NEWS
Keyamo Decries Shoddy Deal With Ethiopian Airlines
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has been lamented over the ‘crooked’ structure of the Nigerian Air project with Ethiopian Airlines.
He opened up at a recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, where several concerns about the Nigerian Air project were raised.
He assured that he would be discussing the issues in detail shortly.
Keyamo highlighted the granting of a five-year tax waiver to Ethiopian Airlines as one of the issues with the project.
“I have deliberately not granted the full press interview. I’ve heard all kinds of things going on social media, but I cannot preempt my president.
“All the documents, all the reports and everything, we forwarded them to Mr. President; the issues we met on the ground. I feel the pulse of Nigerians, even the National Assembly raised concerns over that and so many stakeholders.
“It would have been irresponsible to close my eyes totally to those concerns. So because of that, we suspended it to say, look, let’s just look at all the issues and recommend. Now we have looked at all the issues and it’s before Mr. President.
“But let me just give one or two snippets because of Nigerians who are very quick to judge. In the agreement, you are giving tax waivers for an Ethiopian airline coming into Nigeria.
“They asked for tax waivers for five years and you granted them to come and compete with your local allies who are paying those heavy taxes. How?
“It will create a monopoly. That’s why when they tell you, oh, we want to crash prices by 70 percent, it’s a lie. It’s like robbing Peter to pay Paul because they have removed all taxes from you and you granted them tax waivers.
“Initially, they will crash prices but once they drive everyone out of the market there would be a monopoly and then a hike of 500 percent and nobody gets to question them. The only thing that brings down prices in the commercial world is fair competition.
“In their agreement, they also proposed that they appoint everyone from top management as Ethiopian and we agreed.
“So, when I’m ready to talk, I will talk. But I cannot preempt Mr. President, we have raised all concerns before him.”
Recall that In May 2023, Hadi Sirika, the former aviation minister, unveiled Nigeria Air, the national carrier, in Abuja.
However, the launch faced extensive controversy. Before its introduction, domestic aviation firms, represented by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), opposed the airline’s establishment due to uncertainties regarding its ownership structure.
The conflict arose following the announcement of Ethiopian Airlines as the favored bidder for Nigeria Air.
As a result, a federal high court in Lagos issued a restraining order, preventing the government from proceeding with the airline’s launch.
On August 31, 2023, Keyamo made public the suspension of the national carrier project.
NEWS
‘Celebrate This Poor Man’ – Shettima Defends Tinubu Over Economic Crisis
Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians to celebrate President Bola Tinubu, saying his leadership saved the country from a potential implosion.
Shettima said Nigeria’s economy had been teetering on the edge of collapse before Tinubu’s intervention, adding that the country could have faced a different situation.
“The economy was teetering on the edge of collapse, we were on a cliff edge,” the Vice President said.
ALSO READ: Subsidy Removal, FX Reforms Driving Fresh Oil Sector Investment – Shettima
“So he literally saved the nation from an implosion. That could have been the scenario. So, instead of demonizing him, Nigerians ought to celebrate this poor man.”
Shettima also called for a return to the drawing board, expressing confidence in the leadership’s commitment and the prospects for the 2027 elections.
“I believe on the bottom of my heart that with this presentation I have seen, and with the commitment of our leadership, by the grace of God, we are going to win,” he said.
Speaking about the 2027 elections, the Vice President reminded his audience that social media platforms should not be mistaken for actual polling stations.
“There are no polling stations on Facebook or Instagram,” he said.
Shettima also expressed gratitude for the efforts made towards promoting the cause of the 2027 elections.
NEWS
FG Withdraws Charges Against ‘Fake Agency’ DG, Adeniyi Adeyemi
Following observed mis-steps, the Federal Government of Nigeria has withdrawn the eight-count criminal charge brought against the alleged fake Director General (DG) of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Biztellers reports that the matter, in accordance with the counsel of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, (SAN), the matter will be filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), instead of the Federal High Court (FHC).
Consequently, upon an unopposed application for termination by the prosecution counsel and Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), on Monday, Justice Mohammed Umar of a Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, struck out the matter.
READ ALSO: Shell Identifies Keys to Nigeria’s Energy Future
In a motion for the termination of the charges, Oyedepo informed the court that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has carried out a review of the case file of Adeyemi and the charge filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and found some loopholes.
The DPPF added that the documents allegedly forged by Adeyemi during his operations of the fake agency are those that can be prosecuted by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He also informed the court that a new charge has been filed at the High Court of the FCT and that Adeyemi would be expeditiously arraigned afresh.
He therefore urged the judge to strike out the charge as required by law.
Following no objections from Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), who stood in for Adeyemi, Justice Umar subsequently terminated the charge.
Adeniyi, 38, was being tried alongside two others whose whereabouts are unknown, on charges bordering on conspiracy and forgery.
The two others said to be at large were identified as Femi (surname unknown) and Anu (surname unknown).
The charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2025, was entered against the defendant by the DPPF.
NEWS
Shell Identifies Keys to Nigeria’s Energy Future
To secure a bright energy for her teeming population, Nigeria must sustain the momentum of reform, accelerate investment, and deepen partnerships.
This view was expressed by Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Limited (SNEPCo) Ronald Adams in Lagos at the weekend.
Delivering a keynote address at the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) of the Lagos Business School (LBS), Adams called for regulatory certainty through efficient execution of reforms, sustained investment appeal to enable projects to move more swiftly from opportunity to production and partnership by operators, regulators, NNPC Limited and communities to unlock the full value of Nigeria’s resources.
Adams cited Nigeria’s huge oil and gas resources as an advantage but pointed out: “Resources alone do not guarantee prosperity. Prosperity comes when resources are matched with investment, technology, sound policy and disciplined execution. Success will be determined not by the size of our resources, but by our ability to convert them into investment and economic growth.”
Adams pledged the support of Shell towards a bright energy future of Nigerians. He said: “For more than six decades, Shell has been part of Nigeria’s energy journey. Together with our partners, we have helped develop major energy infrastructure, supported Nigerian businesses, invested in talent, and contributed to economic development. Bonga remains a powerful example of what technology, partnership and Nigerian capability can achieve in deepwater operations. Today, that story continues through Bonga North.”
READ ALSO: ADF Targets 5 Million Students, 2 Million Vulnerable Women
Issuing a clarion call for action by all stakeholders, he added: “The world is not standing still. Capital is moving, technology is advancing and competition is intensifying. The countries that attract investment tomorrow are those that improve competitiveness today. Nigeria has begun that journey. Our task is to sustain the momentum and translate reform into projects, projects into growth, and growth into shared prosperity.”
The conference, the 4th in the series had at its theme; “Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future: Policy Reform, Capital Mobilisation, and Pathways to a Sustainable Power and Energy Market” and was attended by top government officials, industry captains, energy professionals, and students.
Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat represented Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the guest of honour. SNEPCo was a principal sponsor of the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) and mounted a well-received exhibition on its deepwater operations and social investments across Nigeria.





