By Ayo Kehinde The Federal Government has dismissed claims suggesting diversion or “hidden spending” of federation revenue, insisting that recent media interpretations of the latest Nigeria Development Update by the World Bank are inaccurate and misrepresent the country’s fiscal framework, particularly what it described as the “mischaracterisation of FAAC deductions as ‘waste’ or missing funds.” The clarification was contained in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Finance on Sunday, which said the misreporting “incorrectly characterises Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) deductions as ‘waste’ or missing funds,” stressing that this interpretation “is incorrect.” Signed by Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of State for Finance, the statement emphasized that FAAC deductions are statutory fiscal flows that include clearly defined obligations within Nigeria’s public finance system. It …
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By Salihu Ndahi, Maiduguri Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Thursday, launched a N1 billion empowerment programme, in addition to 500 electric Keke Napep tricycles, for 1,000 operators in Maiduguri metropolis and Jere. The eco-friendly electric tricycles were inaugurated on 20th December 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of Governor Zulum’s efforts to modernize transportation and ease economic hardship in the state. Launching the empowerment programme at the Government House, Governor Zulum said the initiative was designed to empower less-privileged Keke Napep riders while reducing transportation costs for residents across the Metropolitan Council and Jere local government area. “I am privileged to launch this empowerment programme for about 1,000 beneficiaries among tricycle riders in Maiduguri and …
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By Ayo Kehinde A surge in bird strike incidents involving United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has sparked fresh safety concerns within Nigeria’s aviation sector, after the airline confirmed that three of its aircraft were grounded within 48 hours due to repeated collisions with birds. The airline, in a statement issued Friday by its Public Relations Officer, Chibuike Uloka, disclosed that the most recent incident occurred on Thursday at Benin Airport. The affected aircraft, an Embraer 190 operating Flight UN0561 from Benin to Abuja, sustained damage to its Nose Landing Gear and was immediately withdrawn from service. Uloka revealed that the incident was the third recorded within a 48-hour window, bringing into sharp focus what the airline described as a disturbing and …
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By Ayo Kehinde The Federal Government has moved to douse rising tensions in Nigeria’s aviation sector following a sharp surge in the price of Jet A1 fuel, urging calm among stakeholders and announcing an emergency engagement with industry players aimed at preventing wider disruption. The intervention comes amid growing concern within the aviation industry over a sudden and significant increase in aviation fuel costs, which has placed pressure on airline operations and heightened fears of potential fare adjustments and service disruptions. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Friday appealed to airline operators to exercise restraint and avoid immediate adjustments to airfares, warning that such a step could worsen economic pressures on passengers and reduce accessibility to air …
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