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Air Peace CEO Onyema commends FG over recovery of assets leased to Nigerian airlines
Barrister Allen Onyema, the Chairman/CEO of Air Peace, has commended the Federal Government for agreeing to guarantee aircraft leasing companies for the recovery of their assets leased to Nigerian airlines in case of default.
Onyema made the commendation when officials of Boeing air planes and officials of Aercap, led by Onyema, paid the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo a courtesy visit.
He gave the assurance that the FG will support domestic airlines after aircraft manufacturers expressed the willingness to offer Nigerian carriers dry lease opportunities if certain conditions were met by the country.
Keyamo expressed the willingness of the FG to strengthen the capacity of Nigerian airlines to compete on the global stage and reiterated the resolve of the FG to guarantee the release of lessors’ assets to its owners from any defaulting Nigerian airline.
During the meeting, Keyamo said his decision to enable leasers afford Nigerian airlines dry lease options is in line with the plans of the FG to boost the capacity of Nigerian airlines in order to enable them compete effectively in the international air transport market.
He assured Boeing, Aercap and other leasers that the FG would guarantee the release of their assets from any Nigerian carrier whenever there is default and emphasised that this is a new era and a new government, which has the emphasis to create enabling environment for Nigerian airlines.
The Minister gave the assurance that leasers will not be shortchanged over their assets; stressing that the government would do everything necessary to safeguard them from airlines in the case of default.
He also emphasised that lessors should inform government about the airline they are dealing with so that government would carry out due diligence on the operator’s financial status and other vital records.
Onyema thanked the FG for the commitment to help Nigerian carriers by agreeing in principle to give such guarantees to leasers worldwide.
He said, “By the Minister’s promise today, the government has indicated that it is not paying lip service to its plan to provide lifeline and support to Nigerian airlines and a positive revolution in the aviation industry is now imminent.”
He also commended the Minister on the stand he took for Nigeria on Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) in order to protect Nigerian carriers during the just concluded 15th International Civil Aviation Organisation Air Service Negotiation (ICAN2023) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where he led the country to, not only refuse the usual short-changing of the country through lopsided BASA agreements but, in one instance, walked out on a powerful nation that has disrespectfully refused to abide by the principle of reciprocity in her treatment of Nigerian airlines contrary to the BASA signed by both countries.
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Breaking: NHRC, LEDAP begin consultative forum on eliminating harmful traditional, religious practices
By Bonaventure Phillips Melah
A consultative forum to seek ways of eliminating harmful traditional religious practices that impact rights of women and gender equality in Nigeria is set to begin in Abuja.
Organized by the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, and the Legal Defence and Advocacy Project, LEDAP, the gathering is themed- “Empowering Traditional Rulers in Nigeria to Adopt and Implement Community Guidelines for Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination Against Women.”
Among dignitaries to speak at the event are Dr. Tony Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Chino Obiagwu, SAN, National Coordinator, LEDAP and Prof. Joy Ezeilo, SAN, Executive Director, Women Aid Collective.
Details later…..
The Director General of AGRHYMET, Dr. Issoufou Baoua, led a high-level delegation to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) as part of the Joint Mission on the operationalization of the Regional Climate Centre for West Africa and the Sahel (RCC-WAS).
He was accompanied by the WMO Representative for West, Central & North Africa, Dr. Bernard Gomez, and the ECOWAS Representative, Prof. Mansur Matazu.
The mission focused on advancing regional collaboration required to fully operationalize RCC-WAS — a key initiative designed to enhance climate services, strengthen resilience, and support informed decision-making across West Africa and the Sahel.
During the engagement, the AGRHYMET DG outlined the core objectives of the mission, which include strengthening institutional partnerships, aligning regional priorities, identifying capacity-building needs, and setting actionable milestones for the effective take-off of RCC-WAS.
Receiving the delegation, the Director General/CEO of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to the successful establishment of RCC-WAS. He emphasized that NiMet will provide technical expertise and tools — including MeteoWiz — participate in joint research efforts, and contribute to the development of advanced climate monitoring and forecasting capabilities for the region.
The visit marked a significant step forward in consolidating regional cooperation. Both institutions reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening climate services, and the meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the operationalization of the Regional Climate Centre for West Africa and the Sahel.
President Bola Tinubu has set up a high level committee to resolve issues on N4 trillion owed to federal contractors in the country.
According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the President also expressed displeasure over the huge debt.
He made the disclosure while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by the President at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said the President was enraged after learning that about 2,000 contractors are owed.
Onanuga, who stood in for the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said: “He made it very, very clear he is not happy and wants a one-stop solution.
“An important highlight in the course of the FEC meeting is that the President expressed very, very grave displeasure about the fact that contractors are being owed money.
“The DG (Director-General) of the Bureau of Public Procurement actually told the President that about 2000 contractors are being owed money and this made the President very, very upset.
“So the ministers are going to look into the problem to really find a solution, to find the money to be used in paying the contractors.”
The presidential aide explained that the committee has as members, the Ministers of Finance (and Coordinating Minister of the Economy), Wale Edun; Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Works, Dave Umahi; Education, Olatunji Alausa; Housing, Ahmed Dangiwa; and Marine & Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, along with the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Kurfi; and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji.
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