Headlines
Nigerian govt pledges more support for local airline operators
The Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged to offer more assistance to local airline operators to create enabling environment and ease of operations.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Mr Festus Keyamo, made this known when he presented his master card at the ministerial news briefing on the administration of President Bola Tinubu sectorial update.
According to him, the government will support and empower all local airline operators as it did with Air Peace to enable them compete with other international airlines.
The minister said the government would also facilitate the acquisition of aircrafts under dry lease agreement which he said, was cheaper compared with the wet lease.
Keyamo affirmed that the government had planned to review the nation`s Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) to favour local operators.
He said government was making conscious and gradual efforts toward embracing eco-friendly practices and green technologies in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s long-term global aspirational goal of net-zero carbon emission in the aviation sector.
“We are rehabilitating some Airports/Airstrips, enhancing collaboration with states government to improve state airports infrastructure, training and re-training of aviation professionals (Accident investigators, Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers),” he added.
On the establishment of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Centre, Keyamo said the federal government was in advanced stage in discussions with investors across the world who would collaborate through Public Private Partnership (PPP).
He disclosed that the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, had successfully resolved a longstanding land dispute that had hindered construction of the Abuja second runway within, two weeks of assuming office.
The minister added, with the development, contractors had commenced work on the project which had been stalled for over a year.
The minister said he had relocated all international airlines to the new international terminal in Lagos to address design flaws that had previously rendered the facility unusable for many international flights.
Keyamo said the relocation and remodeling of arrival hall at Lagos airport, done with active collaboration and support of the Ministry of Interior through a Public-Private Partnership arrangement, had enhanced smooth operation of the terminal.
The Minister said he facilitated the swift repair and reactivation of Lagos’ second runway (18R), which had been out of service for nearly a year.
He said the operation of the two Lagos airport’s runways had increased efficiency and reduced congestion.
Keyamo said he worked closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure clearance of the longstanding backlog of trapped funds for foreign airlines.
“By actively engaging the UK authorities on the reciprocal rights under our BASA, I successfully broke the long-standing monopoly of foreign airlines on the UK-Nigeria route.
“ This led to the granting of reciprocal operating rights to Air Peace, a local airline, resulting in increased competition and reduced international airfares for Nigerian travellers.
“This allows liberalised air transport commercial activities without any restrictions as to routes and capacity among others, “ he said.
The minister said the “United States-Nigeria Open Skies Air Transport Agreement“ came into force under his watch.
He added that the significant milestone opened doors for local airlines to operate the route, promoting increased connectivity and trade between the two countries.
Keyamo said he successfully facilitated the resumption of Emirates flights through diplomatic efforts coordinated with United Arab Emirate’ authorities to strengthen air travel connectivity between Nigeria and the UAE.
The Minister there was plan in place for the development of a master plan for the nation’s major airports to transform them into proper hubs and aerotropolis.
(NAN)
The Kano State Government has inaugurated a 14-member committee tasked with reviewing existing education policies in the state.
Inaugurating the committee on Thursday in Kano, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Ali Makoda, said that the committee was constituted by the Kano State Executive Council to assess the state’s education policies.
“This committee was originally scheduled to be inaugurated by the governor, but due to prior engagements, he has delegated the responsibility to me so that we can begin our work immediately,” Makoda stated.
The Commissioner outlined the committee’s terms of reference, which include reviewing the four existing education policies in the state to assess whether they align with the cultural and religious beliefs of the people.
“Evaluating the feasibility of implementing the policies, and making recommendations to strengthen the state’s education system.”
He noted that the four policies to be reviewed include the Kano State Girls’ Education Policy, Kano State Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Policy, Kano State Non-State School Policy, and Kano State Teacher Development Policy.
Makoda announced that the committee has been given three weeks to submit its report, and urged the members to leverage their expertise to produce recommendations that would enhance the state’s education sector.
In his response, the committee chairman, Malam Abdullahi Dutse, assured the commissioner of the committee’s commitment to work collaboratively to meet the expectations placed on them.
“Considering the diverse expertise of the committee members, I believe the government has selected individuals with the right skills to address the challenges facing education in the state. We will work diligently to provide the necessary report,” he said.
The committee’s members include Malam Abdullahi Dutse (Chairman), Prof Abdallah Uba -Adamu, Habibu Dan Almajiri, Alhaji Danlami Garba, Kano State Commissioner for Women, Children, and Disabled Affairs Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, and Isa Ahmad.
Other members are Prof Tijjani Naniya, Malam Kabiru Hanga, Munzali Mustapha, Prof Auwal Halliru Arzai, and Dr Bashir Aliyu -Umar.
The remaining include the representatives of the Emirate Council and Civil Society Organizations, and Ibrahim Bawa, Director of Archives and Publications, who will serve as Secretary of the committee.
The U.S. Deputy-Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, has extolled Nigeria’s partnership in the successful repatriation of funds linked to forfeited luxury real estate and Galactica Star Superyacht. (more…)
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated six Nigerians named by President Joe Biden among the 400 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in the United States.
This recognition, established by former President Bill Clinton in 1996, is the highest honour bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers.
This year’s awardees, announced by Biden on Jan. 14, are employed or funded by 14 participating United States government agencies, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Spokesman, said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
The Nigerian honourees include Azeez Butali, Gilbert Lilly Endowed Professor of Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa; and Ijeoma Opara, Associate Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), Yale School of Public Health, Yale University.
Others are: Oluwatomi Akindele, Postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; and Eno Ebong, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Biology at Northeastern University;
The rest are: Oluwasanmi Koyejo, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University; and Abidemi Ajiboye, Executive vice Chair of the Case School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Case Western Reserve University.
Tinubu commended the awardees for their achievements in science, technology and engineering.
He noted that recognising the talents of the awardees underscored Nigerians’ vast potential to excel both at home and on the global stage.
Tinubu looked forward to the honourees sharing their multidisciplinary expertise to benefit Nigeria’s development efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda. (more…)
Kano inaugurates 14-member committee to review education policies
U.S commends Nigeria over Galactica funds repatriation efforts
Tinubu congratulates Nigerian scientists, engineers on making Biden’s honour list
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