Nigeria’s House of Representatives has queried the run-down state of airports across the country.

Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji raised the query during a meeting with the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Capt Rabiu Yadudu, on Wednesday at the National Assembly.

The country’s aviation industry has in recent times faced different setbacks.

This ranges from shortage of aviation fuel, affecting flight schedules of passengers, foreign airlines operators holding the aviation authorities ransom over trapped funds among others.

Adding to these issues is the infrastructural decay of some airports in the country which the legislature is now querying.

The Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji is said it is worrisome that there are persistent non-functional escalators and lifts at the country’s airports with the air-conditioning system sometimes having leakages alongside faulty scanners.

According to him, the situation has further compounded the challenges persons with disabilities are faced with at the Airports.

The committee also queried the demolition of houses supposedly built on airport land in Lagos.

Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria FAAN, Capt Rabiu  Yadudu, while responding to all queries, said the problem are being addressed, explaining that on demolition, the authority had frequently engaged with residents of the communities located on the airport land about the dangers of staying on the airport corridor.

The meeting of the House committee and FAAN was to specifically address current infrastructural concerns in some Airports across states.

South Luangwa National Park is an important park in the valley of the Luangwa River which is located in the eastern part of the Republic of Zambia.

Considered to be one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, it definitely deserves its title due to the fact that it holds one of the most intense concentration of animals in Africa that can be found around the river itself and the oxbow lagoons.

Established as a national park in 1972, “the South Park” as it is sometimes referred to by the locals, covers an area of about 9,050 square km (3,490 square mi) where it is governed by the Zambia Wildlife Authority.

At the beginning, the British conservationist Norman Carr was the person that influenced for the park to be seen by the authorities as an important area, where in 1950 he somehow persuaded the Paramount Chief to let part of the tribal land to be turned into a Game Reserve, where he successfully built the first game viewing camp open to the public in the then known Northern Rhodesia, nowadays Zambia.

As the visitors were encouraged to shoot with their cameras and not with riffles, soon after, South Luangwa became one of the most interesting place for visitors of Zambia, and the profit that came from those visitors was invested in the community and developing a better eco-tourism.

Still largely unaffected by man, this magnificent piece of Zambian land is home to over 400 species of bird among which there are 39 birds of prey and 47 migrant species, in addition to lions, leopards, elephants, the endangered African dog, zebras, giraffes, crocodiles etc. and the most striking and quite famous hippo that resides in the massive pods.

Since the park encompasses two ecoregions, the flora is dominated by the Southern Miombo woodlands that can be found mostly in the higher slopes of the valler, while the Zambezian and Mopane woodlands are less and they are located in the bottom of the valley.

Still, there are some hidden gems, as visitors can uncover exotic wildflowers which will mesmerize everyone, even though most of the park is still covered with the mopane, leadwood, winterthorn, the tall vegetable ivory palm, the marula and the magnificent tamarind tree.

The most popular feature of South Luangwa is the walking safari that was introduced and pioneered here, there is even the possibility for night time safaris which will allow enthusiasts to see the leopard which is mostly active during the nights.

All in all, spread over a vast untouched area, the South Luangwa National Park is certainly one of the best places in the world for all those who adore wildlife which thrives here for a very long time.

Lagos State governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has commended efforts of professional bodies and reaffirmed the commitment of his administration towards the 2030 Lagos Smart City vision.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, made the remarks at the 2023 Lagos Architects Forum with the theme, “Lagos: An Evolving Organism.”

“The big vision for Lagos is that by 2030, the smart city ambition of the state would have been fully realised.

“And as a government, we are determined, more than ever before, to drive the institutional framework that will guarantee and provide a conducive environment to encourage and support the people of Lagos State,” he said.

He commended the annual Lagos Architects forum organised by the Lagos Chapter, Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), geared towards promoting best practices for sustainable development in the state.

Sanwo-Olu said the theme was apt and resonated with his administration’s vision and second term agenda of a “Greater Lagos Rising,” which targeted the evolution of Lagos.

He said his administration had worked relentlessly to fulfill its promises to Lagos residents, adding that success would not have been possible without the support of professional bodies.

He added that professional bodies had not only keyed into his administration’s vision of a Greater Lagos but had also demonstrated commitment towards making it a reality.

“We are desirous of building a Lagos that is safe, prosperous, and investment-friendly by ensuring that effective and sustainable policies are in place to provide an enabling environment for inclusive growth and drive direct foreign investment (DFI).

“We envisioned for ourselves a Greater Lagos that has respect for the rule of law, starting with the government and cascading to the governed, the citizens, and where every corporate body is guaranteed access to justice.

“A state where everybody is equal before the law, that prides itself on the quality of life it provides its citizens through adequate availability of basic social infrastructure.

“Where there is access to qualitative education, health facilities, and quick response to epidemics, natural disasters and accidents,” he said.

The governor said the THEMES Agenda was set as a the driving force for developmental activities to ensure local and global investment opportunities.

“As a team we instituted proactive policies, demonstrated great political will, and pursued investor-friendly policies aimed at promoting domestic and global partnerships in the management of the state’s megacity challenges.

“Furthermore the resultant creation of enabling environment made Lagos a natural business haven with immeasurable return on investment.

“It is important to state that your Institute has shown leadership and a spirit of excellence which has seen architects engage in several nation-building activities across the country, particularly in Lagos State.

“Your contributions to various developmental dialogues, employment of the youth, financial reforms, and sustainable development have continued to positively impact the citizens of this state and on behalf of the people of Lagos State, we thank you,” he said.