The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured passengers and stakeholders of enhanced Ebola preparedness measures across the nation’s international airports following recent Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) concerns in parts of Central Africa.

FAAN said it had strengthened surveillance, passenger monitoring, and emergency response systems in collaboration with Port Health Services, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and other relevant agencies.

In a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Henry Agbebire, the authority disclosed that passengers arriving from high-risk regions are currently undergoing intensified health screening procedures at airports nationwide.

According to the statement, passengers are being screened for symptoms associated with Ebola, while any suspected case would be immediately isolated and subjected to secondary health checks in line with national and international health protocols.

FAAN stated that additional preventive measures had also been activated to strengthen the country’s preparedness against any possible outbreak.

The authority noted that coordination among aviation, health, and emergency response stakeholders had been reinforced to ensure swift and effective action whenever necessary.

It further disclosed that airport personnel had undergone increased sensitisation programmes, while emergency response procedures had been strengthened across airport facilities to improve readiness and operational safety.

“While there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola in Nigeria, FAAN remains vigilant and fully committed to safeguarding public health and maintaining safe airport operations,” the statement said.

The agency urged passengers to remain calm, cooperate with health officials during screening procedures, and promptly report any symptoms or health concerns to relevant authorities.

FAAN reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining safe, secure, and healthy airport environments while supporting national public health protection measures.

The authority added that continuous monitoring and collaboration with health agencies would remain in place to ensure Nigeria’s airports sustain global health and safety standards.

Nigeria has been removed from the Aviation Working Group (AWG) blacklist following major reforms introduced by the Federal Government to strengthen aviation financing, aircraft leasing, and compliance with the Cape Town Convention (CTC).

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), disclosed this while addressing global aviation stakeholders at the Aviation Working Group General Meeting held in London.

Speaking before international financiers, aircraft lessors, legal practitioners, and aviation industry leaders, Keyamo said Nigeria’s compliance score under the Cape Town Convention improved significantly due to ongoing regulatory and judicial reforms implemented by the Federal Government.

According to the Minister, Nigeria’s compliance rating rose from 49 per cent to 70.5 per cent after the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court signed a new Practice Direction strengthening legal enforcement in aviation-related matters.

He added that the operationalisation of the Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorization (IDERA) further raised the country’s compliance score to 75.5 per cent, resulting in Nigeria’s removal from the AWG blacklist.

Keyamo described the development as a major boost for investor confidence and aircraft financing opportunities within Nigeria’s aviation sector.

He explained that the reforms were part of broader efforts to position Nigeria as a safe and competitive destination for aircraft leasing and aviation investments.

The Minister noted that over 80 per cent of aircraft operating within Nigeria’s registry are currently acquired through lease arrangements, adding that most leased aircraft whose contracts expired were deregistered and exported successfully without disputes.

“These milestones did not happen by chance. They were driven by targeted regulatory reforms designed to demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing the Cape Town Convention both in substance and in practice,” he said.

Keyamo stated that the reforms were already producing positive outcomes, including successful dry lease transactions involving Nigerian airlines and international financing institutions.

He, however, acknowledged that operational challenges such as customs-related procedures, foreign exchange fluctuations, temporary importation processes, and inter-agency coordination issues still exist within the aviation financing environment.

The Minister assured stakeholders that the Federal Government was actively addressing the issues through coordinated institutional reforms, digitalisation programmes, and enhanced regulatory oversight by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.

In another major development, Keyamo announced that the Federal Executive Council had approved the establishment of a Nigerian Aircraft Leasing Company projected to unlock over one billion dollars in future aviation financing capacity.

According to him, the initiative would help Nigerian airlines access aircraft on more competitive terms, reduce dependence on foreign lessors, and support fleet expansion and operational stability.

Keyamo stressed that Nigeria’s aviation market requires sustainable financing systems capable of supporting rising passenger traffic and long-term sector growth.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to international best practices, legal certainty, and constructive collaboration with global aviation stakeholders.

“The Cape Town Convention is more than a treaty. It is a framework for building trust,” the Minister stated.

He expressed confidence that Nigeria’s ongoing reforms would strengthen aviation financing and support economic growth not only within Nigeria but across the African continent.

The Managing Director of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO), Mrs. Adenike Aboderin, has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to operational efficiency, safety enhancement, and improved passenger experience following a high-level meeting with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Lagos.

Aboderin, alongside members of SAHCO’s executive management team, paid a courtesy visit to BASL as part of efforts to deepen institutional collaboration and strengthen operational synergy within Nigeria’s aviation industry.

The engagement brought together senior officials of both organisations to discuss key industry issues including airport safety management, operational efficiency, infrastructure expansion, technological innovation, baggage handling, passenger facilitation, and stakeholder collaboration.

Welcoming the delegation, the Acting Chief Operating Officer and Head of Aeronautical and Cargo Services at BASL, Mr. Remi Jibodu, stressed the importance of sustained collaboration among aviation stakeholders in achieving seamless airport operations and improved customer satisfaction.

“At MMA2, our focus remains on creating an efficient, safe, and passenger-friendly airport environment. Achieving this requires strong collaboration among all operators within the aviation value chain,” Jibodu said.

He noted that BASL had continued to strengthen operational efficiency through enhanced monitoring systems, real-time performance reporting, stakeholder accountability mechanisms, and infrastructure improvements aimed at reducing congestion, improving turnaround time, and ensuring seamless passenger processing.

Jibodu also commended SAHCO’s commitment to operational improvement and safety enhancement, describing stakeholder engagements as critical to improving service delivery across the aviation sector.

In her remarks, Aboderin congratulated BASL on the recent settlement announcement made by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, expressing optimism that the development would open new opportunities for stronger collaboration and long-term industry growth.

“We believe this development will further strengthen collaboration and create greater opportunities for operational efficiency and long-term growth within the aviation industry. As a key partner within the aviation ecosystem, we also look forward to being appropriately positioned for the upcoming expansion,” she stated.

Aboderin said the visit was aimed at aligning operational objectives and building stronger partnerships capable of driving sustainable growth across the aviation ecosystem.

“The aviation industry operates as an interconnected system, and collaboration among stakeholders is critical to achieving operational excellence, safety, efficiency, and improved passenger experience,” she added.

The SAHCO Managing Director disclosed that the company was currently investing heavily in modern Ground Support Equipment (GSE), staff training, digital solutions, and customer service enhancement initiatives to meet evolving airline and industry expectations.

According to her, SAHCO is also intensifying operational discipline, safety culture, and soft skills development among personnel while introducing improved monitoring systems to reduce operational risks and enhance airside efficiency.

Speaking on ongoing expansion discussions within the sector, Aboderin said the planned introduction of a slot management system would improve turnaround time, operational planning, equipment deployment, and overall coordination as passenger traffic continues to rise.

The meeting also focused on apron safety, operational discipline, fatigue management, behavioural compliance among airside personnel, and the need to sustain efficient turnaround times to support operational reliability and passenger convenience.

Both organisations agreed on the need for continuous training, stronger safety oversight, counselling programmes, and stricter monitoring systems to reduce operational incidents within the airport environment.

They also explored opportunities for leveraging technology and shared operational platforms to improve communication, coordination, and data visibility among airlines, airport operators, and ground handling companies.

The meeting ended with renewed commitments from both SAHCO and BASL to sustain collaboration towards improving safety standards, infrastructure development, operational efficiency, and service delivery across Nigeria’s aviation sector.