Ebubu:
Rubbish post
Why always picking on Ebonyi?
Is it a crime to be ambitious?

I'm sure when Enugu airport was built in early 1960s there was massive poverty in Enugu and it was solely used by British expatriates and Politicians but your idiotic father of the Journalist didn't complain like his son is.

Is it a crime to be ambitious?

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nlenq:
Good day everyone.

Pls I need the input of people with experience on this matter:

As an international student travelling for the first time from Lagos to London:

Which Airline will you advise I go with, based on affordability and smooth flight experience without stories like missing luggage etc?

How many days/weeks is best to book ahead?

Which day of the week is flight at it's cheapest?

Pls note that my program will start on 10th October.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, recently wrote a diplomatic letter to the United Kingdom aviation handlers requesting landing slots for Air Peace, at the UK’s Choice airport in Heathrow. These requests sparked discussions in the industry, OLASUNKANMI AKINLOTAN x-rays the matter

The media has been filled with reports about the protest letter written by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to his British counterpart. The letter was written to lodge a formal complaint about the UK airport authority’s refusal to allow the Nigerian Air Peace to land at Heathrow airport.

In a letter dated August 1, 2024, and addressed to Louise Haigh, the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Keyamo warned that if Air Peace was not allocated a space at London Heathrow, Nigeria would be forced to “reciprocate” by denying British Airways and Virgin Atlantic slots at the Lagos and Abuja airports.

Although Heathrow is the UK’s primary airport, Air Peace currently operates from Gatwick airport, a secondary airport.

The UK’s Heathrow airport could be compared to Nigeria’s Murtala Muhammed airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe airport, and Gatwick airport, UK, may be likened to the Enugu International airport.

Efforts by Air Peace to get a slot at Heathrow, which is closer to the heart of London, have been unsuccessful, PUNCH has learnt.

Meanwhile, Nigeria and the United Kingdom are both parties to a bilateral aviation safety agreement, an agreement that provides for Civil Aviation Certifications to be shared between the two countries.

This agreement is called the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement.

A BASA sets out obligations and methods for cooperation between the authorities to avoid unnecessary duplication of evaluation, and to facilitate the certification of aeronautical products by the civil aviation authorities.

A BASA, therefore, supports trade in aircraft and related products, while ensuring the highest levels of aviation safety.

This agreement also allows airport managers to provide equal landing privileges to aircraft from member countries in their domain.

Meanwhile, some industry stakeholders were of the view that the Nigeria-UK BASA agreement promoted designated city destinations rather than specific airports.

The stakeholder said Heathrow cannot be explicitly mentioned in the agreement as it falls outside the purview of the Department of Transport and given the UK government’s lack of involvement in airport slot allocation.

They advised Air Peace to address the issue independently and not escalate it.

Meanwhile, the diplomatic dispute between the two countries took another dimension when airport Coordination Limited, the independent authority responsible for slot allocation in the UK, disclosed that Air Peace missed two critical deadlines while requesting landing slots.

The company claimed that Air Peace failed to submit its slot requests on time for the Northern Summer 2024 and Northern Winter 2024 scheduling seasons.

The missed deadlines, as disclosed by the slot allocator, have added a new layer of complexity to the situation, raising genuine concerns over the airline’s ability to gain a foothold at one of the world’s busiest airports.

A top officer in the airline, who preferred not to be mentioned considering the current diplomatic nature of the matter, told our correspondent that the airline was not happy with the refusal by the UK authority to allow Air Peace aircraft to land at Heathrow airport.

He noted that the airline would not want to dabble into the matter, adding, “It is important to note that we have done due diligence in ensuring that we get a slot, but they were claiming the crowd was too much for them. Only for us to now start hearing that they claimed that we did not apply for two seasons. The same you that initially claimed no slots were owing to the crowd?

“Just like I said earlier, we have done due diligence and we will continue to do what is right. We pray that God backs the minister to help us get the desired slots from them.”

However, the Nigerian government has continued to allow UK flag bearers to land in Nigeria’s primary airports even while aviation authorities in the UK remained adamant on the matter.

In reaction to the development, Keyamo, through his letter, expressed displeasure over the development.

The diplomatic correspondence, which was leaked to the media, reads partly saying, “The consistent denial of slot” by the UK slot office to Air Peace on the Nigeria-London route to fly into Heathrow, its first choice, since it began operations in the UK in March 2024.

“The airline had made consistent efforts in the past to fly into Heathrow airport from Lagos but was denied, and only approved to fly into Gatwick airport from Lagos.

“Following the approval granted the airline by the Nigerian government to fly the Abuja-London route, the airline approached the slot office for slot allocation at the London Heathrow airport, for flight operations planned to commence in November 2024, during the IATA Winter Season. It is highly disheartening that up till this moment, the airline has not received any favourable response from the slot office.”

He reminded the UK that both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic were operating into Nigeria’s primary airports in Lagos and Abuja without encumbrances placed in their ways.

British Airways has been flying into Lagos since 1936.

“Therefore, it is necessary for Nigerian designated carriers to enjoy similar reciprocity that British carriers are enjoying. It is highly unfair on the side of the British authorities and a discredit to the Nigerian authorities and the Nigerian nation as a whole, for slot allocation to Nigerian carriers to be an issue at all times. We feel betrayed by the British authorities for not reciprocating the good gesture of the Nigerian State and its people,” Keyamo wrote.

The minister told the UK airport authority not to allow the slot allocation issue to be an alibi to deny the existence of a bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, whose hallmark was based on the principle of reciprocity.

Following the minister’s threat, a junior staff member of Air Peace, who did not want to be mentioned because he was not in a capacity to speak for the company told our correspondent, “Obviously, the management is concerned by this development between the UK and Nigerian governments, but we are only taking solace in the possibility that the matter may be resolved before the deadline given.”

Also, when contacted, British Airways’ Regional Country Manager for Nigeria and Ghana, Adetutu Otuyalu, who was initially responding to chats from our correspondent, suddenly went mute after the question was posed to her.

Reactions

The President of the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria, Dr Kingsley Nwokoma, backed Keyamo, saying if UK airlines could enjoy Nigeria’s best airports, such privilege should also be reciprocated.

He also called for more diplomacy in resolving the matter.

His words, “If they are enjoying our best airport, since we do not have a national carrier, our current national flag carrier should be allowed to fly to their own best airports too.

“This is not rocket science. Both Nigeria and the UK are parties to BASA. So, why shouldn’t our flag carrier be allowed to land at their best airport?

“This once happened between Air Peace and the UAE and the Nigerian government sat with them and things were resolved so, I want to advise that the same tactics be employed to resolve this matter.”

Also, a commercial pilot with over 30 years of experience, Captain John Okakpu, lauded the minister’s decision to shut the landing space against both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic pending the provision of landing rights to Air Peace.

He recalled that the former military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, once shut airlines from the UK when they once disallowed the defunct Nigeria Airways from landing in the UK’s A’ class airport.

“If they refused to allow Air Peace to land in Heathrow, the minister should also banish the airlines to maybe Enugu or even Ibadan.

“Abacha stopped them from coming to our country at a time. They should also feel what we are feeling. Why should they have 21 frequencies to Nigeria and the less than seven we have, they won’t still allow us to complete it even as Nigeria’s flag carrier? At least Arik is not as sophisticated as Air Peace and they go to Heathrow. What is the meaning of all these?

“Can you imagine what Nigerians go through when their cargoes get to Gatwick? They always have to transport it to Heathrow after paying so much for airlifting from their primary destination, which cannot continue. When passengers are going to the U.S. from Nigeria, they will be taken to Gatwick and then transported back to Heathrow before getting their connecting flight to the U.S. So why should Nigerians go through this unnecessary pain and extra spending?” he quizzed.


Ranking

Although Heathrow is now ranked 12th in the global ranking, slipping from its position at 8th in 2023, a survey by aviation analyst Cirium, which calculated the number of airports each hub served between January and June 2024, showed.

It comes despite the west London airport handling more passengers than any of its European competitors and offering over 4.5 million seats this month, according to OAG Aviation.

It was ranked the world’s fifth busiest airport last year.

Its ranking as best-connected has improved considerably in recent years, as pre-pandemic records revealed the west London hub stood in 18th position, according to the Independent.

In the first half of 2024, it served 221 locations, while London Gatwick airport served 218 and has been positioned 14th.

It trails Heathrow by two spots despite serving half of the passengers Heathrow does.

In the list whittled down from airports worldwide, Istanbul emerged on top with some 309 destinations on offer. Most are on Turkish Airlines, the carrier with the most extensive route network in the world.

It is followed by Istanbul Frankfurt, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol, with 296, 282 and 270 locations on their departure screens, respectively.

The only other European airport in the top 10 and 10th position is Rome Fiumicino, with 234 locations.

Meanwhile, Chicago O’Hare is the top non-European airport listed, serving 270 airports next to Dubai International, which serves 269 airports.

Dallas-Fort Worth, Shanghai Pudong and Atlanta occupy seventh, eighth and ninth place in the table, respectively.

orjohn24:


Sir, I believe you may have misunderstood the gentleman’s argument. It wasn’t a personal attack on you, but rather a general comment on why someone with a strong profile, like yours, might face rejection. There’s no secrecy surrounding asylum-seeking, nor any need for compassion regarding the facts—it’s simply an open reality.
In fact, reports show that it’s not only Nigerians facing these challenges. Claims by Bangladeshis at Canadian airports have increased by over 1,200%, and nearly 700% for Nigerians. These three countries—India, Bangladesh, and Nigeria—are currently experiencing difficulties in obtaining Canadian visitor visas, with many rejections occurring right at the airport. Recently, several Indians with visitor visas were also sent back from Canada, so there’s no longer any "secret" about these situations. It’s a collective misuse of the system, which some see as an advantage or even religious grace, but has unfortunately become a burden for others like yourself.and it not about you in the bad light but collectively as Nigerian we are moving at a very fast speed beyond a bad lighting

I understand the pain of your refusal, and I'm truly sorry. You might consider renewing your UK visa for a family holiday, then applying for a U.S. visa since you previously held a U.S. transit visa. I wish you all the best in your next steps.

Ramaii:

My good broda this asylum talk on this platform is not helping any of us, i think is good for us to knw ircc have Nigerians on their payroll n those pple get info frm social platform like this. So we shld try n stop doing all these talk of asylum on public platform like this.
And is good we knw Nigerians are not d nmbr one asylum seekers, Indian are nmbr one but u can never ever see them trying to speak against it on public platform like we do for d sake of correction.
Indian asylum seekers...
Lie more on visa application
Fake more on visa application
But get higher rate of visa approval than us, why do u think dat is. They don't expose them selves publicly like we do, together with other more reasons.
Even if what u are saying is correct d way u said it without compassion is really not good. Plz broda nxt time don't do like this because u put me in a bad light like i told u I am travelling to seek asylum n u can most likely be destroying ur own chances of success too.
Lastly if we keep giving pple negative energies like this on d this platform pple will most likely stop posting refusal dat will be of help to another person.
No hard feelings.
Cheers

Nigeria set to introduce Digital Travel Certificate – Interior Minister

Nigeria will soon introduce a Digital Travel Certificate (DTC) to improve security at the country’s borders and improve travellers’ experience in line with best global…


Nigeria will soon introduce a Digital Travel Certificate (DTC) to improve security at the country’s borders and improve travellers’ experience in line with best global practices, according to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo.

The minister disclosed this in Abuja at the closing ceremony of a two-day capacity building for personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on the use of the Advanced Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record (API/PNR) solutions, organised by Newworks and led by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) specialists.

A DTC is a digital representation of a traveller’s identity, designed to temporarily or permanently replace a conventional passport.

“It includes the holder’s facial image, biographical data, and security features, and can be validated using the issuing authority’s public key infrastructure.

These certificates are part of efforts to streamline and secure international travel, making it easier to verify travellers’ identities and vaccination statuses digitally.

Speaking about the imminent deployment of API/PNR by Nigeria, Tunji-Ojo said, “We are not stopping here. The next one we want to go into once we deploy this, we’re already thinking of our DTC, digital travel certificate.


“API, PNR, done. But there are so many other solutions to be done. So AITA, we will work, and we are ready to collaborate with you. If there are border control solutions across the globe that you know for an emerging economy like ours is necessary, please, we are ready to collaborate. The Ministry of Interior is ready to collaborate, and we will not rest until our borders are 100% protected and secured.”

He charged the officers to put what they have learned into practice in all the international airports in the country, assuring that the government would continue to improve their capacity to handle new technologies being deployed.


Speaking earlier, the Controller General of the NIS, Kemi Nana Nandap, said this training was specialized and is the first of its kind.

“We’ve trained almost 100 officers for this two-day training, and it was a specialized training specifically for the API and the PNR project.

“What this does for us is the fact that our borders become more secure. Clearance at the airport is more target-based.

“And also for the service, it’s a wonderful achievement, because, as you know, border security is our major and our core mandate, and having the PNR and the API keeps us better monitoring of our borders and also in terms of cross-border crimes, it gives us proactivity in terms of visibility of these crimes. We see them before it happens. We are better prepared to handle these eventualities.

“What that does for us is that our borders are safer. Clearance of passengers is also faster and more seamless. And with the API and PNR, we pull data from the airlines, so it gives us that foresight in terms of who is coming into our country. Who do we want in the country so we are better prepared in terms of response time,” she said.

She said the Service had been planning to introduce the API and PNR for almost 14 years without any success, commending the minister for his leadership.

kingsways:
Now, sometimes you have to give people credit where they deserve it

Many people like to accuse Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of all sorts, but have failed to give him credit for building the world class Nest of Champions in Uyo.

Uyo has literally become the home of Nigeria’s national teams and home of clubs representing Nigeria

Now, It was His Excellency, Godswill Akpabio as Governor of Akwa Ibom, who contracted the best Construction company in Nigeria Julius Berger to build an international stadium in Uyo. That was not all he did. He littered quality roads across Akwa Ibom, built an airport, and a five star hotel.

Maybe, just maybe, he deserves some credit.

kingsways:
Now, sometimes you have to give people credit where they deserve it

Many people like to accuse Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of all sorts, but have failed to give him credit for building the world class Nest of Champions in Uyo.

Uyo has literally become the home of Nigeria’s national teams and home of clubs representing Nigeria

Now, It was His Excellency, Godswill Akpabio as Governor of Akwa Ibom, who contracted the best Construction company in Nigeria Julius Berger to build an international stadium in Uyo. That was not all he did. He littered quality roads across Akwa Ibom, built an airport, and a five star hotel.

Maybe, just maybe, he deserves some credit.

kingsways:
Now, sometimes you have to give people credit where they deserve it

Many people like to accuse Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of all sorts, but have failed to give him credit for building the world class Nest of Champions in Uyo.

Uyo has literally become the home of Nigeria’s national teams and home of clubs representing Nigeria

Now, It was His Excellency, Godswill Akpabio as Governor of Akwa Ibom, who contracted the best Construction company in Nigeria Julius Berger to build an international stadium in Uyo. That was not all he did. He littered quality roads across Akwa Ibom, built an airport, and a five star hotel.

Maybe, just maybe, he deserves some credit.

kingsways:
Now, sometimes you have to give people credit where they deserve it

Many people like to accuse Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of all sorts, but have failed to give him credit for building the world class Nest of Champions in Uyo.

Uyo has literally become the home of Nigeria’s national teams and home of clubs representing Nigeria

Now, It was His Excellency, Godswill Akpabio as Governor of Akwa Ibom, who contracted the best Construction company in Nigeria Julius Berger to build an international stadium in Uyo. That was not all he did. He littered quality roads across Akwa Ibom, built an airport, and a five star hotel.

Maybe, just maybe, he deserves some credit.

kingsways:
Now, sometimes you have to give people credit where they deserve it

Many people like to accuse Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of all sorts, but have failed to give him credit for building the world class Nest of Champions in Uyo.

Uyo has literally become the home of Nigeria’s national teams and home of clubs representing Nigeria

Now, It was His Excellency, Godswill Akpabio as Governor of Akwa Ibom, who contracted the best Construction company in Nigeria Julius Berger to build an international stadium in Uyo. That was not all he did. He littered quality roads across Akwa Ibom, built an airport, and a five star hotel.

Maybe, just maybe, he deserves some credit.

OyoTunjiUSA:



Hey 🤠

1. Yes. According to the USA embassy , the 1st step for IW applicant is to go and sign up on the AVITS website , choose payment option, pay and book appointment. But during the course of signing up, you will answer IW qualification questions, submit and sign out.

2. At the end of the process, qualified applicants will receive an Interview Waiver Confirmation letter (it can be immediately , after 1 day, etc no time is specified) with detailed information on how to submit the application documents. So all IW applicants must wait to receive this confirmation letter before proceeding.

3. After receiving this letter, that means you are qualified for IW, and you will move to the 2nd phase by following the instructions below :

In order to be able to submit/collect your application documents, you need to proceed with registering on www.oisservices.com/services website.

On that page, scroll down to locate "US VISA APPLICATION DOCUMENTS PICK UP/DROP OFF" section, and click on "Click Here" button. Proceed with registering on the page, select ''Visa Application'' and your documents pick-up/drop off option.

4. drop-off the documents free of charge and by appointment (by registering according to sense 3b above) at the OIS offices listed below
(please note that application documents are not being sent between consular cities; you must submit your documents in the consular city where you intend to apply for the visa.):

Free services

OIS SERVICES ABUJA
No. 28 Pope John Paul Street
Off Gana Street Maitama
Abuja
Business Hours:
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)

OR

OIS SERVICES LAGOS
No. 14 Idowu Taylor
Victoria Island, Lagos
Business Hours:
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)

PAID SERVICES

drop-off the documents with the paid service at the OIS and DHL offices listed below:

OIS SERVICES KANO
No. 27 b, Sokoto Road
Beside Audu Bako Secretariat Kano
Kano, Kano State
Business Hours:
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)

OIS SERVICES Port Harcourt
No. 122 General Diriyai Street, GRA Phase 2
(Beside Skippers by Everyday Supermarket)
Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Business Hours:
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)

DHL OFFICE AKURE
133 Oyemekun Street
Akure, Ondo State
Business Hours:
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)

DHL OFFICE BENIN
72 airport Road
Benin, Edo State
Business Hours:
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)

DHL OFFICE ENUGU
33a Abakaliki Road
Gra Enugu, Enugu State
Business Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)

DHL OFFICE IBADAN
47 Ring Road
Ibadan, Oyo State
Business Hours:
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)

DHL OFFICE KADUNA
16 Ahmadu Bello Way
Kaduna, Kaduna State
Business Hours:
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)

DHL HEADOFFICE LAGOS
DHL House – Apapa Oshodi Expressway
Isolo, Lagos
Business Hours:
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday)

PS: Either you want to go with free services or you want to pick another location that is not covered with the free services (paid ), after receiving the IW email qualification from the USA embassy, you must 1st go and register and book drop-off/pick-up appointment with OIS.

PS: @naivasha follow same procedures.


best Wishes 🙏

primusmaximus:


I also need this clarification. Are we to book appointments on both the US Embassy site and the OIS site? These are two different locations

I'm trying to see if I can book the two on the same day so I don't have to travel to Abuja twice

@OyoTunjiUSA, thanks for the help.