Headlines

The Federal Government has announced the completion of repair works on the runway of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, ahead of schedule. The airport is set to reopen on Monday, April 28, 2025.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed the development on Sunday via his official X handle. He stated that the repair works were completed earlier than the initially projected date of May 6.

“Dear compatriots, we worked extra hard to meet the deadline we gave on the repair of the runway of Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu and finished way ahead of the scheduled date. It will now be open for use as from tomorrow (the 28th of April, 2025),” Keyamo wrote.

The reopening is expected to restore full operations at the airport, which had been closed for maintenance.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has upheld the $220 million fine imposed on Meta Platforms Incorporated by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu.

According to the statement, the tribunal also awarded an additional $35,000 to the commission to cover the cost of its investigation.

Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has described the recent mass defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other elected and party leaders to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as painful and disappointing.

Damagum made the remarks in Abuja during the presentation of the Certificate of Return to Mr. Jude Ezenwafor, the PDP governorship candidate for the upcoming Anambra State election.

He expressed dismay over the defection, citing the party’s unwavering support to Delta State in previous elections.

“It is very sad and unfortunate because, to me, if there’s any state that should think that way, not Delta, because the party has been very magnanimous,” he said.

Damagum noted that the defectors did not cite any wrongdoing by the party, adding, “I thank God that in their message, they didn’t say the party did anything wrong to them other than good.”

He described the decision as painful, emphasizing the support the PDP had extended to Delta State, including the emergence of the current governor and his predecessor, who was also the party’s vice presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.

“We least expected this action from them. All the same, this is a party that has seen more than that, but it’s still standing,” Damagum said.

He also announced plans by the party to take immediate action in reorganizing its structure in Delta State.

“I want to use this opportunity to say we’ll take over our structures immediately,” he added.

Damagum further stated that the 2027 general elections would not be determined by the number of governors a party has but by the support of Nigerians

Reverend Father Ibrahim Amos, the priest in charge of Saint Gerald’s Quasi Catholic Parish in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has regained his freedom after being abducted by bandits on Thursday morning.

His release was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday by the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Reverend Father Jacob Shanet.

According to the statement, Father Amos was released by his abductors at about 10 p.m. on Thursday.

The Diocese expressed gratitude to security agencies and members of the public for their prayers and support during the period of the abduction.

Reverend Father Shanet described the outpouring of concern as evidence that the church is not alone in its commitment to uphold the dignity of human life.

Father Amos was taken from his residence in the early hours of Thursday at Saint Gerald’s Quasi Catholic Parish in Kauru LGA.

The World Bank has projected that poverty levels in Nigeria will rise by 2027, despite the country’s vast natural resource endowment.

This forecast was contained in the latest Africa Pulse report released during the ongoing Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington, D.C., United States.

According to the report, sub-Saharan Africa continues to record the highest rate of extreme poverty globally, with a significant portion of the poor population concentrated in a few countries. The Bretton Woods institution noted that in 2024, approximately 80 percent of the world’s estimated 695 million people living in extreme poverty were in sub-Saharan Africa. This contrasts with 8 percent in South Asia, 2 percent in East Asia and the Pacific, 5 percent in the Middle East and North Africa, and 3 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Within Sub-Saharan Africa, half of the 560 million extreme poor in 2024 resided in four countries,” the report stated.

The World Bank further noted that non-resource-rich countries are projected to reduce poverty at a faster pace than those with abundant natural resources. It identified Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo—both classified as resource-rich but fragile states—as countries where poverty is expected to worsen, projecting a 3.6 percentage point increase between 2022 and 2027.

The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has called for an urgent need for improvement in the region’s healthcare sector.

The Managing Director of the Commission, Mr Muhammed Alkali, made the call during an interaction session with the Ministry of Regional Development and members of its board in Abuja on Thursday.

Alkali said that the region, with a population of about 30 million, currently has only one outdated MRI machine.

According to him, the NEDC is taking steps to address this gap by providing new MRI machines and creating centers of medical excellence across the region.

“We want to look at the health situation in the region, and we have made a lot of mapping across all the health institutions in the Northeast.

“There are a lot of gaps in the healthcare system, so we will like to create excellent healthcare Centers across the Northeast, ” he said.

He said that the only available MRI machine was 15 years old, which is just as good as non-functional.

“We want to have a center in Gombe that will take care of heart disease patients, a center in Taraba that will take care of internal medicine, and so on.

“And we also remember that during the flood in Maiduguri, all the items and equipment in the states were destroyed, so they need to be replaced.

“We are now taking action to provide one MRI machine in each state. This is because they service not only Northeast but also other neighbouring states too,” he said.

Alkali also revealed a comprehensive master plan that would transform the region by 2030, adding that the plan would be presented at its upcoming retreat

“On the upcoming retreat, we will produce the full document in December so that members, especially directors of ministries, can go through it and probably add more input.

“We are inviting directors of ministries and stakeholders to review and provide further input.

“The plan, already in operation, is structured into four strategic phases: Stabilisation (2020–2022), Renewal (2022–2024), Expansion (2024–2026), and Sustainable Growth (2026–2030).

“It is anchored on 11 pillars, ranging from peaceful society and leadership in agriculture to health, education, infrastructure, and regional integration,” he said.

He said that with a projected implementation cost of around 80 billion dollars (over N31 trillion ), the plan aims to rebuild the region’s social and economic foundations after years of insurgency.

“Key initiatives include the introduction of e-mobility, rehabilitation of critical infrastructure such as bridges, and the establishment of regional transport systems like airlines and railways.

According to him, the NESDMP, validated by the federal government and supported by various ministries, is designed to be flexible, with ongoing reviews to align with current realities.

“The commission is committed to completing all outstanding projects in roads, health, and education, ensuring sustainable development and improved quality of life for the Northeast’s residents,” he said.

The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, urged NEDC to prioritise impactful projects and collaborate with the Ministry for effective project execution.

He emphasised the ministry’s commitment to supporting the NEDC in its mandate to rebuild and transform the insurgency-affected Northeast region of Nigeria.

Momoh highlighted the importance of focusing on projects that can be started and completed within a reasonable timeframe.

He urged the commission to avoid “overextending” on initiatives that may not be deliverable.

He said that the ministry’s role was to assist the NEDC, noting that the success of the commission directly reflects on the ministry and the Federal Government’s broader development agenda.

The minister called for greater investment in critical sectors such as transportation, particularly rail connectivity and healthcare,

He emphasised the need for every state in the region to have advanced medical equipment like MRI machines.

He also encouraged the commission to explore setting up an investment corporation to ensure sustainable funding and value retention for ongoing and future projects.

Momoh reminded the NEDC of the need for transparency, regular communication, and adherence to approval thresholds, assuring that the ministry would provide guidance and support where needed.

He urged the commission to publicise its achievements, as visibility is key to ensuring that the public recognises the progress being made in the Northeast’s recovery and development.

The Commission Board Chairman, retired Maj.-Gen. Paul Tarfa, expressed deep appreciation for the collaborative platform.

Tarfa described the platform as both a moment of reflection and a reaffirmation of shared commitment to Nigeria’s progress.

He emphasised the commission’s unwavering dedication to working in close synergy with key partners.

According to him, coordination and strategic alignment are important in delivering on the NEDC’s mandate.

He reiterated the commission’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on inclusive growth, sustainable development, and improved welfare for all Nigerians.

Tarfa expressed confidence that through mutual support and strategic coordination, remarkable outcomes for national development would be achieved.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is currently holding a high-level closed-door meeting with aviation unions, the Permanent Secretary, and heads of aviation agencies in an effort to end the ongoing strike that has disrupted operations across the sector.

The emergency meeting, convened at the Minister’s instance, is taking place in Abuja and includes key representatives of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP). Among those in attendance are NUATE’s General Secretary, Comrade Ochema Abba, Deputy President Comrade Oluchi, ANAP President General Comrade Alale Adebayo, and Chairman Comrade Ambore Samson.

The strike, which has entered its second day, has crippled airport operations, disrupted flight schedules, and left thousands of passengers stranded at major airports including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano.

At the opening of the meeting, Keyamo reaffirmed his commitment to resolving the crisis.

“We are taking this seriously. I’m here with all relevant agencies to listen, to act, and to find common ground. We will resolve this soon,” the Minister said.

Although the unions’ specific demands have not been officially disclosed, sources indicate that they include issues related to staff welfare, unpaid allowances, and the non-implementation of previous agreements with the government.

Industry stakeholders have urged for a prompt resolution to avoid further damage to domestic and international travel.

As of the time of filing this report, the meeting was still in progress.