Read Buhari's Apology To Nigerians

With the Commander-in-Chief apologizing to us ordinary Nigerians over the lingering fuel crisis in the country, it seems that change is truly here.

Read President Buhari’s apology and tell us what you make of it.

“The  current fuel scarcity with long queues at petrol stations all over the country causing social dislocation is very unfortunate. Government profoundly apologizes to Nigerians for this prolonged hardship and misery. It is as a result of market speculators and resistance to change by some stakeholders. Government is working very hard to end these shortages and bring fuel to the pumps all over the country.”

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Man With 870 ATM Cards Arrested At Kano Airport

What was Yahya Saifullahi doing at the Aminu Kano International Airport with 870 ATM cards and two bank internet tokens?

This is the question immigration officials are trying to find answers to, having arrested 29 years old Saifullahi aboard Ethiopia Airways’ Dubai bound Flight ET 940 with Nigerian Passport No. A06694052.

An immigration source gave the details of the ATM cards found on the suspect as follows:

Ecobank, 24; GT Bank, 118; Access Bank, 170; Diamond Bank, 71; Sterling Bank, 3; Keystone Bank, 9; Skye Bank 34; UBA Plc, 8; Wema Bank, three; Zenith Bank, 20; Heritage Bank, 21; Standard Chartered Bank, 10; First Bank, 42; Union Bank, 26; Stanbic IBTC, 30; Unity Bank, 45; Fidelity Bank, 40 and FCMB, 196.

Photo credits : Vanguard

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Aero Contractors Fined For Using Ladder At Bauchi Airport

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA on Tuesday imposed unspecified fines running into millions of naira on Aero Contractors and its pilot for using ladder to disembark passengers from its Boeing 737-500 airplane at Bauchi airport.

Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, Mr Sam Adurogboye, Acting General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA said they are in compliance with Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, NCARs.

Read the sanctions letter signed by the Director General of NCAA, Captain Mukhtar Usman below.

“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed an applicable sanction on Aero Contractors Airlines in line with Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs).

”The action of Aero Contractors Airline in allowing the use of a ladder to disembark passengers from a Boeing 737 – 500 aircraft in a non-emergency situation is contrary to its approved aircraft handling manual.

”Therefore this is a violation of Part 9.2.4.2(b) of Nig.CARs  which part attracts a civil penalty. All relevant agencies made useful submissions during the course of the investigation.

‘’In view of the safety implications of your action you are hereby sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of Part 20.2.3(15) of the Nig.CARs.

’“Although the incident did not result in any mishap, the aircraft is airworthy and the Crew well qualified to operate the flight. However, it is viewed as a breach and resultantly a fine running into millions of naira have been clamped on the airline to serve as deterrence and to forestall any similar infraction by any other airline operator.

”In addition, the Captain of the flight is similarly fined for failing to comply with the provisions contained in the aircraft manual.”

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Abuja's Leaking Sewage (Photos)

This is a leaking sewage in front of Jabi garage.

Sights like this are now common in Abuja.

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Passengers chose to disembark with ladder - Aero Contractors

Following the outrage arising from pictures of Nigerians disembarking from its Boeing 737-500 airplane with a ladder at the Bauchi airport, Aero Contractors has said that the passengers made the choice by themselves.

Read what the Accountable Manager and Managing Director, Capt Russell Lee Foon, said about the bizarre incident which he blamed on failure of the airport management.

“Prior to leaving Abuja, the flight dispatcher contacted the Airport Manager to advise that the aircraft was taxing out and he confirmed that they were ready to receive the flight.

“At 10:42am, the aircraft touched down on Runway 35 at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport. The controller advised the crew that due to the absence of marshallers and ramp officials, parking would be at their own discretion.

“At 10:44 am, the flight dispatcher on board contacted the Airport Manager to advise him that they were on the ground, to which he confirmed that he has seen the aircraft and that they were waiting.

“After parking, the captain reported that they waited for 10 minutes for the stairs to be brought to the aircraft but no assistance or stairs came to the aircraft.

“The captain reported that he informed the passengers of the situation as they were beginning to get agitated. What was not known to the crew at the beginning of the flight was that the groom was on board.

"The wedding was to start in 20 minutes when the crew was told that the stairs had just broken down. 

“At this point the captain went to the cabin and explained to the passengers that he may have to take them back to Abuja as they cannot disembark due to lack of stairs.

“According to him, the group insisted that he cannot keep them on board the aircraft and he considered that their anger was becoming potentially threatening.

“The alternative, which the fire service provided was a ladder which the passengers took as an option and on their own free will used the ladder to disembark against the wishes of the captain and crew.

“The captain allowed this procedure in order to reduce what he thought was a volatile situation,” he said.

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Stone Age Airport : Passengers disembark from aircraft using ladder (Photo)

See the passengers of this Aero Contractors airliner descending from the aircraft via a ladder at Bauchi airport.

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N220bn CBN Loan For Graduates: Certificates To Serve As Collateral

According to the new Central Bank of Nigeria guidelines for the N220 billion fund for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME), startup businesses can now borrow from the fund.

In the Revised Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) Guidelines just issued  by the apex bank's Development Finance department, financial institutions that lend to business start-ups under the fund will  access the fund at zero interest rate.

According to the guidelines,
“participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) are required to fund start-up projects under the MSMEDF. To encourage  Deposit Money Banks (DMBs)  and  Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), some incentives shall apply.

“PFIs are expected to accept charge on fixed and floating assets of the financed projects as collateral for start-ups. Collateral requirement from start-ups by PFIs (DMBs and DFIs) shall be educational certificates such as SSCE, National Diploma (ND), National Certificate of Education (NCE), National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB), Higher National Diploma (HND), University degree (NYSC Certificate where applicable) and a guarantor.

“The start-ups to access the MSMEDF must present their Bank Verification Number (BVN).Venture Capital Firms (VCFs) that wish to finance start-ups in form of equity participation shall be eligible to access the MSMEDF at 2.0 percent for investment in start-up projects. The collateral for such facility to the VCF shall be bank guarantee.

“Incentive shall be offered to PFIs that repay loans as at when due.
a) Start-Ups (i) DMBs/DFIs playing in this space, shall access MSMEDF facility at zero percent interest for on-lending at 9.0 percent (all-inclusive) to start-ups. (ii) The PFIs shall qualify for a 50 percent risk shared on the net outstanding balance in the case of default. b)Other Incentives Microfinance Banks with PAR of 10 percent and below shall be exempted from providing financial assets as collateral to access facility under the MSMEDF.”

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