FEBRUARY 02, 2022

Following the approval granted by the Nigerian government to the United Arab Emirates authorities for the resumption of flights between the two countries, Emirates, one of the carriers from the UAE has announced its decision to restart flights from Dubai to Nigeria from 5 February 2022.

The airline will operate to and from Abuja and Lagos with daily flights, providing more choice, comfort and enhanced connectivity for travellers connecting to Dubai and over 120 destinations.

According to a statement from the UAE airline: “Emirates will operate to Abuja with EK 785 and 786. EK 785 will depart Dubai at 1100hrs, arriving in Abuja at 1540hrs. The return flight, EK 786 will take off from Abuja at 1900, arriving in Dubai at 0435hrs the next day.

“Emirates flight EK 783 to Lagos will depart Dubai at 1030hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1540hrs. The return flight EK 784 will depart Lagos at 1810hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0415hrs the next day. All flights can be booked on emirates.com, with OTAs and via travel agents.

“All passengers travelling from Nigeria with Dubai as their final destination require a 48 hour PCR test. Passengers must present a valid negative Covid-19 PCR test certificate with a QR code for a test conducted at an approved facility, and validity must be calculated from the time the sample was collected. Upon arrival in Dubai, passengers will undergo an additional Covid-19 PCR test and remain in self-quarantine until the results of the test are received.

Passengers travelling from Nigeria and transiting in Dubai are required to follow the rules and requirements of their final destination.

Emirates further declared that since it safely resumed tourism activity in July 2020, Dubai remained one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, especially during the winter season.

“The city is open for international business and leisure visitors. From sun-soaked beaches and heritage activities to world-class hospitality and leisure facilities, Dubai offers a variety of world-class experiences. It was one of the world’s first cities to obtain Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) which endorses Dubai’s comprehensive and effective measures to ensure guest health and safety.”

https://tribuneonlineng.com/ju...

FEBRUARY 02, 2022

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that the completion of the Lekki Port will end the Apapa gridlock, the congestion along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, port access roads and Apapa environs.

Governor Sanwo-Olu made the statement at an event on Tuesday with the theme “The final solution to Apapa gridlock will be the completion of Lekki Port.”

He said several measures would be put in place to ensure Apapa is congestion-free, stating that “we need to change the officials regularly to ensure there is no compromise in services rendered.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu who spoke about his administration’s commitment to delivering the dividends of democracy to millions of Lagosians through the THEMES developmental agenda for Greater Lagos said his government has completed iconic projects within the State in the last two and half years.

He also cited some of the infrastructural projects such as Lekki Deep Port, 4th Mainland Bridge, Red and Blue line rails and Imota Rice Mills, among others that are ongoing or in the pipeline, which according to him would be completed and become operational within the next 24 months.

The Governor said the process leading to the commencement of the construction of the 4th Mainland Bridge, which starts from Badore in Ajah and ends in Ikorodu, would be completed before the second quarter of the year.

He said: “Lagos is, in addition to being Africa’s most populous megacity, the continent’s premier business and investment destination, and we will continue to do all within our power to remain so.

“As I speak, several landmark public and private infrastructure and investment projects are underway or nearing completion in Lagos State; the biggest single-train Petroleum Refinery in the world, one of the largest Rice Mills in the world, one of the largest and most modern Deep-Sea Ports on the continent, and West Africa’s biggest Light Rail network. Within the next 24 months, we expect all of these to be operational.

“We are also Africa’s Startup capital, ahead of Nairobi, Cape Town and Johannesburg, in terms of the number of startups and in terms of investment inflows and the size of exits. Flutterwave and Paystack, two of the most prominent African unicorns of the decade, were born here.

“In addition, we are home to several major investments ongoing in real estate, like Eko Atlantic on the edge of Victoria Island, and Alaro City on the Lekki Peninsula.”

Speaking at the event, the Publisher of Business Day Newspaper, Mr. Frank Aigbogun, applauded Governor Sanwo-Olu for the great work he has done in ridding Apapa of traffic gridlocks and for delivering on his promise to the people of Lagos State.

He said: “When we had the interview, which I moderated, hosted by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry before the elections in 2019, Apapa dominated that conversation. I don’t know how often you go to Apapa Mr. Governor but I think between 23 and 27 minutes these days, you get Apapa.

“When I have an appointment with people, they often will get to the office before I get there because they would make so much room for traffic and they don’t find any traffic on the way; so they are there waiting for me in the office. So, Mr. Governor, I want to acknowledge the work that you have done and to commend you and your team for delivering on your promise.”

FEBRUARY 03, 2022

BY  Okechukwu Nnodim

Nigeria’s four major aviation unions on Wednesday vowed to ground activities in the sector from Tuesday, February 8, 2022, over the failure of the Federal Government to release the negotiated conditions of service of aviation agencies since 2013 and the non-implementation of the National Minimum Wage/consequential adjustment since 2019.

In a notice of industrial action jointly signed by officials of the unions and issued to aviation workers, the associations said flights and related activities would be brought suspended.

The unions include the National Union of Air Transport Employees, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees.

“By this notice, all airlines, ground handling companies, aviation security/logistics, in-flight catering, and other aviation-related businesses, as well as the traveling and general public, are hereby notified that aviation services will be unavailable as from the given time until the issues are fully resolved,” they declared.

The aviation workers’ union recalled that they had earlier sent ultimatums to the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its six agencies about workers’ concerns but nothing was done.

The notice read in part, “As you are all aware, our unions variously issued ultimatums to the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the six aviation agencies over the vexed issues of failure to release negotiated conditions of service of the agencies since 2013 and the non-implementation of minimum wage/consequential adjustment since 2019.

“All the ultimatums expired January 31, 2019, without the demands being met in any form. The meeting called by the Federal Ministry of Aviation on the same January 31, 2013 did not resolve the issues as there was no clear assurance from the ministry/managements’ delegation towards meeting our genuine demands.

“In the circumstance, our unions are left with no choice but to take the next obvious step. In this regard, all aviation workers are hereby directed to commence the total withdrawal of services from midnight of Tuesday, February 8, 2022, unless, and until, otherwise directed in this same manner.”

The six agencies include the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigeria Meteorological Services Agency, Accident Investigation Bureau, and the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology.

The unions advised the managements of FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, NiMet, AIB, and NCAT, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Aviation to utilise the one-week window so provided to avert the looming crisis by prevailing on the relevant government agencies to act jointly to ensure that workers’ twin demands were met.

They said, “All conditions of service of the NCAA, NAMA, FAAN, NiMet and any other aviation agency pending before the Ministry of Aviation; National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission; the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, or any other organ of government or management of the agencies must be released wholly for implementation with the effective date of the signing of the agreement between our unions and the respective agencies.

“And the new minimum wage/consequential adjustment must be immediately implemented with effect from the law’s effective date of April 2019.”

FEBRUARY 03, 2022

BY  Okechukwu Nnodim

The Federal Government on Wednesday announced that Air Peace and Emirates Airlines were now free to resume scheduled passenger flights between the United Arab Emirates and Nigeria.

Both carriers had suspended flight operations into the two nations, following diplomatic scuffles between the governments of Nigeria and the UAE as touching issues around the management of COVID-19.

But the Federal Government announced on Wednesday that it had approved the re-instatement of Emirates Airlines winter schedule with immediate effect, as Nigeria and the UAE had resolved their differences.

It announced this through the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Musa Nuhu, who stated that the resumption of scheduled passenger flights between Nigeria and the UAE had received the required approval.

Nuhu disclosed this in a statement that was made available to journalists in Abuja by the Director, Public Affairs, Federal Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu.

The statement read in part, “Following the review and acceptance of the ‘Safety Decision 2021-02 Issue 24’ as released by United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority, the Minister of Aviation has approved the re-instatement of Emirates Airlines winter schedule with immediate effect.

“All parties have been informed accordingly. Consequently, Air peace and Emirates Airlines are liberty to resume scheduled passenger flights between Nigeria and the UAE under the terms and conditions of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries.”

It added, “All parties must ensure strict compliance with the COVID-19 travel protocols of both countries.”

The Federal Government reassured the traveling public that it would continue to ensure the provision of air services while protecting national interests at all times.

Meanwhile, an Air Peace official, who requested not to be named due to lack of authorisation, told our correspondent that “the airline will announce in due time the resumption of its UAE operations.”

This came as Emirates announced that it would restart flights from Dubai to Nigeria from February 5, 2022.

It said the carrier would operate to and from Abuja and Lagos with daily flights, providing enhanced connectivity for travellers connecting to Dubai and over 120 destinations.

The airline said all passengers travelling from Nigeria with Dubai as their final destination would require a 48-hour PCR test.

FEBRUARY 03, 2022

By Adeyemi Adepetun, Riyadh, S’Arabia

Nigeria’s startup ecosystem is expected to benefit immensely from the newly unveiled Startup Passport Initiative unveiled by Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO), a Saudi Arabian-based multinational organisation.

The Startup Passport makes it quicker, easier and less expensive for startups to do business across borders, opening up potentially lucrative markets with a combined population of more than half a billion people.

Making the announcement in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, yesterday, at the maiden edition of LEAP, a technology conference and exhibition organised by the Ministry of Communications and Technology, Saudi Arabia, DCO Secretary-General, Deema Al-Yahya, explained that the Startup Passport provides expedited entry and support in the markets of eight DCO countries, adding that the initiative would be rolled out initially in Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.

Founding member nations of DCO are Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Representing the digital aspirations of 478 million people – 270 million of whom are under the age of 25 – and leveraging 6,300 digital start-ups and 46 million small and medium sized enterprises across three regions, DCO is focused on accelerating social welfare and economic prosperity by empowering women, youth and entrepreneurs to shape an inclusive digital future.

The DCO is focused on 10 areas, which are access to connectivity, cross-border data flows, ethical use of technology, digital identity management, data pooling and user privacy, mobility of skilled ICT labour, accelerating start-ups and SMEs, adoption of emerging technologies, alignment on digital taxation and cooperation on R&D and innovation.

Al-Yahya said the initiative reduces administrative and financial burdens and accelerates corporate registration and other processes for entrepreneurs.

“Through this passport, they will be able to enter the markets of other DCO member states. This will further our mission of coordinating efforts and sharing expertise to grow the digital economy for the benefit of all nations,” she stated.

She disclosed that during LEAP 22, the DCO also endorsed Elevate50, an initiative launched to support 50,000 small to medium-sized enterprises over the next three years to sell their products online, adding, “supported by the Jordanian ecommerce platform MakanE, Elevate50 is projected to generate 5,000 jobs and specifically target businesses run by women and young people.”

The DCO Secretary-General noted that this inaugural LEAP is set to become the world’s largest debut technology platform, spotlighting the entire innovation ecosystem, connecting pioneers and disruptors with business and government leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and more to experience and learn about the technologies of the future.

At the event, some 10 Nigerian startups are billed to pitch with others from other regions for the $600, 000 startup support grant.

Leading the Nigerian delegation at the event, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, said the DCO has been very supportive to Nigeria, stressing that they gave the country slot, pavilion and others for free at the event.

Most importantly, Pantami said the DCO is also supporting Nigerian startups, “as some many of them would pitch against their global counterparts here at the conference, and thereafter provide networking support.”

MEANWHILE, Aramco Ventures, the venture capital arm of Saudi Aramco, announced the formal launch of its $1 billion diversified growth fund, Prosperity7.

The fund backs exceptional entrepreneurs, across the globe, including Nigeria to build transformative companies and solve some of the world’s toughest problems. Prosperity7 provides its portfolio companies with the funding and connections they need to scale and enter new markets to attain global reach.

President and CEO of Saudi Aramco, Amin Nasser, said: “Prosperity7 will connect the dots through big ideas, top talents and disruptive technologies from around the world as we look beyond the energy value chain to areas like healthcare, education and blockchain, for viable solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.”

With Saudi Arabia’s technology sector said to worth more than $40 billion, the new investments announced at LEAP22 are part of the Kingdom’s ongoing plans to transform into an innovation-based economy, which have already seen the country become one of the fastest-growing new markets for Fintech and digital content in the region.

Commenting, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Alswaha, who said the world is changing very fast and that no country should play behind, noted that the “investments and initiatives area manifestation of the Kingdom’s push toward the growth of the digital economy for the greater good of people, the planet and the prosperity of the MENA region. They mark the next level of growth for the digital economy in Saudi Arabia, the MENA region’s largest technology and digital market.”

Alswaha noted that Saudi Arabia is the regional leader for technology talent, with over 318,000 jobs in the technology sector in the Kingdom, and with a rate of participation of women in the ICT workforce that has jumped to 28 per cent in recent years.

FEBRUARY 03, 2022

(Bloomberg) -- Mauritius, home to idyllic beach destinations, closed its main airport, banks and beaches as a severe cyclone barreled toward the Indian Ocean island nation. 

Authorities raised the warning twice to the highest level in less than 24 hours. Winds reached 133 kilometer per hour (83 miles per hour) and parts of the nation saw 118.5 millimeters of rain as cyclone Batsirai approached, the Mauritius Meteorological Services said in a statement. 

“Moreover, there was a risk of storm surge along the coast,” according to the statement. “The sea would be phenomenal with swells of 10 meters.”

Mauritius faces cyclones almost every year, though Bastsirai may turn out to be the strongest in more than five years, Prem Goolaup, director of the meteorological service said in a phone interview on Wednesday. African coast was hit by one of the worst cyclones ever, Idai, in 2019 when it caused a humanitarian crisis in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam international airport -- the main gateway for tourists heading to attractions such as Mont Choisy beach and Le Pouce mountain -- was shut at 8:40 p.m. on Tuesday. The Port-Louis based Stock Exchange of Mauritius is not operating, according to an emailed statement.

The highest cyclone level is equivalent to the most severe hurricane warning.

FEBRUARY 03, 2022

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - Major airlines, business and travel groups urged the White House on Wednesday to end COVID-19 pre-departure testing requirements for vaccinated international passengers traveling to the United States.

Airlines for America, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, International Air Transport Association, Aerospace Industries Association, the U.S. Travel Association and other groups called for change in a letter to White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients.

"Surveys of air passengers indicate that pre-departure testing is a leading factor in the decision not to travel internationally. People simply are unwilling to take the chance that they will be unable to return to the U.S.," they wrote.

The White House declined to comment. Airlines for America, which represents American Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N), United Airlines Holdings and others said as of last week international air travel was down 38% over 2019 levels.

In December, the Biden administration imposed tougher new rules requiring international air travelers arriving in the United States to obtain a negative COVID-19 test within one day of travel.

Under prior rules, vaccinated international air travelers could present a negative test result obtained within three days of their day of departure.

The White House and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) previously considered but have never imposed testing requirements for Americans to board domestic flights.

The letter noted that more than 74.3 million people have had COVID-19 in the United States, meaning that at least 22% of the population has had the virus.

"Clearly COVID is widespread throughout the U.S. and attempts to control its importation via air travel under today’s circumstances are unlikely to change that fact," it said.

If any new threatening variants appeared "pre-departure testing could be easily reinstituted," it added.

The European Union recommended countries remove intra-Europe COVID travel restrictions, the letter noted. Britain will end COVID predeparture testing for vaccinated air travelers to enter the country starting Feb. 11.

The groups said "travel and aviation’s recovery is dependent on the government taking steps to remove travel restrictions that are no longer justified by current circumstances."

Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Stephen Coates

FEBRUARY 04, 2022

(Bloomberg) -- Randy Thanthong-Knight is a reporter in Bloomberg’s Bangkok bureau

When Thailand shut its borders to foreign visitors in March 2020, the city that was once the world's most visited felt as if it had lost its soul almost overnight. Without tourists, Bangkok simply didn’t feel like Bangkok anymore. But after nearly two years, the capital is finally opening up to the world again.

On Feb. 1, Thailand’s border reopened to vaccinated travelers from every country as part of the government's shift from a Covid-zero approach to considering the virus endemic. Travelers will need only a negative PCR lab result before arrival and agree to two more PCR tests after landing—one upon entry and another on their fifth day in Thailand. And while this isn’t the first time travelers have been allowed back in, it marks a strong departure from previous attempts to restart tourism, which required travelers to jump through such substantial hoops as quarantining for seven to 14 days or being confined to an island for a period of a week or more after their arrival.

The Thai government expects as many as 15 million foreign visitors this year. That’s a far cry from the nearly 40 million who came in 2019, the year before the pandemic, but it’s a lot more than last year’s 428,000 arrivals.

Read more: The Best and Worst Places to Be as We Learn to Live With Covid

As it stands, Thailand has vaccinated 70% of its residents, with about 20% of its total population having already received third or fourth shots. Bangkok has relaxed its Covid-19 protocols so that people can once again eat in restaurants, see movies, or enjoy nightlife—though you still need to strictly follow mask mandates. There hasn’t been an omicron surge like those in the U.S. or Europe, and health officials say new infections are within manageable levels.Although Bangkok locals are getting back out and about, making the city feel alive again, visitors will still find a city that’s quieter—but just as energetic—than they remember. The crowds will return, so 2022 is the time to enjoy the city while it’s relatively empty and help business owners get back on their feet.

 

The Dining Scene

Bangkok is known for a food scene that ranges from pad thai, a cheap but beloved national dish peddled from street stalls, to high-end restaurants with elaborate tasting menus. Across the spectrum they’ve been starved for business, not just because of the absence of diners from abroad but because domestic patrons were kept away through months of lockdowns and harsh restrictions. Those have been lifted. In Bangkok, there's no longer a capacity limit for indoor dining, but temperature checks will be required and, in most places, staff is required to be vaccinated and undergo regular Covid tests.

Some famous spots such as Bo.lan—known for classic Thai dishes that used ingredients such as fermented fish or banana blossoms–have closed down. But many local favorites were able to endure, including the almost impossible-to-book Sorn (22-course southern Thai cuisine), Sühring (contemporary German and European fare in a 1970s villa), and Jay Fai (Michelin-starred street food, with every dish is made by Jay Fai herself).

With the loosening of restrictions on travel and businesses, chefs and restaurateurs are again investing in new businesses: Among the most-anticipated 2022 openings will be Maison Dunand, a fine-dining restaurant and contemporary bistro by French chef Arnaud Dunand Sauthier, formerly of Le Normandie at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. Scheduled to open this spring, it’s one of several restaurants that have chosen the Sathon area. Côte by Mauro Colagreco, which opened in Bangkok amid the pandemic, is located just off Sathon Road.

While plastic Covid partitions between spread-apart tables have disappeared in many cities, they can still be found in many Bangkok restaurants; outdoor dining is less common outside street stalls, given Bangkok’s heat. Famous vendors have taken a big hit but are bouncing back in some areas. The best neighborhood to walk around and sample options is Chinatown, where hundreds of vendors are all within walking distance and where food options range from Chinese and Thai food to seafood and desserts. 

Culture Makes a Comeback

With few remaining restrictions, navigating the next phase of the pandemic in Bangkok is a game of choose-your-own-adventure.

If you’re still Covid-weary: It may sound unconventional to recommend Bangkok’s most iconic sights—the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun—to visitors who want to avoid crowds, but they’re never been so empty. (Besides, you can fully experience these places without ever stepping indoors.) The Museum Siam (a permanent exhibit on different aspects of “being Thai”), Museum of Contemporary Art (an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures by Thai artists), and open-air museum Ancient Siam (a 300-acre park filled with replicas of Thailand’s famous landmarks) are also a good place to absorb Thai art and culture. End the day at the recently opened Benjakitti Forest Park to enjoy city views at sunset. Converted from the lands of tobacco factories in Central Bangkok, this 180-acre park features wetlands, walking and biking trails, and thousands of trees.

If you need a gentle reentry: The sprawling complex of Chatuchak Market—the world’s largest weekend market—is a good place to start, whether you're hunting for clothes made by local designers, souvenirs, home goods and furniture, street food, or other cheap and rare finds. (Among the objects that recently caught our fancy were fabric face masks made from colorful Thai silk and handmade sedge tote bags.) Just time your visit in the morning; the narrow, maze-like aisles can get crowded in the afternoon. Head over to SookSiam, an indoor, floating market at IconSiam, to escape the heat and grab some street food or local products.

If you want to pretend the pandemic never happened: Head to the city’s several night entertainment districts, such as Silom (popular among LGBTQ and gay-friendly crowds), Soi Sukhumwit 11 (popular among expats and foreign visitors), or Thonglor (popular among middle- and upper-class Thais). Officially, bars and nightclubs are still banned from operating, but many have skirted the rules by offering more fulsome menus and calling themselves restaurants, while still serving copious amounts of alcohol and hiring DJs to blast electronica. As a precaution, some of these establishments will hand out rapid antigen tests and require a negative result before you enter.

 

How to Get Around

Bangkok may not be particularly walkable, but that shouldn’t prevent you from exploring al fresco. Tuk-tuks are synonymous with the city, a cultural experience unto themselves; be sure to negotiate prices before jumping in as they don’t use meters. And the city’s colorful canals and rivers have boats that offer a good way to avoid rush hour traffic while taking in the views; some even run on electric batteries these days.

That said, taxis are often the quickest way to get from Point A to Point B. Download Grab, the local version of Uber, to hail them easily—and be sure to mask up; drivers are diligent about wearing face coverings and demanding that their patrons do the same, and some still use plastic barriers for the back seat. A further option: The newly-expanded rapid transit system now connects the city’s two main airports and runs past all of its key attractions, from the Old Town palaces and temples to the bustling business and nightlife districts. As with taxis, masks are required at all times and a temperature check is done at each station before you enter the system.

 

Covid Etiquette

When in Thailand, do as the Thais do: Wai is a Thai greeting whereby people put hands together at chest level and slightly bow their heads, and it’s a good way to minimize contact. Bangkok is a designated "blue province," along with many other popular tourist destinations such as Phuket and Chiang Mai. This means most restrictions have already been lifted to promote tourism activities. Still, masks are required at all times outside your place of residence. Fines for not wearing masks cost 20,000 baht (about $600). People here take mask wearing so seriously that TV news anchors wear them during live broadcasts.

FEBRUARY 04, 2022

LAGOS  – Air Peace has tendered apologies for its recent flight delays or cancellations, but the airline attributed these to safety issues. 

This is as the airline stated that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as the regulator of the industry was very much alive to its regulatory duties, which is very evident in the almost 10 years of accident free commercial scheduled operations in Nigeria. 

Air Peace in a statement signed by its management and made available to the media, said that no airline would deliberately delay or cancel flights and appealed to air travellers to take caution when flights are delayed or cancelled. 

The statement hinted that as a responsible business concern, and in line with business ethics, it would normally reach out to dissatisfied customers at any given time to placate them irrespective of whether it was at fault or not, stressing that such gestures were never an admission of any wrongdoing, but a recognition that one’s customers needed to be happy. 

The statement said: “We wish to reiterate our resolve to zero tolerance to unsafe operations. Air Peace will never succumb to deliberate negative commentaries, intimidation or blackmail, to fly when it is unsafe to do so and neither shall we, out of fear of negative publicity from anyone or quarter, take to the skies in order to look good when it is absolutely unsafe to do so. 

“Flights are delayed as a result of many factors beyond the control of the airline and this includes, but not limited to bad weather, sudden aircraft malfunctioning and others. 

“On the day in question, we had bad weather that led to diversion of flights and sudden aircraft breakdown during and in the middle of operations. We had flight delays in Sokoto, Akure, Ibadan and Kano occasioned by bad weather. These factors led to multiple delays and outright cancellations never wished by the Airline. It happens all over the world.” 

The airline insisted that it would never endanger the lives of its innocent passengers and staff by flying an aircraft that suddenly develops snags nor fly when the weather was adjudged unsafe just to avoid deliberate negative publicity. 

POLL

It declared that it would rather go out of business peacefully than to have blood in its hands and expressed regret for every inconvenience caused any of the passengers as a result of delayed operations. 

It reiterated that it is a responsible corporate citizen of Nigeria and the world at large and has consistently demonstrated its love for the country and humanity in very unprecedented ways to be described as a vicious operator’ as it was described by a passenger recently. 

FEBRUARY 04, 2022

BRUSSELS, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The European Commission proposed on Thursday a change to rules on COVID-19 certificates that would allow participants in vaccine trials to get a valid pass despite having received unapproved shots.

The move follows concerns raised by Germany's BioNTech (22UAy.DE) and Spain's Hipra about difficulties in enrolling volunteers for their COVID-19 vaccine trials because participants could face limitations to access public spaces and to travel.

The changes to the rules, which also extend by one year the validity of the EU COVID pass until the end of June 2023, will certify that EU countries can issue vaccination certificates to participants in trials. Some countries are already doing so.

The tweak however falls short of requiring EU countries to recognise these exceptional vaccine certificates when issued by other states in the bloc. As a result, when travelling across the 27-nation union, participants may be treated as not fully vaccinated and face restrictions.

A spokesman for the EU Commission said he expected EU countries will recognize the COVID passes issued to trial participants in other countries in the bloc.

The proposal must be adopted by EU lawmakers and governments.

COVID vaccination certificates are required in many EU countries to enter restaurants, gyms or cinemas. They are also necessary to travel across the bloc.

"A pharmaceutical company informed DE (Germany) that many participants would leave the clinical trial or refrain from participating because they would not be able to maintain their vaccination status with the not yet authorised specific booster dose," says an EU document with minutes of a meeting of EU health experts on Jan. 5.

An EU official said the company that raised concerns was BioNTech, which is conducting trials in Germany and other countries on a booster dose that would target the Alpha and Delta variants of the coronavirus.

BioNTech also launched last week with its U.S. partner Pfizer clinical trials for a vaccine adapted to Omicron. Those trials are taking place in the United States.

BioNTech said it would welcome changes allowing trial participants to have a valid COVID certificate.

Spanish drugmaker Hipra had raised similar concerns as BioNTech, a spokesperson said. The company plans to recruit 3,000 volunteers in Europe for the final phase of its clinical trials for a vaccine. read more

Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio Additional reporting by Patricia Weiss in Frankfurt and Joan Faus in Barcelona Editing by Frances Kerry