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Arik Air, others cancel flights

Arik Air has announced the suspension of it flights due to the 24 hour curfew imposed on Lagos State by the Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo- Olu.

This is just as some foreign airlines have also announced cancellation of flights due to the current protest and unrest in the country.

The airline Communication Manager, Mr Adebanji Ola yesterday said : “Arik Air has cancelled all its flight operations for Wednesday, October 21, 2020 in compliance to the 24 hours curfew announced by the Lagos State government on Tuesday, October 20, 2020”.

“All booked passengers on the cancelled flights are advised to reschedule their flights for later dates at no extra cost”

The Lagos State government announced a 24 hours curfew effective 4:00pm October 20, 2020″.

Recall the 24 hour curfew took effect yesterday, Tuesday throughout the state to forestall further burning of government and private properties.

Thugs have infetrated and hijacked the protest that started peacefully throughout the country.

Other airlines might likely join in the cancellation of flights as prospective passengers will not be able to access the Airports.

Meanwhile, some foreign airlines have announced the suspension of flights to Nigeria due to the current protest. United States owned airline, Delta, in its advisory said flight DL248 ATLLOS for October 19, 2020 scheduled to arrive LOS on Tuesday Oct 20, 2020 will not operate due to the 24-hour curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government.

According to the airline, “Consequently, Flight DL249 LOSATL scheduled to operate today October 20, 2020 has also been canceled. Further details on flight operations will be duly communicated. We truly regret any inconvenience”

Also Ghana based airline, Africa World Airlines (AWA) yesterday said due to “curfew in Lagos, tonight, we will cancel flights for October 20 and October 21, 2020”.

The airline further said that it would be monitoring the situation and will be updating passengers

Kenya Airways has also cancelled flights to the country. The airline said : ” We regret to inform you that KQ533 scheduled to depart 21/Oct/2020 from LOS – NBO has been canceled due to the 24Hrs curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government”

“We implore you to communicate with your guests as soon as you can. Thank you for your patience and understanding”, the airline added.

It also said in a statement that it was planning to send out another communication with regards to “re-protection and flight operations for the affected guests” as soon as they have an update.

Patoma Admin by — October 20, 2020 in Aviation 0
UAE begins visa issuance October 8

By Favour Nnabugwu

The federal government has disclosed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will begin the issuance of visa to intending travellers from Nigeria as from Thursday, October 8.

Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation who made the disclosure in a tweet on Tuesday, October 6, also spoke about some of the requirements needed to secure the visa

Sirika had announced on September 30 that the UAE had written to state that they agree to issue visas to Nigerians, a development that made the Federal Government lift the ban it had earlier placed on Emirates Airlines.

Patoma Admin by — October 7, 2020 in Aviation 0
NAICOM turns insurance industry to digital compliance

By Favour Nnabugwu

National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) is resolute about turning the country’s insurance sector into practical entity through information technology to drive the process.
The portal, which Commission put in six years to finalised under the Commissioner for Insurance (CFI), Mr. Sunday Thomas’s watch, revealed at the 2020 seminar organised for insurance journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state pointed out that the  management was able  to stabilise the commission through the cooperation of staff.
He said the new portal was such that wherever anybody is in the world, information on the nation’s insurance sector would be available to him at the click of a button.
“We will be looking at the digital world. Part of what we have done so far is the fact that our portal that was on the drawing board for over six years has been fixed. It is taking us from where we are to the next level.
The CFI said, “We have sensitised the technical people in the industry and they have been going through series of trainings.
“The next thing we are going to do is to engage the industry with IT guidelines. It is no longer going to be historical reporting.”
Thomas noted that  commission would continue to enhance the  confidence President Muhammadu Buhari reposed in the insurance sector while he assured that Nigerians would not be disappointed in the industry.
According to him, “It is not by coincidence that we are having this conference today that we are marking 60th anniversary as a nation.
He reassured, “We want to be seen the way we are so we know where to make amends. NAICOM is an agency of the Federal Government  and has the responsibility to make some impact on the economy. We will  continue to relish the president’s appreciation of the industry.”
Acknowledging that the investment climate was tough, he said, the commission was determined to make a difference as there will be no hindrance to information dissemination.
He insisted that he is not a CFI that waits in the and expect things to fall into places,  based on the position, the Commission visited the Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, to prevail on his colleague governors  to assist in driving the compulsory insurance policy.
Without mincing words, he said that the investment climate was too friendly, inspire of that he said that the commission was determined to make a difference as there will be no hindrance to information dissemination.
“The terrain is tough but we are determined to succeed. Nigeria is not by accident the largest economy in Africa. We must take advantage of the population. There are a lot of things to fast track the process. The digital world will drive regulation,” he posited.
“If there is a need for change let us know and if there is a need for me to explain I will not hesitate to do that. We have challenges ahead of us but we are determined to overcome those challenges. We try as much as possible to let investors, government and stakeholders into our programmes,he charged Insurance Journalists.
Patoma Admin by — October 4, 2020 in Insurance 0