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FG  Appoints Taskforce to Fast-track Aviation Sector PPPs 

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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

 Determined to unlock the economic potentials of the aviation sector through investment in Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), the Federal Government has established task forces in the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Ministry of Aviation.

This was the outcome of a courtesy visit by the Director General of the ICRC, Dr Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh to the Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo SAN, in Abuja.

Ewalefoh who highlighted the importance of the aviation in galvanizing other sectors to foster the economic potential of the country, said that the Commission had set up its task force to fast-track investment in PPPs.

The Minister took advantage of the visit to also set up a similar task force in the ministry that will liaise with the ICRC team to ensure swift but efficient delivery of infrastructure projects through PPP.

Speaking during the meeting, the ICRC’s helmsman said that with the new streamlined policy direction of the ICRC, and an aviation minister who is a legal luminary, the mistakes of the early years that drove some aviation PPP projects into litigation will now be forestalled, while the pending cases will be resolved.

Ewalefoh said that the nation, like many others around the World, still faces the challenge of funding infrastructure projects, stressing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has a focus on PPPs to boost infrastructure.

While exemplifying the huge investment possibility in the aviation sector, the DG said that between 2003 and 2019 the Heathrow Airport in the UK got an investment of 16 billion pounds in Private sector funds, Nigerian aviation sector holds a lot of investment possibilities without burdening public resources.

He cited the example of Dakar Airport that has attracted an investment of $575 million, 30% of which is from the Bin Laden Group of Saudi Arabia and Kenya where the PPP arrangement has driven passenger traffic from 7 million to 12million.

He stated that Nigeria with over 200 million people should be able to attract the right investments and become the destination hub of the World and a connecting point for Africa.

“We have what it takes, but we need to have the right infrastructure in place. That is why we are here to collaborate with you and ensure that all the projects you have conceptualized will come to fruition within the life time of this administration.

“Aviation sector is an enabler for the economic development of any nation, it is a means for you to connect all the various infrastructure together; it is a means to unlock the potential of this country

“If we get it right, Nigeria’s story will change,” he said.

The DG commended the Minister for getting the Federal Government to sign the Cape Town Convention Practice Direction after over 10 years of attempts and also resolving the problem with the UAE and having Emirate Airlines fly to Nigeria again.

“We have a lot of projects on your table and we want to implore you, if possible, set up a task force for us to do this because the infrastructure gap in Nigeria is so huge that the normal protocol cannot give us the needed time and speed. We need to work day and night and have the right commitment,” he said.

In his response, the Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo , while corroborating the DG’s position on the need to accelerate PPP projects in the industry, immediately set up a task force to liaise with the ICRC’s team to deliver PPP infrastructure in the aviation sector more speedily,

He said that the ministry has recorded a couple of milestone achievements in the area of policy in the aviation sector, adding that the ministry will focus more on accelerating all the PPP proposals that it has received.

“So we will bring them to you, we will set timelines for ourselves. For each of these projects we are going to set a timeline,” he said.

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Man City Strike Twice Late on to Beat Bournemouth

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Manchester City scored two late goals to earn Enzo Maresca a win in his first Premier League game in charge – and deny Marco Rose the perfect start as Bournemouth boss.

The Cherries took the first-half lead through Marcus Tavernier, who was left in loads of space to slam in after Evanilson’s incisive low ball across the area.

Erling Haaland, usually at his most prolific in August, missed a host of chances for City as they looked set for a frustrating afternoon.

But Marc Guehi, playing in defensive midfield for only the third time in his career, nodded in Rayan Cherki’s corner with six minutes to go.

And it got even worse for Bournemouth when Josko Gvardiol guided a shot into the bottom corner in injury time.

The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but given after a video assistant referee review.

It was Bournemouth’s first defeat in any competition since January, ending their club-record 18-game unbeaten run.

City showed improvement from the side who were bashed 3-0 by Arsenal in last Sunday’s Community Shield – but for most of this game it looked as if Maresca was going to start with consecutive defeats.

Replacing a legend is always difficult – as David Moyes experienced when Sir Alex Ferguson left neighbours Manchester United in 2013 – and the late comeback will come as a major relief in their first Premier League game without Pep Guardiola in a decade.

City did not exactly promote from within when hiring Maresca, who quit as Chelsea manager at the start of 2026, but the Italian was Guardiola’s City assistant in 2022-23 and would perhaps be seen as something of a continuity candidate.

It was a very shaky start though and they went 1-0 down at home on the opening day of a Premier League campaign for the first time since 1995-96 – the season they ended up being relegated.

Maresca’s team selection confused many, with six players who have played most of their City games in defence starting on Sunday – including Guehi in midfield.

But all’s well that ends well and Guehi looked as if he had rescued a point before defender Gvardiol added two more from another Cherki pass.

Things would have been more comfortable if Haaland had brought his shooting boots.

The Norwegian has scored 22 goals in 14 Premier League games in the month of August – but failed to take any of his five chances.

Bournemouth fans would have feared a dip after enjoying the best season in their history last campaign. Sixth place took them into Europe for the first time ever.

And it was a surprise when boss Andoni Iraola announced in April he would be leaving in the summer – eventually joining Liverpool.

Ex-Salzburg and Leipzig boss Rose was confirmed soon after – replacing Iraola at the end of last season, giving him plenty of time to watch from a distance and get to know his new team.

Only one of the side who started against City was a new signing, with Portuguese defender Antonio Silva the replacement for Marcos Senesi, who left for Tottenham.

The Cherries showed plenty of the aggressive, positive play that they produced under Iraola thanks to such dangerous attackers on the break – including Rayan, Evanilson and Tavernier, who all linked up well for the opening goal.

Letting the lead slip late on will be hugely frustrating and ends their long unbeaten run, but Rose, and Cherries supporters, should still have seen plenty to encourage them from a game they would not have expected to win.

And if they had picked up Guehi from a corner maybe they would have done.

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Edo Assembly Dissolves Standing C’ttees, Constitutes Panel to Probe Ex-Speaker

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The Edo House of Assembly on Tuesday dissolved all its standing committees and constituted an investigative panel to probe allegations levelled against the former Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku.

The new Speaker, Yekini Idaiye, announced the decision during the plenary session.

He said that the dissolution became necessary to enable the house to “re-evaluate legislative duties, improve administrative efficiency and give members new committee experience”.

Idaiye subsequently inaugurated a five-member ad-hoc committee to investigate Agbebaku over allegations of corruption, including inflated procurement costs for cars.

The committee, which was mandated to report back in two weeks, is chaired by Bright Iyamu.

Other members are representatives of Akoko Edo II; Ovia North East II; Etsako East; and Esan North East II.

Recall that Agbebaku resigned from office on Monday, August 17, following allegations of corruption and financial impropriety against him.

The house also received and adopted reports on the screening of nominees for key state commissions.

Dr David Osifo was confirmed as a member of the Edo Judicial Service Commission, while Oscar Onaiwu was confirmed as a member of the Local Government Service Commission.

The house also received a letter from Gov. Monday Okpebholo for the screening and confirmation of nominees for the Chairman and members of the Edo Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Shittu Shaibu was named to chair the screening committee for the nominees.

The house later adjourned sitting until August 19, 2026. 

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Brain Jotter Cries out after Harassment by Lagos Touts

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Nigerian content creator, Brain Jotter, has cried out on social media after being harassed by Lagos touts, popularly known as ‘agberos’.

Brain Jotter lamented the incident in a post shared on his Instagram page.

Expressing frustration, the content creator shared a video showing the moment he was harassed in his car by a group of thugs on a Lagos road.

He was refused free passage by the touts who were demanding settlement from him.

In the video shared by Brain Jotter, one of the touts was heard boasting, “I be lion”.

Lamenting the incident, the content creator wrote, “Lion no dey use eyes see goat. Nigerian zoo keepers are the worst. We lack good wild-life and they let a lion escape from their zoo. This is sad.”

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