Business
Aviation Stakeholders Raise Alarm Over NCAA Appointment Saga …Harp On Safety
Some stakeholders in the Aviation sector, under the auspices of Aviation Elders, have raised alarm over the controversy surrounding the appointment of a substantial Director General (DG)of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
This is coming as supporters of the acting DG, Captain Chris Najomo, intensified campaign for his continued stay in office, amid calls for a new DG by many industry experts.
There were reports that President Bola Tinubu had confirmed the Acting DG, but the reports, however, did not state how he was confirmed.
There were also no indications that a letter was sent to the National Assembly for confirmation, leaving stakeholders in the aviation industry to worry about the source of the news and what it tends to achieve.
The presidency and the Senate have however remained mum over the development.
But the Aviation Elders, in a statement by Kolade Hassan and Sya Mohammed, are wading into the matter, insisting that the emergence of Najomo as substantive DG runs fowl.
“The Acting DG, NCAA, may have declared himself as DG-NCAA in a very boastful manner without presidential pronouncement and Senate confirmation”, they said.
Siting a video where Najomo boasted of his confirmation, the stakeholders said “Whatever position you hold in government today, it’s transient as you cannot remain there forever.
“In the industry today, if we the elders cannot stand up for the truth, then nobody can. The whole world is watching what is happening in the industry. And the whole world is aware of the dangerous politics being played at the agency.
“Are those engaged in announcing the substantive DG ahead of the presidency and the National Assembly aware that we have lost out on American Category One Certification, and today Nigerian commercial airlines are banned from flying into America? Are they aware that very soon, other countries will ban Nigeria?
“Are these people aware that two aircraft engines failed in some local airlines last month, with a cargo airline overshooting the runway? This to us is a clear evidence of lack of safety regulatory compliance by the operators and the NCAA. The report will be released by AIB soon, yet some people want Najomo confirmed at the expense of the sector.
“Weeks ago, a helicopter crashed, killing 2 crew and 6 NNPC staff. The IOC, such as Shell, Total, Chevron, and NNPC are not even sure if the NCAA can guarantee the safety of their oil workers going forward.
“United Airlines had three major air returns, almost killing over 200 people, yet no action from NCAA as to what’s happening. In fact, the Nigerian Safety and Investigation Bureau (NSIB) had earlier indicted NCAA with regards to the Sikorsky SK76c helicopter which crashed on October 24, 2024. This is among other infractions noticed in their operation
“Is this what Nigeria has become? We elders in Aviation are worried and have reached out to the powers that be. Something has to happen to save Nigeria from this international embarrassment.
“How on earth will a DG be confirmed to be substantive in the media, ignoring even the presidency and the National Assembly? This shows desperation on the part of the sponsors.
“The desperation to keep running NCAA as though it’s a personal business must end now, as what elders see sitting down cannot be seen by a child even if he climbs to the tallest tree.
“For us to achieve the aviation that meets the global standard, it’s always key we discard personal interests and put Nigeria first. The safety of our people should be prioritized and should be the primary objective of all administrators as against politicization of positions.
“We are optimistic that President Bola Tinubu and his team will not allow this desperation to overwhelm them and succumb to the desires of those desperate to keep the industry in their pockets”.
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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved four new channel management companies for seaports across the country in a move aimed at improving vessel navigation and port operations.
Speaking at the recently concluded Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), former General Manager, Marine and Operations, Capt. Ebubeogu Ihenacho, disclosed that there would be changes in the ownership of the Lagos Channel Management Company Limited and the Bonny Channel Management Company.
According to Ihenacho, the four channels serving Nigeria’s major port clusters will have different channel management companies as approved by the FEC.
He said a new company had been approved to manage the Lagos port channel, with a change of name, while the Calabar Channel would be managed by the Calabar Channel Management Company.
He added that Bonny Channel Management Company had also undergone a change of ownership.
On the Warri Channel, Ihenacho said the Federal Government had approved China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and two other companies to form a consortium to manage the Escravos Channel.
He said: “For Warri, it was approved for China Harbour Engineering Company, CHEC, and two other companies, who would now form a consortium.
That consortium will now form a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with the Nigerian Ports Authority to manage the Escravos Channel.”
Recall that the management of the NPA had declined to renew the concessions of the Lagos Channel Management Company Limited and the Bonny Channel Management Company, opting instead for six-month extensions of the existing arrangements.
By; Enoch Epelle
The Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS) has warned motorists, transport operators and business owners against paying taxes, levies or charges to Unauthorised persons and organisations, insisting that only the Service and its duly appointed agents are legally empowered to collect taxes on behalf of the state government.
The Service gave the warning in a public notice dated October 21, 2026, signed by its Executive Chairman, Sir Israel O. Egbunefu, FCTI, in which it clarified that the Rivers State Ministry of Transport was not authorised by the state government to collect road tax or any other tax, levy or charge from motorists and transport operators.
RIRS also specifically disowned Explore Strategic Alliance Ltd, located at No. 7 Rumuodaolu Market Road, Port Harcourt, declaring the company had not been appointed or authorised by either the state government or the Service to collect Motor Vehicle Transport (MOT) tickets or any other tax on its behalf.
The revenue agency consequently cautioned members of the public against making payments to the company or any of its staff, stressing that anyone who ignored the warning would do so at their own risk.
It reaffirmed that only the legally authorised agency responsible for tax collection in Rivers State and the appointed agents that would carry out such duties in accordance with the law.
The Service urged taxpayers to demand official identification from anyone claiming to be its tax agent and verify the person’s credentials directly with RIRS before making payments.
It further warned that individuals or groups found impersonating tax consultants, agents or their representatives to collect Unauthorised taxes would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
RIRS also called on members of the public to report suspicious persons and activities relating to Unauthorised tax collection to the Service for appropriate action.
The agency advised taxpayers seeking clarification or assistance to visit any of its offices or contact it through its official email address, info@riversbirs.gov.ng.
The Service reiterated its commitment to protecting taxpayers, promoting voluntary compliance and safeguarding the integrity of tax administration in Rivers State.
By: King Onunwor
Consumers and traders at the Swali ultramodern market in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State have continued to groan over high prices of commodities and poor Patronage due to cost-push inflation.
The Tide reports that in the past weeks prices of goods and services in Yenagoa metropolis has experienced increase.
Notable services like transportation have also increased lately due to increase in the pump price of fuel that has recently further exacerbated inflation in the prices of staple foods like rice, beans, garri and others.
Speaking with The Tide on a market survey, a trader, Mrs Tovie Barakabo said a bag of bean which sold between N120,000-N130, 000 now goes for N140,000-N145,000.
Mrs Barakabo also hinted that the only commodities whose price has not gone up was price of millet which sells N60,000, while big bag of garri now sells for N30,000.
The Tide further gathered from other inside Source that 25 litres of Kings cooking oil currently sells N75,000 as against the former price of N57,000.
Other commodities such as delicious vegetable oil now goes for N68,000, Pure vegetable oil currently goes for N66, 000, while spaghetti is now N18,800 per bag.
The market survey also discovered that Sonnia tomato mix sells N75,609, while a big and small basket of fresh tomatoes are sold for N30,000 and N6,500 respectively.
A disappointed custom, Mrs Juliet Domo who fielded questions from The Tide expressed her worries over the inflation, calling on government to take decisive stands against inflation.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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