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Release $717.4m trapped funds to foreign airlines, Senate Urges CBN

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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.

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Lagos increases BRT fares by 13%

In a statement by LAMATA’s Head of Corporate Communication, Kolawole Ojelabi, the revised fare structure will take effect from Monday, March 2, 2026.

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The Lagos State Government has approved a 13 percent increase in fares across all services under the Bus Reform Initiative, which includes the Bus Rapid Transit system and standard bus routes throughout the state.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu granted the approval after receiving a passionate appeal from regulated public transport operators.

He highlighted the mounting challenges facing the long-term viability of their operations in Nigeria’s current economic climate.

In a statement by LAMATA’s Head of Corporate Communication, Kolawole Ojelabi, the revised fare structure will take effect from Monday, March 2, 2026.

“The adjustment is designed to help offset the severe impact of ongoing economic pressures on public transport providers.

It also aligns with the state’s previously established annual fare review mechanism. The urgency of the measure is driven by persistent inflationary trends.

The statement added that bus operating companies have been contending with sharply rising expenses in several key areas, including vehicle maintenance and repairs, imported spare parts, and staff salaries, particularly following the rollout of the new national minimum wage.“

In addition, operators are committing significant resources to fleet renewal, procuring newer, cleaner, and more fuel-efficient buses to boost passenger comfort, maintain high service standards, and advance environmental sustainability goals in Lagos.

It also aligns with the state’s previously established annual fare review mechanism. The urgency of the measure is driven by persistent inflationary trends.

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Fire Engulfs MMIA Terminal One, but no casualties

Eyewitnesses said that the blaze started on one of the affected floors before spreading to adjoining sections of the terminal.

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Photo credit: Lagos State Fire Service

A fire has broken out on parts of the fourth and fifth floors of Terminal One at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, triggering an emergency response and temporary disruption of flight operations.

Eyewitnesses said that the blaze started on one of the affected floors before spreading to adjoining sections of the terminal.

The impacted areas have since been evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Air Traffic Controllers stationed in the control tower were alerted to the incident and are reported to be safe, though closely monitoring the situation as emergency teams work to bring the fire under control.

As a result of the development, inbound flights to Lagos from other airports have been instructed to delay departure until the situation stabilises.

Aircraft already approaching Lagos may be required to remain airborne until clearance is given to land.

Fire and rescue officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are currently battling the blaze and intensifying efforts to contain it.

FAAN has confirmed that no casualties have been recorded at this time. Authorities say further updates will be provided as more details emerge.

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El-Rufai takes ICPC to court, demands N1bn compensation over ‘unlawful invasion of residence’

El-Rufai urged the court to declare that the search warrant was “null and void for lack of particularity, material drafting errors, ambiguity in execution parameters, overbreadth, and absence of probable cause, thereby constituting an unlawful and unreasonable search in violation of Section 37 of the Constitution.

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Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court Abuja , against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Enforcement Commissions (ICPC) over alleged unlawful invasion of his Abuja residence.

El-Rufai, through his team of lawyers led by Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, prayed the court to declare that the search warrant issued on February 4 by the Chief Magistrate, Magistrate’s Court of the FCT (2nd respondent), authorising the search and seizure at his residence was invalid, null and void.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former governor had, in the originating motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, sued ICPC as 1st respondent

.El-Rufai named the Chief Magistrate, Magistrate’s Court of the FCT, Abuja Magisterial District; I-G and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as the 2nd to 4th respondents respectively

El-Rufai urged the court to declare that the search warrant was “null and void for lack of particularity, material drafting errors, ambiguity in execution parameters, overbreadth, and absence of probable cause, thereby constituting an unlawful and unreasonable search in violation of Section 37 of the Constitution.”

He urged the court to declare that “any evidence obtained pursuant to the aforesaid invalid warrant and unlawful search is inadmissible in any proceedings against the applicant, as it was procured in breach of constitutional safeguards.

El-Rufai, therefore, sought an order of injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further relying on, using, or tendering any evidence or items seized during the unlawful search in any investigation, prosecution, or proceedings involving him.“

An order directing the Ist and 3rd respondents (ICPC and I-G) to forthwith return all items seized from the applicant’s premises during the unlawful search, together with a detailed inventory thereof.

“An order awarding the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) as general, exemplary, and aggravated damages against the respondents jointly and severally for the violations of the applicant’s fundamental rights, including trespass, unlawful seizure, and the resultant psychological trauma, humiliation, distress, infringement of privacy, and reputational harm.”

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