News
Release $717.4m trapped funds to foreign airlines, Senate Urges CBN
The central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday has been asked to release trapped $717,478,606 airlines funds in the country.
The Senate made the call to CBN while also allocating the sum of $25 million to airlines operating in Nigeria at its fourth-nightly dollar auction.
These resolutions were reached sequel to the consideration of a motion titled, ‘Current Issues on airlines blocked funds in Nigeria’, sponsored by Sen. Biodun Olujimi (PDP-Ekiti) at the plenary in Abuja and chaired by the Senate Committee on Aviation.
The vice chairman of the committee, Sen. Bala Na’Allah (APC-Kebbi) presented the motion on behalf of Olujimi.
The upper chamber of the National Assembly also called on the Federal Government to urgently reverse the current trend of increasing airlines blocked funds in Nigeria.
It called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to pay up the blocked funds to the affected airlines.
The Senate further appealed to the airlines operating in the country not to withdraw their services, saying efforts were ongoing to resolve the issue.
Moving the motion, Na’Allah said since January 2021, Nigeria has been the most challenging country in the world for the airlines to repatriate their funds to support their operation.
In February, Nigeria alone accounted for 44 per cent of total airlines blocked funds in the entire world.
The total airlines blocked funds in Nigeria as of March amounted to $717.4 million comprising matured bids that the CBN was yet to deliver, bids yet to mature, and cash balances in airlines’ accounts for repatriation.
News
Groups protest over deputy speaker’s professional integrity
The controversy centres on petition BB/LPDC/1948/2026, filed on January 20, 2026, by John Aikpokpo Martins, Esq., where he alleged significant inconsistencies regarding Kalu’s National Youth Service Corps NYSC service year and his period of enrollment at the Nigerian Law School’s Enugu Campus.
The Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) protested today over what it described as a “continued failure, refusal and neglect” by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee LPDC committee to act on a petition involving the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
The controversy centres on petition BB/LPDC/1948/2026, filed on January 20, 2026, by John Aikpokpo Martins, Esq., where he alleged significant inconsistencies regarding Kalu’s National Youth Service Corps NYSC service year and his period of enrollment at the Nigerian Law School’s Enugu Campus.
Members of the coalition who stormed the premises of the Body of Benchers in Abuja, wielded placards with various inscriptions such as “Integrity First; Verify Before You Lead”, “Show Your Certificate, Benjamin Kalu”; “No More Foolery, Submit Your Certificate”; “Transparency Now, Show Your Certificate”; and, “The Law Applies to Everyone Including You”, among others.
CSGGG maintained that these allegations strike at the very root of the Deputy Speaker’s professional standing and the integrity of his admission to the Nigerian Bar.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to the LPDC Chairman, convener of the CSOs, Chief Dominic Ogakwu argued that the committee’s silence suggests that certain individuals may be considered “beyond scrutiny.”
“The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee exists precisely to safeguard the integrity and credibility of the legal profession.
Its responsibilities are not discretionary exercises to be undertaken only when convenient; they are statutory duties imposed by law”, he stated.
News
JUST IN: IGP Disu Assigns Portfolios to New DIGs
DIG Zachariah Fera Achinyan has been deployed to Legal Services, DIG Zango Ibrahim Baba to Research and Planning, and DIG Isyaku Mohammed to Training and Development departments.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu has assigned the new Deputy Inspectors -General of Police (DIGs) their duties responsibilities.
Sources said that the DIGs were assigned departments based on their areas of competence.
DIG Zachariah Fera Achinyan has been deployed to Legal Services,
DIG Zango Ibrahim Baba to Research and Planning, and DIG Isyaku Mohammed to Training and Development departments.
Similarly, DIG Margaret Agebe Ochalla has been posted to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID);
DIG Mohammed Abdul Sulaiman to Finance and Accounts; DIG Kenechukwu Onwuemelie will oversee the Force Intelligence Department (FID); DIG Fayoade Adegoke will head Information and Communication Technology, while DIG Umar Shehu Nadada has been posted to Operations departments.
News
Airport Access Gates: FG Approves Cash and FAAN Go Cashless Cards for Payment
The statement also noted that motorists who already possess FAAN Go Cashless Cards can continue using them until further notice.
In addition, other electronic payment channels, including Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals and approved digital platforms, will remain available
The Federal Government has directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to accept both cash and electronic payments at airport access gates nationwide, as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion.
The directive followed a meeting between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and officials of the FAAN, alongside senior officials of the ministry, on Tuesday.
The move comes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the suspension of the full cashless payment system at airport access gates following complaints that it had caused traffic gridlocks.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the government has resolved to gradually transition to a fully automated payment system at airport access points.
As part of the interim measures, the ministry announced that a hybrid payment system allowing both cash and card payments will take effect at all airport access gates from March 13, 2026.
The statement also noted that motorists who already possess FAAN Go Cashless Cards can continue using them until further notice.In addition, other electronic payment channels, including Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals and approved digital platforms, will remain available
-
Politics2 days agoBREAKING: Rivers House of Assembly Confirms Five Out of Nine Commissioner Nominees Submitted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara
-
Opinions3 days agoIWD: 50 rights female gender should enjoy
-
Politics2 days agoZamfara Governor Dauda Lawal Defects from PDP to APC Amid Party Crisis
-
News3 days agoIWD: My greatest investments are my three daughters – Otedola
-
News22 hours agoLASEMA Cautions Social Media Platforms Against Circulating False News
-
News22 hours agoAirport Access Gates: FG Approves Cash and FAAN Go Cashless Cards for Payment
-
Sports3 days agoFootball Analysts Question CAF’s Exclusion of Nigerian Referee on 2026 World Cup List
-
News2 days agoBREAKING: Court of Appeal Upholds Federal High Court Ruling Halting PDP’s Ibadan National Convention
