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Tag: Senate

  • Why Senate won’t swear in Akwa Ibom Senator

    Why Senate won’t swear in Akwa Ibom Senator

    More details emerged in the ongoing tussle for the control of Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial seat.

    Strong indications emerged that the decision to stall the swearing-in of Mr. Bassey Etim in place of Senator Bassey Akpan was informed by high- wired politics.

    A source close to the leadership of the National Assembly said alhough the cases of Etim and Senator Isaac Mohammed Alfa(Kogi East), who was removed for Senator Atai Aidoko on the order of the court appear similar, Etim has not been sworn-in because of political considerations.

    The source said Aidoko was sworn-in because the parties to the case were clearly told that once the court rules, the winner would be sworn-in as Senator.

    The source noted that a similar agreement was not reached with the parties to the Etim versus Akpan case.

    The leadership of the Senate is said to be relying on the report of the legal department of the National Assembly to keep on hold the inauguration of Etim.

    Our reporter learnt that a legal opinion expressed by the Department urged the Senate President to await more details on the matter before taking further steps.

    The source added that Etim’s ‘perceived confrontational posture could also have been one of the factors threatening to cost him the seat following his victory over Senator Bassey Akpan at the Federal High Court, Uyo in February.’

    He said: “Rather than engage the leadership, Etim is seen as fighting from outside with series of statements being made against the National  Assembly system by those who claimed to be his lawyers.”

    The court in Uyo had declared that Etim was the rightful holder of the  Akwa-Ibom North East senatorial seat currently occupied by Senator Bassey Akpan in view of his(Etim’s) victory at the primaries conducted by the Peoples Democratic party(PDP) in  2015.

    The court had ordered that Etim be sworn-in to replace Akpan.  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in compliance with the Court Order issued a fresh Certificate of Return to Etim on March 28, while he has been waiting on the Senate to give him the go ahead.

    Akpan has, however, filed two cases in court, one at the Federal High Court Abuja and another at the Court of Appeal, Calabar to stall his removal.

    He is seeking a court injuction to upturn the order of the Federal High Court, which mandated the Senate to swear-in Etim. But the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in a letter to  Senate President Bukola Saraki said that Etim should be sworn- in because there is no order of the Court stopping the exercise, while the Counsel to Etim, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) had also written the Senate calling Akpan’s efforts in court “Forum shopping.”

    The legal opinion expressed by the legal department of the National Assembly and signed by Charles Yoila, advised the Senate President to ensure status quo by all stakeholders and parties pending the hearing of the motion on notice for mandatory Injunction.

    “You may also wish to await further details on the position of the matter before taking any further steps,” the legal advice read.

     

  • Senate targets Ali over unremitted N4trillion Customs revenue

    Senate targets Ali over unremitted N4trillion Customs revenue

    There seems to be no let up in the Senate’s ongoing investigation of an alleged N4 trillion revenue leakage in the Nigeria Customs Service.

    The Nation can authoritatively report that the quest to probe the unremitted revenue may not be unconnected with the lawmakers’ resolve to aid nation’s economic recovery.

    Through its standing committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, the upper legislative chamber has vowed to get to the roots of the alleged fraudulent acts, which it said, were perpetrated between 2006 and 2016.

    Giving insight on the fresh moves to probe the Customs high command, Chairman of the Senate committee, Hope Uzodinma who had last week confirmed the investigation into the matter, noted that the revenues were lost through lapses and various infractions.

    Vowing to ensure the recovery of the funds, Uzodinma had stated that preliminary investigation by his committee revealed that abuse and non implementation of Foreign Exchange Form M by the Customs management led to the revenue leakage.

    According to him, wrong classification of cargo under the Harmonised System Codes, non screening of cargoes coming into Nigeria and lack of adequate ICT infrastructure for revenue collection, were identified in the Customs operations.

    Uzodinma further stated that his committee’s investigation also unveiled cases of cancellation of pre-arrival assessment reports and abandonment of single goods declaration in Customs operations within the period under review.

    In continuation of the probe which started in March, the Senate committee had, in the first week of June, extended invitation to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, and Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, over the alleged infractions.

    The committee had, in addition to the Customs Service, also invited the Managing Directors of all commercial banks, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    The Customs management team and other government agencies summoned for questioning have appeared before the Senate committee on a number of times but the investigation is yet to be concluded.

    Reacting to the ongoing investigation, the spokesman for the Customs, Mr. Joseph Attah, said the agency is open to investigation any day.

    In a telephone chat with our correspondent over the weekend, Attah confirmed that the management team of the Customs has been attending the investigative hearing instituted by the committee.

    “They have been inviting us and we have been responding and we will continue to respond to their invitation any time they extend it to us,” Attah said.

    However, analysts have been vehement in their submission that the Senate committee’s investigative hearing was not borne out of any altruistic move by the lawmakers, particularly the committee chairman.

    Recall that the Customs, sometime in 2016, had seized 30 containers of rice imported into the country through the Lagos Port.

    The importer, Masters Energy Commodities Trading Limited, had declared the contents of the containers as yeast only for Customs officials to discover that the contents were rice.

    As part of the moves to recover the containers, Uzodinma, had through his committee, written to the Comptroller General of the Customs, Col. Hammed Ali, seeking his intervention in the matter with the view to having them released.

    The letter, written on the committee’s letterhead and dated November 17, 2016, was personally signed by Uzodinma.

    The letter read, “The accompanying documents in respect of the above mentioned subject matter refers.

    “We have gone through the documents as submitted and wish to suggest that you use your good office to look into the case of this company, Masters Energy Commodities Trading Limited.

    “It is instructive from the circumstances and accompanying documents that the company, from the inception of the transaction, disclosed the contents of the 30 containers as rice.

    “The owner of these containers was probably short changed by their clearing agents. The declaration by the agents that the contents of the containers were yeast may not be with the consent of the importer of the 30 containers of rice.

    “May we therefore suggest that you take a second look at this case subject to your internal mechanism because the committee is of the opinion that it would be unjust to punish the owners of the 30 containers because of the sins of the agents.

    “We suggest that the agents should rather be sanctioned to act as deterrent to others.”

    But the Hammed Ali led Customs had ignored the entreaties by Uzodinma, insisting the law must take its course.

    Consequently, in March 2017, the Uzodinma led committee of the Senate opened investigation into the alleged N4 trillion revenue leakage involving the Customs Service and other allied agencies.

    The authorities of the Customs have continued to insist that the entire investigation by the Senate committee was a vengeance mission.

    For instance, it’s on record that the Customs had, in January 2017, impounded a bullet proof Range Rover SUV said to have been illegally imported into the country by the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

    The value of the vehicle, with chassis number SALGV3TF3EA190243 was put at N298 million at the time it was impounded and the Customs ought to have raked in about N74 million import duty on the vehicle.

    But the documents presented to Customs officials by the driver of the vehicle, who was intercepted in transit, indicated that Customs duty of N8 million was paid with allegedly forged papers.

    In an effort to recover the vehicle, the Senate had forwarded a letter, dated January 17, 2017 to the Comptroller General of the Customs seeking the release of the impounded vehicle.

    The letter, signed by one O.A. Ojo who identified himself as Secretary of Procurement, Estate, and Works of the National Assembly, stated that the vehicle belonged to the convoy of the President of the Senate.

    But the Customs management had replied through a letter dated January 24, 2017, requesting for the end user certificate and evidence of proper clearance as conditions for the vehicle to be released.

    However, the demands have yet to be met by the importer of the vehicle. And just like the 30 containers of rice, the Customs is still holding on to the impounded vehicle.

    This also, had led to actions perceived as vindictive on the part of the Senate with invitation to Ali to appear before the lawmakers to explain the rationale behind the obnoxious retroactive import duty regime that the Customs attempted to impose of motor vehicle owners in the country.

    While the generality of Nigerians kicked against the unpopular policy, the role of the Senate in the matter was interpreted to be vindictive, particularly coming immediately after the impoundment of the vehicle.

    And to prove critics right, the lawmakers, instead of tackling the Customs boss on the obnoxious policy, deviated and derailed the entire exercise by insisting that Ali must appear before them in Customs uniform.

    Ali, who had made appearance before the Senate and who appeared ready for questioning, eventually walked away and vowed never to appear before the lawmakers on the same matter again.

  • Updates on moves to recall Melaye from Senate

    Updates on moves to recall Melaye from Senate

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday received signatures of registered voters in Kogi West Senatorial District, seeking the recall of Senator Dino Melaye from the upper legislative chamber.

    RELATED: ‘Melaye not fit to be Senator’

    At least 188, 588 out of the 360, 098 registered voters in the senatorial district have endorsed Melaye’s recall from the Senate.

    Reports said at least six bags containing the voters’ signatures were submitted to INEC on Wednesday.

    The Nation recalls that the process to recall the Kogi West Senator gathered momentum on Sunday, June 11 with the mobilisation of prospective signatories.

    It was gathered authoritatively that leaders across the seven local governments in the senatorial district met in Lokoja on Friday night to strategise on the ‘Dino Recall Project’.

    Meanwhile, the Senator in his response said that the ongoing move by the electorate in his constituency to recall him from the Senate will fail.

    According to him, his achievements in the Senate were enormous and as such the people of the constituency were solidly behind him.

    Melaye, who later led his supporters on a peaceful march around Kabba town, alleged that the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was behind the move to recall him.

    In his counter-response, the Governor urged the Senate to ensure the red chamber is made up of men of high calibre, integrity and good character to retain its high esteem.

    The governor made the statement, referring to Senator Melaye as a misfit for the Senate during his visit to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday, June 15.

     

  • Senate seeks suspension of new health centres

    •Fed Govt told to present details of funding

    Senate has ordered the suspension of Federal Government’s plan to build new primary health centres in each of the wards across the country.

    The upper chamber asked relevant agencies involved in the building plan to furnish it with details offunding of the project.

    The Senate Committee on Primary Health and Communicable Diseases, which handed the suspension, said it was obvious that the project was not viable now due to paucity of fund.

    The committee chairman,Mao Ohuabunwa, at a meeting with officials of the agency, said funding of such policy would be a problem now.

    The committee noted that the said multi-billion naira project was not captured in the 2017 budget.

    The committee said the N3 million provided for each of the existing primary health centres in the 2016 budget barely paid the salaries of the health personnel in some local governments.

    The National Health Care Development Agency told the committee that it has commenced training of 20 women in each ward of the Federation to handle the proposed health centres under its Community Health Programme initiative.

    Its Executive Secretary, Dr. FaizaShuaibu, said the new programme was in addition to the National Midwifery Scheme for which they may spend over N800 million this year for its implementation.

    The committee asked the agency to forget such policy for now because it would amount to waste of public funds to create new health centres when many of such centres have been abandoned due to lack of fund.

    Ohuabunwa said the committee would rather want the agency to consider building such centres in the 774 local government areas as a pilot scheme to observe how they can work first.

  • Senate to probe Kaduna power plant failure

    The Senate on Thursday mandated its Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy and Committee on Gas to investigate the failure of Kaduna State government-owned power plant to generate electricity.

    The plant has a capacity of 215 Megawatt.

    The Senate’s decision followed a motion moved by the Chairman of its Committee on Gas, Bassey Akpan, who said there was urgent need to save the plant.

    He said the plant’s problem had led to protracted power outage in northern part of the country, leading to shutdown of industries.

    Akpan said, “It is surprising that the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing appears to have jettisoned the use of gas to power the Kaduna power plant.

    “Instead, it opted for the construction of Automobile Gas Oil (diesel) tanks for the use of diesel, which is 60 per cent higher in cost when compared with gas.

    “It is further surprising that in the Federal Tenders Journal of May 28 to June 11, 2017, the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing advertised for supply of AGO instead of gas to power the Kaduna power plant.”

    He called for alternative source of gas supply to the plant to get it working.

    The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, urged the committees to carry out the investigation and get back to the Senate.

    He said, ‘’The committee must take this matter with the seriousness it deserves and quickly come back to us.

    “Clearly, there is an issue here. Obviously, there are people who are looking at personal interest as against the interest of the people.

    “There is no doubt about it; alternative option of gas is the way forward. To say now that it is diesel, I really cannot fathom.”

    Saraki assured the Senate would take a firm decision on the matter.

    NAN

  • Senate decries rising spate of suicides

    THE Senate yesterday raised the alarm over the rising spate of suicides and suicide attempts in the country.

    It asked the ministries of health at federal and state levels to embark on mental health sensitisation and awareness campaign to tackle the problem.

    It also asked the health ministries at federal and state levels to set up free and accessible mental health stations in government owned hospitals and clinics.

    The senators urged Nigerians to look out for possible symptoms of unhappiness, depression and to seek professional help, where necessary.

    The resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, followed a motion by Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the “Need to ensure affordable and accessible mental health care for Nigerians”.

    Senator Shehu Sani, who seconded the motion, lamented that it was obvious that many families could no longer cater for themselves.

    Senator Tinubu, in her lead debate, noted that the country was ranked 78th happiest nation in the world and fourth in Africa in the 2015 world happiness report.

    The Lagos Central lawmaker added that the report published in March 2017 rated Nigeria as 95thhappiest nation from 155 countries.

    She expressed concern that suicide and its attendant causes, namely: depression, social and economic problems, low self-esteem, traumatic experiences, physical and emotional abuse, substance abuse and bullying are not alien to Nigerians.

    She noted that societal ills, economic difficulty and crime rate, which are prevalent in Nigeria are sufficient to send anyone over the edge.

    Senator Tinubu expressed sadness that in spite of the dominant presence of suicide catalysts, Nigerian’s mental health support system is barely existent.

    She said access to mental health specialists was expensive and almost nearly out of reach of the poor and middle class.

    The effect, she said, is that “where pressure becomes overbearing for these persons, they attack people around them or attempt to take their own lives”.

    She said the Senate should be concerned that “the incidences of these suicides are made worse by lack of attention, and the belief that depression and other personality and mental disorders are the white man’s sickness and thus does not affect Nigerians”.

    Senator Tinubu said it was sad to remember the case of Ariyo Taiwo, who posted on Facebook, indicating that he had a few hours left to live.

    “Instead of his post being seen as a plea for help, comments in response mocked and encouraged him. He was said to have taken his life a few hour later,” she said.

    The lawmaker reminded his colleagues that the wellbeing of citizens is the primary duty of government.

    She reiterated the fact that accessibility of mental health care will also ensure that the teeming number of psychological and psychiatry graduates across the country can put their knowledge to use and be gainfully employed.

    Sani (Kaduna Central) said there was a connection between the turbulent polity and the mental state of Nigerians and connection between economic inequality and health of Nigerians.

    He said the thinking of the people was that if their situation could not be addressed, “the alternative will be to take the law into their hands”.

    Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North) said the economic hardship the country found itself is biting harder.

    Barau added that government must perform its functions of providing for the people’s welfare.

    Senator Emmanuel Paulker, on his part, said the bitterness in the country was very high.

    Paulker said government at all levels, the private sector and individuals should address people’s problems.

    Attempt for the issue to be addressed at a public hearing was defeated.

  • Senate decries rising spate of suicides

    Senate decries rising spate of suicides

    •Senator Tinubu seeks ‘urgent remedy’

    THE Senate yesterday raised the alarm over the rising spate of suicides and suicide attempts in the country.

    It asked the ministries of health at federal and state levels to embark on mental health sensitisation and awareness campaign to tackle the problem.

    It also asked the health ministries at federal and state levels to set up free and accessible mental health stations in government owned hospitals and clinics.

    The senators urged Nigerians to look out for possible symptoms of unhappiness, depression and to seek professional help, where necessary.

    The resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, followed a motion by Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the “Need to ensure affordable and accessible mental health care for Nigerians”.

    Senator Shehu Sani, who seconded the motion, lamented that it was obvious that many families could no longer cater for themselves.

    Senator Tinubu, in her lead debate, noted that the country was ranked 78th happiest nation in the world and fourth in Africa in the 2015 world happiness report.

    The Lagos Central lawmaker added that the report published in March 2017 rated Nigeria as 95thhappiest nation from 155 countries.

    She expressed concern that suicide and its attendant causes, namely: depression, social and economic problems, low self-esteem, traumatic experiences, physical and emotional abuse, substance abuse and bullying are not alien to Nigerians.

    She noted that societal ills, economic difficulty and crime rate, which are prevalent in Nigeria are sufficient to send anyone over the edge.

    Senator Tinubu expressed sadness that in spite of the dominant presence of suicide catalysts, Nigerian’s mental health support system is barely existent.

    She said access to mental health specialists was expensive and almost nearly out of reach of the poor and middle class.

    The effect, she said, is that “where pressure becomes overbearing for these persons, they attack people around them or attempt to take their own lives”.

    She said the Senate should be concerned that “the incidences of these suicides are made worse by lack of attention, and the belief that depression and other personality and mental disorders are the white man’s sickness and thus does not affect Nigerians”.

    Senator Tinubu said it was sad to remember the case of Ariyo Taiwo, who posted on Facebook, indicating that he had a few hours left to live.

    “Instead of his post being seen as a plea for help, comments in response mocked and encouraged him. He was said to have taken his life a few hour later,” she said.

    The lawmaker reminded his colleagues that the wellbeing of citizens is the primary duty of government.

    She reiterated the fact that accessibility of mental health care will also ensure that the teeming number of psychological and psychiatry graduates across the country can put their knowledge to use and be gainfully employed.

    Sani (Kaduna Central) said there was a connection between the turbulent polity and the mental state of Nigerians and connection between economic inequality and health of Nigerians.

    He said the thinking of the people was that if their situation could not be addressed, “the alternative will be to take the law into their hands”.

    Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North) said the economic hardship the country found itself is biting harder.

    Barau added that government must perform its functions of providing for the people’s welfare.

    Senator Emmanuel Paulker, on his part, said the bitterness in the country was very high.

    Paulker said government at all levels, the private sector and individuals should address people’s problems.

    Attempt for the issue to be addressed at a public hearing was defeated.

  • Senate faults AGF’s approach to anti-graft war

    Senate faults AGF’s approach to anti-graft war

    Senate on Tuesday carpeted the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over what it described as his poor handling of the anti-graft war.

    The lawmakers faulted Malami for not seeking the collaboration of the National Assembly on the appropriate legislation required to aid offenders’ prosecution.

    The Senate joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters with the Anti- Corruption and Financial Crimes Committee expressed the views at a public hearing on two critical bills meant for strengthening of the anti-graft war.

    The two bills are – Proceeds of Crimes Bill 2017 and Nigerian Assets Management (establishment etc) bill 2017.

    Malami, who was represented by one Anthony Odu Abba at the hearing, could not attend the event due to other pressing matters in his office.

    The senators were taken aback when Abba said the office of the Attorney General had no prepared position on the two proposed bills.

    Rather, Abba said the Executive arm would forward a single bill on the matter to the National Assembly for consideration at a later date.

    But the committee chairman, Senator David Umaru, said the position of the AGF was unacceptable to the panel.

    Umaru said, “This is unacceptable to us. One, you have no written memorandum on your position on the bills. Two, your principal, the AGF who was recently reported in the media to have castigated the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly for allegedly sitting on anti-corruption bills sent by the executive is not here. Three, your submission is neither here nor there as regards support for or opposition to the bills.

    “What is expected from the office of the Attorney- General on these bills are clearly written positions saying yes or no and not verbal proposition or information on another bill. This is not right and not expected from the AGF.”

     

  • Senate raises alarm over rising spate of suicides

    Senate raises alarm over rising spate of suicides

    …Tinubu seeks urgent remedy

     

    The Senate Tuesday raised the alarm over the rising spate of suicides and suicide attempts in parts of the country.

    The upper chamber asked the ministries of health at federal and state levels to immediately embark on mental health sensitization and awareness campaign to tackle the problem.

    It also asked the health ministries at federal and state levels to set up free and accessible mental health stations in all government owned hospitals and clinics across the country.

    It urged Nigerians to look out for possible symptoms of unhappiness, depression and to seek professional help where necessary.

    The resolutions which were unanimously adopted followed a motion by Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the “Need to ensure affordable and accessible mental health care for Nigerians.”

    Senator Shehu Sani who seconded the motion said lamented that it is obvious that many Nigerian families can no longer cater for themselves.

    Senator Tinubu in her lead debate noted that the country was ranked 78th happiest nation in the world and 4th in Africa in the 2015 world happiness report.

    The Lagos Central lawmaker further said that the report published in March 2017 rated Nigeria as 95th happiest nation out of 155 countries.

    She expressed concern that suicide and its attendant causes namely-depression, social and economic problems, low self-esteem, traumatic experiences, physical and emotional abuse, substance abuse, bullying are not alien to Nigerians.

    She noted that societal ills, economic difficulty, crime rate which are prevalent in Nigeria are sufficient to send anyone over the edge.

    Senator Tinubu expressed sadness that in spite of the dominant presence of suicide catalysts, Nigerian’s mental health support system is barely existent.

    She said that access to mental health specialists is expensive and almost nearly out of reach of the poor and middle class.

    The effect, she said, is that ‘where pressure becomes overbearing for these persons, they attack people around them or attempt to take their own lives.”

    She said that Senate should be concerned that “the incidences of these suicides are made worse by lack of attention, and the belief that depression and other personality and mental disorders are the white man’s sickness and thus does not affect Nigerians.”

    Senator Tinubu said that it is sad to remember the case of Ariyo Taiwo who posted on Facebook, indicating that he had a few hours left to live.

    “Instead of his post being seen as a plea for help, comments in response mocked and encouraged him. He was said to have taken his life a few hour later,” she said.

    The lawmaker reminded his colleagues that the wellbeing of citizens is the primary duty of government.

    She reiterated the fact that accessibility of mental health care will also ensure that the teeming number of psychological and psychiatry graduates across the country can put their knowledge to use and be gainfully employed.

    Senator Sani (Kaduna Central” said that there is connection between the turbulent polity and the mental state of Nigerians and connection between economic inequality and health of Nigerians.

    Sani said that the thinking of the people is that if their situation cannot be addressed that alternative will be to take the law into their hands.

    Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North) said that the economic hardship the country found itself is biting harder.

    Barau said that government must perform its functions of providing the welfare of the people.

    Senator Emmanuel Paulker on his part said that the bitterness in the country is very high.

    Paulker said that government at all levels, private sector and individuals should address the problems of the people.

    Attempt for the issue to be addressed at a public hearing was defeated.

     

  • Stop airports’ concession, FAAN petitioners urge Senate

    The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) chapter, has urged the Senate to stop the planned concession of the four major airports in the country.

    Its Secretary-General, Mr Emeka Njoku,    stated this at the monthly meeting of the union in Lagos.

    The Federal Government has appointed Transaction Advisers for the concession of the Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt airports.

    Njoku faulted the move, stressing that the unions in the sector would continue to resist any plan to concession the viable airports by the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

    He said: ”The Senate recently stopped the concession of Port Harcourt Refinery because the process was not transparent.

    “We, hereby, solicit further intervention from the National Assembly on the planned concession of our four viable airports.

    “If this government is known for zero tolerance on any act of impunity, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari, we cannot understand the refusal of the minister on the recently passed National Assembly Public Hearing resolution, suspending the planned concession of the four viable airports.“

    According to him, past concession agreements were not beneficial to the government and its agencies, noting that revenue collection points of the FAAN, such as toll gate, car parks, bill boards, fuel surcharges, shops and the VIP lounges were concessioned and had become a sad story.

    He said the union would not allow FAAN to go the way of the defunct Nigeria Airways, which was liquidated by an executive fiat.

    “We want the minister to tell the public what he wants to concession. What happens to FAAN workers, pensioners, its assets and liabilities? Is there a government blueprint on the proposal and what are contained therein? These and many more are begging for answers and should not be swept under the carpets,“ Njoku said.

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has updated its website to unveil the requirements, conditions and procedures of obtaining services with the airspace agency.

    The agency also unveiled on its website the prescribed fees and timelines necessary for the processing of applications for its services.

    Its Managing Director, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu said the website update was part of compliance measures to drive the implementation of the Executive Order rolled out by government.

    He also disclosed that the agency shall be organising workshop sessions to adequately enlighten and sensitise both staff and industry stakeholders on the essence and imperative of the executive orders, adding that the agency shall also be collaborating with other aviation agencies to harmonise processes in order to achieve the single user interface at the airports as directed by  the federal government.

    Capt. Akinkuotu hinted that in compliance with the order, the agency was working out modalities to increase local content in its procurement as this would boost locally manufactured goods in the country.