Since the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) concessioned the access gate at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, to I Cube West Africa Limited over a year ago, the move had been plagued with controversies and questions with regards to whether or not the agency is reaping the gains of the concessioning.

Nigerian Aviation Cargo Handling Company Plc (nahcoaviance) is bracing up for stiff competition from the Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), which was recently sold to the SIFAX Group by the federal government.

Arik Air has airlifted well over four million passengers since it started flight operations in the country in October 2006.
According to the airline, the passengers’ traffic includes those carried on domestic, regional and international flights.

The federal government has warned stakeholders in the aviation industry that it would not tolerate non-compliance to security regulations at airports across the country.

Qatar Airways has taken delivery of four new aircraft this month, wrapping up an eventful 2009 for the Doha-based airline. With the largest delivery schedule in a single month for Qatar Airways, the two Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft and two Airbus A320s take the airline’s rapidly-growing fleet size up to 76 aircraft.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has spoken of a gradual recovery of the global aviation industry from economic meltdown.

EXXONMOBIL Corp. plans to spend $340 million to boost production of one of Texas’ oldest oil fields.
The Irving oil giant will add technology to extend the life of Hawkins Field in East Texas by 25 years and to draw 40 million more barrels of oil from the reservoir. Exxon has been producing oil at the field near Tyler for 70 years, since the company was known as Humble Oil.

KOSMOS Energy’s 2009 capital raise exceeded US $1 billion. The amount includes US $825 million in project finance debt facilities committed by international financial and banking institutions, including US $75 million committed by Credit Suisse International in late 2009 and US $750 million secured in July 2009. The total amount also includes US $250 million of private equity invested by Warburg Pincus and The Blackstone Group.

ABUJA – China’s For eign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with Nigerian officials Friday on oil exports to energy-hungry Beijing.

ABUJA- A non governmental organisation, the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) said it has initiated a transparency and accountability project in five states in the Niger Delta.