Despite the sordid economic situation in the country and the appeal for the downward review of tariffs, aviation companies have continued to hike fees upward, thereby causing more pain for airport users.

The latest to join the fray is Bi-Courteny Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, which on Tuesday, announced an increment in car park and lounge services at its terminal to as high as 33 per cent.

FAAN started an upward review of tariffs

By July this year, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), had increased the toll at the Lagos Airport by about 50 per cent.

FAAN had on July 1, 2023, increased fares paid by motorists plying the route from N200 to N300 for cars, Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) were made to pay N500 from N300, while trucks (six tyres) paid N1,000 from N500 and trailers’ fee (eight tyres upward) was reviewed from N1,000 to N2,000.

Also, within the period, FAAN had increased its annual registration from N80,000 to N85,000 and N100,000, depending on the vehicle.

At the Abuja airport, FAAN had in the same July, reviewed upward the toll fare.

According to the new tariff, cars now pay N300 from the previous N200, while SUVs are charged N500 from the previous N300.

Bi-Courtney Follows suit

A statement by BASL’s Head of Corporate Communications Department, Ajoke Yinka-Olawuyi on Tuesday, said that the new tariffs for car park and VIP Walk-in Lounge would commence on November 1, 2023.

Yinka-Olawuyi posited that the tariff upward review was in light of the new economic reality in the country.

She said that the decision had long been held down, in clear economic solidarity with the airport terminal users, despite its inevitability, until it became inevitable for smooth and excellent operational purposes.

The statement quoted Mr. Kola Bamigboye, Head of Spaces and Premises for BASL, as saying that the car park tariffs had been revised to align with its ongoing efforts to maintain and upgrade the facilities, ensuring a safe and convenient parking experience for its passengers.

Bamigboye posited that the new car park tariff structure would take into cognisance car park users who spend less than 30 minutes within its multi-storey car park facility, thereby making it more convenient for users.

33.3% increase on VIP Lounge

For the lounge access fee, Esther Ojeiwa, Supervisor-In-Charge of Lounge Services at MMA2, said the upward review of 33.3 per cent was necessary in order to maintain topnotch services at the lounge.

Ojeiwa stated that the MMA2 VIP walk-in lounge was accessible to travellers seeking comfort and convenience, as it provides a serene environment to relax and unwind before boarding and take off scheduled flights.

She added: “To further enhance the lounge experience, we have updated our lounge tariffs, offering even greater value for your money.”

The statement assured the public that the changes were essential to support ongoing improvements to its facilities, services, and overall passenger experience at MMA2.

[Nairametrics]

A Nigerian Army Special Court-martial sitting in Abuja on Tuesday found a former Group Managing Director, Nigerian Army Properties Limited, Maj.-Gen. Umar Mohammed, guilty of stealing some funds belonging to the organisation.

Daily Trust reports that Mohammed was tried on an 18-count charge bordering on forgery, misappropriation of funds, conspiracy among others.

The accused had, however, earlier pleaded not guilty to all the charges pressed against him.

But at the resumed sitting on Tuesday where the judgment was given, the eight-man panel led by Maj.-Gen. James Myam, stated that the convicted senior military officer was found guilty of 14 out of 18 charges.

Myam stated that count one was brought under section 383(1) of the Criminal Code Act Cap c38 law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and punishable under section 390 (7), adding the charge was also brought pursuant to section 114 of the armed forces Act Cap A20 2004.

The panel explained that the prosecution counsels called 24 witnesses, while the defendant called two witnesses.

The panel, thereafter, in its judgement ordered that the convicted senior officer be jailed for 5 years each for some of the offences while some others carried 7 and 2 years respectively.

While explaining that the sentences would run concurrently, the court also directed that he should refund some funds into the account of NAPL.

Myam explained that the sentences were subject to the confirmation of “confirming authority”.

Prior his sentencing, Mohammed had been in the detention facility of the Nigerian at Mogadishu cantonment, Abuja where he spent over 2 years.

[DailyTrust]

Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, has named Liverpool as his side’s biggest English rivals, snubbing last season’s title race rivals Arsenal.

According to Guardiola, the Reds will always be his biggest rival ahead of last season’s title race rivals Arsenal.

Speaking in a recent interview with Sky Sports, Guardiola said: “When I finish my career in England, Liverpool will have been my rival, our rival. Always.”

When asked where Arsenal fit in the rankings, the Spaniard continued: “Now, they will start to be there, and last season. But before, they were not there, to win the FA Cups, the title.

“They did not play in the Champions League. It’s the first season they are playing now in many, many years.

“So the [main] rivals have been Liverpool. But now, they [Arsenal] have knocked on the door and they are here and they arrived to stay, and Newcastle, and other teams.”

[DailyPost]

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday, October 10, said economic reforms started by President Bola Tinubu, would trigger stronger and inclusive growth for the economy.

Speaking during the presentation of World Economic Outlook at the ongoing IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Marrakech, Morocco, the Economic Counsellor and the Director of Research of the IMF, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas lauded the speed at which President Tinubu instituted important reforms on unified exchange rates and removal of subsidy on petrol.

He said the move would accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth projected by the Fund from 3.3 per cent this year to 2.9 per cent next year, and 3.1 per cent in 2024.

He said: “There is a downward revision for this year, partly this is because of the demonetization, the high inflation, the shocks to agriculture and hydrocarbon output. That is coming on top of all those external headwinds.

Mission Chief at IMF, Daniel Leigh, said that President Tinubu has moved quickly with important reforms including ending the fuel subsidies and unifying the official exchange rates. 

He said: “We welcome these initial bold reforms because we see them as paving the way towards stronger and inclusive growth.”

On Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), he said: “On SSA there is a slight downward revision for the region as a whole we are expecting growth at about 3.3 per cent this year and that’s about 0.2 percentage points downward revision, there is a slight downward revision for next year to about four per cent.

“For SSA we have growth bothering out in 2023 and coming back up in 2024 inflation is peaking but it is still in double digits for more than 40 percent of the economies, we see African growth at 3.34 per cent and that is above average but it is below the potential that Africa has and it needs to catch up more quickly.”

“The shocks ridden growth are diverse but there are several external ones coming from the higher food and fertilizer prices from the war in Ukraine the funding squeeze, harder to get capital and still very high spreads for several economies and exchange rate pressures.”

He said the global economy continues to recover from the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis. In retrospect, the resilience has been remarkable.

The global economy is limping along, not sprinting,” he said.

Gourinchas said the latest projections showed that the world economic growth will slow from 3.5 per cent in 2022 to three per cent this year and 2.9 per cent next year, a 0.1 percentage point downgrade for 2024 from July. This remains well below the historical average.

He said headline inflation continues to decelerate, from 9.2 percent in 2022 on a year-over-year basis, to 5.9 percent this year and 4.8 percent in 2024.

Gourinchas said: “Core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, is also projected to decline, albeit more gradually, to 4.5 percent next year. Most countries aren’t likely to return inflation to the target until 2025.

“As a result, projections are increasingly consistent with a soft landing scenario, bringing inflation down without a major downturn in activity, especially in the United States, where our forecast increase in unemployment is now modest, from 3.6 percent to 3.9 percent by 2025.”

Gourinchas said fiscal buffers have eroded in many countries, with elevated debt levels, rising funding costs, slowing growth, and an increasing mismatch between the growing demands on the state and available fiscal resources. This leaves many countries more vulnerable to crises and demands a renewed focus on managing fiscal risks.

[Nation]

A petrol-loaded tanker fell around Stadium Bridge, inward Ojuelegba  Surulere in Lagos state on Tuesday

This was disclosed in a statement made available to PUNCH Metro by the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq.

According to the statement, the accident occurred as a result of brake failure on the part of the truck.

The statement partly reads “Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and other emergency responders today prevented another petroleum fire explosion on top of Stadium Bridge inward Barracks/Ojuelegba on Funsho Williams Avenue, Surulere, Lagos.

He noted that relevant agencies which include the LASEMA Response Unit and the Lagos State Fire were immediately called to the accident scene to prevent a fire explosion.

The driver, Sefiyu Adamu was arrested and handed over to the Police for further investigation.

“Mr. Adebayo confirmed that in order to prevent another imminent fire explosion, LASTMA Officials as first emergency responders after arriving at the scene immediately called other emergency responders particularly the Lasema Response Unit and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services.

“Traffic Officer Olukoga Olajide who led LASTMA rescue operations to the scene confirmed that the driver of the falling Coniol tanker, Sefiyu Adamu, was arrested and handed over to the Police for further investigation.

“You will recall that the Lagos State Government restricted trucks including petroleum tanker drivers from plying the Ojuelegba, Stadium and Dorma-long bridges to forestall further accidents on the bridge.

“You will recall that the Lagos State Government restricted trucks including petroleum tanker drivers from plying the Ojuelegba, Stadium and Dorma-long bridges to forestall further accidents on the bridge.”

[Punch]

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2023 Internal Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) with a record of 61.60 percent of candidates scoring five credits and above including English and Mathematics.

The examination council disclosed that 93 schools were found to be involved in whole-school (mass) cheating while 52 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding, and abetting during the examinations.

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi disclosed this while announcing the release of the results of the Examination.

Wushishi said that the erring schools will be invited to the Council for discussion after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.

He said that 1,196,985 candidates representing 616,398 males and 580,587 females sat for the examinations adding that 1,543 candidates with special needs also sat for the examinations.

Wushishi noted: “Number of candidates with Special Needs is 1,542 which includes 913 candidates with hearing impairment, 162 candidates with visual impairment, 103 candidates with Albanism, 61 candidates with Autism, 149 candidates with low vision, and 154 candidates with Adermatoglyphia which are candidates with no fingerprints.

“737,308 representing 61.60 percent Candidates passed with five Credits and above, 1,013,611 representing 84.68 percent candidates had five Credits irrespective of English and Mathematics.”

[Vanguard]

As early as 4am local time on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 eligible voters including first time voters woke up from their beds to secure their respective spots in a queue in readiness to vote for the person of their choice including the presidency and members of both the houses of Senate and Representatives in this much anticipated elections.

In other to see for themselves and to also make sure that these elections are conducted freely with transparency, observers from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU), European Union (EU), the United States (US) and other international organisations for transparent elections also toured many of the polling centers around the Liberian Capital, Monrovia to see for themselves effort being applied by Liberians for a peaceful election.

During the tour early this morning in central Monrovia, Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, head of the ECOWAS delegation, and Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security who led the team including Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, ECOWAS Representative to Liberia during tour of various polling centers urged Liberians to be peaceful during these elections in the interest of their country.

Liberians themselves who stood in queue to vote for the person of their choice speaking to the GNN poured praises on the International Community including election observers from ECOWAS, AU, EU, and others international observers and monitors, and prayed that these elections will bring a new breed of leaders who will make the difference.

According to today’s protocol, the team is expected to visit the polling center where the incumbent President, George Manneh Weah is expected to cast his vote.

[gnnliberia]