General News
Nigeria to Receive First Dry-Leased Aircraft in 20 Years

Nigeria is set to receive a dry-leased aircraft on October 6, after nearly 20 years, according to Festus Keyamo, minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

Festus Keyamo, minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
A dry lease is an arrangement in aviation where a leasing company (lessor) provides an aircraft to a lessee without crew, maintenance, insurance, or other operational services.
Keyamo made the announcement on Wednesday during the foundation-laying of Air Peace’s new maintenance hangar at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
He explained that the milestone comes through Air Peace, following Nigeria’s removal from a global blacklist as a result of implementing the Cape Town Convention.
For two decades, Nigerian airlines had relied solely on wet leases, but Keyamo noted that renewed global confidence in the nation’s aviation system had changed the narrative.
He explained that wet leases placed a heavy burden on passengers through inflated ticket prices, costly maintenance, and other overhead expenses.
“This is the first time we are going to have a dry lease. Dry lease means that confidence has returned to the Nigerian ecosystem.
“They are giving you your plane. Control it yourself. I wrote a personal guarantee for Air Peace to get that dry lease. I put my life and my reputation on the line,” he said.
On Air Peace’s upcoming Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, MRO, facility, Keyamo emphasized that the project would save Nigeria vast sums of foreign exchange and curb capital flight.
“What this is going to save in terms of FX to this country is incredible. Air Peace alone spends about N180 billion yearly for maintenance; imagine what other airlines are spending.
“Monies that should remain within our jurisdiction went out. That is capital flight. With this facility here, we are going to keep that within Nigeria.
“We are now going to attract people to bring in their money, not only ours, but we are going to attract foreign inflows.
“In the whole of West Africa and Central Africa, there are no good MROs. The good thing is that this facility will accommodate wide-bodied aircraft. You do not have such in the whole of West Africa and Central Africa,” he said.
He credited President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Brazil for helping secure Embraer’s partnership with Air Peace in providing technical support for the new facility. According to him, supporting indigenous operators remains central to his mandate, with the Federal Government committed to strengthening local airlines.
The minister further noted that the MRO would introduce a simulator for pilots, reducing reliance on overseas training while creating avenues for foreign exchange earnings. He called on commercial banks to reinvest in the aviation sector, stressing that aircraft financing was now more secure.
Keyamo also revealed that Air Peace had secured approvals for four new international routes—Italy, Canada, Paris, and Istanbul. Still, he lamented that Nigerian carriers currently handle only about five percent of outbound international passenger traffic.
Air Peace, in August, announced the start of its MRO project in collaboration with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, with completion expected within 12 to 15 months.
The facility will allow Embraer jets to be serviced locally, cutting costs and turnaround time.
Chairman Allen Onyema said, “By September 17, we are going to inaugurate the commencement of construction of our new MRO, and Embraer will operate maintenance for Embraer jets. You will now be able to do it here, and people will also come to Nigeria to do the same.”
Onyema emphasized that the airline’s planned Nigeria-Brazil route, scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2025, was secured on merit and capacity, not just investment in Embraer.
He added, “In Brazil, they signed several MoUs, but what really impressed me was their partnership approach, one that respects our sovereignty and is mutually beneficial… President Lula’s warmth showed a genuine eagerness to work with Nigeria.”
Keyamo also stressed the importance of connecting both countries: “Brazil is the biggest economy in South America, and of course, Nigeria is considered the biggest economy in Africa. So connecting these two economies was very key to both presidents,” he said, pointing out that bilateral trade had dropped from $10 billion to $2 billion in the past decade.
The unveiling of Air Peace’s MRO facility and the arrival of the dry-leased aircraft mark a turning point for Nigeria’s aviation sector—boosting confidence, reducing reliance on expensive wet leases, retaining foreign exchange, and positioning the country as a regional hub for aircraft maintenance and services.
General News
Cellulant Taps Freddie Oduro to Lead Enterprise Payments Expansion in Ghana

Cellulant, a leading Pan-African payments company enabling seamless digital transactions across Africa, has appointed Mr. Freddie Oduro as its new Country Manager for Ghana.

Mr. Freddie Oduro, New Country Manager for Ghana.
Freddie’s appointment is a key step in Cellulant’s broader strategy to deepen its presence in priority markets by accelerating the acquisition of in-country enterprise businesses and strengthening its position as the payments partner of choice in Africa.
Freddie brings over a decade of commercial and strategic leadership experience in the telecommunications and financial services sectors, with expertise in sales, business operations, and market expansion.
In his new role, he will drive merchant acquisition, strengthening partnerships, oversee collections and payout operations, while ensuring strong internal controls and regulatory compliance.
He joins Cellulant from Payaza and previously served as Sales Director at Cellulant, where he helped significantly expand the company’s footprint in Ghana.
Cellulant has been powering payments in Ghana for leading brands in sectors like e-commerce, utilities, oil and gas and retail, helping them offer their customers a wide range of secure digital payment options.
“We are happy to welcome Freddie back to the Cellulant family,” says Richard Gesimba, Chief Revenue Officer at Cellulant. “Ghana remains a critical market for us, with immense potential driven by rising digital payments adoption.
“As we sharpen our focus on in-country enterprise customers, Freddie’s leadership and industry insight make him the ideal person to steer our Ghana operations.”
The appointment comes at a transformative time for the company. Following a strategic shift between late 2023 and early 2024, focused on streamlining operations, doubling down on enterprise payments, and strengthening customer intimacy, Cellulant achieved profitability in 2024 and continues to build on this momentum.
The company now processes close to 4.5 million transactions daily for businesses across Africa, reinforcing its position as a fintech leader.
“I am honoured to return to Cellulant and lead the Ghana team at such a defining moment,” says Freddie, Country Manager for Cellulant Ghana. “Ghana presents a tremendous opportunity.
“We will ramp up our efforts to sign on more local merchants, strengthen our compliance and control frameworks, and introduce innovative solutions like Tingg Edupay, our automated school fee management solution that eliminates reconciliation delays by validating payments in real time and instantly updating student accounts.
“We will build on Cellulant’s strong foundation to deliver real value, reliability, and economic impact.”
Ghana’s digital payments sector continues to grow steadily, supported by increased mobile money usage and a progressive regulatory environment. Between January and October 2025, the value of mobile money transactions hit about GH¢ 3.6 trillion, up sharply from GH¢ 2.37 trillion in the same period of 2024.
Registered mobile money accounts now exceed 79 million, demonstrating strong consumer and business confidence in digital financial services and in turn creating many opportunities for payment innovation.
This leadership appointment underscores Cellulant’s commitment to building a resilient, high-performance organisation geared towards playing a pivotal role in the next era of Africa’s digital economy.
Looking ahead to 2026, Cellulant plans to further enhance the user experience on its payment platform, Tingg, and expand its footprint across Ghana.
General News
Top Nigerian Startups Secure Funding Boost @ iHatch Demo Day Awards

Nigeria’s startup ecosystem received a fresh injection of momentum as top emerging ventures secured funding and investor attention at the iHatch National Demo Day, where Interface Africa clinched the highest prize of $15,000.

The 4th cohort of the NITDA–JICA-backed accelerator brought together founders, policymakers, and venture stakeholders in Abuja, showcasing innovations ranging from clean-energy financing and digital food marketplaces to next-gen fintech tools.
The startups went rounds of running through state-level selections and regional competition. iHatch was established in 2021 as a strategic partnership to create an enabling environment for young Nigerians to develop and scale their innovative solutions.
The iHatch National Demo Day (4th Cohort), is an initiative by NITDA and JICA which provides a clear pathway for homegrown talent to contribute significantly to economic diversification and digital transformation.
After rigorous selection processes, the top founders converged to pitch their innovations, recognised the standout performers, which are:
Interface Africa with $15,000, the firm is driving Nigeria’s clean energy transition by enabling structured and affordable solar financing.
Ahioma with $12,000, the firm enhances food accessibility with a digital marketplace connecting consumers directly to trusted vendors.
Linia Finance with $10,000, the firm is helping Nigerians take control of their finances with tools for budgeting, tracking, and smart money planning.
Chapta got a laptop reward. They delivering an offline-capable school application ensuring consistent, accessible learning for students everywhere.
Softdrop also got a laptop reward, they solve logistics challenges through a modern delivery platform designed for speed, convenience, and efficiency.
General News
Fidelity Bank to Host Virtual Masterclass on New Tax Law

Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, will host a free virtual training on the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (NTA) as part of its commitment to helping small businesses prepare for the upcoming legislation.

Fidelity Bank
The masterclass is scheduled for 10:00 AM (Nigerian time) on Friday, 12 December 2025. It will provide participants with clear insights into changes in the tax framework, the impact on income and business operations, and practical steps to avoid penalties in 2026.
Attendees will also learn strategies to stay ahead in an evolving regulatory environment.
The Nigerian government enacted major tax reforms on 26 June 2025 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed four tax bills into law.
These Acts will take effect on 1 January 2026 and represent a significant overhaul of the country’s tax system.
The reforms aim to modernize and harmonize Nigeria’s tax framework, improve revenue generation, broaden the tax base, and create clearer rules for individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
“Our decision to host this masterclass reflects our commitment to empowering businesses with the right information ahead of the commencement of the new tax regime.
“Information is money and a well-informed business owner is already steps ahead in the race to success.
“This is why we are bringing experts to provide accurate details and demystify the tax act,” said Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc.
Interested participants can register via https://bit.ly/2026TaxLawMasterclass .
Telecom3 days agoMinister Claims Bandits Exploit Poor Network, Bounce Calls Off Multiple Towers
E-Financial3 days agoFIRS says MOU with DGFIP Won’t Compromise Nigeria Tax Data Sovereignty
General News3 days agoTop Nigerian Startups Secure Funding Boost @ iHatch Demo Day Awards
Broadcasting3 days agoNCC Blocks Piracy Sites as Nollywood Faces Rising Digital Theft
Telecom3 days agoCBN, NCC to Launch Short Code for Swift Consumer Complaint Resolution
Telecom3 days agoGoogle.org Backs CyberSafe’s Resilio Africa to Shield 2m People from Cyber Threats
Broadcasting3 days agoFour Must-Watch African Films Debut Free on Glo TV
Telecom3 days agoNASENI Launches FutureMakers to Inspire Innovation in Young Nigerians



















