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NCAA threatens to sanction Turkish Airline for maltreating Nigerians
NCAA threatens to sanction Turkish Airline for maltreating Nigerians
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has said that it would not hesitate to invoke relevant sections of the organisation’s regulations to sanction Turkish Airline over mistreatment of Nigerian passengers.
NCAA’s Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr Michael Achimugu, disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.
Achimugu said that President Bola Tinubu had directed NCAA, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and relevant agencies, to ensure that the rights of Nigerian passengers were protected at all times.
He said the NCAA was currently mediating on the feud between the European carrier and aviation labour unions, who picketed the airline’s operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
According to him, the agency will not hesitate to roll out stiff penalties and sanctions to Turkish Airlines as Nigerian passengers, are still stranded at the airport, following its failure to airlift them to Istanbul.
Achimugu said the Federal Government and its agencies would spare no effort to call to order any airline that violates the rights of Nigerian passengers.
According to him, the Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, had in a virtual meeting on Tuesday from the United Kingdom initiated reconciliatory moves between the Country Manager of Turkish Airlines and the unions.
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He, however, said the representative of the airline exhibited some traits of impudence, which the regulator deemed amounted to lack of regard for the system.
Arising from the infraction, Achimugu said the Federal Government would not hesitate to look deep into the impasse with the possibility of extracting the right punishment if the carrier is found culpable.
The Federal Government, he said, would take every step to ensure the rights of Nigerian passengers are not trampled on by any carrier, including foreign airlines, in taking the right steps to address any infractions on their conditions of operations into the country.
He confirmed that over 300 passengers had been trapped in the imbroglio involving the Turkish Airlines, and aviation unions, as the carrier had canceled flights out of and into Nigeria until Thursday.
Achimugu said that, though, the carrier claimed to have communicated with passengers through electronic mail on the on-going hitch concerning its operations into and out of the country, some passengers still turned up at the Lagos Airport.
He said: “The NCAA is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the inability of Turkish Airlines to operate flights out of Lagos Airport, due to the picketing of its operations by aviation unions.
“We will ensure that the rights of Nigerian passengers are not violated.
“President Bola Tinubu has directed the NCAA, FAAN and relevant agencies to ensure that the rights of Nigerian passengers are protected.
“Currently, the NCAA is engaging officials of Turkish Airlines, but we have observed some degree of insolence of the Country Manager, who engaged our D-G in a shouting match, he was even banging the table.
“This behaviour to the NCAA is unacceptable. At the end of our findings, if the airline is found culpable, we will invoke the relevant parts of our regulation Part 17, to met out the right punishment,” he said.
Achimugu on Wednesday evening visited the stranded passengers at the new terminal of the international airport, where he conveyed the message of the D-G to them, saying hat the authority would not rest until they were transported to their various destinations.
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One of the stranded passengers, Obiekwe Ngozichukwu, a Guttenberg, Sweden resident, said he was afraid of losing his job as a top official of one of the hotels in that country, because the company had been calling him to resume work.
He said he visited Nigeria for his mother’s burial, but could not go back because of the cancellation of his flight, and had been sleeping on the floor at the airport for two days.
“We don’t know when we are leaving here. I appeal to the authorities to intervene and save us from this experience.”
Another passenger, a Germany based construction worker, Charles Ifeanyi, also appealed to the Federal Government to intervene, to save the situation, lamenting that the authorities must not allow Nigerians to be maltreated anywhere in the world anyhow.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had begun the picketing of Turkish Airlines in Lagos.
The picketing was to ensure that the carrier reinstates staffers, who were dismissed, forced to abandon duty or forced to resign under duress, including those victimised for their union membership in 2020.
(NAN)
NCAA threatens to sanction Turkish Airline for maltreating Nigerians
News
Senate okays bill for foreigners in Nigeria to obtain NIN
Senate okays bill for foreigners in Nigeria to obtain NIN
The Senate has advanced a bill to grant all residents, including foreigners, the right to obtain and use the National Identification Number (NIN) sponsored by Deputy Senate President Barau I.
Jibrin (Kano North), the bill also aims to replace criminal penalties with administrative measures to ensure compliance without severe legal consequences.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi (Ekiti North) presented the bill’s principles, emphasizing the need to repeal the current Act and establish a new regulatory framework for the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to enhance its oversight and regulation of Nigeria’s ID system.
“The bill’s objectives include expanding the eligible registrants under the Nigeria ID System to achieve inclusivity and universal coverage,” Senator Fasuyi explained.
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“It allows all residents in Nigeria to obtain a National Identification Number (NIN) for official identification purposes.”
Furthermore, the bill proposes streamlined sharing of personal data with robust data protection measures to safeguard privacy and foster public trust in data handling.
It also enhances administrative enforcement powers to ensure timely compliance with ID registration requirements.
Importantly, the bill advocates for replacing criminal penalties with administrative measures for non-use of NIN, aiming to encourage compliance without burdening individuals with severe legal consequences.
After debates, the Senate proceeded to pass the bill, marking a significant step toward potential reforms in Nigeria’s identity management system.
Senate okays bill for foreigners in Nigeria to obtain NIN
News
I never lobbied to extend my tenure — IGP Egbetokun
I never lobbied to extend my tenure — IGP Egbetokun
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has debunked reports alleging that he has been lobbying the National Assembly to tamper with the Nigeria Police Act 2020 to elongate his tenure and year of service of personnel in the force.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed the IGP’s denial in a statement, saying it is vital to clarify unequivocally that the bill was originally introduced during the 8th Assembly but did not progress beyond the initial stages before the Assembly’s dissolution. It is standard legislative practice to review and update laws to align with current national realities.
The proposed amendment seeks to extend the years of service for police officers from 35 to 40 years, and the age limit from 60 to 65 years.
Adejobi said: “The Nigeria Police Force is deeply perturbed by the dissemination of false information across various media platforms, notably the distorted publication by an online media, regarding the proposed amendment to the Nigeria Police Act 2020.
“The misleading publications alleged that IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun personally initiated this bill to prolong his tenure as the 22nd indigenous Inspector General of Police, and has allegedly invested significantly in lobbying lawmakers to facilitate its passage.’
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Egbetokun decried a situation where certain media outlets and their sponsors had chosen to propagate baseless accusations, ignorantly disregarding the fact that any modification to existing legislation was designed to enhance its effectiveness and relevance.
The statement read: “To understand the true motivations behind this initiative, one needs only look at the Inspector General of Police steadfast commitment to reforming the Nigeria Police Force.
“His advocacy for this bill stems from a genuine belief in its potential to improve the conditions of service for police officers and thereby bolster security nationwide, rather than seeking personal gain. It comes from the place of duty rather than benefit.“
“Furthermore, it is important to note that the tenure of an Inspector General of Police is already prescribed as four years, with the President being the sole authority empowered to remove an IGP before the completion of his tenure.
”Furthermore, the Nigeria Police Force called on the public to exercise caution and discernment when consuming information, particularly from sources known for sensationalism and unverified claims.
“Such misinformation not only misleads but also detracts from constructive dialogue and efforts towards meaningful police reform.”
I never lobbied to extend my tenure — IGP Egbetokun
News
Despite generating $1tn in 40 years, Nigeria’s debt rose to $91.46bn — Agbakoba
Despite generating $1tn in 40 years, Nigeria’s debt rose to $91.46bn — Agbakoba
Human rights activist and senior lawyer, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, yesterday, said Nigeria’s public debt rose to $91.46 billion (N121.67 trillion), despite its ability to generate $1 trillion in 40 years.
Agbakoba identified the alleged exclusion of Nigerians from key value chains, weak enforcement of local content laws, incorporation of foreign agreements, tax avoidance and corruption as possible reasons for the development.
He also called for the implementation of new measures, including the increase of Nigerians’ participation in legal services, shipping, banking, insurance, drilling, oil field services and engineering within the oil and gas industry.
In his presentation, titled ”The Paradox of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry: A Policy Paper”, at an engagement with the media in Lagos, Agbakoba, said: “Over the past 40 years, the cumulative revenue from oil and gas has exceeded $1 trillion, an amount that should have been sufficient to transform the nation’s economy and infrastructure.
“Yet, Nigeria consistently resorts to borrowing, with the total public debt standing at N121.67 trillion ($91.46 billion) as of March 31, 2024, according to the Debt Management Office, DMO.
“There are 36 value chains related to crude oil exploration, with at least seven crucial ones largely excluding Nigerian participation: Legal, shipping, banking, insurance, drilling, oil field services, engineering and construction.
“Over $1 billion worth of legal work is lost to foreign firms annually due to a perception of superior expertise and international experience.
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“Nigerian shipping companies are not engaged to ship crude oil products due to the absence of a legal framework for developing a national fleet of vessels, leading to significant loss of potential revenue and employment opportunities.
“Funds from crude oil production are often domiciled in foreign banks, sometimes held for months before remittance to the Central Bank of Nigeria, depriving Nigerian banks of substantial business and the economy of potential multiplier effects.
“The Nigerian insurance industry plays a very insignificant and limited role in the oil and gas Industry.
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