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Arik Air suspends stops Abuja-London flights

Arik Air said it is suspending its daily service between the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and London Heathrow Terminal 4 effective from March 25. This follows the inability of the airline to secure slot allocation.

It is the availability of slots that empowers an airline to undertake flights at a particular time and land at a particular time. Arik Air has been battling with this issue since it commenced service from Abuja to London Heathrow Airport.

Nigeria and Britain had been renegotiating the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) to ensure reciprocity on the route.

Arik Air said it was compelled to suspend its services on the route following the inability of the UK and Nigerian governments to come to agreeable terms on the BASA. Under the terms of the BASA, Arik Air was allocated seven frequencies per week in respect of the Lagos/ London, Heathrow service and seven per week for the Abuja/ London, Heathrow service. That is a total of 14 frequencies out of 21 available for Nigerian carriers under the BASA.

However, an anomaly exists between access to slots in the respective countries with the Nigerian government matching the allocation of slots with frequencies, thereby giving UK carriers unfettered access to its full complement of 21 slots at Abuja and Lagos airports.

However, this is not reciprocated in the UK with the authorities drawing a distinction between allocation of frequencies and access to slots, claiming that an application for landing slots at UK airports is a process separate from the BASA entitlement.

From the inception of the route in November 2009, Arik Air has been in a slot-lease agreement with a UK carrier, leasing arrival/departure slots on the Abuja-London route at Heathrow.

At the end of the summer schedule (October 2011), the UK carrier that Arik Air was in the slot-lease agreement with for this route advised the airline of its intention to sell the company and began to wind down its contractual arrangements with Arik Air. Without these commercially arranged slots Arik Air was forced to suspend operations at the start of the winter schedule.

Immediate discussions were held by the respective governments to resolve the long-existing and underlying anomaly in the BASA. As an abridgement, the UK authorities facilitated the temporary continuation of the commercial lease of these slots in support of Arik Air's Abuja-London, Heathrow operation. This interim solution was only available up until March 25, (2012).

Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of both governments, no solution has been found. The situation remains as it was at the end of October 2011 with Arik Air having no landing/arrival slots after March 2012, thus forcing it to suspend the route.

Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, group CEO/president of Arik Air, commented on the suspension of the Abuja-London route: "Whilst it is regrettable to have to suspend our services between Abuja and London, we simply could not continue with the route due to the restrictions placed upon us in accessing arrival/departure slots in to UK airports.

It is an unfortunate situation and one that we felt was being resolved at government level and we hoped that an agreement would have been reached before the start of the summer schedule. Due to the stalemate we are therefore forced to suspend this route.

"We support any dialogue that will take place in the future between the governments on this issue and we stand ready and waiting to commence when asked to and when we feel that the imbalance had been satisfactorily redressed. Our main priority is our passengers and it is disappointing to discontinue such a critical route and reduce capacity between the countries which gives less availability to the Nigerian traveller.

However, we would like to assure our customers that we are fully committed to the UK market and will continue as normal on the Lagos-London Heathrow route with our flagship A340.

When contacted, the SA, media, to the minister of aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, said that the ministry is studying the development and would issue a statement in due course.

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Nigerian government begins talks with Boko Haram

Nigeria's government and Islamist group Boko Haram have been in indirect talks to end deadly violence blamed on the extremists, two sources familiar with the discussions said Friday.

"There have been preliminary talks between a Boko Haram-appointed intermediary," a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that Boko Haram has set out terms for a temporary ceasefire.

A diplomatic source said there have been contacts between Nigeria's government and Boko Haram through intermediaries.

The security official said Boko Haram has proposed a three-month truce if all of its detained members are released and if the government halts any further arrests. He said the government was looking at the proposal.

Government officials either declined comment on the information or could not be reached.

Boko Haram has been blamed for scores of shootings and bomb blasts, mostly in northern Nigeria, which have killed more than 1,000 people since 2009.

It claimed responsibility for an August suicide attack at the UN headquarters in the capital Abuja which killed 25 people and for coordinated bombings and shootings in Nigeria's second city of Kano on January 20 which left 185 people dead -- its deadliest assault yet.

The group had initially claimed to be fighting for the creation of an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, but its aims and structure have since become less clear, while its attacks have grown increasingly deadly and sophisticated.

Calls have mounted for talks to take place, with Nigerian authorities seemingly unable to stop attacks blamed on Boko Haram that have shaken Africa's most populous nation and largest oil producer.

While there have been no attacks on the scale of the Kano carnage since January, sporadic violence has continued, including bombings of police stations and attacks on checkpoints.

The group is believed to have a number of factions, but the indirect talks were said to be with the main branch of the group led by Abubakar Shekau.

Last week's killing of a British and an Italian hostage in northwestern Nigeria was blamed on a splinter faction of Boko Haram, though many have expressed doubts over the group's alleged involvement.

Boko Haram had not been previously known to carry out kidnappings, and a purported spokesman for the group has denied responsibility.

There has been intense speculation over whether Boko Haram has ties to outside extremist groups, including Al-Qaeda's north African branch.

Diplomats say such links have been limited to training for certain Boko Haram members and that there has been no evidence of operational ties.

According to the security official, one of the intermediaries for the indirect talks was a northern cleric trusted by Boko Haram.

"The problem is not about the sect's readiness for dialogue, but winning their trust and confidence that the government is genuine in its intentions because they still have the fear of betrayal and back-stabbing on the part of the government," the official said.

"The leaders are afraid that they could be arrested once they come out for direct talks. The major hurdle is to win their confidence that nothing will befall them if they show their faces."

The diplomatic source could not provide details, but said there had been "real contacts" between the government and Boko Haram through intermediaries.

A previous attempt to engage Boko Haram in talks early last year failed when Boko Haram objected to the demand that they surrender their arms as a condition for a peace agreement that would have involved an amnesty, the security official said.

Those talks were mediated by a former state governor, he said.

Nigeria's 160 million population is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south.

AFP

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Nigerian security forces parade killers of British and Italian hostages

 Government yesterday recorded another major feat in the fight against Boko Haram Islamic fundamentalist sect when six prominent members of the sect, who took part in the abduction and killing of two expatriate staff of Stabilini Visioni Construction Company in Sokoto last week.

This is as the Department of State Security (DSS) headquarters yesterday paraded them, saying they were apprehended in various parts of the country in the course of investigating the abduction of the British and Italian nationals (Christopher McManus and Franco Lamolinara, respectively), who were abducted at their residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state on May 11, 2011.

The sect has killed no less than 1,000 persons in various parts of the country since they commenced their onslaught to Islamise the northern parts of the country.

They had bombed churches, mosques, markets, shops and have recently resorted to burning primary schools as well as attacking military, police and other security agencies and para-military outfits.

According to Mr. Doyin Adetuberu, second-in-command to Merylin Ogar, the Assistant Director, Public Relations of the DSS, "after a painstaking investigation process, the Service made a number of arrests in Adamawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kebbi States".

He said the people who were behind the dastardly act were aged between 19 and 20 and were discovered to have conducted surveillance on the victims before their abduction and taking into hostage.

Said Adetuberu: "They are Bashir Ibrahim (aka Adda'u); Ibrahim A. Habibu and Gambol Maiborodi. Further investigations revealed that the plot was masterminded by the Abu Mohammed led faction of the Boko Haram in Nigeria.

"Following a raid on Abu Mohammed's hideout at Layin Hanwa area of Zaria on 7th of March, 2012, Abu Mohammed and five others were arrested while holding a Shura Council (the sect's highest decision making body) meeting. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, a soldier was killed and his throat slashed while one service personnel was seriously injured by members of the Boko Haram sect. Abu Mohammed and the other suspects sustained various degrees of wounds".

The DSS spokesman added that the guards protecting the two foreign hostages in Sokoto had been directed by their sect leader to kill them in the event of any envisaged threat.

"The arrested suspects, therefore, advised that a rescue operation be immediately initiated moreso as one of them had escaped during the Zaria raid.

"Consequently, a joint security operation was launched. One of the arrested suspects, Mohammed Rabiu Adam (aka Dan Hajiya) who killed the soldier during the Zaria raid, led the security team from Zaria about 11 pm on Wednesday 7th of March, 2012 to Sokoto and arrived their destination about 4:30 am on the 8th of March, 2012".

He added that "prior to their arrival, security operatives had mounted a street cordon and search operation along all the routes around Mabera Estate, Sokoto to prevent any attempt by the guards to smuggle out the hostages.

"Apparently acting on the directive of their member of the sect who escaped from Zaria, the guards murdered the hostages before the arrival of security forces. However, the guards could not leave the building because of the heavy security presence in the area".

The DSS added that when the security forces arrived at the building where the hostages were being held, there was a prolonged exchange of gunfire during which three of the guards were killed while the wife of one of them, sustained bullet wounds and was rushed to the hospital.

He said no lives were lost on the part of the security forces though some Service personnel sustained gunshot injuries.

"Altogether, the following persons have been arrested in connection with the incident: Abu Mohammed, Mohammed Rabi (aka Dan Hajiya), Abubakar Abdulrahman Habibu, Shitu Salihu, Abubakar Umar and Ahmed Samaila," he added.

He said Abu Mohammed unfortunately died on March 9, following severe bullet wounds sustained during the Zaria raid.

Meanwhile, Senate yesterday mandated its Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Defence and Army and Foreign Affairs, to investigate the recent failed attempt to rescue two foreigners captured by dreaded Boko Haram sect that eventually led to the killing of the hostages by their captors.

The decision of Red Chamber to investigate the failed rescue attempt was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, who expressed dissatisfaction with incessant cases of kidnapping, abduction and hostage taking in the country.

In his remarks, Senate President David Mark, said the judiciary should be an important part of the struggle at wiping out terrorism, noting that the committees would have to look into the rescue operation with a view to determining what went wrong.

Although some senators said the rescue attempt was not failed because the perpetrators were killed and other arrested, Mark insisted that since the goal of the operation was to rescue the hostages, not achieving the goal was a failure.

Also, a minute's silence was observed by senators for the departed, even as it was resolved that a condolence message would be sent to the Governments of Britain and Italy as well as the families of the deceased.

Bagudu said the two gentlemen were held for over 10 months by terrorists until last Thursday they were killed by their abductors in the process of a joint rescue operation by Nigeria and British Special Forces.

In his words: "The Senate was aware of the pains, anguish and sorrow endured by the gentlemen, families and all those involved in the tragic rescue effort and observed the unprecedented diplomatic cooperation provided by the Federal Government of Nigeria to both Britain and Italy, a measure that underlies Nigeria's firm commitment against criminality and terrorism."

Bagudu further said the Federal Government, the Governments of Sokoto and Kebbi States, religious leaders and traditional rulers had called for the full sanction of the law on the perpetrators of the act.

Speaking in support of the motion, Senator Isa Galaudu said the operation might have been conducted in a manner that was below expectation and not properly planned, resulting in the death of the hostages.

But, the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, told the lawmakers that Nigerian security agencies could have done better if they had been allowed to handle the operation without the involvement of an outside entity.

Kicking against the position of Deputy Senate President, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, said: "It is well know that terrorism is a trans-border and transnational issue. It is no longer a local matter. We should be able to look beyond our borders in tackling the issues."

He said the thought that it was improper to engage the services of the British Forces was wrong in the light of the fact that a British citizen was involved.

In his contribution, Senator Pius Ewerhido, said the development was a national embarrassment, noting that security agencies should take advantage of the SIM card registration to reduce the activities of kidnappers in the country.

Daily Champion

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Mastermind behind the kidnap of Italian and British hostages dies in police custody

The suspected mastermind of the abduction of the British and Italian nationals Abu Mohammed has died in custody of the SSS.

Officials of the SSS told journalists on Wednesday that Mohammed died from injuries he sustained during a raid of his hideout at Layin Hanwa Area of Zaria.

According to the SSS, Mohammed was having a Shura Council, the Boko Haram highest decision making body, meeting with members of his when the security operatives stormed the venue of the meeting.

The SSS revealed that in the exchange of gunfire which ensured during the raid a soldier was killed and his throat slashed while one service prsonnel was seriously injured.

Mohammed and other suspects sustained varoius degrees of injuries.

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