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NCAA to Sanction Turkish Airlines 

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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)

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Uba Sani Attends Christmas Carol, Maulud to Strengthen Muslim-Christian Unity

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By Nasir Dambatta

Governor Uba Sani has once again underscored his commitment to fostering unity among Kaduna’s diverse religious communities, attending both the 2024 Kaduna Unity Christmas Carol and a Maulud celebration in Zaria within the same week.On December 21, the Governor graced The 2024 Kaduna Unity Christmas Carol at ECWA Goodnews Church, Narayi Highcost, an event organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna Chapter.

The Carol, an annual tradition, brought together Christians from across the state in a celebration of joy, love, and togetherness.
Governor Sani’s presence at the event highlighted his inclusive leadership and his efforts to strengthen interfaith harmony in a state known for its rich religious diversity.
Shortly after, on December 22, Governor Sani attended a Maulud celebration in Zaria, organized by the Fityanul Islam group. Maulud, which commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is a time for reflection, prayer, and communal unity. The gathering in Zaria was attended by numerous dignitaries and religious scholars who reflected on the Prophet’s teachings of compassion, tolerance, and peace—values that resonate deeply with the Governor’s vision for Kaduna.Observers said the Governor’s presence at both events was a powerful reminder of his dedication to fostering peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians in the state. “Through these actions, Governor Uba Sani is leading by example, demonstrating that religious celebrations and dialogue can serve as a foundation for a united, progressive society.”, one of the observers said.

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Abuja Stampede: Wike Directs Free Treatment for Victims

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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has directed government hospitals to provide free treatment to the people that sustained injuries during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.Wike gave the directive in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, in Abuja on Saturday.

No fewer than 10 people including children lost their lives while 10 others sustained injuries to the stampede, during the distribution of food items to less privileged and the elderly by the church.
The sad incident occurred around 6:30 a.m on Saturday.Wike said that the FCT Administration would ensure that the injured received adequate medical attention.
The minister, who commiserated with the victims, also directed that henceforth, police permission should be obtained by individuals or organizations planning public distribution of palliatives, either food items or cash.Describing the incident as “painful”, Wike prayed for the repose of the souls of the lives that were lost and fortitude for their families to bear the irreparable loss.He commended the Police and other security agencies for their prompt intervention, saying, “the promptness in which security agencies responded to the incident was commendable.”In a related development, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), equally commiserated with the victims of the stampede.The acting Director General of the department, Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed, in a statement said that nine out of the 10 injured persons earlier taken to Maitama District Hospital, have been treated and discharged.Mohammed also appealed to organisations that intended to give out food items to the less privileged to involve security agencies or FEMD for adequate planning to ensure safety of beneficiaries.He also advised the use of coupons and segregation of the beneficiaries into groups to avoid crowd and rowdiness that could lead to stampedes.Similarly, the Police Command in the FCT has ordered organisations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals to notify the police when planning public events, charitable activities, or large gatherings in the territory.In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said that the notification was to enable the police to deploy adequate security measures for public safety.According to her, failure to comply with the directive will result in the organisers being held liable for any incident or loss of life resulting from negligenceMeanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has issued a warning against the unorganised distribution of palliatives and funfairs, which have led to stampedes and fatalities among vulnerable citizens.The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, gave the warning during a media briefing on Saturday in Abuja.Adejobi explained that the warning came in response to the increasing number of stampedes resulting in injuries and deaths, particularly during palliative distributions. (NAN)

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NDA Records Successes in Military Training, Academics in 2024

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The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), says it has recorded a lot of successes in military training and academic activities in 2024.

The Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, said this at the Nigerian Defence Academy Social Activities (NDASA), held at the headquarters of the academy Afaka  on Friday in Kaduna.

Ochai said the essence of NDASA was to end training activities of the year.

He said the 2024 NDASA was unique because the academy marked 60 years of existence from 1964-2024.

Also of significance, Ochai said,  NDA had passed out the largest number of officers commissioned into the Armed Forces of Nigeria in 2024.

Equally, he said, in the same year (2024), the academy had the largest number of officers trained outside the country.

He emphasised that the NDA does not only train leaders for the Nigerian Armed Forces, but those for the Nigerian nation and humanity at large.

“After five years of training, we imbibe in officers leadership qualities that are everlasting.

”The traditions, ethos, characters that we instill in our cadets follow them forever and become very useful in all spheres of human endeavors,” Ochai said.

Mr Martins Amaram, Country Security Manager, Nigeria Breweries, PLC , who was the Special Guest of Honour, said the event fostered unity, cultural awareness and comradeship among the cadets and the larger community.

Amaram said, “The academy has always been a beacon of excellence in producing military leaders  for integrity, resilience and capacity to face in a dynamic and complex world .

“Beyond academics and military training the academy still values cultural respect and social engagement, recognising the diversity of our great country. Nigeria.”

He commended NDA for creating the platform where cadets can appreciate the rich cultures and build bonds that transit borders.

Amaram added, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria are playing a critical role in ensuring the stability and progress of our nation. “

He urged the academy to continue to record more successes in its mission of excellence and service to the nation.

Report says that awards were given to deserving soldiers who distinguished themselves in 2024.

report says that 22 soldiers were decorated from Warrant Officer(WO) to Master Warrant Officers(MWO). (NAN)

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