Category: Daily Trust

A fierce debate over the allocation of Nigeria’s aviation revenue took centre stage at the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on Thursday as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) presented opposing arguments on the proposed review of the sharing formula for the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charge (CSC).

The public hearing, convened by the National Assembly, focused on proposed amendments to the Civil Aviation Act that could significantly alter the distribution of the statutory charges collected from airline ticket and cargo sales among aviation agencies.

While the NCAA urged lawmakers to retain and even increase its share of the fund to strengthen safety oversight, NAMA argued that its growing operational responsibilities and ageing infrastructure justify a larger allocation from the existing pool.

Daily Trust reports that the industry has been sharply divided since the National Assembly commenced a move to amend the Act.

Under the existing legislation, the NCAA collects five per cent TSC and shares among aviation agencies.

Under the extant sharing formula, the NCAA retains 56%; NAMA takes 22%; the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) gets 9%, NCAT receives 7% while the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) gets 6 %.

But the proposal before the National Assembly seeks to slash the NCAA’s share to 40 per cent while NAMA’s 22% is jerked up to 40 per cent.

NCAA demands restoration of 65% of ticket sales

At the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives yesterday, the NCAA demanded the restoration of its original 65 percent share of the 5 percent ticket sales charge (TSC) and cargo sales charge (CSC).

Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, warned that reducing the agency’s allocation would weaken Nigeria’s aviation safety oversight and place the country at odds with international standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Najomo stressed that the NCAA, as the nation’s independent aviation regulator, is responsible for certifying, inspecting and supervising airlines, airports, maintenance organisations, training schools, aviation personnel and the country’s air navigation service provider, NAMA.

According to him, unlike other aviation agencies, the NCAA does not generate significant commercial income because it performs sovereign regulatory functions aimed at ensuring public safety.

He disclosed that the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge accounts for about 83 per cent of the Authority’s funding, while all other regulatory fees contribute only 17 per cent.

‘The NCAA is Nigeria’s State Safety Oversight Authority. Our responsibility is to regulate every aviation service provider in the country in accordance with national laws and ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices,’ he said.

Najomo further revealed that Nigeria recently achieved an Effective Implementation score of 91.3 per cent during ICAO’s Coordinated Validation Mission, but recorded its weakest performance-just 50 per cent-in the area of financial resources available to support safety oversight.

He argued that cutting the NCAA’s funding would worsen the very deficiency identified by ICAO and undermine Nigeria’s ability to maintain global aviation safety standards.

The Director-General also cited increasing challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified aviation inspectors due to inadequate funding and poor remuneration, warning that safety oversight could be compromised if the Authority’s financial base is weakened.

He maintained that international best practice requires air navigation service providers such as NAMA to recover most of their operating costs through user charges paid by aircraft operators rather than passenger ticket charges.

According to him, NAMA already has about 16 statutory commercial revenue streams, including en-route navigation charges, terminal navigation charges, calibration fees, consultancy services and telecommunications services.

Others are over-flight and en-route international charges, domestic en-route charges, charges on Class B message charges, terminal navigation charges, sales of aeronautical information, among others.

He noted that these sources account for approximately 75 per cent of NAMA’s total revenue, while the Ticket Sales Charge contributes only about 25 per cent.

NAMA seeks 56%

However, Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar, presented a contrasting position, insisting that the current allocation no longer reflects the agency’s enormous operational responsibilities.

He explained that NAMA currently receives only 22 per cent of the statutory five per cent charge, translating to just N11 from every N50 generated through the levy on a N1,000 ticket or cargo sale.

Under the proposed amendment, the agency is seeking an increase to 56 per cent of the existing pool, insisting that the proposal would not raise ticket prices but merely redistribute the current revenue.

Umar said the agency’s operational costs have risen significantly over the years while navigation charges have remained largely unchanged since 2008 despite inflation, exchange rate volatility and increasing costs of maintaining modern air navigation systems.

He noted that NAMA is responsible for air traffic control, surveillance systems, navigation aids, communication infrastructure, aeronautical information services and continuous maintenance of safety-critical facilities across the country.

According to him, the agency also faces the urgent challenge of replacing ageing radar infrastructure under the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) programme and investing in digital airspace management technologies.

The NAMA boss further sought legislative backing for the agency to receive 90 per cent of fees generated from obstacle evaluation and WGS-84 aeronautical surveys, arguing that while the NCAA issues Aviation Height Clearance Certificates, NAMA undertakes the specialised technical assessments that determine whether proposed structures constitute hazards to aircraft operations.

He assured lawmakers that NAMA supports strict accountability measures, including automated revenue collection, quarterly financial disclosures, annual independent audits and transparent procurement processes.

Umar also called for harmonisation of conflicting provisions in the Civil Aviation Act and the NAMA Act regarding the agency’s statutory share of the Ticket Sales Charge.

Ojikutu seeks rational review

Retired Group Captain John Ojikutu in his presentation called for a comprehensive review of the formula.

Ojikutu, a respected aviation security expert and industry analyst, argued that the existing revenue-sharing arrangement among the NCAA, NAMA, NCAT, NSIB and NiMet lacks a rational basis and requires urgent reassessment.

According to him, the allocation of the 5 per cent charges collected from commercial aviation operators should be guided by objective operational realities rather than a fixed percentage formula that does not adequately reflect the responsibilities and resource demands of each agency.

Ojikutu said a more equitable approach should consider key factors such as the number of aeronautical personnel employed by each organisation, the volume and sophistication of equipment deployed, the number of operational locations across the country, hours of operation and other relevant service obligations.

He explained that the charges paid by non-aeronautical operators are designed to support the continuous provision of essential aeronautical safety services required for the smooth operation of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

‘These services are not optional. They are mandatory requirements under the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations and are also part of Nigeria’s obligations to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for both domestic and international air transportation,’ he noted.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two suspects for allegedly exhuming a freshly buried corpse from a cemetery and stealing its casket.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said one of the suspects, Elijah Matthew Edet, the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery in Uyo, confessed to conniving with grave diggers to steal the casket, describing it as his first involvement in such a crime.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Uyo, John said Edet and two others unlawfully exhumed a freshly buried corpse at night, removed the body from the casket and stole the casket with the intention of reselling it.

She explained that an eyewitness who noticed the suspicious activity alerted the police after observing two men transporting a casket on an unregistered motorcycle late at night.

According to her, the empty casket and the unregistered motorcycle have been recovered, while efforts are ongoing to arrest another suspect who fled the scene.

‘On August 3, 2026, at about 11:30pm, the command received a distress call from a vigilant member of the public who reported suspicious activities at the cemetery after observing two men transporting a casket on an unregistered motorcycle under the cover of darkness.

‘Acting on the suspicion, the complainant confronted the suspects to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the movement of the casket at such an unusual hour.

‘In an attempt to evade arrest, one of the suspects, identified as Effiong Asuquo, fled the scene, while his accomplice, Nsikak Effiong, was apprehended and immediately handed over to the police.

‘During interrogation, Nsikak Effiong confessed that he and his accomplice had unlawfully exhumed a freshly buried corpse, removed the corpse from the casket and stole the casket with the intention of selling it for financial gain.

‘Further investigation yielded another major breakthrough on August 5, 2026, at about 5pm, with the arrest of Elijah Matthew Edet, the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery,’ the statement read.

The President of the Kaiama Development Association (KDA), Yakubu Salihu, has disclosed that only 163 of the 176 people earlier confirmed abducted by terrorists from communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have regained their freedom.

Salihu, who spoke in an interview with Daily Trust on Thursday, said the association was yet to ascertain whether the missing 13 victims died in captivity or were not among those released.

He urged security agencies to establish their whereabouts.

His disclosure comes after the Federal Government secured the release of 308 captives from terrorist camps in the Kainji forest axis spanning parts of Kwara, Niger and Kebbi states.

According to him, the freed victims have been moved to the military cantonment in Wawa for preliminary screening and are expected to be transferred to Ilorin for comprehensive medical evaluation before reuniting with their families.

‘We hope that between tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday, they will be reunited with their families,’ Salihu said.

Speaking on the controversy surrounding the number of abductees, the KDA president maintained that both the terrorists and the victims had confirmed that 176 people were taken away during the attacks.

‘What they told us, and what the abductees themselves confirmed at the time they were kidnapped, was that they abducted 176 people. But when they were returned yesterday, only 163 were confirmed.

‘So, we have a shortfall of 13 people. We are still at a loss as to whether those people died in captivity or whether the original figure was incorrect. We want the security agencies to help us determine exactly what happened to the 13.’

Salihu stressed that the association’s position had never been about disputing statistics but ensuring that everyone held by the terrorists was rescued.

The KDA president said preliminary information from those who had visited the victims indicated that many of them were in poor physical and emotional condition after months in captivity.

‘They are not in the best of health because of the trauma they went through. One of the women gave birth while in captivity, while some others are maybe still pregnant.

‘We are hopeful that when they arrive in Ilorin, the state government will ensure they receive proper medical attention and that all their health needs are taken care of,’ he noted.

Salihu also dismissed reports that ransom was paid by the community to secure the captives’ freedom.

According to him, although residents made efforts to raise funds, the amount realised was insignificant and was never handed over to anyone.

He described the release as a huge relief to the affected communities after months of anguish.

While commending the Federal Government and security agencies for securing the release, Salihu warned that the success would be short-lived unless the root causes of insecurity in the area were addressed.

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested a 26-year-old man, Jeremiah Kwane, for allegedly attempting to recruit members into a kidnapping syndicate.

The suspect was arrested on July 31, 2026, by operatives of the ‘A’ Division in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area, following credible intelligence.

The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, said police received information that Kwane was recruiting people into a kidnapping syndicate with plans to abduct a pastor and a retired school principal in Ughelli.

According to him, officers swiftly acted on the intelligence and arrested the suspect at his workplace. Edafe said a search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of a single-barrel gun and two live cartridges.

He added that the suspect is undergoing further investigation and will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation.

He reiterated the command’s determination to rid the state of kidnappers, armed robbers and other violent criminals, urging residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.

The Federal Government has launched the National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (N-SEEP) to integrate quality education with elite sports development and produce globally competitive athletes equipped with academic and professional skills.

The programme was unveiled in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Alausa described N-SEEP as a transformative education reform designed to ensure talented young Nigerians do not have to choose between academic excellence and sporting success.

He said the programme would establish Sports and Education Centres of Excellence in selected tertiary institutions to discover, develop and retain sporting talents while preparing students for careers in coaching, sports science, physiotherapy, sports administration, entrepreneurship and research.

According to him, the initiative would also promote national cohesion, create jobs, reduce youth involvement in crime and position sports as a driver of economic growth.

Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, said N-SEEP would redefine the relationship between education and sports by introducing flexible academic structures that accommodate student-athletes.

Dikko described the programme as a defining moment in Nigeria’s drive to build a globally competitive sports industry anchored on education, innovation and strategic partnerships.

He said the NSC was expanding sports infrastructure, coach education and professional certification while engaging international bodies, including FIFA and CAF, to secure global accreditation for sports-related academic programmes.

NSC Director-General, Bukola Olopade, said the initiative would create a sustainable pipeline of coaches, sports scientists, educators, researchers and administrators.

Nine institutions were selected for the programme, including the University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Benin, University of Jos, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Muhammad Buhari University, Maiduguri, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Federal College of Education, Okene, and Babcock University.

The first phase will begin this year at the University of Ibadan, ABU, Federal College of Education, Okene, and Babcock University.

Each centre will establish a Faculty of Sports Science offering programmes in coaching, sports medicine, rehabilitation, sports technology, data analytics, facility management, sports business and administration.

The UK Government has announced the appointment of Ms Vicky Seymour as Deputy High Commissioner, Abuja.

Ms Seymour succeeds Mrs Gill Lever OBE, who completed her posting in June 2026.

Ms Seymour has now taken up her role in Abuja, where she will support and strengthen the UK’s partnership with Nigeria, which spans economic growth, security, migration, development, international collaboration and the links between people of the two countries.

Ms Seymour brings more than two decades of experience across diplomacy, international development and government.

Most recently, she served as Head of the East Africa Department at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), a position she held since 2023.

Prior to this, she led the FCDO’s Trade Diplomacy Department and served as Development Director in Mozambique.

Her career has included senior leadership roles across Africa, including Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in Afghanistan, as well as positions focused on climate, security and economic development.

Before joining the civil service, she worked in the not-for-profit sector with a focus on migration.

Vicky Seymour said: ‘I am delighted to be taking up the role of Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja. I look forward to getting to know this extraordinary country, meeting people from across Nigeria’s diverse communities, and building on the strong partnership that already exists between our two countries. Together, I hope we can continue creating opportunities for greater collaboration and links between our people in the years ahead.’

The Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has commenced the clearing of drainage channels and evacuation of waste across the council to prevent flooding during the rainy season.

The Chairman of the council, Hon. Danjuma Samuel Shekwolo, disclosed this while inspecting the exercise on Wednesday.

Represented by the Director of Environmental Health, Gloria Apugo, Shekwolo said the exercise formed part of the administration’s commitment to improving environmental sanitation and eliminating heaps of refuse dumped in drainage channels, particularly around the Kuje Township Stadium.

He said the initiative was aimed at clearing blocked drainages, eliminating illegal refuse dumps and promoting a cleaner and healthier environment across the council.

According to Apugo, the Environmental Sanitation Committee immediately mobilised to the affected locations, deploying trucks and a wheel loader to facilitate the evacuation of accumulated waste.

She added that sanitary guards and vigilantes would be stationed at the sites to enforce compliance and prevent indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

Apugo said the prompt commencement of the exercise demonstrated the council chairman’s commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises and improving environmental sanitation across the area.

‘The chairman remains resolute in his determination to rid Kuje of indiscriminate waste dumps in order to create a cleaner, safer and healthier environment for all residents. He is committed to delivering practical and lasting solutions to environmental challenges across the council,’ she said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Sanitation Committee, Habakkuk John, said residents would soon begin to enjoy a cleaner and healthier environment.

‘We expect the evacuation of refuse to be completed within three days, while the clearing of the drainage channels will take about one week,’ he said.

He noted that the accumulation of refuse, particularly around the Kuje Township Stadium, had become an eyesore and posed a serious health risk to residents.

A resident, Barrister Raji, commended the council for the initiative and urged it to sustain the exercise.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), however, says the reality is more complicated. While acknowledging that ticket racketeering exists, the Corporation insists that the biggest challenge is a simple imbalance between demand and capacity.

According to the NRC, more than 5,000 passengers seek to travel on the corridor daily, yet each train carries only 664 passengers. With only two trips operating each day, demand far exceeds the number of available seats.

The situation was not always this severe.

At one point, three train sets operated on the route, making up to 10 trips daily, with services reduced only on Wednesdays for maintenance. Today, only one train is in service, making two daily trips, while Wednesdays remain maintenance days.

The reduction in capacity has inevitably intensified competition for tickets.

By the time bookings open at midnight, thousands of passengers may already be waiting online. In such circumstances, even a perfectly functioning booking platform cannot satisfy everyone.

If 2,000 passengers attempt to book 664 seats at the same time, more than half will inevitably miss out. For many unsuccessful travellers, the experience creates the impression that something has gone wrong, when, in reality, demand has simply overwhelmed supply.

That scarcity has also created fertile ground for racketeers. To curb abuse of the system, the NRC introduced NIN-based ticketing through its booking partner, Transport Payment Solutions (TPS). Every ticket is linked to the passenger’s identity, allowing officials to verify the traveller before boarding.

The measure was intended to stop anonymous bulk purchases and make it difficult for touts to trade in railway tickets.

But the racketeers adapted

Rather than creating fake identities, some now persuade passengers to hand over their booking details, including their NIN information and login credentials, promising to secure tickets on their behalf. In many cases, they do obtain the ticket. The problem is that they retain the passenger’s profile and continue using it for future transactions.

The consequences often emerge at the station.

Callistus Unyimadu is Head, PR at NRC.

A passenger who buys such a ticket may present a valid booking reference, only for the verification device to display the photograph and details of another person. The result is immediate denial of boarding, leaving the traveller stranded despite paying for the journey.

The Corporation has repeatedly warned passengers never to share their NIN, passwords or booking profiles with anyone, stressing that doing so undermines the safeguards built into the system.

To tighten security further, TPS has completed pilot testing of an OTP-based re-verification exercise expected to be introduced soon.

Under the arrangement, every account holder will be required to confirm ownership through a one-time password sent to the registered telephone number.

The objective is straightforward: eliminate passenger profiles being controlled by third parties. Without access to the registered phone number, a racketeer will be unable to retain control of another person’s account.

TPS is also preparing to roll out an upgraded version of the Breeze booking application with improved security and a more user-friendly interface.

While these digital reforms are expected to make the booking process more secure, they cannot solve the problem at the heart of the Abuja-Kaduna corridor. Technology cannot create seats where none exist.

Even if every ticket tout disappeared tomorrow, passengers would still compete for a limited number of seats. As long as demand continues to outstrip capacity, tickets will sell out within minutes.

That reality points to the long-term solution: more operational trains and additional daily trips. Increased capacity would reduce the desperation that fuels the black market and make it easier for passengers to obtain tickets through official channels.

The responsibility, however, is shared.

The NRC must continue to strengthen its ticketing system, investigate allegations of racketeering and sanction anyone found compromising the process. Passengers, on their part, must resist the temptation to patronise touts or disclose personal information that could be used to manipulate their booking profiles.

For now, the midnight rush for Abuja-Kaduna train tickets reflects both the growing popularity of rail travel and the limitations of a system struggling to meet demand.

Until more trains return to the corridor, competition for seats will remain intense. But with stronger technology, tighter identity verification and greater public vigilance, the Corporation hopes the seats that are available will at least go to the passengers for whom they were intended.

Callistus Unyimadu is Deputy Director, Press NRC.

The Katsina State Hisbah Board has directed its officers to obtain valid court orders or arrest warrants before entering hotels or residential premises in the course of their official duties.

The directive was contained in a circular dated August 4, 2026, addressed to all local government commanders and headquarters personnel. The circular was signed by the Commander-General of the board, Dr Abu Ammar.

The board said the decision was reached at its regular meeting held on June 6, 2026, and takes immediate effect.

According to the circular, officers must obtain appropriate legal authorisation before entering any hotel or residential premises, except where the Commander-General or applicable law expressly permits otherwise.

The board said the directive was aimed at ensuring compliance with existing laws, regulations and the provisions of the Constitution governing law enforcement activities.

It urged officers to respect the constitutional rights of citizens and discharge their duties in accordance with due process and the rule of law.

The circular warned that any commander or officer who violates the directive could face disciplinary action, in addition to any legal consequences arising from the breach.

‘All commanders are directed to communicate the directive to personnel under their command and ensure strict compliance,’ the circular stated.

Suspected bandits, on Tuesday, attacked a Point of Sale (POS) shop in Galadimawa community, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing three villagers and injuring two others.

The attack occurred at about 4:30 pm, according to residents.

Local sources said the assailants arrived in the community on two motorcycles armed with AK-47 rifles and headed straight to the POS shop.

‘They rode into the town on two motorcycles and went directly to the POS shop, where they opened fire on people.

‘Five people were shot. Sadly, three of them died, while two others sustained gunshot injuries before the attackers carted away an undisclosed amount of cash and fled,’ a resident said.

The source added that the injured victims were rushed to a hospital for treatment. The deceased were identified as Alhaji Hassan Abdullahi, Yakubu Muazu and Magaji Sarauta. The injured victims, Aliyu Rufai and Umar Mohammed, are currently receiving treatment for gunshot wounds.

Following the attack, residents appealed to the Kaduna State Government to deploy more security personnel, particularly soldiers, to the area.

A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said many neighbouring communities had been displaced by repeated bandit attacks, forcing residents to relocate to Galadimawa and making the town increasingly vulnerable.

Effort to speak with the police command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansur Hassan, failed as he could not be reached on the phone as of the time of filing the report.