By Gabriel Agbeja

Azman Air, a privately-owned airline, is following guidelines of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to advance standard in its operations, Mr Sam Aderogboye, NCAA General Manager, Public Relation, has said.

Aderogboye made this known on Thursday in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The general manager said the airline had significantly fulfilled the recommendation made by NCAA following a series of incidents involving Azman Air Boeing 737 Aircraft.

He said considering Section 35 (2) of Civil Aviation Act, 2006, and Part 1.3.3.3 (A) of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2015, NCAA suspended operations of all Boeing 737 aircraft in Azmans fleet.

He added that the suspension was with immediate effect from March 15, 2021, till date.

According to him, the suspension is to enable the authorities conduct an audit of the airline to determine the root causes of the incidents, and recommend corrective actions to forestall re-occurrence.

NCAA regrets the inconvenience this action may cause to the public, particularly to Azman air passengers, but the need to ensure the safety of air transport and protect the public interest cannot be compromised.

NCAA will continue to ensure compliance with its regulations in the interest of safety and will view any violation(s) seriously, he said.

In a related development during an interview NAN, a top rank Official of Azman Air , who pleaded anonymity, said the airline was responding to issues raised by NCAA.

According to him, NCAA is happy with the level of compliance the airline had undergone during the suspension to maintain standard in the aviation industry.

We stopped on 15th march. NCAA suspended us due to incidences that concurrently happened, and they decided to conduct an audit on our operations.

We are responding to all issues raised by NCAA, right now we are conducting some refreshers training, we almost closed all gaps highlighted, we assure you that we will come back stronger and better.

NCAA are delighted with our responses as stated by NCAA Director General last week. Though, we are on top of situations when it comes to maintenance but the questioned incidences occurred naturally, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By George Odok
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, has called on stakeholders intervention over the windstorm destruction of infrastructure at the institution.

She made the appeal to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Tertiary Education Trust Fund and the Niger Delta Development Commission while inspecting the damages on Friday in Calabar.

Obi said that properties worth millions of Naira have been destroyed by the windstorm that occurred during the heavy downpour of Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the buildings affected include the Medical College, Post Graduate School, Faculty of Education, Printing Press, Senate Chambers, open pavilion and Department of Medical Laboratory.

Others are the Sen. Godswill Akpabio Engineering Lecture Theatre, telecommunication mast, the Isolation Centre, electrical and solar installations, the Vice Chancellors office as well as the male and females hostels among others.

The VC said that the windstorm was coming at a time when the University has yet to recover from the destruction of its facilities by hoodlums who hijacked the #Endsars protest on Oct. 24, 2020 in Calabar.

Today is another very sad day, just like it happened during the #Endsars protest. When I came onboard as VC, we commenced the fixing of the hostels and other areas that were destroyed by the hoodlums, here we are again witnessing another form of destruction.

We have invested so much on the printing press because we wanted to make it a commercial venture; even the Senate Chambers of the University where we used to have our international cooperation have all been affected because the roof has been destroyed.

The sad story is that the new Medical College building that was yet to be handed over to the school was also badly affected.

We are appealing to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the Niger Delta Development Commission, National Emergency Management Agency, TetFund, well-meaning Nigerians and Alumni of the institution to come to our aid, she said.

The Registrar of the University, Mr Gabriel Egbe, who was also on the inspection tour, appealed to relevant government agencies to come in and assist the University in the area of projects intervention.

The Student Union President of the University, Mr James Ugah, also appealed to the Federal Government and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to urgently intervene, especially in the hostel with a view to replace the damaged facilities.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Joshua Olomu

The Women in Business and Tourism Society Nigeria (WIBAT Nigeria) has called on government at all levels to develop the rich tourism opportunities that abound in the country for revenue and job creation.

Sophia Khan National President of the body, made the call on Thursday during a courtesy visit of its members to the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb.Mariam Katagum in Abuja.

She said the group was at the ministry to brief the minister on its visions and mandate and seek areas of possible collaboration.

Khan explained that WIBAT Nigeria was conceived to promote domestic tourism by developing, promoting and marketing tourism centres in Nigeria.

According to Khan, as Nigeria seeks economic diversification from oil, its tourism potential is a goldmine that can serve as appropriate alternative, if properly hairnessed.

There is no state in Nigeria that does not have a mind-blowing tourism destination and tourism is the new oil.

We therefore urge both the federal, state and local governments to take tourism as a serious business opportunity that can create job and boost GDP.

We at WIBAT Nigeria promote our culture, tourism and generate income from the entire value chain.

As an oganisation, we encourage women to go into business, secure access to finance and enable them create value in the tourism value chain. she said.

Kkan said that cultural tourism, religion tourism and hospitality were among the bright potentials the nations tourism ecosystem offers.

In her remark, the Minister of State commended the WIBAT Nigeria leadership for its ingenuity and foresight in indentifying economic opportunities that abound in the tourism subsector.

She therefore urged the group to officially write to the ministry and identity areas of possible collaboration.

Tourism has an important role to play as the nation diversifies from oil and I still feel there is a huge gap in the sector.

As Nigeria joins the rest of Africa countries for trading under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), tourism is very key to Nigeria, she said

Katagum therefore urged the WIBAT Nigeria delegates to seek collaborations with relevant organisations and stakeholders in the sector, including the National Commission for Museums and Monuments(NCMM), the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, among others.

Source: NAN News

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday defended her efforts to promote scandal-hit payments provider Wirecard during a China trip in 2019.

She said that there were no indications of grave irregularities at the time.

Speaking before an investigative parliamentary committee probing the shock collapse of Wirecard, Merkel denied giving any special treatment to the former German star company.

The Wirecard AG did not receive any preferential treatment during the trip, she said.

According to Merkel, the goals of Wirecard at the time matched those of the government and it was normal for the chancellor to promote the interests of German business during bilateral talks.

Despite the press reports at the time, there was no reason to assume there were grave irregularities at Wirecard.

Wirecard, which had been listed on Germanys DAX index of leading companies, admitted in June last year that 1.9 billion euros (.3 billion) in assets likely did not exist.

This in turn prompted a plunge in the companys shares, bankruptcy and the arrest of former executives.

During the trip to China in September 2019, Merkel spoke with the Beijing leadership about the planned takeover of Chinese firm AllScore Financial by Wirecard.

This topic had been part of Germanys efforts to gain better access to Chinese markets, Merkel said.

While in retrospect it seemed the trip was only about Wirecard, it was far from it, Merkel said, adding that she had discussed many political topics with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Merkel confirmed that before her trip she had met with Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, a lobbyist for Wirecard, who previously served as minister of defence and economics.

But she said she could not recall if Wirecard was mentioned.

She had referred zu Guttenberg to her economic advisor, Lars-Hendrik Roeller, at the time.

Merkel defended Roeller, whose wife mediated between Wirecard and a Chinese firm, saying she had no occasion not to trust him.

Ultimately, Merkel said that she I as chancellor bears the responsibility and everything has to be done to avoid that something similar happens in the future.

She pointed to planned reforms of Germanys financial watchdog BaFin to increase oversight.

The prosecution believes that Wirecard had been cooking its books since at least 2015.

Wirecards auditor, EY, however, approved them year after year, prompting questions why the financial irregularities were never noticed.

More broadly, the revelations have cast doubts over the effectiveness of financial oversight authorities in Europes biggest economy.

Finance Minister Scholz, whose ministry oversees the watchdog BaFin, was also grilled by the parliamentary committee on Thursday.

While Scholz admitted reform was needed, he said the responsibility for this large-scale fraud does not lie with the German government, pointing the finger at the auditors. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Germanys probe into the shocking collapse of payments firm Wire card reaches its climax on Friday, with Chancellor Angela Merkel appearing before the investigative parliamentary committee.

On Thursday, Merkels Finance Minister Olaf Scholz tried to shield the government from any blame, saying the responsibility for this large-scale fraud does not lie with the German government.

Any suggestions that the government or regulatory authorities had protected Wire card were absurd fairy tales, he said.

Merkel had advocated for Wire card during a visit to China in September 2019, but had no knowledge at the time of any irregularities, a spokesperson said.

Wire card, which had been listed on Germanys DAX index of leading companies, admitted in June 2020 that 1.9 billion euros (2.3 billion dollars) in assets likely did not exist.

This in turn prompted a plunge in the companys shares, bankruptcy and the arrest of former executives.

More broadly, it leads to doubts about the effectiveness of financial oversight authorities in Europes biggest economy.

Questions also arose as to why EY, Wire cards auditor, had not noticed the financial irregularities. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

The Chinese Ambassador designate to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun says under the China Communist Party (CPC) currently led by Xi Jinping, China has been greatly developed.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Jianchun was speaking in Abuja on Thursday at an even to mark the 100year of the partys existence.

The envoy said that the party had not only improved China but has contributed immensely to the development of the World.

Giving an insight into the history of the party, he said that the CPC which started with only 57 members had now grown to have more than 90 million members, making it the largest political party in the World.

He said that although the party was formed in 1921, it took it about 28 years of struggle to win power in 1949 from which time it began the core development of the nation.

The ambassador designate stressed that the party has blazed a trail in the area of industrial development, poverty alleviation, economic growth and development as well as infrastructural development.

The CPC was established with just 57 members in 1921, at a point when China experienced enduring impoverishment, long-standing debility.

After 28 years revolution and against local warlords, foreign invaders and the Kuomi government, it led the Chinese people to realise an independence from imperialism and finally established the Peoples Republic.

On infrastructure, Chinas high speed rail lines topped 37,900 kilometers at the end of 2020, making China a country that owns the longest tracks for bullet trains.

On poverty alleviation, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared early this year that 98.99 million impoverished rural residents living under the current poverty line have all been lifted out of poverty, he said.

He noted that about 80 per cent of Chinas population was illiterate in 1949 but the situation had improved.

Fast forward to today and the net enrolment rate of primary school children is 99.95 per cent while the junior high school gross enrollment rate is over 100 per cent.

In 2018, there were more than 210,000 compulsory education schools in China, hosting nearly 150 million students.

All of these achievements should be attributed to the tenacious struggles waged by the CPC and the Chinese people, he said.

He said that the country had also built the worlds largest social security system, with nearly one billion people covered by the basic old-age pension system, with life expectancy now 77 years from 35 years in 1949.

On economy, China is now the worlds second-largest economy, with its GDP being about 15.42 trillion dollars and per capita GDP over 10,000 dollars in 2020, he said.

He added that Chinas development had also affected the World as China was a major export hub for many countries in the World.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ambassador designate is yet to submit his letter of Credence to President Muhammadu Buhari.

In her goodwill message, Dr Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, noted the long standing bilateral relations between Nigeria and China which she said was flourishing.

She said that in the last 50 years, Nigeria and China relations had flourished progressively, adding that the signing of the Agreement on Cultural and Educational Cooperation in March, 1990 was significant.

The blossoming relations have also been capped with reciprocal high level visits by Political Office holders and Experts at Administrative levels at various times.

Let me use this opportunity to congratulate the Peoples Republic of China, as we reminisce on her giant strides in all spheres of human endeavour and to note the enormous prosperity, welfare and human capital development of her citizens and global allies.

These successes could not have been achieved without the excellence and instrumentality of the Communist Party of China.

This Seminar on CPCs New Blueprint and China-Nigerias New Journey surely provides a platform for stock-taking and celebration the enduring relationship of our two countries, she said.

On behalf of the Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, she welcomed the new Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China in Nigeria, H.E Mr. Cui Jianchun. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Britains Olympic track cycling gold medallist Callum Skinner on Friday said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would not be able to stop athletes protesting during this years Tokyo Games.

IOC Rule 50 forbids any kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda in venues and any other Olympic area.

On Wednesday, the Games body concluded the rule should be maintained following a consultation process that started in June 2020 and involved over 3,500 athletes.

IOC Athletes Commission chief Kirsty Coventry, who led the review of Rule 50, said the majority of athletes they spoke to in the consultation process supported it.

Against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement protesting racial injustice, however, there have been growing calls for a change to that rule that would allow athletes to protest.

Skinner, who won gold in the team sprint at Rio 2016, told UK-based newspaper The Times that the IOC seemed intent on exercising control when they dont have any.

If an athlete wants to take the knee, they will take the knee, he said.

Skinner, who retired in 2019 and is a member of the Global Athlete group, which aims to create positive change in world sport, said standing up for equality was not a political act.

People get frustrated by Black Lives Matter because they see it as a political movement, but at its core its fighting for equality and that is something the Olympics should 100 per cent stand behind, he added.

American hammer thrower Gwen Berry, who was put on probation after she raised her fist during medal presentations at the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima, was also critical of the IOC.

They wont be the pioneers of true change, she said. They have their own agenda and its to protect billions of dollars they generate from the Olympic Games.

The Tokyo Olympics, delayed by a year due to the pandemic, is expected to kick off on July 23.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Muhammad Nasir Bashir

The Jigawa Farmers and Herdsmen Board has concluded plans to carve out 95km of grazing reserves as part of measures to tackle farmers/herders incessant clashes in the state.

Malam Zubairu Sulaiman, the Public Relations Officer of the Board, told the News News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Dutse that the reserves will be carved out in 10 local government areas.

These councils, he said, are Babura, Birninkudu, Gagarawa, Gumel, Gwaram, Buji, Maigatari, Suletankarkar, Kafinhausa and Kirikasamma

He said that the state government has released over N7 million for the exercise.

Miko called on leaders of the farmers, herders and traditional rulers in the affected areas to cooperate with the board, to ensure a successful execution of the demarcation.

NAN reports that on Jan. 1, 2008, former governor Sule Lamido, established 400 grazing reserves, 50 of which have already been gazetted.

The effort to establish and demarcate grazing reserves in Jigawa was part of a multi-dimensional approach adopted by Lamido early in the day to address the perennial problem of clashes between pastoralists and farmers.

Similarly, in its effort to encourage and enhance the pastoralists, the Jigawa launched the 2014 to 2015 animals vaccination exercise in which government vaccinated 3,438,590 cattle against diseases in the past seven and-half-years 2007 to 2014. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chiazo Ogbolu

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) are to implement joint measures to curb delay and corrupt practices at the ports.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, disclosed this in a statement by Mr Philip Kyanet, Head Corporate Communications, NIMASA, on Thursday in Lagos.

He said that the agencies noted that full automation of processes at the nations ports would go a long way to curb human interface, delays and corruption.

He said that they agreed to harmonise the implementation of Port and Flag State Administration to minimise direct human contact onboard vessels, calling at the nations ports in line with provisions in the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM).

Jamoh noted that the agencys operation was close to 85 per cent automated, adding that NIMASA had undertaken an in house harmonisation exercise to reduce human interface.

He explained that NIMASA was now fully ready for inter-agency harmonisation and commended the NSC for the introduction of cargo tracking notes in port operations.

We thank you for obtaining approval for the cargo tracking note. This will reduce loss of man-hour and assist in exposing non-declaration or under declaration at the nations ports and improve revenue generation, he said.

On security at the anchorage, Jamoh said that there was marked reduction in security breaches since the Deep Blue project took over security working closely with the Nigerian Navy.

We are beginning to record a reduction in attacks in our waters, and we hope to sustain this and later demand a change in status of cost of insurance of vessels visiting Nigerian waters.

On his part, Mr Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary, NSC, said that cost of port operations in Nigeria could be reduced by over 35 per cent when standard operation procedures contained in the NPPM were fully implemented.

Our Ports are in competition with other Ports in the region, so we need to strengthen collaboration on the establishment of indicative freight rates, he said.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo launched the NPPM on Dec. 9, 2020 in Abuja during the International Anti-Corruption Day.

It is a collection of processes taken from the Standard Operating Procedures of stakeholders in the port sector aimed at improving operations, service timelines, efficiency and accountability at the ports.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mustapha Sumaila
Retired Col Hameed Ali, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says henceforth, officers and men will be measured for career growth based on knowledge and skills acquired in service.

Ali said this at the Graduation Ceremony of Junior Course 9 at Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, FCT on Friday.

Represented by Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Strategy and Research, Mrs Ronke Olubiyi, the customs boss noted that knowledge and skills had become a prerequisite for promotion and posting.

He said to deal with multi challenges of modern customs, knowledge, skills and discipline were paramount.

We are entering into an era where your future will now be determined by what you know rather than who you know.

Your growth will depend on your capacity to deal with multi challenges of modern customs, he said.

Ali assured that NCS under his leadership would ensure continuous training programmes for both junior and senior officers of the service.

He said capacity building was now a priority in the service, adding that officers and men due for short courses would be granted.

He tasked the graduating students to be more committed and disciplined as well as become ambassadors of the college.

In his remarks, the Commandant of the college, ACG, Adewale Adeniyi, said 40 students were graduated from Junior Course 9, adding that about 400 personnel had been graduated in the last three years.

Adeniyi said the graduating officers had been moulded in character and learning, hence there was high expectation from them while discharging their duties.

Mrs Opayemi Itulua, who won best graduating student and other two awards, expressed gratitude to God and customs management for the opportunity to be part of the course.

Itulua said though she was surprised for winning three awards but added that she worked very hard during the programme.

She stated that the development had encouraged her to be more committed and put in her best while discharging her responsibility. (NAN)

Source: NAN News