News

FG’s Palliative to NANTA Intact, Members Delaying Disbursement – Akporiaye

Published

4 years ago

February 9, 2021

Eric

By Ajibade Morakinyo

The President of National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, has declared that the palliative received from Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation is intact as some members refused to send their account details to the agency for disbursement.

This was made known during the first quarter media parley on the state of travel trade/aviation sector on Tuesday as she acknowledged that the funds which in total is N196million will only go to certified financial members of NANTA and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) which in total are over 800.

According to her, the palliative might not be able to solve all havoc the COVID-19 pandemic has wrecked on its members but it will be able to cater for one or two bills in their business.

She made it known that the pandemic challenged the very legacy of united NANTA with its members not sure of what to expect or where the next meal and business will come from. “Yet, some members are not sending; they think we’re lying and we’re giving them time to send the details. This is why there is delay in disbursement.”

“Moreover, evidence of disbursement must be sent back to the Ministry. And when the association was recently contacted by the Ministry from Abuja for the evidence of disbursement, I told them what our plight is, and they understand that until we have our members’ details complete, we’re not disbursing the fund,” she said.

Recalling the impacts of the pandemic on the sector, the President said the impact on global travel and consequent impact on Nigerian travel trade sector was like the road to Gethsemane. “It was brutish, unexpected and fearful.

“It was at this hour of global and national darkness that my administration came on board. We built a coalition, not only from our members but also our principals. We had to think out of the box and give hope, opportunities and strengths to our members. No doubt, this helped them remain focused even in the midst of these challenges.

“We are working round the clock to provide more services and opportunities for our members, particularly in reaching out to our various stakeholders to provide windows of opportunities and support to NANTA members at this critical time.”

From the statistics released by the President, she said the NANTA total sale for 2020 first quarter in comparison to 2019 shows how deepened the pandemic ate into the sector productivity.

The statistic pegged the sales of January 2019 at $57.79million, while that of January 2020 was $70.03million. February 2019 saw $51.52million compared to that of February 2020 $59.16million. March 2019 recorded $80.55million, while March 2020 recorded $23.26millions. While April 2019 saw $92.52million, April 2020 saw a loss of $-1.38million. This pegged the total sales recorded for 2019 first quarter at $282.6million, while that of 2020 first quarter was $151million.

However, the President lauded the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the support given to NANTA in such a time like this. “They gave us a shoulder to lean on, supporting our recovery efforts, oxygenating the breath to our collective future and survival.”

She stated that IATA has been so lenient with the association. “Our annual obligations were reconsidered since 2020 was a year of tumor coupled with the foreign exchange challenges with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).”

“With this, we only sent them a comprehensive letter demanding a review. We didn’t win the battle but they gave us a soft-landing. They even encourage our members to communicate with them by opening a communication channel for counselling and advice on what to do to stay afloat the challenges from the pandemic.”

Speaking on forex challenges with bank, NANTA Financial Secretary, Mr. Daisi Olotu, said the association’s request of $60,000 from the bank to pay the annual dues of all its members across the country to IATA was denied as the bank was only able to give $4,000; sometimes $2,000 or $3,000.

“The bank made it known to us that they will continue to bid the requested amount from CBN, and this was what we related to the IATA; and they listened to us.”

He, therefore, urged the authority in charge of forex to consider the sincerity of purpose of those requesting foreign exchange in order to ensure the activities of those; like NANTA who are massively in need of forex are not in jeopardy.

The President also revealed that the COVID vaccination is the road to the recovery of the sector as this would enable travelers to be confident about their health safety.

She also urged the members of the association to be patient and not cut corners to remain above the waters.

“In weeks to come, we have instructed our training committee to come up with training modules beneficial to our members as we take bold steps to engage alternate openings which can help us provide better services to Nigerian passengers and our stakeholders”

The parley was graced by NANTA Lagos Zone Vice-President, Mr. Yinka Folami; NANTA Vice-President, Hezekiah Afolabi, and members of the press.

News

Court Sacks Pro-Wike Rivers PDP Chairman

Published

1 day ago

January 14, 2025

Eric

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on Monday, sacked Chukwuemeka Aaron, as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.

Chukwuemeka is a loyalist of the former Governor Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Justice Stephen Jumbo, in his ruling, nullified the PDP ward, local government and State congresses held in July 2024.

The development is coming barely one month after another High Court nullified the ward, local government and State congresses of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ruling sacked another Wike’s loyalist, Chief Tony Okocha, as the Rivers State chairman of the APC.

The court’s decision to sack the PDP chairman followed a dispute over the legitimacy of the PDP congresses.

The congresses were conducted by a faction of the party loyal to Wike.

A State High Court presided over by Justice Charles Wali had on July 20, 2024, stopped the PDP from going ahead with the ward, local government and State congresses.

News

Lawmakers Impeach Lagos Assembly Speaker, Obasa

Published

2 days ago

January 13, 2025

Eric

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.

The lawmakers are accusing Obasa of multiple statutory and financial infractions.

Peoples Gazette reports that the lawmakers replaced Obasa by his Deputy Lasbat Meranda.

Meranda, who represents Apapa Constituency 1, was also a former chief whip of the House.

Source: Daily Post

News

Chief of Army Staff Approves Redeployment of Senior Officers in Fresh Shakeup

Published

3 days ago

January 12, 2025

Eric

The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has approved the posting and appointment of some senior officers of the Nigerian Army (NA) to various command, staff and instructional positions.

According to the army spokesman, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the redeployment is a strategic move to enhance operational effectiveness and administrative efficiency.

The redeployment cuts across Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at the Army Headquarters (AHQ), General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Corps Commanders, Commandants of Army training institutions, Brigade Commanders and other key positions. The reshufflement underscores Nigerian Army’s commitment to ensuring robust and dynamic leadership structure capable of addressing emerging security challenges.

Some of the senior officers appointed as PSOs at the Army Headquarters include Maj Gen LA Fejokwu, from National Defence College to Department of Army Administration and appointed Chief of Administration (Army), Maj Gen GU Chibuisi, from Nigerian Army Resource Centre to Department of Civil Military Affairs and appointed Chief of Civil Military Affairs and Maj Gen AS Ndalolo, also from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre to Department of Army Training and appointed Chief of Training (Army). Others include Maj Gen OS Abai, from Department of Army Training to Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, appointed Chief of Transformation and Innovation and Maj Gen JH Abdussalam from Headquarters 6 Division to the Department of Special Services and Programmes and appointed Chief of Special Services and Programmes. Maj Gen EI Okoro has been redeployed from the Department of Army Logistics to the Department of Military Secretary and appointed Military Secretary (Army).

Senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) include Maj Gen OT Olatoye from Nigerian Army School of Infantry to Headquarters 82 Division/Joint Task Force (JTF) South East Operation UDO KA (OPUK) as GOC 82 Division/Commander JTF OPUK and Maj Gen EF Oyinlola from Department of Military Secretary to Headquarters 3 Division as GOC 3 Division/ Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH). The acting appointments of Maj Gen AGL Haruna as GOC 7 Division/Commander Sector 1 JTF North East Operation HADIN KAI and Maj Gen IA Ajose as GOC 8 Division/Commander Sector 2 JTF North West Operation FANSAN YANMA among others have been confirmed substantive in the recent redeployment.

Other senior officers redeployed are Maj Gen GO Adeshina from Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals to Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre and appointed Director General while Maj Gen GM Mutkut is posted from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Multi National Joint Task Force Njamena as the Force Commander. The redeployment also featured Maj Gen MC Kangye from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery to Defence Headquarters as the Director Media Operations.

Senior officers appointed as Corps Commanders include Maj Gen OC Ajunwa from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Nigerian Army Armour Corps and appointed Commander, Maj Gen HT Wesley from the Department of Special Services and Programmes to Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps, appointed Commander and Maj Gen TT Numbere from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Headquarters Nigerian Army Engineers and appointed Commander. Others include Maj Gen NC Ugbo from Department of Civil Military Affairs to Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals and appointed Commander, Maj Gen ZL Abubakar from Department of Army Transformation and Innovation to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and appointed Commander and Maj Gen AP Oguntola from Nigerian Army College of Education Science and Technology to Headquarters Nigerian Army Education Corps and appointed Corps Commander.

Other senior officers also affected in the redeployment are Maj Gen JO Sokoya, appointed Commandant Nigerian Army Training Centre, Maj Gen UM Alkali appointed Commandant Army War College Nigeria, while Maj Gen FS Etim from Department of Army Transformation and Innovation is redeployed to Nigerian Army School of Infantry, appointed Commandant. Maj Gen AB Mohammed has been redeployed from the Department of Army Operations to Depot Nigerian Army and appointed commandant.