₦airaland Forum

Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, on Thursday took delivery of its second brand new Embraer 195- E2 aircraft out of 13 it ordered for in 2019.

This comes two months after it acquired the same kind of aircraft amidst pomp and pageantry.

The second delivery arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, around 2pm on Thursday.

There was a ceremonial water canon by the firefighting officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) when the aircraft landed.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Mr. Allen Onyema, stated that with the arrival of more of the brand new aircraft, the airline would gradually phase out old planes in its fleet.

But he said the airline’s order for the 10 Boeing Max 737 planes is still intact, noting that the order would not be cancelled.

Onyema said, “With the arrival of more brand new aircraft, we might be phasing out any ageing Boeing Aircraft in our fleet but we are not phasing out Boeing. Don’t forget we have an order for 10 Boeing 737 Max. Our order is still intact. We are not cancelling it.

“Once all these E195-E2 aircraft arrive, it will provide over 8000 jobs beside energising our economy. We are happy to be a participant in boosting the GDP of our country. This is the mission of this airline. This airline was created to create jobs.”

He said the brand new aircraft would be deployed for its regional and domestic operations.

Onyema added, “What you are witnessing today is the power of a vision. When we started in 2014, we knew that by 2017, we would start acquiring the 777 jets. When the time came, we became the first airline in Nigeria to acquire the Boeing 777 and now, we have three of such jets.

“When it was time to service airports with low traffic like Minna, Akure, Makurdi, Jalingo and other places, we acquired eight 50-seater Embraer 145 jets. While we were doing it, we didn’t lose sight of the need to start planning for brand new jets. In September 13, 2018, we became the first airline in Sub-Saharan Africa, to pay for 10 Boeing 737 Max 8 and our order is still intact, we won’t cancel it.

“While the Max was having some issues, we decided to go for Embraer 195-E2 after meticulously studying it. We became the first in Africa to pay for 13 brand new planes and we would be acquiring 17 more to make it 30.

“These planes shall be deployed to domestic and regional routes. These jets are the best. By the time we get everything, we would be providing 8000 jobs to Nigerians. “

*MORE BREAKTHROUGH ON RECENT FOILED CHILD STEALING IN OTOLO NNEWI*

...As police discover baby factory, four pregnant young girls awaiting delivery

It will be recalled that on 11/3/2021, there was a report at the Area Command Headquarters, Nnewi, that a four year old child of St Joseph's School, Otolo Nnewi, was returning home from School in company of his siblings when two men on a motorcycle grabbed the child and zoomed off with him.

However, the child was rescued by some commercial motorcyclists who pursued and eventually arrested the suspects at Akamili Community, Nnewi.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the Police revealed that the suspects who were beaten to stupor by an angry mob (one of whom was confirmed dead), were sent by One Gladys Nworie Ikegwuonu, presently at large, who also operates a baby factory and a brothel by keeping young girls and getting them impregnated after which she sells the children to her waiting customers.

Two suspects arrested are Abuchi Ani, 'M', aged 32 years, of Ohazora, Ebonyi State, and Emeka Ikegwuonu, 'M', 49 years, of Akabukwu, Nnewi, Anambra State.

Consequently, four pregnant young girls were rescued as follows:

(i). Chisom Okoye, 'f', 20 years, of Mgbaneze Isu, Onicha LGA,. Ebonyi State
(ii). Chinecherem Clement, 'f', 18 years, of Agbaebo Isu of Onicha LGA, Ebonyi State.
(iii). Blessing Ogbonna, 'f', 21 years, of Nkwagu Isu of Onicha LGA, Ebonyi State.
(iv). Blessing Njoku, 'f', 21 years, of Mgbaneze Isu of Onicha LGA, Ebonyi State, all residing at Cool Joint bar Nnewi.

Meanwhile, the Command is intensifying efforts to arrest the principal suspect, one Gladys Nworie Ikegwuonu, 'f', of Ohaozora, Ebonyi State, in order to bring her and other accomplices to Justice.

*CSP Haruna Mohammed, PPRO,* Anambra State Police Command,
For-Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command.

Na marry I say I wan marry, wetin be this na?

We're Not Ready To Go To War With Any Group But We'll Protect Our Region — Yoruba Leaders

Eminent Yoruba leaders have said the South-West is not ready to go to war with anyone but will do everything within their power to protect the region.

They spoke at a press conference in Lagos organised by the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams; spokesperson for Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, and Sola Lawal.

At the event attended by Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the leaders said a stakeholders' meeting scheduled for March 17 will proffer the next line of action for Yoruba in terms of security and economy.

They disclosed that the the zone will meet in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for a non-partisan South-West Security Stakeholders' Group meeting on the said date.

According to Adams, there are different layers by which insecurity can be addressed. This, according to him, necessitated the need for state and non-state actors to work together.

According to him, there is a relationship between good security and buoyant economy.

He said, “We are here to represent our leaders and proclaim this campaign. Yes, we have asked people to return to farm, and the next question is how safe are the farms from the onslaught of herdsmen. We are trying to create different layers to address the insecurity– the government layer and the non-governmental layer.

“The government has started mapping out its strategies by creating an Amotekun corps. But we feel that if the strength of the Amotekun cannot complement the effort of the regular security agencies, we should also support them too.

“This meeting is to address the germane issues besetting the Yoruba nation at the moment. We are bringing together all the relevant security groups to back the government and its agencies up through the South-West Security Stakeholders' Group.

“This will bring the vigilantes, hunters, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Agbekoya and other groups together. We will showcase all the leaders of these groups when we have the Pan-Yoruba Conference on the 17th of March at Mapo Hall, Ibadan.”

On his part, Odumakin said the South-West will not be subservient to any other group or people, adding that the stakeholders' meeting will provide a practical roadmap for the region.

“They thought we are going to be begging them but nobody is going to do that. Food security has always been with us, they are the ones threatening our land that made food security a challenge for us. We are not out to fight anybody but let nobody think they can intimidate us in our land, or that they can make us submit to fear," he said.

Also speaking, Lawal said it was only under this kind of umbrella stakeholders' group can the challenge of insecurity affecting the region be effectively streamlined and addressed, adding that interested individuals and groups cannot be left to do things on their own without coordination.

“The Yoruba nation is not ready to go to war with anyone or any group, but the Yoruba nation is ever ready to defend itself and its property. What we have on the ground is a development that came about as a necessity compelled by the moment,” he said.

SENATOR Christopher Ekpenyong representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District in Akwa Ibom State has recommended that the federal government should encourage security forces particularly the military to rescue the Sambisa forest in Borno State from insurgents and bandits and use it for ranching.

Ekpenyoong who spoke weekend, in Uyo while reacting to the worsening insecurity in the country occasioned by activities of arms bearing Herders in Southern Nigeria, expressed confidence in the approach to bring a lasting solution to the lingering crisis.
His words, “Worsening insecurity in Nigeria today as a result of insurgency, banditry and Herders-Farmers crisis has become a major cause for concern. Thousands of people have been killed, communities have been destroyed. The orgy of killings and destructions is seriously affecting national cohesion.


“For the Farmers/Herders crisis, a comprehensive approach is necessary to address the escalation. And I recommend that the federal government should take over sambisa forest from Boko Haram, bandits and create ranches in order to save our country the agony we are going through currently.
” The Sambisa grazing Reserve of 4800 hectares is an ideal and symbolic place to take-off by establishing a ranch run by the military. It will significantly improve the security situation in the northeast zone and encourage cooperation between pastoralists, communities and the military

“In the Northwest, the military should also be encouraged to create ranches in the Gidan Jaja Grazing Reserve (565,000 ha) for the same purpose of improving security and cooperation with Herdsmen. Cattle rearing is a business and must be done as a business, other than trying to seize land by force”
The former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State added that there was a need for the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria to liaise with State governors to acquire land on lease to set up ranching, noting that open grazing was no longer practised anywhere in the world.

He stressed that adopting the piecemeal approach in finding lasting solutions to security challenges bedevilling the country in recent times would not suffice.
“We can co-exist peacefully in this country because Nigeria is the only country we have for now. Nigeria belongs to all of us; it does not belong to only one tribe or ethnic group.
“Government policies must be mutually beneficial to all sections, both Herders and farmers. Any policy that does not take into consideration the welfare of all sides will most likely fail or meet resistance” Ekpenyong advised.

Osita Osadebe And Oliver De Coque: The last Igbo Minstrel

Music has often been described as food for the soul and I bet you would not put up a fight to that because many a song jolts people into nostalgia and other kinds of feelings. Not solely for the feeling but for the secrets these feelings hold. Music also means different things to different people by playing a role in society as being vital to peoples’ experience and primal to human culture.

The stringing of the guitar in crescendo with the drums and the grand entrance of the trumpet are the popular sounds of highlife music. In the Igbo community, these sounds have been made popular by the likes of Oliver De Coque and Osita Osadebe among others. Through their talent in music, these minstrels used their genre of highlife music to highlight and expand the worldview of the Igbo society. Richly embedded in the traditions of the Igbo people, their songs have been known not only to inform culture, but also to divulge secrets or precepts to life, constantly dishing out advice and commentaries on life’s issues while being a praise singer to the Igbo society home and in the diaspora.

With the invasion of pop music and other aspiring genres of music, the songs of the old like that of Osadebe and Oliver De Coque holds strong in quality and content, offering a greater deal to society of the past and still in the present. These highlife legends were gifted. Guitarist Olive De Coque learnt the mastery of this instrument from a Congolese at a young age, while Osadebe picked his mastery up for his time with the Empire Rhythm Orchestra.

In tune with this, he is known as the Doctor of hypertension because of his musical ability to cajole one with his slow rhythmic vibes; a mellow meditative tempo. This is capped with his Afro Cuban accented bass and percussion borrowing from the Rockers lead lines on electric guitar. With his feel-good music, Osadebe lulls the audience as he dreamily muses, coos, sighs, uses adages, words of wisdom and inspiration. With this, he started the “oyolima” style we know today; a state of tranquillity, relaxation and pleasure.

Long before the 21st-century term “Igbo Amaka” – a phrase that speaks of the appreciation of the Igbo heritage, the Osondi Owendi crooner and his counterparts have since preached these in their songs, always clamouring for unification and community growth of the Igbo people through upliftment and appraisal of the achievements of notable Igbo men and women.

Like the Nigerian artist who follows the steps of social critic, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the king of Afrobeat who satirically used his songs to radically evokes change politically, and is an emblem to such ideal, this same act with a twist is deployed by Osadebe and Oliver De Coque to nurture better Igbo people and society.

Osadebe, more often than not, chanted in his songs about life and how to navigate in an ever-changing world. Using his songs, he provided a road map to life by unequivocally saying “live in the moment”. An instance is his pioneer with “Peoples Club Odogwu” of 1977.

These feel-good songs of these minstrels do more than just sounds and words but mirror the cultural identity, aspirations, philosophy, history, social and economic system of the eastern part of Nigeria; forming a world view and exposing the rich cultural tradition.

The multiplicity of the function of music cannot be overemphasised having a full impact on people’s feelings and interpretation of events. So the hype, quality and appreciation of their songs are on the premise of cultural principles fused with the instructional properties of the music which therefore serves the dulce et utile. This applies to other non-Igbo societies. Music poses as historical documentation of a particular time in the world and society and these Igbo entertainers through their lyrics envelope it all showcasing through their talents, idioms and philosophical views to life.

The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a factional umbrella body for herdsmen in the country, has said it is opposed to the ban imposed on open grazing of cattle by South-West governors. It said the enforcement of the ban was tantamount to an eviction notice.

This is however against the position of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, which at a meeting with some governors in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on January 25, said it agreed with the position of the governors.

The meeting in Akure was attended by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Governors Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State. MACBAN was led to the meeting by its chairman, Alhaji Muhammadu Kiruwa, among other attendees.

Apart from South-West governors, governors in the South-East had previously banned open grazing and movement of cows on foot into the South-East.

But in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the Secretary General of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Saleh Alhassan, said on Friday, “They can’t put an end to open grazing by fiat because grazing is not motorcycle business; there must be an alternative. Secondly, if they say they are going to end open grazing, what is the timeline for it?

“They want to displace herders from where they earn their livelihood. It is not different from an eviction notice – it is just putting the eviction notice into effect. This is very unfortunate because they cannot come out to say they are embracing peaceful herders and then say they are ending open grazing. What do they mean by that? Is there closed grazing?

“From history, right from the time of Moses, grazing is open. By now, they should realise that they will not get the result they are looking for. We are in total support of the National Livestock Transformation Plan. I was part of the committee that reviewed the final document. The programme has a lot of components, and if implemented, it will address a lot of challenges.

“Look at Benue State and how the approach has created a militia. You can’t end open grazing by fiat as if someone is looking for a crisis, and these crises have a way of reverberating.”

Alhassan argued that asking herdsmen to stop open grazing and begin ranching was tantamount to asking farmers to begin mechanisation, without which they wouldn’t be able to do their farming activities.

He added, “If they say herders must begin ranching today, where is the ranch? For someone to develop a ranch, they need at least three to five years for it to mature. The facts are there. Ranches cannot be created overnight but they are just playing politics.”

On the issue of insecurity, he said herders had been victims of rustling and kidnapping and that if insecurity was to be addressed, it was not by making it an ethnic issue, because according to him, there are criminals in every ethnic group.

“It’s sad, because at the end of the day, we end up radicalising the herders,” he said. “When they are radicalised, who will benefit? The country will suffer worse insecurity. That’s why we are against this issue of eviction or ultimatum because it doesn’t work like that. There have not been proper laws at the national level to address these challenges and the National Assembly is just playing to the gallery. Let there be proper laws.”

He said if there had been an increase in the herders moving from the North to the South, it could be due to climate change, insecurity in the North-East, drought caused by environmental factors or Boko Haram.

“All these need to be properly addressed via articulated policies. Politicians should address their differences; they should leave the herders alone, they are in the bush dealing with all kinds of challenges,” he added.

When reminded that Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, who is also a northerner, had canvassed the restriction of the movement of herders from the North to the South, Alhassan said, “That is where I disagree totally with the Kano State governor. Are they going to stay inside his house in Kano? You must create space for them and not to just talk.”

The National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Rivers Command, said it arrested two persons who allegedly tried to smuggle 115 kilogrammes of illicit drugs into the state.

The arrest of the suspects is contained in a statement signed by the agency’s spokesman in Rivers, Emmanuel Ogbumgbada, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

Ogbumgbada said operatives of the command arrested the suspects when they allegedly tried to smuggle about 200 blocks of compressed Cannabis Sativa weighing 115 kg stored inside five bags.



“The NDLEA Ahoada Area Command intercepted the contraband inside an ash-coloured Hyundai Sonata saloon car near the JTF checkpoint in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers.

“Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were moving the illicit substance from Edo state to Omoku area of Rivers State to supply to their customers,” he said.

Ogbumgbada said the suspects were currently being interrogated by NDLEA’s operatives and had already provided useful information.

Nigerian superstar Davido stepped out in St. Maarten with Young MA’s ex �

Nigerian superstar Davido stepped out in St. Maarten with Young MA’s ex 👀 pic.twitter.com/JnfsTz3SK5

— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) February 27, 2021