This is contained in a statement signed by Dr Ejike Ndiulo, head of Corporate Communications, Air Peace, on Wednesday in Lagos.
According to Ndiulo, the decision is necessary because NiMet is the agency responsible for issuing CNH (Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather) reports, critical for safe landings, especially during this season of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.
He said without these reports from the control tower, flight safety could not be guaranteed.
“As a safety-first airline, we have chosen to act responsibly by suspending operations until NiMet resumes full service.
“We understand this may cause inconvenience, and we sincerely apologise. Passengers will be contacted with updates and options for rescheduling,” he said.
The staff of NiMET on Tuesday commenced an indefinite strike over the condition of service and other demands.
News
ICT Traders Castigate SON over Frequent Raids on Market
For two days, traders at the Nigeria’s popular computer village watched with trepidation as a joint operating team of police and standard organization of Nigeria (SON) enforcers raided their market carting away goods worth millions of dollars. Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can report that by last weekend, the traders most who were seen talking in hush-hush tones were still licking their wounds from the surprise raids. Last Friday when Nigeria CommunicationsWeek visited the Computer Village most traders were unanimous in their condemnation of the latest raids on operators at the market. This is perhaps West Africa’s largest informal/formal ICT open market incorporating mobile phones, PCs and electronic appliances. It was an uncharacteristic move by SON that took the traders unaware, but the organization expressed satisfaction over its action. The raids which took place on Friday, 24 and Monday, 28 February respectively follow on the heels of similar visit by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) a week earlier. The NCC accused mobile phone vendors of marketing devices not tested by relevant authorities. KenXinDa Mobile phone brand located in more than three premises within computer village was the primary target. KenXinDa is promoted by Nigerians whose trade name is deliberately coined to appear and sound Chinese to attract patronage. The devices are custom-manufactured in factories in mainland China and shipped to Nigeria. The firm recently took possession of some premises in the market and given them an outdoor make-over that paid off with huge patronage from consumers who are eagerly searching for cheap and functional smartphones. A SON statement said it was part of its avowed mission to rid the markets of sub-standard products. “We have a mandate to survey markets to identify substandard products and proactively respond to complaints sent to our enforcement unit,” said Joseph Odumodu, director general of the organization. Officials of both firms refused to speak when Nigeria CommunicationsWeek visited last week. Other traders at the markets maintain stoic silence for fear of another surprise visitation from the regulator. “Do you think my interest is to talk to media people? I’m talking of losing millions of dollars investment here to NCC and you want to talk to me?” an angry official of G-Tide reacts to our inquiry. Kingsley Uchenna, a mobile phone vendor at the market castigated SON for the dawn raid. “SON has never come to our aid in this market but they would remember to seal off offices of hardworking Nigerians. How much help has the Nigerian government given to the unemployed graduates in this country? The government should think of positive ways of affecting Nigerians than coming to destroy private investment,” Uchenna enthused. Madu Ezechi, a trader on used PCs said they were constantly being harassed by various agencies of government, without assistance from these government functionaries. “It is either the Lagos state government will come here and threatens us, or standard organization of Nigeria (SON) will come seize goods here labeling them fake or sub-standards. Last week was the turn of NCC whose duty is to regulate mobile operators. Let them come here and help us improve our business operations,” Ezechi said. The standard organization of Nigeria had also raided the computer village last October over what it term ‘killer’ appliances being sold at the market. This led to the signing of a MoU between SON and the traders union – association of phones and computer allied (APCA) – in November 2011. This latest raid may not be unconnected with SON’s mission to “establishment of reliable information on quantity, quality, source and origin of products/services manufactured in and/or imported into Nigeria. This involves all products/services available in the Nigerian economic environment.” KenXinDa Mobile has been accused of stocking range of 17 models of mobile devices that are not type-approved in Nigeria.
A federal high court in Abuja has granted permission to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and detain six Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) promoters over allegations of investment fraud to the tune of over one billion dollars.
Emeka Nwite, presiding judge, gave the order following an ex parte application moved by Fadila Yusuf, counsel to the EFCC.
In the application by the EFCC, the six suspects are Adefowora Olanipekun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, Seyi Oloyede, Avwerosuo Otorudo and Chukwuebuka Ehirim.
The commission sought an order of the court for a warrant of arrest of the defendants.
They also prayed the court for “an order remanding the defendants in the custody of the complainant/applicant pending the conclusion of investigation of the alleged offences and possible prosecution”.
Yusuf said that the defendants are at large and a warrant of arrest is required to arrest the defendants for proper investigation and prosecution of this case.
In the affidavit in support of the motion, the EFCC said preliminary investigation into the intel revealed that the defendants “using their company ST Technologies International Limited, promoted another company Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) by making adverts and lured unsuspecting members of the public to invest crypto cryptocurrencies on the CBEX investment platform”.
The EFCC said the defendants promised an unrealistic return on investment of up to 100 percent.
“The victims were made to convert their digital assets into a stablecoin of USDT for onward deposit into the suspects’ crypto wallet,” Yusuf said.
“The victims were initially given full access to the platform to monitor their investment.
“Following the deposits valued at over $1 billion by the victims, the CBEX investment platform became inaccessible to them, and they could no longer withdraw from the investment made.
“The victims later discovered that the said scheme is a scam.
“During the course of investigation, it was discovered that the said ST Technologies International Limited, though registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), it was not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for investment purposes.
“It was also discovered during the investigation that the defendants had moved out of their last known address in Lagos and Ogun states.”
The anti-graft agency said obtaining a warrant of arrest was necessary in order to place the defendants on a watch list, enabling authorities to trace and apprehend the suspects to face the charges brought against them.
Nwite granted the request for a warrant of arrest and remand, adding that the order was necessary to enable the commission to apprehend the defendants and conclude its investigation.
“I have listened to the submission of the learned counsel for the applicant,” Nwite said.
“I have also gone through the affidavit evidence with exhibits thereto, along with the written address.
“I am of the view and I so hold that the application is meritorious.
“Consequently, the application is granted as prayed.”
Earlier in April, reports emerged that CBEX users could no longer withdraw their funds.
On Monday, angry investors stormed and looted the office of Smart Treasure (ST Team), an affiliate of CBEX, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The EFCC recently confirmed receiving multiple complaints about the platform.
Dele Oyewale, the commission spokesperson, assured affected investors that efforts were underway to recover their funds.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is pleased to announce the inaugural meeting of the Startup Consultative Forum, scheduled for Monday April 28, 2025 This milestone event marks a significant step in deepening stakeholder engagement within Nigeria’s growing startup ecosystem.
The Forum will serve as an interactive platform for startup founders, innovators, ecosystem enablers, and intermediaries to actively shape national policies that foster growth, attract investment, and drive digital innovation.
Convened under the framework of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA), this initiative reflects the government’s commitment to making startups not just stakeholders but key contributors in building an enabling environment for innovation.
The meeting will emphasize collaborative dialogue, with a primary focus on nominating and selecting representatives for the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Startup Council)—Nigeria’s highest advisory body for the startup ecosystem. Decisions from this Forum will lay the foundation for inclusive policy development, amplifying the voices of Nigeria’s tech and innovation community.
NITDA invites all Labelled Startups, Verified Entrepreneurial and Innovation Support Organisations, Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists, and other relevant stakeholders to join the Forum and actively participate in the nomination and voting process.
Join us in shaping the future of digital innovation in Nigeria. Together, we can build a thriving ecosystem that supports and celebrates the pioneering spirit of Nigerian startups.
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