News

FEC Condemns Disruption Of Flight Activities, Dares Workers To Proceed On Another

Published

3 years ago

January 25, 2023

Editor

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday deliberated on the recent strike by aviation workers under the auspices of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and condemned the act in totality.

The FEC presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo resolved that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate a situation where flight activities would be grounded on account of grievances by staff.

It noted that there are channels for aggrieved workers to vent their anger if necessary rather than grounding the sector.

Recall that Nigerians woke up to the news of flight disruptions on Monday, following the strike embarked on by NAHCO.

The Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos was the worst hit as most international flights were disrupted.

The NAHCO officials had hinged the strike on the need for their salaries to be shored up.

The strike, however, coincided with the visit by the President, Muhammadu Buhari to Lagos, where he had gone to commission a number of projects.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika disclosed the misgivings of other cabinet members while deliberations went on during FEC.

Sirika stated, “For the travelling public, first we want to apologize to our teeming passengers in this difficult moment. Secondly, this will not happen in the future by the grace of God. The reason is simple, aviation is an essential service, the Act has been assented to by Mr. President, so strikes and riots around our airports are prohibited by the laws of the land.

“Now that we have the Act in place and assented by Mr President and passed by the National Assembly. We will deal with it according to the law. We will ensure no essential service is being disrupted by anybody, no matter how aggrieved.

“There are other channels of channelling issues when they arise, but they are not permitted to go on strike because aviation is an essential service and is by the law of the land now.

“I will give you an example, there was an airline that had to return to base because it couldn’t land. Imagine if there was a patient on that aircraft.

“You can imagine a situation where somebody is attending to a very serious matter at hand or a business meeting or possibly a student trying to catch up with an examination and then owing to somebody’s grievances another person will die or suffer unnecessarily.

“We will no longer allow that. So it’s in the law of the land, check the FAAN Act, it’s been assented to and it’s going to take place soon, in fact now, from today we will not allow that.

“Government our ears are always open, the government is open to listening to any grievances and there are procedures for dealing with this kind of grievances. They should desist from this, it is wrong, it is inhuman, it is not allowed, it is not permitted and we will not be permitted any longer”.

As of the time of filing this report, NAHCO officials have suspended their strike for the time being.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

51 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.