News

FG Reopens Ibadan Airport, Flights Resume

Published

3 weeks ago

November 6, 2023

Flight activities resumed at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday, after the facility was closed briefly by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
It was reported that the airport was closed by the Federal Government as it carried out investigations into the private jet accident that occurred at the facility on Friday night.
The aircraft, which crash-landed close to the runway, disrupted flight activities at the airport, as accident investigators were deployed to the scene.
Sources at the airport confirmed that the facility had been opened to operations, as a domestic airline had already resumed operations there.
“It was shut down briefly for Saturday only, but reopened for operations this (Sunday) morning.
“Overland resumed flights this (Sunday) morning,” a senior official at the airport, who pleaded not to be named due to lack of authorisation, stated.
Officials of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau had confirmed on Saturday morning that an aircraft crash-landed at the airport the previous night, but stressed that there was no casualty.
They stated that investigators from the bureau had been sent to the scene of the accident, and promised to provide further details as they unfold.
“Yes. Investigators are on ground at Ibadan. Further details shall be given as they unfold,” the spokesperson, NSIB, Tunji Oketumbi, stated.
The General Manager of the State Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, had also confirmed the incident. “Yes, it is true. Our men are on their way but I don’t have details now. You will be updated,” he stated.
The aircraft was operated by FLINT AERO, as it departed Abuja to Ibadan and crashed short of the runway in Ibadan.
The HS25B aircraft with call sign 5NAMM reportedly had 10 passengers and three crew onboard,and was airborne Abuja at 18.41hrs, but crashed into the bush short of the runway at about 19.21hrs.
Although there was no fatality, sources said the aircraft sustained substantial damage, as all passengers and crew were safely evacuated.
Also in a statement on Saturday, the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NSIB, James Odaudu, had said the agency was notified.
He said the NSIB had “commenced investigation into the accident involving an HS 125 aircraft with Nationality and Registration Marks 5N-AMM belonging to Flint Aero, which occurred at about 08:21pm (Local Time) on November 3, 2023.
“The aircraft, with 10 passengers and three crew members onboard was en-route Ibadan from Abuja. The aircraft, on final approach to landing Runway 22, Ibadan Airport crashed short of the runway.
“There was no fatality, as all passengers and crew were safely evacuated. As the investigating agency, NSIB needs and hereby solicits for your assistance.”
Odaudu said the bureau wants “the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence, or information any members of the public may have of the accident; that can assist us with this investigation.”

News

FG Moves To Stop Influx Of Illegal Aliens

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2023

The Tide

The Federal Government has promised to put measures in place to end the movement of illegal immigrants into the country to secure the country.
The government stated that the era where aliens easily enter the country with fake travel documents must stop.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, according to a statement on Saturday by the Director of Press of the Ministry, Afonja Ajibola, disclosed this when the Director, the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dasuki Arabi visited him.
The statement read, “The Minister assured he is working seriously on efficient ways at securing Nigeria borders; saying a situation where illegal aliens easily find their ways into the country often with fake travel documents has to be stopped. In his view, Nigeria cannot be secured if its borders are not secured”.
The Minister also said the Ministry was ready to partner with the BPSR in proffering effective solutions to the nation’s security challenges, especially in securing the nation’s borders.
“I am ready to actively collaborate with the Bureau of Public Service Reforms to find solutions to our security challenges,” he was quoted as saying.

News

ECOWAS Condemns Plot To Obstruct Peace In Sierra Leone

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2023

The Tide

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the plot by some individuals to disturb peace in Sierra Leone.
The condemnation is contained in a statement issued by ECOWAS in Abuja, yesterday.
ECOWAS said, “The bloc has learnt, with utter disgust, a plot by certain individuals to aquire arms and disturb the peace and constitutional order in Sierra Leone.
“ECOWAS condemns this act and calls for the arrest and prosecution of everyone involved in the illegality.
“The bloc has always maintained its zero tolerance for unconstitutional change of government.
“We want to reaffirm our commitment to supporting the government and the people of Sierra Leone’s quest to deepen democracy and good governance by consolidating peace and security so as to foster socio-economic development”.
Earlier, the Sierra Leonean Government had declared a 24-hour nationwide curfew in a proactive step to ensure that the peace is not tampered with.

News

Bad Roads Fuelling Insecurity In N’East -Govs

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2023

The Tide

Worried by the security challenges confronting the region, governors of the North East have resolved to embark on more collaborative efforts among member states to come up with a security architecture design for the region.
The governors noted that bad federal roads are fuelling insecurity in the region and called on the Federal Ministry of Works to follow through with road contracts awarded in the region.
This is contained in a communique issued at the end of the 9th meeting of the forum, held at the banquet hall of the Adamawa State Government House in Yola last Saturday.
According to a statement signed by the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, the forum said there was a need for a robust platform for regional economic development and resolved to work as an entity in strengthening the human capacity and socio-economic development of its people.
The communique read in part, “Forum is continuously disturbed about the poor infrastructural base of the region. More concerned that the federal roads within and between the states in the region have been neglected.
“We call on the Federal Ministry of Works to follow through with road contracts awarded in the region. The poor road network is fuelling insecurity stalling development and making life more difficult for our people in the region.
“Forum notes that the bad federal roads within and between the states are major setbacks to the infrastructural development of the region.
“Forum notes the poor energy situation in the region. To mitigate the situation, Forum resolved to work with Shanghai Electric to construct a 60 MW Coal Power Power Plant in each state of the region.
“Forum decried the lack of modern rail projects in the region and called for repairs on the old gauge rail lines which no longer useful and sustainable technology. Forum calls for inclusion of the region into the Nigerian National Railway Transport Plan using the Modern Guage rail.”
On climate change and environmental degradation, the forum resolved to strengthen its collaboration with all initiatives such as the Great Green Wall and the Global Initiative of Carbon Credit financing.