Virgin Nigeria Vs Federal Govt Of Nigeria Et Al
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: EQUATOR
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Na Wa O
I Stay with my brethren ,does not matter what color you expect?what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong.vk or arik or bi-courtney.lets try to be fair......still love your colors racist or not ,we love our color.GOD BLESS
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DXB
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So what is Virgin Nigeria's contingency strategy, now that it might be forced out of MMIA afterall ?
Moreover....http://allafrica.com/stories/200802260181.html
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DXB
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Marching Order to Virgin Nigeria
In a surprise move, the Nigerian Govt has asked Virgin Nigeria to relocate to MMA2 within seven days
Has Virgin Nigeria seriously stepped on toes to warrant this kind of marching order? How possible is it for VK to relocate to MMA2 within seven days?
And why was the Govt silent on Arik Air?
Has Virgin Nigeria seriously stepped on toes to warrant this kind of marching order? How possible is it for VK to relocate to MMA2 within seven days?
And why was the Govt silent on Arik Air?
The Federal Government yesterday issued a final directive to the management of the Virgin Nigeria Airways Limited to relocate from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport to the Murtala Mohammed Domestic Terminal (2), MM2, within one week from yesterday.
A press statement signed by the Assistant Director (Press and Public Relations), Mr. Lawrence Ojabo, said the Federal Government’s order to Virgin Nigeria Airways yesterday was conveyed through a directive by the Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN).
The statement read: “Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, conveyed the directive of government to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN), Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun, in a letter dated Monday 4th August 2008“.
THISDAY ONLINE
A press statement signed by the Assistant Director (Press and Public Relations), Mr. Lawrence Ojabo, said the Federal Government’s order to Virgin Nigeria Airways yesterday was conveyed through a directive by the Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN).
The statement read: “Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, conveyed the directive of government to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN), Mr. Richard Aisuebeogun, in a letter dated Monday 4th August 2008“.
THISDAY ONLINE
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Jankara
Age: 64
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Virgin seems to be fighting back - the saga's not over yet folks!
f Virgin Nigeria Airways Limited obeys the instructions from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN’s) Managing Director, Richard Aisuebeogun, to relocated its domestic operations from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos to the MM2 domestic terminal this week, then FAAN’s annual revenue would reduce by some N150 million.
This figure represents the N350 Passenger Service Charge on some 500,000 passengers which the airline pays to the FAAN. Now, the funds may be channelled into the bank accounts of Bi-Courtney Consortium Limited (BCC) to which the domestic wing of the Lagos Airport has been given on a controversial concession for 36 years. This is not good news for an agency which gets 75 per cent of its total internally generated revenue from the airport in Lagos. The airlines regulator’s boss has complained of being owed N3 billion by over a dozen airlines operating in the country.
Apart from the financial implications of this directive, it may further compound the problem of the lack of direction facing the aviation sector. Sunday Trust gathered that the initial plan of the federal government was to make the international wing of the MMIA in Lagos the hub airport for the West African sub-region – what Amsterdam and Frankfurt airports are to Europe.
In South-East Asia, the airport in Singapore serves as the hub for connecting the region. It was based on this vision that both Arik Air and Virgin Nigeria Airways were granted the permission to use the international airport for domestic flights. Those who took the decision wanted to regain part of the master plan for the MMIA airport, which was lost as a result of distortions. For instance, the international airport’s master plan, which was developed 30 years ago, has provision for eight aircraft parking fingers with the capacity for 60 aircraft at a time.
There is supposed to be a network between the international wing and the sub-regional and domestic wing, which was to be solely for use by the airport to facilitate unhindered movement between the two terminals. Today, there are only two parking fingers being utilised at the international airport, while the movement from the international terminal to the domestic terminal is hindered by the hectic traffic congestion around the airport because the connecting road is being used for movement from one part of Lagos to another. To further frustrate the master plan, the land that originally belongs to the airport is being used for other purposes.
Attempts to compel the Arik and Virgin to relocate to the MM2, which is being operated Bi-Courtney, a company given the monopoly to run the terminal, has led to a legal battle, which has been running for almost one year now. Both Arik and Virgin Nigeria had contended that their original agreement with the federal government stipulated that they should provide their domestic service from the international airport terminal, as a prelude for developing it as a hub airport for the West African sub-region.
But Bi-Courtney opposed this, saying it had an earlier agreement to develop and run a terminal for domestic flights.
Why did the government enter into deals with Virgin Nigeria and Arik Air, to make the international airport the hub airport for domestic and international flights, when it had signed an agreement with Bi-Courtney to concede the domestic terminal from Lagos to Bi-Courtney ? When our reporter asked a top official of the aviation ministry this question, the response was, “This is the kind of confusion we have inherited from the previous administration. The Bi-Courtney agreement was signed by Mrs Kema Chikwe, while the one with Virgin Nigeria was signed by Alhaji Isa Yuguda. In the last few months, it has been very difficult for us. We need the cooperation of all the stakeholders to be able to tackle it.”
The confusion seems to go beyond the idea of building a hub airport. It extends to the terms of the deal with Bi-Courtney and the concept of a monopoly in the agreement. Sunday Trust learnt that a former managing director of FAAN, Mallam Mohammed Yusuf, actually opposed the deal and refused to sign the controversial agreement on the concession. The 36-year concession of the domestic terminal to Bi-Courtney was a contentious issue, to the point that former President Olusegun Obasanjo could not sign it until his last few days in power.
A letter on this controversy dated October 4, 2006 the ministry said “on the 24th May, 2007, the president unambiguously rejected the 36 years tenure for the BOT arrangement.” Obasanjo was said to have pegged the tenure to 12 years. In the first few weeks of the Yar’adua administration, the tenure arrangement raged like a storm, as The Presidency was divided. Initially, it was argued that if domestic flights operated from the MMIA, drug traffickers could take advantage of it, and this would lead to security problems.
But Yar’Adua was said to have opposed this position, saying drug trafficking was not a domestic flights problem. He, therefore, asked top officials in The Presidency to look into the grey areas of the agreements and find a middle ground, such that would not give the international community the impression that Nigeria did not respect agreements. Since February 28th when the meeting was held, not much was heard about the issue until recently when the Minister of State for Aviation, Felix Hyet was quoted as saying government had conceded the terminal to Bi-Courtney for 36 years. The reasons were not very clear.
To register their disagreement with the government’s grant of the monopoly to Bi-Courtney, Arik Air had threatened to divest its investment from Nigeria if it was compelled to move its domestic operations to MM2. At the height of the face-off, the aviation authorities had to ‘bend the rule’ and, as a face-saving measure, grant Arik the permission to utilise the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) for its operations. Indeed, the monopoly is a source of disagreement, not just between the airlines and government, but even among top officials of the ministry of aviation, Sunday Trust learnt. “It does not make economic sense to remove monopoly from government and put it in the hand of an individual. Government should liberalise terminal utilisation,” Dr Imomi Kubo, a director in the Air Transport Management Department of the Ministry of Transportation said recently. The director argued that such monopoly would hamper the utilisation of the airport, reduce route expansion for airlines and affect manpower utilisation. Sunday Trust learnt that under the agreement with Bi-Courtney, no airport should be built in Lagos for another 36 years! The Lagos State government is said to be contesting this clause.
Earlier in the year, aviation workers union rose against the deal with Bi-Courtney as it would be the death knell for FAAN, especially. Since last year when the company took over the operations at the MM2 terminal, it has been collecting all the charges paid by airlines using the terminal. But as at the time of filing in this report, the company has not paid the mandatory 5% of its total revenue to FAAN. Asked why this is so, a top official of the aviation ministry said, “We would have to cross-check with FAAN to know why.” When our reporter called the General Manager, Public Affairs of FAAN, Mr. Akin Olukunle to obtain more information on the payment, he said he would have to cross-check with a department.
It was learnt last night that Virgin Nigeria has written a petition to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, on FAAN’s relocation order, saying that the instruction contravened the rule of law as the case was still before the Court of Appeal. The case is due for hearing on October 7, 2008. Virgin Nigeria claimed that it spent N260 million on the D Finger of MMIA where it carries out domestic flights, and might ask for compensation if forced to leave the MMIA. But a top official of the aviation ministry said the Court of Appeal did not ask government to stay execution on the judgement of the lower court which says all airlines must move their domestic operations to MM2 in line with the agreement with the concessionaires, Bi-Courtney.
As the controversy rages on, the pertinent questions include, what happens to the master plan of the Lagos airport? Is the monopoly granted to Bi-Courtney of any economic benefit to Nigeria? When will the aviation sector come out of the wood to play its pivotal role of stimulating the Nigerian economy?
This figure represents the N350 Passenger Service Charge on some 500,000 passengers which the airline pays to the FAAN. Now, the funds may be channelled into the bank accounts of Bi-Courtney Consortium Limited (BCC) to which the domestic wing of the Lagos Airport has been given on a controversial concession for 36 years. This is not good news for an agency which gets 75 per cent of its total internally generated revenue from the airport in Lagos. The airlines regulator’s boss has complained of being owed N3 billion by over a dozen airlines operating in the country.
Apart from the financial implications of this directive, it may further compound the problem of the lack of direction facing the aviation sector. Sunday Trust gathered that the initial plan of the federal government was to make the international wing of the MMIA in Lagos the hub airport for the West African sub-region – what Amsterdam and Frankfurt airports are to Europe.
In South-East Asia, the airport in Singapore serves as the hub for connecting the region. It was based on this vision that both Arik Air and Virgin Nigeria Airways were granted the permission to use the international airport for domestic flights. Those who took the decision wanted to regain part of the master plan for the MMIA airport, which was lost as a result of distortions. For instance, the international airport’s master plan, which was developed 30 years ago, has provision for eight aircraft parking fingers with the capacity for 60 aircraft at a time.
There is supposed to be a network between the international wing and the sub-regional and domestic wing, which was to be solely for use by the airport to facilitate unhindered movement between the two terminals. Today, there are only two parking fingers being utilised at the international airport, while the movement from the international terminal to the domestic terminal is hindered by the hectic traffic congestion around the airport because the connecting road is being used for movement from one part of Lagos to another. To further frustrate the master plan, the land that originally belongs to the airport is being used for other purposes.
Attempts to compel the Arik and Virgin to relocate to the MM2, which is being operated Bi-Courtney, a company given the monopoly to run the terminal, has led to a legal battle, which has been running for almost one year now. Both Arik and Virgin Nigeria had contended that their original agreement with the federal government stipulated that they should provide their domestic service from the international airport terminal, as a prelude for developing it as a hub airport for the West African sub-region.
But Bi-Courtney opposed this, saying it had an earlier agreement to develop and run a terminal for domestic flights.
Why did the government enter into deals with Virgin Nigeria and Arik Air, to make the international airport the hub airport for domestic and international flights, when it had signed an agreement with Bi-Courtney to concede the domestic terminal from Lagos to Bi-Courtney ? When our reporter asked a top official of the aviation ministry this question, the response was, “This is the kind of confusion we have inherited from the previous administration. The Bi-Courtney agreement was signed by Mrs Kema Chikwe, while the one with Virgin Nigeria was signed by Alhaji Isa Yuguda. In the last few months, it has been very difficult for us. We need the cooperation of all the stakeholders to be able to tackle it.”
The confusion seems to go beyond the idea of building a hub airport. It extends to the terms of the deal with Bi-Courtney and the concept of a monopoly in the agreement. Sunday Trust learnt that a former managing director of FAAN, Mallam Mohammed Yusuf, actually opposed the deal and refused to sign the controversial agreement on the concession. The 36-year concession of the domestic terminal to Bi-Courtney was a contentious issue, to the point that former President Olusegun Obasanjo could not sign it until his last few days in power.
A letter on this controversy dated October 4, 2006 the ministry said “on the 24th May, 2007, the president unambiguously rejected the 36 years tenure for the BOT arrangement.” Obasanjo was said to have pegged the tenure to 12 years. In the first few weeks of the Yar’adua administration, the tenure arrangement raged like a storm, as The Presidency was divided. Initially, it was argued that if domestic flights operated from the MMIA, drug traffickers could take advantage of it, and this would lead to security problems.
But Yar’Adua was said to have opposed this position, saying drug trafficking was not a domestic flights problem. He, therefore, asked top officials in The Presidency to look into the grey areas of the agreements and find a middle ground, such that would not give the international community the impression that Nigeria did not respect agreements. Since February 28th when the meeting was held, not much was heard about the issue until recently when the Minister of State for Aviation, Felix Hyet was quoted as saying government had conceded the terminal to Bi-Courtney for 36 years. The reasons were not very clear.
To register their disagreement with the government’s grant of the monopoly to Bi-Courtney, Arik Air had threatened to divest its investment from Nigeria if it was compelled to move its domestic operations to MM2. At the height of the face-off, the aviation authorities had to ‘bend the rule’ and, as a face-saving measure, grant Arik the permission to utilise the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) for its operations. Indeed, the monopoly is a source of disagreement, not just between the airlines and government, but even among top officials of the ministry of aviation, Sunday Trust learnt. “It does not make economic sense to remove monopoly from government and put it in the hand of an individual. Government should liberalise terminal utilisation,” Dr Imomi Kubo, a director in the Air Transport Management Department of the Ministry of Transportation said recently. The director argued that such monopoly would hamper the utilisation of the airport, reduce route expansion for airlines and affect manpower utilisation. Sunday Trust learnt that under the agreement with Bi-Courtney, no airport should be built in Lagos for another 36 years! The Lagos State government is said to be contesting this clause.
Earlier in the year, aviation workers union rose against the deal with Bi-Courtney as it would be the death knell for FAAN, especially. Since last year when the company took over the operations at the MM2 terminal, it has been collecting all the charges paid by airlines using the terminal. But as at the time of filing in this report, the company has not paid the mandatory 5% of its total revenue to FAAN. Asked why this is so, a top official of the aviation ministry said, “We would have to cross-check with FAAN to know why.” When our reporter called the General Manager, Public Affairs of FAAN, Mr. Akin Olukunle to obtain more information on the payment, he said he would have to cross-check with a department.
It was learnt last night that Virgin Nigeria has written a petition to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, on FAAN’s relocation order, saying that the instruction contravened the rule of law as the case was still before the Court of Appeal. The case is due for hearing on October 7, 2008. Virgin Nigeria claimed that it spent N260 million on the D Finger of MMIA where it carries out domestic flights, and might ask for compensation if forced to leave the MMIA. But a top official of the aviation ministry said the Court of Appeal did not ask government to stay execution on the judgement of the lower court which says all airlines must move their domestic operations to MM2 in line with the agreement with the concessionaires, Bi-Courtney.
As the controversy rages on, the pertinent questions include, what happens to the master plan of the Lagos airport? Is the monopoly granted to Bi-Courtney of any economic benefit to Nigeria? When will the aviation sector come out of the wood to play its pivotal role of stimulating the Nigerian economy?
!!! do they have enough fingers at MMA2? 
Ogechi I think there are two fingers at MMA2 which are currently raised and being shown to VK 
What an absolute nonsense this is. The new Domestic terminal is inadequate for it's current throughput let alone add in the VK flights.
VK liaised with FAAN every step of the way on the changes to MMIA to allow domestic operations at the same time as International and then, not now, would have been the time to raise the issues.
Good luck with the fightback VK, I hope that you have every success.
What an absolute nonsense this is. The new Domestic terminal is inadequate for it's current throughput let alone add in the VK flights.
VK liaised with FAAN every step of the way on the changes to MMIA to allow domestic operations at the same time as International and then, not now, would have been the time to raise the issues.
Good luck with the fightback VK, I hope that you have every success.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lagos
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Surely Not, i guess VNA did not do it homework well before taking ownership of MMIA.
In Nigeria, You have to become a Victim before winning, and no condition is permanent. Of course, this has always been a bad message to investors and contradicts the governments investor friendly rule of law attitude/posture.
We wait to see what will happen today.
In Nigeria, You have to become a Victim before winning, and no condition is permanent. Of course, this has always been a bad message to investors and contradicts the governments investor friendly rule of law attitude/posture.
We wait to see what will happen today.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: on d glide
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The confusion continues
Virgin Nigeria: Why The Rule Of Law Should Prevail
Print Friendly
Capt Daniel Omale
Again, last week, the minister of transport, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to evict Virgin Nigeria (VN) from its present operational office at the Murtala Mohammed International terminal despite the fact that the matter is in court. This action does not tally with the government’s stance on the rule of law; and in any case, why are we so obsessed with Virgin moving out of the international terminal when more than 60% of the building is grossly under-utilised? Where, again, is this renewed pressure coming from when a court is already interpreting the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding (MOMU), the foundation of VN’s existence in our country? In reality, is VN really the problem or the system? Operationally, VN has been very responsible and, in terms of regulatory compliance, the airline has complied strictly and professionally. So, why so much hostility towards Virgin? Whose interest is actually being protected by coercing VN to move to MM2? Why can’t the minister wait for the wing of justice to take its course. And even if VN loses the case, can MM2 actually take the entire airline’s anticipated fleet?
If the reason for the sudden resurgence to force VN out of MM International Airport is because of security, then we must focus our attention not on the airport alone but also Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano airports. These airports combine local and international flights from the same terminal building. All domestic flights in and out of Kano, for the past two years, use the international wing since the domestic angle has been under construction. Virgin and Arik airlines operate in and out of the international wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, without a single complaint about security issues. All flights into Port Harcourt operate from one terminal, which is not labeled as either international or domestic wing. Why is the nation weary of security danger at MM Airport alone? If the court has ruled against VN’s claim, then, no one has any further questions to ask; but if the case is still in court, let us trek gently until there is a decision from the court, which every party must obey as part of the rule of law.
I was among those who opposed the hostile takeover of the defunct Nigeria Airways although, technically, former President Obasanjo liquidated Nigeria Airways and single-handedly brought Virgin Nigeria to stand as our national carrier. If the former president had used his super-power to ask Richard Branson to buy out Nigeria Airways, kept the name for the sake of Nigerians and operated under that name, it would have been better. But in hindsight, that decision couldn’t have worked either, because Nigerians, as usual, with our cynical perception on issues, would have tagged it as selling the country’s assets to a foreign firm. In any case, Nigeria is the most difficult country to rule because no one sees any good in any decision, except his or her interest is protected through legal or illegal gains.
Yes, VN arrived with presidential anointment and with opened constricted doors, but what impact has the airline on Nigerians? For those in the industry, if we are to call a spade a spade, there is every reason to applaud VN’s vision and resilience.
Currently, Virgin Nigeria is the only airline recruiting young people as cadet pilots for training abroad. On Virgin’s website, Nigerians are encouraged to apply online for various positions without regard to tribe, religion and state of origin. Our people now occupy managerial positions across the spectrum.
VN has placed order for about twenty Embraer 170 and 190 E-jet series. It is expected to start taking delivery in October this year, and, by this arrangement, VN will require nearly 200 pilots in the next few years. The new drive in the airline is to recruit as many young Nigerians as possible for initial training in the United States. There is a move to encourage VN to train these young people at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.
Why can’t we look at the positive side of what Virgin is doing in Nigeria as opposed to relocation to MM2? Is VN not paying its dues to the government? Virgin is one of the very few airlines in Nigeria that pays its government-regulated fees and charges. VN pays regularly and promptly to FAAN all fees and charges for the use of the terminal, while members of the AON are constantly in payment default.
Airline operators of Nigeria (AON) have been very critical of Virgin Nigeria’s office location at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport ever since it commenced operations. I do not think this is healthy for the industry. As of today, the only two airlines paying terminal navigational charges to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) are Virgin Nigeria and Arik airlines. AON members have blatantly refused to accept this fee as part of their responsibilities, although they expect (NAMA) to provide up-to-date navigational, communications and surveillance services to keep the airspace safe. This area of non-payment to NAMA is where the minister critically needs to exert her authority.
AON members are suffering from what psychologists call "learned helplessness" because they lack "internal locust of control" and they are now attributing their woes to Virgin’s existence.
For the nation to take AON seriously, we want to see their contributions to the development of aviation in Nigeria, and we are not talking about how much they keep bickering at Virgin Nigeria or fighting for all the airlines in the country to patronize MM2. To me, AON is constantly attacking either the establishment or VN as opposed to making economic and safety is contributions to the airline business. Does AON still exist or is what we hear a faction of the actual association called "Airline Operators of Nigeria?" When was the last time a member of AON recruited cadet pilots for training in Zaria? When was the last meeting of AON and where was it held? The only airlines helping the industry, as we can see, are Virgin, Aero and Arik. It is highly unfortunate that AON constitute themselves into a nuisance, instead of fighting for ways to keep their business flourishing. Even if Virgin Nigeria moved to MM2 or any other terminal today, there wouldn’t be a significant drop in their load factor.
Airline business is very expensive and requires sound knowledge of aviation with regards to fleet acquisitions, fleet rationalisation, financing and minimising operational costs without compromising safety. Routes choice and operational analysis must be rationally and empirically studied to maximise revenues and ultimately profits, if an airline is to survive. Having easy money to buy aircraft without understanding the core values of the industry has led to the demise of over 20 airlines in Nigeria since 1980, and many more will go down the same way if the trend of over-indulgence on the part of government continues without regard to the rule of law.
Why so much venom against VN? If our government has entered into an agreement with an organisation, we must compel the government to abide by it. The present administration is clamouring for the rule of law; if this is so, we must respect the agreement signed with Virgin Nigeria, whether it was in error or not.
Competition is the name of the game and if VN has found its niche in this complex and volatile industry, it is left for AON members to face the market squarely with strategies for survival instead of trying to pull down a competitor. For those who are crying that VN should pack and move out of the international terminal of MM Airport, there is no law that says that all airlines in Nigeria must patronise MM2, and if such a law exists, it must be repealed immediately so as to foster competition. This is a free market and there must be choices. I hope the highly anticipated rule of law is not truncated before it comes on stream.
Print Friendly
Capt Daniel Omale
Again, last week, the minister of transport, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to evict Virgin Nigeria (VN) from its present operational office at the Murtala Mohammed International terminal despite the fact that the matter is in court. This action does not tally with the government’s stance on the rule of law; and in any case, why are we so obsessed with Virgin moving out of the international terminal when more than 60% of the building is grossly under-utilised? Where, again, is this renewed pressure coming from when a court is already interpreting the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding (MOMU), the foundation of VN’s existence in our country? In reality, is VN really the problem or the system? Operationally, VN has been very responsible and, in terms of regulatory compliance, the airline has complied strictly and professionally. So, why so much hostility towards Virgin? Whose interest is actually being protected by coercing VN to move to MM2? Why can’t the minister wait for the wing of justice to take its course. And even if VN loses the case, can MM2 actually take the entire airline’s anticipated fleet?
If the reason for the sudden resurgence to force VN out of MM International Airport is because of security, then we must focus our attention not on the airport alone but also Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano airports. These airports combine local and international flights from the same terminal building. All domestic flights in and out of Kano, for the past two years, use the international wing since the domestic angle has been under construction. Virgin and Arik airlines operate in and out of the international wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, without a single complaint about security issues. All flights into Port Harcourt operate from one terminal, which is not labeled as either international or domestic wing. Why is the nation weary of security danger at MM Airport alone? If the court has ruled against VN’s claim, then, no one has any further questions to ask; but if the case is still in court, let us trek gently until there is a decision from the court, which every party must obey as part of the rule of law.
I was among those who opposed the hostile takeover of the defunct Nigeria Airways although, technically, former President Obasanjo liquidated Nigeria Airways and single-handedly brought Virgin Nigeria to stand as our national carrier. If the former president had used his super-power to ask Richard Branson to buy out Nigeria Airways, kept the name for the sake of Nigerians and operated under that name, it would have been better. But in hindsight, that decision couldn’t have worked either, because Nigerians, as usual, with our cynical perception on issues, would have tagged it as selling the country’s assets to a foreign firm. In any case, Nigeria is the most difficult country to rule because no one sees any good in any decision, except his or her interest is protected through legal or illegal gains.
Yes, VN arrived with presidential anointment and with opened constricted doors, but what impact has the airline on Nigerians? For those in the industry, if we are to call a spade a spade, there is every reason to applaud VN’s vision and resilience.
Currently, Virgin Nigeria is the only airline recruiting young people as cadet pilots for training abroad. On Virgin’s website, Nigerians are encouraged to apply online for various positions without regard to tribe, religion and state of origin. Our people now occupy managerial positions across the spectrum.
VN has placed order for about twenty Embraer 170 and 190 E-jet series. It is expected to start taking delivery in October this year, and, by this arrangement, VN will require nearly 200 pilots in the next few years. The new drive in the airline is to recruit as many young Nigerians as possible for initial training in the United States. There is a move to encourage VN to train these young people at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.
Why can’t we look at the positive side of what Virgin is doing in Nigeria as opposed to relocation to MM2? Is VN not paying its dues to the government? Virgin is one of the very few airlines in Nigeria that pays its government-regulated fees and charges. VN pays regularly and promptly to FAAN all fees and charges for the use of the terminal, while members of the AON are constantly in payment default.
Airline operators of Nigeria (AON) have been very critical of Virgin Nigeria’s office location at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport ever since it commenced operations. I do not think this is healthy for the industry. As of today, the only two airlines paying terminal navigational charges to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) are Virgin Nigeria and Arik airlines. AON members have blatantly refused to accept this fee as part of their responsibilities, although they expect (NAMA) to provide up-to-date navigational, communications and surveillance services to keep the airspace safe. This area of non-payment to NAMA is where the minister critically needs to exert her authority.
AON members are suffering from what psychologists call "learned helplessness" because they lack "internal locust of control" and they are now attributing their woes to Virgin’s existence.
For the nation to take AON seriously, we want to see their contributions to the development of aviation in Nigeria, and we are not talking about how much they keep bickering at Virgin Nigeria or fighting for all the airlines in the country to patronize MM2. To me, AON is constantly attacking either the establishment or VN as opposed to making economic and safety is contributions to the airline business. Does AON still exist or is what we hear a faction of the actual association called "Airline Operators of Nigeria?" When was the last time a member of AON recruited cadet pilots for training in Zaria? When was the last meeting of AON and where was it held? The only airlines helping the industry, as we can see, are Virgin, Aero and Arik. It is highly unfortunate that AON constitute themselves into a nuisance, instead of fighting for ways to keep their business flourishing. Even if Virgin Nigeria moved to MM2 or any other terminal today, there wouldn’t be a significant drop in their load factor.
Airline business is very expensive and requires sound knowledge of aviation with regards to fleet acquisitions, fleet rationalisation, financing and minimising operational costs without compromising safety. Routes choice and operational analysis must be rationally and empirically studied to maximise revenues and ultimately profits, if an airline is to survive. Having easy money to buy aircraft without understanding the core values of the industry has led to the demise of over 20 airlines in Nigeria since 1980, and many more will go down the same way if the trend of over-indulgence on the part of government continues without regard to the rule of law.
Why so much venom against VN? If our government has entered into an agreement with an organisation, we must compel the government to abide by it. The present administration is clamouring for the rule of law; if this is so, we must respect the agreement signed with Virgin Nigeria, whether it was in error or not.
Competition is the name of the game and if VN has found its niche in this complex and volatile industry, it is left for AON members to face the market squarely with strategies for survival instead of trying to pull down a competitor. For those who are crying that VN should pack and move out of the international terminal of MM Airport, there is no law that says that all airlines in Nigeria must patronise MM2, and if such a law exists, it must be repealed immediately so as to foster competition. This is a free market and there must be choices. I hope the highly anticipated rule of law is not truncated before it comes on stream.
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Accra
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Security Problems abound in MMIA some totally unrelated to VNL others a peculiar problem due to vk accidentally mixing domestic and International passengers.
This was the case with the VK accra 2.30pm flight that boards at the same time as the abuja flight.
I understand this has been corrected but several other loop holes exist which FAAN should fix.
Other Airlines have been made to stop some operations that lead to mixing of passengers e.g B3 out of Port harcourt to Douala and no court case as yet.
Until this is done i think Vk should relocate to MMA2.
With proper planning of flights the terminal can accomodate the current domestic operations out of Lagos.
In addition to the avio bridges, there are remote boarding locations that extend to GAT.
This was the case with the VK accra 2.30pm flight that boards at the same time as the abuja flight.
I understand this has been corrected but several other loop holes exist which FAAN should fix.
Other Airlines have been made to stop some operations that lead to mixing of passengers e.g B3 out of Port harcourt to Douala and no court case as yet.
Until this is done i think Vk should relocate to MMA2.
With proper planning of flights the terminal can accomodate the current domestic operations out of Lagos.
In addition to the avio bridges, there are remote boarding locations that extend to GAT.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: uk
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Federal Govt. versus VNA
The forceful ejection of VNA's domestic ops out of MMIA in spite of the the case pending in court, must be viewed from a broader perspective.
What nationall security threat does this ops pose, that has not resulted in any incident since inception in 2005 ?
How come VNA must relocate it's domestic ops to MMA2 while Arik is allowed to operate out of the GAT which attracts much less charges ?
How many fingers are available at the MMA2 that can accomodate the scope of VNA'S daily flight ops.
The contribution and innovation that VNA had brought into Nigeria's aviation industry, which has showcased the nation, in the eyes of international regulatory bodies as having come of age, and has also provided a conducive enviroment for airlines like Arik etc from coming on board, apart from providing jobs and opportunities for thousands { and a source of livelyhood for thier dependents } can not be denied .
One would expect that government would support and encourage such an enterprise, and settle differences amicably, instead of wielding the big stick, that can greatly damage the goose that lays the golden egg.
A word is enough for the wise.
ps ; i expect some angry backlash from this piece
What nationall security threat does this ops pose, that has not resulted in any incident since inception in 2005 ?
How come VNA must relocate it's domestic ops to MMA2 while Arik is allowed to operate out of the GAT which attracts much less charges ?
How many fingers are available at the MMA2 that can accomodate the scope of VNA'S daily flight ops.
The contribution and innovation that VNA had brought into Nigeria's aviation industry, which has showcased the nation, in the eyes of international regulatory bodies as having come of age, and has also provided a conducive enviroment for airlines like Arik etc from coming on board, apart from providing jobs and opportunities for thousands { and a source of livelyhood for thier dependents } can not be denied .
One would expect that government would support and encourage such an enterprise, and settle differences amicably, instead of wielding the big stick, that can greatly damage the goose that lays the golden egg.
A word is enough for the wise.
ps ; i expect some angry backlash from this piece
Last edited by whitedove2; 12th Aug 2008 at 17:15. Reason: Grammatics
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Seattle
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can't believe I'm actually coming to the defense of the Nigerian gov't...but I have a problem with the questions whitedove asks in the previous post...
the answers to those questions really has no bearing. If a court of law has issued a ruling, it needs to be enforced (by physical action if necessary) until a higher ranking court issues a contrary ruling. If the police (or other appropriate authority) do not enforce court orders, then it really makes a mockery of the powers of a federal gov't. oh wait...this is nigeria...never mind...
the answers to those questions really has no bearing. If a court of law has issued a ruling, it needs to be enforced (by physical action if necessary) until a higher ranking court issues a contrary ruling. If the police (or other appropriate authority) do not enforce court orders, then it really makes a mockery of the powers of a federal gov't. oh wait...this is nigeria...never mind...
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If by chance this situation happened in a (supposed) 1st world country do any of you think the airline would have been moved out. I have been to MM2 it is a nice terminal but I forsee a major problem with checking in as we have quite a few flights leaving for abuja about the same time, guess we will have to tell pax to check in about 2 hours before dept. Who will refund VN for the cost of the refurbishment of MMIA, As everything the Airline will be stuck with the cost and we think the FG is trying to help the Industry.
In the past Aero has fixed up the PH military airport and lost out when forced to move out only to be told they could move back and they had to rebuild again.
My opinion for what its worth VN should have been left where it was.
In the past Aero has fixed up the PH military airport and lost out when forced to move out only to be told they could move back and they had to rebuild again.
My opinion for what its worth VN should have been left where it was.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DNMM
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Browright is this bus operational,i have never seen it B/4,and if so does it take the airside or the traffic ridden road
Sources in VK tell me Bicourtney are trying to get VK to reduce thier flights
as they cannot handle thier,volume,also they have cleary indicated that they cannot handle the 767,which vk uses on some abuja flights 
Richard for sure will soon pack his bags
Sources in VK tell me Bicourtney are trying to get VK to reduce thier flights
as they cannot handle thier,volume,also they have cleary indicated that they cannot handle the 767,which vk uses on some abuja flights Richard for sure will soon pack his bags
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: uk
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
arf1410, this is the whole point of the arguement, the courts have not made any ruling, as the caes is coming up for hearing on the 7th of October, the last ruling based on the suit filed by VNA was that the status quo should be mainained by all parties until final determination of the case in court, and we all know that the federal govt. of Nigeria has made the rule of law one of it's strongest pillars.
Investros wishing to invest in Nigeria might be discouraged if it is apparent that signed agreements can disreagrded at the whims of government officials without following due process.
Investros wishing to invest in Nigeria might be discouraged if it is apparent that signed agreements can disreagrded at the whims of government officials without following due process.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lagos
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Govt reverses self over Virgin Nigeria's relocation
IN what could be said to be a dramatic u-turn, the Federal Government yesterday reversed itself on the orders to Virgin Nigeria to relocate its domestic operations out of the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
This is after the airline moved its operations staff and equipment to the new terminal, MMA2, to begin domestic operation today.
News filtered late afternoon yesterday that government had to change its stance due to public outcry by passengers and investors.
A source in the aviation industry told journalists that the President was irked by the decision to force the airline out of the international terminal when there was a case on it in court.
General Sales Agent of Virgin Group, Chief John Adebanjo who spoke to The Guardian from the United States (U.S.), confirmed the reversal, adding that "it is the rule of law at play which shows that the President respects the rule of law as he has always preached."
The Federal Government gave a seven-day ultimatum to the airline last week and at the end of its expiration, domestic services of the airline were grounded. Following the order, diplomats, businessmen and investors as well as air passengers condemned government's action, describing it as "lawless."
Guardian Newspapers
This is after the airline moved its operations staff and equipment to the new terminal, MMA2, to begin domestic operation today.
News filtered late afternoon yesterday that government had to change its stance due to public outcry by passengers and investors.
A source in the aviation industry told journalists that the President was irked by the decision to force the airline out of the international terminal when there was a case on it in court.
General Sales Agent of Virgin Group, Chief John Adebanjo who spoke to The Guardian from the United States (U.S.), confirmed the reversal, adding that "it is the rule of law at play which shows that the President respects the rule of law as he has always preached."
The Federal Government gave a seven-day ultimatum to the airline last week and at the end of its expiration, domestic services of the airline were grounded. Following the order, diplomats, businessmen and investors as well as air passengers condemned government's action, describing it as "lawless."
Guardian Newspapers