*Minister Commissions FAAN’s ICAO Training Centre
The Federal Government of Nigeria has upgraded the Benin Airport to perform night flights and flights during low visibility with the installation of Precision Approach Lighting System and Instrument Landing System (ILS) Category II.
The Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika made this known at the weekend when he commissioned the new equipment.
During the unveiling, the Minister commended the Governor of the state, Mr. Gowin Obaseki for his support to make the installation possible and said the Governor had expressed worries on why aircraft could not land at night, during bad weather and low visibility and why there was no ILS.
“From now on, you have the Instrument Landing System which can allow pilots in reduced visibility and bad weather to be able to shoot on approach and land in Benin, just like they will do in London. And also, it is no longer closure from 6: 00 pm. The operational capability of the airport has improved with the installation of these equipment.”
The Minister also said that the Federal Ministry of Transportation (Aviation) through Nigeria Meteorological Services (NiMET) has constructed and donated a meteorological station to University of Benin (UNIBEN).
He hinted on the plan to construct a cargo terminal at the Benin Airport.
“Here in Benin, We will site an Agro-allied Cargo Terminal. We will soon commence civil works and the governor had promised the state participation.”
Governor Obaseki, in his response acknowledged a cordial relationship with the federal government, which made the partnership to execute the projects possible.
“Benin Airport which was built over 60 years ago, is one of the oldest airports in the country because it was built in 1956. It is today being upgraded so that it can be ranked as an airport to match any other airport in this world by equipping it with the kind of instrument which a modern day airport should have,” he said.
On the airport landing aids and the proposed cargo terminal, the Governor said, “For you to have economic growth, you need to have the infrastructure. People must be able to come into your economy and leave freely. With this air transportation infrastructure, it will complement the effort we are currently making in the area of agriculture, industrialization, tourism and culture and even education. What it means for us is that there are no excuses. Once people know that you can get in and out of Benin, then it helps business”
Obaseki expressed his appreciation to the minister on the NiMET upgrade of its facilities and the equipment donated to Edo State.
“That donation in my view is one of the most significant investment anybody, any government and any city can make in the world today, because it helps you predict the weather accurately”, he said.
Meanwhile, on Saturday the Minister also commissioned the multimillion-naira International Civil Aviation Organisation
Meanwhile, the Minister on Saturday, commissioned the multimillion naira International Civil Aviation Organisation approved Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Training School, the Aviation Clinic, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Centrex and other projects at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.
Last year, during the Airport Council International (ACI) meeting in Mauritius, FAAN training school was designated as an ICAO training centre.
FAAN’s Managing director, Saleh Dunoma, had said that, “One of the advantages of the training centre was that it would make it easier for member countries to train their personnel in Nigeria and it is also cheaper for them to come to Nigeria to be trained, rather than going to United Kingdom, United States and other countries around the world.
Another advantage, he said is that there will present more opportunity for those in the region to get trained.
“You know when cost is not really a factor; more people will be factored in for training. There is also accessibility for trainees and the weather conditions are favourable in Nigeria, while the learning facilities are fantastic and new.
“For ICAO to designate us as a training centre, you will know that everything that we needed to put in place have been put in place. The training facilities are up to date. The instructors will be coming from all over the world and they are ICAO trained instructors,” Dunoma said.
Sirika, while commissioning the facilities at the weekend, said that training and retraining is very paramount to the aviation industry.
“We commission this project with the hope that it will benefit FAAN, aviation industry and Nigeria as a whole. We have established a world class aviation training school, we have been certified by ICAO and designated Global Training Centre of Airports”, he said.
On Aviation Security, he stated that security took centre stage after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States and that Nigeria must be up to speed with what is going on other parts of the world in terms Aviation Security.
At the commissioning of Aviation Clinic, Sirika said that the facility, which has world class equipment would serve the medical needs of the aviation sector.
He also commissioned the NAMA centrex, which serves as training and logistics centre.
Other projects commissioned by Sirika includes: Instrument Landing Systems (ILSs) at the airside of MMA, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) pilot briefing room, office complex NAMA at its headquarter annex, radio communication system at Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) site, passenger Information Board at General Aviation Terminal (GAT). Centrex building for workshop, logistics and training built by NAMA, and training and Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) Clinic at Oshodi.
“We commission these projects with the hope that it will benefit the aviation industry”, he added.
