The Nation Newspaper

Tag: KELVIN OSA-OKUNBOR

  • 162 stranded Nigerians in Libya arrive Lagos Airport

    162 stranded Nigerians in Libya arrive Lagos Airport

    •  They volunteered to return home, says International Organisation for Migration
    One hundred and sixty two stranded Nigerians in the North African country, Libya, on Thursday arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
    They were flown home by a chartered Boeing 737 aircraft operated by Ghadames Air, which arrived the Lagos Airport  about 2: 50 pm.
    Their return was facilitated by the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration  and the Swiss government.
    The returnees consists of 132 males, 27 females and three children, who were received on arrival and documented by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Police, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other security agencies.
    According to Sara Hamo, consultant with International Organisation for Migration, in charge of assisted voluntary return and re- integration in Lagos, the returnees are stranded Nigerian migrants who opted to return home with assistance from the Swiss government.
    The IOM, she said after careful documentation and profiling  on arrival in Lagos will facilitate their re- integration with their families in collaboration with the respective state emergency management agencies.
    The OIM, she said, will make available some stipend to enable  them resettle.
    Also, speaking in an interview, Juma Ben Hassan, an operations assistant with OIM in Libya, said the return of the Nigerians was made possible with request from the Nigerian embassy in Tripoli.
    He said the Nigerian embassy in Tripoli had in the past requested the assistance of OIM to bring home stranded Nigerian migrants in Libya.
    Thursday’s  returnees, he said, will be the second this year after about 180 were returned in March.
    He said in the next two months, another batch numbering about 180 will arrive Nigeria.
    Among the returnees were some with reduced mobility, as well as a fire accident victim, brought of the aircraft into a waiting ambulance in a stretcher .
    Also speaking, the director in charge of relief  and rehabilitation, NEMA, Aliyu Baffale Sambo  said the returnees will be taken to rehabilitation camp, before they are given transport to return home.
    The returnees declined to speak to reporters.

  • “Don’t place embargoes on foreign training”

    The Commissioner of Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Dr. Felix Abali has appealed to the Federal Government to exempt its technical personnel from the current embargo placed on foreign training since 2015.
    Abali explained that accident investigation is a specialised area that requires special training hence such training could only mostly be  obtained  overseas.
    Abali stated this yesterday at the bureau’s headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos during the visit of the House Ad-Hoc Committee on Non-Oil Revenue and Remittances.
    The Federal Government  in early 2015 suspended foreign training and international travels by Departments and Agencies, MDAs.
    The government said that the embargo on training and international travels is one of the cost-saving measures introduced following recent developments in the international oil market, which has affected the revenue stream of the government.
    Since the directive, which was announced by the Head of Service, Mr. Danladi kifasi in February 2015, technical personnel in the nation’s aviation industry have  not  embarked  on foreign training to boost their technical knowledge.
    Abali further advocated for the increase of the  three  per cent of the ticket sales charge to 10 percent, stressing that paucity of funds has prevented the agency from carrying out its duties as a responsible accident investigator.
    He added that AIB as parts of its succession plan requires  special funding to operate and hoping  that the committee would use its good office to push for the upward review of the ticket sales charge for the agency.
    He added:  “For emergency and high profile accidents, AIB requires an emergency or special account to meet this need. Malaysia MH 370 and TWA 800 accidents, among others, are apt examples. Stakeholders and public awareness campaign requires adequate funding. We request for support in this area.
    “Accident investigation bodies are not expected to charge for their services and so the opportunity to generate independent revenue is almost nil. Based on Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, Manual, there should be special fund dedicated to catre for any major accidents. It has been very difficult to provide and keep this fund since every unspent money goes back to the Federal Treasury by 31st December of every financial year.”
    He declared that AIB needs  to urgently meet the need for qualified personnel to takeover from the crop of ageing technical personnel who he said are  currently on contract, stressing that huge fund was required for manpower development, majority of which is done overseas.
    He mentioned the upgrade of flight safety, laboratory and flight data monitoring device, equipping of wreckage hangar and establishment of two regional offices in Kano and Enugu as some of the ongoing projects of AIB.
    In his response, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Chike Okafor promised to assist the bureau in resolving some of its challenges.
    Okafor noted that the essence of the committee is to look at other avenues by which the Federal Government could make more revenues apart from oil, which he noted has been dwindling in recent time.
    He posited that part of its assignment is to see how the committee could help the government to shore up its revenues apart from oil.
    “Nigeria is about 80 percent dependent on oil, which has crashed in recent time in the international market. Nigeria is in comatose and we all have to save the country from total collapse.
    He, however commended AIB for its total cooperation with its advance team, which crosschecked its books for over a week.
  • FG undertakes survey of genetically modified organisms in Nigeria

    FG undertakes survey of genetically modified organisms in Nigeria

     Agency allays fear over health concerns
    Director General of the National Biosafety Management Agency  (NBMA), Rufus Ebegba has said that the  Federal Government is carrying out a survey of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that has entered  Nigeria since 2009.
    The survey, according to Ebegba is  to ascertain if any, harmful GMO has entered the country  in the period under review.
    He said  such harmful GMOs, if they exist  will be mopped out of the market.
    This is just as the agency has allayed fears that GMOs has health concerns for consumers of the produce.
    He said the agency has requested that all applicants seeking to bring in the bio- technology product into Nigeria to formalise their application  in order to have statutory  control.
    Ebegba disclosed this in  an interview with journalists at the local wing of the Lagos Airport.
    He said the clarification has become imperative because of controversies triggered in some quarters that the agency gave approval for Mosanto’s GMO in Nigeria.
    He said there is nothing unusual about GMOS, entering Nigeria, because government will not  support anything that could  jeopardise the health and well being her citizens.
    He assured that there is no harmful GMO in the country, warning that those who would want to bring in any harmful sample will be severely sanctioned.
    Ebegba wondered why some Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), are against GMOs, saying that there is the serious global monitoring of such technology by the United Nations.
    He said there is nothing new about GMOs to warrant the concerns being raised in some quarters.
    He said: “There has been a lot of controversies about GMOS, Mosanto and the Agency. The Agency was established to ensure the safety of Nigerians as regards the use of genetically modified organisms and also the research that leads to their development.
    “But I want to assure Nigerians that there is no GMO that will harm anyone in this country that will be released. There are sanctions. No one wants to go to jail not even for one day. If other countries accept what is wrong, we will not accept it.
      “Already, we are doing a survey of all the GMOS that have entered this country before this act. And once  they are found to be not good enough, we will find a way to mop them out of the market. We have requested them to formalise.
    ” Nigerians can be rest assured that the government has put in place all necessary things and they should not be lured into the war between two industries – bio-tech and agro-chemical company.
      “Permit to Mosanto: that of corn is experimental and it would still take up to five years before the experiment can come into the market.
      “Why are the NGO against GMO: “Everyone has their own interests and whatever interest anyone has… GMO is not new and their are close monitoring everywhere. Nations, the United Nations are al monitoring. If GMOS are dangerous, will UN support it?
      “Before now, most people were not hearing about GMO but the agency has brought it to the fore and it has become a national discourse.
     “The discussions are quite healthy but what i’m against is an attempt to vilify government officials who have good intentions ensuring that everybody is safe. There is no individual that can protect the people better than the government. The Government is aware of what is good for Nigerians and that is why they have established the agency to ensure that development in this sector does not compromise safety.
      “Since 2009, Nigeria has been receiving applications for Biosafety permits.
    There is nothing to hide. There is no government that would want to do anything adverse to the people.
    We mean well. The interesting thing is that they are no differentiating between a maize that is genetically modified and another that is not, from the analysis so far conducted.
    “Mosanto is not the only one we have granted a permit to. If anyone has issues with Mosanto, it should not be seen as if my agency is being vilified. The agency is established to ensure safety, not to stop GMO.
    “We have more than 26 institutes in Nigeria conduct researches on biotechnology. Apart from that, the government has established biotechnology management agency.
    “Al these agencies are going to be doing genetic engineering. For anyone to say this is coming from America or Europe, is not likely to be because Nigeria has to develop what is good for the country.
    “There is no reason to raise health concerns. GMO has been in the market since 1996 and there is no doubt that we have them in the market. I can boldly tell you that all what we have in the market have been tested and confirmed safe.”

  • Arik Air gets royal endorsement

    • Says supporting Nigerian brands is good for business
    Arik Air  has received a royal endorsement from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II.
    Last Wednesday, the  foremost traditional ruler and a large entourage including some traditional rulers from the South West States demonstrated his support for Nigerian brands by flying  Arik Air from Lagos to New York on a tour of America.
    The First Class Monarch who travelled from Lagos to New York aboard Arik Air’s A330-200 aircraft that departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for JF Kennedy Airport, New York said his patronage by flying the airline is to prove the point that you cannot be wrong  your own .
    He said:  “I am an apostle of made-in-Nigeria and that is why everything you see on me except my wrist watch are hundred  per cent made in Nigeria.”
    Speaking with a team from Arik Air led by the Chief Pilot, Captain Adetokunbo Adekunbi, who were on hand to usher him to the departure lounge of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ooni Ogunwusi in company with his wife, Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi, said his decision to fly Arik Air to New York was a deliberate one aimed at reinforcing the need to patronize Nigerian brands. 
    He commended the management of Arik Air for flying the flag of Nigeria high and pledged to use his position to get Nigerians to patronize the airline.
    Reiterating his foremost position in Yoruba land, Ooni Ogunwusi stated that his flying Arik Air with other traditional rulers will bring good fortune to the airline.
    The Ooni’s entourage numbering over 50 had not less than 10 other Yoruba traditional rulers from Oyo, Osun and Ekiti States.
  • Suspects hide narcotics in vegetable, shoe at Enugu airport

    Suspects hide narcotics in vegetable, shoe at Enugu airport

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu has discovered compressed cannabis in vegetables and cocaine inside the shoe sole.
    Two of the suspects were found in possession of substances that tested positive for cocaine while four others were caught with dried weeds of cannabis sativa.
    Three of the suspects going to China, where drug trafficking is punishable by death were also saved from execution. A total of 62.663kg of drugs comprising 60.55kg of cannabis and 2.113kg of cocaine were ceased.

    NDLEA commander at the Enugu airport, Mr. Adeofe Adeyemi said that the airport command is working very hard to prevent all cases of illicit drug trafficking.
    “The command has arrested six suspected drug traffickers with 62.663kg of narcotic drugs. One of the suspects, Ibeh Kevin Nonso, 46 years old going to China swallowed 67 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.131kg while Izukanne Ikenna, 33 years old going to Hong Kong hid 982 grammes of cocaine inside the sole of his shoes.
    The only female, 27 year old Kenechukwu Ujunwa Uchenna was arrested on her way to Dubai with 11.7kg of cannabis in dried bitter leaf vegetables” Adeofe stated.

    Other suspects are Agwu Jeremiah Kalu, 30 years old was found with 25kg of cannabis in cartons and Okpara Kenneth Chigozie, 43 years old caught with 7.500kg of cannabis in his bag were both arrested on their way to China.
    Onyia Chukwuebube Clinton, 26 year old had 16.350kg of cannabis in his luggage during screening of passengers to Doha.
    The suspects in their statements owned up to the crime, adding that they needed money to take care of basic needs like house rent, school fees and feeding.

    NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) has warned that those who seek to enrich themselves through drug trafficking shall be apprehended and prosecuted. He called on members of the public to appreciate their dignity by taking a qualitative drug-free decisions.
    “NDLEA will continue to invest in public enlightenment to guide people in taking sound drug-free decisions. Life is precious and I urge you to shun drug trafficking and criminal acts capable of subjecting you to prison custody and untimely death” Abdallah stated.
  • Amadeus will continue to invest in Nigeria, says  Vice President, Africa

    Amadeus will continue to invest in Nigeria, says  Vice President, Africa

    Vice-Président, Africa, Amadeus, the world’s leading Global Distribution System (GDS) for travel service providers and sellers across the globe,  Mr Paul De Villiers, has described Nigeria as the most critical partner of the organisation in Africa.

    Speaking at the official opening of the new office of Amadeus, Nigeria at the Dophin Estate Extension in Ikoyi last week, Villiers noted  that Amadeus is committed to the development of the aviation and travel industry  in the country.

    While welcoming the company’s customers and other stakeholders who graced the occassion, De Villiers said: “Nigeria is extremely important to us in Africa and that is for so many reasons. The first is that Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa.

    The second is that I am convinced that there is a huge growth coming to Nigeria in coming years, One of the most impressive things about Nigeria is its people. The Nigerians I have met are all ambitous, energetic, dynamic, they want to progress. And that is what a nation needs.

    “In a lot of other countries, the people’s biggest ambition is to work for the ministries, for the government or their municipality. « But not Nigeria, no matter where the people come from or their class in society, they want to progress, and contribute to the society, they want to be wealthy and that is very important for the nation. So not only do you have the energy, you have the natural resources and on top of it, you have the size. A country projected to be 400million  by 2050, which is even bigger than the whole of Europe, so I think Nigeria has everything  going for it and Amadeus is going to keep investing in  Nigeria.

    He explained that this is the reason the company moved its office to Ikoyi and that it will continue to improve its technology to reward the loyalty of customers and  ensure their convenience.

    Present at the event were, General Manager for Nigeria and Ghana, Mr Yann Gilbert, President, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA),  Mr. Bankole Bernand, Managing Director, Aviator Travels, Mrs. Tinuke Nwakohu and Sales and Marketing Manager, Amadeus, Nigeria, Mrs Joke Adeyemi among other.

  • NAMA, NAF partner on airspace safety

     

     

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have held high level deliberations bordering on collaboration and synergy of the two institutions in the areas of security of navigational infrastructure, calibration of navigational aids, training of personnel and exchange programmes.

    Speaking when he led a high-powered delegation on a courtesy visit to NAMA headquarters in Lagos, Director of Air Traffic Management Services, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal. C. T. Gudi, noted that as a dependable ally, NAMA has always collaborated with NAF in critical areas like strategic airspace surveillance, air traffic control, airspace security and training of Air Force personnel.

    AVM. Gudi stated that the professional and technical expertise provided by NAMA in Air Force operations and training remained invaluable, stressing that their visit was therefore “to deepen this existing cordial relationship and operational synergy especially given the numerous benefits accruing to the nation in terms of safety and security of the airspace.”

    AVM Gudi, who specifically appreciated NAMA for providing on-the-job training for Air Force personnel who graduate from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria, also appealed to the agency to always consider the Air Force while planning for ad hoc trainings and seminars on Performance Based Navigation (PBN) and other such programmes which fall in between the major courses at NCAT, Zaria.

    According to him, “the aviation world is very sophisticated and dynamic and is all about who has superior training. Given that NAMA is more acquainted with ICAO calendar and programmes, it has become imperative that the Nigerian Air Force be carried along in some of these trainings so that we can all be speaking the same language.”

    In his remarks, the Ag. Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Emma Anasi stated that the complimentary role played by NAMA and NAF in ensuring safety and security of the airspace requires that a coordinated and harmonious civil/military collaboration has to be sustained and improved upon.

    While appreciating NAF for providing security around navigational facilities across the nation’s airports, Anasi called for uniformity of Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) infrastructure between the two organizations which he believes will make for inter-operability of systems and seamlessness in airspace management.

  • Dana Air Unveils Exciting Package for Frequent Flyers

    Dana Air Unveils Exciting Package for Frequent Flyers

    • Wins City Peoples’ Airline of the year Award
    Dana Air has announced that frequent flyers on its entire route network – Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Accra, will earn double Miles when they register for its frequent flyer programme and book their tickets before  June, 18  for travel from June 1, 2016  till June, 30  2016.  
    According to the airline,  frequent flyers will earn double miles based on their class of tickets while registered members of its frequent flyer program, stand a chance of getting a spot upgrade to business class, whenever they fly economy this June. 
    The Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo, said the airline is considering more offers to make this summer exciting for its guests. ‘’ We understand what the travel desire of our guests will be in the months to come and we are reviewing with the objective to offer more exciting packages and rewards to our guests.’’ He said the essence of the spot upgrade is for members of Dana Miles to experience the world-class hospitality that typifies its Business Class cabin.
    Meanwhile, the airline has received another laurel, having been recognized as Airline of the Year at the 19th edition of the City People Awards for Excellence at The Lekki Coliseum, Lagos.
    According to the Publisher and Editor – in- Chief of City People Media Group, Mr Seye Kehinde, “The City People Awards for Excellence, is an annual event meant to reward and celebrate deserving personalities and corporate organizations that excelled in their various areas of endeavor.” He said Dana Air  emerged winners for doing well in the aviation sector.
    Commenting on the award, The Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo, said, ‘’we are honored to have received this award and are happy that our efforts in providing quality customer and in-flight service to our esteemed guests is being recognized.  We put our customers first in all we do and some of the online platforms recently  launched are just our way of ensuring constant touch with our customers when they have enquiries, feedback or need updates on their Dana Miles account.” Obi said the airline remains fully committed to its vision which is to be recognized and respected as Nigeria’s most reliable and customer-friendly airline.
    Only recently, Dana Air bagged an award for service excellence in aviation at the 2016 Commerce and Industry Awards, organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

  • Nigeria to host US$50billion aerospace show, aviation exponSh

    Nigeria will be hosting its  first ever international Aerospace show, Airport Expo aimed at attracting $50b Investment into the country’s aviation industry come October this year.

    The Executive Director of the International Aviation Management and Security (IAMS) Mr John Nwosu who disclosed this to aviation correspondents in Abuja said the event will bring together participants from all over the world, adding that it was  intended to attract 50-billion-dollar worth of investment in Nigeria’s aviation industry through its international business forum.

    Nwosu said that the potential in the country’s aviation sector was yet to be harnessed, adding that Nigeria controlled the largest aviation market in the Central and West African region.

    “The benefit of this programme for Nigeria is that it will attract investment in this country.

    For example, the Airport Expo that was held in Dubai in 2013 generated over 20-billion-dollar investment, while this one will be done in five phases and we are expecting 50-billion-dollar investment.”

    According to him, the first international Aerospace Show, Airport Expo and Business Forum will be held in Lagos and Abuja in October.

    He explained that the programme will enable the participants to collaborate and establish clear legislative frameworks, policy priorities, transparent governance systems and effective funding strategies for regional aviation growth.

    He said while the Dubai event which was only about airports generated $20b, the coming one will comprise of conference, training, Aerospace Show, Airport Expo and International Business and will generate more.

    ”The event will bring together aviation professionals and stakeholders who will network, source their products requirements and create over 50 billion dollars’ worth of business possibilities.

    “It also targets to chart a sustainable path and, brainstorm on preventive strategy for the aviation sector.”

    Nwosu said that the programme was also aimed at solving the numerous problems confronting the aviation industry not only in Nigeria but also Africa and the globe as a whole.

    He added that during the programme, cabinet ministers in charge of aviation from the participating countries would meet in plenary to rub minds on many issues bordering on the development of the industry.

    According to him, the event is designed to shape tomorrow’s aviation and bring many countries in the new world order.

  • Death row: NDLEA saves Nigerian from execution in China

    Death row: NDLEA saves Nigerian from execution in China

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has prevented a thirty-eight year-old mother of two children, Obudike Faith Ndidiamaka from execution in China where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment.

    This followed her arrest by anti-narcotic officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos during outward screening of passengers on Kenyan Airways flight to China. She was found with 1.155kgs of cannabis hidden in melon.
    Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah who condemned her action said that the Agency needs fund to embark on aggressive anti-drug public enlightenment.

    According to Abdallah, “it is sad that while government is worried over the number of Nigerians on death row in other nations, a mother of two children is still smuggling drugs to China where drug trafficking is punishable by death.

    Her arrest here has saved the country from embarrassment. It has equally prevented her family from the pain of losing a loved one under the circumstance. The NDLEA will not relent in saving lives and promoting the image of Nigeria.”

    The Chairman said that most Nigerians in foreign prisons for drug trafficking did not depart Nigeria with narcotics.

    “Most Nigerians who are in foreign prisons for drug trafficking did not take drugs from Nigeria. Some others were lured with fake promises of job opportunities by members of drug trafficking organisations only to find themselves stranded and vulnerable to drug trafficking.

    Those travelling abroad in search of greener pastures must have made adequate preparation for the period they will stay and also possess requisite technical skills. We are planning elaborate public sensitisation campaign to address this challenge” Abdallah stated.

    NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba said that the suspect, Obidike concealed the drugs in melon and food stuff. “She was caught while travelling to China with 1.155kg of compressed dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis. Investigation into the case is in progress and she will soon be charged to court” Ahmadu stated.

    The suspect who lives in Onitsha said that she was contracted by her social media friend to smuggle the drugs to China. “I am a trader. I used to travel.

    He promised to give me a handsome reward when I get to China. Unfortunately, the drug was detected during search at the Lagos airport. I am married with two children” Obudike who hails from Imo stated.