Travel News

By Okiki Adeduyite

The Federal Government has resolved the passport printer crisis at Nigeria’s consulates in New York and Atlanta, United States.

Following directives issued by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in January 2025, the Nigeria Immigration Service delivered and installed new passport printers at both consulates on Tuesday

The move follows recent calls from Nigerians in the diaspora, who raised concerns about delays in the passport application process due to outdated printing machines.

On Wednesday, in a statement signed by Babatunde Alao, the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Interior, Tunji-Ojo said, “The Ministry is committed to innovation and improved service delivery.

The installation of these new printers demonstrates our dedication to addressing the needs of Nigerians at home and abroad.”

By Princess Etuk

The Chief Operating Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Osita Okonkwo, has stated that while aviation fuel remains stable and readily available, it is still expensive.

He attributed the stability to increased supply from the Dangote refinery but emphasised the need for lower prices, hoping that improvements in the exchange rate would help reduce costs for airlines.

Despite the stability, he expressed hope for lower prices, especially with potential improvements in the exchange rate.

He said, “We want the price to come down; hopefully with the exchange rate improving, it will come down. We always want lower prices. When we started, it was 250, 300, compared to 1000, which is still high, but the most important thing is that it’s available and the price is stable, but we are asking for lower prices.

“Most fuellers are buying from Dangote now; I know their major distributor, MRS, buys exclusively from them, so I think NNPC also buys. Most people are buying from Dangote, but I don’t know how the others are supplying.”

Speaking on fuel pricing, he noted that while there has been a slight decrease, prices have remained steady, and there has been no scarcity since Dangote began supplying. He highlighted the price variations across different locations, stating, “One thing about pricing is that it has remained stable; it came down slightly, but it has remained stable, and the fuel is available, so there’s no scarcity we’ve not seen since Dangote came on board.

“The price is between 1050 and 11200 in Lagos, and then it varies in other locations, yeah, it depends on who is supplying, yeah.”

By Princess Etuk

The Chief Operating Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Osita Okonkwo, has confirmed that Nigeria is no longer blacklisted in the global aviation leasing market, paving the way for improved access to aircraft leasing opportunities.

“The important thing is that Nigeria is no longer on the blacklist. Nigeria was blacklisted before, but that is sorted,” Okonkwo stated.

He explained that while the country’s blacklisting issues have been resolved, individual airline operators must now negotiate directly with lessors to secure aircraft.

“So, individual operators, we now have to discuss flying the aircraft, discuss with lessors, meet their conditions, and then sign on the dotted lines.

According to Okonkwo, Nigeria was previously considered a high-risk market, making it difficult for airlines to lease aircraft. However, with the improved rating, operators now have better opportunities.

“It all depends on the risks. Before, Nigeria was rated very high risk, and almost no business was done with Nigeria, but now the high risk is gone. We hope the price is competitive,’ he said.

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The development is expected to ease aircraft acquisition for Nigerian airlines, enhancing the country’s aviation sector and boosting airline operations.

Speaking on the complexities of aircraft acquisition, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood, said, “On dry leasing, the process of getting an aeroplane purchased is not your regular process of ‘I want to buy a car, and I’m paying, and I’m taking it home.’. There are so many processes, so many documentary things that will be involved.”

He noted that Nigeria’s participation in the Boeing Lessors Forum has strengthened the country’s standing in the global aviation market.

“So, the Boeing lessors forum that we attended has exposed Nigeria to the Western world; they appreciated the fact that Nigeria is back and it is promising and that we are fulfilled in all righteousness. Like our IDERA, like the Cape Town Convention, all of these are what has endeared us to the lessors,” he added.

Moshood further revealed that members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria had discussions with leasing companies, opening avenues for potential deals, saying, “And some of the AON members met with some leasing companies, and they have been talking. Also, the major takeaway is that we have one of our side meetings, a meeting with Afreximbank. We are getting 25 aircraft on dry lease, and the minister has also cajoled them and said, even though they said it’s for all Africans, they have conceded that we will get a chunk of it.”

BY Tara Cobham

Britons have been warned by a senior MP not to holiday in Iran “because they think it looks cool on Instagram” after a British couple were detained in the country.

Shadow home office minister Alicia Kearns issued the travel warning after Craig and Lindsay Foreman were arrested while on a round-the-world motorcycle trip and charged with espionage.

The former chair of the foreign affairs committee told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday: “The priority is people need to listen to the travel advice. It is not safe for British nationals, most certainly not dual nationals, to travel to Iran.

“I beg anyone who is thinking of doing it, either because they think it looks cool on Instagram, or because it’s a country that – look, I would love to visit as well, beautiful people – please do not go. The risks are really high – you don’t have to have a reputation or a history or an Iranian passport as well to be at risk. Please do not travel.”

Ms Kearns, who led the foreign affairs committee’s report into the UK’s response to hostage-taking, called for specific information to be added to the travel advice page for every country on whether there is a high risk of arbitrary detention there, as was advised by her inquiry – “because unfortunately it’s not even countries you would think of where there’s a risk”.

She added: “Unfortunately, British nationals are at the top of the pile when it comes to authoritarian states wanting to take people hostage.”

Mr and Mrs Foreman, both in their early fifties, were arrested last month and are being held in custody in Kerman, central Iran, after crossing into the country from Armenia around 30 December.

The pair say there were trying to reach Australia for a psychology research project, asking people what constitutes a “good life”, and planned to reach Pakistan by 4 January – whereas Iranian authorities allege they have been “collecting information in different locations in the country”.

Ms Kearns dismissed Iran’s accusations of espionage “almost completely implausible” and argued the couple have instead been taken hostage to be used for geopolitical leverage by the country, “because what they do is they weaponise people’s passports against them”. She said Iran took 66 foreign nationals hostage between 2010 and 2022.

A British husband and wife who were detained in Iran have been charged with espionage, the Iranian judiciary is reported to have said.

Craig and Lindsay Foreman were on a motorcycle journey around the world when they were detained in January.

An Iranian judiciary spokesperson told the country's Mizan news agency on Tuesday that the couple had "collected information" in several provinces of the country under the guise of being tourists.

The spokesperson added that the two British citizens were arrested "during a series of co-ordinated intelligence operations and while collecting information in Kerman city".

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The Foremans were ultimately heading for Australia, having crossed into Iran from Armenia on December 30, according to social media posts.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - which advises against all travel to Iran - has been approached for comment.

Its guidance says: “Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you,”

The couple had shared regular social media updates from the Middle Eastern country.

“To put your minds at rest, we are having the most amazing time in Iran,” they posted on Facebook on January 3.

On Instagram, Mrs Foreman acknowledged that travelling to the Iran, against Foreign Office advice, was “slightly scary”.

She added: “Yes, we’re aware of the risks. But we also know the rewards of meeting incredible people, hearing their stories, and seeing the breathtaking landscapes of these regions could far outweigh the fear.

“From the vast deserts of Iran to the towering peaks of Pakistan, we hope to share the beauty, hospitality, and humanity that often go unnoticed.”

By Oluchi Ezumezu 

In a historic move, the Netherlands has officially returned 113 artifacts from the Benin Bronzes collection to Nigeria, following a request from the West African nation.

Dutch Culture Minister Eppo Bruins announced the handover, acknowledging the cultural and historical significance of the pieces, which were originally taken by British forces from the Kingdom of Benin now part of modern-day Nigeria in 1897.

The returned artifacts, comprising plaques, pendants, and figurines, were previously housed in the Dutch National Collection at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden. Bruins emphasized the importance of the return, stating that it serves as a step toward addressing past injustices.

“With this return, we are contributing to the redress of a historical injustice that is still felt today,” Bruins said in a press release. “Heritage is essential for telling and experiencing the history of a country and community. The Benin Bronzes are therefore indispensable for Nigeria. It is good that they are returning.”

The transfer agreement was signed at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden, with Olugbile Holloway, Director General of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments, present to receive the artifacts. Holloway described the return as the largest repatriation of looted antiquities in Nigeria’s history and expressed hope that other nations would follow suit.

In addition to the national return, the city of Rotterdam has also repatriated six additional Benin Bronzes from its collection.

These include a ceremonial bell, three relief plaques, a coconut holder, and a staff. Rotterdam official Said Kasmi highlighted the significance of the move, stating,

“Cultural heritage belongs where it has deep historical and spiritual meaning. This restitution is an important step in acknowledging the past and respecting Nigeria’s cultural legacy.”

“Art and heritage should be where they belong. These objects belong in Nigeria. With this return, we are taking an important step in recognizing the past and respecting the value that these objects represent for Nigeria.”

(Reuters) - Air Canada will resume flights between Canada and Israel beginning June 8, the company said on Thursday.

Western carriers had canceled their flights to multiple destinations in the Middle East, amid elevated security concerns.

The Montreal-based carrier said there will be an additional weekly non-stop, return flight from Montreal, starting in August.

Air Canada said it will monitor the situation in the region and may adjust its schedule as required by security and safety protocols.

Earlier this month, United Airlines said it would resume its service from New York to Tel Aviv starting on March 15.

(Reporting by Anshuman Tripathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)

By John Revill

ZURICH, Feb 20 (Reuters) - American tourists helped the Swiss hotel industry reach a record number of overnight stays in 2024, the government said on Thursday, as the stronger dollar and inflation abroad made Alpine trips more attractive.

The influx of trans-Atlantic travellers supported the sector which has struggled in recent years with a lack of snow and a shutdown during the pandemic.
The number of overnight stays in Switzerland rose 2.6% to a record 42.8 million in 2024, the Federal Statistic Office said, with a 14% rise in stays from U.S. travellers.

Delta Airlines said on Wednesday that it was offering $30,000 to each passenger who was aboard the flight from Minneapolis that crashed and flipped upside down this week while trying to land in Toronto.

All 80 people — 76 passengers and four crew members — who were on Delta Flight 4819 survived after the jet made a rough landing and rolled over, ending belly-up with its right wing sheared off at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday.

Of the 21 passengers who were taken to hospitals, all but one had been released by Wednesday morning, Delta said. None of the passengers had life-threatening injuries.

Delta confirmed on Wednesday that it had made the $30,000 offer to passengers. Its representatives were telling the passengers that the offer came with “no strings attached and does not affect rights,” a company spokesman said via email.

Three days after the crash, officials have released few details about the investigation. On Wednesday, Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive, said in an interview on CBS that the flight had been staffed by an “experienced crew” but provided little further information.

But it appears that passengers are already considering how to seek compensation from Delta. Rochon Genova, a Canadian law firm, said it had been retained by some of the passengers.

According to international treaties, when an international aviation accident causes injury or death, airlines in the United States are required to make advance payments to passengers if the airline determines that the money is necessary to cover their immediate economic needs.

If a passenger dies, the initial payment must be more than about $20,000, according to the Delta Airlines website, which cites the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions which govern airplane liability. If the passenger is injured, the amount of the payment is determined by the airline.

By Hilka Birns

The Nigerian government may resume talks with Ethiopian Airlines to revive the stalled national carrier project, Nigeria Air (Lagos), but under a new name, the newspaper Punch reported citing sources and "recent events and documents".

This follows tensions between the two countries over the failure in 2024 of the Nigeria Air project, which would have seen an Ethiopian Airlines-led consortium take a 49% stake in the joint venture with the Nigerian federal government.

Nigeria Air was the brainchild of former president Muhammadu Buhari and former aviation minister Hadi Sirika, but the project collapsed after a change in government. Under the current president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and aviation minister Festus Keyamo, it was discarded as a sellout to the Ethiopians. Keyamo, in particular, labelled it as not a genuine Nigerian initiative.

The proposed venture was eventually declared "null and void" on August 5, 2024, by the High Court in Lagos. The ruling followed a lawsuit by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), which argued that the project would harm local airlines. An investigation into alleged corruption by former officials is ongoing.

According to Punch, Keyamo's opposition had escalated tensions, leading to diplomatic interventions between Nigeria and Ethiopia. Ethiopian Airlines reportedly expressed displeasure over Keyamo's stance, fearing it could harm relations, but both countries have since engaged in discussions. Keyamo recently visited Ethiopian Airlines, although he denied any new talks about reviving the national carrier project.

Equally, Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, permanent secretary of Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, was recently at pains to clarify that he was not suggesting a revival of the Nigeria Air deal with Ethiopian Airlines when he referred to the broader vision of the administration to reconsider a national carrier.

Nigeria’s government announced it would end its visa-on-arrival policy, citing security risks and calling the current system “unsustainable.”

Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made this announcement during a graduation ceremony in Abuja. The event celebrated 100 immigration officers who completed special training in using passenger data for national security.

“Of course, that will lead to the cancellation of the visa-on-arrival process because visa-on-arrival, we understand, is not a system that works,” Tunji-Ojo said. “I don’t expect you to just come to my country without me knowing you’re coming in. No, it’s never done anywhere.”

The new system will require travellers to get clearance before arriving in Nigeria. This includes checks through Interpol and criminal record systems. The government also planned to extend these security measures to land borders, as officials noticed people were bypassing airport security by entering through these routes.

“When it comes to security,” Tunji-Ojo explained, “life will never remember us for the 99 per cent we get right. History will remember us for the 1 per cent we do wrong. And security is not a sector where you can afford to be 99.9 per cent accurate. It just has to be 100 per cent.”