News
Flights Prices To Further Crash –Aviation Minister
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has vowed to further crash the prices of international flights.
The minister also explained measures he has embarked upon to ensure local operators take full control of Nigeria’s international routes in no distant future.
He said that his ministry, through the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration, is on course to break those barriers and make the environment conducive for both local and international airlines to strive.
The Minister said this while presenting his scorecard at the Ministerial Sectoral Press Briefings organised by the Federal Government to mark the First Anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration
Recall that the briefing kickstarted last week, with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, inaugurating the series.
Speaking on the ill-treatment meted out to Nigerians by some foreign airlines, Keyamo said that his ministry was focused on empowering local operators so that they could be more in control in terms of aircrafts.
“Our focal area is to ensure that our local operators get access to lease aircrafts on good conditions. It is the key to unlocking this… it is the key.
“Empower them, make sure that they get aircrafts the same way Emirates gets, the same way British Airways gets; none of these people own those aircrafts.
“No banks finance aircrafts 100 percent all over the world. It’s not possible. It’s the manufacturers and leasing companies that do that.
“So Our people should have access, but why are they not having access? It’s because we’re in the black books of the international leasing companies simply.
“They put Nigeria on black book and tell everybody, ‘don’t give them aircrafts on dry list’. The only thing you get is a wet list. Wet list, means they don’t put the aircrafts in your total control.
“It means the leasing company will be partly in control. That’s why whites serve as pilots and hostesses at your local aircrafts. And it’s three times more expensive than a dry list. How do we escape from that?
“We’re almost there. It’s my focal area. Last week, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the Attorney-General of the Federation and myself, we held an early morning meeting.
“I said to everybody, look at this, let’s amend our practice directions. No court order to give injunctions to keep an aircraft here and they agreed with me. This is to give the investors full confidence.
“That’s what they asked of me. That once you assure us, give us this practice direction and we see backed by your judiciary, we’ll give you aircrafts.
“Once we get to that level, you’ll see competitions on international routes. We’ll crash the prices and crash it again and we’ll get very good aircrafts for Nigerians.
“We’re also begging the Nigeria Insurance Company. All the international leasing companies said they cannot face the risks in the local market here.
“If you give them the insurance, they’re going to reinsure again outside and that makes it double. So they’re telling me that they would rather face the risk in the international market,” he stated
By Gloria Ikibah
The Federal Government of Nigeria has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the State of Qatar on the occasion of its National Day, celebrated on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
In a statement signed by the Acting Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Nigeria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, conveyed fraternal greetings to Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
The statement highlighted Qatar’s commitment to promoting global peace and its significant contributions to humanitarian services worldwide.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria commends the commitment and strategic efforts made by the State of Qatar in the promotion of global peace; and more so, the excellent contributions to humanitarian services in different parts of the world,” it read.
Ambassador Tuggar emphasised the strong and growing relations between Nigeria and Qatar, expressing satisfaction with the collaborative efforts to strengthen ties for the mutual benefit of their citizens.
He wished Qatar peace, prosperity, and progress, reaffirming Nigeria’s enduring friendship and support.
This underscores Nigeria’s recognition of its diplomatic relationship with Qatar and its shared commitment to global cooperation and development.
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called for the removal of the National Examination Council (NECO), University of Ibadan (UI), Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and 21 other federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) from the 2025 budget.
This recommendation follows their repeated failure to account for previous allocations and internally generated revenue.
During an extraordinary session on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the Committee resolved that these MDAs should be excluded from the budget until they comply with its directives.
Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, stressed: “The Financial Regulation empowers the National Assembly to exclude any Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA) that fails to account for their previous appropriations. As such, the listed MDAs should be excluded from the 2025 budget until they appear before this constitutional committee.”
The decision was prompted by the consistent non-compliance of these MDAs despite multiple summons issued by the Committee to scrutinize their financial operations.
Prominent institutions among those recommended for delisting include hospitals, universities, and federal development agencies. Some of the affected MDAs are:
- Federal Medical Centre, Bida
- Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment
- Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria
- Nigeria Police Force: Department of Information and Communication Technology
- Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba
- Federal College of Education, Yola
- Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Bayelsa State
- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi
- Federal University of Technology, Minna
- Cross River Basin Development Authority
- Nigeria Office for Trade Negotiation
- National Examination Council (NECO)
- Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil
- Presidential Amnesty Programme
- Galaxy Backbone
- Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals
Others include the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority, National Space Research and Development Agency, Federal Cooperative College (Ibadan), Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, and Federal School of Survey, Oyo State.
The Committee unanimously recommended that the MDAs in question be delisted from the 2025 budget until they comply with the request for documentation and provide necessary financial clarifications.
Nigeria Congratulates Qatar on National Day
Reps Recommends Delisting NECO, UI, Labour Ministry, 21 Others From 2025 Budget
Reps Call for Revival of NAPAC to Boost Transparency, Accountability
Just in: Terrorists ambush military truck, kill all soldiers on board
Nigerian Dancer, Korra Obidi Attacked with acid, stabbed on stage In UK
Meet Rare Gem 16 Years Old Chiaza, CEO of ‘RUN MARKET PLACE’
-
News14 hours agoGov Adeleke Speaks On Death Sentence For Chicken Thief
-
Sports20 hours agoCAF Awards 2024: Full List of Winners
-
News14 hours agoJust in: CBN Imposes N100k Bar on PoS, Issues Warning to Operators
-
News20 hours agoThree to die by hanging for killing Delta monarch
-
News19 hours agoCAC deregistered 300,000 dormant companies in one year
-
News19 hours agoKaduna returns Abacha family property seized by El-Rufai
-
Sports20 hours agoAlejandro Garnacho’s bicycle kick wins 2024 FIFA Puskás Award
-
Entertainment19 hours agoBBNaija’s Chichi reportedly returns to pole dancing