It is said that when two elephants fight, the grass suffers. This appears to be the case with billionaire owners of private jets and the federal government represented by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency , NAMA, and its sister agencies over the newly introduced charges which the operators have refused to pay leading to the intervention of the Senate. In this special investigation, our team of reporters visited six airports across the country to unravel the reasons behind the imbroglio to get the views of both parties and stakeholders.
Recently at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, major private airline operators and chief executives of key parastatals in the Federal Ministry of Aviation were locked up in a meeting lasting several hours. The issue on the burner was so hot, and so delicate that none of the parties was ready to shift ground. It was the issue of new taxes imposed on the non-scheduled (commercial private) operators by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA.
In attendance included the chief executives of NAMA, Engr. Nnamdi Udoh, that of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, managing director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Engr Uriesi and that of NIMET, Dr. Anuforo. On other side included Engr. Mohammed Joji, Mr. Mohamed Tukur, as well as about 10 representatives of other airlines such as Prime Air, Exxon Mobil.
After long drawn arguments, a five-man committee was jointly set up to appraise the recently introduced new aviation charges. The committee, with membership drawn from FAAN, NAMA and NCAA as an observer was given three weeks to turn in its report for further deliberation in January next year.
The parties during a stake holders forum in Abuja recently resolved that the contentious issues relating to the new charges be resolved within 60 days, just as they agreed to uphold the one-stop shop payment system. The committee is expected among other things to appraise the proposed charges objectively, using the standard and acceptable basis for industry charges, most importantly taking aircraft weight, distance and unit rate into consideration. The director- general of NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, supporting the idea of having a committee to review the new charges, urged the members to do a thorough job, saying that whatever the stakeholders agreed thereafter with the aviation agencies shall become a law for all to abide with.
The Senator Hope Uzodinma (PDP-Imo) led Aviation committee had earlier given a directive following a meeting with the relevant stakeholders in the aviation industry.
The operators had complained to the committee that NAMA had contravened the Aviation Act by asking them to pay the fees without consulting the relevant stakeholders as was stipulated by law. Spokesman for the operators, Mr Bala Ibn Na’allah told the committee that if the contravention was allowed to subsist, it would be in disregard of democratic norms.
“The law in Section 12 says that all the powers given to the Civil Aviation Authority in the exercise of its powers to make regulations, the authority shall consult with stakeholders including airlines. “The complaints of the non-schedule airline operators are that no one is consulted before this decision was taken, ’’Na’allah said. Na’allah, a former member of the House of Representatives also complained that NAMA was asking operators to pay these charges in dollars rather than Naira, the Nigerian currency. The Managing Director of NAMA, Mr Nnamdi Udo, however, told the committee that NAMA was empowered by the law to generate revenue for the country. He told the committee that although the operators had a choice to pay either in dollars or Naira, they were not compelled to pay in dollars.
Having listened to both sides, the committee concluded that the recent charges introduced be suspended until NAMA had consulted with the relevant stakeholders.
The committee also advised NAMA to always avail the operators with relevant information as regards the sector. Uzodinma also advised the operators not to frustrate the efforts of government in its drive to generate revenue for the economy.
Indeed, the contentious issue of the new charges started shortly after they were made public by NAMA. According to Engr. Udoh, NAMA boss, the new charges have become necessary given the enormous challenges facing the aviation agencies coupled with the need to generate enough funds to run their operations. He said: “In the last five years, total revenue continues to match total expenditure, but we need to strike a balance between revenue and expenditure. The challenge is we need to open new revenue frontiers because safety is priceless.” Continuing Udoh said, “We have taken more airspace –related responsibilities while awaiting the accruing income. Today we have calibration, airfield lighting, vegetation and wildlife control as additional responsibilities. But how do we fund these responsibilities in the interest of safety?”
The new charges affect aircrafts and airlines operating within the newly introduced General Aviation. Under the new charges, non-scheduled private airlines (charter) are to pay $2,500. A breakdown of this figure is as follows: navigational and communication charges is $500, General Aviation Terminal/FAAN services charges $1500, landing charge $500, NCAA Service charge five percent of charter costs for commercial flights. All foreign registered aircrafts are to pay a flat rate of $3000.
The new charges which are for non-scheduled commercial operators replaces all previous charges such as landing and parking fees, en-route navigational charges and passenger service charge. However, all private operators who do not use their aircraft for commercial purposes are exempted.
But the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, and the General Aviation Aircraft Operating Foreign and Nigerian Registered Aircraft Operating Adhoc and Regular Non-Scheduled Operations have kicked against the new charges. In a letter to the chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, dated November 21, 2013 they described the new charges as illegal and indiscriminate and called on the Senate to halt its implementation. The letter was signed by Capt. Mohammed Joji, former boss of the Nigerian Airways and now chief executive of Skypower Express Airline.
The group is also kicking against other aviation industry policies such as the limitation of the use of private jet aircraft which stipulates that only family members of private jet aircraft owners can be carried in the owner’s aircraft. Others include the new policy that corporate aircraft should carry only its staff; aircraft belonging to non-schedule or scheduled operators can carry only the employees and members of the board of the company; policy that all operators of foreign registered aircrafts must declare the identities of all passengers on non-revenue charter flights in the appropriate general declaration forms prior to obtaining ATC clearance as well as the policy that owners of foreign registered aircraft can only keep such aircraft for 15 days only; any extension to their stay must be given by the Aviation Minister.
In an interview with Nigerian Pilot in Kaduna, Captain Mohammed Joji while faulting the new policies stated that “one accusation that is beyond comp rehension is that private jet owners contribute to importing arms into the country. If this is correct, the security agents at the airports must be investigated to explain their roles in this visible, punishable and heinous crime.”
Joji stated that owners of all business jets in Nigeria are highly responsible citizens that have more to lose not only in Nigeria but their worldwide reputation. “It is therefore unnecessary to create lies to justify the allusion,” he said.
On the new charges and other new policies, the AON secretary-general said it was the view of his members that the policy be put before the National Assembly as the representatives of the people because of what he called the policy’s “infringement on the Civil Aviation Act.”
In order to ascertain the state of the airports in Nigerian, Nigerian Pilot team visited selected six airports for on-the-spot assessment, especially on the state of the radar, general aviation terminals, navigational aids, control tower and air fill lighting (run way). These include Abuja, Lagos 1& 2, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Enugu and Kano Airports. At the Port Harcourt airport, for instance, two passengers at the arrival hall testified to improved facilities at the airport, especially GAT, furniture, security and orderliness. Messrs Brown Adewari and West Lawson expressed joy and satisfaction that the issue of disappointments in flight schedule had reduced and also commended the level of hygiene in both the departure and arrival halls. Some of the reports are presented below.
SMICA undergoing facilities upgrade
The Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, SMICA, Owerri, formerly known as Imo Airport, had in the recent past been experiencing tremendous but gradual transformation to bring it to its proper status as an international cargo airport. The airport which was initially conceived and commenced by the people of old Imo State was provisionally elevated to an international cargo airport during the heyday of Dr (Mrs) Kema Chikwe as Minister for Aviation. Since then, the international cargo aspect of operations is yet to kick off.
Between 2010 and today, SMICA has continued to witness upgrading of facilities in virtually every sector and department. Like any other airport, it houses the offices of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Nigeria Metrological Agency, NIMET.
As part of the federal government’s effort to uplift the airport to an international status, reconstruction and expansion of the runway was recently completed. The tarmac is currently being reconstructed and expanded. In addition, the General Aviation Terminal, GAT, is now under construction. The foundation of the GAT block was laid recently while work is earnestly ongoing. Also under construction, at foundation level, is the Cargo House. The main terminal building was also expanded and reconstructed to taste but is yet to be officially commissioned.
Only about a week ago, four (4) brand new electronic luggage screening machines were installed. Three of the electronic scanners were installed at the ticketing hall while one is located at the VIP lounge. Another machine, authorities at the airport disclosed, would soon be installed at the arrival hall. The machines are already in place, mounted at the Electronic Screening Point in the ticketing hall with the inscription, Heimann X-Ray Technology, were described as among the highest in quality. A brand new cargo screening machine has also been brought but is yet to be mounted and installed.
SMICA like many other airports across the country has no Radar of its own but is covered by the one installed at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. That many have described as not too nice considering its effect on effective safe air travels.
The Air Field Lighting is however underway. That has hampered take-off of night flights at the airport. Of all that is needed to fully light up the airport, only the Runway Edge lights have been fixed. A closer look at the toilet facilities revealed a deliberate commitment to a sustained hygienic culture. The VIP lounge is not left out in the scheme of transformation as several improvements have been recorded.
But despite the much effort to upgrade facilities at the airport, not really much appears to be changing in the area of volume of passengers and airline patronage. Presently, there are only two airlines operating at SMICA namely Arik and Aero Contractors. The duo records only five (5) flights on a daily basis. While Arik has one each for Lagos and Abuja, Aero flies twice to Lagos and once to Abuja. However, during the yuletide, there is apparent upsurge in volume of passengers and the airport authorities say they are set since it is not the first experience.
Some of the passengers and operators who spoke to our correspondent commended the efforts of the government at giving the airport the needed facelift, but maintained that so much needed to be done in the area of facility upgrade to make the airport come up to international standard. Mr Bona Nwoke Dike, a regular passenger, told Nigerian Pilot that the airport had so much it is lacking in terms of facilities that provide utmost comfort and safety assurance for travellers. According to him, being an international cargo airport deserves better facilities as it is going to serve larger airspace users.
Another passenger, Dr (Mrs) Jacy Opara described the facilities at the airport as far cry from what obtains in airports in Europe. She however remarked that the recent effort of the government through the Ministry of Aviation deserves commendation as it indicates a shift from the old order and a glimpse of hope for better days and things to come.
Lagos: getting airports critical infrastructure right
Critical infrastructures in an airport such as the runway lightings, the radar, navigational aids, the control tower among others play key roles in air navigation, especially in promoting air safety globally.
Aviation is a global business in terms of standards and recommended practices and as such, the country cannot afford to be below this standard. More so, with a Nigerian, Dr Bernard Aliu as the new president of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, Council, the onus is on the country to lead by example in complying with safety standard by ensuring that its critical infrastructure meet international standard.
In recent time, there have been concerns in some quarters over some of the country’s airport infrastructural facilities like the runway lightings, the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON Project), navigational aids, the control tower, state of facilities at the General Aviation Terminal in Lagos and the Muritala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, and other airports across the country.
Aviation stakeholders have for sometime been lamenting about the obsolete state of some of the equipment, especially the communication equipment which in most cases raises course for concern; but this concern is often allayed and the people raising it tagged as alarmists.
Speaking to Nigerian Pilot on some of the equipment, an authoritative source and professional in the aviation industry disclosed that the radio communication in the Nigerian airspace has not improved despite spirited efforts by the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, to fix the problem.
The source, who did not want to be named for obvious reasons, told Nigerian Pilot that Mode X, which is a vital equipment that supposed to come with the radar, is not there, thereby making communication with the pilots difficult.
According to him, this Mode X came with the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, TRACON, and when the primary radar was installed it was there, but when the secondary radar was installed, this equipment was missing. With this equipment, it becomes so difficult to get details of overflying aircraft, makes the work of air traffic controllers tedious and difficult.
The source stated that when this equipment is missing in the TRACON, it makes air traffic controllers to be doing guess work which is too dangerous. He said the agency is also loosing millions of dollars as a result of this, because it will be difficult to get accurate details of overflying aircraft and as a result, the money the country is supposed to get as overflying charges from foreign airlines is lost.
He asked: “When you do not have the details of overflying aircraft, and it was not captured, there is no evidence that such aircraft overflew our airspace, because there are no verifiable facts, how do you ask the airlines to pay.
“In fact, the country’s communication equipment need total overhaul. The old equipment should be replaced with new ones instead of bringing new equipment and be using them along side with old ones, is just like putting a fresh new wine in an old wine bottle instead of a new bottle. For example, when there is an obstruction and when this happens there is problem because you cannot talk to the pilot to turn left or right. Is only God that is saving people in this country because the dangers they are exposed to is too much.
“Today, if you say the truth the way it is about the communication equipment, if it is a Yoruba man that is in the saddle, they will say you are trying to run him down because he is a Yoruba man; if he is an Igbo man, they will say you want to pull him down because he is an Igbo; if he is a Hausa man, they will say because he is a Hausa man that is why you want to ridicule him. This issue is not about who is there whether Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Edo or other ethnic groups, after all if there is an accident, it will not ask if is only Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba or other ethnic groups that are in the plane, it will kill everybody. Even when they want to buy these equipment, they should give it to the professionals to get the best and the right equipment”, the source said.
He emphasised that in the Lagos area, the air traffic controllers are just managing the equipment, but that of Kano is acute,” he said.
He stated further that the control tower has no problems while the navigational aids are generally in good working condition, adding that with the radar, the navigational aids are working perfectly.
On the runway light at the Muritala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, the source stated that for now light coming out from 18L is faint as pilots are barely managing to fly in there because using the 18R will burn more of their fuel.
Commenting on the state of some of the air navigational facilities, another source from Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, who pleaded anonymity, stated that the radar is in perfect working condition, including the airfield lightening and the navigational aids.
He told Nigerian Pilot that NAMA is always consistent in calibrating their navigational aids, stressing that ground to air communication which is communicating with pilot through VHF radio is good, especially Lagos and Abuja Airports.
“All the navigational equipment are all in good working condition, except the High Radio Frequencies for aircraft overflying the country’s airspace which sometimes give out poor signal, although the management NAMA are working on that,” he said.
He said this radio signal is sometimes too faint and may not be heard at all times loud and clear by over flying aircraft.
He emphasised that what the management of the aviation agencies should be concerned about now is the welfare of the workers and the training of officials who will man some of the equipment, especially in the area of automation.
Meanwhile, a visit by Nigerian Pilot to the GAT showed that most of the airport facilities are in good working condition, including the toilets, except the tinted glasses that are supposed to act as shade from the rays of the sun. The tinted glasses are gradually peeling off, including the entrance door which is supposed to open and close automatically when approached by passengers.
The same thing for the Muritala Muhammed Airport; the toilets are in good working condition, except for the air conditioners which make the arrival and departure lounge very hot and stuffy, especially when an airplane lands, the whole arrival area will look as if the passengers will suffocate in the heat. This is more common with those passengers coming from countries in America and Europe that are in winter and are experiencing cold. This is compounded by the incessant power outage at the airport.
A source at the airport said there is a spot around the area manned by Immigration and other airport officials that is leaking when it rains; that even a bucket has to be used to collect the water dropping from the roof.
One of the passengers who identified himself as Femi, who flew in from London, told Nigerian Pilot that the remodeling of the Muritala Muhammed Airport is quite an improvement from what it used to be in the past, but pointed out that the country is still not there.
He wondered why the air conditioners are not in good working condition at the nation’s premier airport thereby making people to choke.
Another passenger, Osas Edekere said the country had not started at all compared with other airports around the world, adding that Nigeria is long overdue for a new international airport that is befitting and not the patching and painting of an old airport.
At GAT most of the passengers seem not to be concerned with the facilities, but by the way and manner the airlines are treating them, delays and flight cancelations.
Uche Ofor, one of the passengers at GAT, said for now the facilities are okay for him; that his problem is not with the facilities but the airlines and their delays.
“I have stayed for few hours waiting for my flight, in the process, I have used the toilet, is good, but the problem is not the facilities but the airlines, they don’t seem to be giving the passengers the best of services, they delay passengers for too long,” he said.
Michael Phils, an expatriate waiting to connect flight to Port-Harcourt, said the facilities on ground at the GAT were good, especially for a local airport, but observed that there was need for improvement because the air conditioners were not working at their best.
He observed that the major issue was ability of FAAN to maintain the facilities, pointing out that in the years he has spent in the country, that he has observed that Nigerians lack maintenance culture, especially when it comes to public facilities.
Speaking to Nigerian Pilot on the state of some of the facilities, especially in Lagos and Abuja, Sam Akerele, a former general manager of airspace in NAMA and secretary general of the Aviation Round Table, ART, stated that the radar is in good working condition while the airfield lightning is also in perfect working condition.
Akerele said to the best of his knowledge, the airfield lightings had been working well and did not collapse at anytime as reported in some quarters.
Asked about the poor signals often receive by over flying aircraft, Akerele explained that the management of NAMA is focusing on that area with a view to correcting whatever may be the problem with the High Frequency Radio, affirming that there is effective communication from ground to air, which uses VHF radio communication and that of the communication between the controller and the pilot.
Akerele explained that there is significant improvement in the CNS/ ATM Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management especially in Lagos and Abuja.
The ART secretary general stated that the TRACON would be complemented by the Total VHF Radio Coverage of Nigeria, which is at the advanced stage of completion, stressing that it would provide effective Air-Ground communication between the pilot and the Air Traffic Control centres, including the Extended Range, ER, VHF Radio Communication (RCAG) which will ride on the VSAT network to provide seamless services for operations in the Nigerian airspace.
In the area of the runway lightings, there has been insinuations in some quarters that AFL installed by NAMA, that is the Portable Mobile Lighting System produced by PPC Limited, UK may not be relied on permanently as the use of rechargeable airfield lighting may not be too good for an airport as busy as Lagos airport, but that it is a lot better than having no lighting at the runways at all. According to NAMA, the Portable Mobile Lighting System is recognised and recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, and US Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, and it is also cheaper.
Recently, NAMA through the airspace manager of the Murtala M International Airport, Mr. Remi Olajire explained that everything about the Runway 18Left was perfect and in good working condition. He recalled that the lights had ICAO approval and since its installation in December 2012, when NAMA took over the function from FAAN, the Runway 18Left has been working perfectly.
The agency stated that the newly installed emergency lighting at the Runway 18Left of the MMIA is working optimally.
NAMA had earlier in a statement issued by its acting general manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Olajumoke Adetona, insisted that the facilities are functioning without any hiccups. “This new technology is reliable. When you charge it for the first time it gives you 200 hours lighting and you charge it during the day. It came with runway identifier, buts pilot rejected it so NAMA came with cross bar light. At the end of the day we have been using the light. That is the lighting that is used to operate the Enugu airport runway and the Lagos Runway 18L,” the managing director of NAMA, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh explained.
NAMA has also completed plans to introduce another runway lighting that is solar based, which would be installed as back up for Abuja airport runway, Owerri and Yola.
Major runway lighting projects are currently going on at the Benin airport and there are firm plans to establish permanent AFL at Ilorin, Calabar and Enugu airport runways. It is hoped that after many Aviation Ministers who have passed the buck, that the promise this time will be real giving the seriousness of the present aviation minister Mrs Stella Oduah and the DG of NAMA Engr. Nnamdi Udoh respectively.
For the navigational aids, NAMA in September announced that it has commenced calibration of navigational equipment at some airports and en route stations across the country to enhance air safety.
The calibration exercise started in Lagos with the routine calibration of the two Instrument Landing Systems, ILS, Very High Omni-directional Radio Range/Distance Measuring Equipment, VOR/DME, and the Path Approach Precision Indicator, PAPI, of the MMIA. It will also be recalled that recently, the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association, NATCA, called for improvement on communications and surveillance facilities across the country’s air traffic control units in order to boast and sustain air safety in the country.
NATCA president, Victor Eyaru had earlier declared that CNS/ATM facilities nationwide were yet to be improved upon. Eyaru stated that that no matter how beautiful an airport building would look, it would be a waste without the proper facilities in place, adding that air traffic controllers at the nation’s area control centres in Kano and Lagos still go through a lot of herculean tasks to communicate with pilots.
“All the claims of NATCA on the issue on the precarious state of VHF radios used by the two Area Control Centres in Kano and Lagos are verifiable facts and NAMA management attested to this by saying that it has challenges in solving the radio problem. It is also a fact that over the years, huge sums of tax payers’ money have been expended on the communication projects without noticeable improvement. Over Four Hundred Million Naira (N400m) Total VHF coverage project that started about four years ago as the solution to the radio problem is now completed but of no effect,” Eyaru said.
But in its reaction, the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers, NAAE, debunked the allegations insisting that the Nigerian airspace is safe for flying, saying that anybody with any contrary opinion to this is misleading the public.
The president, NAAE, Engr. Ebenezer Makanjuola maintained that the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, had over the years improved the navigational equipment in the country’s airspace and beyond.
Makanjuola while rejecting Enyaru’s position reiterated that the equipment installed in the various airports across the country met international standards and assured the travelling public of a very safe airspace.
He insisted that no air crash in the country in the last 20 years had been traceable to equipment failure, stressing that if the equipment were not of international standards, crashes would have been attributed to the malfunction of the equipment.
Commenting on the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, TRACON, project, Makanjuola explained that since the equipment was installed over three years ago, pilots had not complained about its efficiency and performance, insisting that the equipment was perfect and dependable.
He, however, agreed that there might be hitches in the system, but it was not enough to say the airspace was not safe.