Tuesday 18 April 2017
See a drug dealer who won beauty pageant in Russian prison
Abuja Airport Ready for Use, Says NCAA
• Air Peace resumes flights to airport Wednesday
The Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Usman Muktar, has certified the runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja ready for operation, adding that the airport can be opened on Wednesday.
Muktar stated this while speaking with newsmen during an inspection of the airport’s runway on Monday in Abuja.
The Abuja airport was closed on March 8 for six weeks for the rehabilitation of its 3.6km runway.
Flights were diverted to the Kaduna International Airport during the period.
The Abuja airport was closed on March 8 for six weeks for the rehabilitation of its 3.6km runway.
Flights were diverted to the Kaduna International Airport during the period.
The federal government had announced that the airport would be reopened for normal operations on April 19.
Muktar disclosed that NCAA had concluded the second phase of inspection as a follow-up to the recommendations made to the contractors to correct some areas of concern earlier identified by a team of experts.
Muktar disclosed that NCAA had concluded the second phase of inspection as a follow-up to the recommendations made to the contractors to correct some areas of concern earlier identified by a team of experts.
According to him, they inspected the runway on Sunday and made some observations, but the findings that were found were not too safety critical.
He added, however, that the concerns were rectified on Monday.
“We have carried out the inspection and we have confirmed that the job has been done quite satisfactorily in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and recommended practices.
“We have carried out the inspection and we have confirmed that the job has been done quite satisfactorily in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and recommended practices.
“So, the airport, the runway is very ready to accept flight operations safely.
“By this, we are declaring that the airport and its runway are quite operational at the time that has been determined as the official opening of this airport,” he declared.
Muktar said his agency has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to all aviators worldwide that the airport is ready for reopening on Wednesday as scheduled.
“By this, we are declaring that the airport and its runway are quite operational at the time that has been determined as the official opening of this airport,” he declared.
Muktar said his agency has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to all aviators worldwide that the airport is ready for reopening on Wednesday as scheduled.
On the calibration of the airport, he said that nothing had been tampered with as far as the instrument landing system (ILS) was concerned to warrant recalibration.
According to him, calibrations are normally scheduled and very soon, the airport will also be calibrated along with others.
“It will be normal routine calibration which will be applicable to other airports that are due for recalibration,” he said.
According to him, calibrations are normally scheduled and very soon, the airport will also be calibrated along with others.
“It will be normal routine calibration which will be applicable to other airports that are due for recalibration,” he said.
Earlier, the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Saleh Dunoma, had said that the runway was fully ready for reopening and confirmed that it had been completely cleaned up.
Dunoma said NCAA had given the operators a “clean bill of health”, adding that some of the observations raised by the team of experts on the repair of the runway had been corrected.
He explained that the runway was cleared “because we have our technical team working across the length and breadth of the runway to make sure that every detail is observed”.
He explained that the runway was cleared “because we have our technical team working across the length and breadth of the runway to make sure that every detail is observed”.
“That is why all equipment have been evacuated from the runway. Later, all the professionals at NCAA and FAAN will carry out a detailed inspection again to ensure that all debris is cleaned up during final cleaning.
“Any moment from now, if there is any aircraft, we are ready to receive that aircraft, but of course, in aviation there are procedures because NOTAM has to be issued and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) will do that and then we are ready,” he said.
In line with the green light given on the Abuja airport, Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s domestic airlines, on Monday said it would resume flights to the airport on Wednesday.
The announcement by the airline’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr Chris Iwarah, also thanked air travellers for keeping faith with it and by making a huge sacrifice during the repairs at the airport.
Air Peace also commended the federal government and the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, for the speedy completion of repairs at the Abuja airport.
The announcement by the airline’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mr Chris Iwarah, also thanked air travellers for keeping faith with it and by making a huge sacrifice during the repairs at the airport.
Air Peace also commended the federal government and the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, for the speedy completion of repairs at the Abuja airport.
“We are pleased to announce resumption of all our flights into and out of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with effect from April 19.
“The federal government shut the facility to air traffic on March 8 to enable a six-week repair of its runway and diverted all Abuja-bound flights to the Kaduna International Airport.
“The federal government shut the facility to air traffic on March 8 to enable a six-week repair of its runway and diverted all Abuja-bound flights to the Kaduna International Airport.
“We considered the decision of the federal government to shut down the airport for quick repairs of its runway in tandem with the high safety standards of our flight operations.
“At Air Peace, the safety of our esteemed guests is our first rule of business. We do not compromise on that for any reason.
“At Air Peace, the safety of our esteemed guests is our first rule of business. We do not compromise on that for any reason.
“Although the decision to shut the facility to traffic came at a huge cost for us, nothing compares with safety.
“We are also aware that our numerous guests and the entire travelling public had to make a lot of sacrifices during the repair of the runway and wish to commend them for their understanding and cooperation,” it said.
“We are also aware that our numerous guests and the entire travelling public had to make a lot of sacrifices during the repair of the runway and wish to commend them for their understanding and cooperation,” it said.
Air Peace added that the repair of the runway further intensified its enthusiasm to deliver the best flight experience to its guests in a very safe atmosphere.
“Our Abuja schedules are alive once again and we promise to give the best of air travel services as we resume our flight operations in the Federal Capital Territory,” the airline stated.
“Our Abuja schedules are alive once again and we promise to give the best of air travel services as we resume our flight operations in the Federal Capital Territory,” the airline stated.
AfDB President Predicts Dangote will Become Largest World Rice Exporter
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Mr. Akinwumi Adesina, has said Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, will become the largest exporter of rice in the world by 2021.
Adesina said this at the Mo Ibrahim Forum in Morocco at the weekend.
Adesina said this at the Mo Ibrahim Forum in Morocco at the weekend.
He said Africa should focus on agriculture to drive growth and employment on the continent.
Adesina, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalled that during his tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Dangote decided to invest in local production of rice due to government’s import substitution policies.
Adesina, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalled that during his tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Dangote decided to invest in local production of rice due to government’s import substitution policies.
He said Dangote initially planned a $300 million investment in production and processing of rice in Nigeria but later changed it to $1 billion three months after.
“If they continue that policy, he would probably be the single largest producer of rice in the world in about four years.
“If they continue that policy, he would probably be the single largest producer of rice in the world in about four years.
“The reason I was so excited about that is that agriculture is cool; agriculture is a business and agriculture pays,” Adesina said.
Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Group, said he ventured into rice cultivation because of government’s interest to revive agriculture as the mainstay of the economy and reduce importation of food that could be produced locally.
Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Group, said he ventured into rice cultivation because of government’s interest to revive agriculture as the mainstay of the economy and reduce importation of food that could be produced locally.
He lamented that Nigeria consumes 6.5 million metric tonnes of rice which costs the nation over $2 billion annually and commended government’s policy that encourages private sector’s active participation in agriculture.
“In the next three years, we want to produce one million tonnes of quality rice, make it available and affordable to the people.
“We hope to do 150,000 hectares and when we are done, Nigeria will not have anything to do with importation of rice,” Dangote said.
“We hope to do 150,000 hectares and when we are done, Nigeria will not have anything to do with importation of rice,” Dangote said.
According to him, Dangote Rice Outgrowers Scheme is committed to creating employment, increasing incomes of smallholders farmers and ensuring food security in the country.
He said to achieve the goal, the scheme would provide high quality seeds, fertilisers, agro-chemicals and technical assistance on the best agricultural practice to farmers.
He said to achieve the goal, the scheme would provide high quality seeds, fertilisers, agro-chemicals and technical assistance on the best agricultural practice to farmers.
“This scheme will help to diversify the economy, alleviate poverty and reduce the nation’s import bill.
“The scheme has been designed as a one-stop solution for the rice value chain,” Dangote stated.
The pilot phase of the Dangote Outgrowers Scheme launched in Sokoto State would create jobs for 16,000 rice farmers in the state.
“The scheme has been designed as a one-stop solution for the rice value chain,” Dangote stated.
The pilot phase of the Dangote Outgrowers Scheme launched in Sokoto State would create jobs for 16,000 rice farmers in the state.
CBN denies knowledge of Ikoyi loot
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has washed its hands of the controversial N15 billion Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos cash haul.
CBN spokesman Isaac Okorafor told The Nation that the apex bank did not know the source of the money.
Okorafor said the CBN issues serial currencies to banks which are at liberty to give such currencies to their clients.
“I do not know the source of the money; we (CBN) only issue currencies to banks which then transmit the currencies to their customers,” Okorafor said.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), acting on a tip-off on Wednesday, stormed an apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi Lagos where they found $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218,000 stacked inside a fireproof safe.
The discovery has generated controversies over who the owner of the fund is as well as the owner of the apartment where it was found.
The Nation reported on Monday that “when the EFCC began the investigation of some Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), it traced the movement of the cash to NIA account. Instead of seeking explanation from the Director-General of NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, the EFCC wrote directly to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to demand the details of the transactions on the said account.
“In fact, the documents obtained from CBN included other sensitive operations and overhead. The NIA took exception to it. When President Muhammadu Buhari intervened, he saw all the records that neither NIA DG nor any staff benefited from the said funds.”
There have been questions on the money. Why did NIA not share intelligence about the money with other agencies? If the cash was for operations two years ago, why was it lying idle in the apartment? Shouldn’t the huge cash have been kept at the Central Bank?
President Muhammadu Buhari is said to have asked the EFCC and the NIA to file briefs on the discovery to the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike accused his predecessor Rotimi Amaechi of being the owner of the money, saying it was part of the proceeds of the state’s turbines, which were sold. He threatened to launch a legal battle to secure the cash and urged residents to pray for its return.
Amaechi denied owning the money and the apartment in which it was recovered. He has threatened to sue those who linked him to the matter.
CBN spokesman Isaac Okorafor told The Nation that the apex bank did not know the source of the money.
Okorafor said the CBN issues serial currencies to banks which are at liberty to give such currencies to their clients.
“I do not know the source of the money; we (CBN) only issue currencies to banks which then transmit the currencies to their customers,” Okorafor said.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), acting on a tip-off on Wednesday, stormed an apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi Lagos where they found $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218,000 stacked inside a fireproof safe.
The discovery has generated controversies over who the owner of the fund is as well as the owner of the apartment where it was found.
The Nation reported on Monday that “when the EFCC began the investigation of some Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), it traced the movement of the cash to NIA account. Instead of seeking explanation from the Director-General of NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, the EFCC wrote directly to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to demand the details of the transactions on the said account.
“In fact, the documents obtained from CBN included other sensitive operations and overhead. The NIA took exception to it. When President Muhammadu Buhari intervened, he saw all the records that neither NIA DG nor any staff benefited from the said funds.”
There have been questions on the money. Why did NIA not share intelligence about the money with other agencies? If the cash was for operations two years ago, why was it lying idle in the apartment? Shouldn’t the huge cash have been kept at the Central Bank?
President Muhammadu Buhari is said to have asked the EFCC and the NIA to file briefs on the discovery to the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike accused his predecessor Rotimi Amaechi of being the owner of the money, saying it was part of the proceeds of the state’s turbines, which were sold. He threatened to launch a legal battle to secure the cash and urged residents to pray for its return.
Amaechi denied owning the money and the apartment in which it was recovered. He has threatened to sue those who linked him to the matter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Designed by Anyinature