Author: user user

STAKEHOLDERS in aviation industry have said the future of the nation’s airports depends on em-bracing well-structured Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

Speaking at Airport Business Summit, held in Lagos, they insisted that government alone can no longer fund or manage airports to meet global standards.

A former Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Richard Aisue-beogun, described airport concession as ‘inevitable’ if Nigeria is to modernise its airports, attract investment and turn them into engines of growth.

Drawing lessons from Europe and Latin America, Aisuebeogun said airports perform better when run as commercial enterprises under carefully regulated concessions.

He noted that private operators bring in capital, assume investment risks and introduce global best practices, while government retains its role as regulator.

According to him, ‘airports are strategic national assets, but they must be managed as business-es’ to improve efficiency, customer service and national economic development.

The position was reinforced by Chief Operating Officer, of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Mr. Remi Jibodu, who warned that the future of airport development is no longer about bigger terminals, but smarter ones.

He said technology-driven airports, powered by artificial intelligence, facial recognition and smart security, will reduce congestion, improve passenger experience and boost revenue.

Mr. Jibodu stressed that stronger public-private partnerships are essential to deliver such trans-formation.

Also speaking, Regional General Manager, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, (NAIA) Abuja, Mr. Ahmed Danjuma, represented by the International Airport Manager, NAIA, Alhaji Abdullahi Lawal, identified ageing infrastructure, inadequate funding, cybersecurity threats, climate dis-ruptions and growing passenger demand as major obstacles confronting airport operations.

He maintained that greater investment, digital transformation and public-private partnerships are critical to building resilient and competitive airports.

Many parents go through a lot of stress when their school-aged children still wet the bed. It is very common to feel frustrated, but beating or shouting at the child does not solve the problem. In fact, medically it shows that pressure makes the issue worse.

In this article, Tribune Online examines the practical, stress-free steps parents can take to manage and reduce bedwetting in school-aged children supportively without losing peace at home.

Understanding the facts about bedwetting

According to a clinical study published by the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, about 23.2% of primary school children in Nigeria experience bedwetting, with the condition being much more common in boys.

This medical condition is known as nocturnal enuresis. It is usually not the child’s fault because their bladder nerves and brain connections are still growing and maturing.

Adjust your child’s daily fluid timing

One of the easiest ways to start is by regulating when your child drinks water. Let them drink enough water during the daytime so they stay healthy and hydrated.

However, you should completely stop all heavy drinks, water, and milk at least one to two hours before bedtime. This simple shift reduces the amount of urine their kidneys produce while they are fast asleep.

Stop sugary and caffeinated drinks in the evening

Do not give your child sweet soft drinks, tea, cocoa beverages, or chocolate snacks in the evening.These items contain sugar and caffeine, which act as diuretics.

This means they irritate the bladder and force the body to produce urine much faster than usual. Stick to plain water during the daytime instead.

Set a double-voiding bedtime routine

Make it a strict habit for your child to use the toilet twice before sleeping. Have them urinate once when starting their bedtime preparation, and then empty their bladder one more time right before they close their eyes to sleep.

This double-voiding method ensures that the bladder is completely empty, giving them a much better chance of staying dry until morning.

Protect their self-esteem and avoid punishment

Bedwetting is an involuntary action, meaning the child has no control over it and is completely asleep when it happens.

Punishing, shaming, or comparing them to their mates only builds fear and anxiety, which triggers more bedwetting. Instead, praise their effort to follow these new habits and assure them that they will outgrow it with time.

WHAT is it like to be Wole Soyinka (WS to his friends and associates) at the grand age of 92? Does the writer brood over the eternal things, wondering where time went? Jorge Luis Borges, the Argentine writer who left this planet in 1986, the same year that Soyinka became the first African to be honoured with the Nobel Prize in Literature, once said about time that it is ‘the substance I am made of. Time is a river that carries me away. But I am the river.’ Is this the kind of thought Soyinka is likely to entertain as age sidles up to him? Probably.

But we also know- and we have this on the authority of a member of the editorial board of this newspaper who, for this purpose, shall remain anonymous- that Soyinka remains his rascally self. Who else but Soyinka, the man who takes his work seriously but refuses to take himself too seriously, would autograph a book to a much younger admirer with the following words: ‘Chief and all that…’

It’s an interesting and instructive moment of levity, this. For those who may not know, Wole Soyinka is the current Akinlatun of Egbaland, a chieftaincy title conferred on him in 2005. But no one has ever introduced Soyinka as a chief, an appellation wasted on a man who, apart from having many an axe to grind with traditional institutions, is individualist to the point of sedition. So far as we know, Soyinka, who accepted the honour under duress, never consummated it. Why would he then allude to it and himself in the manner just described?

The reference is typical Soyinka, who is wont to kill (more than) two birds with one stone: mocking the idea of himself as a chief, and at the same time bringing in the young admirer, an accomplished scholar in his own right, on the act. Why does all this matter? It is a reminder that, at 92, when many people understandably lower the flag of resistance, Soyinka remains his impish, self-deprecating, and clubbable self.

At various events to mark his 92nd birthday, several people have spoken of the need to immortalise Soyinka. For instance, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and former presidential candidate, Kingsley Moghalu, described Soyinka as a national treasure and global icon, saying Nigeria should accord him greater national recognition in line with the treatment reserved for distinguished personalities in other countries. For Moghalu, ‘Wole Soyinka is a national treasure and a global titan of immense dimensions and proportions. In certain countries, individuals who achieve what he has are greatly honoured in many formal ways, including diplomatic passports (I hope he holds, at the very least, a Nigerian diplomatic passport), honorary citizenship and so on.’

President Tinubu appears to agree. In an official statement, the President described Soyinka as ‘one of Nigeria’s living repositories of history, knowledge, and courage’ and noted that ‘Exceptional individuals like Professor Soyinka do not come often in a generation-men who illuminate the paths for humanity to follow across diverse endeavours, who are not afraid to go against convention, and who do not let the man die in the face of oppression and injustice.’

We identify with the sentiment encoded in these statements, though we dissent in the most important matter of all-we do not deny that Soyinka is a national treasure, we only affirm that he is more than that. His greatest contribution, all told, lies in his unswerving dedication to the principle of human dignity, hence one of his most memorable statements: ‘Justice is the first condition of humanity.’ He is already-and we say this in a sense that only the French seem to grasp-an immortal.

Happy birthday, Professor Soyinka, Chief and all that.

SKYWAY Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) PLC has acquired the Evac+ Chair emergency evacuation chairs specially for passengers with reduced mobility.

With this latest investment, SAHCO becomes the first and only aviation ground handling company in Nigeria to deploy this specialized mobility equipment, further enhancing its ability to provide safe, dignified, and efficient assistance to passengers with reduced mobility.

The EVAC+CHAIR, recognised globally as the world’s leading stairway evacuation chair since 1982, is specially designed to provide a safe and comfortable means of moving passengers with reduced mobility during emergencies or when navigating stairways.

Using an advanced gravity and friction control system, the chair safely ascends and descends stairs without the need for heavy lifting, reducing physical strain on operators while ensuring maximum safety and comfort for passengers.

With secure harnesses, durable rubber track systems and ergonomic design, the equipment enables trained personnel to safely assist passengers who are unable to move independently, making aircraft boarding, disembarkation and emergency evacuation more efficient and seamless.

The acquisition underscores SAHCO’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every passenger, regardless of physical ability or mobility challenges, receives safe, dignified and world-class ground handling services.

Speaking on the development on behalf of Chairman, Dr. Barr.Taiwo Afolabi, the Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Adenike Aboderin, said the investment reflects the company’s commitment to delivering world-class services that cater to the needs of every passenger.

‘At SAHCO, we believe that air travel should be accessible, safe and comfortable for everyone. This investment demonstrates our commitment to inclusive service delivery by ensuring that passengers with reduced mobility receive the highest level of care, dignity and professional assistance. We continuously invest in modern equipment and innovative solutions that improve safety, operational efficiency and customer experience,’ Aboderin said.

She added that the acquisition strengthens SAHCO’s reputation as the preferred ground handling partner for airlines operating into Nigeria, noting that the company remains committed to maintaining international best practices across all areas of its operations.

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Wednesday commissioned and handed over a multi-million naira office complex and a Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre, built by his administration, to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Maiduguri.

The state-of-the-art facility, located along the Maiduguri-Dikwa Road, serves as JAMB’s North-East zonal office, covering the states in the region.

The project comprises an administrative block and a dual CBT centre with a capacity for 500 candidates at a time.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Babagana Zulum reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to educational development, describing the project as the state government’s contribution to national education service delivery in the North-East.

The governor noted that the facility would serve as a regional hub for candidates sitting entrance examinations into tertiary institutions.

Babagana Zulum also directed the Ministry of Education to name the facility after Ishaq Oloyede.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, who received the facility on behalf of the board, commended the governor for the landmark achievement.

Ishaq Oloyede described the project as unprecedented, noting that it is the first time a state governor has independently undertaken the construction of a JAMB zonal office and a CBT centre.

The outgoing JAMB Registrar said the centre would enable 500 candidates to sit examinations simultaneously, with the capacity to process more than 2,000 candidates daily.

He added that the in-built registration units would allow the board to complete registration and documentation for Borno applicants in a few days.

He stressed, ‘Today, reality has surpassed my expectations. In just four months, what seemed humanly impossible has been accomplished.’

He added,’This facility stands as a testament to your visionary leadership, your commitment to educational advancement, and your unwavering dedication to the people of Borno State and the Northeast region.’

According to him, ‘The CBT centre you have graciously provided will serve as a beacon of excellence for computer-based testing and administrative services. It will bring immense relief to candidates, educational institutions, and stakeholders across this region.’

‘More importantly, it represents Your Excellency’s broader commitment to rebuilding educational confidence and expanding opportunities for young people despite the enormous challenges confronting this region,’ Ishaq Oloyede stated.

He told the governor: ‘Your Excellency, your investment in education, human capital development, and youth empowerment continues to inspire hope and reaffirms the enduring role of education as a foundation for peace, stability, and societal progress.’

‘Your leadership, characterised by courage, compassion, accessibility, and unwavering dedication to public service, has positioned you as one of the most respected public servants in contemporary Nigeria.’

Present at the occasion were the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani; the incoming Registrar of JAMB, Professor Segun Aina; the Acting Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Babagana Mustapha Malumbe; the Commissioner for Education, Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe; and many senior government officials.

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has uploaded Prince Laja Adeoye as its governorship candidate for Lagos State on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal as it intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The party said the upload makes Adeoye the first governorship aspirant in Lagos State to be formally registered on the INEC portal ahead of the February 6, 2027, governorship election.

APM also uploaded Coker Oluwatobi Adeyemi Grace as Adeoye’s running mate, according to a statement issued after a strategic working visit by the Lagos State leadership of the party to its national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

The delegation was led by the Lagos State Chairman, Mrs Bunmi Adeyemo, and the Coordinator of the Laja Adeoye Campaign Organisation (LACO), Otunba S. Alebiosu. Other officials at the meeting included the party’s National Secretary, National Organising Secretary, Director of ICT, as well as the APM chairmen in Oyo and Kwara states.

The meeting reviewed the party’s progress in Lagos and discussed strategies for the 2027 elections.

Speaking after the upload, Adeoye said Nigerians were seeking a new direction in governance at both the national and state levels.

He said: ‘Nigerians are yearning for a new beginning and a decisive change of government at the centre, in Lagos State and across the federation to end what they perceive as poor governance under the APC. The APM is the credible alternative Nigerians need.’

The party also disclosed that it had uploaded Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as its presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

According to the APM, Makinde, alongside Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala Mohammed, is among a team of ‘credible and widely accepted’ leaders working under the party’s national leadership led by Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantale.

To strengthen its grassroots presence in Lagos, the APM Forum of Local Government Chairmen resolved to intensify mobilisation across the state.

Olanrewaju Ayinde, on behalf of the forum, pledged to embark on aggressive membership recruitment, voter mobilisation, and consolidation of its structures across the 20 local government areas, 37 local council development areas, wards, and polling units.

He described Adeoye as a credible alternative for Lagos and commended his efforts at expanding the party’s presence in the state.

Unveiling his campaign blueprint, tagged the ‘Atunto Eko Agenda,’ Adeoye said the programme is aimed at repositioning governance in Lagos through economic growth, accountability, improved security, youth empowerment, and infrastructure renewal.

He said the agenda would prioritise job creation for graduates, support for market women and artisans, affordable healthcare, and improved transportation and housing.

‘Lagos deserves a government that works for everyone, not just a few. Atunto Eko is about transparency, inclusion and delivering results that Lagosians can feel in their daily lives,’ he said.

The party said it would continue to expand its support base in Lagos and across the country under the campaign

A Louisiana pastor has been found guilty of stealing more than $340,000 from two churches by diverting church funds into his personal accounts and using the money to pay for gambling, dining and other personal expenses.

Dale Sanders, 56, was convicted after a five-day jury trial on a 25-count federal indictment involving wire fraud, access device fraud and obstruction of a federal investigation.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Sanders transferred church funds into his personal bank accounts and used a church-issued debit card for unauthorised personal spending.

Investigators said the fraud took place between April 2020 and April 2024 while Sanders served as pastor of Fifth African Baptist Church in New Orleans and Second New Guide Missionary Baptist Church in Metairie.

Prosecutors told the court that Sanders unlawfully received cash, goods and services worth more than $340,000 by withdrawing money from church accounts and spending it on his personal lifestyle, including gambling and restaurant bills.

Authorities also said Sanders tried to obstruct the federal investigation by submitting a falsified document in response to a grand jury subpoena.

Although criminal charges were filed against him in April, Sanders later addressed his congregation in a social media video, asking members to pray for those he described as his enemies.

In the video, he thanked church members for their support and prayers, saying he could feel their encouragement during the difficult period.

He also asked them to pray for those opposing him, quoting Matthew 5:44 and insisting that God would deal with his enemies.

Apart from his pastoral work, Sanders regularly shared sermons and worship videos online. He is also the author of Strut Your Stutter, a book that encourages readers to embrace themselves despite their imperfections.

Following his conviction, Sanders faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release after serving his sentence, and other statutory penalties, including mandatory assessments.