General News
2013 is Year of Safer, Cheaper Air Business – Uriesi
George Uriesi is managing director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (Faan), a service organization statutorily charged to manage all Commercial Airports in Nigeria and provide service to both passenger and airlines
Uriesi is one of Nigeria’s best brains in the aviation sector with a career spanning more than 20 years both at home and abroad.
He spoke to peter ugwu on a wide range of issues
Faan’s Success in 2012 and Projection for 2013
So far, a lot of vision has been put in place. And we are hopeful of bountiful benefits of those efforts in 2013.
Our 2012 remodeling project went into a different gear, especially with the commissioning of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) in Lagos.
This year we hope that some of the other airports that have been completed will be commissioned. Benin for instance is already been used; Kano is completed and Yola is nearing completion.
So, quite a number of them have been completed and we shall also step into the second phase which is another eleven airports.
Secondly, this year we are looking at the commencement of construction work of brand new airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.
This is also to ensure that Nigerians have world class facilities at the airports. The intention is to develop those areas as international hubs.
We are also going to grow the cargo business by developing cargo airports. That is, designating airports-container cargo terminals.
That is to diversify the earnings of revenue, in such that airports that are designated as cargo will develop along that line.
For instance, in Kano, which is one of the designated areas, if there is a strong point in terms of vegetable, there will be refrigeration, markets, etc., that will be built alongside.
Discussions are on-going with the Chambers of Commerce to get market, so that such goods will be transported.
And if you look at oranges and pineapples, ours are of international standards, but right now it is the Philippines that are gaining more from the market internationally.
That is a window open to Nigeria, but yawning for development. But after our modalities processes, we should be able to be airfreight goods directly, whether it is from Aba, Enugu, Owerri, Ibadan or Ilorin.
That alone will generate a lot of activities instead of the present gluts that farms are left with their products harvested; they lose money and get discouraged.
It will not only open up the market, it will make the airports more sustainable, and create a value chain of economic activities, in such that the airport user, the airline will benefit.
The farmer and the Youths will benefit also, because there will be employment generation.
Strategies in Place to Actualize the Objectives
First is the removal of tariffs in the passenger planes.
This strategy married with the Federal Ministry of Aviation master plan will definitely make it cheaper for domestic airlines to operate.
By implication it will boil down to cheaper ticket. Because there is no reason, whatsoever, with the intervention being put in place that an hour flight should cost N30, 000. It should come down to less than N10, 000, so that the common man can afford to fly.
Invariably, we are looking at what major components constitute high costs for the domestic airlines and those are the areas government is looking at.
And the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (Faan) is not leaving any stone unturned in the area of staff re-orientation, which formed part of the Aviation master Plan pursued by Princess Stella Oduah led aviation ministry.
Faan is spearheading a number of the reorientations, in terms of attitude to work, operation. So that with these new facilities there will be a new way of thinking, as regards passenger management, personnel relationship, security, safety, etc.
Those are issues that will be on the front-burner. However, the emphasis shall remain safety, safety, safety.
Developing New Airports Alongside the Remodeling Projects
There was a stipulated template as encapsulated by the Aviation Master Plan (AMP). And the master plan is such that Nigeria should take her place as the leading aviation nation in Africa.
It was also put in view that aviation should be a major economic earner. There are a lot of things that must be in place for us to realize those dreams.
That is why we are striving to ensure the infrastructures that have been going down for the last 30 years are rehabilitated.
For us to be taken serious worldwide, we must have facilities that meet up with international standards. Facilities must be in place for us to become a key player.
For instance, in terms of airplanes, there are certain planes that may not be able to land in our airports, because of their sizes or technologies in them.
That gives rise to the fact that we need to open up our frontiers and re-organise. We believe that with the expansion of some airports from passenger to cargo business there will be so much that the facilities will be optimally used.
Not only that, there is also the Aerotropolis project-developing cities around airports, and that will assist in trade facilitation.
How? Some passengers fly to Lagos for maybe one hour from Abuja and they spend about three hours to get to the Island.
But if there are facilities to do business here, there will be no need to do that. They can actually fly in, do their businesses and fly out; that is the new business model anywhere in the world.
So, if you create the facilities, hotels, banking halls, conference centres, all within the airport environment, definitely, it will make the process more attractive. Those are the considerations we think make it mandatory that we provide more facilities on the ground than we have now.
Purchase 30 New Aircrafts for Operators
Well, it is a worthwhile project been handled by the Ministry of Aviation. Sometimes, I tend to explain to people about the project so they would get the big picture clearer.
However, the Federal Ministry of Aviation has the modalities and can only explain more on that.
At present, the Authority is focused on the reconstruction of 22 airports across the country as initiated by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.
So, I want to use this medium to dispel the rumour that it is Faan that is in-charge of the purchases. No, it is under the purview of the Ministry.
Committee on Disposal of Abandoned Aircrafts
We need to understand that the cases are actually in three categories. The ones that have cases in courts are been resolved by our legal department.
There are also the second stages where people just abandoned the aircrafts. We have contacted them through the Committee headed by Captain Henry Omeogu, director of Operations, Faan.
We are happy that the Committee has already made efforts towards explaining to some of the owners, who have eventually indicated interests to evacuate them.
The third category comprises of those who are willing to evacuate them but the aircrafts are tied to loans.
So, we are looking at strategies, but definitely as chairman of the Committee said, there will be no stopping us.
We are determined to ensure the abandoned aircrafts are moved out, because they constitute a danger, especially of bird strikes.
They provide shades that birds can hide in. although, we don’t want to create an alarm, but it is a danger.
On the other hand, it does not fit into the new image we want of world class facility. And the committee is ensuring that will be done immediately.
Stopping Airlines from Abandoning Aircrafts
Yes, we are actually looking at the possibilities. Usually, in other countries (like in America) there are airports in the desert that are designated for that.
When an airplane is getting aged or the operator wants to abandon it, you take it there. That is what we are also looking out.
There were actually one or two airports that were earmarked for that, but the rise in activities and awareness, there was a change of plans.
However, there will be designated areas far away from these areas for activities.
Relationship between Faan and Some Airport Concessionaire
Well, there are different relationships, depending on the concessionaires we are handling. There are those who out rightly took advantage of Faan and by implication, the commonwealth of the Nigerian people.
They were using agreements that were deliberately coined against Faan to their benefits. And that is being reviewed to the benefit of Nigerians. And those agenda are been vigorously pursued.
We are also happy that a lot of progress is being made. Nigerians are happy for it as well. There are other concessionaires that are not up and doing.
For instance, the cleaners – toilets are left unattended to. We concession it out, but because of the capacity of the company involved, we are having a backlash; if you go to some of the toilets and they are not well kept, there is a concessioner that ought to do that.
At the same time, to our numerous customers and clients, they would blame it on Faan. So, the managing director has already given them ultimatum to either meet up with the terms of agreement or they will be shown the way out.
There will be no compromise. We don’t believe that the old order (in operation) should be part of the operations in the new facilities.
Nigerian deserve the best, they are paying for it. To other concessioners that are operating along the terms of agreement, we encourage them, because Faan is a service provider and we will not shy away from providing enabling environment for the private sector to flourish, because the dream is let private sector handle most of these activities.
Level of ICT Inclusion In Airport Administration?
Information Communication Technology, ICT is aviation, just as aviation is ICT. There are a lot of efforts to improve on what is on ground, especially this year. We will recall the automation of our resources platform.
Of course, the world is going ICT and if we want to operate world standard airport system, we have no option than to align ourselves in the trend.
Our ICT inclusion is needful in the areas of human capital development, services, training and re-training.
Anybody who wants to be a serious player, not only in aviation, must not take ICT for granted, because every activity is affected. And that is why is on the forefront to ensure our system is ICT compliance.
NLNG and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) have commenced the construction of a research and innovation centre at Rivers State University, aimed at strengthening indigenous capacity in computer and electrical engineering.
The NLNG Research and Innovation Centre for Computer and Electrical Engineering (RICCEE), which was inaugurated yesterday, is the company’s largest Human Capital Development Institutional Strengthening project to date.
The centre is expected to provide specialised training, advanced research facilities and technological solutions for challenges in Nigeria’s energy and industrial sectors.
It will also house a professorial chair and operate as a research and development centre where industry-focused solutions, particularly for NLNG, can be developed and potentially commercialised.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, NLNG’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Adeleye Falade, described the project as a strategic investment in the country’s future and evidence of the company’s commitment to sustainable human capital development.
Falade, who was represented by NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said the facility would improve the university’s ability to produce highly skilled professionals while ensuring that research responds to industry needs.
He said the centre would also help bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical industry requirements by creating opportunities for researchers and professionals to work together on innovations with commercial and developmental value.
Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, represented by the Director, Capacity Building, Abayomi Bamidele, said the project marked an important step in advancing the Board’s Human Capital Development objectives.
According to him, the centre is part of the Board’s Institutional Strengthening Programme, which seeks to build lasting partnerships with higher institutions through infrastructure that supports teaching, research, innovation and practical skills development.
Ogbe challenged the centre to emerge as a hub for discovery, creativity and technological advancement, where students can develop innovative ideas, researchers tackle real-world problems and industry can find reliable research and development partners.
The Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, said the project aligned with the institution’s 2026–2030 strategic plan, particularly its focus on research collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship.
“We envisage the Centre as a world-class hub where researchers and students can develop practical solutions to engineering and technological challenges, where university-industry collaboration can flourish, and where innovative ideas can be transformed into useful products, technologies and services,” he said.
The centre will occupy about 9,336 square metres within the university and include specialised laboratories for electronics and signal processing, robotics and embedded systems, software engineering, and digital forensics and cybersecurity.
The facility will also feature solar energy provisions, energy-efficient lighting and other environmentally responsible systems designed to reduce operating costs and support reliable research activities.
RICCEE is one of NCDMB’s Institutional Strengthening Projects designed to improve learning institutions through modern infrastructure, research facilities, technical equipment and training aligned with industry needs.
General News
NITDA Seals Strategic Deals with Goose FL and Fireflies AI to Power $1 Trillion Digital Economy Vision
In a significant step toward expanding Nigeria’s tech footprint on the global stage, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has signed strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Canadian tech companies Goose FL and Fireflies AI.
The signings took place during the Nigeria–Canada Investment Forum and the Nigeria Investment Economic Conference in Toronto, Canada, witnessed by NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.
The strategic partnership centers on three core pillars designed to accelerate the nation’s digital roadmap:
- Expanding Financial Inclusion: Developing innovative technology solutions to broaden access to digital financial services and create sustainable economic opportunities for underserved communities.
- Deploying Local AI Infrastructure: Establishing indigenous Artificial Intelligence infrastructure and services to strengthen Nigeria’s internal capacity to build, manage, and benefit from AI technologies locally.
- Building a Stronger Digital Economy: Driving long-term economic growth through strategic global partnerships, technology transfer, innovation, and digital capacity development.
This international collaboration directly aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to grow Nigeria into a $1 trillion economy by 2030, anchored by innovation, digital technology, and human capital development.
By forging key global ties, NITDA continues to position Nigeria as a rising leader in the digital economy, ensuring that emerging tools like AI deliver real, tangible value for local citizens and businesses.
Anambra State Government says it is exploring partnerships with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to extend digital connectivity to underserved rural communities across the state.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Mr Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, disclosed this during a virtual media engagement with journalists on Thursday.
Agbata said rural connectivity remained a major challenge because telecommunications operators were often reluctant to invest heavily in communities where network deployment might not be commercially viable.
He said the state was willing to explore opportunities to leverage Federal Government infrastructure and the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to extend connectivity to underserved communities.
“We understand what digital inclusion means because we are dealing directly with these communities,” Agbata said.
According to him, the objective is to ensure that rural residents are not excluded from the benefits of digital government and the wider digital economy simply because of where they live.
Agbata said the effort formed part of the state’s broader digital transformation agenda, which is targeting deeper digitalisation of government services and a more digitally enabled business environment by 2030.
He said the second phase of the agency’s digital transformation agenda would focus on e-governance, digital infrastructure, smart government and the use of emerging technologies to drive development.
“My core vision is that we would have digitised every single government entity in Anambra State,” he said.
The ICT boss said the digital transformation agenda would extend beyond government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to businesses and residents across the state.
He said the agency was already developing websites for government MDAs and transforming them from mere information platforms into channels for delivering government services.
“We are building websites for all the MDAs. We are also automating them to be able to carry out services and give government support and government services through their websites,” he said.
Agbata said the initiative would reduce the need for citizens to physically visit government offices to access basic services.
He said the Smart Anambra platform had already demonstrated growing demand for remote access to government services.
According to him, the platform recorded about 14,000 visits between July 9 and July 29, averaging approximately 700 visits daily, despite limited publicity.
He said the data indicated that residents were interested in accessing government services online, including applications, permits and identification-related processes.
“What the data is already showing us is that we really need to build a system that allows people to actually get government services remotely,” Agbata said.
He explained that the objective was to allow residents to initiate processes online, complete forms remotely and only visit government offices where physical presence was eventually required.
This, he said, would reduce the time and cost citizens spend travelling to Awka or other government offices to access services.
Agbata said services in areas including hospitals, schools and other government processes were being connected to Smart Anambra.
Anambra Targets 2030 for Digital Government
Agbata said the state’s 2030 target was to deepen the digitalisation of government services and create an environment where businesses could increasingly operate within the formal digital economy.
He said the agency was working with the Ministry of Commerce to promote the formalisation of businesses, particularly SMEs and businesses operating in major markets.
“One of the biggest challenges that we have is that SMEs are not formalised enough,” he said, adding that the agency was exploring partnerships to address the challenge.
The ICT agency boss said the transformation would be gradual because major government initiatives required the necessary approvals and resources.
On the possibility of making Anambra completely paperless, Agbata disclosed that the State Executive Council was already operating a paperless system.
He, however, said the entire civil service might continue to operate a combination of digital and paper-based processes for some time because of the complexity of government operations.
“What might happen is a dual situation,” he said, adding that selected MDAs could be used as pilots for deeper digital transformation.
Agbata also disclosed that the Anambra State ICT Agency had commenced the deployment of a locally trained artificial intelligence (AI) system to automate its operations and explore applications in governance, revenue management and public-sector productivity.
He explained that the agency did not develop a frontier large language model from scratch because of the huge computing and financial resources required.
Instead, he said, it adopted an open-source model, modified it and was training it for specific local use cases.
“We have started doing our own local AI system. It is an open-source system, so we didn’t build our own frontier model. We basically looked at open source and modified it, and we are training it,” Agbata said.
He said the system had already been deployed to automate the agency’s operations end-to-end.
“We have used it to automate our agency end-to-end. Everything that we do now is currently automated,” he said.
Agbata said the agency was exploring how the model could be applied across other areas of government to improve productivity, address revenue leakages and strengthen governance.
He said the AI initiative formed a major part of what he described as the agency’s “2.0” phase following his reappointment by Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.
According to him, the second phase would build on achievements in infrastructure, capacity development, e-governance and smart government while placing greater emphasis on AI and emerging technologies.
Agbata also said the state’s free public Wi-Fi initiative remained operational, stressing that the programme was introduced before the electioneering period.
“The free Wi-Fi didn’t start as a political thing, a campaign thing. It started way before the campaigns,” he said.
He explained that the strategy was adjusted during the campaigns to enable residents to follow the governor’s activities and participate in live engagements while on the move.
According to him, existing Wi-Fi locations, including facilities at the state Secretariat, remain operational, although occasional downtime occurs, particularly during periods of adverse weather.
“There are downtimes now and then because with the rains and all of that, these things have their uptime and their downtimes, but it is still very much available,” he said.
He disclosed that there were currently no plans to establish additional Wi-Fi locations, noting that existing sites were still providing services.
Agbata said the state would continue to develop digital skills and education programmes, including Smart Schools and other capacity-development initiatives.
He also called for stronger collaboration among government, technology companies, telecommunications operators, local technology manufacturers and other stakeholders to accelerate the state’s digital transformation.
He cited the procurement of about 2,000 computers supplied by indigenous technology company, Zinox, as an example of the state’s engagement with local technology providers.
Agbata said the agency would remain open to partnerships capable of supporting Anambra’s technology agenda.
He said the ultimate objective was to build an Anambra where residents and businesses could increasingly interact with government digitally, while technology becomes a central driver of economic development across the state.
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