Day: September 19, 2023

President Bola Tinubu says the African Union (AU) is strategically positioned to secure consensus positions for the continent on economic and socio-political relations with the world.

The president, in a bilateral discussion with the President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the AU, President Azali Assoumani, on Monday in New York, said this is possible with Nigeria’s strong of the continental body.

“There is nothing that can bring development and prosperity, outside of embracing freedom and constitutional order. It is a critical hallmark of sustainable development.

‘’We appreciate that the AU is working hard to bring about peace in the Sahel and is actively negotiating between the warring factions in Sudan. Peace in Sudan will be a great achievement. I appreciate your effort in Burkina Faso and our effective cooperation on Niger.

“You can call me at any time and we will discuss the peace and stability of AU member states. We need stability and prosperity for the black race.

‘’This is our era. We must be peaceful in order to take maximum advantage of the developmental opportunities presented to Africa in this era. We must build a model of sustainable development.

‘’Nigeria will collaborate with you. But we must move beyond those whose vision of Africa is narrow and evil. We are not afraid of confrontation, but we prefer to be restrained for now, at this time,” the President declared.

Assoumani said that the AU seeks to complete Nigeria’s effort in securing peace and prosperity in Africa, rather than competing with it.

“It is our responsibility to confront the extra-constitutional wrestling for power on the continent.

‘’We have told China and Russia that they have a responsibility to ensure that there is stability in these countries, as there will be no developmental partnership where there is a lack of stability in countries being impacted by coupists.

‘’We appreciate your stand on these matters,” the AU Chairperson said.

As President of the Union of Comoros, the AU Chairperson said that Comoros seeks to learn from Nigeria’s experience concerning the steady improvement in diversity management, electoral process and economic growth over many years.

“We want to turn our country into an emerging economy and we need the experience of Nigeria as we seek your cooperation to conduct an election that will win us the respect of the international community and allow us to develop at the right speed and quality,” he said.

Tinubu also met with the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, and reiterated that the Islamic world has a strategic role to play in the sustenance of peace and development in Africa, and across the globe.

“The effort we are making in the Sahel is very important. We know we must double our efforts. We must tell our Muslim brothers who are struggling to steal power that only Allah chooses leaders. We must respect the will of Allah.

‘’I am ready to collaborate with you. Your effort in supporting agricultural growth and food security through the provision of resources from Islamic banks has been most commendable and our region is appreciative.

‘’I am determined to work with you in uplifting Nigerians and Africans,” the President said.

The leader of the 57-nation body of cooperation praised the Nigerian President for his active effort in bringing African states to a place of common understanding.

“We must gain consensus on the need for peace, especially amongst our member states.

‘’When you were elected as ECOWAS Chairman, it gave us confidence and hope that the situation in the Sahel region would improve because you are bringing people together.

‘’We were also happy about your election as President of Nigeria and we see the changes,” the OIC leader stated.

The OIC Secretary-General extended an invitation to Tinubu to participate at the OIC Heads of State Summit, expected to hold in a few months. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

An Anglican Church cleric, Ven. Kehinde Aremu, on Monday urged citizens to allow a reformation of the country to ensure development of its economy.

Aremu, the Sub-Dean in Charge of the Cathedral Church of St David, Kudeti, made the call at a news conference in Ibadan.

The conference was organised as part of a week-long activity lined up for the anniversary of the 170 years old Church with the theme: “Jesus Christ The Same Yesterday, Today and Forever”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Church of St. David Kudeti, Diocese of Ibadan South, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion was founded by the late German missionary and evangelist, David Hinderer on April 27, 1853.

According to Aremu, political leaders and the entire citizens should return to God, repent and allow a national rebirth to produce a country everyone will be proud of.

He said that to address the situation in Nigeria, leaders should note that righteousness exalted a nation and sin was a reproach to any people.

“Our leaders must know that nobody has any wisdom of himself except it is given by God. That is why we need to turn to God, the problems facing the country is not beyond what God can solve.

“We have neglected God for long, we depend so much on our own wisdom and so we are left on our own. We must know that without the help of God, we can do nothing,” he said.

The cleric said that increase in the rate of crime in spite of large number of churches was sign that the world was about to end.

He noted that the church had impacted on many lives economically, aside spreading the gospel for 170 years and being a place where christianity started in southwest apart from Lagos end.

“We are not relenting in our welfare programmes, big institutions such as Emmanuel College of theology, St Anne’s School and many more which emanate from the church.

“We ensure that our Computer and Innovation Centre is open to all irrespective of religion or tribe, “he said.

Earlier, Chairman, Anniversary Planning Committee, Mogaji Olutunde Aboderin, said that the anniversary presented opportunity to families, friends and associates to identify with the enduring history and legacy of faith, nurtured by perseverance that the church represented.

He added that adequate security had been put in place to ensure safety of lives and properties during the programme.

NAN reports that the week long anniversary will hold between Sept. 18 and Sept. 24.

The event will feature medical outreach, youths variety day, unveiling of the Baobab tree where the first service was held in April 27, 1853 and planting of new trees.

It will also feature book launch, reopening of first storey building in Ibadan land, the David and Anna Hinderer House within the church premises, hosting of invited Anglican spiritual heads and other dignitaries.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has advised the Chairman of Arik Air, Johnson Arumemi-Ikide, to present a reasonable debt recovery plan in order to recover the airline.

The Managing Director of AMCON, Mr Ahmed Kuru, gave the advice at a media interactive session in Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that AMCON, the special debt recovery vehicle of the Federal Government, took over Arik Air in February 2017.

The take over was part of measures to “save” the airline from “imminent collapse” citing gross mismanagement by Arik owners, and debt above N300 billion.

Arumemi-Ikide, in July had attempted to reclaim the airline’s headquarters in Lagos following a Federal High Court ruling that faulted AMCON on transparency, transfer of Arik’s asset to float a new airline, and barring of Arumemi-Ikide from the airline’s facilities.

Arik had on at least two occasions – in 2018 and 2022 – called for amicable settlement of the debt, which were welcome by AMCON and Arik Air (in-receivership) but failed.

Kuru said once there was a reasonable settlement of the debts to AMCON and the banks, the receivership would be terminated and Arik Air Limited returned to its shareholders/owners alongside all documents and securities held by it and the banks.

The managing director said regardless of the campaign of calumny against AMCON, it remained a resolution agency that had always supported businesses and would continue to support them in the overall interest of the Nigerian economy.

He said, “AMCON is a resolution agency of the government, and we look forward to any obligor or debtor that wants to come to discuss repayment plan with us.

“Our doors are always open to resolve debts because that is our primary function and aside from our recovery mandate, AMCON does not have a secret agenda.

“So the challenges of the founder of the airline to recover his airline might seem difficult, but not irredeemable, however, there is always a way out of every situation.

“There must always be a situation of give and take and AMCOM is now ready to sit down with the owners of Arik, if they are ready to agree on what is good for them and the Federal Government.

“When we engage and arrive at an agreement, we will go back to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as well as the Ministry of Finance (MOF), and share such resolution strategy with them.”

Kuru said it would be recalled that, in the past, AMCON had resolved issues that were more difficult and more complicated than the Arik issue such as the banks, oil and gas, manufacturing sector, real estate, telecommunications, among others.

The managing director, however, said for any resolution to take place, the two parties involved must have an understanding and they should be convinced that there was always a way out.

Kuru worried that since the coming of a new government, there had been a heightened campaign by some AMCON debtors that sought to evoke the emotion of the public to perceive the corporation and its recovery activities from negative optical prism.

The managing director added that most debtors did not mind the huge problem their debts had caused the country.

He stated that those pushing the negative campaign forgot that Arik at the time had about 50 per cent passenger-load before it took over in 2017 under a receivership arrangement.

Kuru said because the government of the day at that time was interested in saving the airline because of its strategic role in aviation sector, felt strongly that the airline must be saved from imminent collapse and national embarrassment.

“At that time the government mandated AMCON to intervene, the airline was not paying staff salary, or insurance, and could not afford to buy aviation fuel to keep the planes flying.

“It was so bad that nobody including some key aviation international partners wanted to do business with Arik among other issues,” he said.

Kuru said before we took over, everything was wrong with Arik as the airline delayed flights for two to three days in a row while its aircraft were being arrested abroad, which was a big embarrassment to the country.

According to him, if AMCON had not stepped in at the time the government asked AMCON to intervene, Arik would have gone under within two weeks.

He said when some of the obligors heard the news of the proposed AMCON sunset, they stopped picking up its calls.

The managing director said, in their mind, they believe AMCON would soon close shop, which would mean that the government would write off the debt.

He stated that the process of winding AMCON down would be a process, affirming that no government would allow any debtor to walk away with the debt. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) says it has begun the Aviation Resuscitation Programme for Cadet Pilots and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.

A statement on Tuesday by Mr Freston Akpor, Senior Assistant on Media to the PAP Interim Administrator (IA), disclosed this on Tuesday.

The statement stated that the training was part of efforts to create sustainable livelihoods for ex-agitators and create a pool of skilled manpower for Nigeria’s Aviation Industry.

It said that the ceremonial flag-off of the training was held in Lagos on Monday.

The statement quoted Gen. Barry Ndiomu, Interim Administrator of PAP while speaking at the ceremony saying that “enormous opportunities abound for the beneficiaries in global aviation.”

Ndiomu, represented by Wilfred Musa, PAP’s Head of Reintegration, recalled that past PAP administrations made efforts at revamping the training programme.

The statement said Ndiomu maintained that administrative glitches and the complex nature of the aviation industry was the only challenge and this had made all marginal success to be attained.

“Ndiomu said that the flag-off of the programme was initiated more than eight years ago, and that this had showed that the current PAP leadership was critical about advancing the lives of ex-agitators.

“He also noted that the aviation industry was a major “touch point for commerce” in any country, while urging those who are misinterpreting the initiative behind the programme to “pay attention” to its long term benefits and instant values.

“He also spoke on the argument that beneficiaries may relocate abroad for greener pastures upon completion of programme, adding that there is nothing wrong with that,” it said.

According to the statement, Ndiomu says as long as they are working abroad and sending home forex they will in turn add values to the Nigerian economy.

“Ndiomu said moreso, we exist within the context of a global village where the mobility of labour is encouraged for the purpose of knowledge expansion and strategic networking.

“He urged aviation stakeholders to take note of the programme, and begin to look towards leveraging on the enormous pool of skilled manpower that the programme will produce for the aviation industry.

“He also cautioned that discipline must be imbibed throughout the ex-agitators learning process, to give more prominence to the Code of Conduct that the beneficiaries signed before commencement of the training.

“Ndiomu said the leadership of PAP would not hesitate to delist anybody who runs fowl of items as listed in the code

The statement also quoted the facilitator, Alom Aviation Services Ltd., Capt. Austin Omame, as expressing optimism that “within a year, the trainees will be gainfully employed in the aviation industry”.

“Capt. Austin Omame, MD/CEO of Alom Aviation Services Ltd., assured that the beneficiaries will be closely monitored throughout the training with the aviation firm.

“He said that the training was an approved one by the Approved Training Organization (ATO) and was duly certified by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The statement also quoted Engr. Ofuafo Ghavwan, one of the beneficiaries, as applauding the leadership of PAP for sending them to one of “the best aviation training schools in West Africa, situated in Lagos”.

It said Ghavwan noted that the training opportunity had already guaranteed them jobs in the aviation sector where such skilled manpower were in high demand.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that trainees are part of 75 pilots and aircraft engineers sponsored by PAP to various Aviation Training Organizations (ATO’s) in Lagos, Johannesburg and Toulouse, (France) for type-rating courses as part of its aviation training scheme. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria