Travel News
Immigration increases Passport Fees - DAILY TRUST
The Federal Government has approved an upward review of the fees for the Nigerian passport effective from September 1, 2025.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the spokesman for the Nigeria Immigration Service, A.S Akinlabi.
He said the increment aims to ensure the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport set to take effect from September.
“The review which only affect Passport Application fees made in Nigeria, now set a new fee thresholds for 32-page with 5-year validity at N100,000 and 64-page with 10-year validity at N200,000.
“Meanwhile, Nigerian Passport Application fees made by Nigerians in diaspora remain unchanged at $150 for 32-page with 5-year validity and $230 for 64-page with 10-year validity”, he said
The Service reiterates its commitment to balancing quality service delivery with the need to ensure Passport services are accessible to all Nigerians.
Days after BASA agreement, Air Peace operates direct flight to Brazil - DAILY TRUST
By Abdullateef Aliyu
Days after Nigeria and Brazil signed a bilateral air service agreement (BASA) for direct flights between both countries, Nigeria’s biggest carrier, Air Peace, has operated the first direct flight to the Latin American country.
It would be recalled that the agreement was signed on Monday when President Bola Tinubu visited his Brazilian counterpart President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing the BASA between Nigeria and Brazil was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, alongside Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, in the presence of both Heads of State.
Following the agreement, Air Peace deployed its wide-bodied Boeing 777 aircraft to Brazil, bringing back many Nigerians including members of the President’s delegation to Brazil.
The aircraft touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos around 3:30 pm.
On board the inaugural flight were the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN; Minister of Trade and Investment, Mrs. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; Minister of Defence Alh. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.
Others were Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Director General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Presidential Media Aides, Sunday Dare and Abdulaziz Abdulaziz; Chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, among others.
Keyamo who spoke with newsmen, stated that connecting Brazil, the biggest economy in South America, with Nigeria, also considered as one of the biggest economies in Africa, is strategic for both countries.
He pointed out that trade between both countries plummeted from $10 billion to $2 billion, in 10 years due to little or no connectivity.
But with the flights, he is confident that the trade relations will pick up again, adding, “And key to this, key to the achievement of all the agreements we signed, is the connectivity between both countries.”
He stated that most of them on the flight would not have arrived yesterday without a direct flight facilitated by Air Peace.
“So what you are seeing today is the first fruit (of the BASA). We are bringing back an actual fulfillment, an actual gain of that business, which is the first major flight between Brazil and Nigeria. So it is not an audio agreement.
Some people would have gone to the Middle East, to either Doha or Dubai. Many would have gone to Europe to try to connect. Whereas all we did was to cross the Atlantic,” he said.
Air Peace Chairman disclosed that the airline would commence a scheduled flight between both countries by the last quarter of the year.
He stated that the airline has commenced discussions with domestic airlines in Brazil to have an interline arrangement as the carrier commences direct flight to the South American country.
Onyema stated that the airline would also connect other South American countries, disclosing that he is already in discussion with Columbia.
He said, “First of all, I thank God Almighty for this day because it has been long overdue. Like the Minister of Aviation said, connectivity is the key to everything. Our dear President signed several MoUs with Brazil. He has just opened this country.
“He is creating Nigeria for the future of everyone. And you might not know the opportunities that are embedded in all the MOUs he signed until they are being implemented. It is huge. But what we did today is symbolic and at the same time real.”
African airlines’ cargo demand jumps 9.4% – IATA - PUNCH
By Justice Okamgba
African airlines are flying more goods than ever, with cargo demand rising 9.4 per cent in July compared to the same month last year, the International Air Transport Association said in an email on Friday.
The figure is almost double the global average of 5.5 per cent, showing the continent’s growing role in global trade. But while demand surged, capacity, which is the amount of space available to carry goods, slipped slightly by 0.1 per cent, highlighting the pressure on African carriers to keep up with rising volumes.
IATA Director-General Willie Walsh said Africa continues to show strong momentum in air cargo, driven by resilient regional trade and increasing connectivity with key markets. “The 9.4 per cent rise in demand, even with capacity contracting slightly, highlights the continent’s growing role in global cargo flows,” he said in the monthly newsletter seen by Saturday PUNCH.
Globally, air cargo demand grew by 5.5 per cent in July compared with the same month in 2024, with international operations up 6.0 per cent. Capacity rose by 3.9 per cent year-on-year, led by a 4.5 per cent increase for international operations.
Performance, however, varied across regions. Asia-Pacific airlines reported the strongest growth, up 11.1 per cent, supported by continued expansion on the Europe–Asia trade lane, which recorded 13.5 per cent growth and marked its 29th consecutive month of expansion.
North American carriers posted the weakest performance, with demand growing only 0.7 per cent while capacity fell 0.6 per cent. European carriers saw a 4.1 per cent increase in demand, Middle Eastern carriers rose 2.6 per cent, and Latin American airlines grew 2.4 per cent.
IATA noted that global trade conditions shaped July’s performance. The global goods trade grew by 3.1 per cent year-on-year in June, offering a supportive backdrop. Jet fuel prices were also 9.1 per cent lower year-on-year in July, easing operating costs for airlines, although they rose 4.3 per cent compared with June.
Meanwhile, global manufacturing contracted during the month, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index dipping to 49.66, below the 50-mark threshold that signals expansion. New export orders remained subdued at 48.2, reflecting declining business confidence amid ongoing US trade policy changes.
Walsh said shifting US trade measures, particularly the expiry of de minimis exemptions on small shipments and rising import tariffs, are expected to weigh on North America-bound cargo. “While much attention is on US-related trade lanes, it is important to keep perspective. Africa and Asia are demonstrating resilience, and Europe–Asia remains a powerhouse for global cargo,” he said.
Days after BASA agreement, Air Peace operates direct flight to Brazil - DAILY TRUST
By Abdullateef Aliyu
Days after Nigeria and Brazil signed a bilateral air service agreement (BASA) for direct flights between both countries, Nigeria’s biggest carrier, Air Peace, has operated the first direct flight to the Latin American country.
It would be recalled that the agreement was signed on Monday when President Bola Tinubu visited his Brazilian counterpart President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing the BASA between Nigeria and Brazil was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN, alongside Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, in the presence of both Heads of State.
Following the agreement, Air Peace deployed its wide-bodied Boeing 777 aircraft to Brazil, bringing back many Nigerians including members of the President’s delegation to Brazil.
The aircraft touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos around 3:30 pm.
On board the inaugural flight were the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN; Minister of Trade and Investment, Mrs. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; Minister of Defence Alh. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.
Others were Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Director General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Presidential Media Aides, Sunday Dare and Abdulaziz Abdulaziz; Chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, among others.
Keyamo who spoke with newsmen, stated that connecting Brazil, the biggest economy in South America, with Nigeria, also considered as one of the biggest economies in Africa, is strategic for both countries.
He pointed out that trade between both countries plummeted from $10 billion to $2 billion, in 10 years due to little or no connectivity.
But with the flights, he is confident that the trade relations will pick up again, adding, “And key to this, key to the achievement of all the agreements we signed, is the connectivity between both countries.”
He stated that most of them on the flight would not have arrived yesterday without a direct flight facilitated by Air Peace.
“So what you are seeing today is the first fruit (of the BASA). We are bringing back an actual fulfillment, an actual gain of that business, which is the first major flight between Brazil and Nigeria. So it is not an audio agreement.
Some people would have gone to the Middle East, to either Doha or Dubai. Many would have gone to Europe to try to connect. Whereas all we did was to cross the Atlantic,” he said.
Air Peace Chairman disclosed that the airline would commence a scheduled flight between both countries by the last quarter of the year.
He stated that the airline has commenced discussions with domestic airlines in Brazil to have an interline arrangement as the carrier commences direct flight to the South American country.
Onyema stated that the airline would also connect other South American countries, disclosing that he is already in discussion with Columbia.
He said, “First of all, I thank God Almighty for this day because it has been long overdue. Like the Minister of Aviation said, connectivity is the key to everything. Our dear President signed several MoUs with Brazil. He has just opened this country.
“He is creating Nigeria for the future of everyone. And you might not know the opportunities that are embedded in all the MOUs he signed until they are being implemented. It is huge. But what we did today is symbolic and at the same time real.”
Air Peace operates the first direct Brazil–Nigeria flight - BUSINESSDAY
Air Peace has made history by operating the first-ever direct flight between Brazil and Nigeria, marking a new milestone in the nation’s aviation sector.
The inaugural São Paulo–Lagos flight, operated with a Boeing 777, follows the signing of a landmark Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in Brasília.
Speaking during the maiden flight, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, highlighted the significance of the new route.
He noted that journeys which previously took up to 20 hours through Europe or the Middle East would now be shortened with the availability of direct services.
Keyamo also disclosed that Air Peace has ordered 21 Embraer jets from Brazil, strengthening trade and aviation ties between the two nations.
Allen Onyema, Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, lauded President Tinubu and the federal government for their leadership in making the historic development possible.
“The President has opened the door of the future for Nigeria. Instead of committing two days to travel to Brazil, we now have direct access to South America’s largest economy just as Nigeria leads in Africa. This partnership will bring immense opportunities for both nations,” Onyema said.
The federal government on Tuesday confirmed the BASA signing in a joint ceremony between Minister Keyamo and Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, witnessed by both Heads of State.
The agreement establishes a framework for direct air connectivity between Nigeria and Brazil, opening fresh avenues for trade, tourism, investment, and cultural exchange. Officials say it is expected to boost economic integration and enhance diplomatic cooperation between the countries.
President Lula da Silva described the partnership as a turning point, stressing Brazil’s readiness to deepen collaborations with Nigeria in aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Reactions have continued to trail the development on social media, with many Nigerians hailing the move as a sign of progress in the aviation sector.
X user Mr. Mp (@mp71293850) wrote: “With the way the Minister is going, I see more routes opening up and more bilateral relations taking place… and Nigerians too see all the consumer protection unit is doing to meet up to expectations and best practices. Kudos to you all. It’s a win for Nigeria. May Nigeria succeed,”
Similarly, Osas Igelugbo (@IgelugboOs84493) said: “Aviation used to be Nigeria’s weakest link, now it’s becoming our strength. This direct flight from Brazil is a big win for business, tourism, and national pride. Thank you, President Tinubu!”
Kenya Airways wants to raise at least $500 million to expand fleet - REUTERS
- Kenya Airways swings into first-half pretax loss
- CEO says airline aims for full fleet availability by next year
- Airline to finalise plans for capital boost by first quarter of 2026
NAIROBI, Aug 26 (Reuters) – Kenya Airways aims to finalise plans to raise at least $500 million in extra capital to expand and improve its fleet by the first quarter of next year, the airline said on Tuesday, after it reported a pretax loss in the first half.
One of Africa’s three biggest airlines, Kenya Airways posted a loss of 12.17 billion shillings ($94.34 million) in the first half of this year, compared with a profit of 634 million shillings in the same period last year.
The airline attributed the loss to a drop in revenue and passenger numbers caused by three of its planes – Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners – being out of commission for maintenance.
CEO Allan Kilavuka told an investor briefing that one of the planes had resumed services in July, and said the airline was working to have a full fleet available by next year.
He said the airline planned to identify the source of the additional capital and get shareholders’ approval within the first three months of next year.
“We’ve said the minimum that we are gunning for is about half a billion dollars, which we believe (is) a minimum. That will address the fleet expansions that we’re looking (for),” he said.
The pretax profit that the airline posted in the first half of 2024 was the first it had made in over a decade.
Tuesday’s report showed operating loss for the half-year was 6.2 billion shillings, down from a 1.3 billion shilling profit in first half 2024, while revenue fell to 74.5 billion shillings from 91.5 billion shillings during the same period last year.
Kenya Airways went into insolvency in 2018 after an expansion drive left it with debts reaching hundreds of millions of dollars.
It has relied on state financial support, with the government paying off a loan of $150 million in January that the airline had received from local commercial banks.
The company ended 2024 with a full-year pretax profit of 5.53 billion shillings, compared with a loss of 22.86 billion shillings the year before.
A big driver of 2024 performance was foreign-exchange gains of 10.55 billion shillings, versus a loss of 15.04 billion shillings in 2023, as the local currency strengthened more than 20% against the dollar that year.
($1 = 129.0000 Kenyan shillings)
(Reporting by George Obulutsa; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Barbara Lewis and Helen Popper)
Passenger arrested at Heathrow airport ‘after punching flight attendant and trying to open plane door’ - THE INDPENDENT
Heathrow airport and arrested a passenger, who allegedly punched a crew member and attempted to open the jet door.
Emergency services rushed to the Boeing 787 shortly after it landed from Jeddah just before 1pm on Thursday. According to The Sun, the plane braked sharply on the taxiway to Terminal 4 after the incident, prompting the pilots to call for immediate assistance.
Stairs were erected and officials boarded the jet, which was carrying passengers on Flight SV119. Pictures obtained by The Sun show at least four fire trucks, six police cars and several ambulances at the scene.
The newspaper reported that the disruption began as the aircraft taxied to its stand. A man argued with a crew member, then struck him before trying to open one of the aircraft doors.
A source told The Sun: “It was chaos on board and very frightening for families. The plane had wheels down but a passenger was so agitated and struck out at the crew because he wanted to get off there and then.”
Police confirmed they had arrested a passenger on suspicion of endangering an aircraft.
The Saudia flight, registered HZ-AR27, left Jeddah 38 minutes late and took just over six hours to reach London.
The Independent has reached out to the Met Police for comment.
Rwanda received migrants deported from the US earlier this month
BY Daphne Psaledakis and George Obulutsa
Key Points
- First group of seven migrants arrived in Rwanda in mid-August
- Three have expressed desire to return to home countries
- Trump has taken hardline approach toward immigration
WASHINGTON/NAIROBI, Aug 28 (Reuters) – Rwanda received seven migrants deported from the United States earlier this month, a government spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday, weeks after the two countries reached an agreement for the transfer of up to 250 people.
“The first group of seven vetted migrants arrived in Rwanda in mid-August,” Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said in a statement.
“Three of the individuals have expressed a desire to return to their home countries, while four wish to stay and build lives in Rwanda. Regardless of their specific needs, all of these individuals will receive appropriate support and protection from the Rwandan government.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a hardline approach toward immigration, aiming to deport millions of immigrants in the U.S. illegally and seeking to ramp up removals to third countries.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson on Thursday referred questions on the deportations earlier this month to the government of Rwanda and declined to comment on details of diplomatic communications with other governments.
“Implementing the Trump Administration’s immigration policies is a top priority for the Department of State. As Secretary Rubio has said, we remain unwavering in our commitment to end illegal and mass migration and bolster America’s border security,” the spokesperson said.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In early August, Rwanda and the United States entered an agreement for Rwanda to take in up to 250 migrants, with Washington sending to Rwanda an initial list of 10 people to be vetted.
Rwanda has in recent years positioned itself as a destination country for migrants that Western nations would like to remove, despite concerns by rights groups that Kigali does not respect basic human rights.
The Trump administration says that third-country deportations help quickly remove some migrants, including those with criminal convictions. Immigration hardliners see third-country removals as a way to deal with offenders who cannot easily be deported and could pose a threat to the public.
Opponents have criticized the deportations as dangerous and cruel, since people could be sent to countries where they could face violence, have no ties and do not speak the language.
Makolo said earlier this month that under the agreement reached with Washington, migrants deported to Rwanda would be provided with workforce training, healthcare, and accommodation.
On Thursday, Makolo said that those deported to Rwanda were accompanied by an international organization and receiving visits by the International Organization for Migration and Rwandan social services.
(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and George Obulutsa; Additional reporting by Nairobi Newsroom; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Diane Craft)
MARKET NEWS
No Record Found
