Travel/Tourism
Murray-Bruce Begs FG to “Quickly Privatize Our Airports”
By Dipo Olowookere
A passionate appeal has been made to the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, “private our airports” so as to make it very competitive like the British.
In a recorded video message of his ‘Common Sense’ series, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, a member of the Senate Committee on Aviation, said as long as government was in total “control and management” airports in the country, the nation’s aviation industry will continue to poor state as it is now.
Mr Murray-Bruce said Nigeria can make its aviation industry as viable as the oil and gas industry, the country’s main source of foreign exchange.
The lawmaker urged the Federal Government to take the same step the British government took some years ago under late Margaret Thatcher so as to revive the industry.
He pointed out that government has had control of the airports “for over 50 years and it has simply not worked,” emphasising that “it is madness to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.”
Below is transcript of his speech:
“Friday, July 21, 2017, the United Kingdom set an all-time record of 8800 flights in just one day, i was the busiest day ever recorded in British aviation history. Altogether, those flights made over £20 million for the British economy in one single day, that is three times more than what Nigeria makes daily from oil.
“This year alone, the UK will record 2.5 million flights resulting in over £30 billion for the UK economy.
“I am a member of the Senate Committee on Aviation and I know that Nigeria is well situated to be an aviation hub for West and Central Africa.
“However, because of our reliance on easy oil money, we are not capitalising on this comparative advantage. Instead, we are losing flights to smaller African nations, mainly Ghana.
“Many airlines have divested from Nigeria and some of those that remain take-off from Nigeria and make stop overs in Ghana.
“As along as our airports are under government control and management, we will not be able to attract the right type of human and material resources to make our aviation industry competitive.
“We have had government control for over 50 years and it has simply not worked. It is madness to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result.
“I appeal to the government to quickly privatise our airports. That’s what the late Margaret Thatcher did when she was the British Prime Minister and today, the UK gains from that decision.”
Watch video here
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to introduce V-Pass, a biometric facial recognition system designed to make passenger processing faster, safer and more seamless across its domestic airports.
According to FAAN, the new technology will allow passengers to verify their identities through facial recognition after a one-time enrolment, reducing reliance on physical identification documents and shortening queues through automated electronic gates.
The authority said the system is expected to enhance airport security while improving the overall travel experience for domestic passengers.
FAAN added that V-Pass has been developed with data privacy at its core and is compliant with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
The agency described the initiative as part of its commitment to delivering smarter, technology-driven airport services and said nationwide sensitisation and rollout updates would be announced in due course.
Airports in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates already deploy facial recognition technology for processes such as check-in, security screening, immigration and boarding, so the move also aligns Nigeria’s aviation sector with a growing global trend towards contactless travel.
These systems have been adopted to improve operational efficiency, strengthen security and enhance the overall passenger experience.
For FAAN, the deployment of V-Pass forms part of its broader digital transformation agenda aimed at modernising airport operations and accommodating rising passenger traffic.
Experts say that beyond improving convenience, the authority expects the biometric platform to strengthen identity verification, reduce the risk of impersonation and support more efficient airport security, while maintaining compliance with data protection.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 14.12 per cent stake in Ikeja Hotel Plc has been acquired by Honeywell Group Limited, a notice on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has revealed.
Honeywell Group took up the part of the hospitality firm through one of its affiliates known as HGL Real Estate Limited.
Ikeja Hotel, in the disclosure filed with the NGX on July 2, 2026, said the stake comprised 305,323,525 units of its equities.
“Ikeja Hotel hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the general public that it has received notification from HGL Real Estate Limited, an affiliate of Honeywell Group Limited, that it has acquired 305,323,525 units of Ikeja Hotel Plc’s shares, representing 14.12 per cent shareholding in the company,” the notice stated.
Ikeja Hotel is one of Nigeria’s leading hospitality investment and hotel management companies with premium hospitality assets.
It operates two leading hospitality organisations in Lagos, the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Balmoral Convention Centre.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 10 hospitality establishments, including hotels and restaurants, were sealed on Wednesday by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
The affected businesses are located in different locations in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the metropolis, Business Post learned from a statement from the agency.
It was stated that they were sealed by LASEPA for persistent violations of environmental regulations despite repeated warnings, abatement notices, and several opportunities to comply with the agency’s directives.
According to the notice, the enforcement exercise was carried out in line with the directives of the Lagos State government to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws and to safeguard public health.
The affected facilities were said to have breached various environmental regulations, including noise pollution, air pollution, unlawful discharge of untreated effluent, obstruction of official duties, among others.
LASEPA closed the premises of Granduer Meridian at Obasa Akiniyi Street, Oluwaga, Ipaja for non-compliance with the agency’s directives; Lasola (Spazio Bar), located on Ipaja Road, Fatolu Bus Stop, Ipaja, was sealed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives; Millennium Restaurant, located at Gate Bus Stop, Ipaja, Ayobo, was shut down for non-compliance with directives; O2 Exquisite Suites & Tower on Jimoh Akinremi Street, Jimoh Bus Stop, Akowonjo, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; and Chirozz Hotel & Suites, located on Samuel Street, Akowonjo, by Vulcanizer Bus Stop, Egbeda, was closed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives.
In addition, House 7 Hotel, located at Remi Akande Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with LASEPA’s directives; House 48 on Isiba Oluwo Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; Exclusive Hotel, located at Ishan Kimishe, Akesan Bus Stop, was shut down by non-compliance with directives; Sabola Ventures Limited, Iocated at Km 11, LASU–Isheri Road, Igando, was shut down for operating without evidence of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), and discharging untreated effluent into public drains; and City Int’l Motel, located at Chief Olu-Adegbite Street, off Oladun Street, Council Bus Stop, Idimu, was sealed for non-compliance with directives.
