UPDATE ON CARGO AIRCRAFT

The B747 Saudi Air Cargo flight SVA 6814 that veered off the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja last night at about 22:12 hours local time has been successfully recovered to the apron and the airport reopened for normal flight operations.

It took the swift, combined emergency response effort of the Aviation agencies, (FAAN, NAMA, AIPB, NIMET, NCAA, NCAT), Customs, the Security agencies and Fire Service Personnel to accomplish the feat in record time.

Speaking to News men at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the airport shortly after completion of the exercise, MD of NAMA, Mazi Nnamdi Udoh praised the team effort of all those involved in the quick resolution of the situation, adding it was a measure of the readiness of all relevant authorities to respond to emergency situations in the aviation sector.

Udoh regretted the inconvenience the temporary suspension of flight operations as a result of the incident had caused the travelling public. He however commended their patience and understanding with the aviation authorities throughout the period of the exercise, and assured that safety and security of air passengers remains a top priority in the scheme of things in the sector.

He disclosed that an advisory known in aviation parlance as Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has already been issued on the resumption of normal operations at the airport. 

It would be recalled that last night, at approximately 22:12 hrs local time, flight SVA6814, a Boeing 747 cargo plane with registration K74798 operated by Saudi Air Cargo arriving into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport landed safely but subsequently veered off the taxiway. The incident was immediately brought under control without any casualties.

The airport was subsequently closed temporarily for landing but aircraft were permitted to take-off as normal.

We make haste to add that our first priority is safety. We however regret the disruption in flight services which arose from this incident.

The Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB) has commenced investigations into the incident and the preliminary report would be released as soon as possible.

Joe Obi

SA (Media) to the Hon Minister of Aviation

ABUJA INCIDENT

A Saudi Arabian B747 Cargo aircraft landed in Abuja last night and veered off at the manoeuvring area of the runway, ran into a maintenance area of the runway and stopped.

No casualty recorded while efforts are underway to move the aircraft away following preliminary assessment visit by the AIPB, NCAA, FAAN and other relevant agencies.

In the meantime, flights into Abuja have been temporarily suspended to facilitate evacuation efforts to clear the runway. 

Normal operations will resume immediately the aircraft is removed.

While it must be noted that the incident is not a plane crash, the Federal Ministry of Aviation regrets all inconveniences this must have caused our esteemed air travellers and Airport users. 

Concerted effort is being intensified to remove the obstacle and restore normalcy.

The public will continue to be updated as progress is made towards restoring normal operations at the airport.

Thank you. 

Joe Obi

SA (Media) to the Hon. Minister

PRESIDENT JONATHAN HOSTS DR ALIU, ICAO PRESIDENT- ELECT

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will on Friday, December 6th, 2013) play Host to Nigeria and Africa's first President of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu in Abuja.

Dr Aliu was elected by the 36-Member Council of the organisation on November 18th, 2013 in Montreal, Canada. 

Dr Aliu, who arrived the country today, will be joined by a High-Powered delegation of the Leadership of the Council led by Out-going President, Mr Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez. Gonzalez's team will arrive Nigeria today. While in the country, Dr Aliu, accompanied by the Out-going President will pay Courtesy Visits on President Jonathan, the Senate President, Senator David Mark and Speaker, House Of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

The ICAO Leadership would later be Hosted by the President to a State Banquet at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. 

Dr. Aliu made history on November 18th, 2013 in Montreal, Canada when he was unanimously elected President of the ICAO Council. His term commences on January 1, 2014 and ends on December 31st, 2016. He is the first African to lead the organisation in the over seven decades of its existence. 

His election has been described as historic and hailed not only in Nigeria, but also across the African Continent. Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah  said the election of Aliu to head the international civil aviation body is a landmark event, adding it is an endorsement of the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration in the Aviation sector.  

'' The election of Dr Aliu is another historic moment for Nigeria's aviation sector, coming shortly after the historic signing of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with the State of Israel. I want to dedicate this victory to Mr President, who not only nominated Dr Aliu for the position, but also gave his full support for his candidature from beginning to the end. This victory would not have been possible without his full interest in Nigeria's aspiration to lead the global aviation body', Oduah stated on hearing the news of the election.

ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security and efficiency as well as for aviation environmental protection. The Organisation serves as the forum for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation amongst its 191 Member States.

Joe Obi

SA (Media) to the Hon. Minister of Aviation

AEROTROPOLIS TO CREATE 10 MILLION JOBS - ODUAH

* Generate over N100 Billion in revenues

Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah has declared that the Nigeria Aerotropolis project will create at least 10 million  jobs for Nigerians, especially the youth in the first two years of its take-off. The Minister was speaking during the Public Hearing organised by the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating the FCT Land Swap. The Federal Ministry of Aviation is participating in the land swap for the Abuja Aerotropolis project.

The Minister said the projects, to be sited in Abuja and other major international airports across the country, has a value chain with the potential to transform the Nigerian economy and the living standards of the rural farmers through Perishable Cargo exports. Oduah said an estimated N100 billion will be generated annually from the initiative.

Explaining that the initiative is private-sector driven with 20 per cent equity holding by government through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Minister added that value chains would span the agricultural, Health, Manufacturing, Culture and Tourism sectors of the economy.

Already, she said investors from Nigeria, the USA, China, Turkey and other European countries have embraced the initiative, just as she disclosed that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has endorsed the Abuja Aerotropolis for which documentation is being finalised for the land acquisition. The Minister further disclosed that that the FCT has already incorporated the Aerotropolis project into its development Master Plan.

The Minister dispelled fears about issues concerning non-payment of compensation, saying although the land would be acquired at the going commercial value, all due compensation would be paid promptly. She however stressed that the greatest compensation Nigerians will get from the initiative will come in the form of millions of jobs that will be created for the teeming unemployed youth population.

''The development of airport cities (aerotropolis) is a 21`st century phenomenon that is gaining ground all over the world. It is no longer fashionable to have an International Airport without the support facilities and amenities such as shopping arcades, hotels, packaging industries, Residential Estates, modern airline offices and recreational facilities. The proposed aerotropolis will definitely boost the Nigerian economy and generate the much-needed employment for our teeming youth'', the Minister concluded in her Presentation.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Ad hoc committee, Hon. Bimbo Daramola said part of the Terms of Reference of the committee was to ascertain that land acquired through the FCT Land Swap Programme was for noble purposes and not used for racketeering. He commended the Minister for embarking on the aerotropolis project, saying it is a ''laudable and noble objective''. He expressed joy that the Minister ''has taken the aviation sector to another level'' and expressed the hope that the aerotropolis project will not only be profitable for private sector investors, the government and people of Nigeria, but also sustainable.

Joe Obi

SA (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Aviation. 

FG Committed to Jigawa Airport Project-Oduah

Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah has said the Federal Government is very committed to the actualisation of the dream of Jigawa Airport project. The Minister spoke while on inspection tour of the progress of work on the project.

The Minister, who expressed happiness on the pace of work on the airport project, said the Federal government will do everything within its powers to support the laudable project of the Sule Lamido administration in the state. 

The Minister said the airport, when completed would tremendously boost the economy of the state and its environs, adding that the Federal government would also construct a Perishable Cargo terminal to enhance the agricultural produce and commercial viability in the area. 

She said Jigawa airport has the potential to become the Perishable Cargo hub in the region, adding that this will greatly enhance the income of farmers in the area who would have ready international markets for their produce. 

She said the government was very proud of the milestones already achieved by governor Lamido in a little over eights months of the commencement of the project, and expressed the hope that the airport would commence full operations in the first quarter of 2014. 

In his remarks, Lamido expressed happiness with the support his government has received from the federal government on the project, adding that at the pace work was being executed, the airport would be completed by the end of January 2014. 

The governor agreed with Oduah that the airport would boost the economy of the state, adding that when completed, the airport would be the hub in the region in terms of agricultural produce export. 

He disclosed that the project would cost the state government about 11 billion naira, stressing that the success achieved within eight months of the commencement of the project is a good example of what Nigeria and Nigerians can achieve with the right determination and focus. 

Joe Obi

SA(Media) to Hon. Minister of Aviation

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