Travel News

By Clement Idoko - Abuja 

THE Federal Government on Wednesday disclosed that it received a total of 38,051 Citizenship applications from September 2018 to October 2020.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore, made this known in Abuja at the 4th Quarter 2020 Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Units’ Consultative Forum (3PUCF) of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), hosted by the Ministry of Interior.

She stressed the importance of PPP, saying it the Ministry recorded a total Business application of 45,751 as well as 38,051 Citizenship applications from September 2018 to October 2020, leading to improvement in income generation for Government by the Ministry.

Belgore at the event called on the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan to consider professionalisation of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Unit in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.

He said that the call for professionalising the PPP Units in all MDAs has become necessary especially with the infrastructure gap bedevilling the country as well as to ensure continuity, reduce public sector administrative cost, allows for shared risk, reduce the problem of public sector budget constraints and to also provide for easy monitoring of PPP projects across the country.

Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Mohammed Manga, in a statement said the Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director, Citizenship and Business Department of the Ministry of Interior, Barr. (Mrs) Moremi Soyinka- Onijala, stated further that it has become imperative for the government to look beyond its budgetary provisions for infrastructure development and embrace Public-Private Partnership (PPP) options that have been globally recognised as project delivery process.

Dr Belgore emphasized that in line with the recent trends in PPP, his Ministry was able to attract private sector investors for the development of some identified PPP projects in the Security sector, especially in the areas of Expatriate Quota and Citizenship Automation; Processing of non-judgemental Visa applications globally, Immigration and Borderline Management; Production of Emergency Passports and recently; the Expansion and Development of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS)’s Shoe and Garment Factories in Aba, Abia state and a Leather Factory in Janguza, Kano State which he said, off-take and Concession Agreements are at the verge of being finalised for signing.

He added that the Ministry also has a number of pipeline PPP concept projects under various stages of development, notably in the areas of Staff Housing, Correctional Service Farmland Development, Land Swap projects as well as other PPP concept projects initiated by the Federal Fire Service, among others.

Dr Belgore who lauded the support of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in ensuring the projects have value for money and benefits to all stakeholders encouraged every member of the forum to take advantage of the knowledge-sharing session and experiences of other MDAs for the speedy and successful delivery of PPP projects for the benefits of citizenship integrity and for the promotion of good governance of the nation.

In her remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, urged all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government to be proactive in handling PPP projects and to also ensure focus on projects that would generate high returns on investments, with a view to ploughing back the profits generated to the economy.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office, in her office, Mrs Ibiene P. Roberts, the Head of Serviced implore MDAs to review the projects that have been lingering for too long and identify challenge areas that the forum can be of assistance.

Also speaking at the event, the Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Engr. Chidi Izuwah noted that ICRC has continued to deliver its mandate, despite the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions across the country.

The Director-General who was represented by Mr Mike Ohiani commended the Ministry of Interior for hosting the 4th Quarter 2020 Session of the Forum.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/38...

Susan Tuller is the country consular coordinator for the US Mission in Nigeria. Prior to Lagos, she had served as the deputy consular chief in Chennai, India. She has also served as the deputy chief of mission (DCM) in Mbabane, Swaziland and as DCM in Cotonou, Benin. Her other overseas assignments include Haiti, Honduras, Guyana, and Ecuador. Prior to the Foreign Service, Tuller was a Peace Corps volunteer in Micronesia and the Associate Peace Corps director in Eritrea. In this interview with Odinaka Anudu, she advises US visa applicants to answer electronic application form fully and the officers’ questions honestly.

Last week the US Government announced the removal of reciprocity fees for approved visa applications from Nigeria. What brought about this change and what part did the government of Nigeria play? We were pleased to announce that on December 2, the US government revised its visa reciprocity schedule for Nigeria, removing reciprocity fees for six visa classes, including tourists, students, and specialty workers, among others. This means that going forward, applicants approved for any non-immigrant visa class will no longer have to pay an additional visa issuance fee.

The US government initially implemented reciprocity fees for Nigerian nationals in August 2019 because US citizens were being charged additional fees to obtain similar visas to Nigeria. While we prefer to have a single visa fee for all non-immigrant visas, when a foreign government imposes additional fees on US citizens, the United States will impose reciprocal fees on citizens of that country to eliminate any cost difference for US citizens. Through sustained dialogue and cooperation with our Nigerian counterparts, the Nigerian government recently agreed to remove the additional visa fees on US citizens, allowing the United States to remove the reciprocity fees. We thank the Nigerian government for its partnership on this important issue.

How much will Nigerians pay for Non–Immigrant Visas going forward? All non-immigrant visa applicants are still required to pay the non-refundable application processing fee, known as the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee, at the time of application. For most visa classes, this fee is $160. Reciprocity fees paid prior to December 3, 2020, are not refundable.

What is the update on the US Visa Bond pilot? Is Nigeria still exempted from the program? The US Department of State, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, is piloting a visa bond program to identify and tackle the root causes of visa overstays. Visitors from some countries overstay their visas, which is illegal. Under the program, consular officers may require non-immigrant visa applicants to post a bond as a condition of visa issuance. The program is a diplomatic tool to encourage foreign governments to take appropriate actions to ensure the timely departure of their nationals temporarily visiting the United States. We are committed to combating visa overstays and making sure travelers to the United States respect our laws.

The program is scheduled to begin on December 24 and will last for six months. Nigeria is not included in this pilot program

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected visa processing times in Nigeria? The health and safety of the Nigerian public and our staff are our highest priority. To ensure everyone’s safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to drastically reduce the consular services we offer. Currently, we offer some visa and citizenship services on a limited basis. As a result of limited staffing and space, our wait times for nonimmigrant and immigrant visa appointments have increased. We will continue to review our health protocols to determine which services we can offer safely. This is not particular to Nigeria – US missions are experiencing this worldwide.

The non-immigrant visa application processing fee, known as the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee, is valid for one year from the date of payment. Applicants who have paid the fee may schedule a visa appointment in the country of payment. However, the Department of State understands that as a result of the pandemic, many visa applicants who paid the MRV fee are still waiting to schedule a visa appointment. To accommodate these applicants, the Department has extended the validity of MRV fees until December 31, 2021, to allow all applicants an opportunity to schedule and/or attend a visa appointment using the fee they already paid.

In what ways has COVID-19 impacted the issuance of student visas? Nigeria ranks eleventh in the world and highest in sub-Saharan Africa in the number of students it sends to the United States. Almost 14,000 Nigerians study in the US. Maintaining opportunities for Nigerian students to continue their education in the United States is very important to us. As we continue to prioritise the health and safety of our staff and applicants, the US Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos are processing limited student and exchange visitor visas. We will continue to monitor our health protocol to determine the number of student visa appointments we can safely offer. We encourage applicants to visit our website for more information: https://ng.usembassy.gov/visas/.

Which visas are currently being issued? The US Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos are processing limited visas for tourists, business travelers, students and exchange visitors, and certain immigrant visa categories. Again, we encourage applicants to visit our website for more information.

When should Nigerians expect full consular services to resume? The Department of State suspended routine visa services worldwide in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, US Embassies and Consulates began a phased resumption of routine visa services. Currently, the level of services any one embassy or consulate is able to provide depends upon the public health conditions in that particular country.

The US Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos are processing limited tourist, business, student, exchange, and certain immigrant visas. We always prioritise the health and safety of our staff and customers and will provide additional services as conditions allow. We are unable to provide a specific date for when we will resume additional visa services, or when we will return to processing visas at pre-pandemic workload levels. We encourage everyone to visit our website (https://ng.usembassy.gov/) and follow us on Facebook (U.S. Mission Nigeria), Twitter (@USinNigeria), and Instagram (@USinNigeria) for information regarding operating status services.

We will continue to provide emergency and mission-critical visa services, as we have since March. Applicants with an urgent need to travel should follow the guidance provided on our website about requesting an emergency appointment.

Is it true that the US does not issue visas to Nigerians who have no previous travel history? No, that is not correct. Each visa applicant must demonstrate their eligibility for the visa category they are applying for at the time of their interview. Nigerians with no previous travel history may still qualify for visas if they meet the requirements of that particular visa category.

Applicants are often refused visas on the grounds that they have not demonstrated strong ties to Nigeria. What do you consider to be strong ties to the country and how can applicants prove them? Strong ties refer to an individual’s familial, social, professional, academic, and any other ties to their country of residence. The best way for an applicant to demonstrate their strong ties is to be honest about their purpose of travel to the US and by answering the consular officer’s questions truthfully. There are no set formulas or magic words that an applicant must use in order to qualify for a visa. Each individual is different, and one answer does not fit all. That is why it is important to answer the electronic application form fully and the officer’s questions honestly.

Can an applicant demonstrate these ties by bringing a lot of documents to the interview? What documents are essential and which ones can be left at home? Bringing a lot of documents to the interview will not demonstrate that an applicant has strong ties to Nigeria. Instead, the applicant should prioritise answering all questions truthfully and with complete information, to include the questions in the electronic application form and during the interview.

How does employing the services of touts and visa agents affect the outcome of a visa application? We discourage applicants from using agents when applying for a visa. Nobody can answer the questions on the electronic application form better than you. Applications for U.S. visas can only be completed at www.ustraveldocs.com. We encourage all visa applicants to visit our website for more information on how to apply and to find a link to application website. Any information on applying through another website is likely a scam.

Does this rule out all third-party assistance with filling out applications? If someone needs help completing the application, we recommend they find a trusted relative or friend who can assist them. Agents or third parties often seek to benefit by charging a fee for their services and they may not always provide the correct information, which can harm your chances of qualifying for the visa.

Let’s talk about scheduling emergency appointments. What qualifies as a genuine emergency and how can applicants schedule emergency appointments when necessary? We have continued to provide emergency and mission-critical visa services since March. Emergency determinations are made on a case-by-case basis. Applicants with an urgent need to travel should follow the guidance provided on our website about requesting an emergency appointment.

Where can I get more information about applying for US visas? The best source of information about applying for a U.S. visa is our website: https://ng.usembassy.gov/visas/.

BY  Gwyn Topham and Jon Henley

European commission indicates Britons will face ban on nonessential travel at end of Brexit transition

British holidaymakers will be barred from the European Union from 1 January under current Covid-19 safety restrictions, with the EU commission indicating there will be no exemption for the UK.

Only a handful of countries with low coronavirus rates are exempt from rules that prohibit nonessential visitors from outside the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) – with the UK included only until the end of the Brexit transition period.

EU member states agreed in October to adopt a European council proposal to allow nonessential travel from a small group of countries with lower levels of Covid cases including Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.

An EU commission spokesman last week said there were no plans to extend that to the UK. “This is a decision for the council to make,” he said.

Within the EEA, or Schengen-associated states, Norway has also confirmed it will bar UK visitors from 1 January, according to the Financial Times.

The imminent bracketing of British tourists with those of other non-EU countries such as Albania and Turkey underlines the potential impact of a no-deal Brexit. EU member states can override the European council recommendations in theory, should they wish to .

Leisure airlines including easyJet had reported a surge in bookings for 2021 in recent weeks after news of a vaccine, but many of those trips will be in doubt.

A UK government spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on decisions that could be taken by other states on public health matters.

“We take a scientific, risk-based approach to health measures at the border, and it is of course in the interests of all countries to allow safe international travel as we emerge from the pandemic.”

Under European rules, individuals can still enter the bloc in certain cases, mainly for work – including aid workers, care workers, diplomats, healthcare professionals, military personnel, seasonal farm workers and transport workers. Entry for study, transit, and urgent family reasons is also permitted.

The Foreign Office currently advises against all nonessential travel to most of Europe, bar some holiday destinations such as certain Greek islands, and quarantine on return is required for those who choose to travel.

With most insurance policies invalidated by the FCO advice – and with the end of the Ehic (European Health Insurance Card) reciprocal health cover scheme on 31 December – UK travel industry sources said that outbound bookings were currently very low for winter sports holidays in 2021.

BY  Joseph Olaoluwa

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has said that it has reached an agreement with airlines in the country to ensure that debts owed the agency are reconciled and a payment plan is agreed upon.

The Director-General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, said this when the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation led by Nnolim Nnaji paid him a visit on Wednesday.

He said, “Under your guidance, we have carried on that agreement that we had. We had a meeting with the operators on the issue of the debt collection and agreed to notify each airline on the level of debt that they have.

 â€œWe will sit down with them and do the reconciliation. We will then implement a payment plan. We do not expect everyone to pay all their money at a go because of the difficulties in the industry and economic downturn.”

He assured that the agreement would be a win-win for all parties by the time it was sorted.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika had disclosed that the local airlines’ total debt burden to regulatory agencies stood at N22bn in November.

The debts were incurred within the period of 10 years.

BY  Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved contracts to offer insurance cover for assets in 22 airports owned by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the expansion of the apron of the Maiduguri Airport.

It also approved road contracts in Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory.

The contracts totalling about N59.35bn were approved at a meeting of the council presided over by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

On the aviation contracts, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that contracts totalling N758.17m were approved for the aviation sector based on the presentation made by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.

Mohammed said, “The first memo is a contract for the expansion of the apron at the Maiduguri Airport. This contract is worth N719.12m.

It was awarded to a company called Luvaslink Projects Limited.

“The expansion of the Maiduguri Airport has become necessary because of the increased traffic at the airport. The apron of an airport is actually that area where aircraft’s manoeuvres are made, where they turn and park.

African airlines' traffic sank by 78.6 per cent in October, which was an improvement from an 84.9 per cent drop in September and the best performance among the regions. Capacity contracted 67.5 per cent and load factor fell 23.8 percentage points to 45.5 per cent.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the recovery of passenger demand continued to be disappointingly slow in October.

Total demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 70.6 per cent compared to October 2019. This was just a modest improvement from the 72.2 per cent year-to-year decline recorded in September. Capacity was down 59.9 per cent compared to a year ago and load factor fell 21.8 percentage points to 60.2 per cent.

International passenger demand in October was down 87.8 per cent compared to October 2019, virtually unchanged from the 88 per cent year-to-year decline recorded in September. Capacity was 76.9 per cent below previous year levels, and load factor shrank 38.3 percentage points to 42.9 per cent.

Domestic demand drove what little recovery there was, with October domestic traffic down 40.8 per cent compared to the prior year. This was improved from a 43.0 per cent year-to-year decline in September. Capacity was 29.7 per cent below 2019 levels and the load factor dropped 13.2 percentage points to 70.4 per cent.

"Fresh outbreaks of COVID-19 and governments' continued reliance on heavy-handed quarantines resulted in another catastrophic month for air travel demand. While the pace of recovery is faster in some regions than others, the overall picture for international travel is grim.

"This uneven recovery is more pronounced in domestic markets, with China's domestic market having nearly recovered, while most others remain deeply depressed," said IATA's Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac.

The newly constructed terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos built by Chinese engineering firm, CCECC, will become operational by first quarter of 2021.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Yadudu, during the facility tour of the airport by House Committee on Aviation Members.

The completion of the terminal was delayed by structural extension of the new terminal to the old, so that there would be easy facilitation of passengers using the two facilities.

The FAAN Boss said the connection between the new terminal and the old one had been completed, while finishing touches were being put on the four bridges installed at the new terminal.

During the inspection of the facility, the Chairman, House of Rep Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, commended the management of FAAN for making great strides in the pace of the project.

Speaking at the construction site, Nnaji said his committee members were not armchair legislators, but decided to visit project sites and do some mental correlation on the projects and budget approved with the quality and volume of work being done with the taxpayers' money.

He commended the management of FAAN for the provision of apron linking the two-terminal buildings.

Nnaji urged FAAN management to pay more attention to safety critical infrastructure such as the runway lightings, taxiways, aerial lighting and comprehensive safety monitoring of the airside of the airports through close-circuit television (CCTV) and security personnel (AVSEC).

By Geoff Iyatse, Femi Adekoya, Benjamin Alade (Lagos) and Joke Falaju (Abuja)

• Nigerians decry high fares
• Take a ride before you complain, NRC reacts
• Govt should consider social benefits — LCCI

The commercial activities of the Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line struggled to a start on Monday. But its speed is being delayed by controversy over ‘elitist’ charges and concern about its commercial viability. There is also skepticism regarding its capacity to generate enough income to repay more than $1.5 billion in debt incurred on the project.

This week’s inaugural commercial trip only amplified the viability question. It turned out that only one of the several thousands of Nigerians that daily ply the Ibadan-Lagos route was willing and able to buy a seat (at the cost range of N3, 000 and N6, 000) for the 100-kilometer trip in the hundreds-capacity passenger train.

As Nigerians wailed over what they described as restrictive fares, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) Monday announced commercial service operations on the long-awaited Lagos-Abeokuta-Ibadan standard gauge train. But the trip, which was expected to kick-start the operation of the service, many thought, would give the masses a cheaper alternative to the dreaded Lagos-Ibadan road, recorded just one passenger on board.

The newly introduced service, according to NRC, provides fully air-conditioned train services in the economy, business, and first-class categories. The corporation deployed only one Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) to kick-start the operation.

Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, had announced a price regime of N3, 000 for the economy, N5, 000 for business, and N6, 000 for first class. He explained that the charges of Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line, a distance of 190 kilometers, were merely transferred to Lagos-Ibadan, a much shorter route.

However, independent investigation by The Guardian showed that the fare list for the standard gauge railway from Lagos- Abeokuta-Ibadan zone 1-2 are as follows: 24-seater coaches (N6,000), 56-seater coaches (N5,000), 68-seater coaches (N3, 500), and 88-seater coaches (N2,500).

For Lagos-Abeokuta ticket, Zone 1 only, the fares are a 24-seater coach (N4, 500), 56-seater coach (N3, 500), 68-seater coach (N3, 000), and 88-seater coach (N2, 000).

Passengers of zone 11 of the standard gauge railway from Abeokuta to Ibadan are charged between N2, 000, and N600.

Nigerians, who reacted via social media, had knocked the government for the fares, describing it as outrageous and imposed to make the service an exclusive privilege of the rich who are increasingly wary of the risks of driving on the roads.

Nigeria had, in 2017, secured a $6.1 billion loan from China Exim Bank for the construction of Calabar-Port Harcourt, Lagos-Ibadan, Lagos-Kano rail, and Lagos to Kaduna railway and another $1.5 billion counterpart funding for the Lagos-Ibadan project.

Several other loans have been incurred since then to fund President Muhammadu Buhari’s rail project, which the government said would support the new industrial revolution drive of the administration.

The rail loan is part of the N31.08 trillion-sovereign-debt burden that is currently weighing heavily on the country’s fiscal position.

Next year, 24 per cent (almost a quarter) of the N13.08 trillion proposed budget would be spent on debt servicing. The budget itself will be 40 per cent funded with “fresh borrowings” to be serviced or repaid by taxpayers.

Stakeholders, including the organised private sector (OPS), labour unions, and civil society organisations (CSOs), have demanded that workers who bear the burden of the debts incurred on critical infrastructure should be able to afford the train service.

Sadly, a worker earning the N30,000-minimum wage will spend one-fifth of her salary for a return ticket (on the economy class coach) to Ibadan.

The Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) has dismissed this as unacceptably high. It noted that the charges turned the rationale of building the infrastructure with borrowed funds on its head. The union said the service could only attract patronage and be commercially viable if it were made affordable to the poorest of the poor.

Unfortunately, the fares are much higher than charges by commercial vehicles. Lagos-Ibadan costs about N1, 500 by road. Apart from the face value of the tickets, the logistic of accessing the train terminals, road users also complained, is a major deterrent that should have been compensated with a much-lower charge.

Protesting the charges, Secretary-General of NUR, Segun Esan, said loans are taken to fund the various railway projects, including the new Lagos-Ibadan, are project-tied – a reason the authorities should ensure that projects are commercially viable.

To enhance their commercial viability, NUR said the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation, must wear the robe of a shrewd capitalist whose business success solely depends on the profits it makes.

“Certainly, the prices should be the ones the masses will pay to make the train service self-sustaining and efficient enough to indemnify all loans taken to build it,” he suggested.

According to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the government’s business is often regarded as no man’s business; hence, the need to partner with the private sector to run enterprises, like rail system, that is expected to run profitably.

Acting Director-General of MAN, Chuma Oruche said rail services should be a cheaper alternative to road and that commuters would ignore it when seen as an expensive substitute for vehicles.

“There is a substitute for rail service. We are not considering the economic decision. It will not compete with road transport, which is cheaper in the case of Lagos-Ibadan. When I heard that only one passenger was taken to Ibadan, I was amused. It could have made sense if all the carriages were filled up at N1000 rather than carrying one passenger,” he said.

But Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Dr. Timothy Olawale, commended the Federal Government for starting the rail service, explaining that it would enable the freighting of consumer goods and refined petroleum products from the port to other parts of the country and reduce pressure on road infrastructure.

Olawale, however, expressed concerns over the high cost of the service.

He said: “While we appreciate the fact that the rail was constructed with a loan sourced from the Chinese government and the government wants to repay the loan, the price range of N3000 and N6000 per ticket is higher than the current fare of public transportation, which is between N1, 500 and N2000. This will certainly inflate the cost of transportation on that route.

“As Nigerians are the ones who will pay back this loan, it is only fair that they should be able to enjoy the benefit of a cheaper form of transportation since it will be patronised more by the masses than the rich.”

Also, the Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Muda Yusuf, said the charges should not be higher than the alternatives because it is a social service. He urged the Federal Government to give social consideration to the issue, noting that the project would deliver economic and social benefits.

“The rail service is supposed to feed into the mass transit programme of the Federal Government. We cannot have a situation where rail would be more expensive than road transportation. The lower part of the ladder is supposed to feel the impact of the service. The social aspect of pricing has to be given due consideration,” he added.

Chief Executive Officer of West Atlantic Cold-Chain and Commodities Limited, Henrii Nwanguma, said that passenger, unlike cargo, services are subsidised all over the world. According to him, there is hardly an economic justification for passenger lines as freight is the major factor for final investment decision (FID) on heavy-duty rail lines. He hoped that the government would understand the logic.

Director of Railway Roundtable, Olawale Rasheed, rationalised the project, saying that rail transport would change the face of transportation, as many commuters would want to go for the option, given its promise of comfort.

On why the country cannot subsidise the service like what is obtained in other climes, Olawale said the government was constrained by the need to service and offset the loans used to execute the projects.

The pricing, according to him, should not be an issue, as people should rather focus on the benefits, given the challenges on the roads. He said Nigerians should be rather bothered about the ability of NRC to manage the lines.

Another railway expert, Roland Ataugba, said Nigerians had a more demanding responsibility to monitor and ensure that the government honoured the loan terms, as the facility was not a ‘gift’ to the country.

Dean, School of Transport, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Samuel Odewumi, attributed the high charges to the need to comply with social distance protocol, suggesting that the fare could reduce when humanity eventually conquers the coronavirus pandemic. He said the fair could drop by as much as 50 per cent when that happens.

Reacting to the call for fare reduction, the Lagos Railway District Manager of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Jerry Oche, urged Nigerians to patronise the train and experience it first. He said the rail coaches were not comparable to vehicles as they are more comfortable. He argued that the charges were in ranges, just so that everyone would be able to make a choice.

By Wole Oyebade

German carrier, Lufthansa, has resumed flight operations on the Lagos-Frankfurt route. The foreign carrier recently operated a Frankfurt-Lagos-Frankfurt flight after eight months of temporary withdrawal due to COVID-19 restrictions.

According to officials, the airline will offer up to five weekly departures from Lagos to Frankfurt and connect the capital Abuja with three weekly departures, starting from December 8.

All long-haul flights depart from Nigeria in the evening as overnight flights, arriving in Lufthansa’s main hub Frankfurt in the early morning. This allows all passengers from Nigeria to get the full choice of connecting flights to European, American and Asian destinations, leaving all from the same terminal 1.

General Manager Nigeria & Equatorial Guinea, Lufthansa Group Airlines, Adenike Macaulay, said Lufthansa remains committed to Nigeria, describing it as one of its key markets in Africa.

“As we have received the final permission to reopen our flight operations, we are happy to be the first airline to reconnect Nigeria directly to the centre of Europe and onwards to all other continents. We offer a considerable number of flights to the U.S. and Canada, allowing our Nigerian guests to have family members and friends again at reach throughout the world. Health and safety continue to be our top priority and we are committed to maintaining strict adherence to hygiene regulations for all our flights,” Macaulay said.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Special Area Command, Abuja has uncovered two new methods drug traffickers adopt to evade the prying eyes of law enforcement personnel.

Spokesman of the agency, Jonah Acheme disclosed in a statement that the new methods were uncovered in two separate operations at the airport, leading to the seizure of 14.4 kilograms of Cocaine.

"In the first operation, the Command intercepted a consignment of four packets of chocolate sweets of white substances which tested positive to Cocaine weighing 7.2 kilograms while in the second operation it uncovered 12 parcels of cellophane wrappers with whitish substances which also tested positive to Cocaine weighing another 7.2 kilograms.

"The first operation involved Da Silva Mailson Mario, a Brazilian aged 23 who was arrested with a suit case containing the packets of the chocolate sweet during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline ET 911 which originated from Brazil en-route Addis Ababa to Abuja.

"The second operation involved Elechi Adindu Kingsley, a Nigerian aged 39 who was arrested with a bag containing cellophane bags during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline flight Et 911," the agency said.

The statement also explained that Mario who spoke through an interpreter decided to be silent on all questions put to him.

"He was only inquisitive about the jail terms his alleged offence may attract in Nigeria," the statement said.

But Kingsley, an indigene of Umulolo Local Government Area of Imo State who has been living in Brazil for the past 13 years said he would not blame anybody for his involvement.

"I am an adult and I am fully aware of what I was going into. I agree that somebody gave it to me but I offered to carry it", Kingsley who was promised N3 million upon safe delivery of the drugs to somebody in Nigeria said.

According to him, he was in Nigeria preparatory to his wedding in January 2021.

Also speaking on the discovery of these new modes of concealment, Commander of NDLEA Abuja Airport Command, Kabir Sani Tsakuwa said there is no underestimating the imagination of drug merchants.

"What is expected of us is not only to counter their devices but to think ahead of them. As we can see, any step they take, we are many steps ahead, hence the results we are seeing. I wish to promise them more frustration," he said.