MINISTER OF STATE FOR AVIATION RESTATES COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING AIR OPERATION

As part of efforts to check air mishaps in the country, the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, says the aviation sector had heightened oversight on Dana and other airlines to ensure proficiency and competence in air operations.

This is coming on the heels of a Dana airplane 5N-SRl which landed off Port Harcourt International Airport runway on Tuesday.

Sirika said the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, the statutory body for investigations according to the provisions of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, had swung into action and would soon come up with findings that would further strengthen the aviation sector.

He explained that Nigeria had scored above average in the global air safety rating having scored sixty-seven per cent as against sixty per cent global average.

He assured Nigerians of the commitment of the present administration to build more on achievement in the sector

NAVY TRAINS FORTY-ONE SPECIAL OPERATIVES

The Special Boat Service of the Nigerian Navy has certified forty-one officers and soldiers attached to the Defence Headquarters fit for tougher, more dangerous operations.

Their certification followed an eleven-week intensive training on watermanship, air assault, counter terrorism, tactical combats, among others.

Congratulating the personnel for withstanding the rigours training, the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command, Obi Ofodile said he was confident they would succeed in whatever mission they are assigned to.

According to Ofodile, the graduands have been equipped with the ability to infiltrate hostile terrain from sea and air whenever the need arise.

JOINT ADMISSIONS AND MATRICULATION BOARD SCRAPS USE OF SCRATCH CARDS

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has scrapped the use of scratch cards in any of its transactions and services.

Its Registrar, Proffessor Is-haq Oloyede, who announced this also demanded that the Federal Government should revert to the former system where serving Vice Chancellors of Universities were made chairmen of the Governing Board of JAMB.

Oloyede made the announcement today in Abuja during a meeting of the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.

According to him, JAMB would be using the platform of pin vending to check all forms of fraudulent practices which was prevalent with the use of scratch cards.

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO COMPLETE BADAGRY DEEP SEA PORT.

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has reiterated his administration’s key strategic imperative to creating a friendly environment to encourage private sector participation in driving economic development in the State.

Ambode said this when he met with representatives of APM Terminals to advance the development of the Badagry Deep Sea Port project.

The Governor said the Badagry Deep Sea Port Project with an estimated investment of over two point three billion dollars would address the infrastructure enhancement and urban renewal agenda of the State.

He expressed appreciation on the resolve of the investors to stay the course with the project, which would generate over five hundred thousand direct and indirect jobs.

SUPER EAGLES ARRIVE NDOLA AHEAD OF WORLD CUP QUALIFIER AGAINST ZAMBIA.

The Nigeria's National team today arrived Ndola ahead of tomorrow's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Zambia.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung led the delegation, which included NFF President, Amaju Pinnick,

Vice Presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko, some Members of the National Assembly, some Members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management led by Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme, some officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, some directors of the League Management Company.

Meanwhile, the NFF has expressed gratitude to the federal government for supporting the team by approving funds for the Eagles to prosecute their first game of the qualifying series.

SAUDI LED COALITION AIRSTRIKE HITS YEMEN FUNERAL.

A Saudi-led coalition air strike has hit a funeral hall in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, killing eight-two people.

The rebel Houthi-run government says more than five hundred people were injured.

Houthi rebels are at war with the internationally-recognised Yemeni government, which is backed by a Saudi-led military alliance.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says it had prepared three hundred body bags.

Hundreds of body parts were found inside and outside the hall after the strike.

The funeral was being held for the father of Houthi-appointed Interior Minister, Galal al-Rawishan, an ally of the rebels and former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

TRAFFIC CONGESTION HURTS LAGOS ECONOMY – MOBEREOLA

A staggering loss of $7.5 million, attributed to traffic congestion is recorded daily within the economy of Lagos State.

This disclosure was made by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola while delivering a paper title “Exploring Transportation Beyond Roads” at the Annual Lagos Traffic Radio Lecture Series in Alausa, Ikeja, today.

He noted that the concentration on use of road transportation and increasing presence of vehicles currently at 80 per 1000 persons and projected to be 200 per 1000 within the next 20 years as well as the challenge of limited roads development explain the loss.

Mobereola said the strategic transport masterplan