On Monday, an Aero Contractor Flight NIG382 heading to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport encountered a bird strike on take-off at the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Rivers State.
Also on Tuesday, another aircraft conveying the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and other passengers similarly encountered the same incident on take-off forcing the pilot to make an air return. Also on March 21, 2021, a Kano- Lagos Aero Contractors flight also returned to Kano after one of the engines suffered a bird strike during take-off with many passengers stranded at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) in 2020 disclosed that Nigerian airlines lost about N6 billion to bird strike menace annually. Arik Air alone said it lost about $3.6 million to bird strikes between 2013 and 2019.
Buhari approves four airports as special economic zones
Segun Adewole
Published 20 May 2021
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has approved four airports in Nigeria as Special Economic Zones.
The approved airports are Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers; Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
This was disclosed on Thursday by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
“I am very glad to announce that Mr President has Approved our four International Airports as Special Economic Zones. These are Lagos, Kano, Abuja & Port Harcourt. Our roadmap working,” he tweeted.
The PUNCH reported that the minister, on Wednesday, assured Nigerians that the national airliner will swing into full operation by the first quarter of 2022.
ON THE GO
Lai: Calls for restructuring rational but secession unacceptable Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, says the clamour for secession in some parts of Nigeria is unacceptable.Advertisement Mohammed spoke on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the 2021.
Ayade: It’s not party that matters… I joined APC to help Buhari build Nigeria Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC), saying the move is to “help build Nigeria.”Advertisement Ayade announced.
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