Nigeria Content Online

Following security
threats in the country and globally, Arik Air, Nigeria’s largest
commercial carrier involved in domestic, regional and intercontinental
air transport business, over the weekend, said it invested about
$4million for the detection of explosives and hard drugs on board
aircraft.

Speaking at a
briefing to commemorate the carrier’s four years anniversary at its
headquarters in Lagos, Chris Ndulue, the Managing Director of the
airline, said that the motive for such investment was solely aimed at
ensuring safety of lives and properties. “This is to enhance aviation
safety following the events of terror scare and terrorism that we hear
nowadays,” he said, adding that the carrier is working to ensure that
passengers are adequately screened before boarding any of its 26
aircraft, whether those on domestic or international routes.

Mr Ndulue also
revealed that over 5.8 million passengers were airlifted to various
destinations by the airline in four years. “We have carried 5.8million
passengers in these four years, but infrastructure as a major challenge
is inhibiting our expansion,” he said.

Arumemi Ikhide, the Chairman of the airline, while speaking on the
development, expressed hopes that the government will approve the
carrier’s request to develop the General Aviation Terminal (GAT),
located at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos. “We want to
develop a terminal that will be owned by government and operated by
FAAN (Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria), but we are yet to get
approval from government on this and it has been a challenge,” he said.