Nigerian Newspapers
NAMA: We didn’t ground Oshiomhole’s aircraft
• We only delayed it’
• ACN: ‘It’s executive misuse of power’
• PDP: ‘No, it’s not’
The Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), yesterday denied grounding the OAS helicopter that it recalled mid-air on Friday while carrying Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to Awka, Anambra State.
The agency said it merely delayed it for some minutes with a view to enforcing air safety regulations in the country.
The action generated more reactions yesterday with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Edo State saying it was pure executive misuse of power. The PDP in the state differed and said NAMA acted right as it owes the country a duty to ensure that airline operators follow the law.
The managing director of NAMA, Nnamdi Udoh, said the helicopter pilot caused the problem by failing to file his flight plan and submitting the manifest as prescribed for such operations.
Speaking through the general manager, Public Affairs of NAMA, Mr Supo Atobatele, he explained that the incident had nothing to do with politics, but purely an aviation matter bordering on rules and regulations.
“We want to be emphatic with our declaration this afternoon that the safety and security related issues raised by our men on Friday at Benin Airport are about a flight plan and passenger manifest. It has no political undertone at all, but purely an aviation matter bordering on rules and regulation,” he said.
He continued “Basically, as a matter of rules, we needed to know where the aircraft was going and how many people were on board. NAMA by statute is covered by legislation to demand for all these. But the pilot or his employer failed to comply with this simple procedure.
“It is a globally acceptable procedure for a pilot to file his flight plan and declare his passenger manifest before getting a start up. When this is done, there will be no delay while perfecting your documentation at the point of departure.
“It was a minor issue that should not be given political colouration as being portrayed now. NAMA is never political in discharging its duties. NAMA is safety driven as safety does not respect status, what is applicable to ordinary citizens is applicable to very important persons, because accident does not discriminate.”
Also speaking, the coordinating spokesman for the aviation agencies, Mr Yakubu Dati, said the chopper was never grounded as being alleged in some quarters.
According to him, the chopper was only delayed for a few minutes because the pilot did not do what he ought to have done, even as he denied that the crew were kept on ground for non payment navigational charges.
Dati added that even pilots flying the presidential fleet are not exempted.
He said the relevant aviation agency will sanction the airline and the pilot for violation of safety procedure.
“Why did the pilot not comply with the safety procedure? They are used to taking things for granted. We will continue to ensure that we sink in the message,” he said.
Also speaking, the general manager, NAMA air traffic control operations, Mr Chuks John Onyegiri said: “NAMA needs to know who is on board. It is purely security and safety issues. Nothing is wrong if the governor gives his name.
“But, the pilot wanted to use executive connection. It is purely the fault of the pilot. We have to monitor every movement, from the take off of the aircraft to landing.
“It is clear the pilot did not want to submit a flight plan and declare manifest. There is no more cutting of corners. After the pilot eventually complied, he hopped over to the airport for the flight plan.”
The airspace manager of Benin Airport, Mr Lawrence Okoye, said:”NAMA is not interested in the occupants of the aircraft. The aircraft owner and pilot must comply with safety regulations. They must not circumvent the law.
“The pilot bragged saying I have a governor on board. The pilot failed in his duty to comply with safety regulations. The pilot was on ground for 55minutes at Government House, which was sufficient time to get to Benin Airport to file a flight plan.
“The pilot must know that Government House, Benin is not an airport, where he wanted to take off from without filing a flight plan. The pilot should have complied and advised the clients to understand.”
Reacting to the Friday incident, ACN’s National Vice-Chairman, South-South, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, wondered if it was not “executive misuse of power,” because the authorities at the airport were aware of the presence of the chopper; they gave it clearance to land and to pick the governor and it was possible for them to have paid whatever fee they needed to pay before or after the journey, but it is surprising that they were allowed to take-off, only to be called back when they were already airborne and thereafter delayed them for hours.
“This is not the first time a chopper will be coming to pick the chief executive of our (Edo) state, considering the terrain of parts of the country, where you cannot easily access by road or by direct flight, so I am surprised that this is happening now.”
The National Youth Leader, ACN, Miriki Ebikina, described the incident as worrisome. He said, “The grounding of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s chartered helicopter 42 days after a similar controversial incident was carried on the Rivers Governor’s Bombardier jet, in Akure, is vexatious.”
However, the PDP Chairman in Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih, dismissed allegations of federal government’s involvement in the matter as unfounded, saying Nigerians should rather commend the aviation ministry for steps taken in recent times to ensure safer airspace.
He said, “The allegation is baseless and unfounded. There are rules and regulations covering the operation of aircrafts and helicopters. These rules are meant to be applied irrespective of whoever is concerned. I am surprised that people are now trying to politicise apparent flagrant disobedience of a Filipino pilot, who from the account of NAMA, flouted its rules.
“In the interest of Nigerians who have to travel, NAMA applied its rules. I don’t see any issue here, except that it was Oshiomhole that was on board, and I want to use this opportunity to commend the effort of the minister of Aviation who is doing everything to bring sanity to the industry.”
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•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The people of the South East region have been urged to explore the power of negotiation and mutual settlement in the face of ongoing killings and security challenges in the zone because the east can not afford another war at present.
Stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone made the remark on Thursday, at the unveiling of the book, “Igbo, 50 years after Biafra,” written by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services, Joe Igbokwe, held at Ikeja G.R.A.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Cutis Adigba,
urged the people of the South-East to learn to build bridges across the country, so that they can realise their ambition of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Adigba urged leaders from the zone to discourage the move and agitation by some youths in the South East to go to war and secede out of Nigeria.
Also read: Banditry: Disregard viral video, Niger State gov’t urges residents
He said that Igbo have always found it difficult to rule Nigeria because they refused to build bridges across the six geo-political zones that made up Nigeria.
While describing the agitation as uncalled for, Adigba noted that after two decades that Nigeria returned to civil rule, the Igbo has predominantly identified with only one political party.
He maintained that remaining in one party can not advance the cause of the people of South East and cannot make them realise their objective of producing an Igbo man as president.
He maintained that the publisher of the book, Igbokwe played politics outside his state, so that the Igbo race can be integrated with one another race.
Adigba said the failure of the Igbo to reintegrate with other ethnic nationalities politically was responsible for the retrogression of the race in Nigerian politics.
Igbokwe, also addressing guests on the occasion, maintained that the Igbo are not advancing politically because they refused to be integrated into National politics, lamenting that, despite their success in business, they are not successful in playing politics at the national level.
Corroborating Dimgba, Igbokwe noted that there was the need for the Igbo people to stand up and build bridges so that their objective of producing the next president of Nigeria could be realised.
According to him: “I have decided to raise my voice, I hope my people will hear me while trying to quell the effect of the war, our people are spoiling for another war, mayhem is being unleashed in Igbo land, and there is palpable fear.
“Those who could speak have lost their voice, mindful of the consequences of their actions, I am calling on all Igbo leaders to speak up because all actions carry consequences, consequences of the silence will be too dastardly to sustain.
“Those silently supporting the wild wind should be careful or else they hand over to their children,” he said.
Igbokwe urged those spoiling for war to jettison their plan and embrace dialogue, urging them to learn from the South West region that despite the challenges faced after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, they did not go to war, and the region had the opportunity of producing two of her sons for presidential position in 1999.
“You have to build bridges to become president of Nigeria, but it is unfortunate the Igbo are burning bridges.”
Speaking at the event, Chief Uche Dimgba who is the coordinator of Igbo in All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, described Igbokwe as “a Frank, fearless and reliable leader, who based his views on issues and stand by his opinions, and we the Igbo have confidence in him and believe he can lead us aright.”
“He is a leader we Igbo believe in and we will follow him. If he can serve all the governors produced in Lagos State since 1999, he is a better man to follow because he possesses all the experience that can be of benefit to Igbo both at home and in the diaspora.”
The post Attacks on S’East: We must explore all options of negotiation — Stakeholders urge Igbo appeared first on Vanguard News.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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