NEWS
NCAA to Sanction Turkish Airlines
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has said that it would not hesitate to invoke relevant sections of the organisation’s regulations to sanction Turkish Airlines over mistreatment of Nigerian passengers.
NCAA’s Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr Michael Achimugu, disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.
Achimugu said that President Bola Tinubu had directed NCAA, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and relevant agencies, to ensure that the rights of Nigerian passengers were protected at all times.
He said the NCAA was currently mediating on the feud between the European carrier and aviation labour unions, who picketed the airline’s operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
According to him, the agency will not hesitate to roll out stiff penalties and sanctions to Turkish Airlines as Nigerian passengers, are still stranded at the airport, following its failure to airlift them to Istanbul.
Achimugu said the Federal Government and its agencies would spare no effort to call to order any airline that violates the rights of Nigerian passengers.
According to him, the Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, had in a virtual meeting on Tuesday from the United Kingdom initiated reconciliatory moves between the Country Manager of Turkish Airlines and the unions.
He, however, said the representative of the airline exhibited some traits of impudence, which the regulator deemed amounted to lack of regard for the system.
Arising from the infraction, Achimugu said the Federal Government would not hesitate to look deep into the impasse with the possibility of extracting the right punishment if the carrier is found culpable.
The Federal Government, he said, would take every step to ensure the rights of Nigerian passengers are not trampled on by any carrier, including foreign airlines, in taking the right steps to address any infractions on their conditions of operations into the country.
He confirmed that over 300 passengers had been trapped in the imbroglio involving the Turkish Airlines, and aviation unions, as the carrier had canceled flights out of and into Nigeria until Thursday.
Achimugu said that, though, the carrier claimed to have communicated with passengers through electronic mail on the on-going hitch concerning its operations into and out of the country, some passengers still turned up at the Lagos Airport.
He said: “The NCAA is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the inability of Turkish Airlines to operate flights out of Lagos Airport, due to the picketing of its operations by aviation unions.
“We will ensure that the rights of Nigerian passengers are not violated.
“President Bola Tinubu has directed the NCAA, FAAN and relevant agencies to ensure that the rights of Nigerian passengers are protected.
“Currently, the NCAA is engaging officials of Turkish Airlines, but we have observed some degree of insolence of the Country Manager, who engaged our D-G in a shouting match, he was even banging the table.
“This behaviour to the NCAA is unacceptable. At the end of our findings, if the airline is found culpable, we will invoke the relevant parts of our regulation Part 17, to met out the right punishment,” he said.
Achimugu on Wednesday evening visited the stranded passengers at the new terminal of the international airport, where he conveyed the message of the D-G to them, saying hat the authority would not rest until they were transported to their various destinations.
One of the stranded passenger, Obiekwe Ngozichukwu, a Guttenberg, Sweden resident, said he was afraid of losing his job as a top official of one of the hotels in that country, because the company had been calling him to resume work.
He said he visited Nigeria for his mother’s burial, but could not go back because of the cancellation of his flight, and had been sleeping on the floor at the airport for two days.
“We don’t know when we are leaving here, I appeal to the authorities to intervene and save us from this experience.”
Another passenger, a Germany based construction worker, Charles Ifeanyi, also appealed to the Federal Government to intervene, to save the situation, lamenting that the authorities must not allow Nigerians to be maltreated anywhere in the world anyhow.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had began the picketing of Turkish Airlines in Lagos.
The picketing is to ensure that the carrier reinstates staffers, who were dismissed, forced to abandon duty or forced to resign under duress, including those victimised for their union membership in 2020. (NAN)
From Attah Ede Makurdi
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, on Friday, said he made remarkable achievements in office within the last one year due to the unwavering support extended to him by President Bola Tinubu.
Alia disclosed this during his thank you tour to Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency held in Makurdi the State Capital.
He said all the numerous projects he has executed in the State was made possible by President Tinubu.
The governor noted that both the construction of roads, underpass, payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities, remodeling of Assembly Complex, State Secretariat and others were made possible through the efforts of Mr.
President.He said the President had given him unimaginable support and urged the people of the State to be patient with him as the President has “very good intentions for the citizenry”.
Governor therefore expressed his readiness to renovate and upgrade the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Square in Makurdi to international standard, stressing that the facilities at the square is over 30 years old and was constructed during the military era.
He said his administration has constructed 16 township roads within the State and also constructing a underpass in Makurdi and Gboko respectively.
The governor assured that more roads would be awarded for construction within the Constituency in no distance time and announced that going forward payment of salaries and pensions would starts from 22nd of every month.
Earlier, Sen Barnabas Gemade, Chairman Benue APC’s Elder Forum said Gov Alia’s coming was the divine work of God therefore nobody could stop God from fulfilling His wish in the State.
Sen Gemade said the Alia’s administration has employed thousands into the State civil service and was paying regularly, adding that previous governors failed to pay with even smaller number of workforce.
Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Yanmar Ortese commended the governor for the numerous infrastructures recorded within the federal constituency.
Dr Ortese assured that all appointees from the Constituency would continue to give their best for the administration to succeed.
Earlier, Terver Gbenda, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Youth Organisation and Illegal Levies said the youths were behind the governor because of his achievements.
Gbenda said come 2027, the youths would still support his reelection.
Mr Benjamin Omakolo, Benue APC acting chairman, who received 4780 persons who defected from other political parties into the APC within the Constituency assured them of equal treatment.
The Nigerian Army on Friday, destroyed about 14 illegal oil bunkering vessels arrested with stolen crude oil in the oil-bearing Asa Community of Abia.
The Army operatives set the vessels ablaze, including eight large Cotonou boats, at Isimmiri Waterside in Ukwa West Local Government Area.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Maj.
-Gen. Hassan Dada, who led the operation, told newsmen that six suspects were arrested in connection with the illegal oil bunkering.Dada, who was accompanied by the Commander, 14 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ohafia, Brig.-Gen. Olusola Diya, said that the suspects had been handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for further investigations and prosecution.
He said that the Army was at the creek in respect of carrying out one of the mandates of Operation Udoka, “which is to make sure that any form of economic sabotage does not happen within its joint operation area.
“We have been here since Thursday, conducting operations against saboteurs that are trying to take out the crude oil that is the mainstay of our economy,” he said.
Dada also said that the operation was based on intelligence report, adding that the suspects had attempted to start siphoning the crude from the pipeline, before they were arrested.
He further said that the suspects had sunk some crude oil-laden boats in the water before the troops got there, adding that, the troops were in the process of recovering others.
The GOC said that all the 14 boats were destroyed, in line with the Standing Operating Procedure.
“The person that is involved in this particular location is on the run presently but we will get him, it’s just a matter of time.
“This is more of a cartel and we believe that a lot of people are actually involved.
“The proceeds are being used to finance these acts of terrorism.
“But as a note of warning, this is just the beginning.
“We will continue with this operation and make sure no stone is left unturned.
“The Nigerian Army will in no way tolerate any form of sabotage to the economy of this country,” Dada said. (NAN)
Former Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu has applauded Gov. Dauda Lawal for the execution of quality road projects in Gusau, Zamfara, within his first year in office.
This is contained in a statement by Suleiman Idris, Lawal’s media aide and made available to newsmen on Saturday in Gusau.
Mu’azu, who was also the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spoke in Gusau at the unveiling of the various road projects executed under Lawal’s Urban Renewal Programme.
Mu’azu said he was impressed with the quality of the road projects initiated by Lawal.
“Today, I stand with a lot of pride and gratitude to Allah for the commendable projects that Gov.
Dauda Lawal has undertaken.“The remarkable aspect of these roads is that they are of the highest quality by global standards.
“I can assure you that these are very durable roads because Triacta does not compromise on standards,” Mu’azu said.
The former Bauchi governor unveiled the Freedom Square to Nasiha Chemist Junction, Freedom Square to the Government House road and the road from Government House to Lalan to Gada Biyu, all in Gusau.
Speaking at the event, Lawal said that Gusau has begun to assume the status of a state capital after 28 years since Zamfara was created.
He said, “Indeed, we cannot thank almighty Allah enough for the gift of life and for the opportunity to continue to unveil project after project.
”This is not only as a developmental pedestal of our state but as a mark of fulfillment of our promises to the people of Zamfara during the campaigns.
”I want to reiterate my commitment to the service of my dear state at all times,” Lawal said.
According to him, the project was the second in a series of many, adding, “by the time we finish our plans for the urban renewal programme, all of us will be proud to call Gusau our state capital.
”Similarly, we will improve all infrastructure across the 14 local government areas of the state.”
Reports says that unveiling of the road projects in Gusau marked the end of the celebration of Lawal’s first anniversary in office.(NAN)
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