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Air Peace Now Has Landing Permit -Nigeria’s Consul-General
South African authorities have granted landing permit to Air Peace Flight B777 to enable it to evacuate some 320 Nigerians escaping from xenophobia in that country, a Nigerian consular officer has confirmed.
Nigeria’s Consul-General in Johannesburg, Mr. Godwin Adama, made the confirmation in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria yesterday.
Adama spoke against the background of a complaint by the Managing Director of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema.
Onyema had said that the refusal of South Africa to grant the landing permit made it impossible for the flight to leave Lagos at 1a.m. yesterday for Johannesburg to convey the second batch of returnees.
But Adama said the permit had been granted the airline and that the flight would be late in the night of Tuesday.
Adama said, “They want Nigerians to arrive during the week, they are taking-off from here midnight.
“I do not know the exact time, but they will be leaving (South Africa) midnight.
“I do not know why they were denied the landing permit. I think it is an airline operational issue. They did not get it yesterday; but they told me that it came late yesterday (Monday).
“It was weekend and they were going to get it this morning; the airline did not tell me it was deliberate, but they explained to me that they have gotten it.
“Our manifest arrived last night towards the close of work and they were to take-off 1a.m. Nigerian time yesterday (Monday) but they did not because it was late.
“I have gotten it now; so they will be able to make me know the time of their arrival here so that we can know when to take-off.”
Adama said buses provided to convey Nigerians wanting to return home were still at the mission premises and everyone was there.
“We are still really working on the number (320) to see how we can fill up the airline capacity with anyone that is readily available.
“We have more than enough, we are even trying to ensure that the aircraft is filled up; that is why we are readily taking people who are on ground now.
“We have more than enough to fill the aircraft. The delay has also helped us because as we call names to board. We see some people cleared at the last minute.
“The truth is, they are people who have not been cleared, those who are ready to go are all here and we are trying to queue them up.
“We may not even be able to take all of them who are hopeful,” he added.
Adama said that the next batch of evacuation would be based on the Federal Government’s directives.
Ward Four in Elele Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State has announced its endorsement of the candidature of Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the presidency and Kingsley Chinda for Governor in the forthcoming general elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-aligned Rainbow Coalition.
The endorsement was made during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting convened by the leader of the Rainbow Coalition in the ward, Hon. Amadi Jacob. The gathering brought together political leaders and stakeholders who expressed unanimous support for the candidates.
Hon Jacob, a former Supervisory Councillor, expressed appreciation for what he described as the Rivers State Governor’s alignment with the advice of President Tinubu in supporting the state’s APC governorship structure. He noted that the development reflects growing political harmony within the party and its allied coalition.
He further stated that Ward Four would mobilise what he described as “organic support” for the endorsed candidates, adding that strategies would be put in place to ensure their victory at the polls. According to him, Elele remains a strong voting bloc within Ikwerre LGA and would play a decisive role in delivering electoral success for the coalition.
While acknowledging the presence of opposition candidates, Hon. Amadi maintained that the ward would work closely with all relevant stakeholders to secure a “landslide victory” for all Rainbow Coalition candidates. He also expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the primaries, describing the selected candidates as capable and electable.
In his remarks, the Renewed Hope Coordinator in the area, Victor Okah, pledged the ward’s full support for Hon. Amadi Jacob’s leadership, stressing that his guidance would be instrumental in achieving electoral success. He commended Amadi’s leadership style, describing it as consistent and widely accepted among party stakeholders.
Another community leader, Hon. Chikwuka Eleonu, also expressed confidence in Amadi’s leadership, noting that he has remained steadfast and committed to the political direction of the ward.
The meeting concluded with renewed commitments by stakeholders of Ward Four Elele to intensify mobilisation efforts ahead of the elections, with leaders insisting that the ward would play a leading role in delivering victory for the Rainbow Coalition candidates.
The Federal Government has commenced another phase of mass trials for hundreds of suspected terrorists facing terrorism-related charges in Abuja.
This is as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), declared that the administration would not treat terrorism with levity.
The prosecution is being led by Fagbemi, while the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, heads the defence team.
The trials, taking place simultaneously in several courtrooms, are expected to last one week.
Some of the judges handling the cases include Justices Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman, James Omotosho, Obiora Egwuatu and Ekerete Akpan.
At least 58 suspected terrorists were listed for trial before Justice Nwite on Monday.
Among them are Abba Bukar, Abba Manye, Gujja Mala Bukar, Brem Gonimi, Isa Mohammed, Lawali Dashiri Danke, Yau Tukur (Mai-Auduga), and Bello Liman, also known as Bell Doctor.
The latest proceedings come barely two months after about 500 suspected terrorists were tried between April 7 and April 10 in Abuja.
Speaking with journalists at the commencement of the trials on Monday, Fagbemi said the proceedings demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to combating terrorism and ensuring the security of Nigerians.
“The message is clear, direct and straightforward. It is that the present administration is not taking the issue of terrorism with levity. And that is why you see ongoing trials,” he said.
According to him, the current exercise marked the fourth phase of terrorism trials under the administration.
“Since the inception of this administration, this is about the fourth phase that we are undertaking. So the message is that let everybody know that terrorism in whatever form or shape will not be tolerated.
“We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody,” the AGF said.
Fagbemi disclosed that more than 600 suspects would be tried during the current phase.
Providing a breakdown of the figures, he said, “For this phase, the ones we have today, we have about 490. Tomorrow we will have 84. But this 84 does not include the 102 we brought forward from the last phase.
“So in total, we have 600 plus to contend with for this phase, and we have been assured by the honourable judges that they will do their utmost to ensure that they clear this number for this phase.”
The mass trial forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to prosecute individuals accused of terrorism, insurgency and related offences as part of a broader strategy to tackle insecurity across the country.
Meanwhile, two suspects were convicted and sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to terrorism-related offences.
Justice Binta Nyako sentenced a 55-year-old farmer from Katara village in Borno State, Ali Mustapha, to 15 years imprisonment for concealing information about the activities of the Boko Haram sect.
The judge convicted him after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Nyako, however, noted his claim that there were no government officials or security agencies in his remote community to whom he could have reported the activities.
She ordered that the 15-year jail term should take effect from 2013, when he was arrested and detained.
In a separate case, the judge sentenced Isa Isiaka, a father of 11 children and husband of two wives, to 20 years imprisonment for failing to disclose information about Boko Haram activities to the authorities.
Isiaka was convicted after admitting guilt to terrorism charges filed against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Justice Nyako rejected his plea for leniency and sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
A Professor of Chemical Engineering, at the Rivers State University Nkpolu/ Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, has outlined scientific approaches that can help to solve Nigeria’s refinery problems and improve oil sector efficiency.
Prof. Kenneth Kekpugile Dagde, a professor of modeling and simulation of chemical processes at RSU, outlined his ideas during the school’s 133rd inaugural lecture last Wednesday.
The lecture, titled “Milking the cash cow: harnessing mathematical modelling and simulation for sustainable refinery operations in Nigeria,” was held at the university auditorium.
Dagde argued that mathematical modeling and simulation are now essential, not optional, for modern refineries and said that they are central to keeping operations stable and sustainable over time.
Despite Nigeria’s large oil and gas reserves, he noted the country still lacks capacity to refine enough fuel for local use. That gap forces heavy dependence on imported petroleum products.
According to him, refineries only become a real “cash cow” when managed through proper modeling, simulation, control, and optimization. Validated models, he said, help with design, day to day operation, troubleshooting, and overall optimization.
He stressed that the future of Nigeria’s refineries must be data-driven and digitally enabled. Process engineering backed by real data is what will make operations more reliable and efficient.
Dagde also listed the key problems hurting local refineries which include government interference, lack of autonomy, poor maintenance culture, politicians choosing turnaround maintenance contractors, and chronic feedstock shortages.
He explained that crude is exported, leaving refineries without feed. Without feed, equipment sits idle, becomes redundant, and starts failing and suggests that all refineries, public or private, should own oil blocks to secure steady crude supply.
He further recommended that Local refineries should build modeling, simulation, and advanced control into both design and operations. He also called for stronger collaboration between universities and industry, plus better training for engineers.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Blessing Jaja said the the lecture was thought-provoking.
He said that Nigeria had enough crude, but expressed disappointment that daily demand was not met.
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