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Minority Reps caucus tasks Buhari to avert shutdown of airline operations
The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take immediate steps to avert an imminent shutdown of flight operations in the country as such would have grave consequences on national life.
A statement by Ndudi Elumelu, the Minority Leader, said the call “is predicated on the notice by Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to shut down flight operations in the country by Monday, May 9, 2022 due to the unbearable high cost of aviation fuel (JetA1) from N190 to N700 per liter.”
It said the worrisome development in Nigeria, a major producer of oil, “is another very sad commentary on the unpardonable failure, corruption, incompetence, negative policies and lack of capacity of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration to effectively manage our national economy.
“As representatives of the people, the Minority Caucus is concerned because aviation is pivotal to the operation, sustenance and survival of other key sectors of the economy and any shutdown of flight operations will have devastating spiral effect and worsen the excruciating economic hardship and further escalate insecurity in the country.”
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It said this is because apart from the direct disabling of thousands of aviation related jobs and ancillary businesses, a shutdown of the sector will also have grave negative impact on critical government and public sector activities which are sustained by air travelling.
“It is instructive to note that the aviation sector is no longer an exclusive reserve of the elite, but plays central role in the movement of personnel and equipment that drive and sustain services and operations which benefit the masses in healthcare, manufacturing, education, food production, telecommunication, retailing, banking and finance, hospitality, entertainment, power, security and other key sectors.
“A shutdown of the aviation sector will therefore cripple millions of businesses as well as economic and commercial activities thereby increasing unemployment, worsen the economic hardship, put pressure on our already ailing roads and exacerbate insecurity in our country.
“Moreover, the situation is a huge threat to our national integrity as it erodes the confidence of the International Community and foreign investors in our country thereby encouraging the movement of investments to neigbouring countries.”
The Minority Caucus therefore called on President Buhari to wake up, “note the grave import of the situation and save the aviation sector from imminent collapse by immediately addressing the fuel crisis and other challenges in the industry.
“Mr. President should critically address the crisis in the petroleum industry by reviewing the counter-productive policies and curbing the corruption in his administration so as to save our national economy from collapse under his watch.”
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Judge absent in Fayose N6.9bn fraud case, matter adjourned to July 1
Judge absent in Fayose N6.9bn fraud case, matter adjourned to July 1
The money laundering trial of a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, could not proceed on Thursday due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Justice Aneke was said to be away on an official assignment and the case was adjourned to July 1 for the continuation of trial.
Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged N6.9bn fraud and money laundering.
He was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun, with his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on an 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering offences.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail on October 24, 2018, in the sum of N50m with sureties in like sum.
The defendant was re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on July 2, 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following a petition by the EFCC against the judge.
He also pleaded not guilty to the charge and was allowed to continue on the earlier bail granted, while the case was adjourned for trial.
Fayose was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of five million dollars, (about N1.8bn) from the then Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution.
He was also alleged to have retained the sum of N300m in his account, with a control of the aggregate sums of about N622m.
Fayose was also accused of procuring De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd to retain the aggregate sums of N851m.
He was alleged to have used the aggregate sums of about N1.6bn, to acquire properties in Lagos and Abuja.
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Updated: Unite against Israel for humanity, Fani-Kayode tells Christians, Muslims
Updated: Unite against Israel for humanity, Fani-Kayode tells Christians, Muslims
Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has appealed to Christians and Muslims to unite against Israel, drawing parallels between its actions and those of Nazi Germany.
FFK’s message, shared on various platforms, urged Catholics, Protestants, Shia, and Sunni Muslims to set aside their differences and jointly oppose what he termed as the “evil and demonic agenda” of Zionists and the state of Israel.
In his statement, FFK condemned Israel’s alleged history of carnage, ethnic cleansing, genocide, and mass murder, as well as its purported perpetuation of racism, apartheid, religious intolerance, and injustice. He questioned the legitimacy of Israel’s claim to be God’s chosen people, particularly in light of its perceived disregard for human life and suffering, including the targeting of women, children, and babies.
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By likening Israel’s actions to those of Nazi Germany, FFK sought to underscore the severity of the situation, accusing the state of accumulating “much blood on its hands” comparable to the atrocities of the past. He distinguished between the historical Israel of King David, which he portrayed as reverent toward God, and the contemporary Israel under leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he accused of espousing hatred and aligning with evil forces.
Unite against Israel for humanity, Fani-Kayode tells Christians, Muslims
News
BREAKING: Panic at Lagos airport after fire outbreak, flights diverted
BREAKING: Panic at Lagos airport after fire outbreak, flights diverted
Following a fire at the facility, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has diverted flight operations from Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos to the D Wing.
The fire outbreak occured at the E54 Passenger Air Bridge at the domestic wing of the Airport.
The incident occurred at 5:29hrs on Thursday, according to a press release issued by Obiageli Orah, FAAN’s head of public affairs and consumer protection.
According to the statement, the fire, however, was brought under control by the Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) at 06:41hrs while efforts to ventilate the smoke from the building were in progress.
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“At 05:29 hrs, smoke was detected billowing from the E54 Bridge, leading electrical engineers to immediately cut off power to the entire E Wing. The Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) team was quick to respond, arriving at the scene by 05:30 hrs. Initial suspicions point to sparks from an electrical unit as the cause, but a thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire.
“The incident, which had escalated into a fire, was brought under control by 06:41 hrs. Efforts to ventilate the smoke from the building are in progress. In the meantime, all flight operations in Terminal 1 of MMA have been diverted to the D Wing. More details will follow shortly,” Orah stated.
BREAKING: Panic at Lagos airport after fire outbreak, flights diverted
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