Category: Nigerian Tribune

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has alleged that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar gave the late Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, N5 million to begin moves to impeach him during his first term in office.

Obasanjo made the claim while responding to former Ogun State governor, Olusegun Osoba, over comments about the political events leading to the 2003 general elections.

In a statement, Obasanjo said Na’Abba began the impeachment process after meeting with Atiku.

‘Na’Abba’s impeachment began at the presidency by the Vice-President, who on a Friday when I was out of the office, invited Na’Abba to his office and convinced him, as he had convinced himself and some others but of insignificant number, that I should have only one term as President,’ Obasanjo claimed.

He further alleged that Atiku provided financial support for the impeachment move.

‘On the Friday, Atiku invited Na’Abba; he gave him N5 million to begin his impeachment work. It was all noted, recorded and reported to me by my Chief of Staff, a professional intelligence officer,’ he added.

Obasanjo said the incident was documented and reported to him by his Chief of Staff, whom he described as a professional intelligence officer.

The former president said he was not worried by the impeachment threat because he believed there was no constitutional basis for removing him from office.

AFRICA’S Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) PIc, has reinforced its position as one of the continent’s leading financial institutions after emerging as Nigeria’s Best Bank for Retail and Sustainability Leadership (ESG) at the prestigious 2026 Euromoney Awards for Excellence.

The awards, presented on Thursday, July 17, 2026, at The Peninsula London in the United Kingdom, celebrates banking institutions that demonstrate outstanding financial performance, innovation, customer impact and sustainable business practices.

The double recognition underscores UBA’s leadership in driving sustainable finance while expanding access to innovative banking solutions for millions of customers across Africa.

According to Euromoney, UBA distinguished itself through significant strides in environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, including the launch of a Green Financing Facility to support households and businesses transitioning to renewable energy, a A5 billion financing programme in partnership with the Bank of Industry to empower women-owned businesses, and its long-term commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The publication also highlighted UBA’s efforts to embed sustainability within its operations through the deployment of solar-powered energy solutions across 50 branches and comprehensive ESG capacity-building initiatives that have trained more than 16,000 employees across the Group.

In the retail banking category, Euromoney recognised UBA’s continued expansion as one of Africa’s largest retail banking franchises. The Bank grew its customer base to over 37 million by the end of 2025, while retail revenue more than quadrupled to #429.5 billion.

The awards also acknowledged UBA’s continued digital innovation, particularly the enhancement of its award-winning Al-powered chatbot, LEO, which became Africa’s first artificial intelligence banking platform to facilitate cross-border money transfers in local currencies through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).

Commenting on the recognition, UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, described the awards as a validation of the Bank’s unwavering commitment to creating value for customers while advancing sustainable development across Africa.

‘To be recognised as Nigeria’s Best Bank for both ESG and Retail Banking in the same year sends a powerful message that sustainable banking and commercial success are mutually reinforcing.

‘At UBA, we are committed to financing Africa’s future, supporting businesses and communities, promoting financial inclusion, and delivering innovative banking solutions that improve lives. These awards belong to our customers for their confidence in us and to every member of the UBA family whose dedication continues to make our vision a reality,’ he said.

The administration of United States President Donald Trump has imposed fresh tariffs on imports from Nigeria and 59 other economies over what it described as their failure to prevent the importation of goods produced through forced labour.

The new trade measures, announced on Thursday by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), set tariffs at either 10 per cent or 12.5 per cent based on each country’s policies on restricting imports linked to forced labour.

The USTR said the tariffs followed investigations launched in May 2026 under Section 301 of the Trade Act covering 60 of the United States’ largest trading partners.

According to the agency, more than 1,600 public submissions were received during the review. It added that hearings involving over 100 witnesses were conducted while consultations were also held with more than 45 governments before the tariffs were introduced.

Nigeria is among the countries placed in the 12.5 per cent tariff category, while countries that the USTR said have adopted, or pledged to implement, restrictions on imports associated with forced labour will be subject to the lower 10 per cent tariff.

Tribune Online presents the full list below:

Country/Territory Tariff (%)

Algeria – 12.5%

Angola – 12.5%

Argentina – 10%

Australia – 12.5%

Bahrain – 12.5%

Bangladesh – 10%

Brazil – 12.5%

Cambodia – 10%

Canada – 10%

Chile – 12.5%

China – 12.5%

Colombia – 12.5%

Costa Rica – 12.5%

Dominican Republic – 12.5%

Ecuador – 10%

Egypt – 12.5%

El Salvador – 10%

European Union* – 10%

Guatemala – 10%

Guyana – 12.5%

Honduras – 10%

Hong Kong – 12.5%

India – 10%

Indonesia – 10%

Iraq – 12.5%

Israel – 12.5%

Japan* – 12.5%

Jordan – 10%

Kazakhstan – 12.5%

Kuwait – 12.5%

Libya – 12.5%

Malaysia – 10%

Mexico – 10%

Morocco – 12.5%

New Zealand – 12.5%

Nicaragua – 12.5%

Nigeria – 12.5%

Norway – 12.5%

Oman – 12.5%

Pakistan – 10%

Peru – 12.5%

Philippines – 12.5%

Qatar – 12.5%

Russia – 12.5%

Saudi Arabia – 12.5%

Singapore – 12.5%

South Africa – 12.5%

South Korea* – 12.5%

Sri Lanka – 10%

Switzerland* – 12.5%

Taiwan* – 10%

Thailand – 12.5%

The Bahamas – 12.5%

Trinidad and Tobago – 10%

Turkey – 12.5%

United Arab Emirates – 12.5%

United Kingdom – 10%

Uruguay – 12.5%

Venezuela – 12.5%

Vietnam – 12.5%

The USTR noted that, for the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan, the tariffs will be applied after accounting for the applicable Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff rate.

A member of the House of Representatives, Chinedu Obika, has revealed that one of his colleagues was unable to pay his daughter’s ?700,000 school fees despite serving in the National Assembly.

Obika said he came to the colleague’s aid by paying the school fees after the lawmaker could not raise the money about two months ago.

Speaking during an interview on KAA Truths published on Thursday, the lawmaker representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the Federal Capital Territory said the incident contradicted the widespread belief that all members of the National Assembly are financially enriched by their positions.

According to him, the experience showed that many lawmakers do not enjoy the level of personal financial benefits often assumed by members of the public.

‘Now let me tell you something you don’t know. I can tell you that about two months ago, a colleague of mine could not pay ?700,000 for his daughter’s school fees, and I was the one who helped him get that done; a member!’ he said.

Obika argued that lawmakers who remain silent during proceedings should not automatically be accused of receiving inducements, maintaining that some members simply have no personal gains from their offices.

‘So if it’s about personal enrichment, that’s why members are not speaking. If you’re not getting anything, you’re not speaking.

‘I have never seen that kind of thing in my life, in fact, one member fought over it. National Assembly members fight when good things go to them, not when they keep quiet. So outsiders think it’s when they keep quiet that something is wrong,’ he said.

The federal lawmaker declined to reveal the identity of the colleague involved in the incident.

He also maintained that the allowances and benefits of members of the National Assembly are publicly known, urging Nigerians to question specific figures instead of relying on speculation about lawmakers’ earnings.

‘Every entitlement meant for a member is publicly available. If you haven’t found something specific, tell me, ‘Honourable, they said this is such-and-such amount’, and I’ll respond to it directly.’

President-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe Badejo-Okusanya, has declared that she would resign if it is established that the election which produced her as president was manipulated.

Speaking during an interview on TVC News on Thursday, Badejo-Okusanya dismissed allegations by some contestants and lawyers that the 2026 NBA presidential election was rigged in her favour, insisting the process was transparent and subjected to unprecedented scrutiny.

According to her, the election remained under close observation from the beginning to the end, making it difficult for any form of manipulation to go unnoticed.

‘The process that they say they cannot trust, my opponents are saying that it was rigged in my favour and thankfully, this electoral process has come under the greatest scrutiny that any of our elections have come under since we started universal suffrage and electronic voting,’ she said.

She maintained that she led the race throughout the exercise, noting that the margin between her and the other candidates steadily increased as votes were counted.

‘From the time that I led, I led the election throughout consistently. There was never a time that I dropped down. There was never a time that any of my opponents passed me. I led consistently and the gap kept widening,’ she said.

Badejo-Okusanya added that the voting pattern showed no signs of irregularities.

‘The votes were trickling in organically. There was no evidence of dumping, which is what they say happens when there’s rigging going on. You didn’t suddenly see 20, 30 or 50 votes coming.

‘This election was the most watched. We have a system that refreshes every 10 seconds. People were watching and reposting. It was clear that there was no rigging,’ she added.

She stressed that she had no interest in presiding over the NBA if doubts remained about the credibility of the election.

‘I had no desire to be a president whose electoral process, the process that brought me to power, was being questioned.

‘I told my co-contestants in public that if there was any indication or allegation that the process that brought me to power was flawed, I wouldn’t even discuss it with anyone before I resigned. That still remains my goal,’ she said.

Responding to claims allegedly made by one of her opponents, Badejo-Okusanya said no such concerns were ever raised directly with her.

‘As a matter of fact, he never told me that. If he said it to anyone else, he never said it to me. I don’t know whether the cordiality and civility that he showed to me, whether I don’t have any impression that he wasn’t showing it to anyone else,’ she said.

The president-elect also rejected suggestions that she was backed by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

‘How can I be the candidate of the Tinubu administration when the Tinubu administration is not a member of the NBA?’ she asked.

She reaffirmed her commitment to serving members of the association in line with its constitution.

‘The constitution of the NBA is very clear. I read it very closely before I offered myself to serve. I’m well aware of the responsibilities of the president of the NBA, and I have the mandate of members of the NBA to lead them. My obligation is to them,’ she said.

Speaking on her priorities, Badejo-Okusanya said she hopes her administration will strengthen the professional relevance of the NBA while upholding the rule of law.

‘For the members, I want them to remember my presidency as one that made the NBA more relevant to them professionally.

‘For Nigerians, I want them to remember the NBA as one that took its responsibility to protect and promote the rule of law, to be the watchdog of society and to defend those who are less able to speak for themselves very, very seriously,’ she said.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the objections by the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, to the bid by a chieftain of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe, to amend his claims in the leadership suit filed against the party and others.

The judge, in a ruling on Friday, held that the objections by Mark and Rauf Aregbesola to the amendment of the originating summons by Nafiu Gombe were frivolous, baseless and without an iota of merit.

Justice Lifu said the sought amendment, which was to give life to the case of the plaintiff, was a normal attempt in civil litigation to ensure that miscarriage of justice is prevented.

Besides, the Judge held that the sought amendment was occasioned by a change of counsel, adding that the apprehension exhibited by David Mark was unnecessary and uncalled for.

Justice Lifu held that the ADC national chairman and other defendants in the matter are at liberty to file a counter-affidavit against the amended originating summons to indicate a consequential amendment to the earlier one.

The Judge said, after perusing the whole objections of the defendants, he was unable to see where they would be overwhelmed or jeopardised if the amendment was granted.

Justice Lifu consequently dismissed the objections and allowed the amendment by the plaintiff and imposed a fine of N500,000 on Mark and Aregbesola to be paid to Nafiu Bala Gombe.

David Mark and the National Secretary of the party, Rauf Aregbesola, had kicked against the fresh attempt by Nafiu Bala Gombe to amend claims in the leadership suit filed against them.

Mark and Aregbesola had urged Justice Lifu not to allow the amendments to the allegations against them on the ground that doing so would lead to a miscarriage of justice.

Nafiu Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, had, through his counsel, Lukman Fagbemi, SAN, moved an application seeking amendments to the originating summons he filed against the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, and others, challenging the emergence of the defendants as new national officers of the party.

Gombe insisted that he had the right under the law to make any amendments necessary to ensure justice in his suit.

The plaintiff had predicated the proposed amendments on eight grounds and a six-paragraph affidavit, maintaining that the law backed his decision as long as judgement had not been delivered in the matter.

However, David Mark, represented by Dr Suleiman Umar, SAN, had opposed the application on several grounds.

The senior lawyer had argued that the parties had already joined issues and that granting any amendments would give the plaintiff an undue and undeserved advantage after seeing the strength of the defence already filed and served on him.

He had urged the court to reject the application, describing it as detrimental to his client and contrary to the principles of natural justice.

On his own part, Aregbesola, through his counsel, Realwan Okpanachi, had alleged that Nafiu Bala Gombe had changed the character of his case against the defendants through the sought amendments.

The former Governor of Osun State faulted the plaintiff’s new claims, adding that, contrary to the allegations, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ADC changed the national leadership on July 29, 2025, during a duly convened NEC meeting.

He had argued that notice of the NEC meeting was served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 1, as required by law, thereby ensuring the legality of the emergence of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as national leaders.

Referring to the earlier originating summons, Aregbesola said Nafiu Gombe had attached an unsigned copy of the ADC Constitution and, after seeing the defendants’ objections, had now introduced a signed copy in the amended process to strengthen his case.

Insisting that ‘he who comes to equity must come with clean hands’, Aregbesola urged Justice Lifu to reject the application on the ground that ‘new claims, different documents and exhibits have been introduced through the amendments.’

He argued that the proposed amendments were made in bad faith and constituted an abuse of court process because they were filed after the Supreme Court judgement directing an accelerated hearing of the matter.

The defendant urged the judge to hold that the sought amendments lacked merit and should be dismissed.

Nafiu Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the ADC, is seeking an order restraining Mark, Aregbesola and others from parading themselves as leaders of the party.

The plaintiff sued the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, as the first to fifth defendants, respectively.

Gombe argued that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as national leaders of the party violated the provisions of the ADC Constitution as well as the Electoral Act.

Ortiz, better known by her stage name, Amaranta Hank, won a Senate seat in the March elections after campaigning for the rights and protection of adult entertainment workers.

According to Colombian outlet El Tiempo on Thursday, Omaña will represent the Norte de Santander region as a member of the leftist Historic Pact bloc during the 2026-2030 parliamentary term. She secured the seat after placing 23rd on the coalition’s closed list.

The Historic Pact is currently Colombia’s largest political force. Data from the country’s National Registry showed the bloc won 22.72 per cent of the Senate vote, receiving more than 4.4 million ballots and securing 25 seats.

Omaña, who worked as a journalist before joining the adult film industry, said her past should not stop her from serving in public office.

According to Infobae Colombia, she believes women who have worked in the sexual economy contribute to the country’s economy and deserve legal recognition instead of being stigmatised.

She also responded to people who questioned whether she was fit for office in a TikTok video after her election victory.

‘¿Por qué una mujer que estuvo en la industria para adultos no puede aspirar a un cargo de elección popular?’ she asked, which translates to why a woman who was in the adult industry cannot aspire to a popularly elected office.

Omaña, who was born in the city of Cúcuta, said her work in the Senate will also focus on mental health and preventing sexual abuse.

Her election comes months after she and another former adult performer, Juan Carlos Florián, were appointed to positions in the Ministry of Equality under President Gustavo Petro, a move that sparked public debate.

FRESH data from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and TheCable Index have highlighted sharp disparities in Value Added Tax (VAT) contributions and receipts across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones for the first half of 2026, sparking renewed debate on fiscal federalism and the country’s revenue redistribution model.

The South-West zone emerged as the dominant contributor, injecting N2.16 trillion into the national VAT pool between January and June 2026. Despite this massive input, the zone received only N691.56 billion in allocations – equivalent to 31.99 percent of its contribution.

The South-South followed with N880.58 billion contributed and N429.99 billion received (48.83 percent).

In contrast, northern zones and the South-East received significantly more than they generated. The North-Central contributed N302.81 billion but received N350.17 billion (115.64 percent). The NorthWest paid in N205.52 billion and got back N384.56 billion (187.11 percent), while the North-East contributed N152.82 billion and received N285.70 billion (186.95 percent). The South-East recorded the lowest contribution at N79.27 billion yet received N230.89 billion – a staggering 291.28 percent of its input.

The figures underscore a deliberate redistribution strategy embedded in Nigeria’s fiscal framework.

Analysts say the pattern is neither accidental nor surprising given the existing revenue-sharing formula, which heavily weights equality, population, and derivation.

Mr. Benjamin Akinsoto, Senior Researcher at BAA Consult, expressed no surprise at the data. ‘This has fundamentally been like that in Nigeria,

‘he said.

‘Actual distribution is not based primarily on what was contributed per se, but it’s more like a redistribution mechanism. About 50 percent is proportional to equality, around 30 percent considers population and we all know that the Northern region has the most population. Also, about 20 percent is for derivation.’ Akinsoto, noted that while the South-West, driven by economic hubs like Lagos, contributed roughly 57 percent of the total VAT pool, it received just about 29 percent of distributions.

At the other extreme, the South-East received nearly three times its contribution.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has called on staff of the commission to work with integrity and selflessness, warning that INEC ‘cannot afford to fail Nigerians’ in the 2027 general elections.

He made the call on Friday in Minna, Niger State, during a working visit and interactive session with the commission’s management and staff at the state headquarters.

Cautioning against compromise, the INEC boss said both Nigerians and the international community were already focused on the country’s electoral process.

‘Note that you are our ambassadors and you cannot afford to fail. The general election is coming up on Jan. 16 for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and Feb. 6 for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.

‘The whole world, not just Nigerians, is looking up to INEC. I just returned from an African Union meeting in Egypt involving all the Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in Africa, and everyone expressed their desire to come and monitor Nigeria’s elections.

‘So, the whole world is watching us. We must conduct the election in a highly professional manner,’ he said.

Amupitan assured that the commission was working to improve logistics, infrastructure and transport fleets in all state offices ahead of the polls.

‘We do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past. My goal is to ensure that we improve on our performance continuously,’ he stated.

Reflecting nine months in office, he reaffirmed his commitment to rebuilding public trust through transparent, free, fair and credible elections, noting that this can only be achieved with dedicated and honest field personnel.

The chairman also announced a reward and sanction policy for staff performance.

‘We must learn from the lessons of past elections. There should be no compromise whatsoever. We have decided to introduce rewards for hard work, but if there is any misconduct, there will be serious consequences.

‘Work hard, work selflessly, shun corruption, and let us give the Nigerian people what they truly desire,’ he urged.

On welfare, Amupitan disclosed that INEC has begun a comprehensive review of staff packages nationwide to boost morale.

‘When I assumed office, I discovered that the welfare package for INEC staff was among the lowest in the country. To boost your morale, the commission decided to take this issue head-on. When the results begin to manifest, you will appreciate our commitment,’ he said.

He added that a stable political system depends on INEC’s independence and performance.

‘We play a pivotal role in ensuring that Nigeria moves into the comity of developed nations. This can only happen if our political system is stable, and that stability depends largely on our independence and performance as an electoral body.’

Prof. Amupitan also monitored the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise at a centre within the state headquarters.

Meanwhile, the chairman of INEC has reassured Nigerians that their votes will count in forthcoming elections.

He gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to retired General Abdulsalam Abubakar at his residence in Minna, Niger State, where he led a delegation comprising National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, Directors and Technical Aides of the Chairman.

Prof. Amupitan described General Abubakar as the father of democracy in Nigeria, noting that his transition to civilian rule in 1999 marked a defining moment in the country’s democratic history. He said the Commission regarded the former Head of State not merely as a statesman but as a pillar of support for INEC.

The INEC Chairman commended General Abubakar’s role as Chairman of the National Peace Committee, describing his Peace Accord initiative as a moralising influence on Nigeria’s political ecosystem. He said the initiative had, over the years, provided political actors with a platform to commit to non-violence, thereby strengthening the sovereignty of the will of the Nigerian people.

Prof. Amupitan described the visit as a pilgrimage of appreciation for General Abubakar’s contributions to peaceful coexistence, peaceful elections and democratic stability in the country, and further congratulated him on his recent 84th birthday anniversary.

He told the former Head of State that regardless of the pressures confronting the Commission, INEC remained committed to ensuring that the will of the Nigerian people, as expressed at the Election, would prevail.

He said the Commission’s determination under his leadership was to see ordinary Nigerians go out and vote, confident that their votes would be duly counted and reflected in the outcome of elections, describing this as the core assurance INEC owed the electorate.

The INEC Chairman used the occasion to formally confirm that the Presidential and National Assembly election would hold on 16 January 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly election would take place on 6 February 2027.

Responding, the former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), General Abubakar (rtd), called on Nigerians to rally support behind the Commission ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He commended the Commission’s leadership and described the INEC chairmanship as one of the most demanding positions in the country, given the divergent expectations of political actors regardless of whatever direction the Commission takes.

He called on Nigerians to support the Commission and its leadership, stressing that the success of the nation’s democracy depended on the cooperation and confidence extended to INEC by the citizenry and political stakeholders alike.

General Abubakar expressed confidence in Prof. Amupitan’s leadership, urging him to remain firm and impartial in the discharge of his duties, and assured the Commission of his continued support and prayers ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The INEC Chairman thanked General Abubakar for his continued goodwill towards the Commission and reiterated that INEC would spare no effort in delivering free, fair and credible elections in 2027.

A passenger on board the Enugu Air flight that skidded off the runway at the Benin Airport on Thursday has shared what happened before the incident, saying the aircraft kept circling in the air as the pilot searched for where to land.

The passenger, rapper and content creator Chinedu, popularly known as Triple Pin, shared his experience in a video posted on his Instagram page after the incident.

He said he had only seen plane crashes in movies and on social media until he experienced the incident himself.

‘This is how these big dreams would have gone. Our plane crashed today.

‘I used to see things like this in movies and on social media. I thought it was limited to that,’ he said.

Recalling what happened before the aircraft left the runway, Triple Pin said heavy rainfall made it difficult to see outside the plane.

‘The whole window was blurry because rain was falling. I was wondering how the pilot was able to continue despite the weather,’ he said.

According to him, the aircraft circled several times before attempting to land.

‘When we got to our destination, and it was time to land, the pilot was rotating in the air, looking for where to land.

‘He kept rotating, and that was how he lost control and moved towards the bush. All of a sudden, all I heard was noise. Everybody was in panic,’ he said.

Triple Pin said he was grateful the aircraft did not catch fire after it skidded off the runway.

‘The reason our plane didn’t catch fire was because rain was falling. That is how I would have died.

‘That is how these big dreams would have been unfulfilled.

‘I came out with no injury,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Tribune Online had earlier reported that the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has since opened an investigation into the incident involving the Enugu Air Embraer E170 aircraft at the Benin Airport, Edo State.

The bureau said the aircraft, operating as Flight 4264 with registration 5N-ENR from Lagos to Benin, overran the end of Runway 05 during landing at about 3:10 p.m. on Thursday.

According to the NSIB, there were 63 passengers and five crew members on board, and all of them were safely evacuated without injuries.

‘The aircraft, operating as Flight 4264 (registration 5N-ENR) from Lagos to Benin, was involved in a runway excursion after overrunning the end of Runway 05 during landing at approximately 1510 hours local time,’ the bureau said.

The NSIB said its Go Team arrived at the scene shortly after the incident to gather evidence, interview the crew, examine the aircraft and assess the runway as part of its investigation.

The Director-General of the NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., said it was a relief that everyone on board was safe, but noted that every runway excursion must be thoroughly investigated.

‘We are relieved that all passengers and crew members are safe and that no injuries were reported.

‘While this is reassuring, every runway excursion is a serious occurrence that deserves a thorough and independent investigation,’ he said.

Enugu Air also confirmed the incident, describing it as a runway excursion involving one of its Embraer regional jets.

The airline said all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated without injuries and added that some flight schedules could be adjusted while investigations continue.