Passenger Traffic For African Airlines Rises By 116.2% —IATA
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Thursday said African airlines recorded a 116.2 per cent increase in passenger traffic in April 2022 compared to the same period in March 2021.
This was disclosed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in a statement issued on Thursday, indicating that air travel continues to be on a strong recovery trend.
According to IATA African airlines’ traffic increase is better than the 93.3% year-over-year increase recorded in March 2022.
And when compared month on month, April 2022 figure was up 65.7% and load factor climbed 15.7 percentage points to 67.3%.
Nigerian commercial airlines flying across Africa space include, Air Peace, Arik Air.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director-General, said, “With the lifting of many border restrictions, we are seeing the long-expected surge in bookings as people seek to make up for two years of lost travel opportunities.
“April data is cause for optimism in almost all markets, except China, which continues to severely restrict travel.
“The experience of the rest of the world is demonstrating that increased travel is manageable with high levels of population immunity and the normal systems for disease surveillance. We hope that China can recognize this success soon and take its own steps towards normality,” he added.
European carriers’ April international traffic rose 480.0% versus April 2021, substantially up over the 434.3% increase in March 2022 versus the same month in 2021. Capacity rose 233.5% and load factor climbed 33.7 percentage points to 79.4%.
Asia-Pacific airlines saw their April international traffic climb 290.8% compared to April 2021, significantly improved on the 197.2% gain registered in March 2022 versus March 2021. Capacity rose 88.6% and the load factor was up 34.6 percentage points to 66.8%, still the lowest among regions.
While Middle Eastern airlines had a 265.0% demand rise in April compared to April 2021, bettering the 252.7% increase in March 2022, versus the same month in 2021. April capacity rose 101.0% versus the year-ago period, and load factor climbed 32.2 percentage points to 71.7%.
For North American carriers’ April traffic rose 230.2% versus the 2021 period, slightly above the 227.9% rise in March 2022 compared to March 2021. Capacity rose 98.5%, and load factor climbed 31.6 percentage points to 79.3%.
Latin American airlines experienced a 263.2% rise in April traffic, compared to the same month in 2021, exceeding the 241.2% rise in March 2022 over March 2021.
Latin American April capacity rose 189.1% and load factor increased 16.8 percentage points to 82.3%, which easily was the highest load factor among the regions for the 19th consecutive month.
APC: Bishop Kukah, El-Rufai, Seven Others Considered For Bola Tinubu Running Mate
Reports have emerged claiming various caucuses of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have commenced intense push to produce the running mate for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It was gathered that eight names have been penciled down as possible running mate for the former Lagos State governor but northern political clout and the fear of a Muslim-Muslim ticket is currently leaving APC leaders in a dilemma.
The eight names that have so far emerged included Governors Babagana Zulum (Borno), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Samuel Lalong (Plateau); former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima (who led Tinubu campaign organisation); former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.
Top critic of the APC and Bishop of Catholic Diocese in Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah has surprisingly emerged among those been considered.
Daily Tribune quoted a source as saying, “The only drawback for Kashim Shettima is that he’s not Hausa/Fulani and that it will be the first time Hausa/ Fulani will not be represented in government. The same holds for Dogara, Boss, Lalong.
“Another source claimed that there is a strong push for Bishop Hassan Matthew Kukah who retires later this year to balance the ticket, in spite of his occasional acerbic views on the APC federal administration.”
It was gathered that leaders of the northern region are bent on securing the interest of the region in the next general election in the country.
Those proposing the possibility of a Muslim-Muslim ticket are of the opinion that that is the only way of stopping northerners from voting against Bola Tinubu.
The source added: “The APC is likely to fly a Muslim/Muslim ticket because some influential members of the northern establishment have insisted that they do not want a Christian vice president in the North.
“There’s no Christian who can match Kashim Shettima in the entire North. Dogara can’t win more than Tafawa Balewa Local Governnent Area in Bauchi State. The SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, is neither Hausa nor Fulani and can’t win in multi-ethnic Adamawa State.
“Lalong is neither Hausa nor Fulani stock, so the majority Hausa Fulani may not accept him. Let’s look at the turn of events, something tells me it will be a Muslim/ Muslim ticket.”
Lalong is seen by some influential members of the northern establishment as part of the ethnic minorities who are spread across such states as Plateau, Benue, Kogi and Niger.
INEC Releases More Machines For Voters’ Registration
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released more machines to ease the ongoing voter’s registration exercise.
This followed complaints from Nigerians about the problems in the exercise.
The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who confirmed the development in a statement on Friday, said the commission’s response was to decongest the number of prospective voters across the country.
He assured Nigerians of effective monitoring of the process, adding that everyone would be duly registered.
The statement read: “The Independent National Electoral Commission has received reports from our states indicating an unprecedented surge in the number of citizens that wish to register as voters and the challenges they face across the country. In some states, the sudden turnout of prospective registrants is overwhelming.
“Consequently, the Commission convened an urgent meeting with all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) yesterday Thursday 9th June 2022 to review the situation so that eligible Nigerians who wish to register are able to do so. The necessity for urgently deploy more voter enrollment machines to ease the congestion at the registration centres was identified as a priority.
“In response, the Commission has immediately released additional 209 machines deployed mainly in the five South-East states, Lagos and Kano where the pressure is most acute.
“The Commission will monitor the situation in the next few days. Thereafter, it will meet to review the progress of the exercise.
“Every step will be taken and all options will be explored to ensure that eligible Nigerians are given the opportunity to register as voters.
“The sudden change is an affirmation of the increasing confidence Nigerians have in our electoral process. The Commission will continue to ensure that this confidence is sustained.”
Tinubu: CAN Rejects Proposed Muslim/Muslim Presidential Ticket In 2023
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned major political parties in the country against fielding Christian/Christian or Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket in 2023.
The Christian association made this known on Friday in a statement by its National Secretary, Joseph Bade Daramola.
The two major political parties (the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)) have produced Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar respectively as their presidential candidates. Both of them are Muslims.
With Atiku searching for a souther Christian to balance his ticket, reports emerged on Friday that the APC is looking to pair Tinubu with a strong Muslim northerner ahead of the 2023 election.
CAN has described moves to field candidates of the same faith as a threat to the fragile peace and unity of Nigeria.
The group congratulated the presidential candidates of the APC, the PDP, the Labour Party (LP), including other parties that are participating in the forthcoming Presidential election.
CAN urged that a balance of both religious practitioners be considered in the choice of running mates of the presidential candidates.
The association said: “We do not subscribe to Christian/Christian ticket or Muslim/Muslim ticket. Politicians can talk politics but we have stated our view long before now. Any party that tries same religion ticket will fail. This is not 1993. Even when we have joint Muslim/Christian ticket, the church still goes through hell. Only God knows the number of Christians that have been killed in the last seven years with no one apprehended or prosecuted.
“Imagine how bad it will be if we have two Muslims in power? The extant Nigerian Constitution promotes religious balance. So, if any political party wants to try Muslim/Muslim ticket, it’s at it’s own peril. CAN is only forewarning, but will make a categorical statement in the event our warning is not heeded.”
CAN stated that the presidential running mate for Tinubu should be a Christian from the North, Atiku’s running mate should be a Christian from the South while Obi should choose his own among the Muslims from the North.
According to the group, anything contrary to the above means that the leadership of these political parties do not bother about the unity of this entity called Nigeria.
“Those who are planning Muslim/Muslim ticket should also find out what was the outcome of MKO Abiola and Kingibe ticket in 1993. If they try Muslim/Muslim ticket this time around, the outcome will be worse because our fault lines are very visible.
“There is no party that has no great, good and patriotic Christians who can preside over the affairs of this nation not to talk of being the Vice President as some mischievous people are trying to say. If merit and competence are used as yardsticks, we have many qualified Christians in all the 774 Local Government Areas of this country,” the group said.
Soyinka Speaks On Paying Tribute To Tinubu
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has denied paying tribute to the former Lagos Governor and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.
Soyinka was reacting to a tribute to Tinubu attributed to him which had gone viral shortly after the former governor won the APC presidential ticket.
The playwright asked the general public to ignore the tribute meant to deceive them and to be on alert to the antics of faceless cowards spreading falsehood.
Soyinka added that he had never eulogised Tinubu on his political accomplishments, adding that he did not operate or own social media accounts.
He made this known in a statement titled, ‘I did not pay tribute to Tinubu- Soyinka’, issued by his spokesman, Abiola Owoaje.
The statement further said, “The literary luminary reiterated his position on the 2023 elections and the issues surrounding it, noting that he has no business meddling in the struggle for power by political parties in the country.
“Soyinka enjoins the general public to be on alert to the antics of faceless cowards spreading falsehood, adding that they should not partake in the despicable action of the authors by spreading the cocktail of lies.”
Meanwhile, former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has received his certificate of return after emerging as the flagbearer for the 2023 polls.
This is coming amidst speculations that Peter might be rejoining the Peoples Democratic Party as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate.
Peter Obi received the certificate at the Labour Party National Office Abuja on Friday, 10th June, in the presence of party members.
The Twitter post reads: “Mr. Peter Obi Receives Labour Party Certificate of Returns as its Presidential Candidate for 2023 presidential elections. Congratulations!!”
Gov Abiodun Visits Tinubu, Promises Support On 2023 Election
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Friday, visited the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, in Abuja, and promised to work for the party’s success in the 2023 election.
The governor reportedly worked for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during the APC presidential primary won by Tinubu.
Abiodun, who confirmed the development on his Twitter handle, said he visited the APC chieftain to congratulate him on his victory in the party’s presidential primary.
He wrote: “I paid a visit to our national leader, @officialABAT to congratulate him on his emergence as the presidential candidate of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, @OfficialAPCNg
“I also gave our assurances of support in the next political process that has now begun ahead of the 2023 presidential election.”
Umahi Wins APC Senatorial Ticket After Losing Presidential Primary
The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi has won the Ebonyi South senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress.
Umahi won the senatorial ticket of the APC in the re-run primary.
This is coming after Umahi lost in the presidential primary of the ruling party which was won by the party’s National Leader, Bola Tinubu.
The governor’s younger brother, Austin Umahi two weeks ago won the senatorial ticket of the ruling party.
However, after the Ebonyi State Governor lost the presidential ticket of the party, APC cancelled the primary election held last week and rescheduled it for Thursday night.
Umahi won the APC’s ticket in the rescheduled primary election, held at the Afikpo North Local Government Council.
In other news, the presidential candidate of the ruling party, Bola Tinubu in the early hours of Thursday visited Umahi.
The visit of the former Governor of Lagos State is coming after he visited Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja.
Tinubu’s visit to Ebonyi State Governor is part of his move to reconcile all presidential aspirants who lost to him in the just concluded presidential primary of the ruling party.
2023: Buhari Makes Promises To Tinubu After Emerging As APC Flagbearer
President Muhammadu Buhari has applauded the emergence of Bola Tinbu as the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tinubu polled 1,271 votes to emerge the winner of the just-concluded presidential primary election held on Tuesday and Wednesday at Eagle Square in Abuja.
In a letter addressed to Tinubu on Thursday, Buhari promised to work with the former Governor of Lagos State, his campaign team and the party to achieve victory in the 2023 presidential election.
The Nigerian leader commended Tinubu for what he described as his impressive acceptance speech which stressed the importance of unity in the party.
He expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise and said he was impressed with the presidential candidate’s performance.
The letter reads: “May I, on behalf of myself and my family, express once again, our warmest congratulations on your recent victory to become the Presidential Candidate of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). We also extend our congratulations to your lovely wife and the entire family.
“We were greatly reassured by your impressive margin of victory at the primary elections which demonstrated that our party, through its delegates, was united in its decision to select you as its Presidential flag bearer.
“I must also commend you for your measured and inspiring nomination acceptance speech that stressed the need for the party to unite as we move into the campaign season.
“Under your wise, experienced, and mature leadership, I have no doubt that this unity will be achieved in a short time.
“As a party, our successes over the last 7 years are clear for all to see. Significant accomplishments have been achieved in economic diversification, social investments and addressing insecurity and terrorism, especially in the North East and South-South and fighting corruption.
“Thus, your victory at the APC primaries represents for Nigerians, a source of hope for a future characterised by peace, prosperity and freedom for all.
“I look forward to working closely with Your Excellency, your campaign team and the wider APC family to ensure victory for the APC.
“Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and best wishes for your success in the upcoming campaign season and subsequent elections in 2023.”
Gov Wike Goes After Amaechi, Files Criminal Charges Against Former Minister
The Rivers State government, led by Nyesome Wike has filed criminal charges against the immediate former minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday directed the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zaccheaus Adangor to file criminal charges against the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over the alleged misuse of N96 billion proceeds of the sales of state assets.
Wike had in 2020 set up a commission to investigate the sale of significant assets including the Omoku Gas Turbine, Afam Gas Turbine, Trans Amadi Gas Turbine, Eleme Gas Turbine and Olympia Hotel by Amaechi’s administration in the state.
The Supreme Court dismissed the ex-governor’s move to stop the investigation last month.
Wike announced the decision to prosecute the former minister and an energy firm indicted in the deals, Sahara Energies, at the swearing in three new Commissioners at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers, Tonye Cole, is a co-founder of Sahara Energies.
The governor also directed the attorney general to write a strong letter of protest to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC), AbdulRasheed Bawa, over alleged harassment of the state’s former Accountant General, Siminialayi Fubara.
The commission had on May 24 declared Fubara, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state and 58 others wanted for alleged N435 billion fraud.
2023 Presidency: It’s Not A New Thing, We Will Deliver Adamawa For Tinubu – Babachir Lawal Boasts
A former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal has boasted that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu will win the 2023 election.
He stated that Tinubu will defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar even in his home state of Adamawa.
Lawal submitted that Tinubu is a good man and wouldn’t have any difficulty winning votes in any part of Nigeria because he has helped so many people in different parts of the country.
He added that they know every nook and cranny of Adamawa State and have all the material and intellectual resources needed to not only defeat Atiku in Adamawa but ensure total victory for Tinubu across the country.
Lawal made the submission during an interview with Channels TV on Thursday.
“We are there, and we are the ones from Adamawa who will deliver Bola Tinubu in the same way that we delivered Buhari while Atiku was contesting, in the same way, Adamawa delivered Goodluck Jonathan while Atiku was contesting, so it is not a new thing,” he said.
“We have our tentacles all over the state; it is our state, and we know our tendencies, Bola Tinubu will win Adamawa state.
“Whether he (Tinubu) makes it or not, only God knows, but we will work towards it and we believe that we have the instruments, we have the resources – both material and intellectual – to deliver Bola Tinubu as the president.
“Tinubu is a very good man. He is a very kind man, and you need to hear from some of the people he has helped, so many all over the country.
“He has sponsored people in Taraba, in Adamawa, in Gombe; he is somebody that has been helpful to almost every politician across the country,” the former SGF added.
Enugu govt trains 80 AUDA/NEPAD Agric extension workers
…As FG agency lauds Gov. Ugwuanyi’s contributions
The administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has organized a 5-day intensive training for over eighty (80) indigenous Agric extension workers in modern farming techniques under the African Union Development Agency (AUDA)/New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) Small Holder Farmers Project.
The training, according to the Coordinator of AUDA/NEPAD, Enugu State, Hon. Mrs. Mabel Agbo, will usher in the actual implementation of the Small Holder Farmer Project in the state.
Mrs. Agbo added that the programme will expose the participating farmers to international best practices in agricultural techniques for optimal results.
She said that “The farmers involved in the AUDA/NEPAD project actually need to be positioned to get the best out of the programme for them to acquire the requisite economic capacity to cushion the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
Flagging off the training in Enugu, tagged “Train the Trainers Workshop”, the AUDA/NEPAD State Coordinator enjoined the participants to show dedication and pay adequate attention, adding that the success of the AUDA/NEPAD farming project rests with them as “we are relying on you to impart religiously the knowledge you receive here to the two thousand farmers who will be participating in the AUDA/NEPAD project”.
Commending Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration for financing the training, the AUDA/NEPAD State Coordinator disclosed that “These two thousand benefitting farmers are expected to engage in the following value chain: poultry, piggery, fishery, cassava, rice, maize, Nsukka pepper production, snail production, palm kernel oil processing etc”.
Recall that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration recently trained over 260 young farmers on modern techniques in agriculture at CSS Global Farms, Keffi, Nasarawa State, to enable them rebrand and enhance their skills in the agricultural value chain.
Speaking further, the AUDA/NEPAD State Coordinator, Mrs. Agbo, pointed out that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration is passionate about the wellbeing of the masses and the need to ameliorate their sufferings owing to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the nation’s economy.
She stressed that the state government took interest in financing the training because of the core spirit behind the Small Holder Farmers Project, which is to stimulate the production of enough food in the society to cushion the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.
Mrs. Agbo, who is also the Enugu State Commissioner for Special Duties, applauded the National Coordinator of AUDA/NEPAD, Princess Gloria Akobundu and members of her team for “their commitment to helping Nigerians come out of the doldrums of lack and poverty”.
According to her, “The fact that AUDA/NEPAD Continental Office is financing a major aspect of the project is exciting and worthy of commendation. I am convinced that together we can make Nigeria and invariably, Enugu economically stronger, if we try hard enough”.
Represented by Mr. Onyekachi Okorafor, the Chief Executive Officer AUDA/ NEPAD Abuja, Princess Akobundu, commended Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration for financing the training of Agric extension officers, who will in return train about two thousand farmers that will participate in the AUDA/NEPAD project, aimed at strengthening Small Holder Farmers capabilities.
Princess Akobundu stated that the state government’s gesture was a demonstration of its commitment to finding alternative sources of livelihood for its citizens especially following the devastating effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
She noted that her mission in Enugu was to confirm that the standard adopted in the training process especially the choice of resource persons engaged and the content of the training modules were in line with international standards.
The AUDA/NEPAD Chief observed that the lectures were engaging and geared towards exposing the extension officers and invariably the farmers that will implement the project to modern farming techniques.
Expressing satisfaction with the standard of training, AUDU/NEPAD Chief Executive Officer urged the participants to take the exercise seriously as the success of the entire project rests on them, stressing that farming is a serious business that should be accorded priority attention.
Reacting, the participants lauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for his interest in food security and employment generation for the people of the state, especially the teeming youths.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, the Chairman of Enugu Farmers Association, Mr. Romanus Eze thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for availing them the opportunity to gain training in modern agricultural techniques to aid them in massive food production and empowerment.
Eze expressed delight at the state government’s steadfastness towards the programme in terms of finance and due process in selection of the participants, saying that “it is marvelous”
Other speakers at the event who commended Gov. Ugwuanyi and stressed the importance of the training which ended yesterday, were the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Matthew Idu, the Director of International Collaboration, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Enugu, Prof. Martin Anikwe, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Due Process and Budget Monitoring, Sir Sylvanus Onoyima, represented by Mr. Christian Ani.
PUBLISHED BY LEADERSHIP SCORECARD MAGAZINE.
