Missing $49.8bn: Sanusi Regrets Action

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, made a volte face on Wednesday over his embarrassing revelation that the sum of $49.8 billion realised from the sales of crude oil between January 2012 and July 2013 were not remitted to the Federation Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
 

A sober Sanusi instead said $12 billion and not $49.8billion was the amount discovered not to have been remitted to the account within the period.

Nigerian Students Study In One-block, Portakabin Ghanaian Varsities

Sequel to the irregular academic calendar and alleged inadequate facilities, Nigerian parents send their children overseas for tertiary education. The idea is that these schools have state-of-the-art amenities and their graduates are world-class. However, after a 10-day tour of some Ghanaian universities,Punch Newspaperreports the conditions under which Nigerian students study in this West African country
Welcome to Accra Institute of Technology, a one-block Ghanaian tertiary institution offering first degrees as well as post-graduate degrees up to the doctoral level.

...And Again Senator Yerima divorces 17year old Egyptian wife, marries another 15yr old

AHMED SANI YERIMA

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Senator Yerima divorces 17year old Egyptian wife, marries another 15yr old
Former Zamfara state governor and serving senator of the federal republic of Nigeria, Sen. Ahmed Yerima,divorced 14 year old Egyptian girl named Marian after three years of marriage and marry a new wife.
The reports says, Sen.Yerima and four men, said to be members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly were in Egypt a few weeks ago for the wedding fathia of a new bride said to be 15 years old.
Marian who is now 17 and a mother of one, is believed to be the daughter of the former governor’s driver whenever he visits Egypt. The reason he divorced her is to enable him take a new wife as he’s not allowed more than four wives.
The Senator is alleged to have married and divorced a few women in the last few years but has never changed his first three wives, only the fourth ones.
Sen. Ahmed Yerima this year was strongly against the deletion of the section of the 1999 constitution which pegged the official marriage age in Nigeria as 18 year, saying it was anti-Islam.

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Nigeria Airbrushed Out Of Mandela’s Life Story

It’s amusing to see the same people who jailed Mandela several years ago falling over themselves to eulogise him at his death. This is not only because he showed in his life time that he is made of better material than all of them put together but also because we Africans allowed them to take centre stage.

Africans always allow Europeans and their American cousins to call the shots. It was Europeans who sent Mandela to jail and the same Europeans released him after he was considered more dangerous locked up than free.

They dismantled apartheid when it became an embarrassment to them.

Now they are the ones telling us Mandela’s life story and all the efforts other African countries, especially Nigeria, played to set him free have been carefully deleted from history.

A wise man once said, “history is merely a piece of fiction written by the Victors”.

When Mandela left prison a wiser and more matured man than when he was thrown into jail he confounded his captors who quickly switched gears and became his best friends.

On the other hand, a disappointed Mandela was hoping to find an independent Africa with progressive leadership but what he discovered was that most African countries were actually in a worse state than they were under colonial leadership when he went to jail.

It was only natural for him to become best friends with the same people who jailed him especially after he discovered that the economies of most African countries were still tied to the apron strings of their former colonial masters.

If Nelson Mandela died with any regrets it’s probably the fact that he was the only African leader that Europeans and Americans had any respect for.

Take for instance his memorial service where America’s president was given centre stage to read an eulogy. President Jonathan was at the same memorial service but no major media organisation acknowledged his presence.

Yeah, nobody acknowledged the presence of Goodluck Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Mandela’s memorial.

Nobody remembers that Nigeria spent millions of Dollars to support the African National Congress (ANC) members in exile.

It was Nigeria that led a successful boycott of the 1986 Commonwealth Games in protest against the attitude of the Thatcher led Conservative government to apartheid South Africa.

Nigerian passports were issued to opponents of the apartheid regime so that they could travel around the world and drum support for release of Nelson Mandela and dismantle apartheid when the South African government wouldn’t issue them passports.

For several years, Nigerian Civil Servants were contributing a part of their salaries to support the struggle against apartheid.

What we got paid in return is not appreciation but a complete airbrush from history and it’s not because Mandela and South Africans are ungrateful but because they are too ashamed to associate themselves with our leaders.

Mandela would sooner travel to a country where there is stable power supply and security; make friends with Clinton and Blair, who were held accountable to the people they governed, than hang around those who would treat him like a god while oppressing the people who elected them to office.

Mandela would rather associate himself with a country where a cabinet minister resigned over accusations he insulted Policemen on duty than hang around a President who refused to sack a minister facing legislative probe for spending $1.5 million dollars on bullet proof luxury cars.

Madiba avoided Africa because the state of affairs in so many African countries reminded him of how black South Africans were treated by white South African only worse because it’s now black Africans oppressing other black Africans.

When the tide turned around for Mandela, the organised western world – the same people who jailed him – made a decision to claim his legacy while his African brothers, who paid a price to get him freed, were busy tearing down the good work they built.

The same way he realised that the way forward for South Africa was forgiveness and reconciliation he also realised that the sensible thing to do was to fraternise with the people who jailed him and not the profligate and corruption ridden African leadership.

We pushed “our” Mandela back into the arms of his jailers even after he had been set free from a physical prison because he realised that African leaders may be parading themselves around in luxury cars and private jets but they were still ideologically imprisoned.

Since he didn’t want to go back to any kind of prison he aligned himself with those who put him in jail because they did not only set him free from a physical prison they also had the power to set him free from the ideological prison that other African leaders were still trapped in.

They are now the ones re-writing Mandela’s life story and thanks to our leaders our children will probably never know the role we played in setting him free from jail and South Africa from an evil political system.

Culled from here

Benefits Of Eating Banana

1. One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

2. Bananas have a natural antacid effect on the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief

3. Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid
morning sickness.

4. Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

5. Calms you Down: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

6. Banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in chronic cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

7. Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

8. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous
90-minute workout.

9. A banana can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must-to-add to your daily diet.

10. Bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

11. High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

12. This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat high blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

13. Research has proved that this potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making students more alert.

14. High in fiber. Including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Now you know why monkeys are so happy. Eat a banana!

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The Truth About Egg; Once An Enemy

Eggs have gotten a bad rap over the last few decades. Deemed bad for the heart by health experts, they have been the subjects of criticism and scrutiny. But are our white (sometimes brown) friends really that unhealthy for us? In the last few years, numerous health organizations have been vindicating eggs' reputation. So what are we to believe; why were eggs chastised, only to be acclaimed again?\

old egg myths

It was previously thought that eggs raised blood cholesterol levels -- one of the main causes of heart disease. The yolk in a single large egg contains five grams of fat, so it was only natural for nutritionists to assume that eggs clogged up people's arteries, especially since they also contain dietary cholesterol .

Another myth was that cholesterol is fat. That is simply not true. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that resembles fat, but has little to do with it. Today, scientists know that cholesterol content in food and the cholesterol in our blood aren't as directly related as once thought. So to unravel the mystery that is the egg, one must look at cholesterol.

cholesterol

First, one has to understand that cholesterol is not necessarily bad. Humans need it to maintain cell walls, insulate nerve fibers and produced vitamin D, among other things. Second, there are two types of cholesterol: dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol . Both are important.

Dietary cholesterol is found in certain foods, such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and diary products. The second type (blood cholesterol, also called serum cholesterol) is produced in the liver and floats around in our bloodstream. Blood cholesterol is divided into two sub-categories: High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL). LDL cholesterol is considered bad because it sticks to artery walls.

What is bad, however, is the amount of LDL blood cholesterol in the body. Too much of it can cause heart problems, but scientists are now discovering that consuming food rich in dietary cholesterol does not increase blood cholesterol. At least that is what some experts believe (they are somewhat disagreeing on the matter... as usual).

Evidence showing that eating a lot of dietary cholesterol doesn't increase blood cholesterol was discovered during a statistical analysis conducted over 25 years by Dr. Wanda Howell and colleagues at the University of Arizona. The study revealed that people who consume two eggs each day with low-fat diets do not show signs of increased blood cholesterol levels.

So what does raise blood cholesterol? One of the main theories is that saturated fat does. Of the three types of fat (saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated), saturated fat raises blood cholesterol and LDL levels. It so happens that eggs contain mostly polyunsaturated fat, which can actually lower blood cholesterol if one replaces food containing saturated fat with eggs.

If you're a bodybuilder, you need eggs...

delicious, nutritious

Eggs are actually quite nutritious. They are not just fat (yolk) and protein (white). In fact, they contain a wide array of essential vitamins and minerals. Here is what's in an egg...

Vitamins
A: good for the skin and growth.
D: strengthens bones by raising calcium absorption.
E: protects cells from oxidation.
B1: helps properly release energy from carbohydrates.
B2: helps release energy from protein and fat.
B6: promotes the metabolism of protein.
B12: an essential vitamin in the formation of nerve fibers and blood cells.

Minerals
Iron: essential in the creation of red blood cells.
Zinc: good for enzyme stability and essential in intimate maturation.
Calcium: most important mineral in the strengthening of bones and teeth.
Iodine: controls thyroid hormones.
Selenium: like vitamin E, it protects cells from oxidation.
best type of protein
If that wasn't enough, egg whites contain the purest form of protein found in whole-foods. It is so high that nutritionists use them as the standard when comparing other whole-food proteins. Their "biological value" -- a measurement used to determine how efficiently a protein is used for growth -- is 93.7. Milk, fish, beef, and rice respectively have a bio value of 84.5, 76, 74.3, and 64.

The higher the value, the better the protein is absorbed. This is why many bodybuilders include eggs in their diet. When a person eats beef, for instance, all of the protein is not necessarily absorbed and used to rebuild tissue.

Protein is a complex substance, which is why bodybuilding protein supplement makers are constantly trying to refine the quality of their product and why some protein shake brands boast that their protein is made from egg whites. Having said that, each large egg contains 6.3 grams of protein.

how to eat eggs

Experts advise that despite being low in saturated fat, one should not eat more than two eggs a day on a low-fat diet. Egg yolk is mainly fat, so even though it doesn't raise blood cholesterol levels, it can cause other problems if abused.

Contaminated eggs kill up to 5000 individuals each year. One egg in 10,000 is contaminated with salmonella, so you should never eat undercooked eggs.
The proper way to cook eggs depends on the type of food served. Anything above that will leave the interior raw while burning the outside. If an egg has runny parts, it means it is still not cooked properly.

So now you know the truth about the incredible, edible egg. Once a foe, now a friend, this mighty whole-food contains many great nutrients and isn't as bad as people once thought. A great source of protein and easy to prepare, eggs are nature's golden food... if you don't eat too much of them, that is.

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Nigerian lawmakers are the highest paid in the world

Senate President, David Mark and Speaker of House of Reps, Aminu Tanbuwal

 Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.—Doug Larson.

Nice job if you can get it. No wonder the Nigerian Lawmaker fights tooth and nail to stay on the gravy train. It is a known fact that Nigerian Lawmakers are the highest paid in world.

There are 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives so in terms of payment by result, the Nigerian lawmakers do not deserve such high pay and surely does not perform their duties to warrant such hyper inflated pay. In America, a Senator earns 174,000 US dollars and in the UK, a Member of parliament about 64,000 US dollars a year. So what do our lawmaker do for this generous amount can someone please tell me why they deserve this enormous amount of money. It is about time Nigerians demand better service and improvement for Nigeria and Nigerians.

No one deserves that much money while ordinary people are scavenging to make ends meet. Nigeria has got multitude of deprivation; high infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, malnutrition, inadequate health care and transportation and lack of electricity outage, high crime rates, high number of young people not in education, employment or in training. So why is some of these excesses going to improve the lives of Nigerians. So instead Nigerians lawmakers are paid for below par performance and disregard to the electorates that they are meant to represent. I feel that ordinary Nigerians have been severely short changed, cheated and insulted by these so called honourable people.

According to Professor Itse Sagay, he stated that the Nigerian lawmakers at the lower and upper chambers of the National Assembly are the highest paid legislators in the world. A senator in Nigeria earns 240 million naira (about 1.7 million US dollars) in salaries and allowances and a member of the House of Representatives earns 204 million naira (about 1.45million US dollars) per annum. It definitely rubs insult to injury for the average Civil servant who earns about 46 to 120 US dollars per month.

RMAFC disputes the allowances that the lawmakers earn as misleading and describes the allowances as befitting the political and public office holders; such as the Nigerian Senator Remuneration package comes to 1,505% of basic salary, and the other 225% for furniture .So like I said, Fine job if you can get.

Response to: A Time Will Come…?
Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first. ~Ronald Reagan

I will say this. We are being judged as a nation. As Denrele Animasaun said, we like to show our allegiances to religion yet we have lost our humanity. The elite use the ethnic divisions for their own benefit yet we are too blind to see it. Only now are we beginning to wake up to this fact. It is funny that Obasanjo talks of his former Vice President and former governor of Bayelsa in this manner yet he picked Abubakar twice in return for campaign money and forced Goodluck Jonathan onto the late President Yar’Adua, a Goodluck Jonathan who later pardoned and forgave his former boss Alamieyeseigha.

Those who are identify themselves as Ijaw who will still support Jonathan have themselves to blame if by 2019 their quality of life has not improved. They will blame the Northern elites of course or someone else other than themselves. This tribal politics has retarded our nation and many people know this. I have talked with them. However, many seem to be either on two track minds, shortsighted, or cowardly that they will return to tribal politics the next day. I will say this again, we are being judged by God now. He will not save those who do not attempt to save themselves.
- Chukwuka Okoroafor

Dear Denrele,
Your above captioned article refers. It’s acceptable that the Columnist’s job is to point out the flaws, in order to elicit appropriate response. But our peculiar situation demands that it is even more helpful for possible solutions to be proffered, especially by those of you in the diaspora, who see how things are made to work. So next time you ask these many questions, please try give at least one good answer. “A time will come” when someone might use it to better our country. Have a fine day. Regards, -Alh Musah Ali

My response:
Dear Ali,
Thank you for your email. A time will come… was very self indulgent and it was my way of exorcising the pain and frustration within me! In a country of so many talented and intelligent people you would think the solution will and can come from within. Outside looking in as diasporas, the solutions are oblivious; honesty, transparency, compassion and selflessness. All these characteristics are the bedrock of any civil society, you would expect that majority of people already have it. We as Nigerians truthfully lack most of these qualities so, about time we developed a conscience and work collectively towards building a better future. So my piece was to prick our collective conscience and judging by the number of mails I have received, it got people to think collectively that the answer lies within all of us.
Regards, Denrele Animasaun

We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. – Aesop
Whatever next? Ebenega Okorodudu, has requested that state and federal governments immortalise late Pius Akpor Ewherido. And he also would like the speedy release of former Governor of the State, Chief James Ibori, from London prison.

Where do you begin with such people, even the pope cannot beatify any one unless there has been evidence of sustained good deeds and miracles. So unless the state and the federal government have become the Vatican then I am afraid that there is a case of delusion of grandeur going on. Certainly the sudden death of Ewherido in some quarters must have evoked so much emotions but I think common sense should prevail and accept that death is a leveller. As for Ibori? The good doctor is requesting that Ibori should be pardoned; he argued that the former governor was instrumental in the improvement of his state. Dr Okorodudu seem to have no integrity or morals when he talks warmly of Ibori’s crime as the man has no shame and he has lost touch with reality and with the ordinary Deltans and Nigerians in general.

There is a big omission here; that Ibori is a convicted common criminal pure and simple. Nigerians should know right from wrong as the present crop of politicians are self serving and desperately want to hold on the last vestiges of power while ordinary Nigerian starve and pillage for need to know what is wrong form right and we cannot paint people as dignified and full of integrity when they have been caught, convicted of criminality because he has great that he improved a small part of his state, while he was siphoning the state coffers? He is where he belongs for the crime he had committed and it is evident that Nigeria would have done nothing but parade him as an honest for governor. The message to the younger generation is clear; you are honest provided that you are in government.

In his own reasoning, Dr. Okorodudu said that the Federal and States governments to fast -track a means of releasing the former governor from the British custody where he is currently serving a jail term for offences bordering on money laundering, said the ex-governor is only a human being who can err, but if after owning up and apologizing to his people and the nation, he should have been given a very minimum sentence. Am not sure what stealing vegetable by a hungry person is nowadays but, I am sure it is not a minimal sentence. Yet a thief can steal billions and we create and perpetuate a corrupt society and we shrug our shoulders and we reasoned that there is not much we can do about it as everyone is doing it! Here lies the problem, we look to others to change their ways while we continue being dishonest and incorrigible. So for an errant politician they demand a softly, softly approach. Nigeria has a problem and our lawmakers are a representational of our people and there lies our problem.

Culled From Vanguard

Muslim Men Protecting A Catholic Church During Mass In Egypt

 

Saw this on the web and I wonder if this could happen in Egypt, why not in Nigeria? Or is the Quran they are using in Nigeria different? If we are supposed to be our brothers keeper, then, why is it now the other way round in Nigeria.

See the text that accompanied the picture below...

I may be against Muslims sometimes but when I see the good ones I always praise them ....... I believe human are naturally good, we are being destroyed by some certain teaching at every point. Wish this love will progress everywhere even to Nigeria " Muslim men protecting a Catholic Church in Egypt during mass. let's commend our Muslims brothers that stand by peace in Egypt. Note: I'm a Christian and I love this so so much

INSECURITY, TERRORISM: Obama Invites Jonathan For Meeting in New York

United States President, Barrack Obama has invited President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria for talks on issues bordering on terrorists activities in the African continent among others .

Disclosing this to State House correspondents, United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, who is leading a delegation to the US- Nigeria bi-national commission meeting, said all was set for both leaders to meet soon and discuss issues bordering on security, governance, education and agriculture.

According to her, while she came to the presidential villa to deliver a letter from Obama to the Nigerian President Jonathan who was gracious enough to accept the letter, adding that "We look forward to working further on the basis of the letter." She said, "The binational commission is really an invaluable tool for both nations to work together for a strong relationship, especially to support
Nigeria as it moves forward to tackle its challenges. Our presidents are likely to meet soon. I will leave that announcement to the President of the United States and the President of Nigeria.

"The issues before the bi- national commission range from security to governance, education and agriculture. Nigeria is a very important country, not only here on the continent, but around the world. Nigeria has served on the Security Council of the UN and it is likely to do so again in future.

"He is the head of the Committee on Democracy and has been leader in so many ways, like in ECOWAS as a peace-keeper all around the world. These are the partnerships that are important to us. Secretary Kerry had a meeting with President Jonathan in Addis at the AU summit, and so, we look for every opportunity to strengthen our relationship."

Private jet owners barred from govt terminal

 

The last has not been heard of the Federal Government’s reforms of the aviation sector, particularly in the private and chartered jet sub-sector.
Barely three months after unveiling a new policy for general aviation, which barred private jet owners from carrying their friends and associates, the Federal Government has stopped private jet owners and chartered jet operators from using the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos for foreign travels.
The order, which has taken effect, was conveyed through a memo from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to the heads of all the security agencies operating at the MMIA.
Airport sources told our correspondent on Friday that following the order, some private jet owners and chartered jet operators had stopped travelling through the international wing of the MMIA.
As a result, private jet owners and chartered jet passengers travelling out and coming into the country will not go through the required security screening, including that of the Immigration, Customs, narcotics control and the State Security Service at the MMIA.
The memo, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, also directed the heads of security agencies to deploy personnel to a privately-owned Fixed Base Operation facility to conduct the necessary checks on the private jet owners and passengers before and after foreign trips.
A FBO facility is a mini terminal or an aviation facility where private jet owners and chartered jet operators can also do fuelling, route planning and dispatching, among others.
The FAAN memo was copied to the Director, State Security Service, MMIA; Commissioner of Police, Police Airport Command; Military Airport Commandant, Nigeria Air Force; Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, MMIA; Controller, Nigeria Customs Services, MMIA; and Airport Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
However, stakeholders, especially private jet owners and chartered jet operators, have opposed the order, saying the development would lead to higher cost of operations.
The operators claimed that the directive would increase the cost of owning and operating private jets as the use of a private facility instead of the government-owned MMIA before embarking on foreign travels would lead to the escalation of their costs.
Some operators have also accused FAAN of conniving with the operator of the FBO to rip off private jet owners and chartered jet operators.
A chartered jet operator, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said, “I think this is an unfair deal. Why should we all be forced to leave the international terminal to a private facility? This is not best practice any where in the world for the government to force operators to be patronising only one Fixed Base Operation.
“What is wrong with our present arrangement? Is this free to us all or this will be an additional cost to our already strained budget? No consultation whatsoever from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria on this before the implementation. There are so many questions. Is this another ‘food for the boys’ arrangement? This is so unfair.”
However, FAAN has directed the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to clear private jets and charter jets from the private facility.
The directive, it was leant, took effect a few weeks ago, but some industry stakeholders said the development would lead to lax security measures for private and chartered jet passengers.
They said that having to screen high profile passengers, who constituted the bulk of private jet owners and passengers at a private facility instead of the government-owned international terminal, might lead to massive compromise of standard security screening required for international travels.
But FAAN, in its memo to NAMA, said it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the owners of the private FBO and that requisite security personnel had been deployed to the facility.
The FAAN memo, dated July 4, 2013, signed by the Regional Manager, Mr. E. A. Olarerin, read, “Commencement of international business and private jets operations through Quits Aviation Centre at the MMIA: This is to inform your good office that FAAN signed an MoU with M/S Quits located in the MMIA to begin processing all business and private jets at the Quits Aviation Centre.
“Already, all relevant security agencies involved in this operation have performed due diligence on the facility and have given it a clean bill of health, and have subsequently deployed their staff to the centre. In view of this, we hereby solicit the cooperation of NAMA to direct all such flight to process at the new facility.”
However, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said there was nothing like barring private and chartered jet operators from the international wing of the MMIA, noting that they were free to operate from there.
But a top official of FAAN, who did not want his name to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said the Federal Government had cancelled the MoU with the FBO operator due to increasing pressure from various quarters over the development.
He said the private jet owners and chartered jet operators were free to go back and start flying through the international wing of the MMIA.
However, findings by our correspondent revealed that most of the private jet owners were not aware of this development as most of them are still flying through the FBO facility.
The last has not been heard of the Federal Government’s reforms of the aviation sector, particularly in the private and chartered jet sub-sector.
Barely three months after unveiling a new policy for general aviation, which barred private jet owners from carrying their friends and associates, the Federal Government has stopped private jet owners and chartered jet operators from using the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos for foreign travels.
The order, which has taken effect, was conveyed through a memo from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to the heads of all the security agencies operating at the MMIA.
Airport sources told our correspondent on Friday that following the order, some private jet owners and chartered jet operators had stopped travelling through the international wing of the MMIA.
As a result, private jet owners and chartered jet passengers travelling out and coming into the country will not go through the required security screening, including that of the Immigration, Customs, narcotics control and the State Security Service at the MMIA.
The memo, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, also directed the heads of security agencies to deploy personnel to a privately-owned Fixed Base Operation facility to conduct the necessary checks on the private jet owners and passengers before and after foreign trips.
A FBO facility is a mini terminal or an aviation facility where private jet owners and chartered jet operators can also do fuelling, route planning and dispatching, among others.
The FAAN memo was copied to the Director, State Security Service, MMIA; Commissioner of Police, Police Airport Command; Military Airport Commandant, Nigeria Air Force; Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, MMIA; Controller, Nigeria Customs Services, MMIA; and Airport Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
However, stakeholders, especially private jet owners and chartered jet operators, have opposed the order, saying the development would lead to higher cost of operations.
The operators claimed that the directive would increase the cost of owning and operating private jets as the use of a private facility instead of the government-owned MMIA before embarking on foreign travels would lead to the escalation of their costs.
Some operators have also accused FAAN of conniving with the operator of the FBO to rip off private jet owners and chartered jet operators.
A chartered jet operator, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said, “I think this is an unfair deal. Why should we all be forced to leave the international terminal to a private facility? This is not best practice any where in the world for the government to force operators to be patronising only one Fixed Base Operation.
“What is wrong with our present arrangement? Is this free to us all or this will be an additional cost to our already strained budget? No consultation whatsoever from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria on this before the implementation. There are so many questions. Is this another ‘food for the boys’ arrangement? This is so unfair.”
However, FAAN has directed the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to clear private jets and charter jets from the private facility.
The directive, it was leant, took effect a few weeks ago, but some industry stakeholders said the development would lead to lax security measures for private and chartered jet passengers.
They said that having to screen high profile passengers, who constituted the bulk of private jet owners and passengers at a private facility instead of the government-owned international terminal, might lead to massive compromise of standard security screening required for international travels.
But FAAN, in its memo to NAMA, said it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the owners of the private FBO and that requisite security personnel had been deployed to the facility.
The FAAN memo, dated July 4, 2013, signed by the Regional Manager, Mr. E. A. Olarerin, read, “Commencement of international business and private jets operations through Quits Aviation Centre at the MMIA: This is to inform your good office that FAAN signed an MoU with M/S Quits located in the MMIA to begin processing all business and private jets at the Quits Aviation Centre.
“Already, all relevant security agencies involved in this operation have performed due diligence on the facility and have given it a clean bill of health, and have subsequently deployed their staff to the centre. In view of this, we hereby solicit the cooperation of NAMA to direct all such flight to process at the new facility.”
However, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said there was nothing like barring private and chartered jet operators from the international wing of the MMIA, noting that they were free to operate from there.
But a top official of FAAN, who did not want his name to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said the Federal Government had cancelled the MoU with the FBO operator due to increasing pressure from various quarters over the development.
He said the private jet owners and chartered jet operators were free to go back and start flying through the international wing of the MMIA.
However, findings by our correspondent revealed that most of the private jet owners were not aware of this development as most of them are still flying through the FBO facility.


The last has not been heard of the Federal Government’s reforms of the aviation sector, particularly in the private and chartered jet sub-sector.
Barely three months after unveiling a new policy for general aviation, which barred private jet owners from carrying their friends and associates, the Federal Government has stopped private jet owners and chartered jet operators from using the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos for foreign travels.
The order, which has taken effect, was conveyed through a memo from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to the heads of all the security agencies operating at the MMIA.
Airport sources told our correspondent on Friday that following the order, some private jet owners and chartered jet operators had stopped travelling through the international wing of the MMIA.
As a result, private jet owners and chartered jet passengers travelling out and coming into the country will not go through the required security screening, including that of the Immigration, Customs, narcotics control and the State Security Service at the MMIA.