Aviation
Nigeria Immigration Service issues 53,644 visas at Lagos Airport in 2022
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA Lagos Command) said it issued 53,644 Visa on Arrival (VoA) to foreigners that passed through the terminal in 2022.
This is because the command has added two additional VoA offices, thereby bringing the total VoA offices to three.
Speaking on Wednesday in Lagos at the MMIA Command during a facility tour and inauguration of new VoA offices in Lagos, the Comptroller-General, NIS, Carol Adepoju, said that the Command had continued to enhance its performance in recent times.
According to her, the inauguration of an additional two VoA would ensure seamless travel for foreigners coming into Nigeria. She further explained that the VoA would also facilitate the ease-of-doing business for Nigeria, adding that it would further reduce waiting time for foreigners.
She pointed out that this was in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommendation and standards.
She said, “Before now, we had only one production line of visas, but by the grace of God, through the initiative of the Comptroller at the MMIA Command, they have added two additional lines. By doing so, it is facilitating ease-of-doing business and making them more effective and efficient. The place is also accessible to disabled people and the old ones.”
Besides, in a bid to enhance foreign investments in the country, Adepoju said that NIS was considering introducing Business Trust Visas to foreigners who are coming into the country for the purpose of investment.
Adepoju stated that the Business Trust Visa would eliminate the fear of fraud among foreigners coming into the country.
She lamented that numerous foreign investors were willing to come into the country for the purpose of investments, but were sceptical about the sincerity of their supposed business partners in the country.
According to her, the Business Trust Visa would eliminate the trust deficit as the service in collaboration with the Department of Security Service (DSS) and other security agencies would carry out in-depth background checks on their business partners in Nigeria.
She said, “As a result of the prevalence of international crimes, especially the ones that are done online where you have a lot of fictitious business offers, there are so many investors with lots of funds that want to invest in Nigeria because of Nigeria’s population, sophistication and climate. All these are attractive to investors, but some of them are afraid.
“They do not know the calibre of people they are dealing with. You will need partners sometimes here. So, when we have that Trust Visa, we would partner with security agencies like DSS and other agencies that are entrusted with security in the country. When you give us the contact of whosoever you want to partner with in Nigeria, we will do a background check on such a person and we will let you know if he is a trustworthy person or not.
“The moment we are able to tell you who he is, we will guarantee you that your investment with him would be a success. It is a way of attracting investors into the country. We will remove the doubt and when there are people of shady characters, too, we will let them know.”
Also, the Comptroller of MMIA Command, Mrs Adeola Adesokan, said the command recorded enhanced performance in the past year, while all aspects of the command had been digitalised.
By Seun Ibiyemi
The International Air Transport Association IATA lauds Nigeria’s clearing 831 million USD in foreign airlines’ trapped funds.
This significant achievement marks a positive step in restoring confidence within the global civil aviation community.
IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Mr. Kamil Al-Awadhi, gave this commendation during his opening address at the IATA Wings of Change Focus Africa conference on July 2, 2024.
He highlighted the negative impacts of trapped funds on foreign airlines in various countries and applauded Nigeria for its effective resolution of the issue.
Significantly, the decisive action by the Nigerian government has restored confidence in the country within the global civil aviation community. The commendation received widespread applause from participants and other stakeholders in global civil aviation.
Also, the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo, emphasised the critical role of African Foreign Affairs Ministers in the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Declaration and the Single African Air Transport Market.
During the plenary discussion, Keyamo advocated for the inclusion of Foreign Affairs Ministers in driving the full operationalization of these initiatives.
He argued further that these ministers, who set the agenda for the African Union (AU) Summit, must prioritise the YD and SAATM to ensure they make political decisions to overcome existing challenges.
“To make SAATM work, it is not solely up to African Civil Aviation Ministers. We need to mobilise the African Union to remove domestic restrictions, as political leaders in Africa have the authority to direct their ministers on the way forward,” Keyamo stated.
His recommendation was well-received by the conference participants as a strategic approach to achieving successful implementation and growth of civil aviation across Africa.
The IATA Wings of Change Focus Africa conference, themed ‘Towards a More Resilient and Sustainable African Aviation,’ serves as a premier industry event in Africa.
It commenced on July 2 and will conclude on July 3, 2024. This event has gathered key players in the aviation sector to discuss and strategize on the future of African aviation, focusing on resilience and sustainability.
…Says Tinubu’s travelling in chartered aircraft, a national embarrassment
An aviation expert, Dr Godwin Emmanuel, has expressed grave concerns over recent developments that caused President Bola Tinubu to travel abroad on chartered flights.
Emmanuel, who said that the public shame that befell Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, as its President flew abroad for engagements in chartered flights was unquantifiable, urged the Presidency to prepare a supplementary budget providing new aircraft for the president and Vice President Kashim Shettima, and pass it to the National Assembly for legislative approval without delay.
Speaking in Lagos on Thursday, Emmanuel said President Tinubu’s trip on chartered flights had reduced his personality, image, and security, as Nigerians could not guarantee the safety of the hired aircraft.
He said, “Nigeria must not toy with the safety of the president.
“It is on record that most of the planes in the Presidential Air Fleet are already old, and some of them are in deplorable condition.
“The 23-year-old Gulfstream GV is said to be due for major engine overhaul, while Falcon 7x, which is 13 years old, is undergoing C check, as two of the three engines are in the engine shop for an overhaul.
“Nigerians must also note that the 19-year-old B 737 is also undergoing major maintenance.
“It is a national shame and disgrace that the Presidency has no functional aircraft.
“It’s on record that the president cannot use the aircraft in the fleet for his regular foreign trips to woo investors, build goodwill, and communicate with the external world in Nigeria’s interest.
“Of late, the vice president, who was going to the United States of America, had to shelve the trip because his plane developed technical faults.
“The President’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, suffered a similar fate. This is a terrible development.
“God forbid that bad things should happen to the president, vice president, or their spouses.
“The president and vice president represent the image, integrity, and symbol of the Nigerian government, and we should save ourselves from this shame by ensuring that they have functional aircraft.”
Emmanuel, who added that no one should toy with the safety and security of the president as it would de-robe and detract from Nigeria’s standing in the comity of nations, said that the president should be able to travel when the need arises, in order to build bridges and guarantee Nigeria’s development and well-being.
By Umar Akilu Majeri, Dutse
Barely over five years after Overland Airline suspended its flight to Dutse international Airport of Jigawa state, the Airline now has resumed its operation after signing the memorandum of understanding with the State Government.
Speaking to newsmen one of the board members of Jigawa State Invest Commission, Barrister M Tahir said, they deem it necessary to engage with Airlines to resume services in the state to ease travelling and related challenges faced by local and foreign investors who have an interest in the state.
“Airlines service is the major key for modern business, so we have to make sure the availability of such services in Jigawa state improves our enabling environment for investors.
“Jigawa is one of the must Investors Friendly States in Nigeria, and to sustain such a position we must keep on addressing the remaining gaps and improve our strength and comparative advantage for better chance to have more investors in the state,” Barrister Tahir said.
According to him, “Jigawa State Invest is a body saddled with responsibilities of promoting investment in the state by encouraging the local and foreign investors to come to the state and provide, formulate incentive, policies, and programs that can attract them.”
Barrister Tahir added that Dutse International Airport has potentiality that can guarantee customers to Airlines due to its strategic location and peaceful atmosphere of the state.
He noted that, based on the MOU the Airline will fly in Dutse international Airport three times in a week, that is Monday Wednesday and Saturday
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