The Taraba Government on Friday unveiled the renamed and remodelled Taraba Government House as T.Y. Danjuma House.Alhaji Aminu Alkali, the Deputy Governor and Chairman, organising committee, said that the decision was to appreciate Danjuma for his uncommon contributions to the development of the state.

According to him, the state government found the elder statesman’s significant contributions to nation-building and vital role in the development of Taraba worthy enough to rename the facility after him as a form of appreciation. “The decision to rename Taraba Government House as T.Y. Danjuma House is to recognise his contributions to nation-building and the developmental strides.“This will serve as a form of appreciation for what the elder statesman has done for the development of the state,” he said.Danjuma, while inaugurating the remodelled government house renamed T.Y. Danjuma House, commended the governor for the decision.Danjuma said the honour was a morale booster that would motivate him to attract more development to the state.He appealed for a United Taraba, irrespective of political, tribal, and religious affiliations, to allow Kefas’ administration to thrive. (NAN)

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says sold 543.5 million dollars to authorised dealer banks between Sept. 6 and Sept. 30.According to a statement by Omolara Duke, Director, Financial Markets Department of the CBN, the transaction was through a two-way quote at the Nigeria Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) on 11 dealing days.

Duke said that the spot sales was to reduce observed market volatility driven by high demand for commodity important and seasoned demand for fx. She said that the value date for all the transactions was T+2.Report says that T+2 refers to the settlement dates of security transactions that occur on a transaction date plus two days.“This statement is to educate and provide guidance on the general public the pricing of fx.“This is by taking a clue from the range of rates at which gx was sold by the CBN to authorised Dealers.“The CBN will continue facilitate the supply of fx into the NFEM as part of its holistic fx management strategy,” she said.The CBN had earlier announced the introduction of an Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS), for Foreign Exchange (FX) transactions in NFEM.Duke said that the new system was expected to enhance governance, transparency, and facilitate a market driven exchange rate that would be accessible to the public.“This development is expected to reduce speculative activities, eliminate market distortions, and give the CBN improved oversight capabilities to effectively regulate the market.“Authorised dealers will subsequently conduct all foreign exchange transactions in the interbank Fx market on the EFEMS approved by the CBN where transactions will be reflected immediately,” she said.She said that there would be a two-week test run in November, adding that the apex bank would publish real time prices when the EFEMS starts becomes operational.She said that the CBN would also buy and sell orders from the system and in collaboration with the Financial Markets Dealers Association (FMDA), publish the rules for the EFEMS.“The Nigerian FX Code and revised Market Operating Guidelines for the Nigeria Foreign Exchange Market will also provide guidance to market participants.“Authorised dealers are, therefore, required to comply with extant guidelines and regulations governing the Nigeria foreign exchange market.“They should ensure that all necessary documentation, training, and systems integrations are concluded ahead of the go live date,” she said. (NAN)

The Acting Director-General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, has advised those desring to become pilots to seek sponsorships from their state governments to avert shortage. Najomo gave the advice at the Second Pilots Seminar held on Friday in Lagos.The seminar had the theme: Becoming a Professional Pilot, Benefits and Challenges”.

Najomo said that in few years, there might be shortage of thousands of pilots due to retirements. Najomo said that states could be willing to sponsor intending students of flying schools, noting that the cost was high. He urging those intending to be professional pilots to be focused.He said: “Focus will get you far in the industry, do not be discouraged.“I know the only discouragement you will get now is how expensive it is to train as a pilot, but let me give you advice. “You can go to your state governments. There are some state governors who sponsor pilots, if you do not know. “We don’t want to over-regulate airlines because we are going to be short of pilots in the next few years. In fact, we are already short. “We need people like you to come and take over,” he said.He also said that there were several cheaper ways to become a pilot.According to him, being an air traffic controller, flight dispatcher or crew member, among others, could make an airline to sponsor the worker to a flying school. The President of Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association of Nigeria, Dr Alex Nwoba, called for growth of general aviation so that commercial aviation could be developed. He said: “I keep saying we need to look at a regulatory regime that allows growth of general aviation because without general aviation, there will be no commercial aviation. “If there is a huge deficit of pilots, why can’t we create jobs that are international? ” I mean that aviation is as good as nursing, as good as medicine. You can get up with Rwanda Air or Ethiopian Air or Emirates; the business of being a pilot is limitless,” Nwoba said.The Convener of the seminar, Ms Joy Ogbebo, said that the seminar was to enlighten participants on the opportunities embedded in the pilot profession. Ogbebo said that the enlightenment had become necessary due to a growing demand for pilots globally. Capt. Ladi Bajeh, a 737 aircraft pilot, urged the partcipants at the seminar to be dedicated and ambitious.Bajeh narrated how she moved from being a crew member to being a pilot. Capt. Kayode Adaje, who is also a 737 engine pilot, said that studies, commitment and resilience were key to being a pilot. Another pilot, Capt. Anthony Ayeni, urged the participants to key into opportunities in the industry. (NAN)