JANUARY 10, 2025

The Nigerian government has announced that the minimum would be reviewed on a two-year interval instead of five years.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, disclosed this on Thursday in Abia State.

According to her, the minimum review timeline is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to his promise to Nigerian workers by ensuring the minimum wage was reviewed after three years.

The Nigerian government has announced that the minimum would be reviewed on a two-year interval instead of five years.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, disclosed this on Thursday in Abia State.

According to her, the minimum review timeline is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to his promise to Nigerian workers by ensuring the minimum wage was reviewed after three years.

“We are not going to allow minimum wage review to be forever.

“It used to be about five years, but now, in three years’ time, which is less than two years, we will also review the minimum wage,” Onyejeocha said.

This comes as the Trade Union Congress recently called for a yearly review of the minimum wage in line with economic realities such as rising inflation.

DAILY POST reports that last year Tinubu had approved a N70,000 minimum wage, with a promise to review it every three years.

However, Nigeria’s rising inflation, which stood at 34.60 percent in November 2024, had impacted the minimum wage increase.

JANUARY 10, 2025

By Olasunkanmi Akinlotan

United State carrier Delta Air Lines has announced the inclusion of local dishes into food options that will be made available to passengers, on its Lagos-Atlanta flight.

In a statement made available to The PUNCH on Thursday, the airline noted that Nigerian delicacies such as ‘Ewa Agoin will now be available to passengers.

It also promised to offer a luxurious travel experience for passengers flying in its Delta One premium cabin from Murtala Muhammed International Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The airline stated, “This holiday season, passengers can indulge in a delectable range of continental and Nigerian-inspired culinary delights designed to satisfy a variety of tastes while flying.

“As part of the premium cabin experience, Delta One travellers are treated to a carefully curated selection of dishes. Upon take-off, guests can choose from an array of starters, including sliced beef fillet with pineapple salsa and sweet chilli sauce, a refreshing corn soup with toasted corn salsa, or a mixed greens salad with spicy lemon dressing. A sunflower roll, served with whole butter, completes the initial course.”

It will be recalled that in October, Keyamo directed foreign airlines to patronise local caterers for on-board meals.

He gave the directive through a letter dated October 15, 2024, in which the ministry said the directive takes effect from January 1.

While hinting at the new cuisine, the airline also explained that food will now be served twice onboard.

The statement reads partly, “For the main course, Delta showcases the best of Nigerian cuisine alongside international options.

Those in the mood for a traditional Nigerian dish can enjoy roasted cod with basmati rice, agoyin-style beans, and sweet plantains, or opt for grilled chicken thigh with jollof rice and plantain.

A plant-based alternative, featuring a hearty bean stew with rice, spinach, tomatoes, and fried onions, is also available for vegetarians.

“Dessert options include a pineapple upside-down tart with whipped cream, a fresh seasonal fruit assortment, a classic ice cream sundae, or a refined fruit and cheese plate, offering something for every sweet tooth.

“As the flight nears its descent into Atlanta, Delta One passengers are treated to a final meal, featuring spicy chicken pie, a vegetable salad with zesty lemon dressing, and a selection of mini desserts. For those preferring a vegetarian option, jollof risotto with roasted vegetables and a spicy tomato sauce is available, paired with fresh fruit and mini desserts.”

JANUARY 10, 2025

By Brian K. Sullivan

(Bloomberg) -- A winter storm that brought snow to Dallas and threatens the US South with ice and sleet has grounded more than 2,400 flights and is raising the risk of power outages through the region.

As of 4:20 p.m. Dallas time Thursday, 2,409 flights were grounded across the country, with Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and nearby Dallas Love Field accounting for roughly 70% of them, according to FlightAware. 

Some flights into DFW were halted temporarily, according to the Federal Aviation Administration website, and American Airlines Group Inc. said ice was being removed from runways. Aircraft also were being de-iced before leaving. The ground stop was extended to 7 p.m. Dallas time, according to the FAA.

Precipitation ranged from snow around and north of Dallas, to rain and sleet in areas south of city. As much as 2 to 5 inches (5 to 13 centimeters) of snow were expected through the rest of the day, with isolated areas north of the metro area expected to get as much as 8 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Schools were closed across North Texas.

A powerful low-pressure system from the Gulf of Mexico will track across the South before moving off the Carolina coast early Saturday and out to sea without threatening the Northeast, said Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the US Weather Prediction Center. North of the storm’s track a wide area of snow, sleet and ice is expected to fall, while heavy rain will drench the Gulf Coast. Houston that may get as much as 2 inches of rain.

Winter storm warnings, watches and weather advisories stretch from New Mexico to southern Virginia, the National Weather Service said. A large area of 4 to 6 inches of snow is forecast to fall from the Dallas area through Arkansas and into Tennessee and Kentucky. 

The hardest hit areas will likely be eastern Oklahoma and central to northern Arkansas, according to the weather prediction center. 

Transportation troubles may spread Friday as up to 0.1 inch of ice is forecast for the Atlanta area, a major US air hub. In addition to delays in air traffic, federally-funded passenger-rail carrier Amtrak has canceled several trains across Texas and the South, including the iconic City of New Orleans and Texas Flyer.

 

--With assistance from Allyson Versprille.

JANUARY 11, 2025

By Anozie Egole

Grimaldi Group has commenced its first direct shipping service connecting Shanghai, China, to Lagos, Nigeria.

The shipping firm said the move would eliminate the need for transshipments and set a new benchmark for speed and efficiency in maritime logistics.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Managing Director of Grimaldi Agency Nigeria and PTML Terminal, Mr. Ascanio Russo, said the development is the first of its kind, highlighting the exceptional advantages of the new service in terms of speed and efficiency.

According to him, “the direct route will take just 27 days to transport cargo from Shanghai to Lagos, an industry-leading transit time.”

“This is the fastest transit time in the industry. No transshipment, no delays! Nigerian importers can now ship their goods with ease and confidence, knowing their cargo will arrive directly and on time,” Russo said.

He said that the service is tailored to accommodate all types of cargo, including containers, cars, vans, trucks, heavy equipment, general cargo, and project cargo, ensuring flexibility for a wide range of shipping needs.

Russo noted that this service is designed to deliver maximum value to Nigerian importers and exporters, offering competitive freight rates while maintaining Grimaldi’s reputation for reliable service.

“With the launch of this direct shipping service, we are addressing one of the key challenges faced by Nigerian importers, which is unnecessary delays caused by transshipments through other ports,” he said.

He mentioned that the direct route reduces costs, eliminates risks, and simplifies logistics for businesses in Nigeria.

“It is a game-changer for trade between China and Nigeria,” Russo stated.

He further assured users of the service that they would enjoy the premium benefits associated with Grimaldi’s PTML Terminal, located at Tincan Island Port.

“We are offering streamlined handling, priority processing, and an unparalleled level of service through our PTML Terminal, which remains the preferred logistics hub in West Africa. Our customers can rely on us for seamless, stress-free shipping solutions,” Russo added.

He said the launch further underscores the strategic importance of the PTML Terminal, which has solidified its position as a premier logistics and transhipment hub for West Africa.

JANUARY 12, 2025

The huge drop has been driven by a fall in the number of overseas students and foreign care workers

BY  Flora Thompson

The number of people applying for visas to work and study in the UK fell by nearly 400,000 after restrictions were introduced in a bid to cut legal migration levels.

Provisional Home Office figures show 547,000 applications were received between April and December 2024, down from 942,500 in the same period in 2023.

The aim was to slash the number of arrivals by 300,000 a year.

The drop of 395,100, or 42%, has been driven by sharp falls in the number of overseas students and foreign care workers seeking to come to the country.

Restrictions gradually introduced by the former Conservative government between January and April last year, amid pressure to cut the record number of people legally arriving in Britain, included a ban on overseas care workers bringing family dependants and a hiked salary threshold for skilled workers to £38,700.

Other reforms meant overseas students were stopped from bringing their family with them to the UK and made it harder for Britons earning under the national average to bring over foreign spouses.

A PA graphic showing the number of people applying for work & study visas in the UK A PA graphic showing the number of people applying for work & study visas in the UK (PA Graphics) The policy changes prompted warnings that universities and the care industry could struggle to cope with the consequences.

The overall drop of 42% in visa requests for main applicants and dependants masks big differences in the size of the fall across the different categories of immigration papers available, according to PA news agency analysis of the latest figures published on Thursday.

Applications to come to the UK on a health and care worker visa fell by a much steeper figure of 79%, from 299,800 in April to December 2023 compared with 63,800 in the same period in 2024.

The social care sector previously hit out at the potential ramifications of the dependants ban, branding it “brutal” and blaming the policy for cutting a “lifeline of overseas staff”.

There was a 29% drop in sponsored study visa numbers, down from 546,100 in the nine months from April to December 2023, compared with 389,800 in the equivalent period last year.

Universities have warned of significant financial concerns as a result of frozen domestic tuition fees and a decline in overseas students following the policy changes.

By contrast, there was a much smaller drop of just 3% for main applicants and dependants applying for skilled worker visas, from 96,600 in April to December 2023 to 93,800 last year.

But this is higher than the number recorded in the equivalent nine-month period in 2022 (92,300).

JANUARY 13, 2025

Migrants have crossed the English Channel to the UK in the third day of arrivals of the year so far.

Pictures show men and women wearing blankets and life jackets being brought ashore from a Border Force boat in Dover on Monday, amid smooth conditions at sea and fair weather.

It comes just two days after the Government confirmed the first person to have died in a small boat incident this year on the French coast on Saturday.

French media reported the migrant was a Syrian man crushed by others on a leaky dinghy.

The French coastguard had said 35 people were rescued in the Channel overnight on Friday, and one teenager was taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer hospital in a stable condition.

Some 128 people made the journey to the UK so far this year, according to provisional Home Office data.

Figures show one boat carrying 61 people, and another boat of 67 people, arrived on January 4 and January 11 respectively.

A total of 36,816 people crossed the English Channel in 2024, with the first crossings of the year recorded on January 13.

Last year’s arrivals jumped by 25% from the 29,437 who arrived in 2023, according to the Home Office, but dropped by 20% on the record 45,774 arrivals in 2022.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.

“The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay.

“We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.”

JANUARY 13, 2025

Story by Jessica Knibbs

A country must meet several requirements in order to provide its citizens with a good quality of life.

Some of these include having happy citizens, citizens considered healthy and having access to resources which allow them to lead successful and fulfilling lives.

Other factors include having a good work/life balance, having enough income, decent housing, access to high education, access to leisure and cultural activities, people living in a natural environment they enjoy and feeling relatively safe.

Put simply, quality or disquality of life indicates the experiences that shape the citizens' daily lives whether positive or negative.

When it comes to the quality of life in the African continent, South Africa continues to dominate the top five chart.

A data and research platform known as Numbeo recently spotlighted cities in Africa believed to be providing their residents with the

best quality of life at the start of 2025.

The list was compiled using an aggregate score and considered a host of factors.

This included purchasing power index, healthcare index, safety index, property price to income ratio, healthcare index, pollution index, climate index and traffic commute time.

The higher each city scored the better the quality of life these regions have with a comparative tool evaluating the contrast when it comes to living standards in different places in the world.

Family un time with mom and dad at home© Getty

The latest Quality of Life Index by Numbeo clearly indicates that South African cities dominate when it comes to having a higher quality of life, much like in previous years.

This highlights South Africa's stability when it comes to its urban living standards regardless of the country's socio-economic challenges, the data suggests.

Notable changes in this year's Quality of Life Index saw Casablanca in Morocco making its way into the top five, while both Kenya and Nairobi fell off the ranking list when compared to the 2024 ranking.

Another African spot off the top five rankings includes Nairobi, which was previously listed with a score of 97.4.

According to the list, the top 5 cities in Africa with the highest quality of life include:

5 Casablanca in Morocco with a score of 95.2

4 Johannesburg in South Africa with a score of 141.8

3 Durban in South Africa with a score of 149.0

2 Pretoria in South Africa with a score of 157.9

1 Cape Town in South Africa with a score of 160.2

JANUARY 13, 2025

By Joke Falaju (Abuja)

An Ibom Air passenger from Uyo to Abuja will face prosecution for holding an Uyo-Abuja flight hostage until the flight was cancelled, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumers’ Protection of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, has said.

It was gathered that the female passenger would have been lynched if not for the intervention of the Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel and those of Ibom Air.

The incident happened on an Ibom Air flight scheduled to depart Uyo for Abuja at 1730hrs last Wednesday. Prior to the flight, passengers were said to have been informed that due to weight restrictions, some or all of their luggage may not arrive on the same flight.

After boarding, the passenger in question noticed that her bag was not among the luggage loaded into the bowels of the aircraft. She therefore left the aircraft in anger and insisted that her bags must be loaded, otherwise the aircraft would not leave.

Despite the intervention of AVSEC and the pilot who even offered to carry her checked-in baggage in the cabin if not for the size, the passenger reportedly refused all entreaties and appeals.

However, the flight couldn’t depart again as Uyo is a sunset airport and it was almost time for the airspace to be shut.

JANUARY 13, 2025

BEIJING (Reuters) - China will expand the list of unilateral visa-free countries and extend the period of visa-free stays, measures issued on Monday by the Chinese government show.

The State Council pledged in the measures to improve policies for inbound tourism.

China will also encourage local governments to roll out measures such as handing out vouchers to boost cultural and tourism consumption, according to the measures.

(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Gareth Jones)

JANUARY 14, 2025

The Skyway Aviation Handling Company has sacked a member of its staff, (name withheld), who was accused of passenger extortion and harassment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The PUNCH gathered that the sacked staff member, together with some other airport workers, allegedly extorted N100,000 from a traveller to South Africa last month.

He was sacked after an investigative panel set up by the ground handling company in Nigeria found him guilty of the allegation.

The probe started after a passenger, Oyewale Oyesiji, an automobile engineer and a first-time traveller, had last December, claimed he was extorted by some workers at the Lagos airport on his way to South Africa.

A source in the ground handling company who appealed to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told our correspondent on Monday that, following this allegation, they set up a panel of inquiry that indicted the suspect before he was shown the way out.

The PUNCH gathered that the handling company was also planning to meet with the extorted passenger to update him on the development.

The source added that SAHCO would not tolerate any unprofessional conduct from its staff, irrespective of position.

The source said, “I can tell you categorically that our management has sacked the erring staff. Immediately we got wind of the allegation, the management set up a panel to investigate the matter. The panel found him guilty of the allegation levelled against him and submitted its report to the management.

“The management, in accordance with the Nigeria labour laws, also implemented the report of the investigative panel by dismissing the culprit immediately.”

When contacted, the Head of Corporate Communications, Mrs Vanessa Uansohia, refused to comment on the development but insisted that SAHCO does not tolerate corrupt practices among its staff.

Uansohia, however, assured all stakeholders and its clients of utmost commitment to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in its dealings.

She said, “We condemn any act of extortion, harassment, unethical behaviour or misconduct among our staff or operations. The reported incident is contrary to our values and the code of conduct that governs all our staff.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy for any form of corruption or misconduct, and this case is being thoroughly investigated.”