Nigeria’s frontline airline, Overland Airways, has announced plans to relocate flight services back to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from the Kaduna International Airport following the reopening of the Abuja Airport, which was shut down to flight operations for six weeks for major repairs on the runway.
The Federal Government had announced that the Abuja Airport runway repairs have been completed two days ahead of the April 19 deadline slated for the completion of the project and reopening of the airport.
A statement from the airline said that in line with government reopening of the Abuja Airport, it will commence flight services to and from Abuja Airport from today, Wednesday
It said that the Airline will operate flights from its key destinations including Ibadan, Ilorin, Jalingo, Akure and Asaba to the Abuja Airport.
“Overland Airways assures its customers and the general public of reliable, efficient and comfortable flight services to and from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Overland Airways, Captain Edward Boyo, has congratulated the minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and his team for keeping to the schedule for completion of repairs and reopening of the airport, and for making concerted efforts to guarantee security and reduce the inconveniences especially to passengers and service providers in the course of operating Abuja flight services through Kaduna Airport for the past six weeks.
“We salute government’s commitment which has largely ensured the successful movement of people and goods to Abuja through Kaduna International Airport these past weeks. Overland Airways is a dedicated partner in the current efforts to rebuild Nigeria’s economy. We also congratulate the Kaduna State government for being the resourceful host and supporting the achievement of successful flight operations. ”
“And that is why we have been available to support the swift, comfortable and seamless movement of our passengers during the relocation of Abuja flights to Kaduna. Our joy is in the realization that our customers have been able to carry on with their business and leisure activities through our dedicated flight services.”
The Chief Operating Officer of Overland Airways, Mrs. Aanu Benson, was also quoted as saying: “Our priority is to get our passengers to their destinations in comfort and convenience irrespective of challenges in the operating environment.
“We appreciate our customers for their steadfast support over the past weeks and indeed over the 15 years of Overland Airways existence. We assure our customers of improved services and increased-value offerings. Overland Airways is the longest-serving, most consistent airline that has provided uninterrupted flight services in Nigeria over these past 15 years, with a passion for economic development.”
The statement said that the Airways will continue to maintain flight operations to Kaduna International Airport to support economic activities in Kaduna State and its environs. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an investigation into the allegations of violations of law and due process made against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr David Babachir Lawal, in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE). The President has also directed the suspension of the SGF from office pending the outcome of the investigations. In a related development, the President has ordered a full-scale investigation into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, over which the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has made a claim. The investigation is also to enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds. The President has also directed the suspension of the Director General of the NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, pending the outcome of the investigation. A three-man Committee comprising the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the National Security Adviser, headed by the Vice President, is to conduct both investigations. The Committee is to submit its report to the President within 14 days. The most senior Permanent Secretary in the SGF’s office, and the most senior officer in the NIA, are to act, respectively, during the period of investigation.
Experts in the worldeconomics.com have given a verdict that Nigerian economy is now out of the woods and growing faster.
They said that the April Sales Managers’ Index (SMI) data suggests that the Nigerian economy, which had gone into recession since middle of last year, is continuing to grow out of the recession which saw 10 months of consecutive contraction in 2016.
The experts said that the Market Growth Index grew to 58.5 in April as the monthly Sales Growth Index ticked up to 56.7, its highest value since 2015 and representative of rapid growth.
“Price inflation for April, which is tracked by the Prices Charged Index, remained high at 58.7 – indicative of high levels of inflation, however a slowing trend has developed for the past 9 months.”
Panelists have explained that although conditions remain difficult for businesses, they are adapting to the challenges and the recent changes to the Naira’s FX rate are aiding sales transactions.
The expert emphasized that overall, conditions in Nigeria have improved further over the past month and managers are expressing renewed optimism that the economy will continue to grow and regain strength after the recession. [myad]
Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kogi State Chapter, Toufiq Isah, has put to lie, claim by Senator Dino Melaye that he was attacked by unknown assassins, saying that the Senator simply “stage-managed” the attack in order to cause unnecessary tension.
Toufiq Isah, who is also the Administrator of Ijimu Local Government Area, said that he only heard that Dino entered Ayetoro with policemen who were shooting guns sporadically to scare people, and wondered why the Senator would turn round to claim that he was attacked.
The ALGON chairman told news men at Okoro – Gbede in Ijimu that as chief security officer of the Council, it was his responsibility to protect the lives and property of the people, adding that “if Dino cannot improve on the living standard of the people of Ijimu, he should allow them to have peace instead of causing unnecessary distraction.”
Senator Melaye was reportedly attacked by unknown gunmen in the early hours of Saturday at his residence in Ayetoro-Gbede, Ijumu local government area of the state. The assailants were said to have invaded the house few minutes past midnight and shot sporadically into the building.
Senator Melaye himself told newsmen that two of the vehicles parked within the premises, a security van and caravan bus were damaged and part of the building was also destroyed.
He confirmed that the gunmen shot for more than one hour with little breaks in between even as he fingered the Chairman of the Local Government Taofiq Isa as the person behind the attack. [myad]
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that Nigerians may not know the truth about the ownership of the over $43 million discovered in one of the apartments in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The anti graft agency which had already invited a former Governor and some others for questioning in respect of the huge sum of money, said: “unless we get to the root of this case, Nigerians may not know the truth or otherwise about the cash.”
It said that its operatives have already identified how apartment 7B where the money was found, was acquired even as he commenced investigation into the roles played by some apartment owners and tenants as it concerned movement of the cash into the Towers.
“The more we investigate this $43.4 million haul, the more we get fresh facts. It has become imperative to interact with some owners or tenants of apartments in the Towers.
“We have invited a former governor and other high-profile owners and tenants for interaction. It is just to ask a few questions on whether or not they were aware of such movement of cash.
“We have clues linking some occupants of the Towers to the cash haul. And in line with sections 16 and 17 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004, we are inviting these landlords or tenants.
“We are not saying that those invited are guilty of any infraction or having link with the $43.4million but we need to hear from them – in line with the ongoing profiling of those in the Towers.” [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the leadership style of the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan by conducting a successful referendum to decide on the future of leadership for the country.
A statement by special adviser on media and publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, quoted Buhari as equally commending the citizens of Turkey for the successful conclusion of the referendum yesterday, Monday.
The Nigerian leader said that President Erdogan had displayed foresight and maturity in leading his people to the polls to decide on the future of leadership meant at further deepening peace and stability.
Buhari said that the referendum showcases the democratic credentials of the country and reflects a willingness of the Turkish people to live together and jointly pursue a better future.
Also today, President Buhari wrote to sympathize with the family and friends of former Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey, Senator Ajuji Waziri, who died yesterday, Monday.
The President described late Senator Ajuji as lawmaker, who worked assiduously to improve the conditions of his community and the country.
“As a public servant, who served in many capacities, the President extols the humanity, integrity and purposefulness that Waziri brought into all his responsibilities, particularly in improving relations with Turkey, which has over the years become one Nigeria’s strong allies in the international community.”
Consoled the late Senator’s colleagues in the diplomatic corps,members of the National Assembly, his wife who was former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) boss, Farida Waziri, the children and the government and people of Gombe State.
The President prayed to God tol receive the soul of the departed and grant his loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss. [myad]
A 53 year old Nigerian journalist working in New York, the United States of America, Abdullahi Shuaibu, has been arrested by the New York Police Department (NYPD) for robbing four Manhattan banks, all during his lunch break.
Abdullahi Shuaibu, who was initially posted to the US by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), which was his first employer, has already been charged by the NYPD on two counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery.
The NYPD’s Major Case Squad arrested Abdullahi Shuaibu, at his office at the Foreign Press Centers across from the United Nations building. He was said to have robbed a HSBC bank at 40th Street and Third Avenue on Monday and then returned to work shortly before he was arrested. They say he’s wanted in at least three other bank robberies.
Police believe that Abdullahi Shuaibu was the man who robbed a Santander Bank on Madison Avenue on February 27, a Bank of America on Third Avenue on March 13, and a Santander Bank on Third Avenue on March 27. In each of the robberies, the suspect passed a note to a clerk demanding money.
The suspect was sacked by NAN in April 2013 following his refusal to resume work in Nigeria at the expiration of duty tour and extended period which he requested to enable him complete an academic programme.
Abdullahi Shuaibu also worked as a communication specialist at the United Nations in Darfur, spending two months there in 2013, according to a U.N. spokesperson. [myad]
Turkey went voted on Sunday in a referendum to grant expansive new powers to President Recep Tayyip Edorgan, which International election monitors said took place on an “unlevel playing field” with the “yes” campaign dominating media coverage.
This was even as the Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said that the monitors’ findings are a “reflection” of a “biased and prejudiced approach. The comment that the referendum was below international standards is unacceptable.”
Representatives from a coalition of international bodies said that voters were not provided with adequate information, opposition voices were muzzled and the rules were changed at the last minute.
“The legal framework remained inadequate for the holding of a genuinely democratic referendum,” the monitors’ initial report said.
President Erdogan’s margin of victory in the referendum was razor-thin. Despite a state of emergency and a widespread crackdown on dissent, he succeeded in persuading only 51.4% of voters to back his constitutional upheaval.
The three biggest cities — Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir — rejected the plans, which would abolish Turkey’s system of parliamentary democracy and replace it with an executive presidency with sweeping, largely unchecked powers.
Opposition groups vowed to challenge the outcome, citing a rule change to allow unstamped ballots, announced after polls had opened.
US President, Donald Trump called Erdogan on Monday to congratulate him on the win, the White House confirmed.
According to the official readout of the conversation, the two leaders also discussed the US missile strike on a Syrian airfield April 7, along with the counter-ISIS campaign.
The two last spoke in February.
Earlier, Trump’s State Department noted concerns raised by election observers about “irregularities on voting day and an uneven playing field during the difficult campaign period.”
In a statement, State Department spokesman, Mark Toner wrote that the United States was looking to Turkey “to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all its citizens — regardless of their vote on April 16.”
President European government, meanwhile, acknowledged the result, but bristled at a suggestion by Erdogan that he would seek the restoration of the death penalty — a move that would sink Turkey’s long-stalled bid to join the European Union.
The results cement a year-long effort by Erdogan to consolidate his position. After serving as Prime Minister for nearly a decade, he took over as President in 2014 and, through force of will and charismatic leadership, turned a largely ceremonial position into the de facto head of government.
A failed coup last year allowed him to turn up the heat on opposition voices in the run-up to Sunday’s referendum.
The “no” campaign said it faced intimidation and threats of violence, while opposition figures and journalists were jailed. The narrowness of the result, coupled with allegations of irregularities, sets the scene for further instability.
The country’s National Security Council advised Monday that the state of emergency — which came into effect in response to the coup attempt and was due to expire April 19 — be prolonged for three more months, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Turkey’s council of ministers will meet to decide whether or not to make the extension.
Criticism from monitors
The monitors — a partnership of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council for Europe — offered a harsh analysis on the way the referendum was conducted.
Presenting their preliminary findings at a news briefing in Ankara, Tana de Zulueta, head of the monitoring mission, described a litany of shortcomings.
The state of emergency imposed after a failed coup last July had a profound effect on the political process. “Fundamental freedoms essential to a genuinely democratic process were curtailed,” the monitors’ report said. “The dismissal or detention of thousands of citizens negatively affected the political environment.”
State media was biased in favor of Erdogan and did not adequately cover opposition. “The legal framework for the referendum neither sufficiently provides for impartial coverage nor guarantees eligible political parties equal access to public media,” she said.
Monitors saw “no” supporters subjected to police intervention at events and senior officials in the “yes” camp equated them with terrorists.
The involvement of Erdogan and other national and local public figures in the “yes” campaign led to a “restrictive” and “imbalanced” campaign framework, she said.
The decision on the day of the vote to allow unstamped ballots “significantly changed the ballot validity criteria, undermining an important safeguard and contradicting the law.”
Erdogan praises capital punishment
Erdogan showed no signs of being cowed by the narrow margin of victory. In a rousing speech to supporters in Ankara, he hailed the result and attacked his Western critics. The vote, he said, demonstrated that Turkish people had said, “Yes to a single nation. Yes to a single flag ….Yes to a single state.”
Erdogan, speaking in Ankara on Monday, served up blunt words for the international election monitors.
“There is an organization named OSCE in Europe. Now they are preparing a report in their own way, saying that such and such happened in Turkish elections,” he said.
“First of all, you should know your limits. Know your limits. We would neither see nor hear nor know the politically-oriented reports you prepare. We will just march ahead. This country has just undertaken the most democratic elections never seen in any Western country,” he said.
He reiterated his desire to restore the death penalty as crowds chanted: “We want capital punishment.”
Opposition parties criticized the decision of election authorities to allow ballots that did not bear an official stamp.
Bulent Tezcan, deputy chairman of the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party, or CHP, said his party would contest the result in Turkey and, if necessary, at the European Court of Human Rights.
“The only decision that will end legitimacy debate and ease people’s concerns about the judiciary is for the High Election Board to cancel the referendum,” Tezcan said.
Turkish opposition parties have three days to appeal the referendum results under the election law, CHP lawmaker and human rights lawyer Sezgin Tanrikulu said.
“We will do all we can within the rule of law.”
‘Profound changes’
Once confirmed, moves could get underway to implement the 18-article reform package put forward by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
They include:
Abolishing the post of Prime Minister and replacing it with a powerful executive President with powers to rule by decree.
Giving the President the power to appoint a cabinet and some senior judges.
Curbing the power of Parliament to scrutinize legislation.
Resetting term limits for President, meaning Erdogan could serve until 2029 if he wins elections in 2019 and 2024.
Ahmet Kasim Han, an associate professor at Kadir Has University in Istanbul, said the result would “profoundly change the way the country is governed.”
Critics of the proposals say they give overly broad powers to the president, Han said. Supporters of the “Yes” result argue the changes are justified given the “existential threat” on the country’s southern borders with Iraq and Syria, along with last summer’s attempted coup, he added.
Serkan Demirtas, Ankara bureau chief of Hurriyet Daily News and an expert on judicial issues, explained that the Board is expected to respond to CHP’s appeals next week. He doesn’t expect a different decision from the Board, the Constitutional Court or the European Court from Human Rights.
Caution from Europe
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the result showed that “Turkish society is deeply divided” and called for the Turkish government to engage in “respectful dialogue” with all political entities.
Turkey referendum: Related content
In a joint statement with Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, she called on the Turkish government to “address concerns” about the voting process.
The office of the French President, Francois Hollande, warned that any referendum in Turkey on the reinstatement of the death penalty would constitute a break with EU values and commitments.
The Council of Europe, a human rights organization that promotes European values and of which Turkey is a member, said the tight vote meant the country would have to proceed with caution.
“In view of the close result the Turkish leadership should consider the next steps carefully,” said the statement from Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland.
Joy and despair
As the results came in, thousands of the president’s supporters converged at the Ankara headquarters of the AKP, which Ergodan founded. Waving flags, they shouted, “Tell us to kill, we will kill. Tell us to die, we will die. Erdogan, Erdogan, Erdogan.”
But there were just as many who were devastated by the result.
“No” supporters gather in Istanbul to protest the result.
Umut Serin, a 32-year-old marine engineer who was working at a polling station in central Istanbul told CNN: “The government tried to reflect it as if the ‘yes’ votes were clearly ahead, from the very start. They created this perception through the media. There was huge pressure on TV channels.”
Serkan Taskent, 31, a graduate student in Istanbul, said the opposition was not strong enough to stop the reforms going ahead. “If the opposition continues to be this ineffective, which looks like it’s going to be, then it will be very hard to bring the 23.7 million opposition voters to the ballots again.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has injected of $280 million into various sectors of the market and the commencement of its weekly $20,000 sale to licensed Bureaux de Change.
The apex bank also announced the opening of bids for offering $100 million wholesale 7-45 days forwards through the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs). This is to underscore its determination to sustain liquidity in the foreign exchange market.
A breakdown of the intervention shows that invisibles such as Basic Travel Allowance, Personal Travel Allowance, medical bills and tuition received $80 million, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) window received $100 million. Together with the wholesale bid auction, the Bank, today, Tuesday, sold $280 million into the market.
The Bank’s spokesman, Isaac Okorafor, confirmed the releases, saying that the new window for SMEs would no doubt boost the business of SMEs through the importation of eligible finished and semi-finished items, thereby boosting FOREX supply to the retail business segment of the market.
Okorafor explained that the CBN introduced the use of FORM Q for the SMEs, which requires just basic documentation, to ease their documentation challenges usually encountered by this category of businesses. He reiterated that SMEs are allowed to purchase $20,000 per quarter on this arrangement.
He restated that the new form, which must be completed by all SME applicants, requires the applicant to fill the form with a supporting application letter as well as beneficiary invoice and bank wire transfer. According to him, eligible applicants must have operated their bank accounts for a minimum of six months.
On the sale of forex to BDCs, the Bank said the decision was taken to ensure that the high volume demand by low-end users are met promptly.
Meanwhile, with the intervention of the CBN in the various aspects of the market, analysts are of the view that the naira will strengthen against other major currencies of the world in the forex market this week and beyond.
While urging market participants to abide by the rules to ensure the preservation of our external reserves, stability of our financial system, and growth of our economy to the benefit of all Nigerians, the Bank’s spokesman warned that the CBN would neither tolerate unscrupulous actions nor hesitate to bring serious sanctions on offenders, be they banks or their staff. [myad]
Nigeria’s minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun has arrived in Washington DC, the United States of America to attend the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings. The Minister is participating in a range of events focused on different aspects of the Federal Government’s economic reform agenda.
A statement from her office today said that the minister gave an address to the Global Parliamentary Conference, alongside parliamentarians from around the world, focused on Nigeria’s economic reform agenda and the need for strong executive and legislative collaboration.
The statement said that Adeosun told senior representatives from the World Bank and IMF as well as over 150 parliamentarians, the need for greater focus on collaboration in illicit financial flows from Africa as a core pillar of the government’s strategy to significantly enhance domestic government revenue and deliver sustainable economic growth.
“The government is focused on resetting the Nigerian economy by addressing our traditional over-reliance on oil revenues and establishing the basis for sustainable non-oil revenue growth. To improve non-oil revenues, we have to address illicit capital flows. When stolen money is transferred from Nigeria, or other African countries, there are too few questions asked by those countries that receive the funds, but when we identify those funds as stolen and seek to recover them, there are too many questions being asked. There is money sitting in foreign bank accounts that we have spent over a decade trying to recover. That is money that could deliver significant value for Nigeria as we seek to increase spending on critical infrastructure and establish a basis for long term sustainable growth. I hope that the Automatic Exchange of Information scheme coming into force next year will be a step towards achieving greater transparency, but we need more collaboration amongst parliamentarians in Africa, and across the World to ensure that this situation improves and that recipient countries are held to account.”
Speaking on the domestic agenda to ensure significant reductions in ‘leakages’ of public funds, and improved efficiency in public expenditure, the minister was quoted as saying: “we are going after those who have stolen our money. We have put in place a very successful whistle blower programme that is delivering results, and allows those who report illicit activity to receive up to 5% of any funds that we recover. We are also significantly improving our financial management controls to ensure that it is considerably more difficult for public funds to be diverted. We have to do more though and that means collaboration with the legislature. We need tighter tax and financial reporting legislation and to ratify bilateral agreements so that our enforcement agencies are empowered to deliver the results that we need.”
The statement said that Adeosun will be attending a series of meetings over the coming days, including meetings with the World Bank to take forwards conversations about lending into strategic sectors of the economy as part of the administration’s focus on addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and accelerating implementation of critical projects. [myad]
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Nigeria’s frontline airline, Overland Airways, has announced plans to relocate flight services back to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from the Kaduna International Airport following the reopening of the Abuja Airport, which was shut down to flight operations for six weeks for major repairs on the runway.
