Funtua Inland Port

FG Declares Funtua Inland Facility as 'Port of Origin' 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

Years after the establishment of the Funtua Inland Dry Port, Katsina State, the Federal Government has declared the Port as a port of origin and final destination for import and export of cargoes.

The declaration was made by the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Samboon on behalf of the Federal Government. 

The Inland Dry Port which has the facility to operate shipping businesses including clearing and forwarding of cargo directly from anywhere in the world, was initially referred to as Funtua Container Freight Station. 

It was approved by the Federal Executive Council in March 2006 alongside other inland dry ports in the country but was later converted converted to an Inland Dry Port owing to the fact that the critical transport infrastructure was based on the strategic framework of Build, Own, Operate and Transfer( BOOT)

In making the declaration, the Minister relied on the power conferred on him as Minister of Transportation by section 30 of the Nigerian Ports Authority Act, Cap. N126 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. 

Sambo explained that the Funtua Inland Dry Port would be a Customs port in accordance with the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap. C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and would have all the prerequisites of an international port.

He affirmed that Katsina State known for its commercial domain in the Trans-Saharan trade route with huge agricultural produce and trade in local and export volumes, qualified it for an Inland Dry Port.

He said national and international maritime practitioners, shippers, shipping companies, landlocked countries and port users should take full advantage of the port for import and export of their cargoes.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, said the declaration of Funtua Inland Dry Port as a port of origin and final destination, was another milestone achievement for the intermodal transportation system in the country.

Her words, “the Funtua Inland Dry Port will further unlock the economic potentials of Nigeria and facilitate trade with the land-locked countries like Niger and Chad Republic. The Port will provide importers and exporters located within the nation’s hinterland access to shipping and port services without physically being at the seaports”.

Other benefits of the Funtua Inland Dry Port,  the Permanent Secretary said, are that the project will promote the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and economic integration as well as further support the Presidential Business Enabling Environment Council (PEBEC). 

The Governor of Kastina State, Aminu Bello Masari, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Alh. Musa Sule, in his presentation, noted that the State Government, as part of its contribution to the project, facilitated 16.2 hectares of land and also paid compensation to the land owners.

He said the Katsina State Government took the step based on the conviction that when fully operational, the Port will create employment for the immediate community and its environs, support the revenue base of the State and facilitate trade within and outside the country.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Emmanuel Jime advised States that they were allocated Inland Dry Ports but were yet to develop them, to expedite action on the project to bring shipping closer to importers and exporters in their State.

NAMA Story

 

NAMA Augments, Test runs Satellite Navigation System 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

In a bid to improve the accuracy, integrity, and availability of signal through augmentation of satellite systems, Nigeria’s airspace safety received a major boost as the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has successfully carried out a demonstration flight to test run the Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) with its $8.5 million Beechcraft King Air 350i aircraft. 

The SBAS are used to enhance the accuracy and precision of an existing GPS (Global Positioning System). GPS by itself isn’t sufficiently accurate to do things like help land airplanes or other applications where there is a need for high accuracy combined with high consequences for failure. Simply put, it means using satellite systems for air navigation.

With the system having the capability of reducing flight time on some routes within Nigeria by up to 5-7 minutes, it simultaneously help airlines to save cost through fuel burns.

The Managing Director of NAMA, Mr. Lawrence Mathew Pwajok said, “When an airline tells you their fuel consumption, you will understand and you multiply that by five minutes you will know how much it is. We also have the calculation which we can make available to you for different airline categories in fuel savings, time savings, and CO2 emission savings which is very critical. Environmental sustainability is very key in this satellite navigation.”

 “That is one of the driving forces when it reduces flight time, fuel consumption, and CO2 emission. We have the calculation of the CO2 emissions and when I calculated the number of flights that fly that route and the number of reductions in flight time and fuel consumption, they act to give a quantum per annum on the savings for that implementation. Multiple over the years, maybe 300 flights through that route, you can actually see an amazing reduction for an airline.”

Speaking on the SBAS, the NAMA Chief explained that Nigeria implemented the Performance Based Navigation (PBN), a satellite system for navigation, adding that the system allows aircraft to use satellites system and aircraft equipped with a global performance system to navigate or fly.

“What we have implemented at the moment that we have done in 32 airports including military airports and private and state government and federal airports is what we call performance-based navigation. It provides you with large guidance. For you to improve on the accuracy, integrity, and availability of the signal, we will now go into what we call an augmentation system. That is to augment what the satellite does”, he stated.

“For a satellite to have precision, you need an augmentation that can give improved accuracy, the integrity of the signal, availability, and continuity of the signal to collect information from several signals rather than an aircraft using just one signal from a GPS to fly.”

It improves on the accuracy and that improves safety and that also reduces what we call control flight into terrain, rather than going left or right, it puts you more precise on the approach for landing. It enhances safety, efficiency, and capacity; reduces the workload for the pilot and the air traffic controller and then of course efficiency for the airlines. It reduces flight time, reduces fuel consumption, holding time, and turn-around time. In the long run, it improves on affordability for the airline”.

The satellite air navigation system is relatively a new concept in Africa. In the United States and Europe, they are already using it. In the US, they are using Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). Nigeria has a satellite in space that has the payroll for aviation use, communication, agriculture, science and environment, and others.

What the agency did yesterday was to see how it could use the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) by collaborating with other European partners that have implemented it and doing a demonstration flight to see how they would use the aircraft calibration by developing the procedure that the aircraft will fly.

“The aircraft has been given these procedures, we will be monitoring it on the radar to see how it is following it. The procedures have been imputed on the radar so the expected lateral and vertical movement are all inputted in the radar and we will be monitoring it. As the aircraft goes, if it deviates left or right, that will help us to know the level of deviation using the satellite. If it maintains precisely and accurately, that tells us the level of accuracy and integrity of the signal being received and how it can guide aircraft,” he added. 

Boeing Takes Delivery of 747 Aircraft

Boeing Delivers ‘End of Era’ 747 Airplane to Atlas

… Says Goodbye to Queen of the Skies 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

Boeing Company, an American multinational corporation has delivered the final widebodied 747 model aircraft to Atlas Air bringing to a close more than a half century of production. 

The company which designs, manufactures and sells airplanes, telecommunications equipment worldwide, celebrated the delivery of the historic plane that brought air travel to the world, with thousands of its employees and the so called ‘incredibles’ who developed the jet in the 1960s. 

It was a monumental day for the ‘incredibles’ as they returned to be honored at the Everett factory where the journey of the 747 aircraft began in 1967. The factory produced 1,574 airplanes over the life of the program. 

Aircraft 747 is an airplane that shrank the world and revolutionized travel and air cargo with its first widebody, just as described by David Calhoun, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, "It is fitting to deliver this final 747-8 Freighter to the largest operator of the 747, Atlas Air, where the 'Queen' will continue to inspire and empower innovation in air cargo." 

Known as the "Queen of the Skies," the 747 was the world's first twin-aisle jetliner, which Boeing designed and built in 28 months. 

Overwhelmed with the delivery, John Dietrich, president and chief executive officer, Atlas Air Worldwide, said, his company is honored to continue the long history of flying the iconic aircraft for its customers around the world. 

"Atlas Air was founded over 30 years ago with a single ‪747-200‬ converted freighter, and since then, we have spanned the globe operating nearly every fleet type of the 747, including the Dreamlifter, Boeing's 747 Large Cargo Freighter, for the transport of 787 Dreamliner parts. 

“We are grateful to Boeing for their shared commitment to safety, quality, innovation and the environment, and for their partnership to ensure the continued success of the 747 program as we operate the aircraft for decades to come." 

“Atlas Air was founded over 30 years ago with a single ‪747-200‬ converted freighter, and since then, we have spanned the globe operating nearly every fleet type of the 747, including the Dreamlifter, Boeing's 747 Large Cargo Freighter, for the transport of 787 Dreamliner parts. 

We are grateful to Boeing for their shared commitment to safety, quality, innovation and the environment, and for their partnership to ensure the continued success of the 747 program as we operate the aircraft for decades to come." 

The first twin-aisle airplane and "jumbo jet," the "Queen of the Skies" enabled airlines to connect people across vast distances and provide non-stop trans-oceanic flights. Its development solidified Boeing's role as an industry leader in commercial aviation.

The airplane's core design with its distinctive hump and seating in the upper deck has delighted generations of passengers and operators alike. 

Boeing continued to improve on the original design with models like the ‪747-400‬ in 1988 and the final 747-8 model that was launched in 2005; across all the models, the jet has delivered unmatched operating economics and efficiency to travel and air cargo markets. 

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries.

MMA2 TRAINING ACADEMY

NCAA Accredits MMA2 Training Academy

ZAINAB JUNAID

After successfully scaling through a rigorous approval process, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has finally accredited the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal TWO (MMA2) Training Academy. 

The institution which came into existence in 2019 is a subsidiary of MMA2 and is under the watch of Bi Courtney Aviation Service Limited (BASL), operators of the MMA2 Terminal. 

A statement made available to journalists by BASL’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Oluwatosin Onalaja partly read, “The MMA2 Training Academy has outstanding instructors and experienced specialists with a proven track record of protective aviation security across Nigeria. Our highly interactive training courses provide the best mix of experience, theory and practice in a professional learning environment, using real-life case studies, practical applications and up-to-date technologies.”

The classrooms, Onolaja said,  has  adjustable floor plans and are equipped with virtual classrooms, business solutions, secretarial, printing and copying, training with power supply. Other benefits include easy parking,  free WiFi.

According to Onolaja, some of the courses to be handled by the academy under the NCAA accreditation include Aviation Security Awareness, ASTP 123 Basic,  X-Ray Interpretation and Screening and General Security Culture.

Among other things, the academy comprised of three well-furnished training classrooms each with a seat for 20 students.

He said: “Several ASTP 123 and security awareness training have been  completed over the last two years. Other courses available at the academy are aviation safety, emergency first aid; fire safety and emergency management.”

The MMA2 Academy’s Training Consultant, Mr. Abdulfatai Lawal, also laud the facilities offered by the institute saying, “The facility offers complete learning solutions for aviation security, aviation safety and behavioural courses delivered in a  conducive environment and at the client’s preferred location and time.

“MMA2 Training Academy courses are the most cost-effective and efficient way to train your team. Our courses are ICAO Standard training programmes  and conventional.  The conventional Training courses are customised and developed with industry-relevant organisational objectives as their core guidelines, “ Lawal added

MMA2, Aero, Dana.

MMA2 Collaborates with Aero, Dana Air to Compensate Regular flyers 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

In a bid to compensate regular flyers, users of Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2, (MMA2), Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of MMA 2 has decided to collaborate with Dana Airlines and Aero Contractors to organize a promo. 

According to BASL Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Oluwatosin Onalaja, the idea was to show appreciation and reward travellers that consistently patronise airlines at MMA2.

Mr Oluremi Jibodu, BASL’s Head of Aeronautical and Cargo Services, also said that the MMA2 Fly and Win Valentine Promo is scheduled to run throughout the month of February 2023. He added that Dana Airlines and Aero Contractors are the participating airlines.

According to him, any traveller that jointly purchases 2 Economy or Business Class return tickets from the participating airlines and is the first to check-in, in wins a free one-way flight ticket. Winners will be chosen every day until the end of February.

He thus advised interested members of the public to visit the participating airlines’ ticket reservation platforms at flydanaair.com and flyaero.com respectively, or visit the promo’s landing page on the MMA2 website at mma2.ng/fly-win-promo, or follow @mma2bicourtney on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter for more details.

Customs TinCan Command

TinCan Command Raises #574. 2bn Revenue in 2022 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

Amid economic downturn in the past one year, the TinCan Island Customs Command has proved to be the second largest seaport command in revenue generation after Apapa Command as it generated N574. 2billion penultimate year. 

This depicted an increase of 16.33% from what was generated in 2021.

 The Command collected N574,290,210,599.38 revenue between January to December, 2022 but raised N493,682,369,264.35 in 2021, an increase of N80,607,841, 335.03.

A Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N41,846,372,083.50, were intercepted and the seizures comprised- 763pkgs of Colarado (Cannabis Sativa) weighing 345.1kg with a street market value of N714,600,000 given by the NDLEA, 5 x 40 Containers of used Motor Tyre (5050 pistes), 1,150 Bales of second hand clothings, 1,190 Cartons of 20per Cartons of Possuem Bromate and Baking Powder, 11,392 Cartons of 1200 per Carton Armcol Injection Chiproquine Phosphate 322.5mg/5ml (IV and IM), 206,000 pieces of finished matchets, 1383 cartons of 50 rolls per carton of cigarettes.

These seizures compared with the 2021 record of 27 seizures with a DN of N607,267,617.00) only, showed an increase of eleven (11) seizures and N1,239,104,466.50.

Other seizures were; 650 cartons of 50 pieces per carton of new ladies shoes, 2.666 pieces in 36 pallets of new Starter Ex-Premium Inverter Battery, 1, 980 cartons of Assorted Non-Alcoholic Beverages and 1048 Cartons of Tilde Basmatic Rice, others include 2594 pieces of Ammunition and 20 pieces of Arms comprising of 1 Pistol with 611090 (S/W) model JCP 40mm, 1 Used Co2 Air Pistol with accessories cal 117(4.5m)BM, 1 Marksman repeater pistol, & Mace pepper gun and 10 suspected arms of various types.

While speaking on this achievement, the Command’s Chief, Adekunle Oloyede, noted that some strategic measures adopted last year made the revenue realisable. 

To him, “We engaged in periodic capacity building, reshuffling and redeployment of officers using the SWOT analysis, implementation of the VIN Valuation, Automation of the 546 procedure, re-introduction of the NIIT after deployment of a Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology Equipment to the Command, Proper Profiling, System Audit, Proper recheck or Examination and detailed but clearly inputted Inspection Acts, among others”.

He said the increase in Duty Paid Value rate was as a result of increased surveillance and intensified anti-smuggling drive, high value of seized items and the Naira-Dollar depreciation which leads to high exchange rate on imported items.

However, he disclosed that about 60 suspects were arrested and later granted administrative bail in connection with the seizures during the year, while the Command has 8 cases pending in court.

Western Marine Command

Comptroller Salefu Assumes Duty at Western Marine Command 

ZAINAB JUNAID 

Comptroller Salefu on Wednesday took over as the substantive area controller of the Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service. 

The baton was handed over to him during a brief handing and taking over ceremony at the Command’s headquarters Ibafon Apapa, between the acting Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller SD Adamu and the new CAC, Comptroller Salefu.

The command PRO, SC MA Magaji in a statement said the latter urged Officers and men of the Command to join hands with him to ensure the Command continue to fulfill it’s mandate in an efficient and professional way.

He also enjoined them to see change in leadership as a constant phenomenon in their professional career and in life general.

Comptroller Salefu who has worked in various Customs formations and departments brings with him very rich and vast operational experience cutting across Revenue, Enforcement, Valuation, Classification, ICT, Intelligence and Administration.

Before his new appointment as the CAC Western Marine Command, Comptroller Salefu was Comptroller in the Department of Strategy, Research and Policy (SR&P), NCS headquarters Abuja and was until his promotion to the rank of a Comptroller, the DC Compliance, Port Harcourt Area 2 Onne.

The CAC also asked Officers and Men of the Command to tie their knot in the right place in order to improve on the existing tempo in anti smuggling operation and to build upon the achievements of past administration to achieve an increased scorecard.

He emphasized character and professionalism as sinequanon to productivity and also encouraged Officers and men of the Command to make discipline and compliance their watch word.

Comptroller Salefu concluded by t appreciating the Comptroller General and his Management team for the faith reposed in him and promised to execute his responsibilities effectively and efficiently.