General News

IATA Advocates Deeper Industry, Governments partnership on Smarter Regulation

Published

11 years ago

June 8, 2015

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The International Air Transport Industry (IATA) advocated for an even deeper partnership with governments based on global standards in the critical areas of safety, infrastructure, security, regulation, and environment.

“Aviation is built on partnerships and the relationship with governments is key. Airlines and governments are well-aligned on safety. But in other areas of government responsibility—infrastructure, security, regulation, and environment—there are opportunities for a deeper partnership,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

The call came in Tyler’s Report on the Air Transport Industry to the 71st IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit, which is being held in Miami.

This year some 3.5 billion people and 55 million tonnes of cargo will travel safety by air over a global network of 51,000 routes.

Airlines directly employ 2.5 million people and support another 56 million jobs in the industry’s value chain. Its role as a catalyst of economic growth is evident as some $6 trillion of goods find their way to global markets via air transport.

“For nations, connectivity is much more than a competitive advantage. It is an economic necessity. And aviation’s intangible benefits make it a force for good in the world. So there is a tremendous common interest with governments to support safe, efficient, and sustainable global connectivity that only air transport can provide,” said Tyler.

Safety: It is a tragic paradox that in 2014 aviation recorded its safest year ever (with one jet hull loss for every 4.4 million flights) yet it remained constantly in recent world headlines over safety issues.

Working with governments through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), significant progress was made with issues raised as a result of the MH 370 and MH 17 tragedies.

A 15-minute position reporting standard is being developed and governments are working together to share security information more effectively.

“We will not be satisfied until the outrage of MH 17 is fully addressed in a global convention to control the design, manufacture, sale and deployment of weapons with anti-aircraft capability,” said Tyler.

The findings of the full investigation on the Germanwings 9525 tragedy will see “regulators and industry looking at the balance needed to monitor the mental health of crew in an environment aligned with the non-punitive Just Culture that drives safety forward,” said Tyler.

Tyler warned against a rush to judgment or regulation in the immediate aftermath of accidents, even in an age where news is unbridled and ubiquitous. “We must not allow anything to undermine the well-established accident investigation standards and processes, which lead to findings that improve safety,” said Tyler.

Infrastructure: Aviation can only deliver its significant social and economic benefits if it has adequate, cost-efficient infrastructure capacity to meet growing demand.

“We seek to work in partnership with governments based on the global principles that they have agreed through ICAO. Transparency and consultation will ensure that what is built matches business needs at a price that is affordable and mutually beneficial,” said Tyler.

Tyler noted several critical infrastructure challenges where more alignment is needed, including finding a solution to expand airport capacity in the Southeast of the UK, addressing the high cost of fuel in Brazil and Africa, keeping costs at Hong Kong International Airport competitive as it funds construction of a third runway, and improving efficiency in Chinese air traffic management.

Tyler expressed the industry’s longstanding frustration at the slow pace of progress on the Single European Sky (SES). “The initiative languishes. States are paralyzed by self-interested national organizations, which show no regard for the impact of their inefficiency on economies or consumers,” said Tyler.

Tyler noted industry support for initiatives to reform the funding of the air traffic management organization in the United States. “There is finally a growing recognition that funding such an essential service as air navigation should not be held hostage to a game of political brinkmanship in the setting of the national budget. The discussion about the corporatization of air traffic management is a welcome development,” Tyler added.

Security and Facilitation: The aviation industry and governments are partners in aviation security. “We have a common interest in keeping our passengers, crew, and cargo secure with efficient and respectful processes built around global standards. While there has been tremendous progress over the last few years, our customers still see security and border controls as big pain points in their journeys,” said Tyler.

“We must join forces to encourage governments to align on a risk-based approach, adopt global best practices, recognize equivalent measures by other governments, stop wasteful and paper-based processes, and make full use of available technology,” said IATA DG.

Three key areas were identified for urgent action by governments:

Known traveler programs: Linking these programs across borders;

Advance Passenger Information: Harmonizing requirements around ICAO standards and aligning processes to eliminate redundant paper documentation and reduce queuing times and

Cargo security: Driving efficiency through harmonized processes facilitated by global standards created through cooperation between IATA, ICAO and the World Customs Organization

Regulation: IATA advocates for Smarter Regulation aligned with global standards. “Our message is that regulation needs to be Smarter. To start, the benefits of any regulation must outweigh its costs. It should be consistent with global standards, proportional, well-targeted, fair, and clear about what is expected. These common sense principles are best achieved through a process of rigorous consultation that includes a focus on keeping the compliance burden to a minimum,” said Tyler.

Tyler noted four priority areas where progress is critical:

Ratification of the Montreal Convention 1999 (MC99): Some 112 countries have signed MC99, which establishes a globally harmonized liability regime and is a pre-requisite for countries to accept electronic documentation critical for the modernization of cargo processes (e-freight).

Thailand, Indonesia, and Russia are among the key countries that IATA is urging to ratify the convention;

Consumer Protection: “Governments appear to be losing faith in a basic principle of commerce—that businesses become successful by pleasing customers. Many regulators are adopting passenger rights regimes—some of which come close to dictating product design and marketing.

Worse, there is no international coordination. When things go wrong, passenger need clarity, not confusion,” said Tyler. IATA urges governments to align consumer protection initiatives with principles being developed through ICAO.

New Distribution Capability (NDC): In light of imminent innovation in the distribution of air travel products as a result of the US Department of Transportation (DOT) approval of the NDC foundational standard, Tyler called on the DOT to abandon provisions in its Consumer Rule Three that would force airlines to display some ancillary products through third party distribution channels not necessarily of an airline’s choosing. “It would be a step backwards when we are set for a giant leap forwards on transparency,” said Tyler.

And, Tyler urged governments and industry to stay focused on global solutions to manage aviation’s carbon footprint in the run-up to the ICAO Assembly next year.

“We’ve always understood that our common interests and those of the environment are best served by a united industry position and a global approach. We are at the forefront of industries addressing climate change with clear targets to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5% annually to 2020, to cap net emissions with carbon-neutral growth from 2020, and to cut net emissions in half by 2050 compared with 2005,” said Tyler.

These goals are being pursued with a four-pillar strategy based on improved technology, more efficient operations, better infrastructure, and an effective, global market-based measure.

Two priorities were identified:

Sustainable Aviation Biofuels: Airlines are making significant investments. However, supply is limited and prices are not economical. “Progress on biofuels is being held back because governments have not adopted a policy framework to incentivize production. That’s needed for prices to fall to commercially viable levels,” he said.

Market-based Measure: The airline industry is calling on governments to agree on a global mandatory carbon offset scheme that would help manage aviation’s carbon footprint in line with Smarter Regulation principles.

“There is considerable interest from governments in the mandatory carbon offset approach. It would be the easiest type of scheme to implement. It could be administered on a cost-effective basis. And it has the scope to allow for the different political interests at play to be taken into consideration,” said Tyler.

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FG to Review MTN’s $6.2Bn IHS Acquisition — Tijani

Published

5 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Ebere Melum-Nwogbo

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Federal Government has said it will conduct a comprehensive review of the proposed $6.2bn acquisition of IHS Holding Limited by MTN Group, citing the strategic importance of telecommunications infrastructure to Nigeria’s economy and national security.

FG to Review MTN’s $6.2Bn IHS Acquisition — Tijani

The move follows an earlier announcement that MTN Group had agreed to acquire IHS Holding Limited in an all-cash transaction valued at $6.2bn, a deal that would see the tower company delisted and become a wholly owned subsidiary of the mobile network operator.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,said the government was closely monitoring developments.

“The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy notes recent developments in the Nigerian telecommunications sector regarding the acquisition of IHS Towers by MTN Group,” the statement signed by the minister partly read.

The proposed transaction would consolidate ownership of critical passive infrastructure under the continent’s largest mobile operator by subscribers.

Tijani acknowledged recent improvements in the industry’s financial health, noting that “recent financial results announced by key operators indicate a return to improved profitability, increased investment in telecoms infrastructure and operational stability across the sector.”

“This progress reflects the resilience of the industry and the impact of reforms aimed at ensuring its viability and capacity to continue delivering meaningful connectivity to Nigerians,” he added.

However, he stressed that the government would not treat the transaction as routine, given the sensitivity of telecoms assets.

“Given the strategic importance of telecommunications infrastructure to national security, economic growth, financial services, innovation, and social inclusion, and to ensure strategic actions by private sector operators are in line with the market development agenda under the Renewed Hope policy directions of the President, the ministry will undertake a thorough assessment of this development in collaboration with the relevant regulatory authorities to review its impact on the sector,” the minister stated.

The minister made the government’s position clear. “Our objective is clear to ensure that any market consolidation or structural changes protect consumers, safeguard investments, and preserve the long-term sustainability of the sector.”

He added that the administration remained committed to maintaining “a stable, transparent, and forward-looking policy environment that keeps Nigeria’s telecommunications industry on a strong and sustainable path, in alignment with our broader vision of building a robust digital economy.”

The review is expected to involve relevant regulators, including the Nigerian Communications Commission and competition authorities, as part of standard merger control processes.

If approved, the deal would mark one of the largest telecom infrastructure transactions in Africa in recent years, signalling a shift in strategy by MTN from asset-light tower outsourcing to direct infrastructure ownership

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Nigerian, Francis Okafor, Gains Prominence in China’s Tech Ecosystem

Published

5 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Chike Onwuegbuchi

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In Shenzhen, widely regarded as one of the world’s leading technology and manufacturing hubs, Nigerian technology expert Francis Okafor is gaining recognition for his contributions to artificial intelligence and advanced engineering within China’s innovation ecosystem.

Okafor, who hails from Anambra State, has been based in China for eight years. “I’m based in China, and I’ve been here for about eight years now,” he said. “What I do full-time is tech, real, deep tech.”

He currently serves as a Tech Lead at IDEMIA, a multinational company known for its work in identity security, biometrics, cryptography, secure financial systems, and expanding interests in quantum computing.

From China, Okafor coordinates DevOps operations, software development, artificial intelligence systems, and robotics-enabled manufacturing tools across global hubs in China, India, France, Brazil, and the United States.

Despite his leadership position, he maintains an active engineering role. “Even though I’m a tech lead, I still write the core code,” he said. “My work is about 70 per cent tech and 30 per cent managerial. I’m still a full-fledged tech guy.”

Okafor said operating in China’s advanced technology sector has exposed him to stereotypes about Africans. “In China, Africans are usually seen as being good at sports or music,” he said. “When you say you’re an engineer or working in AI, people don’t really associate that with Africans.”

He added that his experience in elite engineering and hacker communities revealed a lack of African representation. “What pained me the most was that Africa had zero representation in these serious tech spaces,” he said. “Not Nigeria, but Africa.”

Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Okafor is involved in technology advocacy and community building. He chairs the Shenzhen Afrotech Community and co-founded the Shenzhen–Hong Kong Afrotech Network. He is also active in French and German technology communities and international AI business platforms.

Through conferences, hackathons, and policy dialogues, he has advocated greater African participation in global innovation. “China is many steps ahead in manufacturing, hardware, and AI,” he said. “Africa has always been the last to receive innovation. We don’t have a say in development, and that’s the problem I wanted to address.”

Speaking on China’s industrial ecosystem, he said, “This is where Apple, IBM, everybody comes to manufacture. So I asked myself, how do I use my position here to benefit Africa?”

Okafor has also been invited by Shenzhen authorities to speak on artificial intelligence and innovation. He attended the opening ceremony of the 2025 China National Games following an official invitation. “That event is not open to the public,” he said. “Only people selected by the government attend, and the President was there.”

On China’s technology model, Okafor said deliberate localisation and strong government commitment have been key. “The Chinese don’t just adopt technology,” he said. “They take the idea, block it, improve it, and build their own.”

Comparing this with Nigeria, he added: “In Nigeria, we accept and consume. Instead of copying and localising, we remain users.”

Addressing concerns about artificial intelligence and job displacement, Okafor said similar fears accompanied the emergence of the internet. “When the internet came, people were scared,” he said. “But new jobs emerged: web designers, content creators, digital assistants.”

He acknowledged that AI could displace some roles but said it would also create new opportunities. “If you don’t upskill, then yes, AI will replace you,” he said. “But if you use AI as an assistant, it will empower you.”

He urged Nigerians to take personal responsibility for adapting to technological change. “Don’t wait for the government,” he advised. “Every Nigerian has a responsibility to understand AI and apply it in their own field.”

Highlighting the broader scope of artificial intelligence, he said, “AI is beyond ChatGPT. It’s computer vision, prediction, automation, and it can work even without the internet.”

Okafor said he is exploring ways to formally connect Nigerian and China-based technology ecosystems.

“She told me it wasn’t good that I was contributing so much in China and nothing back home,” he said of a conversation with Ambassador Nini Okey-Uche, a minister at the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing. “That conversation changed my thinking.”

He added: “I’m on ground here. I see new technologies every day, and Africa needs access to that knowledge.”

Expressing his broader vision, Okafor said, “I want to change the narrative. Africans are not just entertainers. We are very good engineers too.”

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General News

First Trustees Advocates Stronger Frameworks in Advancing Structured Islamic Inheritance Practices

Published

5 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Chike Onwuegbuchi

L-r: Managing Director/CEO, One17 Financial Services, Ismail Rufai; Professor of Islamic Banking and Finance, Yobe State University, Prof. Adam Abubakar, Esq.; Managing Partner, The Metropolitan Law Firm, Ummahani Amin, Partner, The Metropolitan Law Firm, Barr. Mohammed Yunusa; and Head, Private Trust, First Trustees Limited, Rotimi Obende at the Islamic Estate Planning Clinic recently held in Abuja.

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First Trustees Limited, a subsidiary of First HoldCo Plc., and a leading provider of trust solutions to individuals, corporates, and government institutions, partners with The Metropolitan Law Firm and Al-Ameen Trustees to host the 8th Annual Islamic Estate Planning Clinic in Abuja, bringing together leading Islamic legal, financial, and policy experts.

With the theme “From Informality to Legacy: Structuring Islamic Wealth Transfer,” the highly anticipated forum underscored the urgent need for Nigerian families to transition from informal inheritance practices to professionally structured, Sharia-compliant estate planning frameworks as a tool to seamlessly transfer and protect wealth, prevent family conflicts, and ensure legacies endure for future generations

Speakers emphasized the need to adopt a structured Islamic estate planning framework to ensure wealth preservation, reduces legal disputes, and ensures compliance with both Shari’ah principles and the Nigerian statutory law.

Stating that the transition from informal arrangements to a structured legacy is not merely a financial decision; it is a profound act of stewardship. By documenting and formalising intentions today, we replace potential family discord with clarity and peace of mind.

Rotimi Obende, representing the Managing Director of First Trustees Limited, highlighted estate planning as a sacred duty. “Estate planning is more than documentation—it is stewardship. Informal arrangements expose families to avoidable risks. Structured, Sharia-compliant plans provide clarity, transparency, and true generational protection,” he said.

He noted that regulated trustees play a crucial role in ensuring proper execution of wills and trusts, reinforcing public trust and accountability.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, cautioned against relying on verbal inheritance promises, which frequently lead to conflict and asset loss.

He also urged the integration of modern technology, including blockchain, to securely store and have seamless access to wills and estate documents and also bridging traditional Islamic principles with cutting-edge innovation.

Ummahani Amin, Managing Partner at The Metropolitan Law Firm, added that Islamic inheritance law offers both structure and flexibility.

“Individuals can allocate up to one-third of their estate through properly documented wills and trusts. Too many families suffer because intentions were never formally recorded,” she explained.

As discussions progressed, a consistent message resonated clearly: with today’s increasingly complex and diverse assets, from digital holdings, cross-border investments and complex business interest, informal inheritance practices are no longer sufficient.

Participants agreed that structured Islamic estate planning delivers clear advantages, including legal certainty, tax efficiency, family unity, and long-term wealth preservation.

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