Travel News

Starting September 2024, Uganda Airlines will begin flights to Abuja in Nigeria, Harare in Zimbabwe, and Lusaka in Zambia.

These new routes will join the airline's existing destinations, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Bujumbura, Johannesburg, Dubai, Zanzibar, Lagos, Kinshasa, Mumbai, Mogadishu, Juba, and Kilimanjaro.

According to a press release, the flights to Abuja will start on September 12, 2024, operating every Sunday and Thursday with the A330-800 aircraft. This service extends the existing flights to Lagos, which run on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays.

For Lusaka and Harare, services will start on September 25, 2024, with four times-a-week flights on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday using the CRJ-900 aircraft. While launching the routes, Jenifer Bamuturaki, Uganda Airlines chief executive officer (CEO), said that these network additions increase Uganda’s connectivity to the rest of Africa and bring more choice and convenience to travellers.

“The creation of an air bridge to West Africa and Southern Africa will bring convenience to travellers across the continent with direct flights and seamless connectivity and enable multiple opportunities in business, trade, tourism, and socio-cultural linkages. We are open to bookings, and intending travellers can book through their travel agents, our ticketing offices, or online via the Uganda Airlines app and website,” Bamuturaki explained.

"These new routes mark the second phase of our network development and support our mission to offer affordable air travel for business and leisure. This expansion also sets the stage for future routes to Europe and Asia," she added.

The launch of these new routes enhances intra-African travel, providing direct flights and seamless connections for business, trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges. Bookings are now open through travel agents, ticketing offices, or online via the Uganda Airlines app and website.

In September 2024, the national airline will celebrate five years since it began operations in August 2019, by officially launching these new routes. According to Bamuturaki, the decision to add these routes aims to build an efficient regional market, enhance aircraft utilization, and create a robust network that supports long-haul routes. 

She further states that “This strategic expansion is part of the airline's 10-year plan and aims to connect East, West, North, and South Africa.”

With these new routes, Uganda Airlines hopes to improve connectivity, increase flight frequencies, and boost revenue growth. The network expansion positions the airline for promising profitability.

The outage appears to be affecting Windows PCs globally, including Sky News in the UK which was not able to broadcast live TV on Friday morning.

Businesses including banks, airlines, train companies, telecommunications companies, TV and radio broadcasters, and supermarkets have been taken offline following a mass global outage.

Major US airlines including American Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines have been grounded, while airports in Germany, Amsterdam and Spain are also reporting issues.

It is believed the issue is related to an issue at global cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike and Microsoft - although it is unknown if it is the same issue affecting airports and train services across the globe.

Microsoft said on Friday morning that it was continuing to address the "lingering impact" of its 365 applications and services that are in a "degraded state" while Crowdstrike said in an automated message that it was aware of reports of crashes.

The outage appears to be affecting Windows PCs globally, including Sky News in the UK which not able to broadcast live TV first thing on Friday morning.

Ryanair, Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers, warned customers of potential disruptions which it said would affect "all airlines operating across the network," though it did not specify the nature of the disruptions.

While passengers at Edinburgh Airport were unable to use automated boarding pass scanners and monitors at security displayed a message saying "server offline", according to a Reuters witness.

The airport had reverted to checking boarding passes manually, the witness said.

The Metropolitan Police said it has not been affected, and everything seems to be working normally, while some GP surgeries have reported problems.

Grimethorpe Surgery in Barnsley said it had no access to the clinical system, pointing to an issue with EMIS Web - a system that allows healthcare practitioners to view and contribute to a patient's healthcare records.

Train cancellations likely

Also in the UK, Southern, Thameslink, Gatwick Express and Great Northern - all four of Govia Thameslink Railway's brands - said its services were experiencing widespread IT issues.

"We are unable to access driver diagrams at certain locations, leading to potential short-notice cancellations, particularly on the Thameslink and Great Northern networks," the company said.

"Additionally, other key systems, including our real-time customer information platforms, are also affected."

National Rail said its IT teams are "actively investigating to determine the root cause of the problem".

Out-of-date prices at London Stock Exchange

The London Stock Exchange is among the businesses that have been affected by the global outage, Sky News' business correspondent, Ian King, said.

A statement posted on the exchange's website early said that a technical issue was being investigated with the publication of RNS - the exchange's Regulatory News Service - announcements.

When trading began at 8am this morning, the exchange's website was still showing prices from the close on Thursday evening and continues to do so.

The FTSE-100 opened 50 points lower - around 0.62% - at the open but no prices were available on the exchange's website, King said.

Other major European stock indices have also opened to the downside this morning, with the DAX in Germany down by 0.55% half an hour into the session, while the CAC-40 in France and the MIB in Italy down by 0.45% apiece.

Users on the subreddit for cyber security firm Crowdstrike reported issues in India, the United States and New Zealand.

While users in Australia began reporting issues early on Friday, stating they had been locked out of their workstations.

Within hours, Australia's National Security Coordinator said it was aware of the large-scale technical outage affecting a number of companies and services across the country.

It said there was currently no information to suggest the outage is a cyber security incident.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has advocated for a direct flight from Nigeria to Canada following the increasing number of Nigerians who reside in Canada.

Keyamo, while stating that most flights to Canada are transit, said modalities need to be put in place to support the population there.

He also said Nigeria is equidistance to most countries in the world and should be a major hub in Africa.

The minister, who said that there was a need for infrastructural development in the Nigerian Aviation sector, added that Nigeria has a long-standing relationship with Canada and may consider cargo development since lots of Nigerian eateries are springing up in Canada.

He stated this on Monday, July 22, in Abuja when the Canadian High Commissioner in Nigeria paid him a courtesy call.

Minister in a statement by the Head of Information, Press and Public Affairs of the Ministry, Odutayo Oluseyi, stated that a focal person from the Ministry will be appointed to firm up arrangements in terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Canada and Nigeria as regards direct route, repository, cargo flight and the proposed side meeting in Canada for business investments. 

The Canadian High Commissioner in Nigeria, Jamie Christoff stated that Nigeria has a student population of about 18,000 in Canada with a growing population in various sectors.

He said modalities will be put in place to see the possibility of a direct route to Canada.

Christoff said Canada has a large aviation sector of about $ 20 billion, adding that he was willing to introduce private sector investors to Nigeria.

BY  Bethel Olujobi 

More Nigerians are paying millions of naira to be allowed to live and work in Canada for up to five years. The number of Nigerians with permanent residency (PR) status in Canada has surged to a new 15-month high.

As of May 2024, over 2,020 Nigerians now call Canada home, recent monthly figures retrieved from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have revealed. This is the largest number of Nigerians Canada has allowed in as PRs at the same time since March 2023, and the number continues to rise.

Last month, BuinessDay reported 1,905 Nigerians permanently residing in Canada as of April, and in the first five months of 2024 alone, there have been over three thousand more people admitted than in the whole year of 2017 and preceding years.

A PR status grants individuals who are not Canadian citizens the right to live and work in the country for up to five years and serves as an immigration visa, qualifying the holder for most social and healthcare coverage that Canadian citizens are entitled to, including protection under Canadian law.

Permanent residents can also apply for Canadian citizenship after physically living in Canada for at least 1,095 days or three years within the five years of their status validity.

As a leader in migrant resettlement globally, Canada has an immigration policy that attracts more talent into its territories. The government is pursuing an ambitious plan to accommodate 500,000 immigrants every year by 2025, as it battles an ageing population and low birth rate which have created gaps in its labour force.

Canada’s immigration framework prioritises professionals and highly skilled individuals, making it easier for them to obtain work permits and permanent residency, including post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) after completing studies in Canada and the Express Entry system that uses a skill-based point system to grant permanent residency.

This approach contrasts sharply with other countries, particularly the UK, where restrictive immigration policies pose significant challenges for Nigerians and other international talent.

With its Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot programs now expired, Canada launched newer, fast-tracked care pilot programs, with Nigeria as part of its target population. The programs grant professional care workers permanent residency status upon arrival.

Nigerians who make permanent residency in Canada are usually motivated by job opportunities, refugee protection or student transition programs.

Global reports have revealed that international students contributed over $30 billion to Canada’s economy in 2022 alone.

Of its entire international student population, Nigerians were the fastest-growing, with nearly 18,000 Canadian study permits issued between January to June 2023 and 44 per cent more study permits issued during that period than in full-year 2022.

International students studying in Canadian universities can apply to become permanent Canadian residents after completing their studies, provided they meet the requirements of the Canadian immigration program under which they apply.

The government also wooed the students by opening up “Dual intent,” which allows them to apply for a Canada study permit and Canadian permanent resident status at the same during their studies, opening up opportunities for continuity of life after school.

The country’s acceptance of refugees as PRs also makes it attractive to Nigerians who flee persecution at home. When refugees resettle in Canada from overseas, they become PRs through the Government-Assisted Refugee Program or the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.

According to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada, Between January and June 2023, there were over 1,700 Nigerians seeking asylum referred to the IRB with many pending.

With an implemented increase in fees for permanent residency applications in April and an upward trend in newcomers from Nigeria, the Canadian government is expected to pocket more. Fees already high due to declining naira are now, more than ever, out of reach.

By Supriya Singh, Shoko Oda, and Tsuyoshi Inajima

(Bloomberg) -- A jet fuel shortage in Japan is hampering foreign airlines and threatening to curtail a tourism boom just as travelers are flocking to the country seeking to take advantage of a historically cheap yen. The scarcity of fuel has spurred the government into action, forming a task force across different ministries and the private sector. 

1. So what’s happening? 

Asian airlines including Korean Air Lines Co. and low-cost carrier T’way Air Co. were forced to reconsider plans to increase flights to Hokkaido due to stricter overtime work regulations, which had led to a shortage of seafarers delivering jet fuel, local broadcaster NHK first reported back in June. The problem has since expanded to major hubs such as Narita Airport, prompting the government to set up a task force last month to tackle the issue. 

2. How did this shortage come about?

Japan is seeing a strong post-pandemic influx of foreign travelers, strengthened by a weak yen that is trading at more than 30-year lows against the US dollar. Government officials say the supply issue has been caused by especially strong demand from charter flights to regional airports in addition to requests from foreign airlines to provide fuel at a short notice. Exacerbating the pressure is a lack of qualified workers to deliver the fuel due to stricter overtime regulations that came into effect earlier this year. 

“So far we have been able to manage the overall volume by balancing imports and exports, but there was a lack of logistics to bring the (fuel) cargo to the airports, so it was difficult to cope with the sudden increase in the number of travelers,” says Takehiko Nagai, a director at the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. 

3. Are these shortages happening anywhere else?

Japan’s jet fuel shortage is a problem of its own making.

The country’s refiners have been consolidating their production for a number of years, as an aging population and falling consumption of oil products led to a diminishing need for domestic crude processing. Idemitsu Kosan Co. shut its half-century old refinery in March, while Eneos Holdings Inc. ended operations at its Wakayama refinery last year.

Demand for jet fuel, however, has been especially strong as international travel returned after Covid 19. Global jet fuel demand has now exceeded its pre-pandemic levels, according to the world’s largest independent oil trader, Vitol Group, with a record number of flights expected this quarter. That’s creating lopsided demand for aircraft fuel over other refined products, requiring increased imports to meet airlines’ needs. 

As well as refining capacity, logistical bottlenecks and a lack of manpower have also been cited as key factors. “There’s a shortage of people who can handle and transport these fuels,” said Yutaka Miki, a principal consultant at the Japan Research Institute. “It won’t be easy to just simply add more manpower — people need special licenses to handle these potentially dangerous fuels,” he added.

4. Will my Japan travel plans be disrupted?

There appears to be little disruption so far with seat capacity continuing to rise as air travel to and from Japan hits its peak summer season. “The impact will be limited, if any, particularly with the move to import jet fuel now,” said Bloomberg Intelligence aviation analyst Eric Zhu. “We are seeing a 6% sequential increase in third-quarter scheduled international Japan seats compared to the previous quarter, which is on par with the pre-pandemic seasonal bumps.”

Airlines would ideally want to schedule more flights to meet the high demand but the fact they have been able to maintain their previously planned schedules without cutting back on flights indicates the impact has been subdued, Zhu added.

Production of jet fuel appears to be keeping pace with 2023 levels, not ideal when aircraft capacity has grown. Data from Cirium indicates available seat miles, which indicates the size of planes and distance of travel, are up 25% year on year.

5. What are the government and companies doing about it? 

The government plans to increase fuel production and imports to meet the demand. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry says it will increase fuel supply using larger vessels and hire more refueling staff to solve logistics issues. It also plans to help train the expanded workforce. 

Companies have started implementing some measures. Narita International Airport Corp. decided to accept imported jet fuel and it will be the the first time for the major airport to use its own fueling and transport facilities to accept imported fuel. 

At the peak of the shortage, the jet-fuel issue affected 140 flights per week, the transport ministry said Friday. Since then, authorities have managed to temporarily increase the jet-fuel supply for Narita-bound flights as well as boost delivery capacity to be able to handle an additional 150 flights per week, the ministry said.

6. So how long until things go back to normal? 

The government has not given a timeline for solving the issue but says it is making efforts to avoid any impact on airlines’ winter schedules.

The nation’s main airports, like Narita and Haneda, may see the issue resolved relatively quickly, because they have more manpower and serve a larger amount of travelers, said the Japan Research Institute’s Miki. The problems may persist for longer in smaller regional airports due to a lack of key staff and the difficulties of delivering fuel to more remote locations, he said.

But concerns remain ahead of the winter tourist season. The northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, which has only one refinery, is more vulnerable to jet-fuel shortages given its distance from the rest of Japan’s refineries and the shortage of transportation manpower. The island’s Sapporo and Obihiro airports are considered the most likely to be affected.

--With assistance from Danny Lee and Yongchang Chin.

United Arab Emirates is considering slashing visa and Document Verification Number (DVN) for Nigerians. Recall that on October 21, 2022, the UAE government announced a ban on 20 African countries, including Nigeria.

However, on July 15, 2024, Nigeria’s Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, announced that the ban “has been lifted following a mutually beneficial discussion” between Nigeria and the UAE”.

Following the recent lifting of the visa ban, the UAE imposed more controls on the visa process, requiring document verification to ensure the authenticity of documents submitted by applicants. 

The DVN) fee was structured at N640,000 by the website managing the DVN process. Additionally, a bank balance of N15 million was requested as a precondition to obtain a visa.   But in response to the widespread concern, Nigeria requested through official channels that the UAE should reconsider the fees.  Sources close to the UAE have revealed that a new and revised rate for DVN and the bank balance requirement was imminent. This potential review aims to make it more affordable for Nigerians to visit the UAE for tourism, business, and family visits.  

By Joke Falaju, Abuja

Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has attributed high airfares in Nigeria to the over 20 taxes paid on every ticket as well as the astronomical rise in foreign exchange.
 
Okonkwo, while speaking on a television programme monitored by The Guardian, said airlines operating in Nigeria were burdened by multiple taxation and a harsh forex regime, which stands at about N1,605.00 to one dollar.

He lamented that the challenges were impacting negatively on local airlines, as operators had to buy spares and fix their aircraft in dollars, even without increases in the cost of such spares abroad. He stressed the need for government to act fast to salvage the industry as the forex regime might further push up ticket prices.

“The taxes are just too many; for every ticket that we sell, we have about 20 to 22 deductions. Some are even repetitions. We have been crying out and no one is even asking to know what the issues are and how to resolve them. We are worried about it f nothing is done, and quickly too, things will get worst.

“We just came back from South Africa on an IATA (International Air Travel Association) conference and it is on record that Nigeria still has the highest cost of aviation services. Every airline here pays higher than what is paid by their peers in the western world, and we the local operators are victims of these,” he said.

The project will enhance safety and security in the airport

BY  Ebenezer Adurokiya, Nigerian Tribune

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, says plans are underway to upgrade the Osubi Airport to international standard.

Keyamo made the disclosure at the inauguration of the newly-constructed police station at the Osubi Airport in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.

The minister, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Mr Voke Oshasha, also inaugurated a fuel depot at the airport.

Keyamo, while addressing journalists shortly after cutting the tape, said the project will enhance safety and security in the airport.

“The Osubi Airport Manager, Mr Winston Egwuatu, has done well in keeping with the safety standard of the Nigeria Airport.

“This initiative will enhance the safety of passengers in the airport in particular and the Osubi community in general.

“We are already working on the expansion of the Osubi Airport to an international standard, it is a process,” the minister said.

Earlier, Egwuatu said the construction of the police station was borne out of the need for a physical presence of police at the airport.

Egwuatu said that the presence of police will help to address civil issues that may arise within and around the airport facilities.

According to him, the provision of the befitting facility will enable the police to carry out their statutory duties as obtainable in other airports in Nigeria.

The airport manager said that the police station was constructed from the meagre Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the airport.

“The completion of the police station is a milestone that represents our commitment to enhancing the safety and wellbeing of the passenger, stakeholders, concessionaires and the airport’s host community.

“The police station symbolises our dedication to providing a secure environment where everyone can thrive, fostering partnerships and building trust between the law enforcement agents, the airport community and the public.

“The edifice is a modern state-of-the-art facility with one Divisional Police Officer’s office; two cells (male and female); one armory; constable counter; one interrogation room; one DCO office and a general toilet,” he said.

Egwuatu noted that the Osubi Airport had operated without a police station for the past 25 years.

He added that the airport management, under the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), was able to change the narrative after 11 months of painstaking sacrifice and commitment.

Egwuatu thanked the Managing Director/Chief Executive (MD/CE) of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku for her physical and material support to ensure that the presidential directive on Osubi Airport was met.

He reminded that the Osubi Airport was established in 1999 to serve exploration activities of the petroleum industry with a Public Private Partnership (PPP) structure.

In her remarks, Mrs Kuku thanked the Minister of Aviation for the innovations in the aviation industry.

Kuku, represented by the General Manager, Operation of FAAN, Mrs Joke Olatunji also commended the Osubi Airport Manager for the feat.

Also, chairman of Okpe Local Government Area of the state, Mr Isaiah Esiovwa, thanked the management and staff of the airport for the laudable project.

On his part, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Major-General.Felix Mujakperuo (retd) thanked the management for transforming the Osubi Airport.

The royal father, who was represented by Chief Michael Affe, noted that the airport had brought relief to Delta residents.

Highlights of the event were the cutting of the tape as well as traditional dance by the Ema Royal Troupe of Urhoboland.

In attendance were representatives from the Nigerian Armed Forces, the police, Immigration, DSS and NSCDC, among others.

READ ALSO: Cross River govt recounts EndSars loss, warns against nationwide protest

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By Saawua Terzungwe, Baba Martins & Abbas Jimoh 

Leading opposition parties, some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other prominent Nigerians have rejected the Senate’s bill to repeal the National Identity Management Commission Act, 2017, to make provision for registration of not just Nigerians but all other persons resident in Nigeria.

The Senate passed the bill for a second reading on July 2, 2024, without a serious debate even though it seeks to broaden the eligibility criteria for registration to include those who are not citizens of Nigeria. 

Daily Trust reports that the bill titled, ‘National Identity Management Commission (Repeal and enactment) Bill 2024 (SB. 472),” is sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau I. Jibrin (Kano North).

The bill seeks to give persons resident in Nigeria the right to obtain and use National Identification Number (NIN) and utilise it as a recognised form of identification.

It also seeks to replace criminal penalties with administrative enforcement measures to encourage compliance with NIN usage requirements without imposing “undue legal consequences” on individuals.

A copy of the bill obtained by Daily Trust showed that apart from the controversial clause of inclusivity, universal coverage and broadening the eligibility criteria for registration, it also seeks the registration of registrable persons within Nigeria and at licensed centres outside Nigeria. 

Part 1 (2) of the bill which is titled, ‘Application’, in subsection (1) says, “This Act shall apply to registration of registrable persons within Nigeria and at licensed centres outside Nigeria, and the management and operation of the National Identity Database and related matters.” 

Subsection (2) says, “Without prejudice to (1), this Act shall apply whether or not an act qualifying as an offence or contravention of this Act is committed in Nigeria by any person, irrespective of nationality.”

Similarly, Part V1 (17) of the bill titled, ‘Registrable Persons’, says, “Every citizen and resident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be entitled to obtain a National Identification Number by undergoing the process of enrolment in accordance with the provisions of this Act.”  

Part V1 (18) titled, ‘Registration of Registrable Persons’ among other things provides that “The Commission shall take special measures to enrol, and issue National Identity Numbers to such persons who do not have any permanent place of residence and such other categories of individuals as may be specified by regulations.”

It also aims at establishing a National Identity Database and the National Identity Management Commission charged with the responsibilities of maintenance of the National Database, the registration of individuals, and the issuance of identity credentials, among others. 

How it scaled second reading 

Supporting the bill, Senator Cyril Fasuyi (Ekiti North) said it is aimed at enhancing the NIMC’s regulatory capacity for more effective oversight and regulation of the Nigeria ID System.

The lawmaker said, “The objectives of the bill are as follows: Expanding the scope of registrable persons by broadening the eligibility criteria for registration under the Nigeria ID System to ensure inclusivity and universal coverage.

“This allows all persons resident in Nigeria to obtain a National Identification Number (NIN) and utilise it as a recognised form of identification.

“Streamlining the sharing of personal data by incorporating robust data protection measures to not only safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of individuals’ data but also to foster trust among citizens in the landing of their information.

“Enhancing administrative enforcement powers. The efficiency and effectiveness of the NIMC’s enforcement powers will ensure timely and accurate compliance with ID registration requirements.’’

But opposition parties, CSOs and others who reacted in separate interviews told Daily Trust that the bill sponsored by a senator who is a member of the ruling party (APC) is suspicious, alleging it has a political undertone. 

Move suspicious – PDP

The leading opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the bill saying it is suspicious and of no economic value, especially at a time Nigerians are going through economic hardship. 

The PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi Ibrahim, told Daily Trust that there are more important things the National Assembly can do to assuage the economic impasse facing the people than the issue of NIN. 

“The Senate cannot think of people-oriented policies that will alleviate the suffering of the people, instead they are talking about things that are irrelevant at this point in time. 

“Getting everyone including non-Nigerians to get NIN is suspicious. What is the motive? Why are they more concerned about this type of policy and giving it expeditious attention that it will even emanate from the Deputy Senate President? It leaves much to be desired. 

“So as a party and people who are with the ordinary citizens and the voice of opposition, we are not in support; we do not see any sincerity in it,’’ he said.  

It’s a wrong move – LP

Similarly, the Labour Party (LP) said the move by the Senate to amend the NIMC Act to ensure that all persons residing in Nigeria obtain a National Identification Number (NIN) should not be allowed to see the light of the day. 

The Chief Spokesman of the Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation in the 2023 general election, Dr Yunusa Tanko, told Daily Trust in a telephone interview that the bill must be thrashed. 

“You cannot register those who are not Nigerians as if they are citizens of Nigeria; that will be wrong. This is an issue of serious concern. That is where it will create controversies. 

“It will be wrong if they are trying to adulterate our database with the identities of non-Nigerians. Are all persons resident in Nigeria, Nigerian citizens? No.”

It has a political undertone – Hon. Mikko

A former member of the House of Representatives and ex-governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Bernard Mikko, told Daily Trust in a telephone chat that the bill has a political undertone. 

Hon. Mikko said, “It is wrong. It should be a resident permit which is temporary; not NIN which is permanent. There should be a clear distinction between a resident and a citizen of Nigeria. 

“A citizen has an obligation and duty of taxation, cultural identity and all that, while residents do not. A citizen can vote and be voted for. Is the bill trying to say that aliens can vote in our country? These are the issues. 

“The issue of universal coverage in the bill, universal being global, which means everybody irrespective of whether you are from Togo, Niger, Cameroon, should be de-emphasised.

“Let them not put any political undertone to rig elections. We have to define who is a Nigerian citizen so that we don’t bring people through our porous borders into Nigeria to come and compromise our already dwindling, collapsing infrastructure for planning.”

It’s a threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty – CSOs 

Similarly, some CSOs have rejected the bill. The Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said the move is a threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty, adding that the bill is a very sensitive issue that should be handled with utmost caution.

He warned the National Assembly not to hurriedly pass the bill without considering its larger implications. 

“Taking a cue from what is obtainable in advanced countries of the world, Nigerians need to ask the proponents of the bill some critical questions before buying-in into the idea.

“First, does allowing foreigners the right to obtain the National Identification Number automatically confer on them full Nigerian citizenship, according to the proposed bill? If the answer is yes, then, we strongly believe that it is a step in the wrong direction.

“Because, no serious nation affords foreigners the privilege of just picking up its citizenship without going through some rigorous processes of due diligence.

“Second, the government needs to clearly spell out the procedures and requirements for obtaining the NIN by foreigners, and the limits of the rights and benefits accruing to foreigners who hold Nigeria’s National Identification Number.

“Third, before jumping into hasty passage of the law and its implementation, there is need for the government to tidy up its immigration policies, ensure that its land, air and sea borders are adequately policed and ensure that officers of the Nigerian immigration service and other relevant security agencies are fully alive to their responsibilities,” Zikirullahi said.

He said failure to put these measures in place before contemplating such a law will not only constitute a threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty, but is a recipe for aggravating the already precarious level of insecurity in the country.

A Senior Communications Officer at Yiaga Africa, Mr Mark Amaza, said, “We don’t believe it necessarily means that it will enable them to vote considering the fact that the constitution is clear on who is qualified to vote in Nigeria. 

“We have the opinion that the law should also be amended to allow other forms of identity to be used to access the polls, not necessarily the voter card, considering how that has been problematic in the election.

“Many citizens have been disenfranchised from voting for lack of having a voter’s card for no fault of theirs. So, it’s also good that as this law is being debated, that this is also kept or put into consideration.”

However, speaking on the development, Mr Tunde Salman, the Team Lead/Convener of Good Governance Team (GGT) Nigeria, said, “I don’t see any problem in it, especially as INEC voters register is not linked to it. 

“Now, with many ongoing initiatives by the President Bola Tinubu administration, such as student loans, consumer credits, and grants that will require background checks, I think there’s a need to think through the proposal to address whatever gaps identified in the existing NIMC legislation.” 

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace, has directed that no international flight operations should be conducted through non-international airports, TheCable understands.

The directive became necessary because some VIPs fly to non-international airports, thereby escaping the scrutiny of immigration and customs services, an insider told TheCable.

“Many VIPs have devised a way of asking for last-minute permissions to land at local airports, even claiming they have made arrangements for a customs or immigration officer to clear them on arrival,” the source said.

The suspicion is that many of them might be smuggling cash, goods and arms — and possible human beings — into Nigeria away from the prying eyes of security agencies at the officially designated international airports.

“This has been going on for a while and nobody has called them to order. The minister has decided to act decisively,” the insider told TheCable.

A circular to that effect, dated July 17, 2024, has been issued by the directorate of air traffic services of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

S.E. Inegbedion, the deputy general manager who signed the circular, informed all stations of the ministerial directive that starting immediately, no international flight operations should be conducted through non-international airports.

The minister also directed that all international flight operations at general aviation terminals (GAT) and other private terminals at the international airports “must complete clearances/checks at international terminals, except those exempted by the national security adviser (NSA)”.

Inegbedion said compliance was “compulsory” and any violation will attract “appropriate sanctions” — although it is unclear what that might be.