IGP Warns Officers Against Use Of Force on Protesters |The Source

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October 16, 2020

The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, has warned all Police Officers across the country against the use of force on peaceful protesters. The IGP noted that citizens have fundamental rights of freedom of expression, assembly and movement which must always be upheld and protected by the police.

According to a release by Force Spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba, the IGP appealed to protesters to, however, continually conduct themselves peacefully and guide their ranks against infiltration by criminal elements.

The IGP stressed that the Force leadership has clearly heard the voice of the people and is irrevocably committed to doing everything within its powers to address the observed ills, punish any offending officers and promote a people-friendly police Force

Group Calls IGP Adamu’s Sack |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali

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October 16, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

A Group of Nigerian professionals at home and in diaspora, called ‘Fatherland’, with its head office in London, United Kingdom has called for the removal of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu as a first step to rebuild public confidence in the Nigerian Police,

In a statement signed by its President, the Group also called for a comprehensive, citizen-led reform of policing arrangements in the country to give the people proper protection from criminals, in or out of uniform.

“The IG should have resigned. There is a stream of innocent blood flowing across the land under his feet. The proper thing is for him to quit. If he fails, he should be sacked” Fatherland said.

The group applauded protesting youths for their exceptional display of bravery and resilience in the on-going struggle against police brutality.

The group said by the protest the youths have made it clear that they will not tolerate being treated less than citizens and, indeed less than humans, by their own government.

“It is in this same spirit of defending their fundamental rights to human dignity that they have joined others across the world as part of the worldwide Black Lives Matters movement”, the Group said.

Fatherland which recently held an International conference on the future of Nigeria said it is concerned about reports that this administration has, repeatedly, been making public announcements of the disbandment of SARs units within the Nigerian Police Force only to allow them to resurface each time.

Fatherland said it is troubled by images of men of the Nigerian Police Force shooting, with live ammunition, and in some cases killing, unarmed protesters calling for an end to SARS.

There are reports of hundreds missing, usually from police custody.

Fatherland condemned the violent attacks on protesters by the men of the Nigerian Police Force, and their hired thugs, intended to deprive citizens of their right to hold peaceful protests.

It said it believes that the events of the last week have shown that the relationship of trust and confidence that needs to exist between citizens, communities and security agencies has completely broken down.

“This is especially poignant and troubling, against the backdrop of President Buhari’s Independence Day address, in which he called for the citizenry to support government by providing the necessary community level intelligence.”

Fatherland said Buhari’s 60th anniversary celebratory speech said, amongst other things, that as a government, he remains committed to Nigeria’s constitutional oath of securing the lives and properties of the citizenry calling on the citizenry to also support the government by providing the necessary community level intelligence in addressing these challenges.

Fatherland regretted that two days later, on 3rd of October 2020, officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) murdered a 20 year old singer, Daniel Chibuike Ikeaguchi, popularly known as Sleek adding that in another outrage, Ifeoma Abugu, a 20 year old lady, who had just graduated and was performing her mandatory National Youth Service, was arrested in place of her fiance at his residence in Lokogoma, Abuja. Ifeoma was sexually assaulted and later died in SARS custody.

The group recalled that the ENDSARS protests commenced after the video of the musician’s corpse, lying on the road, in Elelenwo, in Rivers State, and a subsequent video of his father crying and seeking justice, went viral.

“The latest round of protests were sparked by a video recording of SARS officers dragging two young men out of a hotel in Lagos and shooting one of them. The call to protest has been answered by Nigerian youths in several states of the federation and echoed by young Nigerians abroad and members of the international community, including many celebrities.”

Fatherland said the viral, week-long, public protest, and the consequential international outrage, led the Inspector General of Police to announce, on Sunday 11th of October, the disbandment of SARS, after which President Buhari then made a statement pledging that the disbanding of SARS as the first step in the commitment to extensive police reforms promising he would ensure that all those responsible for misconducts are brought to justice.

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is a department within the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Nigerian Police Force. Before the announcement of its disbandment, it existed in all 36 states of the Federation with many states having both State and Federal units.

The group said the unit has evolved into an opportunistic, predatory group targeting hapless citizens for extortions, even as kidnapping, robbery and criminalities escalated across the country. As a result of this brazen practice of extortion, the unit has become a big money spinner for young officers who beg and bribe superiors to be transferred to the anti-robbery unit.

“The unit is now out of control as it has taken to terrorizing the citizenry it was established to protect to the point that its members have become indistinguishable, both in their appearance and conduct, from the armed robbers they were mandated to deal with: Usually casually dressed, heavily armed with visible tattoos, sagged trousers, dreadlocks and visible earrings, they have assumed an identity designed to terrify and intimidate citizens.”

Fatherland said with the regular Nigerian Police Force already notorious for barbaric treatment of citizens manifesting in unlawful arrests and detention, extortion; extra-judicial killings; torture and rape of citizens, the SARS officers have managed to take these pervasive acts to new heights with the bulk of their victims being youths falsely tagged as fraudsters or yahoo -yahoo boys. Reports abound of young men and women being murdered based on totally arbitrary suspicions of them being fraudsters or criminals.

“SARS officers have been reported for framing citizens by planting controlled substances on their person or claiming to have found them in possession of firearms and replacing criminals with innocent individuals, among other heinous activities. Victims of harassment by the men of the SARS have mentioned that the suspicions of the officers are usually borne out of stereotypes and profiling owning phones perceived to be expensive, possession of laptops, driving expensive cars, having dreadlocks and tattoos. Even when persons arrested or accosted are able to explain their source of income and are not found with any incriminating evidence, they are not released. Rather, they are threatened with murder and/or lengthy detention in inhuman detention cells unless they are able to pay huge sums demanded by SARS officers” the group said.

It noted that a cynical pattern has emerged in recent years whenever SARS officers have committed atrocities triggering nationwide condemnation: the federal government and/or the Inspector General of police will simply announce that SARS has been disbanded without any meaningful action taken. Accordingly, the disbandment of SARS has been announced in 2017, 2018, 2019 and now, again, in 2020, only for members of the unit to resurface in different parts of the country continuing with their abuses of Nigerian citizens. In 2018, President Buhari instituted a Panel to investigate allegations of human rights violations by SARS and to recommend reforms but then neglected to implement the recommendations of that Panel.

Fatherland listed some of the Nigerian youths who have been reported killed or missing in police custody since President Buharis announcement of the disbandment of this terror unit as follows:

Ogbomosho; Jimoh Isiaka – murdered; Mr Akeju Murdered; Ganiyu Moshood Alabi – murdered; Adeoye Taiwo – murdered; Surulere; Treasure Nduka – tortured; Felicia Okpara – tortured; Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo – murdered; Ademola Ojabodu – tortured; Ayorinde Ayinde – undergoing torture; In Benue state : Odido John Obogo – illegally detained; Ahile Shimadoo-Teravese – illegally detained; Ayuhwa Sonter Joseph – illegally detained.

It said the citizens should not become mere statistics but that the government must do justice..The group thanked members of the international community, and Nigerians in the Diaspora, for the concern and support which they have shown for the wellbeing of the youths in Nigeria and calls upon them to keep a close watch on the conduct of the Nigerian authorities.

PenCom: Group Petitions Senate, Says Buhari’s Nominee, Hannatu Musa, Has No NYSC Certificate |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali

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October 15, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

President Muhammadu Buhari has come under criticism over his nominee for the top job at the National Pension Commission, Pencom.

Buhari’s choice, Hannatu Musa Musawa, according to a petition by a Group, has no National Youth Service Certificate, NYSC.

According to the group from the North West zone called “League of Concerned Indigenes of the States In North West Zone”, it felt scandalized by her appointment. It has, therefore written a petition to the Senate to stop her confirmation on the grounds that she does not possess the NYSC Certificate.

The group apparently dug into her past, and addressed the petition to Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, Chairman of the Senate Committee that oversights PenCom.

The petition dated 7th October, was signed by Comrade Musa Argungu who resides in Birnin Kebbi. Part of the petition obtained reads:

“In fact, we are very surprised that the list of the people nominated by President Buhari for the Pencom includes Hannatu Musa Musawa. Everybody knows that she didn’t attend NYSC after her degree in UK. That is why she never worked for the Government since she come back from her studies. The Committee should critically analyze her CV and even if she submits any NYSC certificate, it is fake. This is against the NYSC Act.

“We know that many things are hidden from the President. That is why some godfathers proposed her name to him for the Pencom job even though she doesn’t have NYSC Certificate. That is how even after confirmation she will be disqualified and forced to resign or blackmailed to compromise standards for fear of discovery. This is how the former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi was forced to resign because she did not go for NYSC after graduation from UK. We believe that this mistake can be checkmated by your Senate Committee…”

Alhaji Musa Musawa, Hannatu’s father is a familiar name in political circles in Kano and Katsina States where he bestrodes like a colossus.

He was a juggernaut of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party led by the late Aminu Kano, and boasts of connections in high places.

Thus, it was not surprising that she was nominated by President Buhari to the board of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) as a commissioner to represent North West.

But unlike her father whose patriotic zeal for Nigeria could not be faulted, Hanney, as she is fondly called, allegedly now has question marks based on the petition.

Hannatu studied law at the University of Buckingham, UK, took a Postgraduate Masters Degree in the Legal Aspects of Marine Affairs a Postgraduate Masters Degree in Oil and Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

The group pleaded with the Senate Committee to “investigate the matter and save the nation from the shame of confirming Hannatu Musawa only to be disgraced later by resigning forcefully.”

“Hannatu had remained in active legal practice since her return to the country, and while she is said to have represented government agencies in some legal matters, she has never held a full time government job, the Group alleged.

“This, also, explains why she had been active politically on human rights and women rights issues. She even took a shot at elective political office in 2011 when she contested for the Federal House of Representatives legislative seat in her home state of Katsina”.

EndSARS: Buhari Mulls Military Option After Minister Loses Driver |The Source

By

Bayo Bernard

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October 15, 2020

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By Tosin Olatokunbo

Barely 24 hours after the minister of state for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo warned that the endSARS protest has become a mob action his driver has been killed in one of the protests in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Already, there are fears that President Muhammadu Buhari may draft soldiers to the street to stop the protesters in days if the mass action continues, but civil society leaders have also warned that such action has the potential of pouring petrol in the already volatile situation.

Some angry protesters, were on Tuesday stopped from marching on the National Assembly by soldiers who also harassed and damaged their equipment.

Keyamo, on Wednesday accused some criminal elements of mixing with genuine protesters to unleash terror on citizens and members of the Nigeria Police Force.

The demand to end police brutality and harassment has spread across the country, as protesters mostly youths, marched on state capitals in the country for the eight day.

Amnesty International, AI said on Tuesday that over 10 Nigerians have been killed in the protest.

But in a tweet on Thursday, the minister disclosed that his driver, Yohanna Shankur lamented that one of his drivers was hit by a vehicle around the Berger area of Abuja.

He said the driver died as a result of the protest by youths against police brutality and extortion in the country.

Kyeamu tweeted, “I regret to announce that my driver, Mr. Yohanna Shankuk, died yesterday in Abuja as a result of the protests.A vehicle that saw advancing protesters at Berger roundabout, made a U-turn, took the one-way back and ran over him as he was making his way on foot to my private office.”

Meanwhile, some Nigerians are already worried that the military could be called in to quell the protest if violence creeps in.

This suggestion came after the Nigerian Army said on Wednesday that it has the duty to keep law and order in the country.

Col Sagir Musa, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, said in Abuja that the armed forces cannot hold on for long in the face on public disorder, warning subversive elements not to try the resolve of the nation’s armed forces to maintain peace.

According to Sagir, “The Nigerian Army (NA) wishes to reassure law-abiding citizens that it is highly committed to the sustenance of peace, security and defence of democracy in Nigeria.

“As a responsible and law-abiding organisation, the Nigerian Army reaffirms its unalloyed loyalty and commitment to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari and the Constitution of the Country.

“The NA hereby warns all subversive elements and trouble makers to desist from such acts as it remains highly committed to defend the country and her democracy at all cost.

“The NA is ready to fully support the civil authority in whatever capacity to maintain law and order and deal with any situation decisively.

“All officers and men are directed never to be distracted by anti-democratic forces and agents of disunity.”

On Wednesday in Abuja, the protest turned violent after some hoodlums attacked the protesters but were repelled.

At least two protesters were also reported to have died in Lagos after clashing with policemen.

Ondo Schools Reopen Amidst Fresh Outbreak Of Corona Virus |The Source

By

Ayodele Oni

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October 15, 2020

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By Ayodele Oni

After months of rigorous campaigns and Governorship election in Ondo state, 12 fresh cases of coronavirus pandemic have been established.

Disclosing this in Akure on Wednesday, the State Acting Commissioner for Health, Dr Jibayo Adeyeye, said two of the new cases are health workers.

Ondo has been among states with the highest recorded cases of the global pandemic, recording as high as 1651 with 36 deaths so far.

Despite reported cases of fresh outbreak, the state Government has directed public and private primary and secondary schools to reopen as from Monday.

Chairman of the state inter- ministerial committee on Covid 19, Prof Adesegun Fatusi, who announced this, further directed that all schools must abide by the COVID-19 preventive guidelines released by the Committee to ensure the safety of staff and students.

Fatusi, who is also the Vice Chancellor, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, hinted that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has also instructed the committee to conduct periodic monitoring visit to schools and any school found not to be complying with the COVID-19 guidelines should be shut.

He noted that schools reopening must adhere to the following guidelines, notices with the message, “no mask, no entry, must be boldly displayed at the entrance of the school and at strategic spots throughout the school compound; Infrared thermometer must be made available and used to assess the temperature of each staff, student, and visitors at the point of entry into the schools.

School authority must provide handwashing devices with adequate and constant source of running water and soaps and all individuals must wash their hands when entering the schools. Alternatively, hand sanitisers with alcohol content of not less than 70% may be used;

Individuals with high temperature or who show any form of illness must not be allowed into the school while seats in the classrooms and staff rooms must be separated with a minimum space of two metres.

Recruitment: How The PSC Floored The Police At Appeal Court |The Source

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The Source

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October 15, 2020

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Details of the judgement given two weeks ago, in favour of the Police Service Commission, PSC, by an Appeal Court Police over the recruitment of Constables, against the the Police has been released. .

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, declared that the Police Act 2020, enacted in September 2020, as it affects the constitutional mandate of the Police Service Commission is unconstitutional null and void.

The provision of the Act, it ruled, is obviously in conflict with paragraph 30 Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution” which empowers the Commission to appoint persons into offices in the Nigeria Police Force except the Office of the Inspector General of Police.

The details of the Appeal Court judgment in the appeal instituted by the Commission against the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, was contained in the Certified True Copy (CTC) received by the Commission on Tuesday, October 13^th, 2020.

Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, one of the three Justices of the Court, in his concurrent judgment, ruled that Paragraph 30 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution has given the power to the Commission to appoint persons into offices in the Nigeria Police “and did not exclude constables and cadets to Nigeria Police Academy from offices in the Nigeria Police into which the Appellant can appoint persons”

He further declared that no Act of the National Assembly or Law can take away or curtail such power. Justice Agim noted that even if the Nigeria Police carried out the disputed enlistment pursuant to a directive or approval of the President of the Federation, “the enlistment would remain contrary to the Constitution and therefore unconstitutional and void. Such a directive cannot repair its unconstitutionality and illegality”,

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Olabisi Ige, the Court of Appeal gave a declaration that by virtue of section 1 subsection 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) “ any piece of legislation or instrument relied upon by the Defendants (including but not limited to the Police Act and the Police Regulations) in exercising or purporting to exercise the powers to appoint, promote, dismiss or discipline persons holding or aspiring to hold offices in the Nigeria Police Force, being inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution particularly section 153 subsection (1)(m), section 153 subsection (2) and section 215(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Paragraph 30 part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution, is invalid, null and void and of no effect whatsoever”

It also gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Police, and other defendants, jointly and severally, from interfering, or further interfering in any manner howsoever with the Commission’s discharge of its constitutional and statutory functions in “respect of the appointment, promotion, dismissal, or exercise of disciplinary control over persons holding or aspiring to hold offices in the Nigeria Police Force other than the Inspector General of Police”

A realease signed by Ikechukwu Ani, the Information Officer of the PSC, said the Police Service Commission would soon make public its programme of action in respect of recruitments into the Constable Cadre of the Nigeria Police Force and admission into the Police Training Schools and Colleges.

Protests: Mr President, Address Nigerians – CNPP |The Source

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The Source

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October 15, 2020

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The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation, and calm nerves, amidst the ongoing #SARSMustEnd protest spreading across the country.

The CNPP, in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu said “there is a time silence is not golden and such a time is now.”

The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria maintained that “for the President to continue to keep quiet while peacefully protesting young Nigerians are being brutalised and killed by security operatives raises doubt on how sensitive the current administration is to the plights of suffering Nigerians.

“In case Mr President and his handlers have forgotten, in the dark days of military dictatorship, both the people and the Nigerian media were gagged using the barrels of the gun but it never worked.

“If it didn’t work under the military dictatorships in the past, how do President Buhari and his handlers think rolling out tanks and oppressive weapons will be an answer to genuine demand for reforming the Nigeria Police Force?

“In case Mr President is not aware, our findings, since the current unrest in the country show that the people are determined, and continued deployment of security forces against the citizens will worsen the situation as bottled anger in the last five years of maladministration will finally be unleashed by the citizens.

“We then call on Mr President to immediately address the nation and order security agencies to leave the protesters alone.

“The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should do the needful, urgently, and stop an obviously impending national outrage against the government it formed in 2015”, the CNPP counselled.

Jonathan Mourns J.P. Clark, Says Renowned Writer Has Dropped His Mighty Pen |The Source

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The Source

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October 15, 2020

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Former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has expressed sadness over the death of renowned poet and playwright, Prof. John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo who passed on Tuesday, describing him as a man who deployed the potency of creative art in nation-building.

The former President noted that although the foremost writer has finally dropped his mighty pen, he would continue to live in his seminal literary works.

Dr. Jonathan made this known in an insightful condolence message to Delta State Government and members of late J.P. Clark’s family.

The former President further described the late writer as a witness of truth and advocate of justice who was truly committed to art and the progress of our nation.

Below is the full text of the condolence message:

“I condole with the Clark family, Delta State Government, the Ijaw Nation and all literary enthusiasts on the passing on of Prof John Pepper Clark, who died at the age of 85 on Tuesday, October 13.

“JP Clark was a master of the arts, who used the potency of words woven in stanzas and dialogues as tools for nation-building, national reconciliation as portrayed in works like ‘The Casualty’ and ‘State of the Union.’

“As a foremost poet and dramatist, JP Clark was a ‘witness of truth’, an advocate of justice whose commitment to Nigeria’s unity and progress was at the centre of his art and craft.

“He will be greatly missed for his creativity, patriotism and wisdom. His legacies of creativity, tact, and truth will continue to define his time while he lived with us.

“Although he has finally dropped his mighty pen and shed his earthly garb, J.P. Clark’s light will not grow dim because he will continue to live in his seminal literary works. His legacy is unfading for he has left indelible footprints on the sands of time.

“May God grant his soul eternal rest and comfort his family, friend and all sympathisers.”

Calabar: Security Agents Launch Manhunt for Abductors of Journalist’s Wife |The Source

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The Source

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October 15, 2020

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By Chidi Levi

Security agents in Calabar, the Cross River state capital, have launched a manhunt for the abductors of the wife of The Sun newspaper Correspondent in the state, Mrs Uduak Judex Okoro who was kidnapped by gunmen on Tuesday.

Mrs Okoro was kidnapped around 8.30pm Tuesday in Big Qua axis of the capital.

Her husband, Judex Okoro, who is also the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel confirmed the ugly incident in Calabar.

He told The Source that his wife was on visit to that part of Calabar when the incident happened

Okoro decried his wife’s abduction, describing it as one kidnap too many.The distraught journalist noted that his wife had earlier been kidnapped seven years ago. Meaning: This is the second time she would be kidnapped.

“All relevant security operatives have been informed” he stated.

Nigeria To Double The Number Of Airports In 2023, Says Sirika |The Source

By

Uche Mbah

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October 14, 2020

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By Uche Mbah

While most of the airports in the country are known to be unviable and underutilized due to location and low traffic, indications are that the Federal Government may double the number of airports in the country within the next two years.

Nigeria currently has 31 airports. 26 of them are local airports while five of them are International airports.

Most airports in the country, even International airports, are functioning at low capacity with some, only active during religious seasons like the Haj season.

Recently, the Government decided to focus on the major International airports, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja for special upgrades, besides the work done at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. It budgeted N1.6 billion for the extension and asphalt overlay of Murtala Muhammed International Airport runway, Lagos; N1 billion for the construction of a new terminal building in Enugu; and N1 billion construction of an airstrip in Abeokuta.

But the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, while responding to questions during the presentation of the budget by President Muhammadu Buhari said that the Ministry is working towards doubling the number of airports in the country by the year 2023. This, according to him, will boost the national economy and increase air connectivity.

The President during the budget presentation sounded an alarm, warning of an impending recession in the economy.

“We understood the principles and the importance of air connectivity and it is a very important sector. It boosts our economy and we believe investment in this sector will do well for our economy.

“Before the end of 2023, we would have doubled the number of airports in Nigeria. We understand the importance of aviation infrastructure as a critical component for the working of our economy and our national security assets,” he said.

According to Sirika, the aviation industry is the fastest-growing sector in the country. He said that the current administration had developed a roadmap aimed at improving civil aviation and air transportation in general.