This is contained in a statement signed by Dr Ejike Ndiulo, head of Corporate Communications, Air Peace, on Wednesday in Lagos.
According to Ndiulo, the decision is necessary because NiMet is the agency responsible for issuing CNH (Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather) reports, critical for safe landings, especially during this season of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.
He said without these reports from the control tower, flight safety could not be guaranteed.
“As a safety-first airline, we have chosen to act responsibly by suspending operations until NiMet resumes full service.
“We understand this may cause inconvenience, and we sincerely apologise. Passengers will be contacted with updates and options for rescheduling,” he said.
The staff of NiMET on Tuesday commenced an indefinite strike over the condition of service and other demands.
News
INEC Seeks Unrestrictive Power for ICT Innovation
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to the National Assembly to grant it power to determine the kind of technology to be deployed during elections.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, chairman, INEC, made the appeal at a retreat organised by National Assembly Conference Committee on the Electoral Act 2021, chaired by Yahaya Abdullahi, Senate leader.
“As you finalise on the Electoral Amendment Bill, I urge you to continue to endow the commission with power to determine what technology to deploy in our elections at the appropriate time.
“One of the ways of doing so is to make broad provisions of the law that will empower INEC to continue to innovate without restricting us to a specific technology such as the Smart Card Reader.
“The smart card reader could in due course, become obsolete, inapplicable or irrelevant as is already the case following the recent introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) by the commission.
“The commission looks forward to the conclusion of the process without which we cannot make the regulations and guidelines to give effect to the provisions of the law,” he said.
Yakubu added: “Without the regulations and guidelines, we cannot finalise on the manuals for the training of officials that will conduct elections.
“There are extensive provisions in the current bill that require clear guidance by the commission.
“With only 484 days to the 2023 general election, time is of the essence.”
The INEC boss further said that in addition to the Nov.6, Anambra Governorship Poll, the commission had already scheduled three major elections for 2022.
“First is the FCT Area Council Election on Feb. 12, 2022; followed by the Ekiti governorship election on June 18 and the Osun governorship election on July 16, 2022,” he said.
Also speaking, Abdullahi said that work on the bill which was about to be harmonised, was started by the 7th Assembly through to the 8th National Assembly.
“It is ready for passage and presidential accent under the 9th National Assembly.
“I am happy to state that most of what we call ‘citizens top priorities’ on Electoral Act Amendment have been addressed by the Electoral Act 2021.
“These issues include imposition of stiffer sanctions for electoral offences, provision of legal backing for electoral technology and Strengthening the financial independence of INEC.”
In a goodwill message, Cécile Tassin-Pelzer, head of European Union (EU) Cooperation, commended the Senate’s removal of the contentious clause on electronic transmission of results.
She said that the action was a positive development that would ensue transparency and credibility of the country’s election process.
The Nigerian federal government announced that the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) generated $49.5 million in revenue, with fintech companies contributing $18 million.
This fund, as reported by the Federation Account Allocation Committee, is a considerable 56.80 percent increase over the $31.6 million earned during the same period in 2024.
Previously, the charge mainly affected established banking institutions. However, fintech firms have been included because they have contributed a phenomenal 2,507.94 percent growth in transaction values since 2020.
The EMTL is part of the government’s attempt to regulate the booming fintech sector, which completed transactions worth $29 billion in 2023 and $49.3 billion in 2024.
The EMTL was created by the Finance Act 2020 as an amendment to the Stamp Duty Act. It charges $0.03 (N50) for electronic transactions of $6.19 (N10,000) or more made through banks and financial institutions.
This tax seeks to capitalise on the increasing expansion of electronic payments, which will exceed $619.70 billion in total transactions by 2024.
In response to the burgeoning fintech sector, the government has increased its tax base, with annual EMTL collections expected to increase by 31.35 percent.
According to the Medium Term Fiscal Framework for 2025-2027, the federal government expects EMTL revenue to reach $142 million in 2025, up from $108 million in 2024.
However, industry experts have expressed concern about the potential impact of additional taxes on users.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is pleased to announce the inaugural meeting of the Startup Consultative Forum, scheduled for Monday April 28, 2025 This milestone event marks a significant step in deepening stakeholder engagement within Nigeria’s growing startup ecosystem.
The Forum will serve as an interactive platform for startup founders, innovators, ecosystem enablers, and intermediaries to actively shape national policies that foster growth, attract investment, and drive digital innovation.
Convened under the framework of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA), this initiative reflects the government’s commitment to making startups not just stakeholders but key contributors in building an enabling environment for innovation.
The meeting will emphasize collaborative dialogue, with a primary focus on nominating and selecting representatives for the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Startup Council)—Nigeria’s highest advisory body for the startup ecosystem. Decisions from this Forum will lay the foundation for inclusive policy development, amplifying the voices of Nigeria’s tech and innovation community.
NITDA invites all Labelled Startups, Verified Entrepreneurial and Innovation Support Organisations, Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists, and other relevant stakeholders to join the Forum and actively participate in the nomination and voting process.
Join us in shaping the future of digital innovation in Nigeria. Together, we can build a thriving ecosystem that supports and celebrates the pioneering spirit of Nigerian startups.
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