DECEMBER 06, 2020

From January Britain can no longer return them to the EU, but the rush for the deadline may be denying them a proper screening

Scores of vulnerable asylum seekers, including suspected victims of trafficking, are scheduled to be deported this week as the home secretary Priti Patel ramps up removal operations ahead of Brexit.

Three flights this week, two to Germany and one to France, with possible transfers to Austria, Poland, Spain and Lithuania, are planned amid opposition from campaigners who say they have evidence that cases are being “rushed” through to avoid Patel’s own published policy on identifying trafficking victims.

The development comes days after Patel branded those calling for last week’s deportation flight to Jamaica to be stopped as “do-gooding celebrities”, a label that prompted victims of the Windrush scandal to describe the home secretary as “deeply insulting and patronising”.

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Groups monitoring the impending round of flights to the EU say that the Home Office’s planned operation to remove potential trafficking and torture victims without proper screening is unlawful and breaches a recent interim high court order.

The flights are operating under the EU’s Dublin convention legislation that allows states to return people to an EU country where they have already made an asylum claim – a right the UK retains during the Brexit transition period.

Soon, unless another transfer arrangement is agreed with the EU, the UK will no longer be able to forcibly deport asylum seekers who have passed through other EU countries.

Lawyers acting for those scheduled to be deported on this week’s flights say they haven’t been properly screened to identify serious vulnerabilities or asked two key questions: “Why have you come to the UK’? and “Please outline your journey to the UK.”

An interim high court ruling last month said the Home Office’s failure to ask such questions was arguably “unlawful” and risked a “serious risk of injustice and irreversible harm.” The ruling ordered the Home Office to reinstate the two questions for arriving asylum seekers.

However the Jesuit Refugee Service UK, an international Catholic group that operates inside Heathrow immigration detention centres, Colnbrook and Harmondsworth, said it had evidence that the Home Office was planning to deport individuals this week who hadn’t been asked the questions.

Sarah Teather, director of JSR UK, said: “Under cover of Covid and the rush for Brexit, the government are subjecting survivors of trafficking and torture to brutal treatment.”

“Skipping sections of your own due process to avoid listening to details of trafficking that would require a more careful approach to the person in front of you is staggeringly cynical.”

Teather, whose group is representing eight asylum seekers due to be deported by charter flight this week, added: “They’ve been told this practice is unacceptable by the high court, yet they continue to rush people through the process regardless, perhaps safe in the knowledge that the most vulnerable and traumatised asylum seekers are struggling to access legal advice in detention right now. It demonstrates a complete disregard for human life and it is a shameful episode.”

The JRS is currently supporting 11 men who recently crossed the Channel in small boats and who have experienced trafficking, forced labour and torture on their journey to the UK.

One is from Syria and the rest from Sudan, a journey typically takes them through Libya, which is known to be rife with trafficking with numerous accounts of mistreatment and torture.

“Some have told us that they were sold between gangs, forced to work and never paid. Others were sold on repeatedly to other traffickers. Many bear the physical and mental scarring of this time,” added Teather.

One of the Sudanese men supported by JRS UK had spent four years in such conditions in Libya, but could not explain this at his “screening” interview as it was cut short.

Six others have shared records of their screening interviews with all six confirming that officials skipped the key questions: “Why have you come to the UK’? and “Please outline your journey to the UK.”

Four individuals whose screening interviews were cut short are scheduled to be removed on charter flights this week. A further four potential victims of trafficking have also removals scheduled for this week amid concerns from the organisation that they also have not been given full screening interviews.

All individuals held in immigration detention also have the right to legal advice, but Teather says legal access is currently erratic and she fears that some of those on this week’s flights will have been unable to challenge their removal.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We remain determined to fix the broken asylum system so that it is firm and fair and make no apology for removing those with no right to remain in the UK.

“All individuals due to be removed have or will have been through a screening interview, which includes updated questions on trafficking, prior to removal. To suggest otherwise is inaccurate.”

DECEMBER 06, 2020

BY  Qin Xie

Virgin Atlantic will transform a Boeing 747 into a pop-up restaurant before the plane is retired this month.

Billed as the “hottest ticket in town for aviation enthusiasts”, fewer than 50 tickets will be released for sale at 9am on 7 December for the one-off event on 12 December.

Guests will board the aircraft at the airline’s hangar at Heathrow where they will enjoy a tour of the plane that few get to see, including the areas where the crew sleep during flights.

They can also step into the cargo hold and take a seat in the cockpit.

While on board, they will be treated to champagne on the upper deck, known to fans as “the bubble”, before settling into an Upper Class suite for a three-course a la carte meal inspired by the airline’s inflight catering.

Pilots, cabin crew and engineers for the airline will be on hand to entertain guests with anecdotes of life on board the “Queen of the Skies”.

And to finish the experience, guests will have their photo taken in one of the aircraft’s red engines.

Tickets are priced at £50 each, with all proceeds going to food bank charity The Trussell Trust to support its work.

Corneel Koster, chief customer and operating officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: “The much-loved Boeing 747 has played an important role in Virgin Atlantic’s story. It carried our first passengers to New York 36 years ago on our inaugural flight and over the years has transported countless millions of holiday-makers and business travellers safely around the world.

“As we close this chapter and continue the transformation towards a cleaner, greener fleet, what better tribute than to showcase the Queen of the Skies one last time. I’m delighted we’re able to offer this opportunity to a lucky few to be part of aviation history, before we say our fond farewells to this iconic plane.”

Virgin Atlantic will be retiring its entire fleet of 747s and will be replacing these with the newer, more fuel efficient Airbus A350 and Boeing Dreamliner. The last 747 flight is expected to be on 16 December.

Earlier this year, British Airways also retired its fleet of 747s. During its final journey, two 747s were simultaneously dispatched from the two runways at Heathrow.

The Boeing 747 has long been slated for retirement but it’s far from the only model to be phased out early during the coronavirus pandemic.

While Airbus had already announced that it would stop producing the A380, dramatic drops in passenger demand due to global travel restrictions has meant that many of the jumbo jets were prematurely grounded.

Lufthansa has retired seven of its 14 SuperJumbo planes, and Qantas may not resurrect its fleet, but Emirates is continuing to fly the A380 throughout the pandemic.

DECEMBER 07, 2020

The first Lufthansa flight after an eight months suspension occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic, arrived in Lagos last Thursday. The airline said it is offering in December, up to eight weekly departures scheduled from Lagos and Abuja Airports to Frankfurt, while safety and hygiene on board remain a top priority

The European mega carrier said it would offer up to five weekly departures from Lagos to Frankfurt and starting on December 8, it would also connect the capital Abuja with three weekly departures. “All long-haul flights depart from Nigeria in the evening as overnight flights, arriving in Lufthansa’s main hub Frankfurt in the early morning.

“This allows all passengers from Nigeria to get the full choice of connecting flights to European, American and Asian destinations, leaving all from the same Terminal 1,” the airline said.

It also noted, “Lufthansa always was and will stay dedicated to Nigeria, one of our key markets in Africa. As we have received the final permission to reopen our flight operations, we are happy to be the first airline to reconnect Nigeria directly to the centre of Europe and onwards to all other continents.”

“We offer a considerable number of flights to the US and Canada, allowing our Nigerian guests to have family members and friends again at reach throughout the world. Health and safety continues to be our top priority and we are committed to maintain a strict adherence to hygiene regulations for all our flights,” General Manager Nigeria & Equatorial Guinea Lufthansa Group Airlines, Adenike Macaulay.

Lufthansa said its flight LH568, Frankfurt to Lagos, serviced by an Airbus 330-300, offers passengers seats in all three classes, including Business Class and Premium Economy Class, disclosing that after its arrival in Lagos this service will continue to Malabo /Equatorial Guinea.

The non-stop flight would commence with three weekly departures on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to be increased to five weekly frequencies every day except Tuesdays and Sundays. The return flight will be scheduled on the same days of operations reaching Frankfurt only after six hours flight.

LH594 would be the flight number for the resumed connection between Frankfurt and Abuja with three weekly departures. An Airbus 330-300 connects the Nigerian capital to the financial centre of Germany, Frankfurt, also with seats in three classes. Finally, it is planned that this flight would also resume service to Port Harcourt; however, this onward flight is not yet confirmed until the airport is reopened.

DECEMBER 07, 2020

BY  Joseph Olaoluwa

The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Musa Nuhu, has foreseen a merger of airlines in the aviation sector due to the current crisis that has engulfed the sector.

He made this statement while assessing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the industry during an NTA programme on Saturday evening.

He said, “The COVID-19 pandemic exaggerated a bad situation; some airlines may not survive but the industry will come back better. It has always gone through crisis but has come out stronger. The Airlines Operators of Nigeria are coming together to see what they can do to help the situation and they met with me. The industry will be different altogether.

“I am sure a lot of them will see changes in their model. I won’t be surprised there would be merger activities around airlines to reduce cost and survive.”

Reacting to the increase in airfares, he stressed that airlines were in financial distress and required bailouts.

He said, “The airlines carry their maintenance out of the country and it is done in foreign exchange. They need to raise enough money to service the aircraft.

“The airlines have to find a source of raising more naira. Passenger load has decreased during the pandemic. That is why they have been significant increase airfares, they are trying their best and by the time the bailout kicks in, things will be better.”

DECEMBER 07, 2020

BY  Chinedu Eze

As airfares continue to skyrocket and most airlines fully booked, Nigeria’s leading carrier, Air Peace, has assured customers that it has made adequate preparations to effectively service all its routes during the Christmas season, especially South-east and South-south destinations.

The airline said some of its aircraft taken abroad for maintenance have started returning and would be deployed to those destinations currently underserved to ensure that it meet the travel demand of its customers.

So it promised passengers who are yet to get flights for their trips during the Christmas season that the airline has the capacity to airlift them to their respective destinations.

The airline therefore urged travellers not to worry, as it is yet to roll out its Christmas schedule, which would ensure that every route is effectively serviced.

The assurance was contained in a statement signed by the airline’s Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Toyin Olajide, who said that more aircraft would be deployed to all destinations with high passenger demand.

“It has come to our notice that a lot of South-south and South-east bound passengers are frustrated at the lack of available airline seats for their trips this Yuletide season and have become apprehensive as a result. We wish to assure them that Air Peace shall provide enough flights to accommodate all who wish to travel. We are yet to roll out our Christmas schedule as our planes have started arriving the country from maintenance checks abroad.

“We shall be rolling out multiple flight schedules for the season from the 16th of December for the following destinations: Enugu, Owerri, Asaba, Uyo, Calabar, Port Harcourt and Benin. We assure our teeming Passengers of top-notch service and safe trips,” Mrs. Olajide said.

One of the factors driving up airfares is paucity of operating aircraft, which is currently inadequate to meet travel demand of Nigerians on domestic destinations, but with more aircraft coming from Air Peace, observers hope that there would be a check in the rising prices of flight tickets.

Many airlines have earlier announced that they cannot offer more seats to their Eastern and South-south destinations because their flights have been fully booked on those routes.

DECEMBER 07, 2020

By Ailbhe Conneely

Social Affairs & Religion Correspondent

Substantial progress has been made in the last decade in facilitating access to Irish citizenship by naturalisation, however, the European Migration Network (EMN) has warned that people should be able to do so in as timely and transparent a way as possible.

New research by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the European Migration Network shows over 145,800 people were granted Irish citizenship through naturalisation between 2006 and 2018.

The study is part of EU-wide research on naturalisation, which is the main way by which migrants may access citizenship and its associated rights.

Out of 24 EU Member States examined in the study, Ireland is among four EU countries that reported the highest naturalisation fees, along with the UK, Austria and the Netherlands.

Applicants pay €175, and a further certification fee of €950 applies for successful adult applicants with €200 for children and certain other cases.

Refugees and stateless persons are exempt from the certification fee.

It notes that delays in processing naturalisation applications have arisen partly due to the outcome of a High Court judgment in 2019 on the definition of "reckonable residence", and Covid-19 related restrictions.

In October 2020, the Department reported that "a straightforward application takes a year to be processed", with more complex applications taking longer.

There are three main "pathways" to Irish citizenship: at birth by descent, by birth on the island of Ireland, and naturalisation.

Applicants for naturalisation must generally have five years' residence in Ireland.

They must be of "good character", intend to reside in Ireland, and make a declaration of loyalty to the State.

Spouses and civil partners of Irish citizens and certain other groups may apply after three years.

The study says the Department of Justice reported that failure to satisfy the "good character" requirement and inability to meet the residence criteria are among the top reasons for refusal.

It says the number of people granted Irish citizenship through naturalisation "increased rapidly" from 2010, peaking in 2012, and has declined steadily since, broadly in line with EU-wide trends.

Just over 8,200 people were granted Irish citizenship through naturalisation in 2018, and almost 5,800 in 2019.

The share of EU nationals among new Irish citizens has increased from 4% in 2011 to 49% in 2018.

Among EU nationals granted Irish citizenship through naturalisation, the top three nationalities since 2005 are Poland, Romania and the UK.

The UK saw a seven-fold increase between 2016, when Brexit was confirmed, and 2018.

The most common nationalities among non-EU nationals acquiring Irish citizenship through naturalisation since 2005 are, Nigeria, India, and the Philippines.

DECEMBER 08, 2020

BY Joseph Olaoluwa

The Lagos-Ibadan rail line on Monday commenced commercial operations.

Lagos Railway District Manager of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Jerry Oche, who spoke to our correspondent said the first trip took place around 10:40 am.

He said, “We have started commercial operations and it is picking gradually.

“The first trip from Ibadan-Lagos began at 10:40 am and the return trip left 4:05 pm.”

Speaking on the fares on the train, he explained that the price would range from N2,500 to N6,000 and not N3,000 as previously stated.

He explained that the range would allow people the option of choosing the one they could afford.

He said, “The fares are actually between N2,500 and N6,000. The coaches are not the same. There are 24 seater coaches, 68 and also 88, they are not the same level of comfort but all of them are air-conditioned.

“The number of coaches is based on legroom. The 24 seater is more comfortable. The 68 has more legroom than the 88 and the 88 has the least allowance for legroom.”

He added, “When you come to the ticket point, we allow you the option of different prices. We have not heard complaints about pricing but we listen to social media. Some are saying it is high and some are saying it is okay.

“That is why there is a range- it is a wide gap, depending on how you can afford. Some of us do Lagos-Ibadan commercial, I am also aware by taxi its is N2,500, and a bus is N1,500.”

While promising to improve upon speed, the railway boss explained that it was not wise to resume the rail service with high speed, considering the traders selling their wares along the tracks.

He said, “We will increase the speed. Lagos is cosmopolitan, and we cannot begin with high speed. Within Lagos, we do between 30 and 40 km/h and outside Lagos, we are doing 60 – 80km/h.

“We will increase the speed as we go on. We are yet to do that because of traders on the track and the illegal crossing. We are trying to clear them between this week and next week together with the Lagos State Government.”

Oche said the operations were commercial and no longer free, and would continue to operate in anticipation of the launch by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)

DECEMBER 08, 2020

Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja

Moves to concession Nigeria’s four major airports and the establishment of a national carrier are still on course and the results will materialise soon, the Federal Government said on Monday.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, stated this in his message on the commemoration of the 2020 International Civil Aviation Day, despite oppositions by lawmakers on plans by the government to concession airports.

In November, the House of Representatives asked the Federal Government to suspend the plan to concession airports until all issues had been addressed.

Four international airports were billed for concession to private operators and they included the Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt airports.

The Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, had argued that there were concerns by operators in the aviation sector against moves by government to concession airports.

“Among the concerns were the lack of transparency in the exercise, labour issues, the Chinese loans, the legal issues that may arise from the existing concessions and the lack of proper valuation of the present status of the affected airports, among others,” the lawmaker had explained.

But in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the spokesperson, Federal Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, the aviation minister stated that the concession of airports was part of the aviation roadmap currently on course.

According to Sirika, the roadmap was developed to serve as a catalyst for a comprehensive overhaul of the aviation industry in Nigeria.

The statement read in part, “The minister further asserts that the roadmap which includes the establishment of a national carrier, establishment of a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility, concession of some airports, establishment of an aviation leasing company, among others, will lay a solid and lasting foundation for aviation development in Nigeria.”

He also assured Nigerians that the implementation of the roadmap, which was in line with the theme of the ICAD, remained on course. and that the results would become obvious in due course.

Sirika appealed to industry players to join hands with government to ensure the realisation of the objectives of the roadmap for the benefit of all users of the nation’s airspace.

DECEMBER 08, 2020

By Folasade Opaleye – CEO Apeiron 

Global As we all know and have experienced, COVID-19 has been a huge disruption generally this year and the travel industry has been hit so badly. There are several impacts of COVID-19 on Nigerian Travelers and Folasade Opaleye the CEO of Apeiron Global, a leading travel consulting agency in Nigeria will be sharing insightful detail. One major impact of COVID-19 is limited access to some countries. 

According to Wikipedia, as of 02 July 2019, Nigerian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 45 countries and territories, ranking the Nigerian passport 98th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index. 

However, that number had shrunk in no time. Here are a few countries open to Nigerian Travelers: UAE, South Africa, Tanzania, Kanya, Maldives, Ghana, Tanzania, UK, US, Turkey, and a couple of others.

Another major impact is the burden of conducting the COVID-19 test multiple times. Apart from the time and stress, the financial implication is also something that has increased the average cost of travel as it’s now a mandatory requirement in most countries globally. Some of the above-mentioned countries do not require travelers to have the test result before departing Nigeria.

However, should travelers be flying certain airlines, the test result is a major requirement. Also, according to the NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control), All travelers arriving in Nigeria must have tested negative for COVID-19 by PCR in the country of departure pre-boarding. The PCR test must be within 120 hours before departure and preferably within 72 hours pre-boarding. A repeat PCR test is also conducted 7 days after arrival. Bear in mind that these tests are not free. Here is a good example; Traveling to Dubai via Emirates, a Negative PCR Test Result which costs N 50,400 is required. 

Before departing Dubai back to Nigeria, another Negative PCR Test which costs about 250ED is needed to board. In the same light, before boarding, it is mandatory to schedule and pay for the third test which is to be done within 7days after arrival. This costs another N 50,400. 

Asides from the fact that a minimum of 2 tests is required, each traveler spends approximately N 140,000 on COVID-19 testing alone. This is now a new addition when calculating the total cost of making an international trip, increasing the financial burden greatly. After getting tests done, there could be delays in getting the results within the time frame advised by the country of arrival or departure. 

Ideally, test results should be out without 24 to 48 hours, but travelers have experienced massive delays resulting to them having to move their flights as the airlines will not board without a test result. This means that there is need for ticket date change. Yet again, there is usually costs attached to this. Because of COVID-19 and the drastic drop in crude oil prices, Nigeria is currently experiencing a foreign currency shortage leading to an economic recession. Travel transaction is majorly denominated in dollars.

This means the cost of travel has skyrocketed for Nigerians. Travelers now have to change more Naira for Dollar. The current Naira rate to Dollars is N485= $1, in the parallel market. So, if an average cost of a Dubai Trip was N500,000, its now faring for an average of N 560,000. In conclusion, the impact of COVID-19 on Nigerian Travelers is a cause for major concern, and as we are getting accustomed to the new normal, we need to be aware that it is going to take some more effort, including financial, to make a successful trip. Notwithstanding, we remain positive, that there will be a safe landing.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/20...

DECEMBER 08, 2020

By Ritvik Carvalho

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s pound was the biggest mover in otherwise quiet trade among the G10 group of currencies on Tuesday, falling broadly as caution grew among investors awaiting the outcome of Brexit trade deal talks that have come down to the wire.

With only three weeks to go for Britain to fully complete its exit from the European Union, leaders have failed to narrow differences on a post-Brexit trade deal.

Against the dollar, the pound was nearly half a percent lower at $1.3323.

Against the euro, it was 0.3% lower at 90.74 pence.

Investors grew increasingly jittery at the start of the week, pushing sterling more than two cents lower against the dollar on Monday after news that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson would travel to Brussels this week for what some say will be a last roll of the dice to secure a trade deal.

The pound recovered some of that ground on Tuesday but still traded on the defensive.

“Sterling has demonstrated that there has been a shift in confidence surrounding a Brexit trade deal in the past few days,” said Rabobank’s head of FX strategy Jane Foley, who noted the simultaneous weakening of the pound and increase in option volatility.

Implied volatility on the pound - a measure of expected future swings in the currency - hit 8-month highs, a sign that traders were bracing themselves for gyrations.

“The fact that Johnson will travel to meet von der Leyen later this week means that all is not lost with respect to a deal,” Foley added.

“However, given that the issues of fisheries and level playing field have been in the spotlight for so long, it may be a bit of a long shot to expect that they can suddenly find a new angle to compromise on.”

ANY EXCUSE
Elsewhere, concern at surging coronavirus cases in the United States cast a shadow over optimism about vaccinations and fiscal support for the U.S. economy - sapping bulls’ momentum.

Against a basket of currencies, the greenback edged higher to 90.969 and the Australian and New Zealand dollars took a breather and held near recent peaks.

The euro sat at $1.2102.

“We continue to see the broad dollar under pressure, said OCBC Bank strategist Terence Wu.

“However, there seems to be some fatigue setting in, with the upside momentum for the likes of euro and Aussie fading somewhat ... any negative headlines may provide an excuse for a risk-off tilt.”

In Asia, that came from a coronavirus surge in South Korea which stalled a rising won and wobbled the Kospi stock index.

In the United States, California has shut all but critical infrastructure and retail operations in its worst-hit areas as U.S. COVID-19 infections are at their peak, with an average of 193,863 new cases reported each day over the past week.

Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert, warned mid-January “can be a really dark time for us” if gatherings over the holiday season spur even greater spread of the virus.

The U.S. Congress will vote this week on a stop-gap funding bill to provide more time for lawmakers to reach a deal on a bigger COVID-19 relief package.

That could renew dollar selling by improving investors’ appetite for riskier currencies. But after so many false dawns on the stimulus front traders were content to wait and see.

Later on Tuesday business sentiment surveys in Germany and the United States are due and will offer some sense of how deeply the latest wave of COVID-19 has hurt consumers’ mood.

Reporting by Ritvik Carvalho; additional reporting by Kevin Buckland in TOKYO and Tom Westbrook in SINGAPORE, editing by Ed Osmond