Travel News

By Alao Abiodun

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has raised the alarm over planned attacks on airports across the country.

FAAN said it received an alert from the ministry of aviation over the planned attacks.

In a memo sighted by The Nation, FAAN Deputy General Manager of Administration and Logistics, S.M. Mamman, explained the elements were considering carrying out attacks in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja, and Lagos airports.

“I am directed to convey an alert from the Ministry of Aviation regarding security threats by criminal elements against Airports in Nigeria and to request for the immediate enumeration of necessary countermeasures for the protection of Airports/facilities under your purview.

“Specifically, the Airports top on the list for which criminals are considering carrying out attacks include those in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja, and Lagos amongst others. However, all airports are hereby alerted and requested to operate at a heightened threat level.

“The airport chiefs have been directed to “submit a list of existing and additional countermeasures to address the threats, along with their cost implications where applicable.

“Also, they are expected to urgently convene an emergency meeting of airport security committees “to review the status of airport security, jointly recommend appropriate measures and share responsibility for effective implementation”.

By Babajide Komolafe  

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) drastically reduced its liquidity mop up activities through treasury bills by 81 percent, year-on-year, y/y, to N793 billion in the first quarter of the year (Q1’21). The apex bank, among other things, controls money supply (liquidity) in the economy by issuing or purchasing secondary market treasury bills, also known as Open Market Operations (OMO) when it wants to reduce money supply, while it injects liquidity by purchasing OMO treasury bills.

Financial Vanguard analysis of OMO auctions conducted in  Q1’21 shows a sharp decline in the amounts of bills issued and sold by the CBN compared to the same period of last year (Q1’2020). 

The CBN reduced the amounts of OMO bills offered by 80 per cent, y/y, to N858 billion in Q1’21, from N4.26 trillion in Q1’2020.  Similarly, the amount of bills sold fell by 81 per cent, y/y, to N793 billion in Q1’21  from N4.44 trillion in Q1’2020.  

In the same vein, the amount of OMO TBs demanded by the banks and FPIs  (public subscription)  fell by 41 per cent, y/y, to N3.13 trillion in Q1’21 from N5.31 trillion in Q1’2020.  Further analysis of OMO TBs sold in Q1’21 showed that the CBN offered N103 billion worth of 91-Days bills but sold N85 billion while the public subscription stood at N248.6 billion.  

Meanwhile the apex bank raised yields (interest rate) on the  OMO TBs apparently to increase the attractiveness of the bills to foreign portfolio investors, FPIs, and enhance foreign exchange inflow.  Financial Vanguard analysis showed that average yield (stop rate) for  OMO bills rose  by 4.55 percentage points to 8.53 per cent at the end of March from 3.98 per cent at the end of December last year. 

The CBN raised the stop rate for 91-Days OMO bills by 5.3 percentage points to 7.0 per cent in  March from 1.61 per cent in December. It also raised the stop rate for  182-Days OMO bills by 4.05 percentage points to 8.5 per cent in March from 4.45 per cent in December. Similarly, the stop rate for  365-Days bills rose by 4.2 percentage points to 10.1 per cent in March from 5.9 per cent in December.  

These were in sharp contrast to the downward trend recorded last year  when average yield on OMO TBs crashed by 8.13 percentage points as the CBN slashed stop rate for  91-Days, 182-Days, 365-Days OMO bills respectively  by 9.87 percentage points, 7.15 percentage points and 7.36 percentage points respectively from 11.48 per cent, 11.6 per cent and 13.26 per cent at the beginning of the year. 

While citing this reversal in the yields on OMO TBs and other fixed income instruments as a factor behind the negative performance of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, in Q1’21, analysts at United Capital Plc,  projected that the upward trend in yields on fixed income instruments will persist in Q2’21.

They said: “Like we noted, the bearish sentiment in the equity market has been stoked by fast-paced reversal in the yield environment. The peak of the reversal appears to be distant even though the pace of increase at recent auctions (Bonds & T-bills) seems to have slowed. We expect upward pressure on yields to garner pace later in Q2-2020 depending on the outcome of the May MPC meeting as well as data from economic recovery.”  

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

By Lawani Mikairu 

Federal government owned airports have increased their security measures following the invasion and adoption of some airport staff at Kaduna International Airport last month. Confirming the increased security measures being taken by the security chiefs at the various airports, the Director of

According to Odaudu, ” I am aware that the airports security chiefs have heighten security at the various airports following Kaduna Airport staff quarters invasion and adoption of airport staff.” ” 

It is a normal precautionary security measures being taken by the airports authorities. Yes, there is need for increased security at the various airports,” he said. 

There is a report that the federal airports security chiefs have received a memo signed by S.M. Mamman, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Deputy General Manager , Administration and Logistics , directing them to increase security as Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja and Lagos airports could be likely targets of attacks by bandits. 

The memo, according to the report, reads: “I am directed to convey an alert from the Ministry of Aviation regarding security threats by criminal elements against Airports in Nigeria and to request for the immediate enumeration of necessary countermeasures for the protection of Airports/Facilities under your purview.” 

“Specifically, the Airports top on the list for which criminals are considering carrying out attacks include those in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Abuja, and Lagos amongst others. However, all airports are hereby alerted and requested to operate at a heightened threat level.” The report further said the airport chiefs have been directed to “submit a list of existing and additional countermeasures to address the threats, along with their cost implications where applicable”. 

Also, an emergency meeting of airport security committees will be conveyed “to review the status of airport security, jointly recommend appropriate measures and share responsibility for effective implementation”.

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

BY  Segun Adewole

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has said that drivers are prohibited from picking up passengers at the frontage of airport terminals.

This is as the agency called for compliance with all laid down protocols on COVID-19 to ensure the safety of all airport users.

In a statement issued by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN said drivers can only approach the terminals when they want to drop off a departing passenger.

The statement partly read, “The Authority will like to emphasize that in line with government protocols, arriving passengers are to walk down to designated car parks to board their vehicles. No driver is permitted to pick up arriving passenger(s) at the frontage of the terminals.

“All drivers must park and wait inside the car parks while arriving passengers walk down to the car parks to board their vehicles.

“For departing passengers, drivers are only allowed to drop off passengers in front of the terminals. They are not permitted to wait for any reason after dropping their passengers, it is only a “Drop Off” zone.

“We will like to advise all our esteemed customers to strictly adhere to these rules, to ease facilitation and enhance the safety of all airport users.”

By David Ljunggren, Allison Lampert

OTTAWA/MONTREAL (Reuters) -Air Canada, struggling with a collapse in traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reached a deal on Monday on a long-awaited aid package with the federal government that would allow it to access up to C$5.9 billion ($4.69 billion) in funds.

BY  Ifeoma Okeke

Ethiopian Airlines has announced its planned return to Enugu and Kano airports once the new terminals are officially declared open for operations.

With the completion of the new airport terminals and further improvements in Covid19 situation in Nigeria, the federal government has announced a phased reopening of Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt airports for international flights

Last week, Ethiopian Airlines operated a special flight to Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano as part of the gradual process of reopening the airport.

Ethiopian Airlines is the only international airline that operates to Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu since it was gazetted as an International airport. It is also one of the airlines that operate into the Kano airport.

Ethiopian has been operating into Nigeria since 1960 and has stayed with Nigeria during good and difficult times. When the Abuja airport was closed for repairs, it was the only international airline that flew to the alternative airport in Kaduna.

In a statement, the airline said it was eager to provide its passengers with its traditional world-class service in the most technically advanced aircraft.

“Ethiopian is the first airline to bring the B787 Dreamliner to all the four airports in Nigeria. It was also the first to bring the Airbus A350 to Nigeria.

“Before the Covid19 lockdown Ethiopian airlines operated to four airports in Nigeria. Since the gradual reopening of the airspace in Nigeria, only Lagos and Abuja airports were allowed for international flights,” the airline stated.

• Vaccine passports are set to become a part of daily life across much of the world.

• Restaurants, gyms, sports stadiums, and other venues could require digital documents as proof a person has been vaccinated.

• Israel has already rolled out a vaccine passport scheme and other countries are close behind.

• Here's how the schemes work.

Vaccine passports are set to become a part of everyday life right across the world as governments race to vaccinate their populations against the coronavirus.

Countries including Israel, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe have either already rolled out a vaccine passport scheme or are actively working on one.

While the US government says it won't introduce federally mandated vaccine passports, it does look increasingly likely that many restaurants, gyms, sports stadiums, and other venues will require such a document to prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and they may also be required for international travel.

So what might a vaccine passport system look like in the United States?

One model the US government and businesses could look to is Israel, which has led the world both in terms of vaccinating its population and in introducing a vaccine passport scheme.

Here's what their scheme can tell us about how vaccine passport systems might work in the US.

How do vaccine passports work?

Israel started issuing so-called "green passes" on February 21 to people who had received the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Under the scheme, designed to ease the country out of lockdown, Israelis issued their ID or passport number, date of birth, and approval for their health care provider to verify that the person had received their vaccine.

In return, they were issued with a "green pass." The pass can be displayed on a mobile phone as a QR code or as a printed physical document.

Who is eligible for a passport?

Every adult who has been received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination, or who has recovered from the coronavirus. Children younger than 16 years old who have recovered from the coronavirus can be added to their parent's passport.

Where does a the pass allow you to enter?

Anyone is allowed to enter a museum or art gallery. Those with a green pass can enter venues including:

- Gyms and studios - Swimming pools - Restaurants and cafes - Hotels - Stadiums and other sporting venues - Theaters - Cinemas

What does a vaccine passport mean for travel?

Israel's government has been tight-lipped about when it will start to significantly ease current travel restrictions, which prevent citizens from traveling abroad on holiday. However, it has signed an agreement with Cyprus and Greece, two EU members, to pilot a scheme that allows vaccinated people to travel freely between the three countries, Arab News reported. It will be piloted this summer.

Has Israel's roll-out of vaccine passports gone well?

"In the shopping mall no one is really checking on [vaccine passports] but in restaurants and bars it's working," said Tal Schneider, a political correspondent at The Times of Israel in an interview with CGTN Europe.

Schneider said the public reaction to passports had been positive, where people felt it had "added" to their freedom.

"You've seen people outdoors everywhere and indoors everywhere," she said. "It's made a lot of people feel easy to participate," she said.

Counterfeit vaccine passports could be a problem

There are major privacy issues with Israel's vaccine passport program, however.

The QR codes which the green pass scheme relies on are easily counterfeited and a black market for forged passports has reportedly emerged already on Telegram, the encrypted chat app.

According to Ran Bar-Zik, a cybersecurity expert in Israel, "there are tens of thousands faking" green passes. His comments were cited by the Times of Israel.

Another issue is that the scheme relies on a centralized database, the Telegraph reported. That means everyone's personal information is kept in one place, creating a potential goldmine for hackers.

However, a spokesman for Israel's health ministry said the early versions of Israel's green passes had been developed quickly and new versions would be more secure.

"We are looking into implementing a secure barcode that will be internationally accepted," a spokesperson for the Health Ministry told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 in March.

France is suspending all flights to and from Brazil to curb the spread of a new Covid-19 variant found in the South American country, Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Tuesday.

Experts say the Brazilian variant, known as P1, is particularly virulent and partly to blame for a sharp increase in the country's coronavirus death toll in March.

"We have observed that the situation is worsening and that is why we have decided to suspend all flights between Brazil and France until further notice," Castex told parliament.

The prime minister noted that travellers from Brazil already needed to test negative for Covid-19 before their departure and upon arrival in France, and also quarantine for 10 days. But the government has also been facing mounting calls from health experts for a flight suspension to further limit potential spread.

A month ago, Health Minister Olivier Véran said that around 6 percent of Covid-19 cases in France were from the more contagious variants first found in Brazil and South Africa.

France has had 5.1 million coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, the highest number in Europe, and has seen more than 99,000 people die in the pandemic. The country is struggling with another wave of coronavirus infections and hospitalisations that is straining hospitals in Paris and elsewhere.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has defied expert advice on containing the pandemic, criticising lockdowns, face masks and vaccines, but he faces mounting pressure to bring the situation under control amid a brutal new surge of the virus.

Brazil's Covid-19 death toll is the highest in the world after the United States and India.

BRUSSELS, April 14 (Reuters) - The European Commission plans to borrow around 150 billion euros annually until 2026 to finance the bloc’s unprecedented plan to make its economy greener and more digitalised, making it the biggest issuer in euros, a document from the Commission showed.

The financing for the EU economic plan, agreed at 750 billion euros in 2018 prices, but totalling around 800 billion euros at current prices, would be through auctions and syndication through a primary deal network to enable regular payouts to EU governments as they complete agreed stages of projects and reforms.

The Commission document said the EU executive arm would issue bonds with benchmark maturities of 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years and bills below one year maturity – EU-Bills.

The Commission will start borrowing for the scheme as soon as all 27 EU national parliaments ratify the EU’s Own Resources Decision - a law raising guarantees from EU governments to the EU budget to 2.0% of GNI from 1.4% GNI until 2058.

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The ratification of the law is necessary because the guarantee of the EU budget will enable the EU to borrow at the lowest possible rates on the market.

It is only a backstop measure because the repayment of the borrowing is supposed to come from new taxes the EU is to agree on over the coming years, rather than from national budgets. (Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; Editing by Toby Chopra)

By Kait Bolongaro

•  Permanent residency now available after one year in country
•  International students, those in ‘essential’ sectors can apply

Justin Trudeau’s government announced it will start expediting permanent residency next month for foreign workers on the front lines of the pandemic, as part of efforts to keep more of them in the country.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced on Wednesday a new program that shortens the residency requirement to one year, from three, for workers in the health system and other “essential” sectors like long-term care. Up to 90,000 new permanent residents will be admitted under the plan, which also facilitate immigrant status for international students.

The program is part of the Canadian government’s plan to ramp up immigrant numbers this year from the existing pool of foreign workers, as travel restrictions prevent inflows of people into the country. Trudeau plans to give immigration status to 401,000 people this year, more than double last year’s levels.

“It’s an incredibly important step in delivering on our 2021 immigration levels plan, which we are determined to achieve,” Mendicino said in a phone interview. “We are ahead of where we planned to be in the year.”

The program opens on May 6 and runs until Nov. 5.