The report by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority that Airports and airlines in the country are not yet fully ready to resume operations and the willingness of the Nigerian Senate to approve more resources for the nation’s security agents to fight insurgency and crimes are some of the leading stories in Nigerian newspapers on Monday.
The Punch reports that Nigerian airports and airlines are not yet fully ready to resume operations, according to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
The newspaper said that it was gathered on Sunday that while airlines were about 70 percent prepared for resumption, domestic airports were 57.83 percent ready.
It said that the latest statistics from NCAA also showed that air navigation service providers were about 80 percent prepared, while ground handlers were adjudged the readiest operators in the sector.
The newspaper says that the President of the Nigerian Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Sunday met with the President Muhammadu Buhari, on the increasing security challenges in the country.
Lawan told State House correspondents after the meeting that he believed in providing more resources for the nation’s security agents and the need for the heads of the agencies to sit up or be shown the way out.
The Senate had on June 11 mandated the leadership of the National Assembly to urgently hold a meeting with the President on the nation’s security challenges.
It recalled that Buhari on Thursday also assessed the deteriorating security situation in the country and declared that the nation’s security chiefs were not living up to their responsibilities.
The Nation newspaper says that the aviation industry lost over N63 billion to the ravaging effects of coronavirus pandemic, a report by the Ministry of Aviation has shown.
Describing the air transport value chain as the hardest hit to the deadly virus, the report said over 90 percent of operations and activities were adversely affected resulting in monthly losses valued at N21 billion.
The report indicated that the ravaging effects of the virus in the sector has forced the government to consider working out a recovery plan aimed at providing financial support where necessary to sustain air connectivity for passenger operations and cargo flights.
Besides, the financial support proposed for the industry, the report indicated that the government is rejigging its plans to fast track the establishment of a private sector driven national carrier, which is expected to generate significant revenue and contribute to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The project is expected to create activity in the wider economy for suppliers, importers, exporters and manufacturers.
ThisDay Newspaper reports that the Nigerian government has received vital medical supplies that are worth $22 million from the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) to boost its fight against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic disease in the country.
A statement issued yesterday from the Department of Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and signed by Oluwatosin Akingbulu, said the shipment included 545 oxygen concentrators, more than 100,000 test kits, infrared digital no-touch thermometers, numerous personal protective equipment (PPEs), laboratory supplies and emergency health kits, etc., that would boost the Nigerian government’s efforts to care for those affected by the disease.
“The essential medical supplies will enhance efforts of the frontline responders providing care and treatment to people affected by the virus, increase testing capacity and early detection of those affected by the virus and support the hospitalisation and management of COVID-19 cases. The supply were handed over to the federal government through the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and the NPHCDA and was officially presented to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 at an event attended by high-level delegates from the EU, Ministry of Health and the UN.
The Vanguard says that the Federal Government has demanded urgent action from Ghana over the attack on Nigerian High Commission in the neighbouring West African country.
According to the report, some gunmen had allegedly invaded the high commission and pulled some sections of the building currently under construction, following claims by a Ghanaian businessman that he owned the parcel of land the building was being erected.
It said that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, had in a tweet, yesterday, said those responsible for the attack must be brought to book immediately.
The minister said the Nigerian Government was currently engaging with the Ghanaian authorities over the incident.
the tweet read: “We strongly condemn two outrageous criminal attacks in Accra, Ghana, on a residential building in our diplomatic premises by unknown persons in which a bulldozer was used to demolish the building.
The newspaper also said that the names of the three nominees recommended the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, to President Muhammadu Buhari to pick as a replacement for Ibrahim Magu have emerged.
Top on the list is a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Sani Usman, who is believed to have been vetted by President Muhammadu Buhari for the job.
Malami last week wrote the president recommending Ibrahim Magu’s immediate sack as head of the anti-graft agency over alleged multiple serious offences bordering on diversion of recovered assets, insubordination and misconduct.
But the AGF has kept mute on the development, as he neither denies nor confirms sending the memo to Buhari.
GIK/APA