Travel News

The Lagos State government on Thursday said plans have reached an advanced stage to begin the construction of Badagry Seaport in the state.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the disclosure in Lagos at the All Markets Conference 2022 (AMC’22), organised by the Ndigboamaka Progressive (Markets) Association, whose theme was “Development and Sustainability of the Nation’s Economy”.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the new seaport would be sited in the Badagry area of the state to reduce congestion at the Apapa Seaport.

The governor noted that the state government had secured land for the project, but was only waiting for the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

He explained that the facilities at the Apapa Seaport are overstretched, while efforts to reduce the challenges at the port by the government had produced a little result.

Mr Sanwo-Olu promised that the construction of the new seaport at Lekki would be completed before the end of 2022.

”The government will start the construction of Badagry Port very soon. Apapa Port is overstretched and the capacity is becoming inadequate,” said the governor.

”For the Badagry Port, we have already secured a land and we are only waiting for the FEC approval to commence work.”

The governor gave an assurance that work would be completed on the Mile 2-Badagry road before the end of 2022.

Mr Sanwo-Olu advised traders to be extremely careful over fire disasters, especially during the dry season, stressing that fire outbreaks occur more between October and March of each year.

According to him, “it is during this season that we usually have incidents of fire outbreaks. Combustive items and materials should be avoided in and around markets at this time.”

Mr Sanwo-Olu, while commenting on the frequent building collapse in the state, urged residents to use quality and standard materials, and engage professionals for building jobs.

Earlier in his opening remark, Jude Okeke, the President, Ndigboamaka, appealed to the state government to carry along the traders in their policies and laws. (NAN)

… say aviation fuel now 700 naira per litre

...ask travellers to make alternative arrangements

By Lawani Mikairu

Nigerian airline operators have issued a notice that with effect from Monday, 9th May, they will shut down their operations due to the high cost of aviation fuel which has hit 700 naira per litre.

A statement issued and signed by all the airline operators yesterday advised the traveling public who intend to fly to make alternative arrangements to avoid being stranded at the country’s airports.

The statement read : ” It is with a great sense of responsibility and patriotism that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON)  have carried on deploying and subsidizing their services to our highly esteemed Nigerian flying public in the last four months despite the steady and astronomical hike in the price of JetA1 and other operating costs.”

“Overtime, aviation fuel price (JetA1) has risen from N190 per litre to N700 currently. No airline in the world can absorb this kind of sudden shock from such an astronomical rise over a short period. While aviation fuel worldwide is said to cost about 40% of an airline’s operating cost globally, the present hike has shut up Nigeria’s operating cost to about 95%. “.

” In the face of this, airlines have engaged the Federal Government, the National Assembly, NNPC and Oil Marketers with the view to bringing the cost of JetA1 down which has currently made the unit cost per seat for a one hour flight in Nigeria today to an average of N120,000. The latter cannot be fully passed to passengers who are already experiencing a lot of difficulties.”

“While AON appreciates the efforts of the current government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure air transport in Nigeria grows, unfortunately, the cost of aviation fuel has continued to rise unabated thereby creating huge pressure on the sustainability of operations and financial viability of the airlines. This is unsustainable and

the airlines can no longer absorb the pressure.”

“To this end therefore, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) hereby wishes to regrettably inform the general public that member airlines will discontinue operations nationwide with effect from Monday May 9, 2022 until further notice.”

“AON uses this medium to humbly state that we regret any inconveniences this very difficult decision might cause and

appeal to travelers to kindly reconsider their travel itinerary and make alternative arrangements”, Alhaji  Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, President, AON advised.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has announced the shutdown of operations, with effect from Monday, over the skyrocketing cost of Aviation fuel, which...

By  Abdullateef Aliyu

The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has announced the shutdown of operations, with effect from Monday, over the skyrocketing cost of Aviation fuel, which has reached an all-time high of N700 per litre.

The operators sympathised with the passengers, saying Jet A1 has shot up the cost of operations to over 95 percent.

The Operators stated this in a letter its President, Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, sent to the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

Sarina’s position was endorsed by the chief executives of all the domestic airlines.

The letter read: “It is with a great sense of responsibility and patriotism that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have carried on deploying and subsidizing their services to our highly esteemed Nigerian flying public in the last four months despite the steady and astronomical hike in the price of JetA1 and other operating costs.

“Overtime, aviation fuel price (JetA1) has risen from N190 per litre to N700 currently. No airline in the world can absorb this kind of sudden shock from such an astronomical rise over a short period.

“While aviation fuel worldwide is said to cost about 40% of an airline’s operating cost globally, the present hike has shut up Nigeria’s operating cost to about 95%.

“In the face of this, airlines have engaged the Federal Government, the National Assembly, NNPC and Oil Marketers with the view to bringing the cost of JetA1 down which has currently made the unit cost per seat for a one hour flight in Nigeria today to an average of N120,000.

“The latter cannot be fully passed to passengers who are already experiencing a lot of difficulties.

“While AON appreciates the efforts of the current government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure air transport in Nigeria grows, unfortunately, the cost of aviation fuel has continued to rise unabated thereby creating huge pressure on the sustainability of operations and financial viability of the airlines. This is unsustainable and the airlines can no longer absorb the pressure.

“To this end therefore, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) hereby wishes to regrettably inform the general public that member airlines will discontinue operations nationwide with effect from Monday May 9, 2022 until further notice.

“AON uses this medium to humbly state that we regret any inconveniences this very difficult decision might cause and appeal to travelers to kindly reconsider their travel itinerary and make alternative arrangements.”

Nigeria's airlines are to stop domestic operations from Monday in protest at the spiralling cost of jet fuel.

It has risen almost fourfold this year, which was unsustainable, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) said.

"No airline in the world can absorb this kind of sudden shock from such an astronomical rise over a short period," its statement said.

The hikes have been triggered principally by Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the end of February.

AON, which represents Nigeria's nine domestic carriers, said the airlines had been having to subsidise services over the last four months.

There have been many flight cancellations and delays since March, often blamed on a shortage of jet fuel. The price of tickets has also tripled on some routes in recent weeks.

Passengers in Nigeria pay for fares in naira, the local currency that has been devaluing. However, fuel suppliers need to be paid in US dollars.

Despite being Africa's largest oil producer, Nigeria imports almost all its jet fuel.

AON said that it had told the government, MPs, the state-owned oil company and the association representing fuel sellers that something needed to be done to bring costs down.

The hikes could not be fully passed on to passengers as they were "already experiencing a lot of difficulties", it said.

The government has not yet commented on the planned strike.

Kidnapping fears

AON said operations would cease indefinitely from Monday, apologised to customers and urged them to make alternative arrangements.

The manager of one of the airlines told the BBC the suspension would not affect international flights - though those with internal connections will be hit.

It will be a massive disruption for travellers in Nigeria and another blow for one of Africa's largest economies, reports the BBC's Ishaq Khalid from the capital, Abuja.

Flights are often the preferred option for travel these days for those who can afford it because of insecurity on roads across the country, he says.

Kidnapping gangs operate on highways, targeting vehicles and then abducting passengers who they hold for ransom.

There has been general outrage on social media after the announcement - with people bemoaning the state of the economy, and advising those that opt to travel by road to factor in ransom money.

Last month, a train was targeted on the high-speed link between Abuja and the city of Kaduna and at least 62 people are known to have been taken hostage.

According to security risk management firm Beacon Consulting, in the first three months of this year more than 3,500 people were killed and many more kidnapped by armed groups in Nigeria.

The Airline Operators of Nigeria says aviation fuel price had risen from N190 per litre to N700 currently.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has pleaded with Nigerian airlines to suspend their planned shutdown of operations from Monday over the increase of cost of aviation fuel from N190 to N700 per litre.

Mr Sirika made the appeal in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Affairs, James Odaudu, on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerian airlines, under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), on Friday announced plans to shut down operations from Monday due to the high cost of aviation fuel.

The minister urged the airlines to consider the multiplier effect shutting down operations would have on Nigerians and global travellers.

He said: “The attention of the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has been drawn to reports that the nation’s air transportation system will be disrupted as from Monday.

“This follows the threats by airline operators to shut down operations as a result of rising cost of Jet A1, otherwise known as aviation fuel.

“As the ministry charged with the industry, we are greatly concerned about the difficulties being faced by the airlines in procuring aviation fuel which has resulted in spiraling costs in air transportation in the immediate past.

“We also acknowledge that the airlines are in the business to make profits, while servicing the very critical sector that is not only the preferred mode of transport for most Nigerians, but the main international gateway to the nation.

“Unfortunately, the issue of fuel supply is not within the purview of the ministry, so the much it can do in the present situation is to engage with agencies, institutions and individuals in positions.

“This is to provide succour to the airlines. This is already being done by the relevant team led by the minister.”

Also, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has appealed to airlines to shelve the proposed service shutdown, considering the effect on passengers and hardship associated with the action.

Babatunde Irukera, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

Mr Irukera said the commission was engaging both operators and major fuel marketers in a discussion to understand the global supply challenges and possible steps to ameliorate same.

Mr Irukera, however, expressed concerns that airlines had continued to sell tickets beyond May 9, the date for the proposed service shutdown.

According to him, if the airlines have decided and are resolute, it will be exploitation of consumers and a violation of law to purport to sell a service that the provider knows will not or does not intend to provide or deliver.

”It is misleading and deceptive under Section 123 of the FCCPA to represent that a service will be delivered on a certain date when the provider knows the same is false or improbable,” he said.

”If a service provider is unable to provide a service on account of its own decision, not a countervailing circumstance, the obligation for a refund is sacrosanct.

”The commission is optimistic that airline operators will not deliberately sell tickets for flights they do not intend to operate and is as such, hopeful that a solution short of a shutdown will emerge accordingly.

”The commission strongly advocates engagement among all stakeholders across the value chain to mitigate the current constraints and develop an acceptable interim arrangement. ”This is to address problems and costs associated with global supply constraints on account of a war, sanctions associated with the war, and a fragile ongoing post pandemic recovery in aviation,” he said.

Mr Irukera said that the commission would continue to monitor the sensitive and evolving situation and remained committed to supporting engagements to provide solutions and stability. (NAN)

BY  Gbenga Oloniniran

Following the exclusion of Nigerian graduates from a new United Kingdom visa- High Potential Individual Visa, reactions have trailed the development, with many linking the cause to the persistent school closures, especially the strike actions of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The PUNCH had reported on Friday that a  new UK visa excluded Nigerian university graduates from applying for the scholarship based on the requirement that graduates applying must be from any of the universities in the top 50 global rankings.

The PUNCH gathered reactions from some stakeholders in Nigerian universities.

The Chairman of ASUU, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife branch, Dr. Adeola Egbedokun, noted that Nigerian degrees were not inferior to those of counterparts abroad, adding that lecturers in Nigeria were equally qualified to teach outside the country.

However, he said, “Nevertheless, the difference is in the process and facilities with which teaching and learning are done and this is the matter ASUU has been pursuing for decades. Because facilities are not readily available in our universities, infrastructures are not maintained among many other challenges, whereas the ranking of universities is dependent on such criteria and many others.

“The incessant strikes, foisted on ASUU by the government, have always resulted in unstable calendars, calling to question the duration of degree programmes in Nigeria.”

“If the government had not been paying lip service to the demands of ASUU over the years, we would not have experienced the rots we have in the universities and such UK authorities wouldn’t have exempted our graduates,” Egbedokun told The PUNCH.

He urged that the Nigerian government should urgently listen to the demands of ASUU, adding that the “deafness of Nigerian government is really hampering the chances of our graduates abroad. ”

• It is an interplay between mischief and reality- UNILAG don

A Research Associate Professor of Governance and Politics at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Kayode Eesuola, in his reaction, said, “the UK has the statistics of Nigerian universities’ graduates that drive the country’s economy in professions ranging from Medicine to Engineering and IT. The statistics will hardly support or warrant such discrimination. That’s the mischief part.

“The reality part is that one cannot deny that Nigerian universities are underfunded and underequipped in material and human resources, consequences of which are the incessant ASUU strikes the country currently faces. Apparently, the students become the victims as they lack concentration and state-of-the-art training in comparison to their peers elsewhere. Their finishing qualities will be affected,” Eesuola said.

Speaking further, he noted that it wasn’t given that the training grounds determined the quality of graduates, adding that the United States had “some of the best football and athletics training institutions and equipment in the world, but the best marathoners and footballers come from other countries.” He added that this was evident in the Nigerians that were doing well in their careers abroad.

He concluded that the Nigerian government should “understand and appreciate the wider implications of ASUU’s struggle for the revitalisation of education in Nigeria, for only that will improve the rating (not necessarily quality) of our graduates globally.”

• Lecturers sponsor researches with their salaries – OAU don

A lecturer who deals with Hydrology and Geographic Information System at the Department of Geography in OAU, Dr. Bayo Eludoyin, on his part, noted that lecturers now sponsored researches with their salaries while students lacked grants for their researches too.

“I do not find the decision to be a surprising one. We definitely are not in the first 50. I am not sure that any university in Nigeria is in the top 800 or 1000, depending on whose ranking we use.”

Speaking further, he said, “Nigerian public university system has a long way to go before they can rank even in 500th position. Forget the so-called ABUAD or Covenant University’s ranking but ask about the basis for the ranking. Is it on students’ satisfaction, research output, or specific programmes? The basis differs and the ranking is specific. Nonetheless, I think there are lots of things that are wrong with the administration of teaching and learning in Nigerian public universities, and many private universities may do better in some of these areas, including some selective facilities and lecturer-student relationships.

Dr. Eludoyin urged for autonomy in public universities to allow competitiveness, adding that most successful universities abroad were autonomous.

A Masters graduate of OAU, Ogumah Andrew Segun, said that the quality of teaching in public universities should not make anyone argue over the criteria of the UK.

“I do think that we can’t blame the UK for her criteria for admission into their country particularly on certificate or qualifications. I think we should blame ourselves for the poor level of attention we give to education in our country.

“Today, practically no federal university in the country has a functional laboratory. Part of what the ASUU is fighting for is the revitalisation fund to improve the facilities on our campuses. Why are we not going to be in the lowest ranking level when today the endowment for the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, alone, is more than the entire Nigeria budget in the last five years!” Ogumah said.

“What is the quality of the teaching in our public universities that we want to argue that we should be included?” He asked.

Another student activist at the University of Lagos, Adeyeye Olorunfemi, said, “The blame for this debacle must be dumped at the doorstep of the government.  The question is why don’t we rank well globally?

“I disagree with some who say that our lecturers can’t deliver quality, that’s why the UK wouldn’t be issuing visas to Nigerian graduates. Many of our lecturers also lecture abroad and their expertise is not in doubt.”

“In practical terms, how do you come out as a proper learned person when you spend one month in class and the next three months at home or on the streets due to incessant ASUU strikes?

“How will such an arrangement rank well globally? It’s not possible,” Adeyeye added.

BY  Sodiq Oyeleke

Nigeria’s former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has faulted the response given by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over calls for his resignation.

Many Nigerians, including the former education minister, had asked Emefiele to resign his position as CBN governor or be sacked by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), over his presidential ambition.

There had been reports that the All Progressives Congress Expression of Interest and Nomination forms were purchased for Emefiele to contest the 2023 presidential election by his supporters.

A coalition comprising Rice Farmers Association, Emefiele Support Group and Friends of Godwin on Friday reportedly obtained the forms for him.

The CBN governor earlier denied having an interest in the presidential race but made a U-turn on Saturday.

In his response to the public outcry that greeted his purchase of nomination forms, Emefiele said he would decide on whether to contest or not in a few weeks.

Ezekwesili asked the CBN governor to stop embarrassing Nigeria by resigning his position.

She said this in a series of tweets on Saturday.

She posted, "I just read your waffling neither here nor there tweet reacting to news of your payment of N100M for the APC Nomination form for 2023 Presidential election. Seems you

did  not read what the APC Spokes person said to @Bloomberg. Resign. Stop embarrassing the country. Stop.  this is for you. Time to end your low grade hide and seek game that

 dangerously toys with the monetary authority of this country and its people. Resign.

“It is legitimate aspiration to seek to be President of Nigeria but resign from cenbank to go pursue it.”

Reacting through his verified twitter handle, Emefiele said that, should he decide to contest for the political office, he would prefer to use his personal resources.

He said, “I am humbled by the growing interest of those asking that I run for the office of president in the 2023 general elections: I have not come to that decision.

“I note and salute the sacrifices of those farmers and patriots going as far as raising personal funds and offering me presidential nomination forms: I thank them most profusely.

”However, should I answer their calls and decide to seek presidential nomination, I will use my own hard earned savings to buy my own nomination forms.

“I will do so without proxies, in an open and transparent manner in full compliance with the laws and Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

He said that he would continue to serve the country in his capacity as CBN governor until he received divine counsel to contest for a higher office.

“I will continue to serve and sacrifice for the good people of Nigeria under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“This is a serious decision that requires God’s Divine intervention: in the next few days The Almighty will so direct,” he said.

By  Chris Agabi

Helicopter operators in Nigeria will from May 9, 2022 be required to pay higher landing charges.

>span class="s1">It is not immediately clear how much the new landing charges would be as the concessionaire declined to provide specifics on the charges.

However, stakeholders and Helicopter Services Operators in Nigeria, had in February 2022 at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, engaged with the management of Naebi Dynamic Concepts Limited, the concessionaire empowered by the Federal Government of Nigeria, to collect helicopter landing charges as well as monitoring and surveillance of helicopter movements in Nigeria.

The Managing Director/CEO, Naed Dynamic Concepts Limited, Mr Stanley Chike, said the stakeholders and helicopter operators were briefed on the concessionaire’s mandate and informed of the statutory landing fees to be charged.

He said the collection of helicopter landing charges will begin on May 9, 2022.

He explained that the helicopter services are adding to the existing charge and collection is starting nationwide simultaneously.

He noted that 90 days’ notice was given after inauguration by the representative of the SGF and minister of aviation on February 4, 2022 and collection starts by May 2022.

He also said when the concession commences, they will monitor all helicopter movements in Nigeria. “We are building a state of the art control room to monitor all helicopter movements and give this information to the government promptly.

Gone are the days when unauthorised and illegal movements of helicopters will go unnoticed” he said.

BY   Idowu Abdullahi

Airline operators in the country on Sunday said they would not continue with the planned suspension of flight operations as earlier announced.

The body clarified that their decision followed intervention by the government with promises to dialogue with operators in seeking lasting solutions to the astronomic rise in the price of aviation fuel.

The operators’ position was contained in a statement on Sunday jointly signed by its President, Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, and other members.

Others who signed the statement include the Executive Director, Max Air, Alhaji Shehu Wada; the Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo; the CEO, Arik Air, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu; the CEO, Aero Contractors, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood; the MD, Azman Air, Faisal Abdulmunaf, and Chairman, Air Peace, Barr. Allen Onyema.

The statement read, “The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) wishes to inform the general public that further to numerous calls from the highest echelons in government with promises to urgently intervene in the crises being faced by airlines due to the astronomic and continuously rising cost of JetA1, that the AON has acceded to requests to withdraw the action for the time being while we allow for a fresh round of dialogue with the government in the hope of reaching an amicable solution.

“We have also reached this decision with the highest consideration for our esteemed customers who have been faced with uncertainty over the last few days and to enable them to have access to travel to their various destinations for the time being during the period of discussions with relevant authorities.

“In view of the above and in the interest of national economy and security considerations, AON hereby wishes to notify the general public that the earlier announced shutdown of operations on May 9, 2022 is hereby suspended in good fate pending the outcome of hopefully fruitful engagement with government.”

(Bloomberg) -- Nigeria will become the first nation to ground flights on Monday as surging prices for aviation fuel make business unprofitable.

Airline operators “will discontinue operations nationwide” until further notice, their union said in a statement. It’s the latest sign of the widespread impact that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is having.

The war has caused massive disruption to energy markets with Russian feedstocks used to produce jet fuel and diesel becoming untouchable for many parts of the world. China has also cut its oil product export quota, limiting supplies. The loss of 3.2 million barrels a day of refining capacity in the pandemic years also doesn’t help.

Nigeria’s 23 airlines say they have been “subsidizing” flights for the past four months and can no longer absorb the costs after the price of aviation fuel more than tripled to 700 naira ($1.68) per liter. 

Jet fuel makes up a significant proportion of input costs for airlines. Any change in expenses can drive up ticket prices that could put travelers off, especially in price-sensitive markets.

“Many of the airlines are running at a loss already,” said Victor Enwezor, vice president operations at Lagos-based tour operator Leisure Afrique “Any further price hike will kill their business,” he said by phone.

This summer, global jet fuel demand is set to rise by more than a third as air-travel ramps up, surpassing six million barrels a day, according to the latest forecast from BloombergNEF.

Grounding flights may hurt Africa’s biggest economy, where the International Monetary Fund already forecasts growth will slow this year and next.

It’s not clear what the solution is. In March, following meetings with the government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Co. agreed to grant licenses to airlines to import fuel to boost supply and possibly bring down costs.

That hasn’t changed the situation. High Jet-A1 prices have pushed up the unit cost per seat for a one-hour flight in the West African nation to an average of 120,000 naira, 71% higher than the cheapest option, the union said. Many operators are caught in a bind: increasing prices too much will cut customer numbers and still won’t cover costs.

“Cost of aviation fuel has continued to rise unabated, thereby creating huge pressure on the sustainability of operations and financial viability of the airlines,” the union said. “The airlines can no longer absorb the pressure.”