The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, has declared that Terminal One of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, has become obsolete and has clearly outlived its intended lifespan.

Speaking during a television interview, Kuku revealed that the terminal, constructed nearly five decades ago, has not undergone any major rehabilitation since it was built.

She noted that, unlike other countries that regularly upgrade their aviation infrastructure, Nigeria has allowed the facility to remain in its original state for 50 years.

She criticised those opposing the Federal Executive Council’s, FEC, recent approval of N712.24 billion for the airport’s comprehensive rehabilitation, describing their stance as contradictory.

“You can’t keep saying the airports are in shambles and, when it’s time to fix them, start opposing the investment.

“This airport was built almost 50 years ago with no major upgrades. Globally, airports are improved continuously, they don’t wait half a century to act. So, the question is: do we fix it now or keep postponing?” Kuku said.

The FAAN boss stressed that the project was subjected to a rigorous procurement process, including review by the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, and ratification by the FEC, with all relevant data and documents publicly available.

“Do you think a project of this scale would be approved without a full tender process? Certainly not. Under my leadership, due process was strictly followed. It went through BPP, then the Federal Executive Council, and all information is accessible to the public,” she stated.

Kuku assured Nigerians of FAAN’s commitment to transparency and accountability, promising that procurement documents and project milestones would be made available for public scrutiny.

“We work for the public, and we have a duty to justify every naira spent. If you’re going to invest that much, the public deserves full disclosure,” she added.

According to her, the rehabilitation plan goes beyond surface renovation. It will involve a total overhaul of Terminal One, modernisation of existing facilities, expansion of the apron, and the construction of a new transit terminal.

She pointed out that Nigeria currently lacks a functioning transit system, which limits its ability to attract connecting passengers.

“Right now, there’s no single transit operation within Nigerian airports. If we want to boost passenger numbers, transit passengers are critical, but that’s impossible without the right infrastructure,” she explained.

The upgrade will also address structural limitations at Terminal Two, where wide-bodied aircraft currently face operational difficulties. Plans include expanding the finger section, redesigning passenger flow systems, and developing new road networks.

Kuku added that rerouting check-in procedures and scheduling changes are already underway in partnership with airlines to ease congestion during the upgrade period.

She emphasised that the project aims to position Nigeria’s aviation sector for global competitiveness, not just rebuild infrastructure.

“Our airports are the country’s front door. For first-time visitors, investors, and business travelers, their first impression of Nigeria is through our airports.

“This upgrade is about ensuring that experience matches our national image and ambitions,” she added.

The National President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Williams Akporeha,
has denied claims that the union is using the police and the courts to resolve internal leadership disputes.

Akporeha denied this allegation on Wednesday during cross-examination by Christopher Oshomegie, defence counsel, in the ongoing trial of 21 former leaders of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, branch of NUPENG before Yusuf Halilu, judge of the high court of the federal capital territory, FCT, Abuja.

The defendants are said to be facing a five-count charge bordering on attempted murder, breach of public peace, and assault.

Among them are Lucky Osesua, a former PTD national chairman; Dayyabu Garga; Humble Obinna; Akinolu Olabisi; Godwin Nwaka; Tiamiu Sikiru; Abdulmimin Shaibu; and John Amajuoyi. Others include Zaira Aregbo, Patrick Erhivwor, Stephen Ogheneruemu, Gift Ukponku, and Sunday Ezeocha.

In the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/042/2023, the prosecution alleged that the defendants attacked Akporeha, Olawale Afolabi, the union’s secretary-general, and Augustine Egbon, the newly elected PTD national chairman, in a manner that endangered their lives.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Testifying as the second prosecution witness (PW2), Akporeha told the court that NUPENG remains a unified body and is not divided into rival factions as alleged.

“It is not correct that one group is using the police and court against another to settle a union matter.

“I am the national president of the union; I oversee everybody. NUPENG is one body, and there are no groups. NUPENG has about 150 branches, and PTD is just one of them. The issue of one group against another does not arise,” he said.

He told the court that the PTD branch had conducted an executive election in June 2022 in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, which produced Osesua and others as winners.

However, the national industrial court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, later nullified the election and ordered a fresh poll under the supervision of NUPENG.

“After the first election was nullified, another one was conducted as directed by the court.

“Some of them went to court again, and that one too was nullified. After this, NUPENG conducted another election in Ibadan, while some people held an illegal one in Abuja.

“It is NUPENG that is supposed to conduct the election, and the one conducted in Ibadan was the legitimate one,” Akporeha said.

An advocacy group under the auspices of Open Forum in Akwa Ibom State has called on the state governor, Umo Eno, to fashion out an acceptable resolution method to end the lingering Stubb Creeks Forest crisis in the state.

The crisis over the control of the oil-rich reserves has dragged on for more than two years between the Eket and Esit Eket on one hand and their Ibeno neighbours on the other side land, leading to deaths and destruction of property estimated at millions of naira.

The decision of the state government to set up a high powered committee to resolve the crisis has been stoutly rejected by the Eket people who insisted on the implementation of the numerous court judgements and statues of the legislature

However, following the backlash generated by the proposed committee, the group in a statement released in Uyo by it convener, Matthew Okono, on Wednesday appealed to the governor to come up with an acceptable method to resolve the crisis.

The statement read in part, “Given previous records of bloody hostility arising from the struggle for the control of the same land, it is our passionate appeal to His Excellency, Gov Umo Eno, to fashion out an acceptable method of resolving the matter based on justice given how his personal integrity has been repeatedly challenged in the matter by individuals and organisations of Eket and Esit Eket extractions without any attempt to refute the serious allegations.”

Okono condemned the manner in which the traditional institution was dragged into the crisis following a reaction to one traditional worshipper, Princess God’s own

Udoito who had, in a disturbing footage summoned governor Eno and Akwa Ibom State Government before Eket deities.

The lady dressed in a tight black dress with a raffia palm leaves knotted around her ankle and waist, was seen standing before a tree and clutching a bottle of dry gin and performing a ritual

He said, “Open Forum is deeply concerned that the revered Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers in the State has been dragged into the case, not in the course of resolving the land matter, but in reaction to a traditional worshipper, Princess God’ownUdoito’s private session at her shrine.

‘’This  daughter of Esit Eket whose method of advocacy for the resolution of the land case went from her known Facebook podcast to using traditional items such as Ayei(Fresh palm frond) and Ufofob (local gin) to offer traditional prayers on the Stubb Creek matter at her shrine.

‘’In a video which trended on social media, three Paramount Rulers, as emissaries of the Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council had gone to the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Esit Eket to deliver a message from the Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council, directing the Esit Eket Monarch and a clan head to bring Princess Udoito to a meeting at the State Traditional Rulers Council Chambers, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo on September 25, 2025.

‘’The traditional summons which involved the presentation of “ayei” raised mixed feelings with unfavourable comments across the State and beyond. The proposed meeting could not however hold as scheduled.

‘‘In our pursuit of an amicable resolution of the incident, Open Forum had conversations with some royal fathers of interest over the matter, appealing for discreet resolution because of certain sensitive issues surrounding it.

‘’As an organisation, we are saddened that the attention given to Princess God’sownUdoito’s private worship in her shrine attracted swift action rather than the reason for her act. This was made worse by the individual that secretly recorded and circulated on social media the amateur video of the supposed rare and sacred event of royal fathers on a special traditional visit to their colleague.

‘’This is an embarrassment to the traditional institution and the people of the State. The perpetrator should be warned against such breach of protocol and secrecy in future.”

He added, ‘The revered traditional institution must be insulated from poor sense of judgement, petty influences and crude interests  of politically exposed persons who are ever ready to sacrifice anything in an attempt to manage their challenged reputations and retain their source(s) of livelihood. We understand some politicians had earlier attempted to get into the issue involving Princess Udoito without success.

‘’To ensure our royal fathers have access to bright minds to analyse and advise them on critical issues such as this before they take a decision for, or against we advocate the mandatory establishment of Palace Advisory Councils for all Paramount Rulers in the state. Clan Heads should have it too.

‘’Decisions on critical issues should not be left to the royal fathers alone to take with thorough review and expert recommendations. No royal fater should be taken unaware of issues, particularly issues of consequence.

‘We most respectfully appeal to our royal fathers to manage the outcome of the September 20, 2023 summons to avoid drawing the traditional institution to needless controversies beyond what is in public domain so far.

‘’We also appeal to those using the opportunity to taunt royal fathers to please cease further acts. As much as no one should be silenced while fighting for justice, a blanket demeaning of the traditional institution is a no, no. Where clear and outstanding issues of intentional oppressions and integrity are established, such can be treated as a stand- alone or isolated case.’

The group also expressed concern over the silence of the political leaders, heads of socio-cultural organisations, religious leaders and opinion  leaderover the issue, warning that everything should not be left the hands of the governor alone to handle

He said,’’Finally, Open Forum is worried by the deafening silence of political leaders, stakeholders, heads of socio-cultural organizations, opinion and religious leaders in the state over critical issues.

Everything should not be left to the Governor to attend to before they are resolved in the State. It is no longer a secret that some of those who should be solving crises are themselves perpetrators of crisis.

‘’Those who are always visible at ceremonies within and outside the State should not become invisible when responsibilities of leadership beckons. All hands must be on deck to make Akwa Ibom State a land where injustice and oppression are taboos.

‘’A stitch in time over this and other troubling issues in the State shall not only save nine, but our reputation and the safety of about 9 million citizens and residents of the State.’’.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has temporarily suspended the enforcement of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 1991.

A statement on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the decision followed a meeting between the police chief and a delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association led by its President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

He said the discussion focused on the ongoing enforcement of the tinted glass law and the need for cooperation between the Police and the Bar in upholding the rule of law and promoting public confidence.

Hundeyin said although there is no clear court order halting the enforcement of the law, the police suspended the exercise “out of consideration for the interest of Nigerians and regard for the Nigerian Bar Association,” pending the hearing of a motion on notice scheduled for October 16, 2025, at the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta Sta

The statement partly, “The Inspector-General of Police has received a delegation of the NBA led by its President, Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

“The visit, which centred on issues surrounding the enforcement of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 1991, by the Force, provided an opportunity for robust deliberations on issues of mutual concern, particularly the need for synergy between the Police and the Bar in upholding the rule of law and promoting public confidence.

“The Nigeria Police Force, while noting that there is no clear court order stopping the enforcement of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 1991, has, out of consideration for the interest of Nigerians, and regard for the Nigerian Bar Association, temporarily suspended the enforcement of the Act, pending the outcome of the hearing of the Motion on Notice slated for 16th October 2025, at the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta State.”

He said to strengthen cooperation, a joint Police–NBA committee has been inaugurated to enhance collaboration between both institutions.

“To further strengthen the relationship between the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Bar Association, a Police-NBA committee has been inaugurated to enhance collaboration between the police and the bar.

“In the meantime, all vehicle owners and motorists are urged to take advantage of this window to regularise their documentation and ensure full compliance with all relevant laws regulating the use of motor vehicles with shaded or tinted glasses in Nigeria. ”

He urged motorists to use the suspension period to regularise their vehicle documentation and comply with all laws regulating the use of shaded or tinted vehicle glasses.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Egbetokun, reiterates the resolve of the Force to enforce all extant laws with fairness, transparency, and respect for the rights of all citizens while maintaining effective collaboration with critical stakeholders in the administration of justice, ” he said.

The PUNCH reports that a Federal High Court issued an order in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025 — John Aikpokpo-Martins v. Inspector-General of Police & Nigeria Police Force — directing the police to suspend the enforcement of the permits pending the determination of the substantive case.

The court further ordered the police to maintain the status quo, effectively halting any action against motorists until the case is resolved.

On October 4, the Force Public Relations Officer ,Hundeyin,stated on X that the police had not yet been formally served with the court order.