News
TUC, NLC Urge Overhaul Of Aviation Sector
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on the Federal Government to strengthen the capacities of aviation agencies to make the nation’s airspace safer.
This call is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday and jointly signed by the President of TUC, Mr Peter Esele, and Secretary-General, Mr John Kolawole.
“We call on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Airspace Management Authority to strengthen their capacities to make our airspace safer.
“We do not know the circumstances that must have led to the crash of the Dana aircraft, but we do know that the flight was less than few minutes to its destination, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport
“The government must investigate the immediate and remote causes of this disaster.’’
The statement acknowledged that the nation’s airspace had been relatively free of disasters, and urged aviation regulators to build newer capabilities in the management of the airspace.
It said that fleets must be constantly maintained and upgraded to avoid future disasters and called for conscious manpower training, acquisition of modern equipment and enhancement of logistics.
The statement commended the Federal Government on its effort to upgrade most of the nation’s airports.
It said that there was need to review the Aviation Rescue Fund in order to make the funds readily available to operators in the sector to enhance their operational effectiveness and efficiencies.
The union commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the crash and those who died in the Bauchi bomb blasts and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the losses.
“This is indeed a multiplication of sorrow for Nigerians at the backdrop of the unrelenting Boko Haram menace in some parts of the north.
Meanwhile, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to overhaul the aviation sector by reviewing the licences of all airlines operating in the country.
The president of the congress, Mr Abdulwahid Omar, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Monday while reacting to Sunday’s plane crash in Lagos.
“We urge the Federal Government to urgently overhaul the aviation industry and review the licences of all airlines operating in Nigeria. “Government should conduct proper check on the airworthiness of aircraft before renewing the licences of operators, including the foreign airlines.
“Government should also put in place a policy of pegging the age of aircraft operating in Nigerian airspace, he said.”
The statement added that the safety of air travellers in Nigeria should be paramount to the regulatory agencies and the airlines and not only on profit making.
It specifically urged the government to do a thorough, transparent and far reaching investigation of the Dana Air crash.
“We believe that government should not wait for such monumental disasters to recur before taking steps to protect the lives of air travellers in the country. “From reports, it is apparent that the crash could have been averted if the appropriate regulatory agencies were effective in their responsibilities, Umar stated.
“The airplane involved was alleged to have been faulty and said to have been to the knowledge of the management of the airline.’’
The NLC condoled with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the crash and prayed that God should give them the fortitude to bear the loss.
News
Mba Seeks Closer Synergy To Check Road Accidents
Worried over the high rate of accidents on Nigerian roads, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands of people, the Governor of Enugu State, Barr Peter Mbah, has called for closer synergy and cooperation among security agencies to check the ugly trend and ensure safety on all the roads within the country.
Governor Mbah, made the call in an address at the Graduation Ceremony of Senior Course 2 of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Command and Staff College, Udi near Enugu.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Chief Aka Eze Aka, governor Mbah noted that closer security and intelligence sharing on incidents on roads within the country by various security formations and agencies both military and para-military would lead to greater security and safety of lives and property on roads.
He stated that the state government had keyed into the FRSC vision of reduction in road crashes and fatalities, adding that it had equipped the state traffic officers with the same set targets.
“As an administration, we are making all efforts to fix and improve on all roads and road infrastructure within the state; while we are calling on the Federal Government to do the same.
“Our partnership with the FRSC for training and retraining of our road traffic officers will continue and be strengthened so that as a state it will also build its own capacity to deal with road traffic issues and challenges,” he said.
Governor Mbah, however, congratulated the graduating participants of the course, while commending the FRSC management for being in the forefront of raising the standard and quality of its staff.
According to him, “my administration will continue to partner with the FRSC and strengthen existing engagements of mutual benefits”.
Earlier, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, said that the event was significant to the Corps as it marked its commitment to continuously improve its educational and operational standard and capacity.
Biu, represented by the Deputy Corps Marshal (DCM) Bisi Kazeem, who is in-charge of FRSC Training, said that the Corps was building resiliency and increasing its service delivery capacity by equipping its officers with quality and international standard training.
By: Canice Amadi Enugu
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
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