₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), has been chosen by two regional operators, Afrijet and Air Sierra Leone (ASL), to handle their ground operations in Nigeria.

The Head of Corporate Communications, NAHCO, Mr Tayo Ajakaye, said this in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

According to him, the contracts between the parties will see NAHCO provide excellent service for Afrijet’ flights into Port Harcourt and Lagos.
He said the company would also handle Air Sierra Leone’s flights into Lagos.

Ajakaye added that the contract with Afrijet was for a three-year period, from 2025 to 2027, while NAHCO would handle Air Sierra Leone, for five years, from 2025 to 2029.

He also said NAHCO’s Group Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, Mr Saheed Lasisi, expressed delight with the new contracts.

“We assure Afrijet and ASL that they have made the best choice any airline could have made. We welcome them to a smooth and fascinating experience,” he said.

Ajakaye also noted that the Group Managing Director Mr Olumuyiwa Olumekun, said NAHCO would always render quality, consistent and exceptional services.

“We cannot afford to give our valued clients any cause to complain. We are on top of this game for the long term.

“With the recent contracts, NAHCO has continued to make good progress in its quest to handle almost all ground operations for international airlines operating into and out of Nigeria.”

Sierra Leone National carrier, Air Sierra Leone, has resumed its scheduled flight operations between Lagos and Freetown after over 15 years of inactiveness.

Air Sierra Leone returned to Nigeria in partnership with a Nigerian airline, XEJet.

While XEjet provides technical support to the airline, it also provides three operational aircraft for the airline to return to the country.

While speaking with journalists at the sideline of the inaugural flight ceremony, on Wednesday, at the Lagos airport, Air Sierra Leone General Manager, Edgard Lacle, expressed joy for the return of the airline to the country.

Lacle told journalists that the airline has secured permission to operate in the country three times weekly; on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Promising that the schedule will be increased as the number of passengers increases.

For the inaugural flight to Lagos, the airline boss said its aircraft conveyed 36 passengers into the country.

He said, “The connection between Sierra Leone and Nigeria is strong, especially in terms of trade and we have a market and everybody is trying to part in that market.

“The trade is top, tourism is part of it and the connection between Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

“The partnership is a technical one and they provide aircraft. The aircraft suits the market and movement of passengers. The moment we see the market changes we will adjust.”

Also speaking the Chief Executive Officer of XEJET, Iza Emmanuel, describes the event as a rebirth of the Air Sierra Leo in Nigeria.
He added that the airline was created as a beacon of hope, progress, and resilience for Sierra Leone.

He said “After over 15 years, the Sierra Leonean flag again takes to the skies. To our dignitaries and guests from Sierra Leone and Nigeria, your presence here today is a testament to the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation that unite our nations.

It is also a reflection of the shared vision of growth, connectivity, and opportunity for our people. We are truly honored to have you join us in celebrating this remarkable milestone.”

“The man attempted to escape, but he was captured like a chicken.”

A top Boko Haram Commander, Abu Iklima, has been captured by Nigerian troops of Operation Hadin Kai.

Iklima was commanding Gaizuwa, otherwise known as Mantari, Gabchari, Kashimiri, and Maimusari in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State before his capture.

Zagazola Makama, a Lake Chad Basin counterterrorism and insurgency expert, reported that Iklima’s enclave was destroyed by the troops, with hundreds of his fighters killed. According to the report:

“This Abu Iklima, a top commander of Boko Haram, was commanding Gaizuwa, otherwise known as Mantari, Gabchari, Kashimiri, and Maimusari in Bama Local Government Area.

“His enclave was severely destroyed by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, with hundreds of fighters neutralized. “The man attempted to escape, but he was captured like a chicken.”

Portugal has revealed plans to increase imports of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Nigeria and the United States as part of efforts to secure energy independence and reduce reliance on Russian gas. This decision follows sanctions on Russian oil and gas imported via pipelines after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

According to Portugal’s Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho, the country is nearly independent of Russian gas but aims to completely eliminate this dependency.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Carvalho stated, “Portugal is now practically independent of Russian gas … but we want to reduce this figure further by importing more gas from Nigeria and the United States.”

In 2024, Portugal imported 49,141 gigawatt-hours of natural gas, 96% of which was LNG. Nigeria accounted for 51% of these deliveries, while the United States contributed 40% and Russia supplied 4.4%, data from grid operator REN shows. In comparison, Russia supplied 15% of Portugal’s LNG needs in 2021.

The shift in Portugal’s energy sourcing aligns with broader European Union efforts to reduce dependency on Russian energy. However, US President Donald Trump’s aggressive energy policies, aimed at flooding the global market with American oil, could pose risks to Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer.

David Okechukwu, a drilling engineer based in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State in Nigeria, told Neusroom that Trump’s energy policies and his intention to drill more oil will lower the price of crude in the global market.

“We might see a slight reduction of oil price if US decides to drill as Trump is projecting,” he said.

Although more oil could reduce the cost of energy, Lagos-based SBM Intelligence warns that Trump’s policies may destabilize Nigeria’s economy, which heavily relies on oil exports for revenue.

“Nigeria’s economy relies heavily on oil exports, and Trump’s pledge to flood the global market with American oil seriously threatens the country’s financial stability,” the firm noted.

A potential global oil price decline would undermine Nigeria’s fiscal projections, forcing increased borrowing and cutting critical infrastructure and social programs.

The report added, “This could also deepen regional inequalities, as poorer states would bear the brunt of reduced federal allocations.”

Welcum:


Soon🤓

[/b]The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has unveiled a state-of-the-art maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility spearheaded by XEJet.[/b]

Keyamo also announced plans to launch an aircraft manufacturing company soon.

He said this at the groundbreaking ceremony of XEJet’s flight support and engineering hub launch in Abuja on Monday.

“Very soon, we are going to return here for the groundbreaking ceremony of an aircraft manufacturing company.”

The announcement aligns with the Federal Government’s aviation development agenda, as emphasized by Keyamo.

He said, “This aligns with our administration’s vision to support local operators. We have been seeking to attract MROs to Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem, and XEJet’s initiative is a significant step forward.”

Keyamo highlighted the government’s efforts to create an enabling environment for projects like this, including partnerships with indigenous banks and the involvement of top-tier construction companies.

“We will be here with you(XEJet) throughout, from beginning to end. Our technical teams and regulatory bodies will ensure that what we have here is world-class,” he assured.

The minister expressed confidence that the facility would attract users from across the West African sub-region, leveraging Nigeria’s large population, economy, and aviation traffic.

“This is just the beginning. Nigeria is big enough to support and sustain such ambitious projects. We are proud to be associated with this,” he concluded.

Also speaking at the event is the Chief Executive Officer of XEJet, Emmanuel Iza, who described it as much more than a maintenance and repair operation that will position Nigeria on the global map of aviation innovation.

“The vision is to put Nigeria on the map of aircraft manufacturers. Even if we cannot produce an entire aircraft, we aim to contribute components like wings, landing gears, or tyres,”

Iza said. He emphasized that Nigeria has the talent and ability to achieve such goals, provided the enabling environment and facilities are in place.

Iza revealed that XEJet employs nearly 300 people, and the new facility could increase this number by three to four times. He outlined the project’s phased approach, starting with a $5m investment for ground preparation, taxiways, and aprons, followed by an equally significant investment in structural development.

The facility will include a private terminal for business aviation with world-class amenities, including a conference centre, pilot accommodations, and safety-compliant crew quarters. It will also feature a separate access route from Bill Clinton Way, allowing exclusive entry for business aviation passengers.

“This isn’t just an MRO. It’s an engineering centre designed to make Nigeria a player in the list of Original Equipment Manufacturers.[b]

“If we can’t produce an Airbus A380, we should at least produce components that contribute to it,” Iza added.

helinues:
Sweet

Bosun working codedly

Nigeria and the United States signed a new $2.1 million grant to lay at least 90,000 km of new fibre optic backbone infrastructure across Nigeria as part of efforts to boost broadband penetration to 70 per cent.

In a statement on Tuesday, the agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani; and the US Deputy Secretary, Mr Kurt Campbell, at the inaugural US-Nigeria Technology Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on January 10.

The project, funded by the US Trade and Development Agency(USTDA), supports Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 with the goal of increasing the country’s broadband penetration rate from 42.27 per cent to 70 per cent and ensuring that at least 90 per cent of Nigeria’s population has access to affordable and reliable broadband coverage.

The US-Nigeria Technology Dialogue is designed to enhance bilateral cooperation in critical technology sectors and builds upon Mr Campbell’s earlier visit to Abuja for the sixth US-Nigeria Binational Commission (BNC) co-hosted with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar on April 29-30, 2024, the US Department of State and Government of Nigeria-funded Global Inclusivity and Artificial Intelligence (AI) event held in Lagos on September 9-11, 2024, and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) AI event hosted by the US Department of State on September 23, 2024, in which Minister Tijani participated.

The Nigerian delegation to the Dialogue was led by Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

The project is to be funded by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) in its bid to support Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan for 2020-2025.

A statement by the US Department of State said: “The initiative aims to boost Nigeria’s broadband access from its current rate of 42.27% to a target of 70%, ensuring that approximately 90% of the population can access affordable and reliable internet services.”

Previous news; FG To Provide 50% Funding For 90,000km Fibre Project Through Loans

A transgender teenager was stabbed 14 times at a roller skating party by a group of former friends who attacked her for lying about her gender, a court heard.

The victim, who was 18 at the time, was subjected to a vicious ambush last year in a car park near Harrow Leisure Centre, north west London.

A young woman in a light blue crop top and shorts takes a selfie.

The trans teen, who was 18 at the time, was targeted by a gang on February 10 last year
The mask-wearing group lured her there under the pretext that she was invited to a roller disco and lay in wait for her at a bus stop.

She was then led to a nearby car park and “immediately attacked”, where Summer Betts-Ramsey, 20, stabbed her at least 14 times.

The court heard the teen was attacked after one member of the group learned she was transgender after they had a sexual encounter.

The victim revealed how she now finds it “difficult to trust people”, and has “thick scars” as a result of her injuries.

Betts-Ramsey, Bradley Harris, 18, Camron Osei, 18, Shiloh Hindes, 18, and an unnamed 17-year-old boy admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent at the Old Bailey.

Betts-Ramsey also admitted to possession of a knife.

A 17-year-old girl admitted to robbing the victim’s handbag after the attack and possessing a class B drug in court.

The court heard how the victim had been with Harris at his home when one of his friends called to tell him she was transgender.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the Old Bailey:

“Having been attacked in the past because of her transgender identity, she denied it.”

The court heard that she and Harris kissed, and she performed a sex act on him.

Another friend then contacted Harris to tell him the teenager was transgender.

Ms Heer told the court when the victim denied it again, Harris threatened to stab her if she lied.

The 18-year-old told him she was transgender and he told her to leave.

She asked when the defendants would next be meeting up in a Snapchat group.

Harris replied: “I’m not you mate you tranny”, the court heard.

They arranged a meet up as “a ruse” to attack the teen, said Ms Heer.

Betts-Ramsey then told someone in a call: “I have to go to Harrow to beat up some… a f****** tranny bro.”

The victim was under the impression she was meeting the gang for a roller-skating event, the court heard.

But Betts-Ramsey, Harris, Osei, Hindes, and the 17-year-old boy were all masked and dressed in black waiting for her at a bus stop.

At a car park close by, Ms Heer said the teenager was “immediately attacked”.

Betts-Ramsey stabbed her at least 14 times, the court heard.

As the horror unfolded, other group members continued to kick and punch the trans girl for nearly a minute, the prosecutor said.

She was saved by members of the public who called emergency services for her.

She was rushed to hospital with several stab wounds, the court heard.

The group posted footage of the attack on social media afterwards, Ms Heer said.

The 17-year-old boy also sent the teen a message which said “Ur lookin sweet”, the court was told.

After bragging about the attack online, someone messaged Betts-and said: “stabbing a girl cus she’s trans, its disgusting”.

The defendant replied: “IT deserved it”.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said she still has “thick scars” as a result of the attack.

“I find it difficult to trust people,” she said.

“I’m always in fear of leaving my house.

“I never thought someone could have so much hatred towards me.”

She told the court she now suffers with panic attacks and insomnia.

The victim also worries her future modelling career will be at risk due to her scars.

The sentencing hearing continues on Thursday.

The expressway is built under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction–Finance (EPC+F) model.

Construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has re­iterated its commitment to deliver the Bodo-Bonny road project in Rivers State.

The company, in a state­ment signed by Emieseifa James Agama, the Head of Corporate Communica­tion, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, and made available to Daily Independent, said it remained steadfast in de­livering quality infrastruc­ture in line with Nigeria’s developmental needs.

The statement reads, “Julius Berger Nigeria Plc remains steadfast in its mission to deliver trans­formative infrastructure projects that align with Nigeria’s developmental priorities.”

“For over 50 years, we have partnered with the Federal Government, communities and stake­holders to deliver trans­formative infrastructure solutions with profession­alism, transparency and adherence to the highest standards,” the statement read.

Julius Berger further ex­plained the reason for tem­porary suspension of work on the project, blaming the development on inflation, as well as rising costs of in­puts and foreign exchange, expressing joy at the re­sumption of work on the road in August, 2024, say­ing the project has shown their commitment despite inherent challenges.

“The Bodo-Bonny road project exemplifies our unwavering commitment to progress, despite sig­nificant operational and financial challenges.

“Extreme inflation, ris­ing input costs, and FX volatility necessitated the declaration of force ma­jeure and the suspension of works in November 2023. Nevertheless, Julius Berg­er resumed work in good faith in August 2024, five months before the formal execution of the contract, following a verbal agree­ment with the Federal Min­istry of Works to adjust the contract value from N200 billion to N280 billion.

“Although inflationary pressures on materials have risen between 200% and 600% (and even high­er in some cases), the rel­atively modest adjustment to the contract value was a welcome step. Julius Berg­er’s acceptance at the time reflects our commitment to addressing challenges impacting projects and fos­tering mutual agreements with the Federal Govern­ment to ensure their suc­cessful delivery.

“Furthermore, the ab­sence of a tripartite fund­ing agreement between the Federal Government, NLNG and Julius Berger continues to impact pay­ments, requiring Julius Berger to pre-finance sig­nificant portions of the project. Despite these chal­lenges, we have continued to make progress, includ­ing through the yuletide season, reaffirming our commitment to delivering this critical national asset.

“It is important to note that Julius Berger is the only contractor to have taken on this project in a challenging terrain previ­ously abandoned by other contractors. Connecting Bonny Island to the main­land for the first time un­derscores our commitment to innovation and national development.

“We remain focused on fostering constructive en­gagement with all stake­holders to ensure the time­ly and successful delivery of the Bodo-Bonny Road, a project critical to Nige­ria’s economic and social advancement and a corner­stone for the long-term de­velopment and prosperity of the Niger Delta.”

In another related development, Julius Berger apologizes for shunning Senate’s invitations regarding the investigative hearing on the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road;

Men of Nigerian joint security forces, last night, neutralized notorious banditry leader known as “Baƙo-baƙo” along with his fighters in Batsari forest within Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The operations were carried out by the troops of the Nigerian Army, the Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and local vigilante – CWC.

A notorious bandit leader responsible for violent attacks and kidnappings that terrorized a number of communities in Katsina State, Baƙo-baƙo had been in the crosshairs of security agencies for a while.

His death is considered a major breakthrough in efforts to combat banditry in the area.

A local community leader said, “This is a big victory for our community. We are thankful for the sacrifices and efforts of the security forces in bringing peace to our region.”