News
Reps Halt 150% Hike On Ground Charges For Airlines
The House of Representatives has directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) to put on hold, an approved increase of 150per cent ground rates for airlines operating in the country.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Hon Nnolim Nnaji(PDP-Enugu), gave the order at an investigative session with the NCAA, AGHAN, Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON and International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Earlier in the session, Nnolim had said, “We invited them to look at this and see what will come out of it. People have started flying and we don’t want a situation where we will get into trouble. If the ground charges are increased, flights will drop and it will affect the industry.
“We know that there is a need to increase or reduce, but decisions on issues like this, cannot be taken in isolation. It is the DG of the NCAA, that was supposed to speak on this issue, but since he is not here, we will talk with the directors”.
He, however, later added that “for now, let us maintain the status quo(there shouldn’t be a hike)”.
The hearing was adjourned to next Wednesday for further deliberations on the matter.
Earlier in his submission, on behalf of the President of AON, Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina; the President of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema; kicked against the hike, insisting that it was unacceptable to airlines.
He stated in part that, “The Airline Operators of Nigeria(AON), is deeply concerned by the potential impact the recent approval granted by the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to Ground Handling Service Providers, to increase Ground Handling Charges, will have on the air transport industry and the nation at large.
“The new ground handling charges, which are expected to take effect from October 1, 2021, for international flights and January 1, 2022, for domestic flights, have been increased by an astronomical margin of between 100per cent and 1,200per cent.
“Put into perspective, international ground handling charges which used to be $400 are now $5,000 depending on the aircraft type. Also, domestic ground handling charges which used to be from N10,000 pee flight will now increase to between N20,000 and N70,000 depending on aircraft type.
“Sir, while the Ground Handling Companies May have their argument why they believe such an increase is necessary, we are of the opinion that the timing is rather ill-timed and unfortunate in the light of the fact that the aviation industry is barely trying to find its footing and is yet to recover from the negative impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic which continues to ravage the industry globally”.
He lamented that, “Airlines ordinarily are, as of today, burdened with over 37 multiple taxes, charges and levies inflicted on them by various government agencies. And this already puts airlines in a very difficult situation”.
According to him, “while airlines are finding a way to get the government to streamline these multiple taxes and ease the pressure on Nigerian travellers in order to jumpstart the economy, the recent increase in ground handling charges, will only serve to inflict additional pains and increase cost on the airlines as well, as the Nigerian passengers whose disposable income, have been stretched to an elastic limit.
“The Ground Handling Companies seems to be insensitive to the plight of the Nigerian travelling public in view of the fact that this additional cost, will end up being passed on to the customers who have already reached their elastic limit because of the harsh economic situation”.
Mr Samson Fatokun, who spoke on behalf of IATA, also kicked against the planned hike, as he decried that airlines, were already “In Survival Mode, due to devastating Covid-19 impact”.
He told the committee, that revenue from the industry “Dropped by 66% in 2020 vs 2019 in Nigeria”, as according to him, “domestic and foreign airlines are facing restricted access to Foreign Exchange, as $171million airline funds are blocked in Nigeria”.
He also told the committee that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), increased has also imposed “Passenger Service Charge by 100per cent in 2020”, in the face of “inadequate Airport Infrastructure”.
Fatokun recommenced that the stakeholders should “Allow time for bilateral negotiations between individual airlines and Ground Handling Companies”.
Vice President of AGHAN, Ahmed Bashir Gulmah, who spoke on behalf of his President, Mr Olaniyi Adigun, insisted that the hike was justified.
According to him, “The last one handling rates were reviewed in Nigeria, was in 1986 about 35 years ago! This was at a time when the United States dollar was 80k, but today, as we all know, a dollar is over N412”.
The association requested “the cooperation of the National Assembly (Committee on Aviation) to support and favourably consider the new safety threshold handling rates, which will take effect from October 1, 2021, for international operations and January 1, 2021, for domestic operators”.
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has called for renewed commitment, transparency, and collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector in the State.
The deputy governor particularly urged synergy between the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and the Primary Health Care Management Board towards improved healthcare delivery in the State.
?Prof. Odu made this call during the 2026 First Quarter Review Meeting of the Task Force on Primary Health Care at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.
?She stressed the importance of honesty and urged all parties to be truthful and open in addressing challenges within the system.
?According to her, transparency remains critical to identifying and resolving underlying issues affecting healthcare delivery, noting that “if we are not truthful, we will not cure the disease, but merely cover it up.”
The deputy governor recounted a personal experience at a Primary Health Center where a patient, despite being duly registered under the RIVCIPP scheme with completed biometric capture, was still asked to make payment for services.
According to her, intervention by relevant authorities later confirmed the patient’s eligibility, exposing a communication gap between the scheme and healthcare providers.
Odu warned that such incidents could discourage community members from enrolling in the scheme, thereby undermining its objectives.
“When this happens, we are disenfranchising our people. The message that goes back to the community is that even when you register, you are still made to pay,” she stressed.
?While commending the leadership and staff of the Primary Health Care Management Board, Ministry of Health, Development Partners as well as other supporting units, for their efforts, ty deputy governor stressed that performance should not lead to complacency.
She urged stakeholders to continuously strive for improvement, raise standards, and leave lasting positive impacts within the system.
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the opening of examination slip printing for candidates registered for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB made the announcement yesterday, urging candidates to visit its website to download their slips ahead of the examination.
“Examination Slip Printing is now available. The slip contains details of the venue, date and time of your examination and gives you access to the examination hall,” the board said.
Candidates are to visit jamb.gov.ng and click on “2026 Slip Printing” to print their slips.
The development comes after JAMB dismissed a viral press release falsely claiming the examination had been postponed.
The board described the notice as “malicious and fake” and urged candidates to disregard it.
The 2026 UTME is scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The examination follows a mock test conducted on Saturday, March 28, which recorded technical difficulties at some Computer-Based Test centres.
Of the 224,597 candidates who registered for the mock, 152,586 sat for the test across 989 CBT centres nationwide.
JAMB said over 20 centres were delisted for technical inadequacies.
The board also warned candidates against fraudsters on WhatsApp claiming to facilitate score inflation, describing such claims as “false and criminal”, and threatening cancellation of registration or withholding of results for any candidate found involved.
Over two million candidates, according to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, registered for this year’s UTME.
News
RSU Unveils Five-Year Strategic Dev Plan …Calls For Collective Commitment To Institutional Excellence
In a decisive step towards redefining its future, the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has formally unveiled its Third Five-Year (2026-2030) Strategic Development Plan.
The development plan is a comprehensive roadmap designed to strengthen the university’s position as a leading institution in Nigeria and beyond.
The unveiling took place during a high-level engagement with the Governing Council, Principal Officers and the university congregation, at the Convocation Arena, recently.
Delivering his remarks at the unveiling ceremony, the Pro-Chancellor of the university and Chairman of Council, Hon. Okey Wali, SAN, charged all members of the university community to align their activities with the strategic direction of the institution, emphasizing that the success of the plan depends on collective commitment.
He noted that the plan is not merely a document, but a working framework that requires discipline, accountability and unity of purpose.
According to the Pro-Chancellor, only through coordinated efforts from all stakeholders can the university fully realize its vision.
“I hereby invite the Visitor to the University, donor agencies, friends and well-wishers, and all stakeholders to support and fund the implementation of this strategic plan. We are confident that this plan will take RSU to greater heights in the comity of higher institutions,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, described the Strategic Development Plan as a document that would enhance the university’s corporate strengths, mitigate current weaknesses, leverage its corporate opportunities and address perceived existential threats.
“This Five-Year Strategic Plan sets out RSU’s goals, strategic objectives, expected outcomes and impact, including intervention strategies,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of the Strategic Development Planning Committee, Prof. Emeritus Joseph A. Ajienka, noted that the 2026-2030 Strategic Development Plan represents a bold reaffirmation of the university’s founding ideals of excellence, creativity, innovation and inclusivity, aimed at positioning the institution to respond effectively to contemporary challenges in higher education.
Prof. Ajienka, who is also a member of the Governing Council, disclosed that the plan was developed through an extensive and inclusive consultative process, which he said reflects contributions from Faculties, Departments, Satellite Campuses and Administrative Units.
At its core, the plan seeks to advance the university’s vision of becoming a “unique and uncommon” institution that is structurally and philosophically oriented towards solving practical societal problems and ranking among the top ten universities in Nigeria.
The strategic framework identifies six key challenges confronting the university, including funding constraints, infrastructure deficits, limited research collaboration, and service delivery inefficiencies.
A statement by the university’s Acting Director, Corporate Affairs, Victor G. Banigo, further stated that the university has articulated four broad strategic goals supported by eight targeted objectives.
A central priority of the plan, according to him, is the strengthening of governance and administrative systems, alongside deliberate efforts to expand the university’s funding base. Others include enhanced alumni engagement, strategic partnerships and innovative fundraising initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
“Equally significant is the commitment to upgrading physical infrastructure across all campuses. Plans are underway to modernize lecture halls and laboratories, expand student accommodation, improve campus security and deploy advanced ICT systems to support teaching, learning and research.
“Recognizing that human capital is the backbone of institutional success, the university has placed strong emphasis on staff development, recruitment and productivity enhancement. Through targeted training programmes, mentorship initiatives and performance management systems, the plan aims to foster a highly skilled and motivated workforce.
“In addition, the university is poised to deepen its focus on research, innovation and entrepreneurship. By reviewing academic curricula, strengthening industry partnerships and establishing innovation incubation centers, Rivers State University seeks to translate research outputs into practical solutions that address societal needs and drive economic growth,” he said.
The PRO disclosed that the implementation of the strategic plan is projected at ?110 billion, reflecting the scale of transformation envisioned.
“While the university is committed to funding a significant portion internally, additional resources will be mobilized through government support, donor agencies, alumni contributions, and public-private partnerships.
“This multi-channel funding strategy aligns with the university’s broader goal of building a resilient and self-sustaining financial model capable of supporting long-term development,” he explained.
To ensure effective implementation, he said, “the plan incorporates a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, complete with performance and impact indicators. A mid-term review is scheduled within the first two years to assess progress and make necessary adjustments.
“Furthermore, the establishment of a dedicated Strategic Planning Office will provide oversight, coordination and accountability in executing the plan across all units of the university.”
According to the statement, “As the university embarks on this transformative journey, the message from leadership is clear: the Strategic Development Plan is a collective mandate.
“For staff, students, alumni and stakeholders, it represents an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the growth and advancement of the institution. For the university, it is a pathway to consolidating its legacy while embracing innovation and global relevance.
“With a clear vision, defined priorities and a united community, Rivers State University stands poised to translate this strategic blueprint into measurable progress, advancing knowledge, empowering people and shaping the future of higher education in Nigeria.”