FG impounds British aircraft in Lagos, begins investigation

The Federal Government on Sunday impounded an aircraft belonging to a British company, FlairJet  for operating commercial flights into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos despite the ban on such flight operations in Nigerian airports.

It was gathered that FlairJet  operated a Legacy 600 aircraft with registration G-ERFX into the Lagos airport after getting approval for humanitarian operations.

It was also learnt that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had begun investigations into the matter, as officials at the agency and the Federal Ministry of Aviation stated that the aircraft was not cleared for commercial flights.They noted that the country’s airports were still under lockdown to commercial flight operations, as further findings would tell why the crew of the impounded plane decided to fly into Lagos on Sunday. 

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who announced the seizure via his official Twitter handle on Sunday, confirmed that the aircraft was only authorised to conduct humanitarian flights.

Sirika also stated that the impounded aircraft had no approval outside humanitarian operations but was caught operating commercial flights.

The minister stressed that in addition to the confiscated aircraft, a “maximum penalty” would be imposed on the company for flouting the shutdown of the country’s airspace by the Federal Government to commercial flight operations.

The Federal Government had shut the country’s airspace as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In his tweet on Sunday, Sirika said, “COVID-19. Flair Aviation, a UK company, was given approval for humanitarian operations but regrettably, we caught them conducting commercial flights.

 “This is callous! The craft is impounded; the crew being interrogated. There shall be maximum penalty. Wrong time to try our resolve.”

The Federal Government on May 6, 2020, extended the suspension of both local and international flight operations in all Nigerian airports by additional four weeks. 

The government had in March this year halted the operations of commercial flights by two weeks, before it announced additional four-week extension on May 6.

Commercial flight operations, both local and international, had stopped forthwith but the Federal Government allowed the operation of essential flights.

Such essential flights include those for medical and evacuation purposes, among others, as the government had stated that such flights were subject to the authorisation of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and agencies under it.

Information still sketchy, says NCAA

 When contacted to explain what actually happened at the Lagos airport, the spokesperson for the NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, told our correspondent that all the required information surrounding the incident was still sketchy as of 8.35pm on Sunday.

 “I don’t have the details and I’m aware of the development. I’m still making calls myself; if I have, I will let you know. I am trying to reach the MD of NAMA, as they are the ones to brief us more on this,” he stated.

Our correspondent, however, gathered that the company name of the airline in question was FlairJet with its office at the Birmingham International Airport in the United Kingdom.

The Director, Public Affairs, Federal Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, explained that the airline’s name/base was earlier under contention because it was mentioned as Flair Aviation instead of FlairJet.

 FG to report incident to British authorities        

The spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, said the ministry would report the incident to the British High Commission after receiving a full report of the incident from the aviation ministry.

 He stated, “What the ministry would do is to convey the full report (of the flight violation) to the United Kingdom government through their embassy. Since the incident happened today (Sunday), we are not in the office and we have not been briefed. Maybe, by Monday (today), we will find out about it.”

What you need to know about Buhari’s Chief of Staff to be Ibrahim Gambari

By

Arogbonlo Israel

A former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari has been tipped as the replacement to the late Abba Kyari, the trusted Chief of Staff to the former who died from complications related to COVID-19 after a nearly month-long battle with the virus.

Buhari asked the new Chief of Staff to resume work at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.

Here are ten (10) facts you need to know about Ibrahim Gambari:

1. Ibrahim Gambari was born November 24, 1944, in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

2. He attended King’s College, Lagos. He subsequently attended the London School of Economics where he obtained his B. Sc. (Economics) degree (1968) with specialisation in International Relations. He later obtained his M.A. (1970) and PhD. (1974) degrees from Columbia University, New York, the USA in Political Science /International Relations.

3. The don began his teaching career in 1969 at City University of New York before working at University of Albany. Later, he taught at Ahmadu Bello University, in Zaria, Kaduna State, the second-largest university in Africa.

4. He was Minister for External Affairs between 1984 and 1985 in Nigeria.

5. From 1986 to 1989, he was Visiting Professor at three universities in Washington, D.C.: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Georgetown University and Howard University.

6. He has also been a research fellow at the Brookings Institution also in Washington D.C. and a Resident Scholar at the Bellagio Study and Conference Center, the Rockefeller Foundation-run centre in Italy. He was accorded, honoris causa, the title of Doctor of Humane Letters (D.Hum.Litt.) from the University of Bridgeport.

7. On January 1 2010, Gambari was appointed by the Secretary-General of United Nations Ban Ki-moon and the chairperson of the African Union Commission as Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur.

8. In 2013, Gambari was named by the Kwara State Governor, AbdulFatah Ahmad, as the pioneer Chancellor of the Kwara State University, making him the ceremonial head of the university. He is also co-chair of the Albright-Gambari Commission.

9. He is also a member of the Johns Hopkins University’s Society of Scholars.

10. Gambari, as foreign minister, played a key role in quelling the diplomatic uproar generated by the failed attempt to kidnap Mallam Umaru Dikko from the UK by the Buhari military government.

FLASH:::Zakzaky flags off distribution of foodstuff to 111,000 persons

By

AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky has flagged off the distribution of Ramadan Palliatives to 111,000 Nigerians.

Performing the fag off in Kaduna on Tuesday, Mukhtar Abdullahi Sherrif a member of the palliatives committee said that while he was free, it was Sheikh Zakzaky’s tradition to distrbute foodstuff during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

According to him, “Sheikh Zakzaky has always been giving out food to the less privileged when he was free and even while in detention, he has continued to do same, this year is no different.

“We are distributing these food items to cushion hardship faced by Nigerians, Christians and Muslims alike. We are distributing these food packs to 3,000 people in each state of the country, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja,” he informed.

Sherrif said the first batch of beneficiaries in Kaduna who will benefit on Tuesday are 600 persons.

“In ensuring that we adhere to medical experts’ advice on Curbing Spread of the Coronavirus, we will be distributing 600 bags daily,” he said.

Items distributed included a 10kg bag of rice, milk, sugar, macaroni, date fruit, noodles and beverages.

Some select journalists in Kaduna were among the first set of beneficiaries.

FLASH::: Shekau weeps in new audio, seeks protection against Nigerian troops’ firepower

The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has cried profusely in a new audio, seeking protection of Allah against the firepower of the Nigerian military.

Of late, the Nigerian military has intensified offensive and recorded a series of successes against the Boko Haram terrorists on the fringes of Lake Chad.

In a 1:22 seconds audio obtained by DAILY NIGERIAN, the Boko Haram leader spoke in Kanuri, seeking protection of Allah against the “devilish act” of Nigerian military, and said they are facing difficulties in this Holy month of Ramadan.

“If it is the devilish act and wickedness [of the Nigerian military], may Allah protect us from their evil. Oh Allah, keep us firm on your religion. We are poor things who know nothing, oh our Lord, Allah.

“We deserted Izala people to practice Your true religion; we abandoned Tijjaniyya people to practice Your true religion; we deserted the Shiites to practice Your true religion; we forsook our parents, uncles and aunties to practice Your true religion.

“It is because of your religion that we placed knife on Your servants’ necks; but today, they are trying to change us from one thing to another. Oh Lord, have mercy upon under [the blessings] Ramadhan; Oh Lord, have mercy on under [the blessings] of Ramadhan (crying profusely).

“Oh Allah give us victory over our enemies. Oh brothers, for Allah’s sake, obey Allah and help me with prayers. This does not mean I am angry.

“May Allah keep us firm on the Qur’an. Allah knows best. Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet of Allah and all thanks be to Allah,” Mr Shekau sobbed.

In a reaction to the audio clip, Bulama Bukarti, a human rights lawyers and conflict analyst who has studied Boko Haram for over a decade, said “this is the first time we heard Shekau cry in this way.”

According to Mr Bulama, the audio suggests that something terrible is happening to the Shekau faction of Boko Haram.

“The Shekau we are used to is a bombastic, ruthless gangster that ridicules, mocks and chortles at his victims. This audio is quite unusual. It suggests that the group is under immense pressure that threatens its existence. Anything that will make Shekau sob must be a serious existential threat and I think it is the Nigerian Army’s ongoing onslaught.

“The army has been releasing news and photos of their successes and Boko Haram itself has lately been releasing eulogies to dead fighters. That is what made Shekau wail in this audio. He thinks it is hard to survive this one,” Mr Bulama said.

He however noted that the audio does not suggest that the Boko Haram leader is surrendering and seeking negotiation.

“But make no mistake that he would never back down, he will not surrender. He would rather die fighting. As the clip indicates, he is as committed to his cause as ever. And history has taught us that Boko Haram is capable of weathering storms and bouncing back from serious defeats. Therefore, I suggest that the Nigerian Army should push on; it is not time to relax. It is time to do even more,” he added.

Veteran Nollywood actress, ‘Tinsel’ star, Chizoba Sam-Boye is dead

Nollywood veteran actress, Chizoba Sam-Boye is dead.
She died aged 53, of diabetes-related complications.
Chizoba, wife of veteran filmmaker, Sam Boye, was also the star of M-net produced TV series, “Tinsel.”
The actress is understood to have been battling with diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure for many years now.
The sad news of her demise was shared on the Filmmakers’ WhatsApp group called, Film4Life.
Film critic and the regional representative for West Africa of the Pan-African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI), Madu Chikwendu wrote, “Chizoba Sam-Boye is dead.”
Also, filmmaker, Jude Orhorha, said the actress was rushed to the hospital on Sunday night where she was confirmed dead Monday morning.
Chizoba would be remembered for her pioneering role in ‘Living in Bondage.’

COVID-19: Gombe govt reacts as patients staged protest over ‘negligence’

The Gombe State Task Force on COVID-19 on Wednesday reacted to the protest staged by some Coronavirus symptomatic patients under isolation in the state.

Recall that COVID-19 patients at the Kwadon isolation centre in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday embarked on a protest over alleged lack of inadequate care and the committee’s inability to provide some of their needs.

However, reacting to the development, Dr Mohammed Kwami, the State Focal Officer on COVID-19 pandemic Response, in a statement, said the protest was not caused by the authorities’ neglect of the patients, but a misplaced emotional aggression that went out of hand.

He said the task force under the leadership of Prof. Idris Mohammed was responsive and proactive in its assignment.

The focal officer explained that a relative of one of the female patients led the protest on allegation of neglect and that they wanted her cured in their village unmindful of the associated risk.

Mr Mohammed, however, said that the patient was admitted to the centre with a wound she got long before she came into Gombe State.

He said the task force decided to treat the wound as applied to all isolated patients with underlined ailments irrespective of its relation to COVID-19.

“Although the patient has the right to choose where to seek for health care service, taking into consideration the risk of transmitting the COVID-19 in the communities, the task force was reluctant to allow her to be managed at home,” he said.

According to him, public health consideration outweighs the personal interest in the prevention of the transmission of COVID-19.

He said that the task force had been working assiduously to meet the immediate needs of the patients at the isolation centre, especially food and other essential services.

“Medical attention is being given to them with doctors and nurses, in-line with the protocols of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the task force will not allow self-medication at the centre.

“It is, therefore, inaccurate for anybody to claim that patients are being poorly managed,” Mr Kwami said.

He also described the protest as a manifestation of the prevailing socio-economic and psychological challenges as well as the consequences of COVID-19.

Mr Kwami also noted that majority of the patients were mostly menial workers who returned from Lagos, Abuja and Kano, following the lockdown in those cities.

According to him, the patients found themselves in the state on an agreement that they would be subjected to screening and possible isolation for the disease if tested positive.

The official said it was disheartening that some of the community members freely mingled with the patients during the protest, but assured that contact tracing had begun in the area.

Lockdown lift: Your life is in your hands, literally

Monday May 4 was a watershed for millions of Nigerians trapped in a lockdown against coronavirus pandemic. Once again, many would get the freedoms denied them for almost five weeks.

Workers have been under “stay at home” orders, businesses categorised as “non-essential” have shut and families dependent on daily wage to put food on their table have felt the pinch more than any other category of Nigerians. The government has been under pressure to lift the lockdown.

In finally doing so, it drew up measures for a gradual easing that will span six weeks: every two weeks the impact of a lift will be reviewed and the restrictions adjusted accordingly.

The lift is a middle ground between preserving lives and preserving livelihoods.

By April 1, Nigeria had 174 confirmed cases of Covid-19. That was at the start of the lockdown, declared to trace some 5,000 people mostly scattered through Lagos, Abuja and Ogun. One month through the lockdown, 2,170 cases have been confirmed, nearly a 2,000-point margin in a month.

Misunderstood The public doesn’t understand why cases are rising if the lockdown was imposed to keep people in place and curb the spread of coronavirus. What the public also doesn’t understand is that even before the lockdown, thousands of people have travelled from and to the mentioned three locations.

Monday May 4 was a watershed for millions of Nigerians trapped in a lockdown against coronavirus pandemic. Once again, many would get the freedoms denied them for almost five weeks.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/lokdown-lift-your-life-is-in-your-hands-literally.html