News 10
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, Feburary 16, 2015
Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); former Comm. for Justice, Barr. Wale Afolabi (left); former Comm. for Information and Strategy, Hon. Sunday Akere (2nd right) and former Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports, Youths and Special Needs, Hon. Biyi Odunlade during an Inter-Religious Prayers Service at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo… on Saturday
Insurance companies charge airlines above global offer Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo
ÏÏÏAirlines in the country seem to be bucking under intense hardship especially from insurance companies in the country that are fleecing these airlines with exorbitant charges. Daily Times gathered that these insurance companies, under the regulation of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), have over the years been charging Nigerian domestic carriers above five times the globally offered premium rate as insurance brokers, only to re-insure with the major underwriters abroad.
Insurance companies in the country do not have the capacity to underwrite any risk undertaken in the aviation industry on aircraft and so they act as middle men and re-insure with major underwriters like Lloyds of London, Allianz Aviation Insurance and Aerospace Insurance and a host of others who have the capacity to handle this. Daily Times further learnt from a reliable source that an aircraft valued for about US$10 million, can be insured (for that valued with crew and 3rd party liability suitable for Europe) in the United States of America, Great Britain or even the Barbados for between US$ 80,000 and
US$100,000 as annual premium. As a category 1 civil aviation, Nigeria is supposed to be one of the low risk countries. And this should reduce premium further even and not hike it over and above global standard as has been the case in Nigeria for these long years. However, insurance companies in the country, because of certain policies enacted are capitalising on the need for them to broker for the airlines to charge them between US$300,000 and US$600,000 for just about $10 million value aircraft or as the case may be only to turn around and then pay the underwriters what is globally due, profiteer-
Alleged threat: Niger APC raises alarm over Deputy Gov Pita Chikwem Minna
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Niger State All Progressive Congress (APC), on Sunday, said it would hold Governor Babangida Aliyu responsible if anything happens to his deputy, Hon. Ahmed Ibeto, who defected to APC recently. APC spokesman, Jonathan Vatsa, who spoke to our correspondent in Minna, on the state of security in the party, condemned the action of Aliyu, who ordered his deputy out of council meeting. Vatsa said the action last Wednesday, was uncalled for, insisting that the party will hold him responsible should anything happen to the deputy governor.
“No matter what happens, Ibeto is still the deputy governor of Niger State, and should be treated honourably, rather than the humiliation he suffered at the council chambers. “It is not funny enough that the state governor has shown his desperation, coupled with various attacks on APC members through his hired thugs to disrupt our campaigns and destroy our vehicles. We have no other option than to employ private security to protect our members since all the security agencies are working for the ruling party in the State”, Vatsa said. While recalling the Niger East Senatorial bye-election that was characterised by intimidation from security agencies, he said,
ing from the airlines. Our reporter also learnt from a source in NAICOM that all the insurance companies in Nigeria cannot underwrite the risk of an aircraft if there is an accident, hence the question, why are they profiteering of airlines and underwriters. The source who pleaded anonymity said,” These people are not underwriters, they cannot underwrite an accident in this industry, they don’t have the capacity as they are just brokers. All they do is collect so much money over five to ten times of the internationally known cost and re-insure with Lloyds and others”.
Lokoja residents demand compensation from FG Ibrahim Momohjimoh Lokoja
Aliyu “We have resorted to private security because all the security agencies have failed us, they are the apparatus of both the Federal and State governments”. He however, advised APC supporters to maintain peaceful condition, before, during and after elections, while urging politicians to realize the need to conduct the process in such a manner that the state will still be in peace after the polls.
ÏÏÏResidents of Kpata area of Lokoja, Kogi State, have appealed to the state governor, Captain Idris Wada, to prevail on the management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), to pay their compensation before handing over the proposed embankment on the bank of the River Niger. Speaking on behalf of other residents, Mallam Baba Yusuf, lamented that they were surprised to see the state Ministry of Environment, NIWA and the representative of ZEECELI Construction Company, taking over the Kpata area for the construction of the embankment.
Akpabio assures Ika nation on road construction
ÏÏÏAkwa Ibom State Governor,
Chief Godswill Akpabio, has pledged to sign a contract for the construction of Urua Inyang-Ikot Udo -Abala Road, in Ika Local Government Area of the state. Akpabio, who stated this last weekend, during the PDP state campaign rally at the Saint Patrick’s Primary School, Urua Inyang in the area, said this was to open up the area for business opportunities. The governor said that Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who is the state PDP governorship candidate, was the right choice of the people, stressing that leadership comes from God and that God has chosen Emmanuel for the people of the state, “to open the doors of prosperity for the state, which no man can shut”, he said. He hinted that he would have done more for the people of Ika but due to the fall of oil price, he couldn’t complete most of the projects.
Ekiti AG advocates protection of women’s rights Gbenga Sodeinde
Ado Ekiti
ÏÏÏEkiti State Attorney General
and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Owoseni Ajayi, has advocated the rights of women be upheld in all strata of society. Speaking in Ado-Ekiti, while playing host to members of the State Chapter of the Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), Barrister Ajayi noted that women occupy a crucial place in the society hence, they should be accorded their pride of place at all times . He said women occupying sensitive positions around the world have never disappointed as they have demonstrated that they are as capable as the menfolk. The Attorney General, who restated the commitment of the Fayose-Administration to the rule of law, promised to support the association in all its programmes Earlier, the Chairperson of FIDA, Mrs. Rita Ilevbare, had sought the support of the Attorney General for the state chapter to enable it successfully host the National Executive Council (NEC), meeting of the association scheduled to hold later in the year. According to her, Ekiti State chapter of FIDA, would be hosting the NEC meeting for the first time since its inauguration in year 2000.