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Airline Operators React To Court Ruling Voiding Nigeria Air Sale

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The Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, has lauded the judiciary for upholding justice and nullifying the purported sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines.
The operators said this in a statement signed by its president, Dr Abdulmunaf Sarina, in Lagos, yesterday.
The Tide’s source reported that Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court had, on Monday, declared the sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines null and void.
Sarina commended the bold and patriotic declarations and orders made by the court.
“The bold and patriotic declarations and orders made by the court leave no one in doubt that the entire bidding, approval and so-called unveiling processes of the purported national carrier were nothing other than a sham set up to hoodwink Nigerians.
“It was also a surreptitious plan to kill Nigerian indigenous airlines and hand over the commonwealth of Nigeria’s huge aviation market with over 85 bilateral air services agreements around the world to Ethiopian Airlines.
“We, therefore, thank the court for standing tall in the face of untold pressure from very high quarters.
“For exonerating AON and other well-meaning Nigerian indigenous airlines for going to court to protect the interests of Nigeria as well as proving truly to be the only hope of the common man,” he said.
Sarina also applauded President Bola Tinubu’s government through the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo SAN, for suspending the Nigeria Air process.
NAN also reported that Justice Lewis-Allagoa declared in the judgement that the action, conduct or decision in the sale of the shares and operations of Nigeria Air violated the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020.
Lewis-Allagoa also noted that the action was against the Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria Consolidated Rules & Regulations 2013 (as amended in 2022).
He said the process was against the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Act, ICAQ Convention, Civil Aviation Act, Public Procurement Act, Concession Regulatory Commission (Est.) Act 2005, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act.
He added that the action was contrary to the procurement processes for public-private partnerships in the Federal Government under the National Policy on Public-Private Partnerships.
The court also held that the entire administrative actions and decision in the sale of the shares of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines and its pseudo-consortium were invalid, void and of no effect.
It added that Ethiopian Airlines was incompetent to bid for shares in Nigeria Air and commence business accordingly.
The court further gave an order setting aside the entire bidding/selection process(es) for the Nigeria Air project as well as the approval, grant or selection of Ethiopian Airlines by the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, in the process.

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NCSU Consoles Elder Statesman Over Daughter’s Death …Tasks Elected Unit Executives On Service Delivery

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The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has extended its condolence to an elder statesman in Rivers State, High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe over the untimely death of his daughter during child birth, describing it as saddening and unfortunate, and called on the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) chieftain to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.
This is even as NCSU has called on the newly elected executives of the union at the unit level and Ministries in the State Civil Service, to be dedicated to their duties, as well as deliver services that would further help the State to retain its prime position in the comity of States.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in Port Harcourt, said the union seriously empathises and sympathises with Chief Sara-Igbe over the daughter’s death, and urged him never to allow the sad incident to weigh him down, but to remain strong, firm and resolute in championing the cause of Rivers State even in the face of such a tragedy.
Osumah noted that the union is particularly sad over the unfortunate incident, because of the kind of support Chief Sara-Igbe has been giving Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing him as a true pillar of strength to the Governor, and enjoined him to continue to contribute meaningfully to the progress and development of the State in spite of obvious challenges and drawbacks.
According to him, history would be kind to Chief Sara-Igbe, when the chips are down, owing to his immense contributions to the State and also for standing on the side of truth, justice, equity and fairness,when it matters most.
Commenting on the election of new unit executives of the union, Osumah said he was glad over the development, and urged the new union officials to be good ambassadors of their units and the union.
He said delivering selfless services to the people of the State should always be their priority, and congratulated them on their successful elections.

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RSG Donates Transformer To Rehabilitation Centre

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The Rivers State Government has donated a 500KVA transformer to the Rivers State Rehabilitation Centre, Iriebe in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The State Commissioner for Power, Prince Solomon Abel Eke, who handed over the transformer to the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr Illamu Arugu thanked Governor Siminalaye Fubara for the approval and release of the transformer, adding that it would go a long way in solving the power problem at the centre.
“I want to thank God for the Governor that we have, who takes time to look at things meticulously and ensures that our people get service for what they are doing”.
He said following the request by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation for a transformer for the rehab centre, a team of engineers from the Ministry of Power were sent to the area to take cognizance of everything that they need.
“I can assure you that what we are doing or what we are going to do here is going to put to rest everything about power.
“The capacity of this transformer you have here will take care of you even the neighbouring enviroment”, Abel Eke said.
He emphasised the need for them to preserve the transformer, stressing that the transformer has the capacity to generate and distribute electricity within  the centre and neighborhood.
The commissioner warned them against allowing people to scale their fence to either vandalise or steal the transformer and described the gesture as a road map for constant power supply in the State.
“We are the only State that has three generating stations in the entire nation and we practically moving towards enjoying 24 hour- power supply in Rivers State”, he added.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, MrArugu Illamu who was elated for the donation, said it was based on a request by the rehabilitation centre, when he visited the area recently.
Illamu equally thanked Governor Fubara for the gesture and the promptness to which their request was attended to and noted that it was coming at a time the people needed the transformer badly.
He said even caregivers in the centre also needed power, adding that “it is coming at a time that they need it most”.
Mr Ilamu also commended the Governor for approving transformer to the Safe Home, Borokiri, adding that the Governor has so far given approval for the three transformers requested by the Ministry and prayed that the last transformers for the Children Home and Remand Home should be delivered as well for them to have some level of succour.
He said the gesture will go a long way to alleviate the sufferings of the people by allowing them to enjoy what he called “ the basics of life”.

Iriebe John Bibor

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Community Hails Fubura Over Perm Sec’s Appointment

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The people of Ogbogolo kingdom in Ahoada -West Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for the appointment of their i daughter, Dr. Mrs Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu as the Permanent Secretary of theMinistry of Education.
The Paramount Ruler of the community, King James Rowland, Obenema-Ibe III of Ogbogolo Kingdom made the commendation when he led a delegation of elite members of his kingdom on a courtesy visit to the office of the Permanent Secretary at the State Secretariat complex in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.
The Paramount Ruler asserted that Dr Uzoma-Nwogu was the first person from his Kingdom to be given an enviable appointment as a Permanent Secretary, stressing that Ogbogolo Kingdom is very appreciative of the Governor for the honour done to their daughter and the Kingdom at large.
He further prayed God Almighty to give her the wisdom and grace to carry out her duties effectively as would be required by her office and later presented her with an award of honour in recognition of her appointment as Permanent Secretary.
Also speaking, one of the elites in the Kingdom and university lecturer,Dr. Arobo R.C Amachree ,who is the Head of Department of Physics, Rivers State University described the elevation of Dr. Uzoma-Nwogu as meritorious and thanked the Governor for remembering the people of Ogbogolo and prayed God’s wisdom on His Excellency to continue to govern the state while pledging their support.
In her response, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Uzoma-Nwogu thanked her kinsmen for identifying with and for the respect and honour they accorded her and solicited for their support and prayers.

Akujobi Amadi

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