Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest carrier, has announced that it will fully resume flight operations on Friday, April 25, 2025, following the suspension of the industrial action by workers and unions of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.

In a statement released on Thursday by the Head of Corporate Communications at Air Peace, Ejike Ndiulo, the airline appreciated its customers and stakeholders for their support during the disruption.

According to the statement, “Air Peace is pleased to announce the resumption of all flight operations on Friday, April 25, 2025, following the suspension of the industrial action by the NIMET and other unions in the aviation sector.

“We sincerely thank you for your patience, understanding, and unwavering support throughout this challenging period. Your resilience and trust in our brand mean the world to us.”

The airline also lauded the intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, stating that his leadership was instrumental in restoring calm and resolving the impasse.

“We commend the active and decisive intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, whose leadership and commitment were pivotal in resolving the impasse and restoring normalcy within the aviation industry,” Ndiulo stated.

The airline added, “Keyamo’s swift engagement with all stakeholders, his transparent approach to dialogue, and his unwavering dedication to the stability and progress of the aviation sector reflect a deep understanding of the critical role aviation plays in national development.”

Recall that the airline had previously announced the suspension of flights in a statement on Wednesday.

This affected operations on Wednesday and Thursday. Air Peace communicated these disruptions to passengers through multiple channels and expressed sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.

The Lagos State Government has disclosed that 26,592 public school students failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, raising alarm across the state’s education sector.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, stated this during a ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday.

He said, “45.7 per cent of the 58,188 students from public schools who sat for the exams did not pass.”.

This failure rate comes despite the state government’s significant financial backing of N1.577bn paid on behalf of the students to cover WAEC fees.

“Suffice to say that the sum of N1,577,794,000 was paid by the state government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for the year 2024 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun announced.

In a bid to tighten accountability and avoid wastage, the commissioner disclosed that biometric and image registration was carried out to accurately determine eligible students for government sponsorship for the 2025 WASSCE.

“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona fide beneficiaries of the Lagos state government’s sponsorship for the examination,” he added.

The government, however, rolled out a bold educational intervention – the Eko Learners’ Support Programme for WASSCE and NECO candidates – aimed at reversing the tide of academic failure in the state’s public schools.

Launched on January 14, 2025, the initiative is part of a broader commitment by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to equip Lagos students with tools for success.

“This forward-thinking initiative was designed to support and empower young scholars in attestation of the ministry’s commitment to advancing interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State,” Alli-Balogun stated.

He said with a vision to broadcast 320 lessons across 10 key subjects, including English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Government, History, Literature-in-English, and Yoruba, the programme aims to bring world-class tutoring directly into students’ homes.

The commissioner said each 30-minute episode would air on Lagos Television and be archived across major platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), creating a digital learning library accessible to every student.

“It is a supportive eco-system that fosters academic achievement, creativity, critical thinking… every student deserves the opportunity to attain their full potential, regardless of their background or socio-economic status,” the commissioner stated.

Alli-Balogun urged students, especially those in boarding schools, to seize the opportunity.

“It is on this note that I urge and encourage students, more importantly, students in our boarding schools, to take full advantage of this initiative, as education is a lifelong journey,” he said.

Apparently disappointed, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has summoned the chairmen of the FCT area councils and the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, FCT Wing, for a meeting.

The meeting aims to find lasting solutions to the prolonged strike by primary school teachers over unresolved welfare issues.

Wike disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday after inspecting ongoing projects ahead of their inauguration, planned to commemorate President Bola Tinubu’s second anniversary in office.

He made the statement in reaction to the protest by teachers that took place early Wednesday.

Describing the situation as “very unfortunate,” the minister questioned the integrity of the FCT area council chairmen.

He said the council chairmen had failed to pay the teachers their entitlements, despite receiving approved funds meant for that purpose.

“They were unable to pay them. In fact, I got the report yesterday and have summoned all of them for a meeting.

You see, that’s the problem we have in this country; by the time I apply the big stick, people will be saying all kinds of things.

“I don’t know why people don’t have a conscience that these are teachers who take care of our children, and you are happy that you are not paying them their salaries,” he said.

Wike clarified that primary schools fall under the jurisdiction of the area councils, not the FCT Administration, emphasising that the councils are responsible for managing primary schools.

He appealed to the NUT for patience, assuring them that the matter would be resolved soon.

Earlier, the NUT Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa, who led the protest, acknowledged Wike’s intervention in the ongoing strike. He noted the release of N4.1 billion to the area councils to pay the striking teachers.

However, he accused the area council chairmen of diverting the funds. He called on the National Assembly and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to step in and hold the chairmen accountable.

Primary school teachers have embarked on multiple strikes over the non-payment of minimum wage and a 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance.