News
Nigeria hits 75.5% on aviation compliance, secures exit from Global Aviation Watchlist watchlist
The minister made this known on Thursday during the commissioning of the Juhi-2 aviation fuel depot at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Nigeria has officially been removed from the global watchlist as its aviation rating rose to 75.5%, according to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo.
The minister made this known on Thursday during the commissioning of the Juhi-2 aviation fuel depot at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Keyamo explained that the improvement follows the recent signing of the Cape Town Convention Practice Direction by the Federal Government, which had initially raised Nigeria’s aviation rating from 49% to 70.5%.
“This new status means that Nigeria is no longer on the watchlist, and airlines operating in the country can now access dry lease aircraft without any restrictions,” Keyamo said.
The minister also hinted at a surge in the number of aircraft entering Nigeria’s airspace, which may require Juhi-2 to expand its fuel depot capacity to accommodate the increased demand.
Patience Dappa, Chairman of Juhi 2 Limited, stated during the ceremony that the launch of the Juhi-2 depot is more than the completion of an infrastructure project.
According to him, it reflects the company’s commitment to excellence and innovation in aviation fuel management.
“As the largest airside jet fuel depot in Nigeria, this facility covers 46,000 square meters and holds a significant storage capacity of 15 million litres of Jet A1 fuel,” she noted.
Dappa emphasized that Juhi-2 is not just about its size but represents operational excellence, safety, and reliability. It features advanced filtration systems, a jet fuel discharge system that can load four bowsers at once, a modern laboratory, and top-tier fire prevention systems.
“This strategic asset is designed to ensure a consistent and reliable supply of jet fuel to Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), MMA1, MMA2, and nearby airbases,” she said.
In a related development, in September, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) shed light on the reasons behind Nigeria’s reclassification to Category 2 status, which led to the suspension of Nigerian airlines’ operations to the United States.
Captain Chris Najomo, Acting Director General of Civil Aviation, in a statement, clarified that Nigeria’s airlines can only operate flights to the US upon successfully passing the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Programme and achieving Category 1 status, a prerequisite also applicable to other countries.
Najomo said, “The attention of the NCAA has again been drawn to a publication about the purported ban on Nigerian airlines by the United States. Due to the wrong impression such news could create, it has become expedient that we put this report in its proper perspective.
“Upon attaining Category 1, Nigerian airlines would be permitted to operate Nigerian registered aircraft and dry-leased foreign registered aircraft into the United States, in line with the existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).”
Najomo provided historical context by revealing that Nigeria initially achieved the coveted Category 1 status in August 2010.
Subsequently, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a follow-up safety evaluation in 2014 to assess Nigeria’s continued adherence to international aviation safety standards.
Furthermore, Najomo noted that an additional safety assessment was undertaken in 2017, resulting in Nigeria’s successful retention of its Category 1 status.
However, he clarified that the US FAA introduced a significant policy change in September 2022, whereby countries previously classified as Category 1 would be de-listed if, after a two-year period, they lacked an indigenous airline operating direct services to the US or partnering with a US-based carrier.
He said, “Also removed from the Category 1 list were countries where the FAA was not providing technical assistance, based on identified areas of non-compliance to international standards for safety oversight.
“No Nigerian operator has provided service into the United States using a Nigerian registered aircraft within the two years preceding September 2022.”
News
18 States Move To Block Trump’s Order Ending Birthright Citizenship For Immigrant Children In US
A coalition of Democratic state attorneys general filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday to block President Trump’s executive order aimed at eliminating birthright citizenship.
Shortly after taking office on Monday, Trump used presidential powers to initiate his long-promised immigration crackdown. His executive actions included an order directing the federal government to stop issuing passports, citizenship certificates, and other documents to many children born in the U.S. whose mothers are in the country illegally or whose parents are not legal permanent residents.
According to CBS News, the lawsuit, filed by 18 states in federal court in Massachusetts, argues that Mr. Trump’s initiative violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which has long been interpreted by the federal government to grant citizenship to those born on American soil.
The cities of San Francisco and Washington, D.C., have also joined the suit.
The 14th Amendment says: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
“The great promise of our nation is that everyone born here is a citizen of the United States, able to achieve the American dream,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement to CBS News.
“This fundamental right to birthright citizenship, rooted in the 14th Amendment and born from the ashes of slavery, is a cornerstone of our nation’s commitment to justice.”
The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction to stop the enforcement of the executive order and ultimately aims to have it invalidated.
The states participating in the suit include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
“The President’s executive order attempting to rescind birthright citizenship is blatantly unconstitutional and quite frankly, un-American,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement.
The states are asking the court to immediately block the order from taking effect.
Mr. Trump directed that his order should be enforced in 30 days.
In a historic attempt to decolonise the country’s judiciary, President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso has formally banned judges from wearing wigs from the British and French colonial eras.
President Traoré emphasised in his announcement the importance of eschewing colonial-era traditions and implementing customs that respect Burkina Faso’s cultural identity.
The action is in line with his larger plan to fortify national identity and declare the nation’s autonomy from outside influences. The colonial wigs, which have traditionally stood for outside authority in African legal systems, are gradually being abandoned.
Covenant University (CU) has again been listed as Nigeria’s overall best university in Times Higher Education (THE) 2025 Rankings.
In the 2025 rankings, the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria came second, displacing the University of Ibadan which occupied the position for the 2024 ccrankings.
The Times Higher Education World Rankings is a comprehensive global ranking of universities published annually.
The 2025 rankings THE said it ranked more than 2,000 institutions from 115 countries and territories.
Globally, Oxford holds on to the top spot for the ninth consecutive year, bolstered by significant improvements in industry engagement and teaching. MIT rises to second place, overtaking Stanford, which drops to sixth.
The ratings were done based on 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.
University of Oxford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Princeton University
University of Cambridge
Stanford University
California Institute of Technology
University of California, Berkeley
Imperial College London
Yale University
Top ranked Nigerian universities
1. Covenant University
2. Ahmadu Bello University
3. Landmark University
4. University of Ibadan
5. University of Lagos
6. Bayero University
7. Federal University of Technology Akure
8. Federal University of Technology, Minna
9. University of Benin
10. University of Ilorin
11. University of Nigeria Nsukka
12. Ekiti State University
13. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
14. Federal University of Technology, Owerri
15. Federal University Oye-Ekiti
16. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
17. Lagos State University
18. Nnamdi Azikiwe University
19. Obafemi Awolowo University
20. University of Port Harcourt
21. Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
22. Abia State University
23. Akwa Ibom State University
24. Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike
25. Ambrose Alli University
26. Baze University
27. Bells University of Technology
28. Benson Idahosa University
29. Bowen University
30. Delta State University, Abraka
31. Evangel University, Akaeze
32. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
33. Godfrey Okoye University
34. Lagos State University of Education
35. Lagos State University of Science and Technology
36. Nasarawa State University, Keffi
37. Niger Delta University
38. Nile University of Nigeria
39. Osun State University
40. Rivers State University
41. Thomas Adewumi University
42. University of Cross River State
43. University of Maiduguri
44. Veritas University, Abuja
18 States Move To Block Trump’s Order Ending Birthright Citizenship For Immigrant Children In US
Burkina Faso outlaws colonial-era judicial wigs to embrace cultural identity
I Left Nollywood As Directors Kept Giving Me Roles Of Armed Robber– Actor, Chinedu Okeke
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’
-
News16 hours agoReps Reject Coastal Guard Proposal, Call for Enhanced Navy Funding
-
News22 hours agoJust in: Police nab pastor after discovering python, buried casket in church altar
-
Metro24 hours agoEx-convict caught with human skull in Ogun burial ground
-
News16 hours agoFinance Ministry Seeks Upward Review Of N25bn In 2025 Budget Allocation
-
News24 hours agoInspiring story of how African Woman beat brain tumour, PCOS to become mother
-
News24 hours agoImmigration groups sue Trump over order to end US birthright citizenship
-
News24 hours agoUnion alleges targeted raid on Nigerian businesses in South Africa
-
News24 hours agoC’River assembly moves to amend LG law