₦airaland Forum

BabbanBura:
Hope say this no be the Naija Airways? If it is, fly to gamble with your lives!!

Green Africa officially started operations on Thursday with an inaugural flight from Lagos to Abuja on one of the airline’s ATR 72-600s. This flight activity follows the airline's announcement of receiving the Air Operator Certificate from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Customers and other stakeholders from Lagos checked in at Green Africa counters in the Alpha Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport 1 (GAT) and were welcomed to Abuja with water cannon salute when the aircraft landed on the runway.

As part of the inaugural flight ceremony, customers were engaged inflight in an interactive ‘knowledge test’ session and 3 customers each won a voucher with 10kg baggage allowance for their next flight with Green Africa.

Green Africa CEO Babawande Afolabi, upon arrival in Abuja, addressed customers, dignitaries and journalists said ‘We are on a mission to connect more people in Nigeria and Africa to their dreams and opportunities. It’s what kept us going despite the odds over the last several years and it’s what will continue to sustain this franchise even after we are all gone.

The inaugural flight ceremony also featured cake cutting and photo sessions with gTalents and guests.

For customers from Abuja, Green Africa Counters can be found at Terminal D, Domestic Wing, Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport.
To book a flight with Green Africa, visit their websit and enjoy low fares from N16,500.

Today is the final day of the popular Osun Osogbo Festival. Earlier, the Osun State Government appealed to foreign tourists and adherents outside the state not to attend the event as a means of curbing the spread of COVID-19.

Even with this appeal by the state government, this year's festival attracted thousands of Osun worshippers, spectators, and tourists from all walks of life to the events.

See Photos from the 2021 Osun-Osogbo festival

During the process of waiting for the arrival of the Arugbá, Ọ̀sun Devotees are offering series of prayers to the Ọ̀sun River Goddess at the ne.

Foreign tourists and adherents from outside of Osun state are being advised not to attend this year's Osun Osogbo festival to prevent the spread of the third wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Doctor Obawale Adebisi who stated this while addressing Journalists in Osogbo said the government would ensure live online transmission of all activities during the festival.

The Commissioner urged the tourists to bear with the state Governments urging those that will follow the votary maid to the grove to observe COVID-19 safety especially social distancing and the use of face masks.

He said, “As a pragmatic effort to control the crowd and giving opportunities to the rest of the World to partake in the proceedings of grand-finale of the 2021 edition of this festival, the Government of Osun, through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has collaborated with Active Projectile Limited, Lagos, Nigeria, to ensure the live transmission of the festival, by setting up the virtual platform, and making virtual and live performance by reputable artistes as part of the activities.”

“We have told Ataoja the government’s position on this. We can’t stop those adherents residents in the state from coming. But foreign tourists, adherents, and groups coming from outside Osun should follow the festival through our online platforms. This is to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

A United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) aircraft landed at Bayelsa State International Airport on Wednesday to mark the start of commercial flight operations at the airport.

The aircraft, which touched down at 3:45 pm took off from the Murtala Mohammed Airport 2 in Lagos at 3 pm.

Those onboard include Duoye Diri, Bayelsa state governor; Obiora Okonkwo, the airline’s chairman, Blessing Oborududu, Tokyo Olympics wrestling silver medalist; members of the Bayelsa state caucus in the national assembly, among others.

In April, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) gave approval to Bayelsa for the state-owned airport to commence flight operations.

Addressing the jubilant crowd at the airport, Diri announced that full commercial flights would commence in two weeks based on bookings made.

He expressed optimism that with commercial flights into and out of Bayelsa, economic activities would begin to boom in the state.

“I have just arrived safely at the Bayelsa International Airport, Yenagoa with the inaugural commercial flight operated by United Nigeria Airlines,” Diri said.

“Our people have longed waited for this historic day as the flight routes will open up the state to more economic activities.

“The airport is now here to ease movement of our people and goods into the state.

“I must acknowledge the efforts of my predecessors particularly the first Civilian Governor, Late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha for the vision, and that of His Excellency, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, to get this project to completion.

“Congratulations to all Bayelsans as the state is now officially on the Aviation Map of Nigeria.

“Let me thank my brother and friend, Mr. Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, who joined us on this historic flight.

“I must thank all our leaders on the flight and members of the National Assembly from the state irrespective of party affiliations. This is an airport for all Bayelsans.”

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has declared the Federal government’s concession exercise is open to all qualified entities but has said no sub-national government will be allowed to participate in the concession of the nation’s four major international airports.

He made this known Tuesday during a virtual stakeholder’s meeting — monitored by Tour Telegraph — to update on the concession of the four international airports: Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Responding to reactions from presentations at the conference, the minister further revealed that the nation’s airports will not be losing staff because according to ICAO statistics Nigeria was short of aviation personnel and so they will be relocated to other state-owned airports.

Sirika, who explained why states will not qualify for the concession, said the government was transferring the airports from the national government to private entities and will not transfer it to subnational governments.

He said,” What I can say emphatically, is that no state government will be allowed to participate to get this concession because the argument is, we are taking this concession from federal government to private sector, we cannot give from one government to another government, in fact to a lesser government which is a sub-national, this will not happen but any private sector any private entity with a proven record that is able to demonstrate will be allowed to participate and the best will emerge.

Taking the question of whether Kano’s Organized Private Sector can take part in the process from Mr. Aliyu Magashi Mustapha, Sirika said it is quite possible if the organization holds the foundational capacity and experience required to participate accordingly.

The concession process is open to anyone who has the technical capacity, the foundational capability, the experience, the wherewithal and is interested in participating. Whether you are an organized private sector or a private entity, you are free to participate so long as you can demonstrate that you can provide us with value for our money you will be allowed to participate.

This is the beginning of the process and as we are in the planning phase, the steps leading up to the concession will be posted on our website and on the website of the ICRC so that individuals or groups can get organized and be allowed to participate in the process,” he said.

On loss of jobs, he said the workers’ rights and privileges will be protected

Unions fear for jobs but I keep saying they will not lose their jobs because number one: we currently by the findings of ICAO, we are understaffed in so many areas and we need to recruit people so we need all hands to manage our airports,

In addition, we are now taking over Gombe, Bauchi, Dutse, Kebbi, Osubi, and many other airports within our control; as a result, we are examining what is the staff strength, and how can we employ more people.”

Nigeria’s former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka has rejected the concession approach taken by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), arguing that any concession approach would give the best parts of FAAN over to private investors who may not be able to handle the project.

The former minister who spoke during a virtual stakeholder meeting addressing the concession of four international airports compared what is happening now to the state of the power sector where the discos do not have the funding to even provide meters to their customers and constantly blame the government.

In his view, state capitalism is the best solution for running airports instead of handing over money spinners to a private sector that may not be ready for these responsibilities.


“Therefore my approach is that the first thing I think we should have done is corporatize that is turn these terminals in blocks of terminals, Lagos Zone into a company owned only by FAAN and make FAAN a regulator that FAAN would be the regulatory agency of the terminal buildings which will be part of their responsibility and the responsibility of the aeronautical side of it would be handled by a department in FAAN while FAAN serves as a regulator of airports.


“So if we take the Lagos airport zone and take the airports in Akure and the Airports in Ibadan and rope it together and make it a company then we can sell 51%of that to a concessionaire to come and run the airports and let the Nigerian state, either the state governments that ran the airports before they took it over, the airport workers or unions have shared so that if the airports are successful tomorrow we can sell our shares in the stock market without having to go back to any concessionaire.

He argued,” Now the reason why I said this is to imagine what it would have been if the FG granted MTN a 51% stake in a concession to do mobile telephones, our 49% equity in MTN today would have been worth the price in gold so I believe in state-capitalism, I think the minister has been sold to BPE, they want to take the best in FAAN and give it to the private sector

He continued, “The problem of Africa is lack of private capital if you take these airports just as you did the discos and give it to private companies just like you did the disco companies, the 80% given to the private sector they have not been able to afford to meter to buy meters they don’t have the wherewithal to meter customers and they keep blaming the government for shifting the goalpost.

Hadi Sirika was advised by the former Minister to always seek advice from his predecessors so he can borrow from their experience.

aieromon:
I wish them the best.

More action, less talk this time

Nigeria’s aviation industry is set to receive a new entrant with Green Africa Airways flying to seven (7) predetermined destinations from August 12 following the issuance of an Air Operators Certificate (AOC) by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Captain Musa Nuhu, director-general of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has given the airline approval and handed over the certification document at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja following an extensive, five-phase certification process.

The Director-General represented by Director, Airworthiness Standards, Engr Kayode Isiaka Ajiboye while speaking on the issuance of the AOC said, “We at the NCAA are impressed with Green Africa’s effort and commitment to safely connect many more people across the country and we look forward to the positive contribution that the new airline will bring to the Nigerian aviation industry.”

Commenting on the major milestone for Green Africa its founder, Babawande Afolabi noted,“This is a watershed moment in our journey to use the power of air travel to create a better future. Thanks to the NCAA, the gTeam, our investors, and other stakeholders, Green Africa is now set to start serving customers.”

The airline announced in June that it would serve Lagos (LOS) connecting Akure (AKR), Ilorin (ILR), Abuja (ABV), Owerri (QOW), Port Harcourt (PHC), and Enugu (ENU).

The airline seeking the AOC had previously planned to begin operations on June 24th, 2021, a date that was delayed by unforeseen circumstances, according to the airline and regulator.

AlphaCEO:
Awesome. I love the vivid ambience
of Nike art gallery.

However, Lekki Phase 1 is located on Lekki Peninsula NOT Lagos
Island according to the writer of the article.

Nice post though.

By Mera Agbadudu for Tour Telegraph
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Located in Lekki Phase 1 of Lagos Island is a mind-blowing art gallery you wouldn’t have guessed was there.
Nike Art Gallery, located at 2 Oba Yekini Elegushi Rd, Lekki Phase I, Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria, is a Nigerian hidden treasure and an ancient history thriving in our present time.
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Comprising of an art gallery, textile museum, and a coffee shop, Nike Art Gallery is a four-story building containing over 8,000 artworks from various Nigerian artists that would leave you falling in love with art again.
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Opened seven days a week for guests, tourists, and any art lover or textiles, I believe it would take you more than a week to go through every artwork in the gallery and appreciate them. So this is why you should visit.

1. NO GATE FEE
As a tourist, you are probably on a budget and don’t want to get stranded and at the same time want to visit everywhere possible. Nike art gallery is one such tourist destination that you don’t have to pay to visit. Yes, I said it. Every single piece of art is available for your eyes to see for free.
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2. learn the art
If you have a passion for art and have a week to spare, the Nike art course is readily available, or instead, you could enroll in an art course or take a tour with the owner of Nike. The tour group provides overnight accommodation at her guest house and participates in creating traditional African handicrafts such as Adire, batik, indigo, beading, painting, or carving.
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3. Pictures!
I don’t think you can visit a place without pictures! yeess! Nike art gallery is so beautiful you’ll probably feel right at home, and trust me, and every single picture would fit just about any frame.
So go ahead and strike that pose. Let us paint your picture.
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4. The Beach
After looking at art, the Elegushi beach is very close, and you can see the waves and wave back.
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5. Buy Art
If you care for some souvenirs, you could buy different art, fabrics, or artwork, ranging from some few thousand nairas to millions. Everyone gets to have price-friendly art according to budget.
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Possibly the largest art gallery in Africa. It is also number one on Trip Advisor’s list of the best attractions in Lagos, Nigeria. Nike boss Davis Okundaye owns the gallery. And as I took my leave the last time I was there, I looked back at all the art that would fill the world and knew it wouldn’t be my last time here.

A source from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed the return flight to Tourtelegraph. He declines to comment further on this but guarantees that the regulator will investigate the incident.

TOURTELEGRAPH learned that the Azman Air flight from Lagos to Maiduguri via Abuja departed at 10:30 AM and must return to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos before taking off again before recertification.

Our reporter had collected that the pilot had announced to the passengers that the landing gear bolts had not been removed before the plane took off to retract the landing gear, so he had to return to Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA ) in Lagos so that the pin would be removed.

A witness said that some passengers were unable to continue flying, possibly out of fear.

An engineer who did not want to be identified said that the landing gear pins were positioned in the landing gear of a parked aircraft. After a few more hours, he said the person responsible for cleaning the flight should have looked long enough and noticed that the gear pin was still inserted.

IN MARCH, the NCAA suspended Azman Airlines due to regulatory agencies alleging a series of safety violations, including Azman Airlines flight AZM 2318 and Boeing 737500 with registration number 5NSYS on February 11, 2021. The plane departed from Kaduna to Lagos.

After complying with the NCAA safety recommendations and developing its corrective action plan (CAP), the airline has been approved and has resumed service to the regulator’s satisfaction.

vonzil:
This is fair

According to the Federal Government, airlines must refund the full cost of passengers after a two-hour delay.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made this known today at the weekly State House Briefing in Aso Villa, Abuja.

He read some of the rights of aviation passengers at the briefing and encouraged them to insist on their rights whenever they are violated by airlines.

“On domestic flights, delay beyond one hour, the carrier should provide refreshment, and one telephone call, or one SMS, or one e-mail. They should send you an SMS or email or call you to say, ‘I am sorry, I am delaying for one hour.

“Delay for two hours, and beyond, the carrier shall reimburse passengers the full volume of their tickets.

“Delay between 10 pm and 4 am, the carrier shall provide hotel accommodation, refreshment, meal, two free calls, SMS, email and transport to-and-fro airport,” Sirika said, adding that the same rules apply for international flights.

The minister, who said his ministry has started sanctioning some airlines who default on consumer rights, urged passengers not to be unruly at airports.

Of late, flight cancellations and delays have characterized inter-city air transportation in Nigeria. Many passengers scolded the 10 commercial airlines operating scheduled flights to keep them waiting at airports for hours after their scheduled departure time.

TOUR TELEGRAPH had earlier reported that operators of airlines in Nigeria justified the delay and cancellations of domestic flights in the country.

The operators hinged the reason on non-availability and the rising cost of aviation fuel, also known as JetA1, and inadequate parking spaces at airports.

On Tuesday, the operators, led by the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, stated this when they appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation chaired by Senator Smart Adeyemi.

He also demanded the prosecution of unruly passengers at the Airports.

Other reasons cited by Onyema were non-availability of forex for spare parts and maintenance, sudden change of weather, delay due to VIP movement, inefficient passenger access and facilitation, delay clearance of spare parts from Customs, and inadequate screening and exit points at departure.

…Accuse Buhari Of Protecting Fulani Ahead Of Other Tribes

Afenifere, the apex Yoruba socio-cultural organisation; Professor Banji Akintoye, leader of Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups; Aare Ona Kakan­fo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, the Nigeria Consultative Front, NCFront and Yoruba Nation Global Directorate (YNGD) have condemned the attack on the residence of Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho, at the early hours of Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State, by a com­bined team of soldiers and Department of State Services (DSS).

In a statement by Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and made available to Daily Independent by the National Publicity Secretary of the body, Comrade Jare Ajayi, the group stated, “The news of fatal attack on the residence of Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, in the early hours of Thursday, July 1, 2021 is a sad indicator that we are fast re­turning to the era of late Sani Abacha when anyone who ex­pressed opinions contrary to government’s position would be fatally attacked.

“Nigerians woke up this morning to the unsavoury news of an attack on the resi­dence of the Yoruba activist, Igboho, in Soka area of Ibadan by armed men reportedly in army and DSS uniforms.

“It was also reported that at least seven people were killed while yet unidentified number, including the wife of Sunday Igboho, were ab­ducted and taken away by the invaders. They also destroyed properties running into sever­al millions.

“The attack came less than 72 hours to the plan by Igboho and others to hold a rally in Lagos to further canvass for a Yoruba nation this week Saturday.

“The manner of attack in­dicated culpability on the part of those in authority.

“We are forced into this deduction for a number of reasons. Firstly, eye witness accounts indicated that ve­hicles and uniforms of the attackers were that of the se­curity agencies. Secondly, the failure of security agencies to confront the attackers further implicated the government.

“This is an emergency response to an emergency matter by Ilana Omo Oodua. Around 1:00 a.m. today, Thurs­day, 1st July, 2021, the Ibadan, Oyo State residence of one of the leading men in our strug­gle for self-determination in Yoruba land, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Sun­day Igboho, was unfortunate­ly attacked by gunmen.

“The assailants spoke French Language fluently. Seven people were killed by the attackers, with their corpses taken away. Scores of people, including the wife of Chief Ighoho, were also taken away by the gunmen,” Akintoye alleged.

Akintoye, while declaring that the attack on Chief Igho­ho’s house was unnecessary, unfortunate, wicked, callous, cruel, irresponsible, illegal and atrocious, said the group was holding the Buhari-led administration responsible for this barbaric attack.

“We have been peaceful from the inception of this struggle. We have adhered with both the Nigerian and international laws guiding the agitation for self-determi­nation.”

Also, Iba Gani Adams, in a statement by his Special As­sistant on Media, Mr. Kehinde Aderemi, described the attack as very unfortunate.

Adams, however, charged the Federal Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and also bring the perpetrators to book.

Adams said the attack had exposed the Federal Govern­ment, especially, on the spate of insecurity in the country where lives of Nigerians were of no value to it, maintaining that the incident was a pre­determined ploy to silence Igboho from the struggle for the Yoruba nation, which, ac­cording to him, is what many Yoruba both home and abroad wanted at the moment.

“The attack on Sunday Igboho’s house is most unfor­tunate. It is a reflection of the fact that our lives as Nigerians are of no value to the govern­ment. And the truth is that nobody is safe in this country.

“The Thursday’s attack was the second in six months. The first was in January when his Soka residence was razed by unknown arsonists. And up till date, nobody had been apprehended in respect of the ugly incident.

“Those agitating for Yoru­ba nation have been the tar­gets of this administration and the two attempts at Igbo­ho’s houses within six months cannot be said to be ordinary. They were ploys to cow him and frustrate him,” Adams said.

Similarly, the Yoruba Nation Global Directorate (YNGD) has condemned the attack on the Ibadan resi­dence of Sunday Adeyemo.

Describing the attack as callous, the group, in a state­ment by its spokesman, Otun­ba Demola Edward in Akure, alleged that the attack was “a ploy to silence the Yorubas in actualisation of Yoruba Na­tion autonomy.”

The statement reads inter alia: “A very distressing news came to the Yoruba Nation Global Directorate in the ear­ly hours of Thursday, 1st July, 2021 that the Nigerian army on the orders of the Federal Government of Nigeria vis­ited and attacked the private residence of a topmost Yoru­ba human rights activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo (Ig­boho Oosha), killing scores of people and destroying prop­erties worth several millions of naira.

“The Yoruba Nation Glob­al Directorate seriously con­demns this unprovoked at­tack on Yoruba citizens. We consider the act of Nigeria, a disputed territory whose ground norm was strongly repudiated by the Nigeria Indigenous Nationalities Al­liance for Self-Determination (NINAS) 16 March 2021.”

The group stressed that the attack was a crime against hu­manity, suppression of free speech and gross breach of United Nations treaties, not­ing that the Directorate was assessing the unfolding situa­tion and would soon respond with a course of action.

In the same vein, leaders of Conscience under the auspices of Nigeria Consultative Front, NCFront jointly led by former Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt Hon Ghali Na’aba and Former Presidential Candidate, Prof Pat Utomi has condemned in the strongest terms the midnight invasion, attack, murder, maiming, and abduction carried out by the Nigerian military and Operatives of the Department of Secret Services, DSS against defenceless and Innocent citizens at the Ibadan home of a Frontline Yoruba Self determination Activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo a k a Igboho over his rally for self-determination for the Yorubas in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Thursday, NCFront again perceived the midnight gun attack of Sunday Igboho’s residence and dastardly murder of his family members as nothing but reckless abuse of power and violation of Sunday Igboho’s privacy and fundamental human rights, which should be condemned by all well meaning Nigerians and citizens of conscience.

“We wish to state unequivocally that the current military attack against Sunday Adeyemo and other self determination Activists, at this delicate period of Nigeria, is wrong headed, reckless and uncalled, as experiences around the world have shown that it’s capable of foisting unintended civilian guerilla actions against the Nigerian State given the unprovoked ruthless use of naked force and bestiality to drive unarmed agitation underground.

“The NCFront again perceives the midnight gun attack of Sunday Igboho’s residence and dastardly murder of his family members as nothing but reckless abuse of power and violation of Sunday Igboho’s privacy and fundamental human rights, which should be condemned by all well meaning Nigerians and citizens of conscience. So, this abuse of state power shall be taken up by NCFront’s National Secretariat before the International Court of Justice, ICJ in due course.

“Similarly, we wish to warn General Muhammadu Buhari led Regime to immediately desist from running Nigeria as a police state having allowed the country to slip into a Criminal Enterprise at the brink of total collapse and civil war. Therefore, we demand the fair and careful handling of the matter and trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB Leader, especially the respect of his fundamental human rights while in the custody of the Nigerian Government.

“Finally, we wish to task the Nigerian Federal Government to immediately put machinery in place to restore national understanding, cohesion, harmony, stability, peace and prosperity by urgently convening a national justice and reconciliation meeting of key stakeholders of the diverse strata and facets of the country. The Buhari Government should however note that nothing could restore peace and stability to the country as much as the official embrace of a people’s constituents’ assembly and referendum to decide how Nigerians want to democratically coexist and run their political affairs constitutionally as the ongoing constitution amendments by the national assembly can barely save the country from pervasive insecurity and anarchy rocking its foundation.

In the same vein, the publisher of Ovation magazine, Dele Momodu has equally condemned the attack on Sunday Igboho.

He described such attacks as a misplacement of priority by the Federal Government.

“The videos in circulation today about the violent attack on the home of CHIEF SUNDAY IGBOHO ADEYEMO, if true is most disturbing and regrettable. I have taken time to study the different reports and I’ve not read anywhere that he was invited by security authorities and he refused. Even at that, there’s no basis for such bloody attack in a democracy.

“It is obvious that most of our political leaders have been cowed, for whatever reasons. They are mostly silent, disgracefully. They have refused to learn lessons of history…
I salute GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE, who despite his known differences with MAZI NNAMDI KANU stated clearly this morning that he should not be victimized while the real bandits continue to hold sway in the forests untouched.
No one should condone criminality. But every Nigerian should be treated and tried under the same rule of Law.
May the good Lord have mercy on us all…”

DDDEnterprises:
better be vigilant sha. make them no fry you join

Aisha Yesufu, a popular Nigerian activist, has described the President Muhammadu Buhari administration as brainless.

According to the activist, Buhari’s approach to Sunday Igboho’s secessionist movement showed that he has failed to learn his lessons from similar cases of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Sheikh El-Zakzaky of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also called Shi’ites.

Aisha Yesufu pointed out that while Buhari ended up making Nnamdi Kanu more popular with his arrest in 2015, Zakzaky’s followership became stronger.

It was has learnt, the invasion of Sunday Igboho’s residence which saw his wife and other family members abducted, was carried out by security operatives.

As earlier reported, Igboho’s residence located at Soka, Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State was invaded around 2 a.m on Thursday morning.

And Mrs. Yesufu, in a tweet on Thursday, suggests that the government will end up making Sunday Igboho a demi-god.

“Buhari’s government is extremely brainless and never learns from it’s mistakes,” she quipped.

“What did the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu in 2015 achieve other than to make him into a demi-god?

“What about the arrest of Zakzaky? Made his followers more determined. Now attack on Sunday Igboho’s residence?”

COMPTROLLER General, Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS), Muhammad Babandede has said that the service has moved the timeline of re-issuance of passport documentation from 74hours to three weeks as part of efforts to ensure efficiency, reduce interface between officers and passport seekers as well as carry out perfect tracing to ensure only true Nigerians get the document.

He disclosed his views to reporters yesterday after inaugurating a new facility for the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) built by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and a new building for Access Bank at the Passport Office Ikoyi.

The fully renovated public long room was also equipped with queue management system technology, six units of large-screen televisions and fully installed satellite television, fourteen (14) units of air conditioning systems comprising two standing and twelve (12) split units, four desktop computers, and office tables and chairs.

SNEPCo received appreciation from CGI, urging other companies to emulate their gestures, as they were contributing their quota to make Nigerians comfortable while getting top-notch service.

Although he charged his men to ensure maintenance of the facilities was top of their minds, maintaining a culture of maintenance has always been difficult in the country, and its cycle must be broken.

Asked about the reason for the extended re-issuance timeline, Babandede said this had a lot to do with making the process fully transparent and eliminating contact between the servicemen and the customers to prevent any form of corruption.

In his words: There was a 74-hour waiting period, but the minister wanted a waiting phase before the passports were issued. One of the reforms carried out was the addition of a permanent home address to the passport. This will help us identify true Nigerians.

“I work in Abuja and stay there; that is not my permanent residence. Most of us are not living in Lagos permanently. We are either doing business in Lagos or working for a firm here. If that is the case, we can apply for a passport at Alausa or Ikoyi in Lagos. That doesn’t show you as a true Nigerian, so we decided that you would also include your permanent address in addition to your home address so your family can be traced. This will allow us to track applicants.

“For 74 hours, we are not keeping the 74 hours, and that is why we are rushing it to keep it. It is common for countries worldwide to have timelines that are longer than one week. So, in this case, we need a system that distributes passports efficiently while maintaining a high level of security.

Babandede described how the new passport regime could reduce corruption by reducing contact between officials and customers. “What can we gain by this?” he asked. To discourage corruption.

“One of the ways to achieve this is to have the timeline. There are issues with people coming to the passport office and request passports immediately as express service, but the money does not go into immigration coffers; it goes into private pockets. Now we say if you want to fast track, you have to pay.

“Secondly, we had to change the way payment can be made, payment can be made to our website directly. Before it
wasn’t making easy payment to our website, but now you can easily make payment, you can print your receipt and come. We have made it much easier than not everybody should come to passport office so we have a crowd there is booking online and each passport office has a number it can carry by day, once that number is exhausted it moves over to the next day, so we are doing everything we can to make things easier We are trying to emulate the private sector because the private sector works more efficiently. If you work like the private sector, you don’t need a bribe to sell your product,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the managing director of SNEPCo, Bayo Ojulari represented, acknowledged the CGI and his team at the Ikoyi Passport office for the importance of the project stressing that the intervention with the long room is part of a journey of care under a partnership between SNEPCo and NNPC.

As part of a broader social investment portfolio, the intervention aims to improve quality service delivery and enhance the experience of Nigerians seeking to meet their immigration and travel documentation needs at the Ikoyi passport office.”

IBOM AIR has said that it’s two newly acquired Airbus A220 aircraft will, from Wednesday 30 June 2021, start operations on the Nigerian skies, just as it says it is currently in negotiations with Airbus to procure a fleet of brand new A220s for deliveries commencing 4th quarter 2022.

The airline said that its wet-leased Airbus would bring much-needed capacity, more comfort, enhanced safety, and increased reliability to the domestic air travel market as they are deployed into the skies.

In a statement signed by Group Manager Marketing Ibom Airlines Limited, Aniekan Essienette, the arrival of both leased jets enables the airline to provide the much-needed capacity sought by its fast-increasing clientele.

According to the statement, both leased aircraft are the result of the airline’s decision to fast track its fleet development plan to respond to a surge in passenger numbers, which stretched the capacity of its CRJ900 fleet to the maximum.

Ibom Air’s passengers on the Lagos-Abuja route can now experience 3 flights each way daily, in the comfort of the A220.

The A220, according to the airline, will also serve the Uyo to Lagos and Uyo to Abuja routes, while the airline’s fleet of 5 CRJ900s fills up any gaps, providing adequate capacity on all the other routes.

The Airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. George Uriesi, said, “we are pleased to introduce the Airbus A220, one of the most advanced passenger jets globally, into the Nigerian domestic market. While our fleet of Bombardier CRJ900s did a splendid job powering the airline during its start-up phase, we had to adjust our business strategy and fast track our move to higher capacity aircraft. With the introduction of the A220, this capacity squeeze will be adequately addressed.”

On negotiation plans with Airbus, the airline said it was well on the way, and it chose to bridge the urgent capacity gap by wet-leasing these 2 new jets from Egypt air as a stop-gap measure.

No fewer than 20 Nigerians have been stopped from travelling out of the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos in the last one week by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Airport Command.

A source close to the Command in Lagos confided most of those stopped could not give tangible reasons for wanting to travel out and details of their travels.

Most of them also could not provide documents to support their claims while it was observed that some of them used agents to perfect their papers to travel out by all means.

Also the NIS, MMIA Command on Wednesday, reunited a mentally-challenged female Nigerian, Motunde Oluwatobi Victoria with her family members at the airport.

It was gathered Motunde, who had been in Saudi Arabia since 2018 and engaged as a house maid, returned aboard Egypt Air at 1:30pm on Tuesday and was incoherent, prompting the Command to search for her family members.

Once immigration officials discovered Motunde was not mentally-balanced, they searched for her family contact through the social media and located her immediate older sister, Titilope Deborah Babatunde.

Her elder sister lauded officials of immigration at the airport for reuniting her with her sister.

She confirmed Motunrayo, who had been in Saudi Arabia since 2018, was engaged as a house maid, stressing she got wind of her health challenge about two weeks ago.

“I am very grateful to the immigration service, MMIA Command for reuniting me with my sister. Initially when I received the call, I concluded that it was a scammer at work.

“What immigration has done has further reinvigorated my belief about Nigeria. It shows that to some extent, we are still secure in Nigeria.

“If not for the immigration, I will not know that my sister has been brought back to Nigeria. We will still think she was in Saudi Arabia,” she said.

donbachi:
Make dem no touch my own oo.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has threatened to seize private jets in the country by July 6, 2021, if owners fail to submit import clearance documents for verification within 30 days.

The NCS spokesperson, Mr Joseph Attah, stated this at the press briefing he gave Monday at the airport, emphasizing that the verification exercise was not aimed at causing inconvenience to private jet owners, adding that such people could come with their documents for verification.

According to him, the required documents for verification are aircraft certificate of registration, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) flight operations compliance certificate, NCAA’s maintenance compliance certificate, NCAA’S permit for non-commercial flights and temporary import permit where applicable.

He said so far, few private aircraft owners have responded to the invitation to participate in the verification exercise, prompting the ultimatum.

In the first two weeks of the 30 days verification period, only six owners of private aircraft have responded to the invitation, which necessitates this reminder to those who have yet to respond so that their aircraft will not be detained.

“We learned that some will arrive today or tomorrow for verification. Furthermore, we know that some owners imported their private jets with a temporary import certificate, which expired and was not renewed. “These are infractions,” he stated.

“At the end of the verification, some of the things we want to expose will come to light. We will make our findings known on July 6 after the expiration of the 30-day grace window.

“Those in default risk detention of their aircraft as nobody is above the law,” he added.

A spokesman for NCS said that its management believes that owners of private aircraft are highly placed individuals who are willing to comply with extant laws governing the importation of their aircraft, including making all the appropriate tax and duty payments.

“As an agency of government responsible for enforcement of laws governing imports and exports in Nigeria, NCS will not hesitate to invoke appropriate sanctions on any defaulting private aircraft owner immediately after the expiration of the verification period on Tuesday 6th July 2021.

“For the avoidance of doubt, private aircraft owners or their representatives are to report to Room 305, Tariff and Trade Departments, Nigeria Customs Service headquarters, Abuja, from 10 am to 5 pm between Monday, June 7 and Tuesday, July 6, 2021”, Attah added.

Thegoodtravels:
Something is definitely wrong somewhere.
Anyway, fingers crossed.

Freestainworld:
This Emirates haven't spoken their problems.

Only 24 hours after United Arab Emirates relaxed its COVID-19 protocol for Nigeria and some countries, Emirates Airlines announced that it would begin airlifting passengers from Lagos and Abuja from 23rd of June, the airline has suddenly suspended flights from Nigeria.

According to Emirates airline, passenger flights to and from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) have been suspended as of June 21 until further notice. Customers traveling to and from Lagos and Abuja will not be accepted for travel, and those who have been to – or connected through – Nigeria in the last 14 days are not permitted to board from any other point to the UAE.

“In line with government’s directives, passenger flights to and from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) have been suspended , with effect from 21st June 20121 until further notice

“We regret the inconvenience caused, and affected customers should contact their booking agent or Emirates call center for rebooking, Emirates remains committed to Nigeria, and we look forward to resuming passenger services when conditions allow”, the airline said.

According to Emirates, flights from South Africa to the UAE will remain suspended until July 6, in accordance with government directives restricting travel from South Africa to the UAE. A daily passenger flight will still operate into Johannesburg, however, EK 764 will still be suspended for outbound flights.

The company added that customers who have traveled to or connected through South Africa within the past 14 days will not be allowed on Emirates flights bound for Dubai.

Nigerian passengers were advised to either keep their tickets for future flights or rebook their flights.

Vision4God:
Well said.
@ bolded above, how is it over - regulated?
Seems u work or have someone close in d aviation sector.


BTW may God help them.
A lesson I picked, ensure you are properly prepared for a task/project b4 announcement /engaging the public.