- The Nigerian government has approved for British Airways (BA) to operate seven additional weekly flights between Britain and Nigeria. A "large number of passengers on the Nigeria-UK route in the last few weeks" had given rise to "over-booking on scheduled flights," Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Mallam Isa Yuguda, said.
Responding to these problems of over-booking, Minister Yuguda granted approval for BA to increase its flight frequency between the two countries, according to a statement issued by the Nigerian government today. The increased flight frequency already had commenced on Monday, earlier this week, the government said.
With its seven new frequencies on Nigeria, BA now becomes the non-Nigerian company with the largest traffic on that country. BA now has a total of 21 frequencies into Nigerian airspace, serving both the economic capital, Lagos, and the political capital, Abuja.
- These additional weekly frequencies are expected to clear the backlog of stranded passengers of the airline after which it will revert to the status quo after the five weeks, according to the Nigerian government release.
The large number of over-bookings, especially on the Lagos Airport, had become an embarrassment for Nigerian aviation authorities. The airport chaos with large numbers of stranded passengers comes at a time when the Nigerian government is investing large amounts in the promotion of Nigeria as a tourist and conference destination.
In another development, the Federal Ministry of Aviation, through its Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau, has concluded investigations into the accidents involving the EAS BACI-II aircraft at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on 4 May 2002 and the Sky Executive Aviation Services aircraft at Calabar Airport in May 2004.
Consequently, two reports have been produced, available to the general public, to be purchased from the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau, according to the Nigerian government.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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