The number of passengers arriving at and leaving airport terminals across the country has sharply declined due to the ongoing increase in airfares to local destinations.

It was observed that the three busiest terminals in Nigeria, the local airport terminal in Abuja, the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) in Lagos, and Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos (MMA2), did not process many passengers for travel.

These airports are typically only crowded with incoming travellers as most airport employees complained that low traffic was a result of increased airfares.

According to BusinessDay, aircraft fuel currently accounts for roughly 45% of operating costs, followed by labour (17%), aircraft rent and ownership (8.5%), non-aircraft rents and ownership (7%), professional services (4.5%), landing fees (2%), food and beverage (1.5%), maintenance materials (13%), and transport-related (1.5%).

It was also revealed that airlines run a B737 aircraft for more than four times that amount due to the current exchange rate and rise in aviation fuel prices, which are now almost N1,300 per litre.

In addition, as the value of the naira rises relative to the dollar, airlines must raise ticket prices.

Ticket Prices By Major Airlines

According to the newspaper, a one-way economy class ticket from Lagos to Abuja, which cost N55,000 a few months ago, is now available on Air Peace for between N100,000 and N150,000, or N90,000 to N160,000 on United Nigerian Airlines.

While it ranges from N70,000 to N130,000 on Dana Air and N170,000 to N200,000 on Ibom Air.

Similarly, a one-way economy class ticket from Lagos to Port Harcourt used to cost roughly N55,000, but now it costs between N105,000 and N160,000 on Air Peace and N85,000 and N100,000 on United Nigeria Airlines.

It also ranges from N65,000 and N125,000 on Dana Air, N96,000 and N130,000 on Ibom Air, and N86,000 and N170,000 on Arik Air.

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Speaking with the news platform, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of United Nigeria Airlines, Osita Okonkwo, said: “Currently, aviation fuel has increased to N1,300 per litre or even more. Forex is over N1,000 for one dollar. So, if we are leasing aircraft, how do we pay for the aircraft, having paid for spare parts? The minimum cost of airfare should be $100.

“So, I don’t even see how you can fly for less than N150,000, and you will make a profit. Anybody telling you he is making it is not telling you the truth. Once the cash runs out, you will see operators parking their aircraft as some have done already.”

Also, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Geena Travels And Tours Ltd, Ndukwe Ginika Ogechi, said passenger turnout at local destinations has been scant lately due to the cost of tickets.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports a significant hike in the price of Household Kerosene (HHK), a common fuel for cooking. This parallels the country’s inflation rate, which escalated to 31.70% in February.

According to Channels TV, the NBS’s latest ‘National Household Kerosene Price Watch’ reveals that the price per litre of kerosene increased from N1,329.53 in January to N1,340.94 in February 2024, marking a 0.86% rise.

This price inflation in household kerosene comes when the country’s overall inflation rate also spiked from 29.90% in January to 31.70% in February, underlining the broader economic pressures facing Nigerians.

On a year-on-year basis, the cost of kerosene per litre surged by 14.23% from N1,173.89 in February 2023, intensifying the financial strain on low-income families.

The state-by-state analysis shows that the highest average kerosene prices were in Kaduna at N1,866.67, Benue at N1,769.67, and Niger at N1,710.89.

Conversely, the lowest prices were recorded in Bayelsa at N971.00, Rivers at N1,065.67, and Kwara at N1,070.44.

Geographically, the North Central zone faced the highest costs, with an average price per litre of N1,486.50, while the South-South enjoyed the lowest at N1,231.24.

Gallon-wise, the average retail price in February 2024 was N4,880.02, up by 0.19% from January.

The annual increase was even starker, with a 24.29% rise from N3,926.23 in February 2023. Adamawa, Bauchi, and Kano topped the list for the highest per gallon prices, while Delta, Abuja, and Ondo had the lowest.

The NBS inflation report also highlighted the broad impact on various sectors, with food and non-alcoholic beverages leading the contributors to the headline inflation index.

Rising prices in essential sectors such as housing, transportation, and healthcare have a cumulative effect that further erodes the purchasing power of Nigerians, many of whom struggle to afford basic necessities.

Founder of Madonna University, Nigeria, Rev Fr Emmanual Edeh, has claimed that female students who enrol in the university as virgins always graduate as virgins due to the high moral standards instilled in them.

Edeh made this statement in a video posted by Channels Television on Wednesday, underscoring the university’s commitment to morals and discipline.

He also mentioned that when he meets people around the world seeking to marry a virgin, the only option is Madonna University.

His words: “Madonna is a university where there is no secret cultism, molestation, examination malpractice, no bullying, and zero tolerance for hard drugs. zero tolerance for sexual immorality.

“It is only in this university that it is clearly maintained that girls who enter the university as virgins graduate as virgins. They enter our university as virgins and graduate as virgins.

“Tell me any other university in the whole world that can maintain this. That is why people from London, America, England, and Germany, when I meet them, will say, Father, we want to marry a girl who is a virgin. And the only way to do that is to come to Madonna University.”

Speaking on the high standard of morals and discipline at the school, Edeh mentioned that students who do not meet the 85 per cent attendance requirement are not permitted to sit for examinations, and lecturers who do not achieve 100 per cent attendance are penalised.

“Although we have students from all walks of life across religious and social lines, So we don’t discriminate; we give all… We follow our Catholic methods. Madonna University is unique in its following ways: high morals and discipline. Madonna is known for its high morals and discipline thus in academics.

“This is why every student who fails to meet the required 85 per cent attendance requirement to lecture for any course will not be allowed to sit for the examination. Also, lecturers who fail to come to classes in 100 per cent of their course outline are sanctioned.

“And also, number two, the 100 per cent residency of our students… that means we don’t allow our students to go and live in hotels or in any other place and start coming to the school.

“Our 100 percent boarding system on the university campus enhances effective monitoring, guidance, and counselling, and with all the levels of management to know the students better, for more appropriate guidance.”

Madonna University was established in 1999 and has three campuses – Okija, Anambra State; Elele, Rivers State; and Akpugo, Enugu State.

Former Governor of Abia State and the immediate-past Senator who represented Abia Central district in the 9th Senate, Senator Theodore Orji, has flatly denied receiving any dime from Abia State Government as pension since his exit as Governor in 2015.

Senator Orji spoke exclusively with Vanguard on the heels of the recent abolition of the Abia State Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law by the State House of Assembly.

The Bill entitled:”H.A.B 11: The Abia State Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law Repeal Bill 2024″ was sponsored by the Majority Leader and member representing Arochukwu state constituency, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu.

Speaking through his former Chief Liaison Officer, Hon. Ifeanyi Umere, Senator Orji, said nobody had paid him any pension as former Governor, adding that he has also never asked for it as a matter of morality since he moved to the Senate immediately after leaving office as Governor.

He said:”Since T. A Orji left office as Governor, he has not received any penny as pension.

” He transited from Governor to Senate and he made it a point of morality that he will not, and he didn’t ask for any pension or question anybody about it because he is not interested in it.”

READ ALSO: NASS: Tinubu seeks more restraint in exercise of oversight functions

The former Governor who noted that the House of Assembly has the constitutional powers to review any laws of the state, said he was not part of the scrapped pension law.

“The House of Assembly has the prerogative to periodically review the laws of the state. It’s in their powers to do so but nobody should link Senator Orji with the said pension law because nobody has paid him any pension after leaving office as Governor.

“Senator Orji has not received any pension as former Governor, and as a statesman he has not asked for any. He didn’t receive any pension from Okezie Ikpeazu and he didn’t pay anybody too.”

Leading the debate on the floor of the House, the Sponsor of the Bill, argued that if passed into law, it would help to reduce the cost of governance.

According to him, the humongous amount used in paying the former Governors and their Deputies, would have been channelled into other better uses.

He said that it was not fair for the welfare of the majority of the citizens to be sacrificed on the altar of the comfort of only few individuals who are already comfortable.

The Labour Party lawmaker, therefore, urged his colleagues to give the Bill accelerated hearing, and to consider it for passage.

Other members of the House spoke in favour of the bill, and later it was passed into law.

Announcing the passage of the bill, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, commended his colleagues for their forthrightness, understanding and maturity in supporting the passage of the Bill.

The Speaker who said the passage of the bill was in tandem with the yearnings of the majority of Abians, said the current Assembly would always make people-centric laws.

The Delta State Police Command said its personnel have not been able to access the troubled Niger Delta community of Okuama because of an ongoing military operation.

The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda stated this in an interview on Arise Television.

The commissioner said, “We have not been able to move into this community. Yes it is our responsibility as the primary line of defense in internal security. But when you have another sister agency conducting an operation, the reasonable thing to do is to wait for them to finish.

“We have not been able for now to get into Okuoma because of the volatile nature of what is presently ongoing around that environment.”

Abaniwonda further stated, “They are working hand in hand with other security agencies to make sure that those who murdered 16 soldiers are caught.

“In the Okuama incident, we have an ongoing military operation there. We have been on ground, we have been supportive. We have not been missing in action. Technology has been an integral part of present day policing. These individuals are being tracked.

“Effort is being made to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to book. We are working in conjunction with other security agencies and I can assure you that we are making progress.”

Speaking on the current situation within the Okuama community, he said, “Most of the places are deserted. I would not like to say more than that. It’s an ongoing military operation. I think when these things are ongoing, it is better that things are not said that might aggravate or pass information to those who are looking for.”

However, the commissioner assured that the police are offering their full support toward ensuring the safety and protection of life and property in the state.

“I can assure you that very very soon, we will be able to get in. For us to get to Okoloba and Okuoma, you would need to get clearance. So we are working on this so that we can also ensure the safety of our people who are in those environments.

“But we are on the ground, we are in our divisions, we are in our outpost, we are in our various formations. We are rendering our services, which is what the mandate of the inspector general of police is. Protection of lives and property. We are doing this. Not just in this community but all over Delta state,” he said.

Popular Nigerian actor, Timini Egbuson has revealed that he is in a serious relationship and even considering marriage as he is not getting any younger.

The actor disclosed this while featuring as a guest in the latest episode of the ‘Who’s In My House,’ hosted by Hawa Magaji.

He said his love languages are acts of service and words of affection, adding that he wants to be more available to his partner this year.

He said, “My strongest love language is act of service, and also words of affection because I am a good talker. For me, because I am very busy, it’s not very realistic for me to focus on quality time and I feel like that’s something I am working on. Like I said, this year I want to be a little bit more available so that I can spend quality time with my partner.”

The host, Hawa inferred, “You have a partner?”

Egbuson replied, “Yes, actually. Oh my God I said it! I think I am in love. It’s time for me to start considering marriage. I am not a kid anymore. 40 is knocking on the door.”

He added, “In order to be a better boyfriend you have to be available. Because no matter how you tried to explain or compensate with material things, there would be really nothing like your presence, you know.”

 

 

 

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New measures to enforce tougher visa rules for Nigerians students have been announced by the Australian Government.

Reuters reports that from Saturday, English language requirements for student and graduate visas will be increased, adding that the government will get the power to suspend education providers from recruiting international students if they repeatedly break rules.

“The actions this weekend will continue to drive migration levels down while delivering on our commitments in the migration strategy to fix the broken system we inherited,” Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said in a statement.

The report said that a new “genuine student test” will be introduced to further crack down on international students who look to come to Australia primarily to work, while the imposition of “no further stay” conditions will be used on more visitor visas.

The development follows a raft of actions last year to close off COVID-era concessions introduced by the former government, including unrestricted working hours for international students.

The government at the time said rules would be tightened for students that could halve its migrant intake over two years.

Australia boosted its annual migration numbers in 2022 to help businesses recruit staff to fill shortages after the COVID-19 pandemic brought strict border controls, and kept foreign students and workers out for nearly two years.

However, the sudden influx of foreign workers and students has increased pressure on an already tight rental market.

Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday showed net immigration rose 60% to a record 548,800 in the year to Sept. 30, 2023, higher than the 518,000 people in the year ending June 2023.

Overall, Australia’s population rose 2.5% – the fastest pace on record – to 26.8 million people in the year to last September.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been urged to shelve his ambition to contest in the 2027 presidential election.

The president of the National Political Science Association of Nigeria (NPSA), Prof. Hassan Saliu, has accused him of stifling the growth of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of his ambition.

Atiku was the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 elections, and there are indications that he will contest again in the 2027 polls.

Speaking to Punch, Prof Saliu said, “Atiku’s ambition is affecting the growth of the PDP. We follow the debate and the controversy.

“The issues in the PDP before the presidential primary, and even after the presidential primaries, those issues are still there. They have not faded away.

“So, the only way to give PDP a semblance of unity is for Atiku to drop his ambition. There are too many issues surrounding Atiku’s ambition.

“Given his age, if he comes out to contest for president under the PDP next time, I don’t know what will happen to the PDP before that time. But I am assuming that decision may not go down with people at PDP. It is time for Atiku to look at the political temperature and advises himself accordingly.

“Atiku’s interest will not supersede the interests of the PDP; each time this man emerges as a presidential candidate, there are always issues that will eventually affect the chances of the party. This is the right time for Atiku to allow the PDP to breathe fresh air.”

Nigerian journalist, Reuben Abati, has lambasted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over his performance since he resumed office on May 29.

Reuben, during the Arise TV morning show, said things have gone worse under the Tinubu-led administration.

There is no doubt that the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of the exchange rate made the most impact in the history of the Nigerian economy.

The impact was severe due to the inflation that engulfed the system as prices of almost everything in the economy tripled, with many Nigerians battling hardship.

Reacting to the country’s situation, Abati stated that the country’s condition had gotten worse, stressing that Buhari, whom many had criticized his administration, would be making a mockery of Nigerians.

He noted that the governance of Nigeria should be improved by successive governments and not by engaging in backwardness.