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  • FAAN gives reason for shutting Akure airport

    FAAN gives reason for shutting Akure airport

    The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria has broken its silence over the shutting of the Akure airport four days after the incident occurred.

    FAAN said it shut the airport following damages wrecked at the airport following a torrential downpour that occurred on Monday.

    PUNCH Online gathered that the rain left different levels of damage on vital equipment and terminal buildings, staff quarters and other strategic sections at the airports.

    Passengers who had booked flights to the airport from Lagos had been turned back and refunded.

    Sources working at the airport said equipment such as network time protocol, encoder, Air conditioners, and computers, among others, were destroyed at the control tower and engineering unit.

    One of the passengers who was turned back by one of the airlines, Adetutu Muriano, expressed her disappointment, appealing to FAAN to always communicate whenever needed.

    She said she had an exam scheduled (today), Wednesday, but her plan to travel by air was aborted on Tuesday, leaving her with no other option than to travel with a night bus.

    “I have an examination today, and I booked my flight for yesterday only for me to get their text yesterday evening that they won’t be flying. Can you just imagine that I had booked the same flight for early this morning? What would have happened? Is FAAN no longer functional? Why are they mute about the situation at the airport? May God help us all,” Ms Muriano lamented.

    Another passenger with Ovaland Airline, Babatunde Akinteye, said the airline cancelled over technical glitches at the airport.

    The airline’s message conveying the flight cancellation to Akinyeye reads, “ Dear Sir/Ma, your Overland Airways Akure – Abuja flight of March 5, 2025, will not be operating as the Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, Akure Airport has been closed to all flight operations for three months effective today, March 4, 2025, by the FAAN due to a Technical Issue. We apologize for any inconvenience, and please be assured of our best attention at all times.”

    Repeated efforts to speak with the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, were unsuccessful.

    On Wednesday, she told our correspondent that she had asked one of her subordinates to write her response, promising to get back shortly, but never did till press time.

    In a statement on Thursday on its social media pages, FAAN apologised to passengers for any discomfort the development might have caused.

    The statement reads, “The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria wishes to notify the public that following damages caused by a rainstorm which affected the terminal building and control tower at the Ondo International Airport last Monday, March 3rd 2025, a team of engineers have been deployed to assess the level of damages and provide remedial solutions.

    “FAAN regrets inconveniences caused by the natural occurrence and is working assiduously to ensure that normal flight operations are restored. FAAN promises to remain customer-driven while providing quality services.”

    Another passenger with Ovaland Airline, Babatunde Akinteye, said the airline cancelled over technical glitches at the airport.

    The airline’s message conveying the flight cancellation to Akinyeye reads, “ Dear Sir/Ma, your Overland Airways Akure – Abuja flight of March 5, 2025, will not be operating as the Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu, Akure Airport has been closed to all flight operations for three months effective today, March 4, 2025, by the FAAN due to a Technical Issue. We apologize for any inconvenience, and please be assured of our best attention at all times.”

    Repeated efforts to speak with the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, were unsuccessful.

    On Wednesday, she told our correspondent that she had asked one of her subordinates to write her response, promising to get back shortly, but never did till press time.

    In a statement on Thursday on its social media pages, FAAN apologised to passengers for any discomfort the development might have caused.

    The statement reads, “The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria wishes to notify the public that following damages caused by a rainstorm which affected the terminal building and control tower at the Ondo International Airport last Monday, March 3rd 2025, a team of engineers have been deployed to assess the level of damages and provide remedial solutions.

    “FAAN regrets inconveniences caused by the natural occurrence and is working assiduously to ensure that normal flight operations are restored. FAAN promises to remain customer-driven while providing quality services.”

  • Rainstorm: Passengers stranded as FAAN shuts down Akure Airport

    Rainstorm: Passengers stranded as FAAN shuts down Akure Airport

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has ordered the immediate closure of the Akure Airport to all flight operations following the destruction of some of its equipment by a rainstorm.

    Consequently, scores of passengers became stranded at the airport.

    Recall that the rainstorm, which destroyed some of its equipment on Monday, also affected churches, houses, schools and other structures in Akure North council area of the state.

    Vanguard learnt that the temporary closure of the airport was part of efforts of FAAN to ensure safety at the airport.

    Speaking with newsmen in confidence, an official of FAAN pleaded with passengers and other stakeholders to bear with the airport management decision.

    ” The Monday’s thunderstorm damaged many equipment inside the control tower. The windows were smashed while the ceiling also caved in

    “If you go round the airport, many buildings, including staff quarters, were also damaged by the storm.

    ” At least about seven buildings occupied by the staff of the airport had their roofs removed as a result of the heavy thunderstorm”

    “With the development, all commercial flights have been grounded until further notice by the airport authority pending the repairs of damaged equipment”

    According to the official, the closure is to ensure safety at the airport, that unfortunate development has caused discomfort to many of the passengers who were turned back because of the destruction.

    “The Engineering equipment, Control tower and terminal building of the Akure airport were affected and destroyed by the storm.

    ” Other equipment destroyed includes network time protocol, encoder, Air conditioners, Computers and other equipment in the control tower.

    Efforts by newsmen to get reaction from FAAN officials on the development proved abortive as they declined comments.

    They referred newsmen to FAAN officials in Lagos.

  • Shun protests against airport concession, FAAN urges unions

    Shun protests against airport concession, FAAN urges unions

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has called on industry unions to embrace dialogue and give peace a chance with the Federal Government over the plan to concession some airports.

    The unions have continued to kick against plans by the Federal Government to concession some key airports in Nigeria.

    The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had promised that there would be no job loss in the concession arrangement, but the unions seem not to trust the minister.

    The unions include the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, and the National Union of Air Transport Employees.

    During their congress last week at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, the unions kicked against the concession documents that emanated from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

    The PUNCH gathered that the document showed the exclusion of the unions’ representatives against an earlier agreement. The unions, therefore, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to reverse its decision.

    However, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of FAAN, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, in a statement, said the unions had raised concerns during the workers’ congress over the non-inclusion of their members in the ongoing airport’s concession committee deliberations and the delay in implementing the negotiated consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage, among other things.

    She said these issues were presented to the minister during an interactive meeting with aviation unions last week.

    According to her, the minister had directed immediate inclusion of the unions’ representatives in the concession committee to ensure transparency, emphasizing that the unions got full information as the concession process was ongoing.

    Orah also stated that Keyamo assured the unions that he would step in to ensure the immediate implementation of the new salary review for the staff of FAAN.

    “FAAN remains resolute towards implementing her core values. The authority is also working with the minister to maintain cordial relations with the aviation unions as continuous dialogue and understanding are better alternatives in addressing industrial issues,” the agency stated in the statement.

    During last week’s congress by the unions, all FAAN offices and gates were locked, and no worker was allowed into the agency.

    Addressing the workers, the President of NUATE, Ben Nnabue, said the unions learned that the government was going ahead to concession some airports in a manner that was not known to any of them.

    He said the minister had told them that he was not going into concessions, but that the unions were surprised to see documents on concessions from the ministry.

    Nnabue said the unions had lost confidence in the management of the agencies attending meetings with the minister.

    Also, the President of ANAP, Adebayo Alale, said the minister told all the union leaders that all labour issues would be resolved before concession.

    Alale said the process of concessioning of the Enugu airport was almost concluded, while that of Port Harcourt and Kano had also been planned.

  • FAAN: Appointment of Ganduje, well-deserved — Former Rep member Babatunde

    FAAN: Appointment of Ganduje, well-deserved — Former Rep member Babatunde

    A former member of the House of Representatives, Kolawole Babatunde, has described the appointment of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as the Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as well-deserved.

    Babatunde, who was a two term cabinet member in Ondo State, said this in a congratulatory message to Alhaji Ganduje.

    According to him, ” This appointment is a testament to your rich background as a seasoned scholar, an accomplished administrator, an astute technocrat, and a distinguished public servant.

    ” With your vast expertise, I am confident that you will bring about the much-needed transformation in the management and operations of our aviation sector.

    “I am confident that under your leadership, FAAN will witness remarkable improvements that will enhance efficiency, safety, and service delivery in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

    “Once again, congratulations and wishing you a successful tenure. “

  • FAAN: Appointment of Ganduje, well deserved- Former Rep member, Babatunde

    FAAN: Appointment of Ganduje, well deserved- Former Rep member, Babatunde

    A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Kolawole Babatunde, has described the appointment of the National Chairman of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as well deserved.

    Babatunde, who was a two term cabinet member in Ondo state, said this in a congratulatory message to Alhaji Ganduje.

    According to him ” This appointment is a testament to your rich background as a seasoned scholar, an accomplished administrator, an astute technocrat, and a distinguished public servant.

    ” With your vast expertise, I am confident that you will bring about the much-needed transformation in the management and operations of our aviation sector.

    “I am confident that under your leadership, FAAN will witness remarkable improvements that will enhance efficiency, safety, and service delivery in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

    ” Once again, congratulations and wishing you a successful tenure.