₦airaland Forum

FG Slashes BA’s Flights to Nigeria

03 Nov 2011


By Chinedu Eze

In what is considered a retaliatory move, the Federal Government has slashed British Airways’ (BA) flights to Lagos from seven times a week to three, with effect from Tuesday, November 8.

Before the flight reduction, the United Kingdom national carrier, which has operated into Nigeria for over 75 years, was flying seven times weekly to Lagos and same number of times to Abuja.

The Ministry of Aviation, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed the directive given to BA.

The Federal Government’s decision to slash the frequency of the airline to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, is not unconnected with the forced suspension of Arik Air flights to London Heathrow from Abuja by UK’s Airport Coordination Limited (ACL) which denied the Nigerian airline the landing slots it requested.

This is the second time BA has run into a storm with Nigerian authorities, the first being when the military government under Gen. Sani Abacha banned the airline from flying into the country in the heat of British opposition to his government in 1996.

With the latest directive, BA’s landing and take-off times for the airline have also been rescheduled. Instead of landing at about 5.30pm and taking off at about 10.45pm, the airline will now arrive Lagos at 6.00am and leave at 10.00am.

This will adversely affect the airline’s passengers’ connectivity in Europe as they will have to wait for long hours at Heathrow before connecting to their final destinations.

In a statement, BA said that it was doing everything possible to resolve the issue, adding that the matter was now in the hands of its home government.
“We are doing all we can to resolve this issue. The matter is now in the hands of the British Government which is speaking with the Nigerian authorities. At the moment, all flights are scheduled to operate as planned and we will keep our customers informed if there are any changes to their flights,” it said.

In the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), which Nigeria signed with the government of Britain, both countries agreed that airlines from the UK would fly 21 times to Nigeria and vice-versa.

But while UK has British Airways and Virgin Atlantic which fully utilise these frequencies, Nigeria has only Arik Air that utilises 14 frequencies only as the airline operates from Lagos to Heathrow and from Abuja to Heathrow seven times a week each.

BA does the same from both Abuja and Lagos for the same number of flights, while Virgin Atlantic flies to Heathrow from Lagos seven times a week.
The Chairman of Arik Air, Sir Joseph Arumemi Ikhide, explained to newsmen last week that the BASA signed between the two countries was only beneficial to British carriers.

He recalled that during the signing of the agreement years ago, both governments agreed to assist airlines owned by both countries that wished to fly into each other’s airspace.

But while British carriers freely come into Nigeria without hindrances, Arik Air, the only Nigerian airline that operate into Britain, faced impediments, including the denial of slot to land at Heathrow.

Ikhide lamented that when it was time for them to fly from Abuja to London, the British government told them that there were no slots and that at that point, the airline had to rent slots from the British Midland International (BMI) at £1.4 million between 2009 and 2010, disclosing that the airline paid an initial deposit of £600,000.

He further explained that the airline paid £52,250 monthly to BMI and after the expiration of that, the company increased it to £90,000 per month and that when the airline tried to negotiate the amount, BMI refused to shift ground and later ACL, which gives slots, said that there was no more slots.

When Arik insisted, ACL gave out uncoordinated slots to Arik Air which were not good for scheduled flight operations, thus frustrating the airline out of the route.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-slashes-ba-s-flights-to-nigeria/101926/

^^^

I couldn't agree more.

^^^

I rather give credit to the courageous men of JTF, SSS, and other security operatives, who stick out their necks everyday shadowing and policing, and disrupting the operations of those dastard creatures - Boko Haram

Obj influence is clearly overrated. The only credit he deserves is time well spent in jail for his various financial crimes, and co!

It will be difficult for obama to win re-election.

Aren't you tired of this campaign? Buhari has lost. Get over it.

^^^
This policy by they way is targeted at the primary schools. This is the area of greatest challenges. And the basic challenge is getting children to attend school.

Image123:
It's 'interesting' some are actually promoting this. We need real progress in the country, not 100naira per month. I've passed through imo a few couple of times, the most conspicuous thing to me were the horrible roads and the young touts collecting money in many corners from cars and buses. Are those the people who need 100naira per month? If young people need money in that state, touting is more lucrative, no disrespect to indigenes. What does 100naira buy for a month? I'm not asking him to increase it. It's a good gesture but it's better and best that's needed. This is imo and 2011. He can invest it in their education like some have suggested. How about twelve 10million naira solid education standard institutions across the state, and then he offers it for free to indigenes. How about japanlike technical school projects. How about thinking ahead, and not just buying people with money for cheap. Is that really how cheap imo is? I mean, i have friends from there, didn't imagine the dream was so .

Whatever that means.

Here is Rochas answer nonetheless:

As at 2008, Imo State had about 1,296 Primary Schools. Because of proximity (of the schools) and age of pupils, the number will be maintained and our Government will spend between 8.5 and 9.2 Billion Naira over a period of four years; for the refurbishment of the said primary Schools to meet with today’s standard of learning environment.

The sounds like a well thought out plan.

jason123:
I meant it probably isn't Beaf.

My mistake then.

The poster wants to ride on beaf's popularity (or notoriety depending on which side of the fence you are) to drive traffic to his site.

Smart and lame in a bundle. Wont blame him though.

jason123:
Point B
^^^
It probably isn't then  .

I'll go for probably is!

jason123:
Is this source true
Shocking, to say the least!

Btw, isn't Nl meant to be an anonymous forum. How did "channels" know the Reno maybe/may not be Beaf?!

"Channels" registration details

Provider Name, : BlueHost.Com
Provider Whois, : whois.bluehost.com
Provider Homepage: http://www.bluehost.com/

Domain Name: CHANNEL801.COM

   Created on, : 2011-04-09 06:54:30 GMT
   Expires on, : 2012-04-09 06:54:30 GMT
   Last modified on, : 2011-04-10 00:04:44 GMT

Registrant Info: (FAST-15449195)
   
   Enotab Nigeria
   10, Allied Street
   Lagos,  -
   Nigeria
   Phone: +234.7081552288
   Fax, :
   Email: walediscovery @ yahoo.com
   Last modified: 2011-04-10 00:04:44 GMT

Administrative Info: (FAST-15449196)
   
   Enotab Nigeria
   10, Allied Street
   Lagos,  -
   Nigeria
   Phone: +234.7081552288
   Fax, :
   Email: walediscovery @ yahoo.com
   Last modified: 2011-04-10 00:05:30 GMT



I wont be surprised if it is traced to a Nairalander. 

Face of Engr. Wale OLAYANJU, founder of CHANNEL801.COM

jason123:
Point B, I can see that you are back with your games. Goodluck!

Which game is that?

~Bluetooth:
Not really,i was just holding you to your word.So who's the real enemy here ? Atiku or tinubu ?

But Tinubu is well known thug rascal. His nemesis was only a matter of time. I dont think his present challenges are from GEJ. Remember Late Gani was also on his neck.

As for Atiku, a good strategists never deal the same cards - there is is a thumbscrew in every man. Find it, use it! 
Atiku's Achilles Heel is politics and power, just as Tinubu's is greed and money, who doesn't know this?

Aringarosa:
Anyone with a pair of brain cells to rub together ought to know that the Federal troops committed serious war crimes against defenceless children, women and civilians during the Biafran war. Having said that, i think it's about time the Igbo's should forget and Forgive and move on.

Forgive? No man can make the progress Igbos have made with such burden in their heart. Clearly Igbos have forgiven themselves, but how about 'Nigeria' have they forgiven themselves, have they obtain the necessary forgiveness from people of old Biafran? That is the burden the author was referring to. Forgetting is clearly another issue? A son never forgets!

Igbo are thriving, Nigeria is striving.

Nigeria is the one with the burden, they are the accursed here. Not people of the old Biafrans, not Igbos, Ibibios, Annangs, Efik. The rest of them murderers, accomplice, and onlookers! Will they learn to make effort to lift the burden? Their call!

aribisala0:
@ point B
personally i think your thinking is simian  and there is really no redmption but hey that's just my opinion

Childish!

alj_harem:
When you say Awo paid £20 for whatever amount of wealth (Biafra currency holding) a person had, should he have paid at parity? Under what precepts? Did the Nigerian and Biafran pounds at the time have the same purchasing power? Thank God, nobody accuses Awo of dispossessing N'digbo of their property in the West (Awo's home base) where our Igbo brothers have always had substancial real estate interests. Emeka Ojukwu's father's property in Lagos were duly returned to him. And because of these false and malicious accusations, the minds of the mass of N'digbo have been poisoned against Awo, even in death. Question is: will N'digbo ever stop lying against Nigeria and Awolowo in particular about the 20 pounds policy ? Time would tell.

I dont know why this id.iot keep popping up when people are having serious discussion. What exactly is your problem?

Was there anything to purchase with the Biafran pound to start with?

What do mean by this stupid comment? Was Biafra trading internally with Pounds? Did you know the value of the Biafra Pound during the time is was in use? The 20 pounds policy was one of the greatest injustice inflicted on Biafrans post war; but how can you understand it? If only you have been bestowed with a little more useful gray matter, perhaps that would have helped.

But honestly you need to crawl back to the hole you came from. Your ignorance is infectious like polio. It is very contagious!

alj_harem:
you forgot GEJ

is that not biased ?

Jason keep quiet there. What is your problem with GEJ, is it because he defeated the bigot Buhari at the polls?
Go and seat down jason, you have no point here.

~Bluetooth:
Sometimes by sending conduct of bureau to oppress them ? Just like tinubu ! Will jonathan ever keep him closer ?

I see. So that you can call him - tyrant!

aribisala0:
@ point B
well you called me an atheist which was a label that is supposed to reinforce your position??
i guess it was parallel thinking that led to war in the first place. we do not share the same worldview that does not give you the right to be rude. if i was rude you will know so can you cut out that last remark no one has a monopoly on unruliness. if you want to discuss issues do so . i take exception to you calling my thinking warped

Your exception is noted even though calling your thinking warped is a description that I consider apt. Because I don't know how else to describe a statement that insinuate that - a civil war that innocent children, women, and defenseless men are murdered in their millions have negligible consequence on the the present fate the country. That idea and way of thinking is considered warped in my books.

I am yet to see superior reason/logic why I should think/state otherwise.

~Bluetooth:
This is naija politics,everybody is out to protect their pockets !

Even then how else can you know what your enemies are thinking?

Boyoorisha:
Given that a number of Atiku's men have found their waybinto sensitive positions in the current set up, many are of the opinion that the chances of A[b]tiku Abubakar in the Presidential race for 2015 are brightening.[/b] This is even as the front runner for the PDP chairmanship position, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, is from Adamawa the home state of Atiku Abubakar.

All these seemingly unconnected happenings in the political arena that appear to favour Atiku Abubakar are not mere happenstances if you know and or study the personality and politics of the Turakin Adamawa.

I hope Atiku wins the nomination of his 'party'. He will win a landslide in SW, SS, SE, NC, NE, NW!  
2015 will be fun to watch, especially, if you are on the sideline like my erudite friends, and colleagues from SW.  

Abi be ko?  

The best way to destroy your enemy is to make him your friend. - by Lincoln, Abraham.

Let me congratulate Senator Ben Obi for this appointment.

I hope he uses this opportunity to help the President navigate better the thorny political terrain of Nigeria for the good of the Nigeria people.

Congratulation too Mayiam Ali.

aribisala0:
i do not know much about your thinking and won't comment on that or you . do you know of any form of debate that does not involve name calling?
you already called me an "atheist"
try and argue without the reflex use of ad hominem barbs

i prefer to talk about ideas

if you disagree with my IDEAS  present yours and argue your position


using words like warped  to describe my thinking changes nothing

PS but you are gainsaying

My thinking and ideas are well laid out, and they represent a parallel from yours. And I have not resorted to name calling, describing what I think about your thinking is not in the same category as name calling. If I call you names, trust me, it will be obvious.

aribisala0:
did nigeria know any of those things
before biafra war
did nigeria know any of those things
[s]
before martin luther king was killed

before muhammad ali refused military service

before the vietnam war
[/s]
the link between any of those events is spurious

[s]if only ali had gone to vietnam nigeria would be a better place today[/s]

i agree that the biafra war like all wars was a tragic event but any link between that and our present circumstances is negligible.

there really is no BLACK country doing much better please tell me of any??

The same self delusion.
Without gainsaying, you are either saying this out of ignorance or self denial. Which ever it is, I hope it helps you sleep better.
A past tragic war, has negligible consequence to the present circumstance of a country? Which book have you been reading? It sure has nothing to do with psychology, philosophy. I don't really get you. But that statement is warped. Very warped if I may emphasize. It exposes a major fault line in your thinking. Is that what you are going to tell those children (the oldest will be 55 now lets assume they were 15 years at that time), if you were to meet them? That losing everything they cared for 40 years ago, has negligible consequence for them today? Sir, there is a major fault-line in your reasoning, no pun intended.

@Topic,
That's half of the story. Did he give us the figure for foreign students in Nigeria?

Or

NIGERIAS - $10 BN IN REMITTANCES (2009)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Nigerians abroad send at least $10 billion in remittances to their loved ones at home. This amount makes Nigeria the 6th highest destination for remittances according to the World Bank. That also makes Nigeria the top remittance destination on the African continent.

Top recipients of migrant remittances among developing countries
Source: World Bank Blog

REMITTANCES IN THE NIGERIAN CONTEXT
Nigerians are expected to take care of a lot more than just their immediate family. As a result, the average Nigerian family consists of a mother, father, children and many dependents such as in laws, cousins, and sometimes, neighbors. Once a young Nigerian gets a job, and sometimes even before that, he or she must begin to contribute to dependents. For those living abroad, their foreign currency, when changed to local Naira can be a helpful financial addition.

http://www.nigeriancuriosity.com/2009/11/nigerias-10-bn-in-remittances.html

aribisala0:
the country did not see the light before the war and did not see it afterwards
nothing to do with the igboman and reconciliation.
that is sentiment

the country has many bad leaders like much of black africa and the igbos have their fair share.
nigeria does not have any problem(s) that is unique in africa
there have been many brutal wars in history with many  victims that is the violent nature of man . very rarely if at all has anything like genuine reconcililiation taken place.
there has been no beast more destructive of itself than the European in warfare.
why don't they have as many problems as africans??

whatever the reasons for our failure as our nation it has little to do with  curses, gods,devils, igbos and all that and a lot to do with  how black people ,in general think.

You can write whatever makes you happy. The truth is that Nigeria has never know peace, progress or any tranquility since Biafra war. How can you even dream of peace without justice and reconciliation. Bigotry, hatred, suspicion, envy, tribalism, etc rule the day. Looting, murder, arson, and other evil run things at night. And you think these are coincidental?

Nigeria is indeed cursed by spill blood, and haunted by restless spirits - of children starved to death, of defenseless and innocent civilian mowed down in Asaba as so many places. Nigeria is a cursed land!

Deliverance is needed!

But then you are an avowed atheist, how would spiritual stuff make sense to you?

Customs Recovers Auctioned NIPP Equipment

02 Nov 2011


From Kunle Akogun in Abuja

Barely seven days after the Senate directed it to recover the 22 containers of National Independent Power Project (NIPP) equipment allegedly auctioned illegally; the Nigerian Customs Service yesterday announced the recovery of 15.

Customs Comptroller General, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, told the Senate Committee on Power during an interactive session that the remaining seven containers would be recovered by Friday.


The committee had last Tuesday ordered the service to retrieve, within seven days all the 22 containers, estimated at over $5.3billion, belonging to the NIPP and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) it was said to have auctioned.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Philip Aduda (PDP, FCT), who gave the order during a meeting the committee had with officials of the NIPP, the Customs Service and PHCN, had warned that key actors in the secret auctioning of the power equipment may end up in jail if the agency failed within seven days to recover the items and return them to government for use.

Aduda, while expressing happiness over the recovery of the containers, however, gave the service two weeks to clear all equipment belonging to the Nigeria Independent Power Project (NIPP) and directed that the equipment be moved to site as soon as possible.

He said the status of all contractors involved in the power project should be published for the committee to be able to follow up, saying “we cannot pay lip service to power projects again in the country.”

One of the committee members, Senator Patrick Akinyelure (LP, Ondo), had remarked that the country did not want any more excuse for constant power failure and stressed that contractors were under obligations to deliver.


He said funding should not be a hindrance, adding that there should be provision for credit between the contractors and officials of NIPP as long as they would collect their money anytime government released money.

https://serving.thisdaylive.com/0bef99d6-acf5-4e2c-9779-8fa02ba3fcd4/assets/N21102-Inde-Dikko-Abdullahi.jpg?maxwidth=400&maxheight=540
Customs Comptroller General, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/customs-recovers-auctioned-nipp-equipment/101864/

Kilode?!:
Afterall, "EFCC is under Yahoo Yahoo" - a la the amazingly eloquent Rita Kokolet Isoken    

That got me cracking up.

Did somebody actually say that?  
Wonderful

jp philips:
[b]i wonder if Nairalanders ever leave their comfort zone

Its rather difficult to understand, for someone abroad or in lagos enjoying the luxury of internet facilities will refer to 150bucks as chicken change not knowing that out of school children in a remote area called ASSA in Imo state, hawk sachet water, chewing stick and oranges for 13hrs with less than that as profit.

It can never be over emphasized that the foundation on which corruption is thriving is UNPATRIOTISM.
The Americans are as corrupt as Nigerians the only difference is that corrupt Americans are patriotic while their Nigerian counterparts are not hence he unleashes corruption with impunity. An example is this; An average Onitsha drug importer brings in fake drugs to Annihilate his own people sometimes his relatives fall victims while the Americans travel to far away Libya and Iraq to murder women and children thus securing cheaper Energy for their people.

A lot of us asked those questions while growing up; “what has the government ever done for us?” this question I was able to answer in part 15yrs on during my youth service. Perhaps In our naivety, the issue of subsidy and road projects etc doesn’t quickly come to mind after all we were no car owners.
Let me tell you, these children out of school take the risk of travelling miles on foot to either watch local football matches or gaming centers. Why not lure them to school

Talking about lunch, on the average, the school children love “okpa” for lunch which cost 5naira. The govt has guaranteed they get one okpa for 20 working days in a month trust me before the year runs out, the schools will run out of accommodation.

If you are still looking for reasons to applaud this step; ask yourself, what will the money be doing in the Govt coffers if not to be embezzled like they experienced with previous administrations?.

I once told a friend of mine in 2003 that if only the Govt can squeeze out 500USD for all Niger delta indigene monthly, I doubt if criminals like MEND, NDPVF etc will have a local standi. In the end we spent and we are still spending fortunes to keep them quiet. Ironically Goof luck is not giving anyone figures on “Militancy subsidy” this men could have laid down their lives protecting oil installations knowing they have something to lose blowing it up.

Yes, it is a good one because it will breed patriotism at a tender age after all the Govt will fool them that they are “chopping oil money” so they are now part of the Nigerians that have access to the National cake. The kids will love their country .I need not remind you that patriotism mitigates corruption

Secondly, they will seriously consider going to school just to get Govt money and free okpa for lunch, let us quit deceiving ourselves about Imo state having highest school leavers in the SE. I seriously doubt those ambiguous figures because I ve never met NOA people going to families to interview and get accurate findings. The figures are mere anecdotes, fabrication built on fallacy.

When I was doing a project in IMO state hundreds of kids below the age of 17 flock around my work site on daily bases looking for menial jobs, if in doubt drive a hilux or any company vehicle and stop at ASSA junction for 10mins, come here and still tell us they are all in school

Lastly and most importantly, the states that don’t pay stipends, what exactly are they doing with their money?

This is a psychological push perhaps that is why most people don’t understand it.

[/b]

You have said it all, Philip. Very insightful.

Okija_juju:
Then transfer the money to something more tangible jor!! Build their freaking schools up!! Buy them gaddarn sports equipments!! I dont care, but you can give money to kids!!

The U.K dosent do it, The U.S dont either so where the Bleep is Rochas getting this crap from?!

I could fault these policies on different levels.

You have to crawl before you run. The most important thing is that the governed are at ease with these initiatives, and majority seems to give kudos to initiative. People who have experienced poverty know how far the least kobo can go.

A monthly food/transport subsidy of N100 per pupil is well targeted, and sustainable little gesture that will surely lure more students to school, without so much waste. And if the governor chooses  tomorrow to review it. All well and good.

Critics don't normally make the cut, when it comes to governance, we are all to well aware of that.

Chinedu Nlem:
pointB you're really point blank.

Is there is another way? I haven't seen.