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Nigeria set to establish aircraft leasing firm – Keyamo
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), has approved the establishment of a Nigerian aircraft leasing company to ease the cost of acquiring aircraft for local operators.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo announced the plan in Abuja on Tuesday during a meeting with representatives of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
He noted that the move was designed to ensure the survival and stability of airline operators by reducing flight disruptions and airfares.
He also revealed that the African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed a $7 billion package to support its integrated African aviation programme.
On the importance of establishing an aircraft leasing firm, Keyamo said: “Since we don’t own a national airline and we don’t subsidise one, our duty as a government is to ensure that we support domestic airline operators to make them stable and make their businesses thrive.
“President Tinubu approved this plan to ensure that they (airline operators) get the fullest support from the government to acquire their aircraft because the major problem of the local operators has been how to acquire their helicopters, their aircraft, for their different operations.
“It’s not only their businesses that will benefit from this move. Once they acquire more aircraft, it will help to cut down on the constant cancellation of flights we are currently familiar with and force down the price of airfares”.
On how the firm would operate, Keyamo said the firm will be substantially private with the government holding only a minimal equity stake.
He said: “The company will have strategic backing by the government but it will be substantially private. We are bringing in investments of nearly 95 or 99 per cent from outside. Development banks across Africa, private individuals from outside the country and inside the country are bringing in money to ensure that this company has enough funding to bring in aircraft into the country on dry lease.
“Government is not putting one kobo in it. The government is only providing a sovereign guarantee for the safety of those aircraft and for repossession. And for that, the government will hold a minimum equity in the company”.
On the commitment of AfDB, Keyamo said: “The African Development Bank has keyed into this because they have an integrated programme for this kind of thing in Africa and Nigeria is one of their pilot countries. They have announced a $7 billion support package for this programme to pump into aviation and I have been officially appointed as ambassador for this programme in Africa by the African Development Bank.”
Speaking on behalf of AON, the Managing Director of Ibom Air, George Uriesi said the firm would ease the financial burden on airline operators.
He said: “Aircraft is the most expensive thing any airline can buy and for people like us who have ordered for brand new airplanes, these are multi-million dollar equipment. So if we take our A220 from the factory at 30 per cent interest rate, and our competitors elsewhere take it from the factory at 3 per cent while they are paying $100 a month for the airplane, I’m paying $600, $700 for the same airplane for the same business.
“Already our hands are tied behind our back in the wrestling ring. So this move has untied our hands by providing us a Nigerian leasing company that not only will it provide us access to aircraft at way reduced interest rates, but we will be paying it in Naira.
“With this, we are not worried about whether the dollar is going to go up or come down because the business model will be very clear and we will be paying in Naira”.
By Prosper Olayiwola
A House of Assembly Candidate for Ikole Constituency 1 on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Kayode Arewa Sanni, has called on his constituents, party members and supporters to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Arewa Sanni made the call in Ikole-Ekiti while addressing party faithful and supporters at a stakeholders’ meeting convened to strengthen grassroots mobilisation in the constituency.
He said the 2027 elections present a defining moment for the people of Ikole Constituency 1 to chart a new course of inclusive representation, people-oriented legislation and accelerated development.
The candidate noted that disunity among party members and supporters remains the greatest obstacle to victory, stressing that only a united front can dislodge entrenched interests and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
“I appeal to all our party leaders, members, supporters and well-wishers across Ikole Constituency 1 to put aside personal differences and work together as one family. Our strength lies in our unity,” he said.
Arewa Sanni said his candidacy was driven by a desire to give Ikole Constituency 1 a vibrant and responsive voice in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, with focus on youth empowerment, education, healthcare and rural infrastructure.
He assured constituents that if given the mandate, he would prioritise quality representation and ensure that government presence is felt in all communities within the constituency.
He also called on supporters of the ADC across Ekiti State to rally behind the party’s vision of good governance, transparency and accountability as preparations for the 2027 polls gather momentum.
The aspirant expressed confidence that with unity, commitment and collective effort, the ADC would emerge victorious in Ikole Constituency 1 and other constituencies across the state.
No fewer than six inmates have died within one week following a suspected cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Maximum Prison in Kano State.
Amnesty International raised the alarm in a post on its official Facebook page, calling on authorities to immediately declare an emergency at the correctional facility.
Amnesty said several other inmates were currently receiving treatment, warning that the death toll could be higher as the suspected disease continues to spread among prisoners.
It urged the authorities to immediately transfer critically ill inmates to hospitals for proper medical attention to prevent further deaths.
The organisation warned that failure to urgently intervene could amount to arbitrary deprivation of life, which it described as a serious human rights violation under international law.
Amnesty also expressed concern over the broader conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities, particularly the prolonged detention of inmates awaiting trial.
According to the organisation, detainees without financial means face greater difficulty having their rights protected, with some spending years in custody without being convicted of any crime.
It further said many inmates were being held in overcrowded and unhygienic cells without adequate food and healthcare.
Amnesty called for urgent reforms to improve conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities and ensure compliance with international best practices.
Popular media personality and self-acclaimed relationship expert, Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has reportedly lost her second son while remanded in custody.
The development was confirmed in an online appeal by Amira Agiye, head of the Isaamira Love Foundation, who spoke on Okoro’s behalf to request public financial assistance.
She said, “It is sad to announce to you all that Blessing CEO just lost her second son. My name is Amira Agiye.
“I’m here to appeal on behalf of Blessing CEO, who is currently in custody. I understand that people might have different opinions about her and the circumstances surrounding her case.
“And like every one of us, she deserves compassion and an opportunity for redemption.
She needs N20 million to meet the bail requirements. She also needs N36 million to pay the people she owes who brought the case against her.
“Please, Nigerians, let’s forgive her for the sake of that boy who is still in the mortuary. With Blessing’s full consent and authorisation, I’m appealing to all Nigerians to help donate so we can help her out of this situation.”
Also speaking in a voice conversation played by Amira, Blessing, CEO, said, “My second son, Bryan, was full of life. While in custody, I lost Bryan.
I pray this turns out positive so I can leave this place, pick up the pieces of my life and pay my respects to him.”
Recall that the self-acclaimed relationship expert was remanded in Kirikiri Prison over an N69.15 million property fraud trial.
She was granted N20 million bail in July 2026, with two sureties in like sum, and each surety was required to provide three years’ proof of deposits valued at N20 million.
Following her inability to meet the bail conditions, Blessing CEO, remains in prison facility two months after she was granted bail.
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