Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The Federal Government has promised Nigerians that a new national air carrier will begin operations in the country soon.  This was revealed by the newly appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Abubakar Kana during the handing over ceremony organised by the ministry. According to him, his goal is to ensure that a national air carrier is established. He also promised the revamp of airports across the country. Speaking, Kana, a former Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Defence said that his statement was premised upon President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda for the aviation sector. He…

The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has assumed jurisdiction to hear the allegations of accepting gratification, corrupt demand and receiving property fraudulently obtained made against the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. Justice Rahman Oshodi in his ruling delivered on Wednesday held that the prosecution, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully established that the court has territorial jurisdiction to entertain counts 8 to 20 of the 26 count charge made against the former CBN Governor based on various facts presented in the evidence attached to the case file. The court, however, agreed…

The Nigerian Air Force has stated that the country has the competitive and comparative advantage to maintain and restore its fleets to airworthy conditions. In a statement issued by the spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, on Wednesday, its engineers and technicians have reactivated a Dornier DO-228 aircraft grounded for 23 years. According to Akinboyewa, the reactivation serves as a morale booster for the NAF engineers and technicians, showcasing their ability to undertake complex projects that otherwise would be outsourced to foreign entities. He said: “The success of this project carries significant strategic implications, bearing in mind that, beyond enhancing the…

President Bola Tinubu has extolled the virtues of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the national oil company, Mele Kyari as he marks his 60th birthday on Wednesday. Kyari who sits at the helm of affairs at the National Nigerian Petroleum Company Limited had earlier stated how he went from being a beneficiary of the Almajiri school system, to becoming the number one man at the national oil company. “I am profoundly grateful to my country for giving me the opportunity to grow from an Almajiri (Tsangaya) school pupil to become the CEO of Africa’s largest energy company. “Even more…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has affirmed Sunday Udeh-Okoye as its National Secretary in line with a recent verdict of the Court of Appeal. In December, the appellate court in Enugu sacked Senator Samuel Any­anwu and recognised Udeh-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary. Briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated that the party recognises Okoye as the authentic national secretary of the party, as declared by the appeal court. “There were two court orders, and on Dec. 24, 2023, after consultation with the PDP National Legal Adviser, it was confirmed that we had received…

The UK’s new visa-waiver entry system took effect on Wednesday for passengers from dozens more countries, including millions of annual visitors from the United States, Canada and Australia. The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme — similar to the ESTA system in the United States — requires visitors who do not need a visa to enter Britain to acquire pre-travel authorisation. Costing £10 ($12.50) and allowing stays of up to six months at a time over two years, it first launched in 2023, with Qatar, before being extended last year to five regional Gulf neighbours. Now, it has been expanded to…

The China Development Bank has announced the approval of a $254.76m (€245m) loan to support the Kano-Kaduna railway project in Nigeria. According to information released on its website on Tuesday, the financial backing is expected to ensure the seamless continuation of the construction work. It said on its website, “China Development Bank released on Tuesday that the bank has recently granted a loan of 245m euros ($254.76m) to the Kano-Kaduna railway project in Nigeria, providing financial support for the smooth progress of the project.” The railway, a standard-gauge line stretching 203 kilometres, will link Kano, a key commercial city in northern Nigeria, to…

Open AI CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday denied allegations from his sister Annie Altman, who has filed a complaint accusing him of childhood sexual abuse. “…Annie has made deeply hurtful and entirely untrue claims about our family, especially Sam,” the boss of the California startup said in a letter co-signed by his mother and two brothers, and published on social platform X. “Our family loves Annie and is very concerned about her well-being. Caring for a family member who faces mental health challenges is incredibly difficult,” they wrote. One of Silicon Valley’s more charismatic figures, Altman shot to global fame…

The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says corps members in the country will soon start receiving ₦77,000 as their monthly allowance.  NYSC Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja, according to a statement by NYSC spokesperson Caroline Embu. General Ahmed, who said his administration places a high priority on Corps welfare, added that arrangements for the payment of new corps members’ allowance have been concluded. The increase of the monthly allowance for corps members followed the review of Nigeria’s minimum wage from ₦30,000  to ₦70,000 in July 2024. In 2020, the NYSC…

Mexico’s government plans to offer up to $1,300 for people who hand in firearms including machine guns and assault rifles under a citizen disarmament program aimed at reducing violent crime. The financial incentives for people dropping off weapons at collection points in churches were published late Monday in the country’s official gazette. They include 8,700 pesos ($430) for a revolver, 25,000 pesos ($1,200) for an AK-47 rifle and 26,450 pesos ($1,300) for a machine gun. President Claudia Sheinbaum last month encouraged residents to participate in the “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace” program, assuring those skeptical that they would not…