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[Virtual Presenter] 2 @leadershipNGA Leadership Newspapers www.leadership.ng 1. 6. 2023 BY YUSUF BABALOLA, LAGOS T he static display of an aircraft in the fleet of the Nigeria Air last week has continued to generate controversy, as indigenous operators have accused the former minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, of a dangerous plot to kill the entire indigenous operators and handover monopoly to Ethiopian Airlines. In a statement by the public relations officer, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Dr Obiora Okonkwo, stated that their action was borne out of the desire to save their investments in the aviation industry, He said, "AON really cares less about the ownership of Nigeria Air if the intentions are genuine and for the common good with strict compliance with the due process. After all, Ethiopian Airline is already operating multiple landing rights in Nigeria, British Airways are owned by IAG, a company registered in Spain but owned by Qatar as the major shareholder. “The Canadian government owns less than 7% of Air Canada’s National carrier. Takatso, a Pan-African consortium, recently took over South Africa Airways, all we are saying is let the right thing be done the right way, for strictly the interest of Nigeria and her Aviation industry,” he said. "We discovered some mind burgling dangerous agenda to kill the entire indigenous operators and handover monopoly to Ethiopian Airline in a dubious and fraudulent way against the economic interest of Nigeria, hence our court action supported by strong material evidence. “For us, it is a patriot ic action to save the Nigerian Government, people and economy from exploitation and to also protect the Nigerian aviation sector and our investments." However, the former aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, had denied the allegation saying the project was in good faith and was done in the good interest of the country. He said the project is private sector driven and one that the government has minority stakes,and in tandem with global best practices. Sirika who had recently said he invited Nigerian carriers to own stakes in the new airline, said the action was rebuffed because of the selfish interest of the carriers. He further stated that he sold the idea to them in many of the meetings he held with them by giving them the option of first refusal in a deal in that they would have owned stakes, hinting that his ministry followed all the rules in the setting up of the airline. As part of ongoing efforts to improve standards, opinion articles by readers will be accompanied with photographs and also what the writer does and actual address. All opinions should be emailed to: opinion@leadership.ng TRENDING The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has condemned the hoarding of premium motor spirit (PMS) known as petrol, stating that the pump price of the product has skyrocketed in the last two days. The scarcity of petrol, the CUPP said, commenced when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced that his administration was stopping subsidy payments on petrol during his inauguration on Monday. The CUPP in a statement signed by its National CoSpokesperson, Mark Adebayo, and issued to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, stated that “hoarding and price hikes are unnecessary, evil, wicked and inhuman. The 2023 budget still takes care of subsidies up till the end of June 2023.” NUMBERS: 50 PER CENT Aviation stakeholders have called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to take steps towards collaborating with other industry stakeholders and government agencies to achieve a 50 per cent carbon emission reduction in the industry by 2060. NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA: AKIM CAMARA Akim Camara is a German violinist child prodigy who began playing at the age of two. Akim was born in Berlin to a Nigerian father and a German mother. At age 22 he still continues to surprise his audience. As of January 9, 2023, Akim Camara’s net worth is $5 Million. HISTORY TODAY On this day 1 of June 1979, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) ends 90 years of white rule. And then in 1980, the Republic of Zimbabwe achieved sovereignty from the United Kingdom. SCHOOL CHILDREN IN CAPTIVITY BETHEL BAPTIST HIGH SCHOOL, KUJAMA’S kidnapped students have spent 772 days in captivity. BACK STORY OF THE DAY Aviation: Local Airline Operators, Federal Government Bicker Over Nigeria Air Maimuna’s Memoir Parking Lot Palaver: King Of The Road Whichever version was true, both are still hilarious. I just hope that at the end of the day, Kabiru had learned his lesson! Bad enough you drive like the King of the road in your country and park anywhere and anyhow it suits you. But always remember other countries have rules they stick to even if you are king of the road you simply have to abide by them or there would be consequences. The issues we have with illegal parking in this country is somewhat endless. Private cars and commercial are both guilty of this offence. The strange thing is that it does not seem like an offence to people who are mostly at fault most of the time. Another thing that bothers me and perhaps most fellow citizens is how commercial taxis and buses just pick and drop people anyhow they like alongside the roads where parking is not allowed. The issues we have with illegal parking in this country is somewhat endless. SEVEN TIPS ON : HOW TO REDUCE CAR FUEL CONSUMPTION Here are handy ways to reduce fuel consumption of your vehicle. REMOVE EXCESS WEIGHT You can reduce fuel consumption by removing excess weight from your car. You can do this by removing your roof rack when you aren't using it and disposing of any rubbish. REDUCE DRAG It’s the middle of summer and the inside of your car is like a sauna. But do you roll the windows down or switch the air conditioning on? At low speeds, open the window - the fuel used to compensate for drag is less than the fuel used to power your air con. DON’T COAST Many people used to try to save fuel by coasting – that is rolling downhill out of gear..