West Africa

Industry groups and airlines say that the airlines struggling with high jet fuel prices will suffer a second blow when supply shortages disrupt flight plans and crew rotations. This will increase safety and operational concerns in Nigeria's aviation industry. The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers said that a persistent scarcity of jet-fuel has caused widespread operational challenges. These include flight delays, route changes, and extended crew duty periods as airlines struggle to maintain schedules despite rising costs. NAAPE president Captain Bunmi Gindeh stated that fuel shortages are pushing crews to their limits. This is increasing fatigue, and could...

Festus Keyamo, the Aviation Minister, said that Bola Tinubu, Nigeria's President, approved a?30% relief on a?debt owed by local?airlines to aviation agencies. He also ordered talks between fuel marketers, airlines and regulators in order to arrive at a fair price for jet fuel within 72 hours. After jet fuel prices rose by nearly 300%, domestic airlines have warned that they cannot continue to operate without increasing ticket prices. The minister has described the meeting as a "fair and reasonable price" for jet fuel. Any agreement reached will be made public. * The'soaring 'jet fuel prices are upending the global aviation...

Police in central Benue state, Nigeria, said that they had rescued 18 passengers from a bus, including 8 students traveling for university entrance exams, and arrested 7 suspects. On April 15, gunmen took?travellers' from a bus on the Makurdi - Otukpo road in southern Benue. Udeme Edward, a spokesperson for the Benue Police Department, said that all 18 abducted passengers were now safe and in stable condition following medical checks. Edet, a Benue police spokesperson, said that all 18 abducted passengers are now safe and stable following medical examinations. Benue Governor Hyacinth?Alia called on academic authorities to reschedule?exams? for students...

The 'airlines' said over the weekend that Nigerian airlines had temporarily suspended their 'planned nationwide shutdown of flights operations due to crippling fuel costs. This was after the government made an appeal to halt the action until talks could be held. Airline Operators of Nigeria, an industry group composed of 12 primarily domestic carriers, had announced that they would cease services on Monday April 20 due to the rising costs of jet fuel. AON announced that it had agreed to suspend the action after an appeal by Festus Keyamo (Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Nigeria), who called for...

Tottenham Hotspur's Mohammed Kudus suffered a setback in his recovery from quad?injury. The struggling Premier League club announced this on?Thursday. This was a blow to the Ghanaian international. Kudus (?25) was injured against Sunderland when Thomas Frank was Tottenham's coach in January. He was expected to be back in March. Kudus did not play in any matches played by Frank's successor, Igor Tudor. Tudor left Tottenham last month. Ghanaian reports stated that Kudus, who scored 13 goals in 46 appearances for Ghana, would be out of action for three more months. This could mean he won't play in the World...

Transport drivers in three?locations in Guinea-Bissau, including the capital, went on strike Tuesday after the government raised fuel prices as a'response' to the Iran _war, but prohibited any increase in passenger fare. Residents reported that taxi and van drivers were not working in Gabu, which is the largest city of the east. They also said that Mansoa was the same. This forced passengers to walk long distances. Caram Gassama is the chairman of the country’s drivers’?union. He said that vans with at least 15 seats began their strike in Bissau on Tuesday. Taxis are expected to follow suit on Wednesday....

SITE Intelligence Group's footage, which tracks jihadist activities worldwide, shows that Islamic State militants blew up explosives and ran amok among passenger planes in an attack on Niger's international airport. Washington has ordered non-emergency employees of the government and their families to leave 'Niger due to safety concerns. Abdourahamane Tiani, the military leader of Niger, accused France and the presidents Benin and Ivory Coast of being the sponsors of the attack without providing any evidence. The Benin government denied the allegations, and Ivory Coast summoned Nigerien Ambassador Tiani to condemn his comments. Gunfire and loud blasts were heard throughout the...

According to a public letter published on Tuesday, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration said he hadn't divested his shares in Republic Airways. However, he would continue not to be involved with any issues that might impact the airline’s finances while he worked to sell his holdings. Last week, Democratic U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell stated that Bryan Bedford, former CEO of Republic and FAA Administrator, had violated his ethics agreement because he hadn't completed the sale of shares within 90 days after his confirmation. Bedford informed Cantwell, in a Monday letter, that he was recused from any matters affecting...

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON DEC 12 - U.S. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Friday that he would not allow military helicopters or commercial passenger planes?to come?into close proximity near Reagan Washington National Airport. This is despite a bill before Congress which some critics claim could cause unsafe traffic. The crash of an Army Black Hawk on January 29, near Reagan, between an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army Black Hawk killed 67 people. It also raised concerns about aviation safety. We will not allow fixed-wing or helicopter traffic to cross that airspace. Duffy told a press briefing that...

Director general of the Nigerian civil aviation authority said that they are looking at certifying China’s C919 jets for Nigerian carriers. This is because Nigerian airlines have taken on more aircraft, and relations with Beijing are warming up. COMAC, a Chinese planemaker, is currently producing the C919 narrow-body aircraft to compete with the leading Western planemakers Airbus & Boeing and has had several discussions with Nigeria about the aircraft. This month, the Nigerian aviation minister said that Nigeria is open to COMAC to use the country as an access point to the larger African market. COMAC, the state-owned company, faces...

Director general of the Nigerian civil aviation authority said that they are looking at certifying China’s C919 for Nigerian carriers. This is because Nigerian airlines have taken on more aircraft, and relations with Beijing have been warming. COMAC, a Chinese plane manufacturer, is currently producing the C919 narrow-body aircraft to compete with the leading Western planemakers Airbus & Boeing and has had several discussions with Nigeria about the aircraft. COMAC, a state-owned company, is facing challenges in its bid to expand into the African market. The two models of its planes do not have benchmark certifications by Western regulators and...

The Mali Ministry of Territorial Administration announced on Thursday that the transitional government of Mali has filed a complaint against Algeria before the International Court of Justice accusing it of aggression after its neighbour shot down a Malian reconnaissance drone. Mali claimed that Algeria intentionally shot down its drone near Tinzaouaten, in Mali's Kidal Region, during the night between March 31 and April 1, near their shared desert frontier. The statement said: "This blatant attack, which the Malian government strongly condemns and was intended to hinder the neutralisation by the Malian Armed and Security Forces of armed terrorists, is the...