Global Diplomatic News: Week 21, 2019

Nigeria and BAGASOO Sign MoU On Aviation Safety

The federal government of Nigeria has signed a hosting agreement with Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO), to enhance aviation safety among member states.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama signed the agreement on behalf of the federal government of Nigeria, while the Executive Director BAGASOO, Capt. Tidiane Bah, signed on behalf of the organisation.

BAGASOO is an aviation safety oversight organisation responsible for the enhancement of safety in seven member countries which includes, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone.

Mr. Onyeama explained that federal government accorded importance to the issue of aviation safety in the country and in the West African region.

According to Mr. Onyeama:

“Aviation safety is something extremely important for the world, globally and in West Africa, we have a great deal to do to ensure civil aviation safety.

This document is moving in the right direction to further ensure that the political will deployed by the government of Nigeria is playing its part in helping to promoting civil aviation safety in West Africa.

I am happy on behalf of the federal government to sign this agreement and to assure you of our readiness to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to have this agreement implemented and respected.”

Executive Director, BAGASOO, said:

“Nigeria is hosting the organisation safety oversight for us to reside in Nigeria and function effectively, it is very important to partner the federal government to sign for our host to give us status.

Usually, when such happens, you sign agreement to accord the organisation the immunity and privileges and diplomatic status in Nigeria.

That is what this partnership stands to achieve in Nigeria, to give BAGASOO a legal personality standing in Nigeria to function in accordance with the rules and regulation in Nigeria.

Today marks the fulfillment of Article 7 of BAGASOO agreement which it requires to make with the host state.

The agreement gives the organisation the privileges and humility to be accorded to the BAGASOO and its personnel to fulfill the objectives and the goals of its functions.

This is to enhance the air transport safety between Nigeria and other member states.”

 

Nigerian airports record 3.5 million passengers, 54,000 aircraft movements in Q1 of 2019

A total of 3.5 million passengers passed through Nigerian airports in 54,000 aircraft movements in the first quarter of 2019, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said. According to FAAN’s First Quarter Report obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the figure represents an increase of 76,397 passengers or 2.23 per cent growth compared to the 3.43 million passengers recorded in the first quarter of 2018.

FAAN also revealed that there was 1.87 per cent increase in aircraft movements from 55,030 recorded during the same period in 2018. According to the report, 2.56 million passengers travelled within the country (domestic), while a total of 951,128 passengers travelled into and out of the country (international) through the airports during the period under review.

The data further shows that 42,905 domestic and 11,095 international flights were operated across the nation’s 22 airports during the period. The report on the four major airports in the country shows that the Murtala Mohammed Airports, Lagos, (domestic and international wings) recorded the highest passengers and aircraft movements during the quarter. The data indicates that the Lagos airport recorded 1.53 million passengers, comprising 860,218 on domestic routes and 674,153 on the international routes. The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, recorded 1.02 million passengers comprising 824,847 on domestic routes, while the international routes recorded 203,954 passengers. FAAN also disclosed that the Port Harcourt International Airport recorded 271,948 passengers comprising 251,410 domestic passengers and 20,538 international. The Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, recorded 322,659 passengers comprising 281,234 domestic and 41,425 international. The monthly breakdown shows that 1.42 million passengers comprising 789,883 arrivals and 633,069 departures in 18,653 aircraft movements were recorded in the month of January. In February, 976,112 passengers comprising 462,447 arrivals and 513,665 departures in 18,150 aircraft movements were recorded.

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