The minister of Aviation and Aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, has reacted to media reports citing alleged safety violations raised by the UK Civil Aviation Authority at Gatwick Airport, by Nigerian Flag Carrier Air Peace. On Tuesday, Air peace debunked the Safety breach allegations; stating that the media report contained falsehood, calculated at creating ‘fear and doubt’ in the minds of the flying public.
Air Peace confirmed that the UK Civil Aviation Authority wrote to them, after their statutory Ramp Inspection, on April 7th 2024 to request clarification on the use of the Electronic Flight Bag and other concerns, which were provided at the time, and the matter was closed. In a post on X, the aviation minister confirmed Air peace statement from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, adding that the Airline had the full backing and support of the Nigerian Government in its operation of the London route. About 300 passengers were reportedly left stranded at the Murtala Mohamed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday by Turkish Airlines. An aggrieved passenger in a video that has made the rounds on social media, claimed that the aircraft flew back to Turkey without a single passenger.
This is coming as the national secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, ordered its members in Lagos, to shut down the Airline for allegedly sacking seven of its members who joined the National Union of Air Transport Employees.
The NLC in statement insisted that it is against Nigerian laws for airlines to threaten workers with sack, if they join unions. As a result, the Lagos State Council of the NLC directed its members to picket Turkish Airlines, until its management reinstates the affected workers. In cross river state, the plenary session of the states house of assembly on Wednesday, descended into chaos, after the speaker of the house Elvert Ayambem was impeached, over allegations of financial misappropriation and incompetence.
Shortly after the impeachment proceedings, a lawmaker made a dash for the mace, which is the symbol of authority of the speaker. The executive director of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Shaibu Husseini has announced the ban on smoking, money rituals, and the promotion of crime, in Nigerian movies.
The censors board director announced the ban at a national stakeholders engagement on smoke-free Nollywood, in Enugu on Wednesday, where he decried the dangers of such portrayals in movies, which he says could negatively influence the younger generation. According to him, the ban was approved by the minister of arts, culture and the creative economy, Hannatu Musawa pursuant to section 65 of the N.F.V.C.B Act 2004, which prohibits the display of money rituals, ritual killings, tobacco, tobacco products, and nicotine product promotion in movies, musical videos and skits. The Nigerian Air Force is celebrating its 60th anniversary, marking six decades since its establishment in April 1964.
The Airforce is celebrating the milestone with the Conference and Exhibition of heads of African chiefs under the Third Air Forces Forum, which will take place in Abuja beginning today May 23rd to May 24th, while a Ceremonial Parade and Air Show will take place in Kaduna, on Saturday May 25th. The historic event is set to attract several Chiefs of Air Staff and many aerospace industry leaders from across the world.
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