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JUST IN: NCAA Suspends Three Private Jet Operators For Operating Commercial Flights

Published

1 month ago

April 16, 2024

Editor

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has suspended the permit of three private jet operators for engaging in commercial flights.

This was according to a Riot Act on the NCAA’s website on Tuesday, signed by the Acting Director General, Captain Chris Najomo.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had on Monday warned private jet operators unlicensed to operate commercial services that their activities were causing the Federal Government a huge loss of revenue.

The minister issued the warning in an interview on Channels TV programme, Newsnight, on Monday.

Keyamo said, “Almost all these private jets are operating commercially resulting in a huge loss of revenue for the Federal Government because the licence to fly a private aircraft privately and the one to fly it commercially is so much.

“When it is commercial, the money paid to the Federal Government is so much. So, people now take licences from us to say I have just bought a private jet and I want to be using it for my business or to fly my friends and family, and we give them at a very low fee.

“However, the moment they are given, they carry passengers all over Nigeria doing six or eight flights a day. This is a notice to them on camera, I am coming for them because the president has given us a marching order, and we are not going to allow it.

“First, in terms of passengers’ safety, the regulation is low. Second, it is economic sabotage and I won’t allow that to happen. People who are my friends or the president’s friends, we will come down on them and, perhaps, ground all their planes. We will come very hard on them. In a matter of days or weeks, we are going to come down on them because we have to raise revenue for the Federal Government, ensure that the laws are kept and ensure the safety of Nigerians.”

However, expediting action on the warning issued, the acting DG of NCAA in a Riot Act on Tuesday, suspended three jet operators found guilty of engaging in commercial flights.

The acting DG disclosed that despite several warnings, these jet operators continued to engage in commercial flight operations, hence their suspension.

The message read, “Back in 2023, the use of private jets for commercial purposes had gotten the attention of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, who issued marching orders for the cessation of such acts.

“Subsequently, in March 2024, the NCAA issued a stern warning to holders of the permit for non-commercial flights, PNCF, against engaging in the carriage of passenger-cargo or mail for hire and reward.

“The Authority had also deployed its officials to monitor activities of private jets at terminals across the airports in Nigeria. As a consequence of this heightened surveillance, no fewer than three private operators have been found to be involved in violation of the annexure provision of their PNCF and Part 91.14 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.”

Najomo noted that suspending the jet operators for flouting several warnings was in line with the Authority’s zero tolerance for violation of regulations.

He continued, “In line with our zero tolerance for violation of regulations, the Authority has suspended the PNCF of these operators. To further sanitise the general aviation sector, I have directed that a re-evaluation of all holders of PNCF be carried out on or before the 19th of April 2024 to ascertain compliance with regulatory requirements.”

The statement further directed that all holders of the Permit for Non-Commercial Flights should submit relevant documents to the Authority within 72 hours.

It added, “All PNCF holders will be required to submit relevant documents to the authority within the next 72 hours.

“This riot act is also directed at existing Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders, who utilize aircraft listed on their PNCF for commercial charter operations.

“It must be emphasised that only aircraft listed in the operation specifications of the AOC are authorised to be used in the provision of such charter services. Any of those AOC holders who wish to use the aircraft for charter operations must apply to the NCAA to delist the affected aircraft from the PNCF and include it in the AOC operations specification.

“NCAA wishes to reiterate to the travelling public not to patronise any airline charter operator who does not hold a valid Air Operators Certificate issued by the NCAA when they wish to procure charter operations services.

“Finally, the NCAA encourages the legitimate players in the aviation industry to report the activity of such unscrupulous elements to the authority promptly for necessary action.”

News

JUST IN: 36 Speakers Back State Police

Published

1 min ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

Speakers of the 36 Houses of Assembly in Nigeria on Thursday expressed support for the National Assembly’s ongoing efforts to alter the 1999 constitution to create state policing in the country.

The Speakers made their resolution known at the end of their meeting in Abuja.

The Senate and House of Representatives are currently working to amend various constitutional provisions, including those regarding state police, financial autonomy for local government, fiscal federalism, and mayoral status for the FCT.

Details shortly…

News

Military Declares Nigerien Terrorist Wanted For Zamfara Killings

Published

32 mins ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

The Defence Headquarters on Thursday declared wanted, a terrorist leader, Halilu Buzu, from Buzu in the Republic of Niger.

Buzu who resides in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara State, operates an illegal gold mine in Zamfara and is a prominent cattle rustler and arms supplier.

Major General Edward Buba, the Director Defence Media Operation disclosed the development on Thursday during a bi-weekly media briefing on military operations conducted in the country during the past week.

Buba said, “Troops are actively fighting in various theatres of operation across the country and are focussed on destroying both the military capability as well as the will to fight off the terrorists and their cohorts across the country.

“Accordingly, troops are hunting senior terrorist leadership that is of operational importance in terms of coordination of the terrorist attacks against troops and citizens. Troops are also hunting those that are of symbolic value including all those declared wanted.

“Troops are in hunt of one, Halilu Buzu, a terrorist leader that hails from Buzu in the Republic of Niger. He settled in Subbubu Forest and lives in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara State. His camp and illegal gold mine are located at Kawayi in Anka LGA of Zamfara State, where he has a lot of boys working for him.

“Halilu is also a prominent cattle rustler and illegal gold miner. Last week, his boys killed 19 villagers at Farar Kasa. He is a High-Value Target and therefore declared wanted. Meanwhile, he is one of several others that we would be declaring wanted.

“Additionally, Halilu is a major arms supplier, trusted by arms dealers for supplying arms from Libya. When troops close in on him, he moves across the border into the Republic of Niger for refuge. At this time, we are through appropriate channels calling on the Nigerian authorities to apprehend and hold him accountable for his atrocities.

“These categories of terrorists are relentlessly targeted by troops, such that we will be able to strike them out and take them off the battlefield as soon as possible. It is clear that the fate of the terrorists perpetrating insecurity in our nation will be violent and short. Troops will stop at nothing to take them out of the battlefield.”

The DMO further announced that soldiers fighting the counter-insurgency war and carrying out other security operations across the country, killed 227 terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, oil thieves, and other criminals in the past week. Additionally, they arrested 529 criminals, rescued 253 kidnapped hostages, and recovered numerous weapons.

Buba said, “During the period under review, troops discovered and destroyed 18 dugout pits, 34 boats, five drums, four receivers, four reservoirs, and 97 storage tanks. Other items recovered include 198 cooking ovens, nine vehicles, three pumping machines, two speedboats, one outboard engine, and 57 illegal refining sites. He added that troops also recovered 1,442,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 154,650 litres of illegally refined AGO.”

On the breakdown of the weapons recovered, he aded that, “they included 89 AK47 rifles, 40 locally fabricated guns, 59 dane guns, two pump action guns, eight locally fabricated pistols, 6 x 36 hand grenades, three IEDs, one RPG 7 tube, one RPG 7 charger, 4 AGL rounds, one barrel of QJC Gun, one barrel of PKT with receiver, one barrel of Dushka Gun, 250kg bombs used by NATO and Eastern Bloc aircraft, and one MRAP.”

He further noted that troops prevented oil thefts amounting to over N1.3 billion in the Niger Delta region.

He also revealed that in the course of the operations, troops recovered 231 assorted weapons and 6,441 assorted ammunition.

Buba emphasized that troops are actively fighting in various theatres of operation across the country and are focused on destroying terrorists’ military capabilities.

Buba concluded by stating that troops are relentless in their pursuit of terrorists and criminals, determined to take them off the battlefield and bring an end to their atrocities. He commended the troops for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the safety and security of the nation.

News

Ministry Pushes For Walking, Cycling As Safe Means Of Transportation

Published

38 mins ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Olorunola Olufemi, has emphasised the need for sustainable, safe, and efficient transport modes in response to rapid urbanisation and population growth.

Olufemi highlighted walking and cycling as key components of a healthier and more sustainable urban transport system.

The permanent secretary stated this at a two-day capacity building programme ‘Safer Roads for Pedestrians and Cyclists in Nigeria’ in Abuja, on Thursday.

Olufemi, who was represented by the Deputy Director, of Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration of the Ministry, Akhidenor Cynthia, pointed out that Nigerian cities were predominantly characterised by informal transport systems, which have significant negative impacts on residents’ health, socio-economic status, and the environment.

The permanent secretary, who spoke on the theme ‘Walking and Cycling as tools for unlocking sustainable mobility and development in Nigerian cities‘ stressed the the need to create safer roads for pedestrians and cyclists to improve overall well-being and urban harmony.

He said, “The rapid population growth urbanisation with limited provision of quality transport system to meet the growing need makes it imperative to adopt more sustainable safe and efficient modes of transport which walking and cycling symbolise.

“Our city’s transport landscape is largely dominated by transport informalities with attendant externalities that impact the health, socio-economic and environmental wellbeing of residents.

“Today, we come together with a shared purpose to create a future where our roads are safer for pedestrians and cyclists, ensuring their wellbeing and promoting a sense of harmony in our country.”

He added that the ministry as the lead government agency, has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable transport and implementing various industry reforms.

He introduced the project as part of the efforts by the FG which is aimed to integrate walking and cycling into urban mobility plans.

The organiser of the programme, Chief Executive Officer, of Ochenuell Mobility, Emmanuel John, highlighted the long-standing neglect of cycling as a means of transport due to inadequate attention and development.

John emphasised that the lack of proper infrastructure, limited policy initiatives, and insufficient public awareness have left many people feeling unsafe about cycling on roads.

To address these issues, he said the NGO was introducing a draft for a national cycling policy.

He said, “Generally, cycling has not received the desired attention over the years. For that reason, people seldom use it as a means of transport.

“However, due to the lack of infrastructure, limited policy development, lack of knowledge and public awareness, many people are afraid of cycling on the road because they feel it is unsafe.

“The lack of safety is a function of infrastructure, poor policy implementation, and a poor regulatory enforcement system that will ensure your safety.

“In the course of this programme, we are presenting a draft of the national cycling policy to stakeholders. On June 3, we will present a second draft during a larger stakeholders meeting.”

The project is being carried out as a collaboration between seven Nigerian organisations in collaboration with the United Nations Habitat and the UN Road Safety Trust Fund.

The Nigerian Stakeholders include the Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Health, Federal Road Safety Corps, Africa Urban Cycling Organisation, Transportation Growth Initiative, Greenlight Initiative, Driving School Association of Nigeria, and Ochenuell Mobility.