in the face of Adversity.
Speaking on the One-day event, the District Public Relations Officer, Tijani K. O affirmed that the seminar slated to hold at the Lagos State House of Assembly Mosque, Ikeja, will expose the attendees to inspirational and Soul uplifting lectures from high profile speakers with expertise in various fields on the theme.
The Theme for the day are: Maintaining Emotional and Psychological Balance for status Change(Marriage); Sustaining Social and Spiritual Stability in Time of Marital Stress with Dr Fauziyah Taiwo Oduguwa and Alhaji Nurain Titilayo Odunsi as Geust Speakers.
The seminar will also give room for free Medical Checkups and ample opportunity is available for buying and selling of goods.
On this development, The Criterion President for Lagos District, Dr Yaqub Jameela noted that the theme for the Seminar was specifically chosen due to the increasing rate of divorce in the Society and to her "The Association believes that when the home is stable, it translates to a better Society for all,"

SAA Voyager, Recognition and Rewards Reinvented

South African Airways (SAA), has today announced revolutionary changes to SAA Voyager positioning it as the frequent flyer programme of choice on the African continent.
The changes according to a release are in line with the airline’s Long-Term Turnaround Strategy (LTTS). SAA Voyager is a key element of the SAA Group’s customer value proposition and aligns with SAA’s Vision of Africa’s Leading World-Class Airline.
Speaking on this development, Nico Bezuidenhout, SAA Acting Chief Executive said “In terms of the Strategy, our key deliverables for the Voyager programme are non-negotiable Immediate interventions were required to improve our customer value proposition to ensure customer retention in the highly competitive domestic, regional [Africa] and international market.”
Suretha Cruse, SAA Executive Customer Loyalty at the launch event of the Re5 campaign also said “The programme changes which, for the most part, will come into effect on 1 February 2015, focus on our enhanced customer value proposition. “Our members have spoken, experts and analysts have commented, and we have listened.”
The Re5 campaign, the release noted was anchored on five key programme changes. It has been designed to respond to Voyager members’ feedback; the objectives of the airline’s LTTS; and in alignment with SAA Voyager’s aspiration to become Africa’s Leading World-Class Loyalty Programme (SAA Voyager’s Vision).
The campaign was supported by an elegant marketing drive which has been rolled out on board SAA’s aircraft and billboards. SAA Voyager members will receive a newsletter detailing the elements of the Re5 changes

“SAA Voyager’s strategic objectives are clear in that we want to attract new and retain valued customers, by recognising their loyalty and reward them fairly through the earning and spending of Miles. Of equal importance, our objective is to provide excellent customer service. We are therefore delighted to present to our most valued customers a best-in-class and Africa-first revenue-based frequent traveller offer,” adds Cruse.

SAA Voyager also announced its expansion plan in terms of its future partnership categories for both earning and spending of Miles, thus reinforcing its intent to evolve from a multi-sector retail and travel frequent flyer programme to that of a purist loyalty programme. “Whilst earning and redeeming Miles will continue to be foremost about flying, we will as a priority, be securing a solid footprint on the African continent and every effort will be made to present our valued members with more choices for their Miles. We want to be part of their lifestyle and to each and every one of them we say, we would like to be: Forever Part of Your Journey”, she concluded at the exclusive SAA Voyager media launch.

The press release from the company also affirmed that effective from 1st February 2015, members should look forward to the following:

1. All SAA Voyager members world-wide will earn Miles for travel on flights operated by SAA, based on the ticket price (base fare and fuel levy) rather than the distance travelled. Under the new SAA exclusive earning structure, all members will receive 1 SAA Voyager Mile per ZAR 1.60 spent and the accumulation of Miles under this earning structure, will count towards Tier status. Silver, Gold, Platinum and Lifetime Platinum members will earn additional miles based on their status on the day of departure. SAA will furthermore no longer restrict its SAA Voyager members to a minimum or maximum amount of miles when travelling on flights operated by SAA.
2. All SAA Voyager members world-wide will be able to spend their Miles for any available seat for travel on flights operated by SAA.
3. The redemption of Miles under this new structure will be applicable to the base fare and fuel levy of a member’s requested flight(s), referred to as an SAA exclusive Dynamic Award. During the initial phase, SAA Voyager members will be able to use their Miles as full payment. During the course of 2015, part payment of Miles and cash will be introduced and members will be informed when the technology supporting this feature, has been finalised for implementation.
4. Based on the new SAA exclusive earning and spending structure, SAA Voyager members’ loyalty towards SAA will be rewarded with a leading principle of at least 5% return on their SAA spent when requesting an SAA exclusive Dynamic Award for an SAA operating flight. Therefore, if an SAA Voyager member has spent R5,000 on an SAA operating flight, a value of R250 in loyalty Miles as a currency will be available to spend towards an exclusive SAA Dynamic Award.
5. As part of these changes, which will be effective 1 January 2015, SAA Voyager reviewed and improved the benefits of members based on their status in the programme, ensuring that loyalty over time is rewarded.