General News
Aviation Records Significant Milestones in 2013-Dati
As aviation stakeholders in Nigeria take stock of activities in the industry in 2013, the consensus of opinion is that the industry recorded significant milestones during the year, according to Mr. Yakubu Dati, coordinating general manager, Communications for Aviation Parastatals.
He said that, it is mainly believed that these achievements were products of the Aviation Sector Master Plan (otherwise known as the Aviation Roadmap) created by the Princess Stella Oduah, minister of Aviation, to facilitate the implementation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda in the aviation industry.
Dati said: “Some of these milestones include the Airport Remodelling Project, which has led to the structural transformation of many airport terminals across the country, in keeping with international standards and practices.
During the year, work also started on the construction of five new international airport terminals in Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Kano, Abuja and Enugu under a memorandum of understanding between the governments of Nigeria and China.
“Another significant milestone is the commencement of international flights by Ethiopian Airlines at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on August 24, the first international flight from the south-east geopolitical zone of the country since independence. Following the remodelling of the international terminal of Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Turkish Airlines joined the list of foreign airlines operating at the airport on December 13. On October 29, Nigeria signed a Bilateral Air services Agreement (BASA) with Israel in Tel Aviv for the commencement of direct flights between the two countries.
“The ‘E’ and ‘D’ fingers of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport have been expanded extensively and put to use, with a full complement of such modern facilities as conveyor belts, security screening machines, immigration counters and transit lounges, which are at various stages of completion.
“The introduction of aerotropolis (airport cities) and perishable cargo export into the country’s aviation industry are major landmarks that are designed to make the industry make significant contributions to the country’s Gross Domestic product (GDP) even in the short term.
“The power and water improvement projects already being implemented at some airports, are projects that are designed not only to enhance safety and security at airports but would make life more comfortable for airport users at terminals”.
He added that one major symbolic event that took place in the industry in 2013 is the removal of abandoned aircraft from the country’s airports.
These abandoned aircraft not only constituted safety and security hazards but were also an eyesore especially to first time visitors to Nigeria. Several aviation ministers in the past had tried to remove these abandoned aircraft but failed.
A number of policies were also introduced by the Oduah led Ministry during this period, some of which were the removal of import duties on aircraft spares, providing an enabling environment for local airline operators to acquire new aircraft, reintroduction of a national carrier for the country and the automation of revenue points of all parastatals under the Ministry of Aviation.
Innovative financial institution and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, Wema Bank, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women’s empowerment by partnering with the SheCan Conference for the fifth consecutive year.
The collaboration has announced it would empower women with N2 million grant during the 6th edition of SheCan 6.0. conference, that will be held on July 18, 2025, at Balmoral, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.
The event is expected to host over 7,000 women under the theme “SheCan Do More.”
Announcing this partnership, Wema Bank through its women-focused platform, SARA by Wema, said it will be awarding ₦2 million in business grants to support women entrepreneurs within the SARA Community.
This grant is to support small and medium businesses within the SARA Community to scale up their business.
Ayodele Olojede, Head, Retail and SME Banking at Wema Bank, said, “Wema Bank is committed to empowering women entrepreneurs by providing the financial backing, tools, training, and networks they need to scale sustainably. Year after year, we’ve seen the incredible ripple effect that access, and opportunity can create in the lives of women and their communities.
“Through SARA by Wema, our goal is to create an environment where Nigerian women can dream bigger, build stronger, and lead the economy with confidence. This partnership with SheCan is a statement of belief in the power of women to transform society.”
“This year’s partnership represents more than sponsorship; it is a tangible investment in helping Nigerian women build sustainable businesses, scale their impact, and contribute meaningfully to economic growth.
“Eligible applicants must be women-led businesses with active Wema Bank accounts and must be registered members of the SARA Community.
“Interested participants are required to submit a written pitch of no more than two pages, detailing their business and founder story, the problem being solved, target audience and competitive advantage, proposed use of the grant, and the expected outcomes and community impact. Entries must also include the applicant’s Wema Bank account number, full name, and the email address used to join the SARA Community.”
Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted two companies, FARM360 Limited and MCBHADMOS Trans-Atlantic Trade Limited, for illegal capital market operations.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed that the companies were arraigned on June 16 by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC on a five-count charge for operating collective investment schemes without valid licences from either the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The charges allege that between 2021 and 2022, the firms collected approximately N80 million from several investors but failed to refund the money or pay accrued interest. One of the counts stated that the companies operated without a valid licence to conduct investment management, violating Section 57 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020.
The companies pleaded not guilty, but EFCC investigator Nnadikwu Izuchukwu Collins presented evidence that included a petition from investors who claimed the firms promised high returns through agricultural and forex trading investments. The petition revealed the group invested a total of N93 million.
Investigations showed neither FARM360 nor MCBHADMOS held the necessary licences from the SEC or CBN. A Fidelity Bank statement revealed that the N80 million received was used for personal purposes. The directors of both companies remain at large, with efforts underway to apprehend them.
The prosecution submitted bank statements, the investor petition, and official correspondence with the CAC, CBN, and SEC as evidence, all of which were admitted by Justice Dipeolu.
The court convicted both companies on all counts and imposed fines of N5 million per count.
In a related case, the court also convicted Quintessential Investment Company Limited for similar illegal capital market activities, following its arraignment on two counts of operating collective investment schemes without CBN approval.
Burna Boy, Grammy-winning Nigerian artist, has publicly distanced himself from a meme coin circulating online that falsely uses his name and image for promotion.
Burna Boy
In a statement shared via Instagram, the Afrobeats star made it clear that he has no involvement in any cryptocurrency ventures, describing such schemes as fraudulent.
His comments come amid growing traction of a meme coin allegedly linked to him, which has been circulating on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
“I don’t do any internet ‘coin’ business. I see it as fraud and I have no interest in any of that,” Burna Boy wrote. “So if you see anyone using my name for such, please disregard or report them.”
The singer urged fans to remain vigilant and to report anyone promoting the crypto project under false pretenses.
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