Travel News

BY DR. OMAR MEMON

The airline will operate twice daily flights to Accra using the Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft.

•  Ibom Air is set to launch international services between Nigeria and Ghana on October 17, connecting Lagos and Accra with twice-daily flights using the Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft.
•  The airline aims to provide greater flexibility to both business and leisure travelers, highlighting the vibrant markets, live music, historical sites, and beautiful beaches of Accra.
•  Initially, the CRJ900LR aircraft will be used, but it will be replaced with the larger Airbus A220 when demand grows beyond the capacity of the CRJ900.

Flight Schedule

The airline will initially deploy its CRJ900LR aircraft on the route until the demand picks up. The aircraft will be replaced with a larger Airbus A220 at a later time. The Chief Commercial Officer of Ibom Air, George Uriesi, told ch-aviation.com that the carrier will replace the aircraft type with the latest Airbus A220s when the traffic grows beyond the CRJ900 aircraft.

The airline offers the following schedule on its international debut to Accra. The flight schedule is effective from October 17. All times are local.

Lagos (LOS) to Accra (ACC)

• Depart 07:00, Arrive 07:00 Monday through Friday
• Depart 08:00, Arrive 08:00 Saturday and Sunday
• Depart 16:30, Arrive 16:30 Everyday

Accra (ACC) to Lagos (LOS)

• Depart 08:00, Arrive 10:00 Monday through Friday
• Depart 09:00, Arrive 11:00 Saturday and Sunday
• Depart 17:30, Arrive 19:30 Everyday

The Premium Diamond fare starts at approximately NGN 140,000 ($174) each way. Aerolineas Sosa (P4) and Africa World (AW) currently operate scheduled services between the two cities.

About Ibom Air

BY  Krystal Chia, Bloomberg News

(Bloomberg) -- An ultra-luxury residence in Hong Kong has been rented out for HK$1.1 million ($140,500) a month, a sign that some high-end transactions are still happening in the city during a broader property downturn. 

The unit leased at No. 11 Plantation Road is about 11,000 square feet (1,000 square meters), according to a person with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be named discussing private information. The property is owned by Wharf Holdings Ltd. 

While the price is lower than the record-breaking HK$1.35 million that the unit was previously rented for in 2021, it still ranks among the most expensive rental homes in one of the priciest property markets worldwide.

Read more: Hong Kong Luxury House Sets Record With $2.5 Million Yearly Rent

A representative for Wharf Holdings wasn’t immediately able to comment.

Hong Kong’s residential property market is in a prolonged downturn as high interest rates and macroeconomic woes deter buyers. The luxury segment has also suffered, with some owners of high-end properties having to sell at a steep discount compared with pre-pandemic times. 

There are bright spots, however, as some buyers take advantage of the repricing of assets and the benefits of diversification, according to the Knight Frank global super-prime intelligence report published last month.

“With greater travel expected in the remainder of the year, there is potential for increased demand from Chinese mainland buyers for luxury residential properties,” said Ho-Pin Tung, head of Knight Frank’s private office in Hong Kong. “However, the main constraint lies in the limited supply of best-in-class super-prime homes.” 

By Olusegun Koiki 

LAGOS – Following a record-setting sum­mer across the Atlantic, Delta Air Lines is made changes to its flight schedule between Lagos and Atlanta, effective October 4, 2023, in readiness for the hol­iday season.

A statement by the media consultant to the airline in Nigeria, said that Delta’s new flight schedule offers custom­ers an early afternoon depar­ture from Lagos at 1:00pm ar­riving into Atlanta at 8:55pm on the same day.

The return flight departs At­lanta at 6:15pm and arrives into Lagos at 11:00 am the following morning.

Delta’s flights between Lagos and Atlanta, the world’s leading airport, operate daily and of­fer customers over 200 onward connections across the U.S. and beyond.

“Nigeria is a key destination for Delta and, with strong cus­tomer demand between Lagos and Atlanta, we are delighted offer more seats and a newly timed schedule between Lagos and the United States this up­coming holiday season,” said Jimmy Eichelgruen, Delta’s Regional Sales Manager Africa.

“Lagos is a key destination for Delta and its leading hub in Atlanta is the world’s leading hub and gateway to the Ameri­cas,” he added.

Deltas will upgauge its air­craft on the Lagos to Atlanta route over the Christmas and New Year period operating an Airbus A350-900 to support ad­ditional holiday traffic.

Travelers between December 16, 2023 to January 14, 2024 will have the opportunity to expe­rience the A350-900 offering an additional 166 daily seats be­tween the two countries.

The Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has expressed readiness to organise a hitch-free hajj pilgrimage to MECCA and Medinnah for the year, as the Muslim Umar were preparing to perform the 2024 Hajj rites. 

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Alh. Salau Babatunde, who dropped this hint in Abeokuta, disclosed that 1, 191 hajj seats had been allocated to the state by NAHCON for 2024 Hajj and will be distributed on a first come first served basis. 

Babatunde, in a statement signed by Mrs. Lateefat Ayoola, the press officer, OGSMPWB, said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced four million five hundred thousand naira (4,500,000.00) as the initial hajj deposit pending the announcement of the final fare. 

He further stated that the initial hajj deposit will be paid through bank draft, or by paying directly through bank tellers obtainable at the board into designated bank accounts, while those that had made some deposits during 2023 hajj are advised to top it up to meet current initial hajj deposit. 

While assuring that all hands are on the desk to ensure a hitch-free Hajj exercise, Alhaji Babatunde noted that the State government is ready as usual to make the spiritual journey a memorable and fulfilling exercise. 

He, however, urged intending pilgrims to fast-track payment of the initial hajj deposit as the old way of processing visas has changed, informing that visa issuance will be concluded at least 50 days before Arafat by Saudi Arabia. 

Babatunde advised the intending pilgrims to visit the Board’s Office located at New Secretariat Complex, Block ‘B’, Governor’s Office, Oke- Mosan, Abeokuta for further enquiries. 

By Grace Edema

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said Nigerians will have their passport delivered to their homes, offices, and other locations of their choice from February 2024.

Speaking on Monday at the opening ceremony of the International Week of the University Of Lagos, titled, ‘Breaking the Borders of Partnership,’ Tunji-Ojo said that by January next year, Nigerians would be able to complete the application process online.

He said, “We have commenced the automation of our end-to-end passport application process, and we have given a timeline from which Nigerians will begin to experience the “sweet experience.”

“By implication, Nigerians will not need to wait longer than two weeks before they get their passport. By January next year, Nigerians will be able to complete this application process online, and by February next year, with collaboration and partnership with other relevant stakeholders, Nigerians will have their passports delivered to their homes, offices, and other locations of their choice.

“This, of course, would be extended to our visa application process. We are deploying technology throughout the entire process to make it as seamless as possible. To achieve this, we have set everything into motion to open 12 more visa application centres across the world. In this regard, we are also working on strengthening our visa-on-arrival policy. We are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enforce the principle of reciprocity, and a committee has been set up in the ministry to achieve this.”

He lamented that there was a duplication of registration of identity numbers country including the BVN in the bank, the international passport, the NIN, and SIM card registration by telecos.

Tunji-Ojo revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had given the directive for the harmonisation of the various identity numbers in the country.

He added that the integrity of travel documents would be restored through the harmonisation of data.

“Identity is who we are, what we are, and what we live for. But today, what we have is a duplication of our registration. We have the BVN in the bank, the international passport, the NIN, SIM card registration by telecos, and so on, all of which request your data. The integrity of our travel documents must be restored through the harmonisation of our data.

“We have the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, to harmonise the country’s database. When we harmonise our data, there will be an exchange amongst agencies such that when our people need data for passport and visa applications, or BVN, with their NIN, their data can be pulled out. This will not only save us stress, cost, and energy but also help us optimise our processes and the country’s security architecture.”

By Afeez Hanafi

The Lagos State Government has suspended airlifting of the second batch of intending pilgrims to Israel due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

Some Christians from the state had gone for pilgrimage in Jerusalem and another set of pilgrims were scheduled to be airlifted to Israel on Tuesday, October 10.

Over 1,000 people have been killed on both sides after Hamas’ Saturday attack and a reprisal by the Israeli forces.

The Board Secretary of the Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board (LSCPWB), Mrs. Florence Gbafe, announced the suspension in a statement on Monday, saying that the decision was as a result of keen observation of security situations in Israel.

According to her, the LSCPWB and the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) will announce a new date for the airlifting of the second batch of the intending pilgrims in due course.

She said the board regreted any inconvenience the suspension might cause, adding that the intending pilgrims would be duly informed of developments about their journey to the Holy Land.

She said, “To all on the second batch of pilgrimage to Israel, kindly note that the pilgrimage is now on hold due to the war situation in Israel. Further information will be communicated as and when due please.”

The executive secretary maintained that the Lagos State Government and the federal government would continue to prioritize the safety of all pilgrims to the holy land and will not expose Nigerians to any situation that will put their security at risk.

She thanked God for the safety of the first batch of pilgrims from Lagos State who had already concluded their pilgrimage activities on Sunday, revealing that the pilgrims were expected to arrive in Nigeria later today (Monday).

The Acting Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Caroline Adepoju, has directed an investigation into some complaints of alleged misconduct against officers of the service in some passport offices across the country.

This is contained in a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer, Dr Adedotun Aridegbe, on Saturday in Abuja.

Adepoju, who expressed concern about the situation, directed an immediate investigation into the matter, especially regarding the noncompliance with ministerial directives on the timeline of passport administration.

She said, “Following the complete clearance of passport application backlogs nationwide in line with the directive of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, a new timeline of two weeks for processing and issuance of passports was announced by the minister on Oct. 4.

“The minister and the NIS provided different phone numbers to the general public to report misdemeanours by NIS personnel at any of the NIS offices.

“The service has, on a daily basis, monitored the compliance level at all passport offices nationwide and at our missions abroad.

“We receive daily reports on the production and issuance of passports from all Passport Control Officers.

“As of today, most of our passport offices are producing passports of applicants enrolled on Wednesday, Oct. 11.”

Adepoju, however, explained that applications for re-issuance of lost passports and change of data took a longer time.

She added that some applicants in this category might put the service in a bad light when they complained of delay and noncompliance with the new timeline.

“These applications are required to go through security clearance and correspondence with Service Headquarters before approval for production,” she said.

The NIS boss appealed to members of the public to contact the service through its various public communication channels, including Twitter and Facebook handles (@nigimmigration) and contact centre on 09121900655, 09121556359 and 09121477092 to report any form of misconduct by any member of the workforce, for appropriate sanctions. (NAN)

BY Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Caroline Adepoju, has said that not all types of passport issuance have a timeline of two weeks.

Adepoju, in a press statement signed by the spokesman of the service, Aridegbe Adedotun at the weekend, said the service “has received with deep concern, some complaints of misconduct levelled against our personnel in some Passport offices across the nation.”

The statement read: “The Comptroller General has ordered an investigation into the matter, especially in regards to the noncompliance with Ministerial directives on the timeline of Passport administration.

“Following the complete clearance of Passport application backlogs nationwide in line with the directive of the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, a new timeline of two weeks for processing and issuance of Passport was announced by the minister on the 4th of October, 2023. The honourable minister and the Acting CGI provided different phone numbers to the general public to report misdemeanors by NIS personnel at any of our offices.

“The service has, on a daily basis, monitored the compliance level at all Passport offices nationwide and at our missions abroad. We receive daily reports on production and issuance of Passports from all Passport Control Officers. As at today, Friday, October 13, 2023, most of our passport offices are producing Passports of applicants enrolled on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.

“The service wishes to use this opportunity to enlighten the general public that applications for reissuance of lost Passport and change of data takes a longer time. Some applicants in this category may put the Service in bad light when they complain of delay and noncompliance with the new timeline. These applications are required to go through security clearance and correspondence with Service Headquarters before approval for production.”

BY  Antony Sguazzin, Bloomberg News

Pedestrians pass stores in the Randburg Central Business District of Johannesburg, South Africa, on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. South Africa’s National Treasury warned other government departments that it is confronting significant budgetary challenges and spending needs to be reined in if it is to meet its debt-stabilization targets. , Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- South Africa took a key step toward fixing its broken work-permit application regime, which the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa has identified as a key impediment to growth. 

Companies that want to secure work permits for senior executives and technicians have been invited by the Department of Home Affairs to take part in a pilot of a Trusted Employer Scheme, it said in a government notice this week. 

Businesses that want to take advantage of the program, which is designed to dismantle the byzantine application process, will need to demonstrate that they run training programs for South Africans, the department said. Participants in the program will see their applications given higher priority and there will be fewer requirements and a reduced number of supporting documents.

Companies operating in South Africa struggle to find skilled workers, a result of a dysfunctional education system exacerbated by emigration. Still, between 2014 and 2021 only 25,298 skilled work permit visas were approved, according to a report prepared for the presidency earlier this year. 

While processing a work visa in South Africa can take 48 weeks or more, the process in Kenya is a maximum of 12 weeks and just eight weeks in Nigeria, according to the report.

By Wole Oyebade

Operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal II (MMA2) facility, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, has raised user-fees of car park and in-terminal lounge services by about 33 per cent.

By the increment, which takes effect November 1, 2023, users will now pay between N500 and N5000, depending on the duration of stay. The new tariff is coming about three months after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) raised Lagos Airport access toll fees by 50 per cent.

BASL, yesterday, said the tariff review was considering the new economic reality, adding that the decision had long been held down in economic solidarity with the airport terminal users.

By the tariff adjustments, a first 30-minute stay at the MMA2 car park will now attract N500, which erstwhile covered the first one-hour. The first 90-minute will now attract N1000. Subsequent 30-minute will attract N100 (till fourth hour).

Overnight parking that erstwhile cost N3, 500 has been increased to N5, 000. Large buses of 18-seater and above will also attract N5, 000. The same rate applies to lost or damaged ticket penalty.

Head of Spaces and Premises for BASL, Kola Bamigboye, stated that the car park tariffs had been revised to align with ongoing efforts to maintain and upgrade the facilities, ensuring a safe and convenient parking experience for passengers.

According to Bamigboye, the new car park tariff structure would take into cognizance car park users, who spend less than 30 minutes within the Multi-storey Car Park facility, thereby making it more convenient for users.

For the lounge access fee, Esther Ojeiwa, Supervisor-In-Charge of Lounge Services at MMA2, said in order to maintain top-notch services at the lounge, it became necessary to upwardly review the access fee to the VIP walk-in lounge by 33.3 per cent.

Ojeiwa stated that the MMA2 VIP walk-in lounge is accessible to travellers seeking comfort and convenience, as it provides a serene environment to relax and unwind before boarding and takeoff of scheduled flights.

“To further enhance the lounge experience, we have updated our lounge tariffs, offering even greater value for your money,” she added. Ajoke Yinka-Olawuyi assured the public that these changes are essential to support ongoing improvements to the facilities, services, and overall passenger experience at MMA2.