Metro
Ailing Domestic Airlines: Don calls for Establishment of Bank of Aviation
Prof. Anthony Kila, the Director, Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies(CIAPS), has urged the Federal Government to establish a Bank of Aviation.
The bank, he said, was necessary to make airlines have easier access to foreign exchange.
Kila made this known at the League of Airport and Aviation Corespondents (LAAC) 26th Annual Conference, on Thursday.
The conference, with the theme: Sunset Airports: Economic and Safety Implications, was held in Lagos.
Newsmen report that an airline, Aero Contractors, was forced to fold the wings of its scheduled flights due to exorbitant and unsustainable expenditure, among other reasons.
Also, Dana Air was forced to suspend flight operations over poor liquidity by the regulatory body, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Kila, in his presentation, titled “Passenger Experience In Daylight Airports,” said that with the present situation, it was not enough to have aviation funds from government or aviation desks in commercial banks anymore.
He said it was time to think of “activating an aviation bank that will raise and manage funds and offer niche financial products for the aviation industry”.
“With over 20 years in the industry, I can knowledgably confirm that luckily, aviation is not a pauper’s business.
“Hence, finding depositors and shareholders will not be an insurmountable problem for capable promoters, but the political will is needed.
“In the spirit of rethinking of and resting aviation, operators need to go beyond flying or selling and distributing tickets.
“it is time to represent their challenges as rewarding opportunities to capable innovators, inventors and investors.
“Maintenance of equipment, refining of aviation fuel, training and development of human capital, and other problems that are adversely affecting the sector can be thrown open to the market as opportunities for players outside the aviation sector.
“To do all these and much more, requires the ability to conceive, shape and propose rewarding and sustainable partnership between the public and private sectors,” he said
Kila also noted that NCAA, asides enhancing safety in the industry, should, for the sake of consumers and citizens, be working as a clearing house for delayed or stranded passengers.
He said that they should ensure that stranded passengers of delayed and cancelled flights could fly with the next available flights.
According to him, this is just as debit and credit card holders issued by one bank can easily withdraw money from the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of any available bank.
He also urged the government through the presiding ministry and its regulating agencies in collaboration with the ministry of finance to champion the case of aviation.
The professor urged them to help make forex available and affordable to aviation operators.
Speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr Bankole Bernard, in his opening remark warned that the continuous rise of dollar against naira would spell doom for the industry.
Bernard, the Group Managing Director, Finchglow Holdings, insisted that the situation was scary for all business entities in the country and appealed to the government to ensure a change.
He advised the Nigerian government to take a cue from other advanced countries where airports are open for operations for 24 hours daily, but said some factors determine this.
The managing director mentioned some of the factors to include routes, cost of operations and navigational equipment.
Bernard argued that such operations would promote tourism and business growth across the country.
He appealed to the federal government to assist the ailing domestic airlines to avoid accidents and incidents in the industry. (NAN)
BBNaija Season 11 housemates Aikou and Flora, who were previously guaranteed places in the finale but barred from winning the grand prize as Gambits, have been reinstated as full housemates and are now eligible to compete for the ₦160m prize.
The development was announced on Monday, following Sunday’s “Operation Release the Gambit” twist, which gave viewers the power to decide whether one or both housemates would be released from the special status.
“Flora and Aikou are officially out of Gambit mode. Biggie has reinstated them as full #BBNaija housemates, making them eligible to compete for the prize money,” the organisers announced.
The organisers added that the two housemates could now face eviction if nominated.
“If nominated, their fate now rests with the voting public,” they said.
Recall that Aikou and Flora became the first Gambits of the season after viewers voted them into the special positions. Flora emerged as the female Gambit with 29.38 per cent of the votes, while Aikou secured the male position with 9.10 per cent.
Their selection guaranteed them places in the house until the grand finale but meant they were ineligible to compete for the ₦160m grand prize.
However, during Sunday’s live show, host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu announced the “Operation Release the Gambit” twist, handing viewers the power to decide whether one or both housemates should be reinstated into the main competition.
“Big Brother has one more twist for you tonight. Operation Release the Gambit begins immediately after the live show. The polls will open, and you will decide whether to release one or both of the Gambits, giving them the opportunity to play for the prize. The power is in your hands,” Ebuka announced.
With their Gambit status removed, Aikou and Flora will now compete alongside the other housemates, with their eligibility for the ₦160m prize restored. If nominated for eviction, however, their continued stay in the competition will be determined by the voting public.
Bandits have attacked Ghandi community in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing no fewer than eight farmers and leaving at least five others with gunshot injuries.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday afternoon, sent residents into panic as the assailants reportedly stormed the community around 3:00 p.
m.The spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent.
Rufai said the command was aware of the attack, adding that details of the incident were being gathered.
According to him,” Yes, we are aware of the attack, 8 farmers were killed while another five were injured. We will make it public once we are done with the information being gathered on it,” Rafai added
A local source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the bandits opened fire on farmers in the community.
According to the source, “The bandits came around 3:00 p.m. and started shooting at people. No fewer than eight farmers were killed, while at least five others sustained gunshot injuries. ”The source alleged that the attack was carried out in retaliation for the killing of some members of the bandit group by security agencies during recent operations in the area.
He said, “We believe this was a retaliatory attack because some members of the group were killed by security personnel in the last few days.”
The latest attack has heightened concerns among residents of Ghandi and neighbouring communities, particularly farmers who have continued to face threats from armed groups operating in parts of the state.(PUNCH)
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that the party is handling the grievances of the aggrieved governorship candidates in Oyo State as a family matter.
Yilwatda stated this on Wednesday in Ibadan during a meeting with party stakeholders, noting that disagreements among members are normal in politics.
He affirmed that members have expressed readiness to work together to ensure victory in 2027, emphasising that the reconciliation process is an ongoing effort rather than a one-day affair.
He stressed that the national leadership remains committed to bringing all aggrieved members on board ahead of the next general elections.
Addressing the recent Osun State governorship election, Yilwatda insisted the outcome was not a failure for the APC.
He noted that despite the state government deploying its full machinery, the APC put up a strong fight and conducted itself with maturity.
According to him, the peaceful conduct of the election and eventual commendation from the opposition demonstrated the party’s high level of sportsmanship.
He added that Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, acknowledged this sportsmanship and even declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
When asked if the APC had officially accepted the Osun election outcome, Yilwatda explained that no official position has been taken yet, as any final decision requires a formal review involving the National Working Committee and the candidate.
The Chairman of the APC Reconciliation Committee in Oyo State, Senator Olufemi Lanleyin, emphasised that the party must go into the 2027 elections united in order to reclaim power in the state.
Lanleyin acknowledged that while some members were disappointed with the primary outcomes, the party retains the strength, will, and capacity to unite.
He said that the committee is meeting with aggrieved aspirants to present their grievances to the national leadership for resolution.
On the lesson from Osun, Lanleyin noted that unity determines electoral success, promising that the committee will continue its work until Election Day.
He expressed absolute confidence that the APC will sweep Oyo State in 2027, winning the presidency, governorship, three senatorial seats, 14 federal constituencies, and 32 House of Assembly seats.
He appealed to leaders and stakeholders to embrace unity because members do not want to remain out of government for another day.
He added that the party would not take anything for granted and would continue the reconciliation process until Election Day.
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