JULY 10, 2024

By Okechukwu Nnodim

The queues for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, persisted in Abuja and neighbouring states on Monday, as it also spread to Lagos and other regions across the country, with marketers stating that the situation might drag till the weekend.

As motorists spend hours in queues at the few filling stations that dispensed the product, black marketers used the opportunity to raise their prices to between N1,000 and N1,100/litre, while some retail outlets increased the pump price of petrol to N900/litre, particularly in Abuja, Nasarawa and Niger.

This came as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited explained that the queues were due the recent thunderstorm and challenges of logistics that disrupted activities at fuel loading jetties.

It, however, stated that the company was working with stakeholders to resolve the situation and clear the queues.

Reacting to this, the President, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, confirmed that NNPC had assured marketers that the matter was being addressed.

He, however, explained that the queues may not disappear in the next couple of days, stressing locations far away from major depots would experience lengthier days of fuel queues.

“Once they start loading, it takes some days to clear the queues. And don’t forget that filling stations in Abuja get products from Lagos, Oghara, Warri, Port Harcourt or Calabar, and that takes more than three days turn-around time to accomplish,” he stated.

On whether the situation was being resolved as stated by NNPC, Gillis-Harry said, “Yes it is being addressed and we’ve had an in-depth review of the matter. They’ve given us assurance that they are working on it and so we should be able to get products in our retail outlets.

“We could see what their challenges were, but during our conversation we were able to know that NNPC is working hard to tackle this situation. So we are certain that in the coming days petroleum products should be available and circulate widely.”

Gillis-Harry, however, stated that marketers could not confirm the claim of thunderstorm disrupting the loading of products at jetties, as stated by NNPC.

“Rather, as far as we are concerned there is a supply glitch which is now being addressed by NNPC,” the PETROAN president stated.

Gillis-Harry stated that to get a lasting solution to fuel scarcity and queues in Nigeria, the government and NNPC must work with downstream oil sector operators.

“We had recommended that NNPC should have a clearly-defined council made up of all the grassroot knowledge of the business so that when we sit down and discuss we can always project what is likely going to be our problem based on empirical evidence. We should be data-driven by the design and plan that we put together,” he stated.

Inadequate supply

However, a major dealer in the downstream oil sector insisted that there was inadequate supply of PMS by NNPC and that this was due to shortage, adding that the queues had spread to Lagos.

“The product is not there. If the product is there people will lift it and there won’t be queues. So I don’t think the queues will disappear any time soon, it might drag till weekend.

“This is because even in Lagos, when I was coming to office today, I saw queues from the MRS station in Alakaa to around the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

“So there are queues in Lagos too, not just in Abuja and states in that axis. The government and NNPC will keep assuring Nigerians, but it is until we see the product that you can say their assurances are true,” the dealer, who spoke anonymously due to lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, stated.

The marketer further noted that there was no guarantee that the queues would clear in the next few days, particularly in states far away from loading depots in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri and Calabar.

“I don’t think the queues will clear any time soon and not tomorrow because depots are not loading. I know the kind of pressure that came on me today, people pleading that I should just put them on programme.

“But why should I put you on programme when the product is not there? And again there have been demands to supply the limited products available to Abuja. So I can’t put you on programme until we are sure of the presence enough product,” the source stated.

NNPC blames thunderstorm

This came as NNPC explained on Monday that the queues in different parts of the country were due the recent thunderstorm and challenges of logistics that disrupted activities at fuel loading jetties.

NNPC’s spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, as the scarcity of petrol grew worse.

“The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the fuel queues seen in the FCT (Federal Capital Territory) and some parts of the country, were as a result of disruption of ship-to-ship transfer of petrol between mother vessels and daughter vessels resulting from recent thunderstorm.

“The adverse weather condition has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics.

“The NNPC Ltd also states that due to the flammability of petroleum products and in compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency regulations, it was impossible to load petrol during rainstorms and lightning,” the company stated.

It stressed that “adherence to these regulations is mandatory as any deviation could pose a severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives.”

The national oil firm further stated that the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes which had constrained the movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the federal capital, Abuja.

“The NNPC Ltd is working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore seamless supply of petrol to affected areas.

“Already, loading has commenced in areas where these challenges have subsided, and we are hoping the situation will continue to improve in the coming days and full normalcy will restored.

“The NNPC also calls on motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products,” the company stated.

Situation in states

Residents of Ogun State bought PMS at between N700 and N750/litre in most of the independent filling stations in the state on Monday.

It was, however, observed that some of the filling stations did not sell the product to customers on Monday. The filling stations that had queues were the ones operated by NNPC and it was because they dispensed PMS at N580/litre.

But in Sokoto State, the fuel scarcity persisted on Monday, as residents decried the situation and the hike in the pump price of the commodity to between N900 and N950/litre.

Most independent marketers in Sokoto did not dispense petrol on Monday. A motorist, Salami Isa, who spoke with one of our correspondents, said most of the filling stations were selling at exorbitant prices.

“The fuel issue is getting out of hand now as things are just too expensive and we still have to pay through our nose to get fuel,” he stated.

PMS in Asaba, the Delta State capital and its environs was sold at between N730 and N790/litre.

Marketers such as Matrix, Northwest and RainOil sold petrol for as high as N730, while dispensed theirs at N765 in Asaba.

But in locations like Ibusa, Issele-Uku, Issele-Azagba, and Agbor, among other towns, fuel was sold at between N765 to N790/litre without queues.

However, long queues were observed at the  NNPC mega filling station along Benin-Asaba Express which dispensed the product at N590/litre.

There were no queues at petrol stations in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday, while petrol was still sold at between N600 and N750/litre in the state.

Additional reports by Bankole Taiwo, Animasahun Salman, Matthew Ochei, Bola Bamigbola, and Tunde Oyekola

JULY 10, 2024

"The NCAA regulation says no airline shall display deceitful passenger departure time at its counter, advert material or on its website."

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said it will sanction airlines that schedule departure times deceitfully.

The Acting Director-General of NCAA, Chris Najomo, made the assertion in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs/Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, on Tuesday.

The NCAA warned the airlines to desist from the infraction or face dire regulatory actions.

“The NCAA now runs a zero-tolerance approach to regulatory infractions.

“Ease of doing business is the crux of the D-G’s action plan for the NCAA. In line with that action plan, he has made processes for licensing easy for operators.

“The time to secure AOC is now shorter and less cumbersome than it used to be in the past. The NCAA, therefore, expects reciprocity from airlines. Chief of which is world-class services to passengers,” he said.

Mr Najomo was quoted as saying that if the NCAA was enabling a business-friendly environment for operators, then the operators must satisfy the passengers with superior services.

“It has come to our notice that some airlines are being reported for advertising deceitful departure times. The NCAA regulation says no airline shall display deceitful passenger departure time at its counter, advert material or on its website.

“We want to make it very clear that the D-GCA has directed monitoring and offenders will face serious regulatory actions,” Mr Najomo said.

He further stated that the authority believes in safety, discipline, and economic regulation, evident in the recent suspension of ten permits for Non Commercial Flights (PHCF) holders for failing to comply with the recertification advisory issued in April 2024.

Speaking about the ease of doing business environment at the NCAA, Mr Najomo said the ease of business is an area the agency would continue to improve.

“This is evident in our high score on the Presidential Enabling Business Council (PEBEC) ranking. Recently our sister agency scored 96 per cent but the NCAA scored 98.5 per cent which is an extremely high score.

“This is building from the commendable score of 71.04 per cent the NCAA scored during this year’s ICAO Security Audit.

“The numbers are improving and we will continue to do what we can to make the industry safer, and more secure for passengers and stakeholders,” he assured.

On the difficulty of airline refund processes, Mr Najomo said all airline refunds must be completed without undue delays and should conclude in 14 working days regardless of the mode of purchase of the tickets.

On the suspension of ten operators’ PHCF licenses, he explained that they had been advised to commence the recertification process since April 2024, but they refused to comply, leaving the agency with no option but to sanction them.

Mr Najomo also discussed a recent publication, among other accusations, alleging that the law surrounding the suspension of 10 PHCFs was not in vogue.

Describing the allegations, which he believed to be based on ignorance or mischief, as fluid and unfounded, Mr Najomo explained that his agency’s actions were guided by the Civil Aviation Act 2022.

He said that the NCAA’s action was part of its mandate to ensure compliance with the civil aviation law establishing it and the attendant regulations.

To sanitise the sector, the NCAA reaffirmed its stance to rid the industry of illegal charter operators who might have inspired the publication.

(NAN)

JULY 10, 2024

… Says only 3 profitable

Written by Yusuf Babalola

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), on Tuesday, disclosed that only three out of the nation’s 22 airports in Nigeria are viable and profitable.

Speaking as a guest on the Channels TV morning show, the managing director of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, disclosed that 19 of the nation’s airports are being subsidised as they do not get passenger traffic commensurate with their operational cost.

She, however, advised state governors building airports that rather than construct new airports, should focus on boosting manufacturing, trade, and tourism activities in their domains to increase passenger traffic and revenue.

Kuku also stated that the majority of the 22 airports managed by FAAN require maintenance and upgrade in critical infrastructure like the terminal areas, the landside as well as the airside.

“I would also say that we are actually cross-subsidising the other 19 airports today and in most instances, we will substitute or cross-subsidise for some of the airports that are coming on board as well.”

“Most of the runways at the airports in the country have exceeded the 20-year validity period and they are due for an upgrade,” says Kuku also noting that the airport authority would focus on some of these developmental goals this year.

According to her, economic activities in states where airports are built drive passenger traffic and not the construction of new airports.

“We have a number of states in the north as well as in the south-west that are coming up with new airports. I would say that based on the stats today, only three of the 22 airports are actually profitable and contribute largely to the sustenance of the airport companies that we run.

Kuku mentioned that FAAN allocates 50 per cent of its revenue to the federal coffers, which presents a significant challenge.

She noted that the authority is currently in talks with different branches of government to seek relief.

She explained that passenger traffic is influenced more by Gross Domestic Product growth and economic activities than by the construction of new airports.

Kuku emphasised the importance of focusing on key sectors like trade, manufacturing, and tourism to boost airport traffic.

“Rather than building new airports, we need to look at the bottom of the value chain to determine what activities can drive traffic into these airports,” Kuku said.

She added that FAAN is working closely with international organisations, such as the International Air Transport Association and the Federal Ministry of Aviation, to expand domestic and international routes.

Kuku mentioned that there are initiatives aimed at transforming Nigeria and certain airports within the country into transit hubs.

“What that means is that we start to build a network of airports where we can push our feeders to some of the other states or to some of the other locations and start to utilise our airports,” she said.

She highlighted that almost four million passengers travel internationally from Nigeria, stressing the importance of efficient infrastructure use for the upkeep and sustainability of these facilities.

He said that the airports, terminal areas, landslides and air sides as some of those things that require urgent improvements and the amount appropriated may not suffice.

Kuku emphasised that the aviation sector, particularly airports, is critical and requires substantial capital investment.

 

JULY 10, 2024

By Olasunkanmi Akinlotan

The Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Toyin Olajide, has disclosed that economy class ticket seats on the airline flight to London from Lagos were fully booked for the next 60 days, counting from July.

This is as Nigerian travellers on the Lagos-London route, including a travel agent company, have commended the airline for its decision to start flight services to European countries three months ago.

In an interview recently in Lagos, Olajide noted that the airline had faced numerous challenges on the route, but expressed delight that the carrier had provided Nigerians with a choice.

According to Air Peace’s COO, the airline’s Sunday flight on June 30, 2024, was fully booked in economy class seats, while 41 seats in its business class were equally occupied.

She, however, regretted that its system did not advertise its first-class seats, an error that had been corrected by the management.

Also, she explained that Nigerians flying from the United States to the United Kingdom book Air Peace to Lagos, taking advantage of the cheap US-Europe flights.

She stated that by doing so, the travellers on the US-UK-Nigeria routes saved a lot of money, which they would have spent on direct US-Nigeria flights.

She added that Chinese citizens residing in Nigeria, fly Air Peace to London and connect China Southern Airlines to China in a bid to reduce airfares.

She said: “But our system did not advertise our first-class seats, an error that has been corrected. So, what it means is that we recorded a very high load factor, only 12 seats in the first class and one business class seat; that is, 13 seats were empty out of the 274-seat capacity aircraft. We thank Nigerians. We appreciate the fact that they are happy with the airline.

“We recently upgraded two passengers who flew from the US to London and used our flight to Lagos. We upgraded them from economy class to business class in appreciation of their commitment and desire to patronise us. But they also take advantage of the cheap flights between Europe and the US, and our flights are also affordable. So, this enables them to save a lot of money.

“The entrance of Air Peace into this market has not only increased accessibility but also diversified the passenger base. Remarkably, the airline has attracted elderly passengers who previously could not afford high ticket prices post-pandemic, as well as students returning home for family events and reunions. This influx has resulted in a 5 per cent to 15 per cent increase in passengers.”

According to Olajide, Air Peace’s operations have also played a crucial role in positively positioning Nigerian brands.

She noted that products like farm fresh yoghurt, Gratia chin chin flakes, Olu Olu chips, and local long-grain Nigerian rice had gained exposure and expanded their reach.

“This ripple effect has benefited small businesses and local farmers who supply produce like tomatoes, peppers, and spinach, contributing to an economic expansion of over N2bn,” she added.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, recently said the Federal Government had commenced the process of empowering Nigerian airlines to have direct access to international routes to the United States and South American countries.

On March 20, Air Peace commenced its Lagos-London flight services.

JULY 10, 2024

By Princess Etuk

Travellers using the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, have commended the Federal Government over the newly installed e-gates, which have reduced delays and improved the travel process.

Our correspondent, who monitored the use of the electronic gates at the international departure, observed that travellers were smoothly using their boarding passes to go through two e-gates.

 A passenger, Michael Simon, told The PUNCH, “I just experienced the new e-gates for the first time, and I must say is a good one. The process was incredibly smooth and efficient. The system made everything faster, and I was through in no time.

“It is a huge improvement, and it enhances the overall travel experience. Not like how it used to be before, where you had to open your passport and go through a long process when you had a flight to catch.”

Another passenger, Temitayo, also praised the new system, saying, “The e-gates at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport are working perfectly today! I breezed through security in no time. It is such a relief to see things running smoothly.”

David George highlighted the benefit of the new e-gates, stating, “For me, the process is quick and efficient, with no unnecessary delays. The best part was the absence of extortion or any shady practices. Everything looks professional. Now we can at least say bye to the opening of the passport before entry. So, this is a big step forward for the airport, and it made my travel experience so much more pleasant.”

Recall that in April 2024, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, led a test run of the newly installed electronic gates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The Federal Government said its decision to install electronic gates at all the nation’s international airports would help flag unwanted persons or persons of interest from entering Nigeria.

Tunji-Ojo stated that the gates would eliminate the inconveniences associated with clearance at the arrival lounge, noting that travellers arriving in the country would now spend a few seconds at the gates

An airport staff member explained the process of using it to our correspondent.

He said, “The e-gates mean that the boarding pass will be collected, then you place it on it, and it will scan it. It then opens, so you can enter. As soon as you enter, it closes. Staff that work here cannot pass through it. So, staff that need to attend to passengers pass beside the e-gate to enter.”

Another airport worker added, “Passengers will come with their boarding pass, and it will open for them automatically. Instead of the previous one that they normally come with their passport. This one makes it easier and is very fast. There is no extortion whatsoever because there is no personal contact with any staff member.”

JULY 10, 2024

There is very little that money cannot buy – including a brand new passport, or the right to live in an overseas paradise visa-free.

Around the world there are more than 100 nations that would welcome you with open arms – in return for an investment in their national economy. Some are looking for entrepreneurs, start-up angels, philanthropic donors or big hitting business investors.

Others simply want you to buy a home.

Interest in these property-contingent golden visa schemes (also known as residence or citizenship by investment schemes) has skyrocketed in the post-Brexit world, as Britons look to continue travelling around Europe visa free.

Others are considering their options following Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour’s big general election victory. It is widely expected taxes will rise sooner rather than later, which is prompting growing numbers to think about a new life abroad.

Here, Telegraph Money takes you through what you need to know and how to get the best golden visas available now.

What is a golden visa?

Typically a golden visa (conferring residence) or a golden passport (conferring citizenship) gives the buyer of a property, plus their dependents, the right to live, work and study in that country.

In some cases the visas for European countries also confer the right to travel around the rest of the continent for extended periods without another visa (although not to settle there permanently). Passport holders can live anywhere in the union for as long as they like.

How do they work?

The world of golden visas is complex and fast-moving as countries open, close and alter the terms of their schemes, which offer a choice of either permanent citizenship or long term residency.

So far this year, for example, Greece has hiked the price of its golden visa while Australia has axed its scheme altogether. As of today, the following locations are your best options for a ticket to a new life in the sun.

Spain

Over Christmas Portugal killed off its golden visa by property investment scheme, complaining it caused house prices to soar beyond the reach of locals. That would have put Spain’s scheme into pole position in Europe, but for a sudden change in direction announced by the prime minister in April.

For now, in return for a property investment of at least €500,000 (£427,350) – which would buy you an apartment in Barcelona or three bedroom villa close to Malaga – you can follow in the footsteps of generations of second home owners and retirees and soak up the sun, full time.

The choice of lifestyles you can buy into is fantastic – indulge your passion for golf on the Costa del Sol, enjoy vibrant cities like Seville or Madrid, relax on your sun lounger on the Costa Brava, or get away from it all in the Catalonian countryside.

Spain’s practical appeal includes plentiful and cheap flights from the UK, a low cost of living, the fact that English is widely spoken, safety, and good schools for relocating families. And a Spanish golden visa gives you the right to travel across Europe, a privilege lost to Brits post Brexit.

“The scheme has garnered significant interest among UK nationals, particularly following Brexit, which has altered their residency status in Spain,” said Mary Dunne, Hamptons International representative in Marbella. “The primary motivation for seeking a golden visa is the desire for regular access to Spain, often because individuals own a second home there.”

But if you want to live, work, or study in Spain your window of opportunity looks to be narrowing. The Spanish prime minister signalled his country will follow in Portugal’s wake and remove the property investment route to a three-year visa.

Pedro Sanchez said the scheme would be scrapped to make access to affordable housing for Spaniards “a right instead of a speculative business”.

Greece

A Greek golden visa brings many benefits beyond the promise of chilling out on white beaches while the sun blazes overhead.

There is also visa-free travel within Europe’s Schengen area and no requirement to live in Greece full-time. Within around three months you can apply for a residence permit, followed by citizenship after seven years.

Until recently the offer was also appealingly affordable, with a minimum property spend of €250,000 in part of the country.

However, in late March the government announced those minimums would be increased to €800,000 on popular islands and to €400,000 elsewhere. Investors must purchase a property of at least 1,292 sq ft.

Pantelis Leptos, chairman of Leptos Estates, said demand from British buyers “seeking to secure their seamless access to the EU” had escalated post-Brexit. Other buyers simply want to spend time enjoying the Grecian lifestyle, and know they can offset the expense by renting their property out when they are not in situ.

Portugal

In December 2023, Portugal ended its ‘golden visa’ that proved popular with British retirees. The scheme allowed expats to take up residence for five years in exchange for property purchases of €500,000 (£432,000) or more. After that period you could then apply for permanent residency.

Launched in 2012 as a way to encourage investment into the country, Portugal’s scheme has been a success and attracted more than €6bn in investment. However, critics say it has pushed up prices and made housing unreachable for many Portuguese nationals. In popular areas, such as the Algarve, house prices have gone up by 15pc.

While the country has removed the home ownership route to residency, the investment options are still available. In order to qualify you need to invest €500,000 into a Portuguese investment or venture capital funds, into an existing company, or creating a new company that creates or maintains five permanent jobs for at least three years.

You could make an investment into a business that leads to the creation of 10 jobs. Other options include a €250,000 donation to a project for the maintenance or production of Portuguese national heritage.

The good news is that if you meet the conditions you will be entitled to the same five-year benefits as those who used the residential property route and the ability to travel within the Schengen zone.

You can also include a dependent in your application. This covers a spouse, children or parents. And you don’t even need to spend that long in the country if you choose not to – the requirement is just seven days a year.

Dubai/ United Arab Emirates:

The hottest of global property hotspots, Dubai’s modern apartments have seen prices jump 20pc last year alone.

And anyone prepared to spend AED 2m (around £430,000) in this futuristic holiday resort with guaranteed sunshine, through an investment fund or buying property, will get some substantial golden visa benefits and a low tax environment with no personal income, capital, net worth or withholding taxes.

From a lifestyle point of view, Dubai has pros and cons. Beaches aside, there are endless fancy bars, restaurants and boutiques to browse – and very good schools. There is also an opera house, contemporary art galleries, regular film and food festivals and major sporting events to enjoy.

On the other hand, over the summer months average temperatures exceed an insufferable 40°, the traffic is a nightmare and some find the ambience soulless.

Stuart Wakeling, managing partner at golden visa specialists Henley & Partners said some recent applicants have seen Dubai’s stellar price growth in recent years and simply want a piece of the action. “They can see themselves living there, setting up a business,” he said.

Peter Ferrigno, director of tax partners at Henley & Partners, said Dubai is particularly popular with people looking to cut their tax bill. “I have got a guy at the moment who has persuaded his employers it is better for him to be based there,” he said. “You get a break from the rain for a few years, and you can save a bit of cash.”

Malta

This peaceful Mediterranean paradise is often overlooked by tourists, second home owners and expats, who prefer southern Europe’s bigger, better-known destinations.

But if you like good food, white sandy beaches and history then Malta could be a winning option. Although it is not a budget friendly choice as the scheme was established to bring an influx of wealth to the island.

If you want a new passport Malta’s citizenship by investment programme is open to anyone able to spend €700,000 on a property. If you opt for permanent residency instead you must spend €350,000 on a home, plus around €70,000 in administration fees and contributions to the Maltese economy.

Either way, you get the right to travel in Europe’s Schengen area without a visa.

Jersey

You might love the idea of rubbing shoulders with the jet set on balmy Jersey, but you will need deep pockets to join this particular club.

In order to join the island’s residency-by-investment scheme you will need to buy a property priced at a minimum £1.75m. And, said Wakeling, you have to contribute tax of £250,000-per-year to qualify, which means you need annual earnings of around £1.25m.

“It is very restricted,” said Wakeling: “The government offers about 15 applications each year to high net worth individuals.”

The chosen few also have to meet moral criteria. Those who apply for a golden visa will be judged on their track record for voluntary work, any media coverage of their business or social life, awards and achievements, and cultural interests or skills.

Costa Rica

Fancy life in a tropical paradise?

Costa Rica is an astonishingly beautiful slice of Central America where you can hang out on unspoiled beaches and surf to your heart’s content. Its national slogan is pura vida – pure life – and it’s the place to be if you’re into wellness.

The minimum property investment is appealingly low - $150,000 (around £120,000), and participants in its residence-by-investment scheme get some great financial advantages, since they are only taxed on income earned within Costa Rica.

But now for the bad news. You will need a little bit of pioneering spirit because Costa Rica isn’t as developed as western nations, turnkey property is hard to find and there are half a dozen active volcanos to contend with.

The Foreign Office adds a sobering note of caution, warning of muggings, theft, drink spiking and car jackings, particularly on the Atlantic coast.

JULY 10, 2024

BY  Nadine Yousif

BBC News, Toronto

• Published 9 July 2024

Logan LaFreniere woke up one October morning in 2022 to an empty driveway.

His brand new Ram Rebel truck was missing.

His security camera captured two hooded men breaking into the pickup in the dead of night outside of his Milton, Ontario home, and driving it away with ease.

A few months later, that very same truck appeared on a website of vehicles for sale in Ghana, an ocean and some 8,500km away.

“The dead giveaway was the laptop holder that we had installed in the back of the driver’s seat for my son, and in it was garbage that he had put in there,” Mr LaFreniere told the BBC.

That same clutter was visible in photos of the car listing, he said.

“There was no doubt in my mind that it was my vehicle.”

Mr LaFreniere’s story is hardly unique. In 2022, more than 105,000 cars were stolen in Canada - about one car every five minutes. Among the victims was Canada’s very own federal justice minister, whose government-issued Toyota Highlander XLE was taken twice by thieves.

Early this summer, Interpol listed Canada among the top 10 worst countries, external for car thefts out of 137 in its database - a “remarkable” feat, said a spokesperson, considering the country only began integrating their data with the international police organisation in February.

Authorities say once these cars are stolen, they are either used to carry out other violent crimes, sold domestically to other unsuspecting Canadians, or shipped overseas to be resold.

Interpol says it has detected more than 1,500 cars around the world that have been stolen from Canada since February, and around 200 more continue to be identified each week, usually at ports in other countries.

Car theft is such an epidemic that it was declared a “national crisis” by the Insurance Bureau of Canada, which says insurers have had to pay out more than C$1.5bn ($1bn; £860m) in vehicle theft claims last year.

The problem has forced police jurisdictions across the country to issue public bulletins on how to protect vehicles from theft.

Meanwhile, some Canadians have taken matters into their own hands, doing everything from installing trackers on their cars to hiring private neighbourhood security.

Some who can afford it have even installed retractable bollards in their driveways - similar to those seen at banks and embassies - to try and deter thieves.

Nauman Khan, who lives in Mississauga, a city just outside Toronto, started a bollard-installation business after he and his brother were both victims of car thefts.

In one attempt, Mr Khan said the thieves broke into his home while his wife and young children were sleeping. They were looking for the keys to his Mercedes GLE parked out front, he said, but ran after he confronted them.

After that “traumatic” experience, they sold their cars except for two “humble” family vehicles.

Through his business, Mr Khan said he now hears similar stories from people throughout the region of Toronto.

“It’s been very busy,” he said. “We had one client whose street had so many home invasions that he’d hired a security guard every night outside his house because he just didn’t feel safe.”

The pervasiveness of car thefts in Canada is surprising given how small the country’s population is compared to the US and the UK - other countries with high rates of such crime, says Alexis Piquero, Director of the US Bureau of Justice Statistics.

“[Canada] also doesn’t have as many port cities as the US does,” said Mr Piquero.

While the US, Canada and the UK have all experienced a spike in car thefts since the Covid-19 pandemic, Canada’s rate of thefts (262.5 per 100,000 people) is higher than that of England and Wales (220 per 100,000 people), according to the latest available data from each country.

It is also fairly close to that of the US, which sits at around 300 vehicle thefts per 100,000 people, based on 2022 data.

The rise in recent years is partly due to a pandemic-driven global car shortage that has increased demand for both used and new vehicles.

There is also a growing market for certain car models internationally, making auto theft a top revenue generator for organised crime groups, said Elliott Silverstein, director of government relations at the Canadian Automobile Association.

But Mr Silverstein said the way that Canada’s ports operate make them more vulnerable to this type of theft than other countries.

“In the port system, there’s a greater focus on what is coming into the country than what is exiting the country,” he said, adding that once the vehicles are packed up in shipping containers at a port it becomes harder to get to them.

Police have managed to recover some stolen cars.

In October, the Toronto Police Service announced an 11-month investigation that recovered 1,080 vehicles worth around C$60m., external More than 550 charges were laid as a result.

And between mid-December and the end of March, border and police officers found nearly 600 stolen vehicles at the Port of Montreal after inspecting 400 shipping containers.

These types of operations, however, can be difficult to carry out given the volume of merchandise that moves through that port, experts have said., external Around 1.7 million containers moved through the Port of Montreal in 2023 alone.

Port staff also do not have the authority to inspect containers in most cases, and in customs-controlled areas only border officers can open a container without a warrant.

At the same time, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has been grappling with chronic understaffing, according to a report submitted by its union to the government in April., external

Outdated technology is also an issue.

Patrick Brown, the mayor of Brampton - another Ontario city hard-hit by car thefts - recently paid a visit to the Port Newark Container Terminal in New Jersey to compare inspection tactics between the US and Canada.

He told the National Post newspaper that US authorities have “got scanners. They measure density. They work closely with local law enforcement”.

“These are things that we don’t do in Canada,” he said.

In May, the Canadian government said it would invest millions to bolster the CBSA’s ability to search shipping containers. Police will also get additional money to combat auto theft in their communities.

But Mr Silverstein said he believes a missing puzzle piece is auto manufacturers themselves.

“Everyone is talking about trying to recover vehicles, and a lot of my focus has been on why we are not making the vehicles tougher to steal in the first place,” he said.

In the meantime, car owners like Mr LaFreniere are still grappling with what to do to keep their vehicles safe.

After his Ram Rebel truck was stolen, he replaced it with a Toyota Tundra - a vehicle that Mr LaFreniere described as his “dream truck”.

This time, he installed an engine immobiliser on it to prevent thieves from being able to easily start the car. He also equipped it with a tag tracker in case it did get stolen, and added a club on the steering wheel for good measure.

Thieves were undeterred. A pair came to Mr LaFreniere’s driveway, this time to steal the Tundra. They had a harder time, however, and resorted to shattering the back window to get inside.

The commotion woke Mr LaFreniere and he called 911. But the thieves managed to run away in the four minutes it took for police to arrive.

He paid to repair his brand new truck and then sold it.

The whole ordeal, he said, was nothing short of “disheartening”.

JULY 10, 2024

KEY POINTS

• Greece has defended a new policy that could see some employees work six days a week.
• The country’s government has said it would be an “exceptional measure” that is only applied in “specific circumstances.”
• Greece has faced backlash from workers, labor unions and policy experts over the new regulation.

The Greek government has defended its new six-day working week policy, saying it is an “exceptional measure” that would only be applied in “specific circumstances.”

Greece introduced in early July new regulation that gives employees in some businesses the option of working an extra two hours each day, or adding another eight-hour shift to their schedule — meaning they could work 48 instead of the traditional 40 hours a week. The policy does not cover the food services and tourism businesses.

Outrage about the policy spread on social media as the regulation was met with backlash from labor unions and political observers criticizing the move. When the policy package containing the bill was first announced last September, thousands protested against the new policies.

Some critics have raised concerns about whether the policy could be extended to other sectors and businesses or mean employees would not be compensated fairly or be overworked.

“It is important to note that this new regulation does not in any way affect the established 5-day/40-hour working week mandated by Greek law, nor does it establish a new 6-day working week,” Greek Minister of Labour and Social Security Niki Kerameus told CNBC in emailed comments late last week.

“All it does is provide only in limited circumstances for the option of an additional working day, as an exceptional measure.”

Only two types of businesses fall under the regulation — namely those that operate 24 hours of the day, seven days a week with rotating shifts, and those that operate 24 hours a day for five or six days of the week, also using rotating shifts, Kerameus said.

Especially for businesses that are not operational every day, “the additional working day option is permissible only in the case of an increased workload,” Kerameus explained.

The minister said new regulations would protect employees from their work not being officially declared in the right way, which means they can now be compensated fairly. For example, workers could see their salaries rise due to the increase in hours, she added.

“Additionally, the law stipulates more measures to ensure the protection of workers, such as guaranteed days off, specific working hours, and safeguards against unfair dismissal,” she said.

Data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development shows that on average, workers in Greece worked longer hours than those in the U.S., U.K. and across the European Union in 2022. Greek employees on average worked over 300 hours more a year than the EU-wide average.

Kerameus said many other countries have measures and stipulations in place that are similar to Greece’s new policy.

“Most countries in Europe have similar provisions for exceptional additional working days. So Greece is not doing anything different,” she said.

JULY 10, 2024

By Olugbenga Ige

Ethiopian Airlines has announced that the Nigerian government is no longer interested in partnering in establishing the proposed Nigeria Air project.

The Airlines’ Group Chief Executive Officer, Mesfin Tasew, made this known over the weekend in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, according to Ethiopian Tribune, a major Ethiopian media outlet.

“The Nigerian government has lost interest in partnering with a foreign airline,” Tasew was quoted as saying.

This announcement by Ethiopian Airlines comes barely two months after the Federal Government indefinitely suspended the Nigeria Air project.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had on May 27, announced the indefinite suspension of the Nigeria Air project during the ministerial briefing marking the first year of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Keyamo had previously criticized the deal with Ethiopian Airlines, saying that the ownership structure of the suspended airline is not beneficial to the country.

The minister added that it would be irresponsible for the Federal Government to allow a foreign entity to monopolize Nigeria’s aviation industry, thereby compromising the growth of local businesses.

In 2023, the Ministry of Aviation, under former Minister Hadi Sirika, unveiled Nigeria Air three days before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The development had elicited concerns among stakeholders nationwide over the ownership arrangement which gave Ethiopian Airlines a 49 per cent equity stake.

The Federal Government had a 5 per cent equity, while a consortium of three Nigerian investors had 46 per cent.

Reacting to the deal in June 2023, the House of Representatives asked the Federal Government to suspend the operations of Nigeria Air, describing it as a fraud.

JULY 12, 2024

Foreigners who visit Nigeria have misconception about the country because of the nefarious activities of security operatives who engage in extortion or solicit for money from passengers at the airports. This act has fundamentally damaged the image of Nigeria in international circles, writes Chinedu Eze

The video has gone viral of a Swiss Nigerian woman popularly known as Nwanyiocha who narrated her experience travelling from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In the video, Nwanyiocha narrated how her passport was checked 10 times by security operatives at Enugu airport who solicited for money from her. According to her, the security operatives become unnecessarily strict each time passengers refuse to give them money.

She compared her Nigerian experience to what she witnessed in Ethiopia. She said that on arrival she was respectively and professionally attended to and the same professionalism was exhibited when she left back to Nigeria. She said that her passport was checked only two times, compared to over 10 times her passport was checked at the Enugu airport.

While comparing the way she was treated at Enugu airport to the way she was treated at Bole Airport, Addis Ababa, she described the both scenarios as night and day.

“In Enugu I had to show my papers at least 10 times before I was allowed to sit somewhere. In Addis, I showed my passport twice and that was it. In Addis Ababa, nobody asked me to do Sunday for them or Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday or buy them water or anything. They take your documents with thanks and show you where next you will go.

“In Nigeria before you are allowed to sit down you are already exhausted. You feel intimidated. Whatever they are going to ask you, you have to be polite, you have to keep quiet. It is very stressful,” she narrated.

She said that if Nigeria wants to promote tourism, if the country wants to bring in investors, “entry and exit should not be a big deal. It should be made as comfortable as possible. People will tell their friends that travelling to Nigeria is easy. But with this experience, it is not a good thing. The Immigration, the airport is what you see first on arrival. It is not good experience. And it is not an African thing because in Ethiopia people are polite, they help you; they don’t beg you for money and they don’t waste your time. And if their argument is that they are not paid very well, government should own up. You cannot have airport staff being beggars, asking people for money; when they are just there to work and provide a service. There is difference between being polite and wasting somebody’s time.”

Taskforce against Touts

Nwanyiocha’s video coincided with a statement issued by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on plans to eradicate touts and also to monitor airport workers who solicit or extort passengers. 

The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, announced that the agency has taken a decisive step towards eliminating touting, extortion, and illicit activities at the airports by establishing a dedicated task force to monitor activities at the airports managed by the agency. 

Reacting to reports of illicit activities going on at various airports, Kuku expressed her deep concern over the ongoing harassment and extortion of passengers at the airports, emphasising her commitment to creating a seamless and pleasant experience for travelers and as a result, her administration has launched an extensive campaign to crack down on these illegal activities. 

Kuku warned all airport personnel, including FAAN staff to desist from such nefarious activities, threatening that anyone who negated the regulations would face strict disciplinary actions.

 She stressed that the era of business as usual was over and highlighted the administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct.

Furthermore, Mrs. Kuku announced plans to establish magistrate courts at international airports to expedite the legal process for prosecuting offenders. The task force has been mandated to enforce discipline among airport staff and maintain a culture of professionalism at all levels. 

In addition, she said dedicated phone lines and QR codes would be set up to provide passengers with a means of providing feedback on their airport experience. Furthermore, Mrs. Kuku emphasized that all airport personnel must prominently display their on-duty cards and name tags for easy identification and accountability.

Old Tradition

It was learnt that Nigerian airports, especially the major gateway, Lagos, has become notorious because of the illicit activities of security operatives, which include Aviation Security (AVSEC) of FAAN, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Quarantine service, Nigerian Customs and others. There are also Port Health officials who engage in their own racket, including the cleaners who are used as outlets by Port Health to illegally sell yellow card to passengers.

Harassing passengers, intimidating them in order to extort them and engaging in physical search of luggage at the entrance of the terminal are part of ways the passenger is ripped off. Inexperienced passengers are intimidated with phony allegations and stopped from travelling until they pay money and they usually insist on dollars, THISDAY has learnt.

There have been efforts made at various times to eradicate extortion but it failed because, according to insider sources, security operatives bribe their seniors to post them to the airport, which is literally a gold mine. FAAN is also in a quandary because it has no power to control the security agencies like Customs, Immigration, NDLEA, Quarantine; informed source told THISDAY.

About two years ago the then Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu announced new measures and regulations geared towards reducing extortion of travellers by officials to its barest minimum at Nigerian airports.

Yadudu said such regulations would go a long way in improving security and the integrity of the country’s airports, as well as Nigeria’s reliability in the comity of nations. He said the first impression about a country is made at the airport and Nigeria must put her better foot forward in this regard. 

He reiterated that regular flyers and airport visitors to Nigeria had not so palatable tales about the disgraceful conduct of officials and workers at the airports in terms of extortion. Regrettably, it has also been observed that some security operatives in and out of uniform were part of the scourge. 

FAAN management then was responding to an outcry over the illegal and disgraceful conducts of some of these airport officials who usually throw caution in the air while making travellers part with their hard earned monies, under various guises.

The decision of Yadudu was prompted by the reaction of an American lady, Alina Oliver who took to the Internet to describe her experience with airport officials at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. She detailed how officials at the MMIA, Ikeja “Traumatised and made her cry” over her COVID 19 tests requirements. She also said some unprintable things in the three episodes posts.

Physical Interface

In one of the quarterly meetings of Aviation Round Table (ART), in 2022, the think-tank body issued a communique lamenting that passengers were being exploited and suggested a multi-layered security system, which does not necessarily mean physical structure but technologically driven security coverage that would minimise physical interface between passengers and security operatives

ART also stated that there was an urgent need for provision of more funding for security at the nation’s airports to enable acquisition and deployment of state-of-the-art security equipment and that there was also the need to reduce the number of physical security checking points at the nation’s airports to enhance passenger facilitation and avoid discouragement of travel by air with unnecessary delays at the airports.

In 2017, the Federal Government Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria was launched at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos by the then Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, which removed manual baggage checking counters and replaced it with one harmonized screening machine at the airport departure hall. This eased the long queues at the check-in-counters of the airlines but with time the security operatives ganged up and arranged another physical interface with passengers besides the x-ray machine at the entrance to departures.

Seasoned airport security specialists are of the view that any security system that accepts bribery or extorts money from passengers or any other airport user is compromised because the system is already eroded and rendered porous.

Experts’ Views

Many industry stakeholders have frowned on the nefarious activities of security operatives at the nation’s airports.

Chairman/CEO of Omni Blu Aviation (OBA) Limited and former Director General of Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Akin Olateru, advised that government should seriously look into this issue and noted that even Nigerians passing through the airports are also embarrassed by the actions of some airport personnel

“I honestly wish we could do something about this. It is the same experience in all our international airports. Even we Nigerians are frustrated about it. Leaving or arriving Nigeria for Nigerians is always stressful. Immigration asking for telephone number, address, flight number, etc. on arrival for Nigerians is absolutely rubbish. Showing your travelling documents more than 10 times on departure is nonsense,” Olateru said. 

He suggested that FAAN and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in conjunction with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), should please organise training on ICAO ANNEXE 9 (facilitation) for all airport workers, as Nigeria is a signatory to this protocol. 

“From the time you arrive at the airport till when you sit on the plane shouldn’t be more than 30 minutes. This is what all ICAO member states signed for in Annexe 9. On arrival, from the time you step out of the plane to when you get to your car with your luggage, it shouldn’t be more than 45 minutes. The action plan is that we must audit all our processes and simplify them. This is the only way we can reduce corruption. FAAN, NCAA, NSIB and all other relevant agencies should audit all their processes and simply them,” Olateru further said.

He also observed that there is no country in the world where you have multilayered checks as it is in Nigeria, emphasizing that such multilayered process encourages corruption.

“I have been to all the countries and I have never seen all the cumbersome checks as we have in Nigeria. We definitely need to do something about this because multiple checks breed corruption. Such multiple checks are against ICAO regulation. We need to sanitize our airports,” he advised.

Minister’s Assurance

Nwanyiocha’s comment on her experience seems to be a wakeup call to once again make efforts at eradicating the menace of extortion and begging at Nigeria’s airports.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, in reponse to the viral video said: “I have received several complaints about the menace of begging and extortion at our International airports by a few unscrupulous persons who give all of us a bad image. My phones are beeping every minute with messages about this from well-meaning Nigerians. 

“Just to set the records straight, most of the agencies involved in this menace are not under the control of the Aviation Ministry, though they are stationed at our airports. However, I have been working closely with other Ministers, arms of government and agencies who are responsible for these agencies and a solution is in sight soon. We are all working under the coordination of the National Security Adviser who called a meeting a few days ago on this issue and we shall soon unveil practical steps being taken to stem this ugly tide. We thank Nigerians for their eternal vigilance on this issue.”

Hopefully, this time Nigeria will get it right. The multiple checks at the airports promote physical interface and cause delays and the shameless way some officials solicit for money from travellers remain unnerving and embarrassing.