► NIGERIA: (Pic) Azman Airlines first B737-300 rolls out the paintshop in Norwich.

Azman Air, the Kano-based startup run by entrepreneur, AbdulManafi Yunusa, has seen its first B737-300 (MSN 28570 | 5N-?), formerly with bmi baby, roll out the paint shop in Norwich in the United Kingdom.

► NIGERIA: Med-View Airline granted regional, international traffic rights; eyes Dubai by year end.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reportedly granted Kano-based Med-View Airline (VL) regional and international traffic rights with flights to Dubai to launch before year end, the airline's managing director, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, has announced.

► NIGERIA: Chanchangi Airlines takes delivery of a South African B737-500 on wet-lease.

Kaduna-based Chanchangi Airlines (5B) has reportedly taken delivery of a B737-500 (MSN ? | 5N-BQZ) on wet-lease from an unnamed South African leaser. The aircraft reportedly arrived in Abuja on Saturday August 10.

► NIGERIA: Med-View Airlines set to start daily Lagos - Owerri, Abuja - Yola flights.

Nigeria's Med-View Airline (VL) has announced the launch of daily flights between Abuja - Yola and Lagos- Owerri as the airline moves to expand its network following its launch in November.

► NIGERIA: Med-View Airlines to launch on 8 November with Lagos - Abuja, Lagos Port Harcourt.

Med-View Airline (VL) have announced they will launch scheduled ops effective Thursday 8 November 2012. According to its lulzy, amateurish website, the airline will operate domestically with Lagos - Abuja, Lagos - Port Harcourt as its initial routes, whilst Abuja - Port Harcourt and Maiduguri - Yola are to come later.

► NIGERIA: Cessna Caravan piloted by Taraba state governor, crashes; 6 in critical condition.

A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (MCN: 208B2098 | 5N-BMJ) operated by the Taraba State Government and piloted by the Governor of Taraba State in Nigeria, Dambaba Sunta, has crashed with 6 persons aboard. All are said to have survived, but are in a critical condition.

■ NIGERIA: Phase II of airport renovations to begin in June; Abuja to get new International Terminal.

Nigerian's Aviation Minister Stella Oduah has announced plans by the Nigerian Government to embark on the second phase of a project to renovate and remodel various airports in Nigeria, in order to "upgrade the quality of services being rendered at airports across the country."

The Minister also said that airports involved in the first phase - amongst them Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Lagos); Nnamdi Azikiwe Intenational Airport (Abuja); Owerri Airport; Yola Airport and Benin Airport - were to be reinaugurated by the end of May, with Phase 2 to begin on 1st June 2012.

Asaba Airport, Nigeria (Ken Iwelumo)

Oduah also announced that plans had been concluded to build a new international terminal at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja this year, with the existing international terminal being turned into a domestic terminal, while the old domestic terminal would now be General Aviation (GAT) and Hajj terminal.

"According to her, the projects are being strictly monitored to ensure that contractors do not deliver substandard jobs.
She said, “We have our quality control group working with the contractors at all times; we want to make sure we don’t play with users’ safety, which is why we are doing total restructuring and remodelling."

Read More Here [Punching Nigeria]

The call for enforced transparency follows the attempted arrest on Monday of the Managing Director of the Lagos-based Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), George Uriesi, on suspected allegations of graft by the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Uriesi evaded arrest as he was said to "have left for Abuja on an official duty."