Business
NCAA Begins Financial Audit Of Distressed Airlines

The regulatory body in aviation industry, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has begun an economic and financial audit of some domestic airlines passing through what industry stakeholders have described as financial challenges.
Reliable source from the agency, who disclosed this to aviation correspondents, Monday, said the agency embarked on the audit, to assertain the financial health of the airlines, and is currently investigating two carriers.
The aviation industry regulator had already audited Dana Airline, and the development had led to the withdrawal of the operating licence of the carrier by the agency.
According to the source, NCAA’s Director General (DG) has mandated a team to audit three domestic airlines to ascertain if they can still continue operation. Dana Air, which is one of them, turned out to be the culprit, hence the withdrawal of their license.
“We do not know whether the two remaining carriers would fail the audit too”, the top official of the NCAA said.
This development is coming barely weeks after Aero Contractors announced the suspension of its operations.
It is unclear if the carrier is having financial crisis, but the management had complained of skyrocketing aviation fuel prices, foreign exchange crisis, among others, as their reasons.
The source also disclosed that NCAA has a standing committee for the auditing of airlines, adding that the agency expects Dana Air to commence remedial actions to salvage the situation with its operations.
By: Corlins Walter
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.