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Aviation Minister promises completion of outstanding projects before 2023

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Aviation Minister promises completion of outstanding projects before 2023

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika has promised to complete outstanding projects in the industry before the present administration completes its tenure by 2023.

Sirika made gave the assurance during the 25th Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony organised by the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference was: “Nigeria’s Aviation Industry: Management, Policy and Regulations”.

The minister noted that the President Muhamadu Buhari administration had a vision of a sector that would provide utmost comfort, safety and security for majority of passenger before his tenure ran out.

Sirika, represented by the Commissioner for Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Mr Akin Olateru also pledged to urgently improve operating environment for airlines operating in the country.

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The minister said that the ministry was in consultation with relevant Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to bring succor to the airlines.

Sirika highlighted that the ministry had been able to achieve zero import duties on aircraft engine, spare parts and special foreign exchange window for the aviation sector.

He said: “We have improved availability of aviation fuel in the industry and it had restructured the aviation agencies.

“Others are the improvement in aviation safety and security, upgrade of NCAT into a Regional Centre of Excellence.

“And we have achieved the introduction of policies on Remotely Piloted Aircraft, Employment Policies on the Enforcement of Expatriate Quota.”

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Sirika noted that Nigeria presently had Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) with 89 countries.

He added that 15 countries had already indicated their preparedness to sign BASAs with the country while 13 other countries were in the threshold of renegotiation.

The minister said in 2016, after it had conducted a diagnosis of the aviation industry, he convened a conference of all stakeholders where they emerged with a very clear road map.

Sirika said the roadmap was for the development of the aviation sector with the ultimate aim of making aviation highly relevant to the Nigerian economy.

He said: “However, as you are aware, COVID-19 has put the global economy to the test, with air transport being undoubtedly the hardest hit by the pandemic.

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“The statistics from the International Airline Transport Association (IATA) on COVID-19’s economic impact on Nigeria has revealed a revenue loss of 994 million dollars in 2020.

“In terms of employment at risk in Nigeria, it is 125,370 and loss of contribution to the GDP is 885 million dollars.”

Sirika said that the Federal Government was able to cushion the effects of the pandemic by providing intervention of fund of N5 billion for domestic airlines.

The minister said they could not have achieved all these without the cooperation, constructive criticism and great understanding of everybody in the industry.

The Chairman of the occasion, Capt. Ibrahim Mshelia, commended the organisers for the choice of the theme, adding that there could not be a better time to discuss burning issues like this in an industry that was battling too many oppressive forces.

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Mshelia, the Chairman of Westlink Airlines, said these forces were both manmade and natural.

“The natural is the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated, not only the Aviation sector nay Nigeria alone. It is a scourge that shook every sector with devastating effects globally beginning from early 2020.

“As we all know, Aviation standards, management, policy and regulations on the global stage is over – sighted and supervised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

“Every country that is signatory, sends a representative to the ICAO council. I believe, therefore, that the motive of this theme will be to review, dissect,” he said.

Mshelia said the theme would also fine tune some of our existing policies and practices, which were in conflict with global norms and also affected our collective growth. (NAN)

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OYC Warns ICPC Chairman Against Alleged Bias in Uche Nnaji Case

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The Apex sociocultural youth organization of the Igbo race worldwide, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), has described the current arrest made by the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offence (ICPC) against former Minister of Science and Technology and the 2027 People Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Enugu State, Hon. Uche Nnaji, regarding his certificate, as a deliberate political witch-hunt orchestrated by the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Gov. Peter Mbah.

In a press address in Enugu on Wednesday, 8th July 2026, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), called on Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to maintain the commission’s ethical standards, threatening to seek his removal if evidence confirms the alleged bias of ICPC in favor of Governor Peter Mbah against Hon. Uche Nnaji regarding the 2027 Guber election.

*The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) revealed that the fight against Hon. Uche Nnaji is a battle for the Enugu Governorship and the “Lions Building Seat” in 2027, and dismissed the certificate forgery allegations against Uche Nnaji as a political distraction and blackmail.*

The surreptitious entry into the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to obtain a court order detaining Hon Uche Nnaji is a teleguided executive overreach attributed to Gov Peter Mbah apparently aimed at silencing Hon Uche Nnaji, which is highly censurable.

The Council stated that “A court of competent jurisdiction is presently handling the unsubstantiated certificate forgery case, and the University of Nigeria Nsukka and Hon Uche Nnaji have opted for an out-of-court settlement, following recent findings of misinformation.

Therefore, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), should maintain a neutral stance regarding the Enugu State Governorship battle to preserve his reputation built through his legal career and public service, and avoid being perceived as succumbing to Governor Peter Mbah’s alleged attempts to utilize executive power to blackmail and witch-hunt Hon. Uche Nnaji.

The Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) warned Governor Peter Mbah to concentrate on fulfilling his unfulfilled campaign promises to Enugu State rather than chasing Hon Uche Nnaji through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)

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Governor Mbah’s Compassionate Gesture Brings Relief to Enugu Fire Victims

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Families displaced by the recent fire outbreak in the Asata area of Enugu have received immediate relief from the Enugu State Government following the intervention of Governor Peter Mbah, who directed that palliative support be provided to ease their suffering.
Chairman of the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (ESEMA), Chinasa Mbah, disclosed that the agency promptly delivered the relief materials in compliance with the governor’s directive.
“We have given them some palliative as directed by His Excellency. Our report has equally gone in, and we await further instructions,” Mbah said.
She explained that ESEMA has completed its assessment of the incident and submitted its recommendations to the state government, adding that additional assistance for the affected families will depend on the governor’s approval of the agency’s report.
The swift response underscores Governor Mbah’s commitment to standing with citizens in times of distress. The victims, whose homes and belongings were destroyed in the fire that gutted two flats in a two-storey building on Church Road, Asata, are expected to receive further support as the government considers ESEMA’s recommendations.

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Questions Persist As Almajiri Commissions Attempts to Defend Projects Outside Its Mandate

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The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE) has defended the inclusion of projects outside its statutory mandate in the 2026 budget, insisting they are National Assembly constituency projects assigned to the commission for implementation.
However, the explanation has done little to quell public scrutiny, with critics questioning why a commission established to tackle the Almajiri system and out-of-school children—challenges largely concentrated in Northern Nigeria—is overseeing projects reportedly located in parts of the South-West.
The controversy has also been fuelled by concerns over the scale of the allocations, as the value of the disputed constituency projects is said to far exceed the funds earmarked for the commission’s core education programmes.
Responding to the criticism in a statement issued on Monday, the commission’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Nura Muhammad, said the projects were included in the 2026 Appropriation Act under the long-standing practice of assigning constituency projects to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for execution.
According to the commission, once such projects are approved in the federal budget and allocated to an agency, they become part of its implementation responsibilities.
“As part of a duly enacted federal budget, every project assigned to the commission forms part of its implementation responsibilities and will be executed in strict compliance with extant laws, financial regulations and due procurement processes,” the statement said.
NCAOOSCE maintained that the inclusion of the projects does not alter its statutory mandate, stressing that it remains focused on addressing the Almajiri system and reducing the number of out-of-school children across Nigeria.
The commission cited its achievements, including the profiling of more than 700,000 out-of-school children, the establishment of 119 learning centres, ward-to-ward advocacy campaigns, and the implementation of the National Policy on Almajiri Education, as evidence of its commitment to its core responsibilities.
This version attributes the concerns to critics and public scrutiny rather than stating them as established facts.

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Police Inspector Dies in Alleged Police Convoy Accident in Enugu

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A Police Inspector, Dr. Obodo Paul Ikechukwu, has reportedly died after he was involved in a fatal road accident allegedly involving a police convoy in Enugu State.

The deceased, who hailed from Nkpologu in Enugu State, was serving in the Operations Department of the Enugu State Police Headquarters at the time of the incident.

Details surrounding the circumstances of the accident remain unclear, but sources said the inspector was fatally injured after being struck by a vehicle in a police convoy.

Dr. Obodo, who was also a PhD holder, was described by colleagues and associates as a dedicated officer whose death has come as a shock to members of the police command and his community.

As of the time of filing this report, the Enugu State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident, while further details are being awaited.

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Mbaka Offers Prayers, Endorses Mbah’s Leadership Ahead of Election (See Video)

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The Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, , has offered prayers for , praying for God’s favour, protection, and victory as the state approaches the coming elections.

Speaking during a church gathering, Mbaka declared that Governor Mbah would succeed, expressing confidence that God, whom he said had begun a great work through the governor, would bring it to completion.

“It shall be well with Peter Mbah; may the favour of God be with him. We back him with our prayers. The Adoration family throws our prayers around him, that he will succeed, in the name of Jesus. May God grant him the power of victory at the end of the whole election,” Mbaka said.

The cleric further expressed hope that Mbah’s leadership would bring joy to the Igbo people, the people of Enugu State, and the Church, adding that the Igbo economy could witness greater advancement under his administration.

According to Mbaka, the progress recorded so far gives hope that greater achievements lie ahead, stressing that God would perfect the work already begun.

His remarks come as political activities continue to gather momentum ahead of the forthcoming elections.

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