Nigeria Spends $2.5bn Annually on Aircraft Maintenance Overseas Chinedu Eze Nigerian airlines, presidential fleet, Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Police spend an estimated $2.5 billion annually in conducting C-check and other levels of aircraft maintenance overseas, THISDAY’s investigations have revealed. THISDAY gathered that most
of the funds are expended on the technical personnel, airframe maintenance, landing gear, engine overhaul and aircraft spares. Aeronautical engineers, airline operators and pilots told THISDAY that this amount would have been
halved if Nigeria has major Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, a leasing company, which could also supply spares and simulators for the training of pilots. THISDAY gathered that the high cost of maintenance
is responsible for the short lifespan of Nigerian carriers, which operate for average of 10 years. The long time spent in taking aircraft overseas has forced airlines to incur losses, making it difficult for domestic airlines to survive.
Former Aero Contractors’ Maintenance Engineer, who is now the Chief Executive Officer of Seven Star Global, a major maintenance facility that just berthed in Nigeria, Mr. Isaac Balami, told THISDAY that airframe maintenance alone costs Nigeria $1 billion
Offa Robbery: I'm Vindicated, Says Saraki ... Page 10
annually at the average of $1 million per aircraft. “Airlines expend about $1 million on the maintenance of airframe alone and not to talk about the maintenance of landing gear and engine, which have different maintenance programme. These amounts are spent by Nigerian airlines, Continued on page 6
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PDP Cries Out, Says APC Plots Akwa Ibom Takeover by Force Senate orders investigation Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale and Mercy Apollos in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of causing mayhem in Akwa Ibom State in order to take control of the state by force. The accusation by the main opposition party is coming as Continued on page 6
HONOUR FOR THE ENTREPRENEUR... L-R: Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Chairman, Modandola Group, Chief Bode Akindele; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar III; Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede; and Minister of Health, Dr. Isaac Adewole, at the conferment of an honorary Doctor of Letters on Akindele by the University of Ibadan, in Ibadan… recently
INEC Warns Parties against Breach of Electoral Regulations Vows to enforce the law Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Adedayo Akinwale and Yesin Victoria in Abuja As the campaign for the presidential and National Assembly election kicks off, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned against any
contravention of the Electoral Act and its election regulations, vowing to strictly monitor campaigns by political parties. The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this yesterday during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the commission’s
headquarters in Abuja. He told them that the campaign for the 2019 presidential election officially commenced on Sunday, November 18, 2018 as provided for by the Electoral Act, in line with the commission’s timetable and schedules of activities,
urging them to ensure strict compliance with the extant rules guiding the election. “The commission is committed to closely monitor the campaigns pursuant to our statutory mandate and to ensure compliance with the extant laws and regulations,” he said.
Continuing Yakubu said, “We are pleased that the focus in the last few days, since the commencement of the campaigns has been on policies rather than personalities. We sincerely hope it remains this way.” Multiple sections of the electoral law regulate the
conduct of campaign by political parties and politicians, who are enjoined to keep the polity safe from injurious statements. Specifically, Section 95 of the Electoral Act (2010) prohibits certain conduct at political
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