News
122 FAAN officials working in Minna Airport without commercial flight –MD
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says at least 122 of its staff members work in Minna Airport, Niger State, which does not operate any commercial flight.
FAAN Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, disclosed this at the 9th Airport Business Summit and Expo held in on Lagos with the Theme: “Airport Viability is Key to Successful Aviation Business Ambition.”
She lamented that many airports in Nigeria had not translated into increased passenger traffic while most of the unviable airports continued to drain the resources of FAAN.
Kuku noted that despite the projection of 261million passenger traffic for Africa in 2025, Nigeria was still scratching the surface.
She said, “The majority of our facilities are operating below capacity; it’s very clear. Let me even shift from the international or the regional airports and look at the domestic terminals. I believe we have about 122 staff that are working in Mina. Today there is no single flight for commercial operations that is flying out of Mina but despite that, let’s look at the positives.
“And when I look at the population of Nigeria, exceeding 220 million, and the number of passengers that we have flying on both our domestic and international routes, you will know that we’re barely scratching the surface.
“And this has absolutely nothing to do with the number of airports that we have, but largely around economic growth and development. I continue to tell people that it’s not about building airports. Passenger traffic is driven. It’s driven by GDP growth and economic development.
“Despite the challenges that we have as a nation, the FX fluctuations, the inflation issues that we have, it is very evident that our geographic positioning as a nation puts us in the place where we can drive.”
Earlier, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, said that unviable airports were threatening aviation sustainability.
He however tasked stakeholders in the aviation industry to come up with actionable plans that will usher Nigeria into the next phase of its aviation growth.
Keyamo, who was represented by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, said the ministry’s position was hinged on the recent revelation FAAN that only three airports were viable in Nigeria.
Many state governments have been spending huge amounts of money on airport development without considering the viability while the airports are usually transferred to the federal government.
According to the minister, the federal government is committed to making its airports viable.
He said, “Airport viability is indispensable in the pursuit of a successful aviation business ambition. By recognising its significance and collectively committing to its enhancement, we can steer the sector towards greater prosperity, resilience, and excellence.
“I want to charge all delegates and experts here present to work towards coming up with actionable plans that will usher Nigeria into the next phase of its Aviation growth.
“Without strong, efficient and sustainable airports, the aviation industry will struggle to reach its full potential. But with strategic investments, innovative approaches, and collaborative efforts, we can ensure that airports continue to be dynamic engines of growth and opportunity for the entire aviation ecosystem.”
A former MD of FAAN, Dr. Richard Aisuebeogun, emphasized that route development and revenue optimization were vital for the sustainability of state airports.
He stressed that effective strategies were essential for enhancing airport connectivity and logistics across Nigeria.
Aisuebeogun noted that building airports in nearly all states was aimed at boosting connectivity and streamlining logistics for passengers and cargoes.
“The goal of having airports in nearly all 36 states is to enhance connectivity and logistical inclusion for passengers and cargo. However, the success of this national ambition will depend on the airports’ economic sustainability and usability,” he stated.
News
Nigerian Man Nabbed For Stabbing Fellow National To Death In France
A 27-year-old Nigerian man, identified only as Popori, has been arrested in Grenoble, France, for allegedly stabbing a fellow citizen, Monday, to death.
It was gathered that the incident occurred on the evening of Friday, November 22, when a fight broke out between two men during an altercation in a grocery store in Grenoble, Isère, France.
DayFR reports that, according to Grenoble Prosecutor Eric Vaillant, who confirmed information from Dauphiné Libéré, the incident occurred around 8:30pm.
The two men were inside an exotic grocery store when an argument broke out, quickly escalating into a violent altercation.
One of the individuals suddenly stabbed the other in the chest, for reasons still unclear.
Emergency services arrived on the scene but were unable to revive the victim.
On Saturday, the Grenoble public prosecutor announced that a 27-year-old Nigerian man had been taken into police custody at 12:30pm as part of an investigation initiated by the local judicial police service.
News
Longest serving monarch dies at 111
Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa, the longest serving traditional ruler in Bauchi State, is dead.
Inuwa, the village Head of Beli (Sarkin Beli) in Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi, passed away at the Federal Medical Center Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of the state.
The monarch who was 111-year-old spent 91 years on the throne.
Chief Imam of Beli, Liman Musa Abubakar, confirmed the death of monarch which he described as a great loss to the entire people of Northern Nigeria.
During one of the interviews with Daily Trust in his lifetime, the late monarch had said, “Their grandfather was appointed as village head of Beli. He spent 12 years on the throne. He died and our father was appointed the village head. He spent 17 years. After that, I was appointed to the throne when I was 19 years old. This means that by my calculation, I was born around 19 12 or 1913. I was appointed to the throne around 1933 by the Emir of Katagum, AbdulQadir.”
The monarch lived and worked with four different first class Emirs of Katagum.
“We lived with the Emir of Katagum Abdulqadir who appointed me for 12 years before he left the throne and died six months later. Emir Umaru Faruqu was appointed. We spent 35 years with him.
When he died, his son, Muhammadu Kabiru was appointed. We spent 38 years with Emir Kabiru before he died, Again, after Muhammadu Kabiru, the present Emir of Katagum, Umaru Faruq II, was appointed. We lived with him for Six years.
Late Inuwa had said, “I am almost 91 years old on the throne. Alhamdulillahi, we live in peace with the people. And I gave birth to 11 people. Some of them died, but there are seven of them alive – four men and three women.
Many people interviewed said he was a peaceful ruler who [had] listening ears and worked for the peace of the land.”
News
Katsina gov presents N682bn 2025 budget to State Assembly
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State on Monday presented the State’s 2025 Budget Proposal to the state House of Assembly.
This is the second full year budget the governor is presenting to the House, which is in the sum of N682,244,449,513.87, covering Recurrent Revenue and Expenditure.
The Budget’s Recurrent Expenditure stands at the sum of N157,967,755,024.36 representing 23.15% while, Capital Expenditure stands at N524,274,694,489.51 representing 76.85%.
The Governor in his speech, announced that, the total of this budget when compared with that of the 2024, has an increase of N200,535,619,501.61, representing 40% increase.
The Governor, at the beginning of his speech, assured the House that his administration has achieved many of its goals and is on course to meet and exceed its targets.
He insisted that his administration has successfully reversed the tide of insecurity which severely threatened the peaceful co-existence of people in the State.
“Many of our local governments have been restored to normalcy while pushing the bandits to the fringes of the forests and, Insha-Allah, to the end of their existence.
“We have expended a lot of resources in fighting insecurity, and we shall continue to do all we can to protect lives and livelihoods in our dear state. I thank the Honourable Members for your support and dedication to ultimate victory,” he said.
The Governor while ranking MDAs by allocations, revealed that the Economic Sector got N302,246,140,569.76 representing 44.3%, followed by the Education Sector with 95,995,873,044.70 representing 14%.
In the same vein, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development got 81,840,275,739.70 representing 12% while the Ministry of Rural and Social Development got 58,728,146,293.72 representing 9%.
Other sectors such as the Ministry of Water Resources, 53,832,219,322.46 representing 8%, Ministry of Environment, 49,835,521,799.25 representing 7%, Ministry of Health, 43,881,752,172.75 representing 6%, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs 18,938,508,746.95 representing 3%, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport 9,684,806,758.56 representing 10%.
Other sectors he said are in the sum of 230,759,902,908.71 representing 31% of the total proposed budget
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