The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bauchi

  • In Bauchi, every life counts

    SIR: Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, Governor of Bauchi State, was a two-time Commissioner of Justice and a legal practitioner of note before his foray into politics. Looking at his resume, one would pray to be as lucky as he is.

    In line with the objective of his administration in having a healthy society free from communicable and non-communicable diseases, he launched the Five Point Health Agenda in September 2015 aimed at strengthening of the Primary Health Care services with particular emphasis on diseases affecting the maternal, new born and child population as well as routine immunization exercise.

    Since then, the Bauchi State helmsman has been doing his best in building a high performing health care system that will be the best in terms of accessibility and meeting the vast majority of peoples’ health needs. He has shown a rare commitment to addressing the gaps in health care system with a strong focus on primary health care which is the frontline of health care delivery.

    His current efforts reinforce his avowed commitment to citizens’ right to health, especially Basic Health Care Provision which explains why he is taking deliberate steps to pursue public health improvements and ensure rapid progress towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in line with the National Health Act enacted in 2014. The state is also confronting headlong, the problems of lack of accurate data and vital statistics that made proper planning difficult in the past.

    Some of the problems that were faced in the past include lack of accurate data and vital statistics which made planning very difficult. The Abubakar administration in Bauchi State has put in place robust health information system that will ensure effective resource allocation and utilisation.

    Nothing gives credence to the seriousness of the current administration than the fact that adequate provision has been made in the 2016 budget that would ensure better health outcomes, going forward.

    The move has motivated the health sector workforce in the state and has caused corresponding improvements to the health management system, thereby repositioning Bauchi State to deliver significantly improved health outcomes.

    An instant revelation is the Payment of N160 Million as part of the state government’s commitment in the MoU with Bill and Melinda Gates and Dangote Foundation respectively aimed at setting up emergency operation centres on polio; and the sponsorship of maternal, neo-natal and Child Health Week and rapid response to outbreak of diarrhoea in some parts of the State;

    Patient-feeding and fuelling of generators in general hospitals and other health facilities in the state have been resuscitated to ensure efficiency in the running of health facilities in the state.

    That’s not all. The Abubakar administration has facilitated the accreditation of courses offered at the State College of Nursing and Midwifery; as well as Dental Health Services training at the State College of Health Technology Ningi.

    The state has also benefitted from collaboration with Al-Basar International Foundation which has so far organised free eye treatment to about 10,000 eye patients.

    The modest achievements of the governor in the last 10 months in the health sector have already started attracting acclamation from key stakeholders in the sector. Only a few weeks ago, Governor Abubakar received an official commendation from Bill Gates, the proprietor of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in which he appreciated the effort of the state government in the routine immunization programme and the implementation of Primary Health Care under One Roof.

     

    • Ismaila Garba,

    Toro, Bauchi State.

  • Army operation will clear criminal gangs from Bauchi forest – Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the Army’s training and simulation exercise titled `Operation Shirin Harbin’, would also help in clearing criminal hideouts in the Alkaleri forest in Bauchi State.

    Buratai said this while assessing the performance of Troops and their Commanders participating in the exercise in the Alkaleri forest.

    He said apart from improving the combat readiness of the troops and the testing of high caliber weapons, the exercise would address security threats around the area.

    “This area is a very good training ground but during this exercise we will be killing two birds with a stone.

    “It is a training exercise and it is also a real operation as we hope to clear any hideout of criminal gangs that are known to be operating in the fringes of the forest.

    “This is the starting point for us to be more professional at this particular time,’’ he said.

    He said the exercise had brought out the best in the Nigerian Army both in terms of troops combat readiness and in the handling of high caliber weapons.

    He said some of the equipment used in the exercise had been abandoned in the workshop for many years.

    According to him, some of the equipment were not usable but had been repaired and would be used in real time situation.

    He said the exercise was a demonstration of the judicious use of funds allocated to the Army by government.

    On his part, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, said the exercise was unprecedented stressing that such exercises would return the Army to its days.

    Olonisakin said the exercise would prepare troops and their equipment for present and future engagements both in Nigeria and beyond.

    “This exercise which is a command exercise is aimed at training troops and their commanders.

    “Having seen what we have witnessed here, I know that the commanders out there will do better than what they have been doing.

    “I am impressed because for some time we have not had it this way, under this particular exercise, the correct personnel are deployed and the right equipment are used,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Nuhu Gidado, Commended the Army for choosing the state for the exercise.

    He said the exercise would help to address some of the security challenges confronting the state being perpetrated by some criminal elements operating from the Alkaleri forest.

    `It is more than a privilege having them conduct this exercise here in Bauchi state, because for a very long time we have had pockets of criminal activities coordinated from this forest.

    “This particular exercise has given us hope that our people can now live in peace,’’ Gidado said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise featured simulation exercises using tanks and other caliber of weapons as well as real combat operations deep into the forest.

    NAN also reports that the exercise is organised as part of activities marking the 2016 Nigerian Army Day Celebration. (NAN)

  • Power relief in Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Gombe

    Power relief in Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Gombe

    Years of epileptic electricity may be nearing an end as four northern states get pre-paid meters and transformers, reports YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU

    Like everywhere else in the country, constant electricity supply has been hard to achieve for decades in Plateau, Benue, Bauchi and Gombe states, leaving residents with sighs and gasps. Now, that seems about to end. In Jos, the Plateau State capital and headquarters of the zone, no fewer than 130,000 pre-paid meters and 400 transformers were displayed for immediate distribution to the states. There were other electrical appliances there to boost power in the zone.

    It was the launch of electricity  facilities supplied by the Jos Electricity Development Company (JED), an independent power firm. It was an event which raised hopes of improved power supply across the states.

    The meters came in single and three phases.

    The Minister for Housing, Works and Power, Babatunde Fashola was represented at the event by a senior staff of the ministry, Mr. Bako Muhammed.

    It was an opportunity for the minister to prove to Nigerians that the privatisation of the power sector was the best option for the country and that the investors who took over the sector in all the zones are determined to do business by making sure electricity gets to every home in every village across the country.

    The minister appealed to Nigerians to exercise a little patience over the recent shortfall in power supply as the current administration intensify efforts to proffer genuine and permanent solution to the challenges.

    The minister said, “Government appreciates the challenges Nigerians are facing as a result of the shortfall in electricity supply in the country, government also shares the pains associated with insufficient electricity in the country. However, government is appealing to all Nigerians to remain patient and give government a little time because government is coming up with genuine and permanent solutions to the energy crisis.

    “The ongoing reforms in the energy sector is a genuine one that will bring about constant electricity supply to every homes in this country, but a little more patience from all Nigerians is all government needed to concentrate on plans to bring about the lasting solution.”

    The minister called on all the investors in the power sector to be committed and transparent in implementing their own part of agreements for the benefit of electricity consumers in the country. The call has become necessary because Nigerians expect nothing less than quality service from the electricity distributing companies all over the country.

    In a welcome address, Managing Director and Cheif Executive of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) Muhammed Gidado Modibo said, “the company is injecting N50 billion into the power sector to ensure consumers in the Jos zone enjoy excellent services of the company.

    Gidado said, “The official flagging off of the distribution of 130,000 pre-paid meter and 400 transformers to consumers is a demonstration of our commitment to provide efficient electricity distribution service to people of the zone. This is also a guarantee to our consumers in the zone that in the next few months power supply will change for the better, there will be improvement in electricity supply to every homes within the zone” said Gidado

    He said, “We took over electricity distribution in the zone with a commitment to revamp the company and improve the quality of service within its franchise area of Plateau, Bauchi, Benue and Gombe states.

    “We planned to install 180,000 meters by the end of 2016, already we have taken delivery of 13,000 of those meters and we have commence distributions and installations for our co stompers.

    “JED will also make it easy for our customers to pay their bills by implementing the online vending systems for all pre-paid meter to ease the hassle of going to our cash office to pay their bills.

    In a remark, Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong expressed appreciation to the company and called on private investors to take advantage of the improve power supply in the zone to invest in the state. He said, “It is power supply that drive economic fortunes of any society and now that JED has taken giant step to guarantee steady power supply, I’m expecting investors to start trooping to Plateau state for investment.

    Lalong who urge communities to take responsibility of protecting electricity facilities in their environment against vandalism by criminals applauded the federal government for providing the regulatory framework to stabilize business of the energy sector.

    Former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Yayali Ahmed who chairs the company’s board of directors was also at the event to ensure it works according to plan.

  • One dies, nine injured in Bauchi

    At least a footballer is  said to  have died while nine others sustained various degrees of injuries in a road accident on Monday night at the Four Square Church Junction, Rafin Zurfi,Yelwa, a densely populated suburb of  Bauchi State.

    The footballers were said to have been returning from a football match at Bayara village when the unfortunate incident happened.

    The Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Abdulrahman, who confirmed the accident to newsmen in a statement in Bauchi on Wednesday, said a 19-year-old died in the incident.

    He said the accident, which involved two vehicles, was caused by the driver of one of the vehicles, a Toyota Hilux van, who drove from the junction to the highway without due consideration.

    He said: “On 21/3/2016 (Monday) at about 7:30pm, a fatal accident occurred at the Four Square Church Junction along Dass Road, involving a Black Sharon Bus with REG. NO. ZAR 136 XA, driven by one Danlami Suleiman, Male (25), of Yakubun Wanka road in Bauchi, and a White Hilux Vehicle REG NN 128, driven by one Haruna Job, Male, (25), of Rafin Zurfi.

    “The accident occurred when the said Haruna drove the Hilux from the junction to the highway without due consideration, thereby causing the  driver of the Sharon  to veer off the road .

    “As a result, the Sharon somersaulted. One Abdulrahman Ahmed, Male, (19) of Yakubun Wanka, Bauchi sustained a deep cut on his head and was later confirmed dead at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.”

    Abdulrahman, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said that the driver of the Sharon bus and eight others were treated and discharged.

    While stating that the corpse of the deceased had been released to the family for burial, according to Islamic rites, he added that investigation had commenced to ascertain the cause of the accident.

    An eyewitness, Benjamin Ameh, said he was coming back from Church when the accident occurred . He wondered why the driver of the Sharon had to drive with such speed saying that it was very alarming.

    He said: “My brother and I were coming back from church and when we got to the Four Square Gospel Church junction, just then we heard a loud sound of brakes and before we knew what was happening, we saw a Sharon car somersaulting.

    “We rushed to the scene  immediatelyand what we saw wasn’t pleasant to our eyes. The guy that died was sitting by the window and when the car veered off the road, he was flunked out of the window. If he was putting on his seat belt, it would have been safe; maybe he would have been alive.

    He said the deceased was on the ground lifeless with blood gushing out of his head.

    Ameh  cautioned drivers against reckless driving pointing out that lives will be saved in a lot of accidents if motorists are more careful.

  • Aftermath of Bauchi defeat: Tornadoes vow to cage 3SC in Lokoja

    Aftermath of Bauchi defeat: Tornadoes vow to cage 3SC in Lokoja

    Fresh from the bruises of  the 2-1 defeat  in the hands of  Wikki Tourist of Bauchi at the weekend, Niger Tornadoes have declared operation cage 3sc in Lokoja as the Minna side who have been using the Conference Town as their home ground prepare to  tackle the  Oluyole Warriors today.

    Tornadoes goal monger Ismaila Gata who revealed the plan of the team vowed to stop the visitors from picking a point in the match 8 showdown.

    Gata, who has scored four goals in five  appearances for Tornadoes, confessed that the team is sad especially after  throwing away a  0-1 lead in Bauchi in Matchday 7 which gave  Wikki an edge to come from behind to earn a  2-1 victory

    The players, according to him, are determined to wreck the Ibadan based side to return smiles on the faces of their fans who may have been disappointed by the Bauchi flop .

    “The Bauchi tie is one we should have won because we shot into the lead before losing grip. We want to make amends so 3Sc should forget about getting a point in Lokoja,” he said.

    The former Kwara United ace revealed that the players sat down to review last week’s performance and decided to keep mistakes at arms length.

    “We have been playing good football, the management of the club is solidly behind us, and we must put smiles on their faces as well as the entire Nigerlites. We know how passionate the people of Niger State are about the club. We will make sure 3SC leave Lokoja empty handed, that is our resolve”, he said.

    He, however, appealed to the supporters of the club to have faith in  them especially now that they have found their rhythm, assuring that soon they will start picking points from away matches. Tornadoes are presently 15 on the log and will after today’s match  travel at the weekend  to Umauhia for Matchday 9 against Abia Warriors.

  • Four women held for child theft in Jos

    2 men held for kidnapping

    The Plateau State Police command has paraded four women for allegedly stealing a one month-old child while the child was asleep.

    The suspect criminals, Rukaya Abdulahi, Nancy Ezekiel, Tongret Amos and Jeniffer Sati Sabo were among 26 other criminals paraded at the Jos police headquaters on Monday by the State Commissioner  Mr. Adekunle Oladunjoye.

    According to the commissioner, “One Talatu Abdulahi of new Abuja, Dadin Kowa Jos left her one month-old baby on bed in her room and left to visit a neighbor. The mother of the baby returned to the room in ten minutes to discover her baby had disappeared from her room.

    “The mother promptly reported the missing baby to the police and the police immediately sprung into action in a short while and recovered the baby from the suspects” he said

    While explaining her involvement in the crime, One of the suspects, Nancy Ezekiel, who trades in palm oil between Jos and Imo claimed that she took the baby after the mother of the baby agreed to sell the baby.

    According to Nancy Ezekiel “We both agreed to carry out the deal, we also vowed never to disclosed the deal to anyone while the baby remains with me. I was shocked to hear the mother report her baby was stolen after she agreed to sell the baby.

    However, mother of the stolen baby Talatu Abdullahi who earlier reported the alleged missing child to the Police denied any agreement to sell her baby. She however said, “I decided to sell the child because my father threatened to kill me if have a child out of wedlock.” The police commissioner said the suspects will be taken to court as soon as the processes are completed.

    The command also paraded suspected kidnappers who lured a 3 year old boy from Jos and took him to Bauchi from where the criminals called the family to demand N250,000 ransom.

    According to the police boss, “the 3 year old boy, Ahmed Hanif Abubakar was sent on errand by his mother when he was abducted by the suspect Umar Isa. The suspect took the boy to Bauchi, hid him in costudy of one Islamic teacher and returned to Jos.

    “The same suspect sent a phone number to the parents of the boy asking them to call the phone if they want to know the whereabouts of their son. He also directed the parents to go and pay the demanded ransom in Zaria.

    The parents of the boy however negotiated the ransom down to N150,000.00 which the suspect agreed to collect in a bush along Kaduna road, but unknown to the suspect, the police laid ambush near the point where the payment was to be made. The suspect was apprehended while trying to pick the money from the point it was dropped.

    The suspect led the police to arrest the Islamic teacher Jibrin Musa from Soro village in Bauchi state where the abducted boy was eventually rescued. The boy has been returned to his parent while the police prepare to arraign the suspects in court.

    The police commissioner, Mr. Adekunle maintained that the landmark successes recorded within the first quarter of the year by the Command is as a result of the  security mechanism and robust strategies put in place against criminal elements in the state.

    He appealed to citizens to be vigilant and report any criminal elements aimed at causing mischief in the state.

  • Day culture invaded Bauchi

    Day culture invaded Bauchi

    Music has come to form the central focal point and the shortest means to get the attention of the public.  And not only music, it becomes more pugent when it is combined with dance and drama to deliver the core message of change and forthrightness to the people.  This was what the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), and the Bauchi State government did together recently in Bauchi.

    The programme packaged by NOA and spearheaded by the Director General, Mr. Mike Omeri was tagged Grand North-East stakeholders’ Dialogue on the Nexus Between the War Against Corruption, Good Governance and Security.  It was held at the Multipurpose Indoor Sports Hall, Bauchi, during which participants from far and near were duly inundated with talks on the need for everybody to put all hands on deck to ensure a new Nigeria; a Nigeria where people believe in themselves and are ready to discharge their duties diligently.

    The central message is that time has come for the people, both the leader and the led, to shun corruption.  And to make the message stick into the consciousness of the people, the National Troupe of Nigeria was available to use elite, royal and elegant dances to spice the show.  In the presence of the governor of the state, Mohammed Abubakar, the Artistic Director of the National Troupe, members of Bauchi State executive council and all other principal officers of the state and people from all walks of life, speaker after speaker, made it clear that the era of corruption as a way of life in Nigeria is over.  And that good governance and security cannot be guaranteed when people have continued to behave as Nigeria has lost its soul completely as a nation.

    Ngozi Ekeoba of NOA in her opening remarks, reminded the people that the programme was put in place to support federal government efforts to stop corruption in Nigeria.  “This is a crusade we all are meant to support and encourage,” she said.  “However, even when people do not seem to hearken to this clarion call, it is still our responsibility in NOA to continue to hammer on it: to perpetually work towards a better Nigerian society,” she said.

    In his speech, Omeri told the guests that Nigeria cannot be made better if the people and their leaders do not come together to work for the progress of the society.  “We are here because Bauchi is the pearl of tourism in Nigeria.  It is a warm state; very conducive and accommodating.  But at a stage, things became bad that we began to suspect one another.  Today peace seems to be eluding us.  Then we ask: where did we get it wrong?  At what point did we begin to derail?”, he asked as he surveyed the gathering.

    “Yes, things that made us one in those days are no longer there and we have to retrace our steps to make Nigeria an Eldorado once more.  We as leaders need to do more to ensure that issues of divisiveness, hatred and lack of love are put behind us.  This is one of the ways to make for a better future where we live in harmony with one another.”

    For Mr. Akin Adejuwon who stood in for the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, he charged Nigerian to be more proactive in terms of generating revenue and jobs for the Nigerian youth.  “This issue of Nigeria being one commodity state has to stop forthwith.  It is time to look towards culture, towards dance, drama and music to create more jobs for our teeming populace.  And Bauchi State is an ideal state to start from.”  This was indeed in tune with the various dances rendered by the Troupe at the occasion to draw people towards their traditions, customs and beliefs and to tell them too, that there is plenty to gain from dance as a profession.

    In his own address, the Bauchi State governor, Mohammed Abubakar told the people that the theme of the event was appropriate given the federal government mantra of change.  “Change has to be permissive.  We all have to be involved in it to make it work.  Now we all have become conscious of the fight against corruption.  It is a mantle we adopted when we came into office and we hope to decisively deal with it.  Corruption does not make for progress and this is why all hands have to be on deck to checkmate it,” he said.

    “Today, Boko Haram is about to be thrashed out,” he presented, amid cheers from the audience.  “And this shows that the federal government, led by Muhammadu Buhari is alive to its responsibility to the people.  Yes, the fight against insecurity is the concern of everyone.  Therefore, let us all work together to promote peace, love, unity and progress for the good of our nation.”

    In the main lecture delivered by Professor Alemika Etannibi titled Curbing Corruption and Insecurity in Nigeria: The role of leadership and followership, he asserted that people get the type of leaders they have because, in most cases, they are too docile or reluctant to ask their leaders to account for their roles in office.  “Therefore, everyone has to sit up in this fight to have a normal society in Nigeria.”

    In his reaction to the lecture, Professor Usman Malunfashi of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, berated leaders for their total neglect of the workforce.  “When you do not take care of their welfare, they will steal to build houses, to live well in retirement and take care of their future.  So we need to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.  The yawning gap is too much and this is why crime is continually on the increase,” he proffered.

    The event which Omeri promised to take to other parts of the nation is part of the crusade to bring back the culture of pride and honesty into the system.

  • ‘No Lassa fever in Bauchi’

    he Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Ministry of Health, Dr. Sa’idu Aliyu Gital, said yesterday that there was no outbreak of Lassa fever.

    He, however, said: “We recorded four suspected cases of the fever, with none confirmed positive as at today. Three were reported negative, while the report of the fourth from Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State is being awaited.”

    Gital said the first case of the fever was recorded in 2012, which claimed five lives, 10 in 2013 and six in 2014, in Tafawa Balewa, Dass, Toro, Alkaleri and Bauchi councils.

    He said: “From December 16, 2015 to date, there has been no confirmed case of the fever because the government has set up a rapid response team for Lassa fever, established a case treatment centre and stepped up awareness campaigns on the epidemic to mitigate the outbreak of the fever.”

  • Minister orders probe into use of ladder at Bauchi airport

    •NAHCO denies involvement

    Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika has directed an immediate investigation into the use of ladder by Aero Contractors Airlines for passengers’ disembarkment at the end of a charter flight to Bauchi at the weekend.

    The directive was contained in a statement in Abuja yesterday by the ministry’s Deputy Director of Press and Public Affairs, James Odaudu.

    The statement said the minister received a report indicating that the airline used a ladder to disembark passengers from a Boeing 737 aircraft at the  Bauchi airport on Saturday.

    The minister stated that the act was inconsistent with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs),  International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS).

    The investigation is expected to determine the causes of the incident with a view to developing and implementing measures that would prevent a reoccurrence of the unsafe procedure that exposed passengers to risk of injury.

    Sirika noted that if the airline is found culpable, sanctions within extant laws and regulations would be applied on it.

    He assured the traveling public that the Ministry of Transport in collaboration with Nigerian Civil Aviation  Authority (NCAA) would ensure strict adherence to the civil aviation regulations as well as ICAO and SARPS.

    He added that he would not shriek in his responsibility to ensure a safe and secure air transport services.

    But  the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) yesterday said it was not responsible for ground handling of the airline’s flights at Bauchi airport.

    A statement issued by its spokesman, Mr. Tayo Ajakaye,   said:  ”The attention of the NAHCO has been drawn to reports making rounds on the social media to the effect that it was its failure to provide handling service to one of its esteemed clients, Aero Contractors, that caused passengers of the airline to disembark with ladder at the Bauchi Airport.

    “Nothing can be further from the truth. NAHCO does not have operations in Bauchi. This fact is well-known to Aero and all our client airlines. So, for Aero to embark on that chartered flight to Bauchi, it definitely would have made its own private arrangements.

    “Aero’s statement in this regard is particularly clear. It never mentioned NAHCO, nor for that matter, any ground handler as the reason it had to innovate.”

  • Minister orders probe into use of ladder at Bauchi Airport

    Minister orders probe into use of ladder at Bauchi Airport

    …NAHCO denies involvement in incident 

    The  Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has directed an immediate investigation into the use of an unauthorized equipment by Aero Contractors Airlines at the conclusion of a charter flight to Bauchi over the weekend.

     

    This is just as one of the ground handling companies, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company ( NAHCO) Plc said it is was not involved in the incident because it does not operate at Bauchi Airport .
    The minister spoke through the deputy director in charge of press and public affairs in the ministry, Mr James Odaudu.

     

    Several reports received by the Minister have indicated that the airline used a ladder to disembark passengers from a Boeing 737 aircraft at the  Bauchi airport on Saturday December 19th 2015.
    According to the Minister, the act is inconsistent with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS).
    The investigation will determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident with a view to developing and implementing measures that will prevent a reoccurrence of the unsafe and unacceptable procedure that exposed passengers to high risk of serious injury.

     

    He reiterated that if the airline is found culpable, the full weight of sanctions within extant laws and regulations would be applied on it.

    The Minister assures the traveling public that the Ministry of Transportation in collaboration with Nigerian Civil Aviation  Authority (NCAA) will ensure strict adherence to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations as well as ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices by all operators.

    Sirika further states that the ministry will not fail  in its responsibility to ensure a safe and secure air transport services which he views as sacrosanct.
    Meanwhile, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO aviance) on Sunday said it was not responsible for the ordeals of Aero contractors at Bauchi airport where its passengers had to disembark from an aircraft with a ladder on Saturday.

     

    In a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr Tayo Ajakaye ,  NAHCO  said,  “The attention of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO aviance) has been drawn to reports making rounds on the social media to the effect that it was its failure to provide handling service to one of its esteemed clients, Aero Contractors, that caused passengers of the airline to disembark with ladder at the Bauchi Airport.

     

    “Nothing can be further from the truth. NAHCO does not have operations in Bauchi. This fact is well known to Aero and all our client airlines. So, for Aero to embark on that chartered flight to Bauchi, it definitely would have made its own private arrangements.

     

    “Aero’s statement in this regard is particularly clear. It never mentioned NAHCO, nor for that matter, any ground handler as the reason it had to innovate.”