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OF YULETIDE SEASON, PEOPLES EMPOWERMENT, AND OBIO-AKPOR COMMUNITIES
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BY BOLAJI AFOLABI
In various countries across the world, the month of December is usually special and unique. From the weather to people’s mood and activities, it evokes some peculiar frenzy that are easily contagious. In diverse ways and practices, people look forward to the season as the perfect time to “wind down” and “close shop” having survived the vicissitudes of the out-going year. For some, it is the period for holidays and vacation. For others, weddings, and numerous social engagements are scheduled during this season. All around the globe, airports are very busy. Same with parks, and sea ports. Generally, people look forward; with excitement to hearty re-connection, communication, and celebrations with families, friends, and loved ones.
Given the global economic meltdown and it’s negative effects on the country, peoples expectations were measured and reasonable. Conscious of the debilitating economic situation that has thrown many people into accentuating poverty and corrosive hunger, many were not confident of enjoying blissful yuletide season. Due to their scant and scarce finances, many people after calculations and conjectures, eschewed from elaborate and grandiose preparations for the season.
For the political class, and those in various leadership positions at federal, state, and local government levels, the last yuletide season was slightly different. In times past, people looked forward to “hand of fellowship” from leaders. Politicians and public officials happily “give back” to their constituents. However, for December 2024, sighting “national economic situation” as comfortable alibi, the expectations of constituents were not fully met. Indeed, there were unconfirmed stories about politicians who devised “ingenious measures” to avoid possible umbrage of their constituents. To extricate themselves from the harassment of hangers-on, and public ridicule by fearless constituents, some politicians allegedly think outside the box. This included, holidays outside the country; remained incommunicado; stayed back in Abuja; hibernated in state capitals as mark of “loyalty” to their principals.
For the people of Obio-Akpor federal constituency in Rivers state, the story was entirely different. Variously described as the melting pot of the Treasure Base; moniker for Rivers, residents and indigenes of the 17 Wards and over 70 communities that make up the constituency experienced flurry of empowerment programmes, give-aways, and convivial celebrations during the yuletide season. According to reports, from the first week of December to the last few days of 2024, the buzz in and around the constituency was spectacular, and electrifying.
In continuation of the empowerment and skills development initiatives; which has been running from mid-2023, emplaced by Rep. Chinda Kingsley, member representing Obio-Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, many people from across the communities benefitted. Youths, women, and men who participated in the three-month training programmes which included tailoring, interior decoration, hair dressing, barbing and other relevant skills geared towards self-reliance, and entrepreneurial development were given start-up packs, materials, equipment, and cash. The non-partisan, all-encompassing, and fair-to-all intervention initiative had beneficiaries from various communities across the 17 Wards. From records, the long-list of beneficiaries covers constituents from Rumuewhara, Rumuolumeni, Rumuokoro, Elelenwo, Rumuodara, Rumuola, Rumueme, Rumuepirikom, Rumuodomaya, Choba and other communities within the federal constituency.
Guests, leaders, stakeholders, constituents, and numerous others that attended the closing ceremony and empowerment presentation that held late December in Port Harcourt were visibly elated about the empowerment programmes. As expected, the beneficiaries could not hide their excitement and enthusiasm for the life-changing gesture. Ms. Ruth Ogbona who got a sewing machine confirmed that, “I am very happy for participating in the three-month training. With all what I have learned, and presentation of this brand new, and latest sewing machine, my dream of being a fashion designer is now reality.” Another beneficiary, Ms. Peace declared that, “it is a dream come true. I thank God for this opportunity which will make me and others grow up, and be better people in our communities.”
Some other beneficiaries while expressing their gratitude to Rep. Chinda alluded to the transparency of the various training programmes, noted that the initiative; which is still continuing is arguably the first by any legislator in the state. Mr. David King said that, “I and virtually all other participants were selected fairly and freely by the coordinators. I did not lobby or spoke to anyone. I thank Chinda for this rare privildge. He is a blessing to the people of Obio-Akpor.” In the words of Ms. Suzie, “Hon. Chinda is truly a man of his words because while campaigning he said, ‘I Win You Win’ and made promises not to abandon the people. I am very happy that since August 2023, he has embarked on different empowerment programmes that have positive impact on all of us.” An elated Ms. Amadi declared that, “I am excited about this empowerment material which I have desired for many years. That I am a beneficiary without knowing anybody makes it more fulfilling and heart warming. My prayer is that God will continue to bless Hon. Chinda in all he is doing.”
Cognisant of the premium placed on Christmas and New Year celebrations by people, Rep. Chinda distributed different food items, and condiments around Obio-Akpor. These included rice, beans, garri, groundnut oil, tomatoes, maggi, and other items. Chiefs, community leaders, elders, and religious leaders benefitted from the end of year give-aways. Others included political stakeholders, political associates, informal groups, trade associations, ethnic unions, women, men, and youths. Indeed, the give-aways covered the entire 17 Wards in Obio-Akpor federal constituency. The impact of the gesture was extensive that it generated widespread commendation and gratitude among various strata of the constituency. A youth leader, Mr. Bright John affirmed that, “we are very fortunate to have a Leader and Representative who is caring, altruistic, and passionate about the well-being of his constituents. Unlike what normally happens, Chinda ensured that the items percolate to everyone.” For Mrs. Priscilla Ogechi Kanu, “this has never happened. Hon. Chinda has contributed positively to the growth of many people. My prayer is that God will perfect everything that concerns him.” Chief Alphonsus Obiereka, a community leader and politicians declared that, “apart from the distribution of food items and assorted condiments to people, as well as empowerment programmes, there are other initiatives by Chinda that are positively touching lives of people, and improving development in and around our various communities.”
Indeed, the people of Obio-Akpor have witnessed numerous projects, programmes, and initiatives that are making broad-based, and cross-disciplinary impacts on residents and citizens. Since 2023, there are visible interventions across the 17 Wards with special focus on skills development, education, health, and agriculture. Some of these includes medical outreach; digital and artificial intelligence trainings; entrepreneurial development on ICT, welding, and chalk production. Others include agricultural training through the OK Chinda Youth AgriBusiness & Food Security Initiative (OYAFSI); provision of educational soft-structures; payment of school fees for some categories of students; yearly distribution of JAMB forms, and many others. Participants and beneficiaries of these programmes, regularly gives testimonies about the timeliness and importance to Obio-Akpor, and Rivers state. According to Nene Bright, one of the graduates of the mid-2024 Artificial intelligence training programme, “it was an eye-opening and career-finding exercise. It has boosted my horizon to unleash my potentials, and exploit the numerous opportunities in information technology.” For Boniface Godswill, “passing through the OYAFSI, is the most reasonable decision I have taken in life. I now know the vast opportunities imbedded in agriculture, few of which I have started to exploit.”
For many people in Obio-Akpor federal constituency, the last yuletide season is one they will not forget in hurry. Days, weeks, and months to come, the sweet feelings, and pleasurable memories will keep resonating in their minds. Collectively, these gestures, initiatives, and programmes are still attracting positive endorsements, and public thumbs up. Many people are confident that Chinda will sustain, deepen, and possibly expand the scope of the numerous interventions. Many are already doing the countdown to 2025 yuletide season.
BOLAJI AFOLABI, a development communications specialist, was with the Office of Public Affairs in The Presidency.
Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, has faulted the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, over its earlier decision to withhold services from 11 domestic airlines pending the settlement of their outstanding financial obligations.
Director of Finance and Accounts of NCAA, Olufemi Odukoya, in a memo dated May 22, 2026, obtained by Vanguard, had listed the affected airlines as Air Peace Limited, Ibom Air Limited, Arik Air Limited, United Nigeria Airlines, Umza Air, NGeagle Airline, Max Air Limited, Caverton Helicopters, Overland Airways, Rano Air and ValueJet.
While the NCAA has temporarily suspended the directive, AON, in a statement, disclosed that all services rendered by NCAA to domestic airline operators were fully paid for in advance on a cash-before-service basis.
AON, however, clarified that what the NCAA described as outstanding charges relates to the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, TSC, which is different from regulatory service fees.
They also urged Federal Government to amend the Civil Aviation Act to empower the NCAA to directly collect appropriate fees and charges from passengers, saying the measure should take effect from June 1, 2026.
The statement reads: “The AON wishes to make it clear that all cost recovery services rendered by the NCAA to domestic airline operators are paid for fully in advance on a cash-before-service basis.
“For clarity, the NCAA issues an invoice for every regulatory service it provides, whether for the validation of crew operating licences, aircraft inspections, documentation renewals, or any other service within its regulatory mandate. Operators are then required to settle all such invoices in advance, and compliance is strictly observed before the NCAA renders any regulatory service.
“In practice, no domestic airline in Nigeria receives NCAA regulatory services without first making the full payment of invoices issued to it by the NCAA. This long-standing policy and procedure remains firmly in place. Consequently, suggestions that domestic airline operators are indebted to the NCAA for regulatory services are factually inaccurate.
“What the NCAA refers to as ‘outstanding charges’ relates solely to the five percent (five per cent) Ticket Sales Charge, TSC, a Tax imposed by the NCAA on passengers for no services rendered to passengers and not in consonance with the dictates of international aviation. This is entirely different from regulatory service fees.
“The AON also notes that several member airlines maintain dedicated accounts, from which the NCAA draws down its monthly remittances, until the force majeure caused by the Iran -Israel/USA conflict, that had put a lot of financial pressures on airlines worldwide.
“Notwithstanding this arrangement, the AON had formally appealed to the federal government through the office of Honourable Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, to suspend the payment of all statutory charges temporarily, as an interim measure to assist airlines in managing their cash flows during the current period of severe financial stress caused by the increase in the cost of Jet Al.
“As an interim response, President Bola Tinubu graciously granted a 30 per cent concession, while waiting for the government decision on the other aspects of the AON intervention request. While the AON acknowledges and appreciates this gesture, we had appealed for a meeting with Mr. President to discuss further reliefs, a request that is yet to be granted.
“The AON reiterates its position that the NCAA is a regulatory body, not a revenue-generating agency. The NCAA does not fund any aspect of our businesses or render any direct service to passengers.
“Each and every service it provides to airline operators are fully paid for in advance before such is rendered. In view of the above, the AON calls on federal government to urgently amend the Civil Aviation Act to empower the NCAA to collect whatever appropriate fees and charges are due directly from passengers or whoever else, without routing such through the domestic airlines. We request this to take effect from June 1, 2026.
“This will relieve domestic airlines of the financial burden of acting as collection agents for the NCAA, since airlines currently bear banking transfer charges and other transaction costs in the process of transmitting funds to the NCAA.
“The five per cent Ticket Service Charge in question was introduced over 45 years ago under the Government of General Gowon by the then Federal Civil Aviation Authority, FCAA, and its continued relevance has not been reviewed ever since.
“The FCAA was at the time an arm of the Civil Aviation Department, CAD, housed in Marina under the Ministry of Transportation. As the CAD was not a ministry-level aviation unit, it had limited budgetary resources.
“The Gowon regime of the 1970s had built airports in all 12 States of the federation and these airports required maintenance and operational budgets that were not provided for in the sector’s budget hence the introduction of the five per cent TSC.
“Notably, Nigeria Airways, the only domestic airline operating at the time, did NOT pay the five per cent TSC. Only foreign Airline carriers were required to pay.
“Importantly and worthy of note is the fact that the FCAA has since over time evolved into the NCAA, NAA, and NIMET. The NAA in turn evolved into the present-day FAAN and NAMA.
“Meanwhile, the aviation industry was deregulated in 1982, allowing for indigenous entrepreneurs to compete in the market, resulting in the new entrant private airlines that have remained the mainstay of the industry and the backbone of the Nigerian economic renaissance.
“With the creation of each of these agencies, separate taxes, fees, charges, and levies were introduced for the Nigerian Airline operators to cover their respective services.
“Meanwhile, the five per cent TSC, which was originally a policy instrument was surreptitiously introduced into the legislation by the NCAA, despite the vehement opposition from the AON and other industry stakeholders.
“Domestic airlines, in addition to this five per cent TSC, still pay separately ànd directly for services provided by the various industry agencies, including the NCAA itself.
“It is important to note that the five per cent TSC is an ad valorem tax applied to an airline’s gross earnings, not profits. The global aviation industry operates at a profit margin of between 1.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent at best. International standard and best practice provides that aviation should be a cost-recovery sector of strategic importance. In Nigeria, however, the industry is being subjected to unsustainable financial pressures, in the guise of imposed taxes, fees, charges and levies.
“The AON uses this occasion to once again draw the attention of the Federal Government to the unsustainable burden of these multiple taxes, fees, charges and levies arbitrarily imposed on domestic airline operators. We make payments to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, and several other service providers and statutory bodies.
“The financial impact of these taxes, fees, charges and levies is adverse, burdensome and excruciating, especially at this precarious period, when the entire world has been exposed to the exogenous shocks of the Iran – Israel / USA crisis.”
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has fixed Saturday, 13th June, 2026, for the conduct of the UTME mop-up examination for all candidates who presented themselves and were biometrically verified for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, but were unable to sit the examination for one reason or another.
Recall that the 2026 UTME was conducted between 23rd and 29th April, 2026. However, some centres experienced technical challenges which made it impossible for several candidates to take the examination. In addition, some results were subsequently withdrawn over examination infractions, while some candidates who presented themselves for the examination could not be verified biometrically. All such candidates have been listed for the mop-up examination.
The board, in a statement on Monday evening by its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, said, ”The mop-up examination represents the final phase of the annual UTME exercise and serves as an opportunity to address all outstanding examination challenges involving candidates who duly presented themselves but encountered difficulties in taking the examination.”
“Candidates in this category are advised to begin printing their Examination Notification Slips from Saturday, 6th June, 2026.”
According to JAMB, “Affected candidates are hereby urged to print their Examination Notification Slips, familiarise themselves with their examination centres, and make all necessary arrangements ahead of the examination date, as there will be no further opportunity for any candidate to sit the 2026 UTME after this mop-up exercise.”
Former Vice-President and presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has won the party’s presidential primary election conducted across the 23 local government areas of Sokoto State.
The result was announced on Monday by the state chief returning officer, Prof. Aminu Abubakar.
“I therefore hereby declare Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate with the highest number of votes cast in Sokoto,” he said.
The result was announced in the presence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, security personnel, and party stakeholders, including former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and the ADC governorship candidate in the state, Mannir Dan Iya, the senatorial candidate for Sokoto South, Faruk Malami Yabo, and the state party chairman, Abdullahi Maigwandu, among others.
According to the results, Atiku polled over 68,823 votes to defeat Muhammad Hayatuddeen, who got 319 votes, and Rotimi Amaechi, who polled 292 votes.
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