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Cargo airport approval: Best gift to Ekiti in 2024, Afe Babalola
Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) has described the Federal Government’s approval of an agro-allied cargo airport in Ekiti as the best thing to happen to the state in the outgoing year 2024.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) recently granted license to the Ekiti state government to commence non-scheduled flight operations at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport for six months, from Dec. 13, to June 15, 2025.
Babalola said this after receiving a letter of appreciation from Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti for his role in the realisation of the airport project, on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti.
The founder of the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) said that the development was a good beginning, stressing “if things had been like these some three years ago, Ekiti would not be where it is today.
” I thank Your Excellency for your commitment to this airport project. I thank you for all you have been doing, and still doing.
“Without a viable and functional transportation system, a state, a country is doomed.
” When America was discovered, there were no roads, but gradually and eventually, the whole area was tarred, and the whole area evolved to becoming a state (country) that is a clear leader in the comity of nations today,” he said.
Babalola said that a major constraint to people coming to Ekiti was due to bad road network.
” As a matter of fact, many organisations that promised to come and invest in Ekiti State cannot actualise their dream because the state is land-locked, airport-locked, railway-locked and industry-locked.
“But all is now beginning to change, and it will change to the advantage of all of us.
“With this airport, there will be many job opportunities for our people. People coming, in and out of the state, will buy from our various markets,” he said.
The ABUAD founder assured the governor of the support of the people to make Ekiti one of the best and safest states to operate and invest in the country.
“We will support you in all ways,” Babalola said.
NAN reports that the letter, titled: “Letter of Appreciation”, and dated December 18, was personally delivered to Babalola at the ABUAD campus by the governor on Thursday.
The letter reads: “On behalf of the Government and good people of Ekiti State, I am delighted to formally express our heartfelt appreciation to you sir, for the assistance you provided to the Ekiti State Government, during the construction of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport.
“I am delighted to inform you that on 11th December, 2024, we obtained clearance from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to commence non-scheduled flight operations for 6 months from 13 December 2024 to 15 June 2025.
“Your financial contribution for the purchase of navigational aids (CVOR/DME), control tower communications equipment, and the construction of the car pack, was invaluable to the accomplishment, and we are immensely grateful for your willingness to help
“Sir, I wish to notify you that the NCAA has outlined conditions for the actualisation of the full commercial flight operation status, which includes installation of Instrument Landing System (ILS), to enhance the flight operational capacity of the airport and we will count on your unflinching support.
“Once again, thank you for your kindness, generosity, and commitment to our shared passion and goals of development and prosperity for our dear Ekiti State.
” You are highly appreciated sir, and please accept the assurances of my best wishes, as always.” (NAN)
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
Less than 24 hours after former Kaduna Central Senatorial District lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, openly declared support for Governor Uba Sani’s re-election bid, former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Sources reveal that the recent return of prominent politicians such as Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, Senator Danjuma Laah, former Governor Ramalan Yero, and others to the APC has unsettled El-Rufai.
Senator Shehu Sani, in his declaration, stated that his main political objective for 2027 is to ensure Governor Uba Sani’s re-election.
Unwilling to face the emerging political dynamics, El-Rufai announced his resignation from APC in a Facebook post, stating:
“Today, 10th March 2025, I have submitted my resignation letter to my ward in Kaduna, effective immediately. Before this decision, I consulted extensively with my mentors, colleagues, and loyalists across the country about the future. I have now decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as the platform for our future political engagements.
“As a member of the SDP, I will focus on engaging and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us. Together, we can unify under a strong democratic platform to challenge the APC in upcoming elections and by-elections before 2027, by the grace of God.
“I, therefore, call on all our supporters and those concerned about Nigeria’s future to join us in SDP as we work towards making Nigeria a beacon of hope for Africa and the Black race.”
In reaction to El-Rufai’s defection, Shehu Sani dismissed the move, saying it would have little impact.
“Leaving APC for SDP makes no difference for someone with no political relevance anymore. But one thing is certain—President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani will be re-elected
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
Former governor of Sokoto State and now Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal while flagging off distribution of ramadan fast assistance to the people of the state, Monday reassured that, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will Reclaim their mandate come 2027.
Tambuwal, who divulged that the Ramadan gesture is targeted at 30,000 households in the state, added, “‘it is aside the thousands of other foodstuff and multiple assistance given by all lawmakers elected under the platform of the PDP in the state”.
According to him, the PDP lawmakers both at he state and federal levels are equally flagging off the distribution of thousands of bags of rice and other grains to all youth and women led organizations to help compliment their ease of fasting.
“”As you aware, many people have lost their lives and they are no more with us. It is by His grace that we are alive and here observing another Ramadan and witnessing the distribution of foodstuff to our people once again.
“We continue to pray to Allahi to grant us continued good health and longevity, for us to witness many more of this blessed month.l of Ramadan. I also would like to take disadvantage of this opportunity to thank our chairman and the leaders of our party in the state for their continued hard work in organizing the party, in mobilizing the people and making sure that our party remain strong and united in Sokoto
“”We are one big united family. And we shall continue to work together towards reclaiming what has been taken away from us. As you know, in the last elections, our mandate was forcefully stolen. But now, we are restrategizing and organizing.
“”And by the grace of Allah, what has been taken away, will be given back to us by come 2027″”. Tambuwal assured.
Speaking earlier, Sokoto state PDP chairman, Comrade Bello Goronyo expressed heartfelt appreciation to all members of the PDP in Sokoto for keeping hope alive and faith with the party, saying the PDP is the only party that truly meant well for the generality of Nigerians.
This according to him could be proven by the current hardship been experienced by Nigerians which where hitherto not the case when the PDP held sway.
Comrade Goronyo therefore appealed to the people of the state and Nigerians to liberate themselves from the grip of APC’s mis- governance come 2027.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said on Monday that the United States was cancelling 83 per cent of programmes at the US Agency for International Development.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January demanding a freeze on all US foreign aid to give his administration time to assess overseas spending, with an eye to gutting programs not aligned with his “America First” agenda.
“After a six-week review we are officially cancelling 83% of the programmes at USAID,” Rubio said on social media platform X.
“The 5,200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States,” he added.
USAID distributes US humanitarian aid around the world, with health and emergency programs in around 120 countries.
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The State Department, which oversees USAID, announced on February 26 its intention to cut 92 per cent of the agency’s program funding, identifying 5,800 grants to be eliminated.
Rubio on Monday notably thanked the Department of Government Efficiency, which billionaire Elon Musk is leading in a drive to slash costs and cut jobs across government departments.
Trump and his allies have argued that foreign assistance is wasteful and does not serve US interests.
But aid groups argue much of the assistance supports US interests by promoting stability and health overseas, and warn that cutting aid threatens the lives of vulnerable people.
AFP