Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Foreign airlines have disclosed that about 90% of their $783m trapped funds have remained unpaid. The airlines stated this during a stakeholders’ forum convened by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, in Lagos recently. According to data from the International Air Transport Association, as of August 2023, Nigeria accounted for a substantial $783m of airlines’ blocked funds. Despite recent efforts to alleviate the situation, the airlines said a significant portion of those funds remained inaccessible to them. Chima Kingsley, the Chairman of International Airline Operators, emphasised that while international banks had received some funds from the Central…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Wednesday, said that it is not compulsory for the governorship election scheduled for November 11, 2023, to be held in Imo. The NLC Head of International Relations, Uchenna Ekwe, stated this during an interview on Channels TV. Ekwe said the Imo people have been faced with violence, adding that the election would not produce anything. He said that the workers in Imo do not have faith that the election would determine anything. Ekwe said, “Talking about the election, in Imo in particular, did the votes count? How did he (Hope Uzodinma) become governor? In Imo, is…

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has debunked allegations that he is spending N400 million monthly on domestic running costs. These claims were made by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, during a meeting with party members in Osogbo. Basiru had claimed that Governor Adeleke was influenced by his family, particularly his elder sister, Dupe Adeleke-Sanni, and raised concerns about increased state allocations without a commensurate improvement in government service delivery. In response, Governor Adeleke, through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, described the allegations as “careless, ill-thought, and lacking any iota of truth.” He refuted the claim that he…

The Appeal Court has declared the Labour Party candidate, Thaddeus Atta, as the duly elected House of Representatives member representing Eti Osa Federal Constituency in Lagos State. The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, had in September declared the election inconclusive. The tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a supplementary election within 90 days in 33 polling units where elections were not held. However, the Appeal Court on Tuesday overturned the tribunal’s directive and ruled that the elections were conclusive. This legal battle involved famous Nigerian singer and Peoples Democratic Party…

The Federal Government has inaugurated additional enhanced e-passport facilities at selected Nigerian Embassies in Italy, Spain, Greece, Austria and Switzerland. The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo inaugurated the facilities at the Nigerian Embassy in Rome. A statement by the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO) Dr Adedotun Aridegbe on Tuesday in Abuja stated the new passport processing centres were part of efforts to streamline passport processing and acquisition for Nigerians residing in the diaspora. Tunji-Ojo emphasised the dedication of President Bola Tinubu’s government to citizens’ diplomacy and the enhancement of services to the diaspora community. The Interior Minister who, was…

Nigeria, a country yet to be designated as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ by the U.S. Department of State, has been listed among the worst persecutors of Christians in the International Christian Concern’s (ICC) 2023 report. The report depicts an alarming portrait of the dangers Christians face in the country, asserting that Nigeria may be the most perilous place for Christians worldwide. “Nigeria is arguably the most dangerous place to be a Christian in the world today,” the report stated. The ICC report detailed 55 attacks in Nigeria resulting in the death of 549 Christians during four months from March…

AC Milan came from behind to beat Paris Saint-Germain to leave UEFA Champions League Group F wide open. PSG looked well set to cement their place at the top of the table when Milan Skriniar gave them the lead, but goals from Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud turned the contest on its head. It did not look likely when Skriniar stooped low to nod home a flick-on from Marquinhos on nine minutes. Milan responded superbly, with Leao acrobatically volleying home after Gianluigi Donnarumma – who had been given a hot reception by the fans of his former club – had beaten away…

Shakhtar Donetsk breathed life into UEFA Champions League Group H with a 1-0 win over Barcelona. Barca went into the game knowing a win would guarantee their progression to the knockout stages with two games to spare, but they were extremely disappointing in slipping to defeat at the Volksparkstadion. Danylo Sikan’s header on 40 minutes was worthy of winning any game as Shakhtar opened up the group. Shakhtar began brightly, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen had to stand tall to deny Mykola Matviyenko. The Ukrainian side restricted Barca to shots from distance in the first half – Raphinha lashing over from…

A goal from Niclas Fullkrug and another from the excellent Julian Brandt secured Dortmund a deserved double over Newcastle. They lead Group F by a point from Paris Saint-Germain, who play later tonight, and one win from their final two games will give them an unassailable lead over tonight’s opponents – who know that maximum points might still mot be enough. Still smarting following their weekend Klassiker humiliation, Dortmund started well without creating much, while Newcastle looked like they had not shaken off the physical and mental dump beating Arsenal must have left them with. It was not, though, until…

Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, says it is embarking on a $1.1 billion ports rehabilitation plan in the first quarter of 2024, to fortify Nigeria’s trade competitiveness. The Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, said this in a panel session at the 43rd Port Management Association of West and Central Africa, PMAWCA, conference held on Tuesday in Lagos. According to Mr Bello-Koko, almost every port in Nigeria requires rehabilitation while NPA is initiating a substantial overhaul for all ports, starting with the TinCan and Apapa ports in Lagos. “The objective of the authority is to enhance the physical infrastructure of these ports…

The Canadian High Commission in Abuja, on Tuesday suspended operations after a fire incident at the commission on Monday. No staff except security personnel were seen at the high commission situated at 13010G, Palm Close, Diplomatic Drive, in the Central Business District of Abuja. The high commission had on its social media handle on X (formerly Twitter) announced the temporary suspension of its operations. The high commission, via the post, announced a temporary suspension of its operations after a section of the commission in Abuja was gutted by fire. The announcement entails that no operations towards the High Commission’s provision…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of three new Executive Commissioners for the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) pending their confirmation by the Nigerian Senate. The President, according to a release issued on Tuesday by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, also approved the redeployment of one current Executive Commissioner. The new appointees are Mr. Bashir Indabawa (North West), Executive Commissioner, Exploration & Acreage Management; Mr. Enorense Amadasu (South South), Executive Commissioner, Development & Production; Mr. Babajide Fasina (South West), Executive Commissioner, Economic Regulation & Strategic Planning; and Dr. Kelechi Ofoegbu (South East),  Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services & Administration…