By Francesca Hangeior

Israel conducted raids on Gaza Friday, pressing its year-long war to crush Hamas after dealing it a massive blow with the killing of its leader, Yahya Sinwar.

Hailing the killing of Sinwar, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack was not over, but added that it was “the beginning of the end”.

He called the death of Sinwar, mastermind of the deadliest attack in Israeli history, an “important landmark in the decline of the evil rule of Hamas”.

Chief of Hamas in Gaza at the time of the attack, Sinwar had become the militant group’s overall leader after the killing in July of its political chief, Ismail Haniyeh.

US President Joe Biden, whose government is Israel’s top arms provider, said: “This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world.”

“There is now the opportunity for a ‘day after’ in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

Hamas’s October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures that includes hostages killed in captivity.

Militants also took 251 people hostage during the attack. Ninety-seven remain in Gaza, including 34 who Israeli officials say are dead.

The killing of Sinwar did not spell an end to Israel’s air strikes on Gaza, with several raids overnight and early Friday pummelling the territory, according to an eye witness on ground.

According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, rescuers recovered the bodies of three Palestinian children from the rubble of their home in the north of the territory after it was hit at dawn.

The Israel military said it was pressing its operation in Jabalia, one of the focuses of the fighting in recent weeks, and where strikes on Thursday killed at least 14 people, according to two hospitals.

After Sinwar’s death, Gazans hope for an end to the war
Israel says killed Hamas chief Sinwar in Gaza.

By Francesca Hangeior

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has unveiled the Joint User Hydrant Installation 2 (JUHI-2) with a storage capacity of 150 million litres of Jet A1 fuel.

The facility is described as the largest airside jet fuel depot in Nigeria, having the capability of delivering a minimum of 150 million litres of ATK supplies monthly to airlines, implying that it can deliver 20 per cent of the current nation’s annual sales volume in a month.

The depot is a collaborative project by a consortium of companies, including Eterna Plc, Masters Energy Oil & Gas, Techno Oil & Gas, Rahamaniyya Oil & Gas, Ibafon Oil, Quest Oil Group, and First Deep Water Limited.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony held at the JUHI-2 ventures limited premises, Ikeja in Lagos on Thursday, Keyamo lauded the project, saying it has brought Nigeria global relevance and recognition.

He noted that the facility would help curb the issue of flight delays and flight cancellations which most times had been a result of a lack of Jet A1 fuel.

According to the minister, the depot was strategically well positioned as it is close to both the local and international airports, which is an international requirement.

He said, “This facility is strategic and supportive to the aviation ecosystem in Nigeria. We normally experience a lot of flight cancellations, and flight delays and in some cases, it is attributed to lack of Jet A1 fuel.

“It is also an international requirement. You have just made us globally relevant because it requires that this kind of facility should not be far away from all major airports in the world.

“It is also a requirement for hajj operations. Before any airport is approved for hajj operations, they ensure that such facilities are very close to the airport. In so many ways this is a global requirement and I thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart for this massive infrastructural investment to support the aviation ecosystem in Nigeria.”

Disclosing the recent feats in the aviation sector, the minister said Nigeria has been removed from the watchlist of non-compliant countries, having scaled 75.5 per cent in aircraft financing from 70.5 per cent.

He stated that airlines in Nigeria can now access aircraft on dry leases all over the world.

In her address, the Chairman of JUHI-2 Limited, Patience Dappa, explained that the facility will strengthen the nation’s energy security and provide a reliable and robust jet fuel supply chain.

Dappa, a legal practitioner, stated that the depot would ensure rapid response times and faster refuelling processes, reducing delays and improving overall flight scheduling, to enhance the competitiveness of airports and airlines, positioning Nigeria as a regional leader in aviation.

She said, “This facility is equipped with state-of-the-art filtration systems, a jet fuel discharge system capable of loading four bowsers simultaneously, a modern laboratory, and cutting-edge fire prevention measures. It is a strategic asset, designed to provide a steady, reliable supply of jet fuel to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMA1, MMA2, and nearby airbases.

“In building JUHI-2, we are not only enhancing infrastructure; we are laying the foundation for Nigeria’s continued growth in aviation. This facility will serve airlines, cargo carriers, private jet operators, and other aviation stakeholders, ensuring world-class fuel service and maximising operational efficiency. In essence, we are not just fueling planes; we are fueling the future of aviation in Nigeria.

“Beyond its operational significance, JUHI-2 will generate numerous benefits for Nigeria. It will create direct and indirect employment opportunities, contributing to a reduction in unemployment within the region. It will also stimulate economic growth by boosting related industries such as transportation, logistics, and maintenance services. This facility will play a pivotal role in the development of the airport area and its surrounding communities.”

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Eterna Oil Plc, Abiola Lawal, said JUHI-2 is equipped with cutting-edge technology that guarantees the highest standards of operational efficiency.

Lukman added that JUHI-2 can take delivery of four bridgers/aviation fuel trucks at a time which is the first of its kind in Nigeria today.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has congratulated the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II, on his 50th birthday.

Speaker Abbas described Oba Ogunwusi (CFR), the 51st Ooni of Ife and Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), as a unifier and bridge-builder in the country.

While commending the Ooni for fostering unity in not just Yorubaland but across the country, the Speaker noted the immeasurable roles that traditional rulers like Oba Ogunwusi are playing to ensure peace and progress in Nigeria.

The Speaker used the occasion to urge the Ooni to continue to champion good causes towards growth and development of the country.

Speaker Abbas prayed to God to grant Oba Ogunwusi more years of peaceful reign, and the grace to serve the country more.