By David Owei,Bayelsa

Further to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) delegation’s port facility inspection visit to Nigeria, the Provisionary Committee of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG), has acknowledged the team’s honest and constructive assessment. The PC-NCG views the outcome as validation of ongoing reforms and a foundation for technical cooperation ahead of the Coast Guard Bill’s passage.

A statement issued by the Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo in Abuja on Monday, quoted the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of PC-NCG, Captain Noah Ichaba, as describing the outcome of the visit as a positive step toward deepening bilateral maritime security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States Coast Guard.

“PC-NCG counts the remark made by NIMASA BOSS that much work still need to be done regarding ports safety and security and that all identified gaps would be addressed to ensure that Nigeria meets global best practices as an honest statement made by the delegation and their host.

Accordingly, PC-NCG sincerely enjoins relevant authorities and concerned individuals to accept that the era of whitewashing the surface and diluting the functions and substantial responsibilities of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard is over. As such, it should be that a Coast Guard of another country visiting Nigeria is expected to meet with the Coast Guard of Nigeria.

“The absence of the prestigious reputation and presence of the Coast Guard Agency from the Nigerian Maritime Space had created such identified gaps and non conformity to acceptable international standards. It is time to close all existing vacuum by doing the needful of having to establish the Nigerian Coast Guard so as to place Nigeria at per with other maritime nations.

“Talking without fitting action avails nothing order than self humiliation. Be it measurable process as indicated or not, if the nation should objectively track losses that she has been suffering all these years due to the absence of Coast Guard, it would be concluded that far more greater would have been achieved with Coast Guard within the same period.

“The facts and factors are not far fetched because port safety and security is not the only duty that Coast Guard would be performing, given the fact that securing ships and crews are a fraction of its core mandate.

“So the measurable process in that regard was only an ad valorem quantification because it did not align fully with international maritime standards which Nigeria as a maritime nation needs to align with, to upgrade her maritime security framework and advance the country’s competitiveness in global shipping and port operations as well as keep fate with global best practices.

“Whatever the current arrangement and milestone achievement, the truth steers Nigeria in the face, and that is, without Coast Guard as the true steward in the maritime safety and security operations, to provide the much needed stewardship, operation and nurturing of the marine environment and resources; as a reliable guardian of the nation’s maritime commercial businesses, to foster realistic economic growth, safety and security, all efforts would still remain inappropriate activities,” Captain Ichaba maintained.

By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) declares that the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja upholding the authority of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is not just a routine legal victory, but a historic and long-overdue liberation for Nigerian consumers who have suffered years of unchecked exploitation in the aviation sector.

HURIWA emphasizes that this bold and uncompromising decision has finally shattered the dangerous culture of corporate impunity that allowed airlines to operate above the law, often at the expense of ordinary Nigerians. The ruling stands as a powerful judicial rebuke to systemic abuse, and a clear affirmation that consumer rights are not optional privileges but enforceable legal guarantees.

The Association therefore praises the court for restoring hope, strengthening regulatory authority, and placing the burden of accountability squarely where it belongs—on service providers who must now answer for their conduct.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) wholeheartedly commends the Federal High Court in Abuja for its courageous and far-reaching judgment affirming the statutory powers of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate and act on consumer complaints within Nigeria’s aviation sector, including disputes involving Air Peace Limited.

This landmark ruling represents a decisive victory for millions of Nigerian consumers who have, for years, endured persistent abuse, neglect, and exploitation at the hands of domestic airline operators.

By upholding the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, the court has reaffirmed the supremacy of consumer rights, regulatory accountability, and the rule of law over corporate impunity. By the way, a long cherished business maxim says that CUSTOMER IS KING.

HURIWA views this judgment not merely as a legal pronouncement, but as a critical turning point in the long-standing struggle to restore sanity, fairness, and transparency in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
A Pattern of Systemic Abuse Against Nigerian Air Travelers

For far too long, Nigerian passengers have been subjected to a troubling pattern of rights violations, particularly involving major domestic carriers such as Air Peace. These violations are not isolated incidents but form part of a broader, deeply entrenched culture of disregard for consumer welfare.
Among the most prevalent complaints are:
• Exploitative Pricing and Alleged Price Fixing: During peak travel seasons—especially Christmas, New Year, and other festive periods—airfares are arbitrarily inflated to unjustifiable levels, suggesting coordinated price manipulation that places undue financial burden on citizens.
• Arbitrary Flight Cancellations and Rescheduling: Airlines frequently cancel or alter flight schedules at short notice without providing passengers with immediate alternatives, adequate compensation, or timely refunds, leaving travelers stranded and distressed.
• Chronic Refund Delays: In clear violation of consumer protection standards, passengers often wait weeks or even months to recover funds for unused or cancelled tickets, with little communication or accountability from the airlines.
• Mishandling and Loss of Luggage: Numerous passengers have reported missing, delayed, or damaged luggage, with airlines failing to provide compensation or transparent resolution processes.
• Touting and Ticket Racketeering: HURIWA has received credible reports of individuals allegedly linked to airline operations engaging in profiteering schemes—reselling already booked tickets, demanding illegal payments, and exploiting desperate passengers seeking to board flights.
• Poor Customer Service and Opaque Complaint Systems: Airline customer care structures are largely ineffective, unresponsive, and deliberately structured to frustrate complainants rather than resolve issues.
These recurring abuses amount to economic injustice and undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Institutional Failures and Regulatory Weaknesses
HURIWA expresses deep disappointment at the glaring inefficiencies of existing internal complaint resolution mechanisms within the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Aviation. These bodies, which ought to serve as first-line protectors of passenger rights, have largely failed in their responsibilities.
Instead of providing swift and impartial redress, these mechanisms are plagued by bureaucracy, lack of transparency, and weak enforcement capacity. In many cases, they have inadvertently emboldened erring airlines by failing to hold them accountable.
This institutional inertia has created an environment where violations persist without consequence, leaving the FCCPC as the last credible line of defense for Nigerian consumers.
Beyond Judgment: The Imperative of Enforcement
While HURIWA celebrates this judicial victory, we caution that its true significance lies in robust and uncompromising enforcement. Without concrete action, even the most progressive rulings risk being reduced to mere symbolism.
Accordingly, HURIWA calls on the FCCPC to:
• Deploy its full statutory powers to investigate, sanction, and deter violations across the aviation sector without fear or favour.
• Impose stringent penalties, including heavy fines, compensation orders, and operational sanctions against defaulting airlines.
• Establish a fast-track aviation consumer redress mechanism that guarantees resolution of complaints within clearly defined timelines.
• Institutionalize airport-based enforcement units to monitor airline conduct in real time and dismantle networks of touts and racketeers.
• Mandate transparent refund systems, including automatic reimbursement protocols for cancelled flights.
• Publish periodic compliance and enforcement reports to promote accountability and inform the public.
HURIWA further urges the National Assembly to strengthen legislative oversight and consider amendments that will introduce stiffer punitive measures for consumer rights violations in critical sectors such as aviation.
A Call to End Impunity
This judgment has opened a new chapter in the protection of Nigerian consumers. It must now be followed by decisive regulatory action that sends a clear message: the era of exploitation, impunity, and disregard for passengers’ rights is over.
Nigerians deserve a functional aviation system anchored on fairness, transparency, and respect for human dignity. HURIWA remains committed to advocating for these principles and will continue to monitor developments to ensure that justice is not only declared but fully delivered.

Signed:
Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
National Coordinator
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)
Dated: 20th April 2026

By George Mgbeleke

For continuity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s initiatives in the education sector, including student loans, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has urged Nigerian students to support the re-election of the President.

Chairing the 45th anniversary of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS @45) in Abuja on Friday, Senator Barau said President Tinubu is genuinely committed to addressing the challenges facing the country, hence the various reforms embarked upon by the administration.

” The time is here for the Nigerian students to show their appreciation by supporting the second term bid of Mr President so that this trajectory of helping students, the trajectory of bringing reforms and innovations to transform our education sector, to help the youth, will continue.

” Let them continue to cooperate with the government, to work with the government and work for His Excellency’s reelection. Now, we have a government that is friendly to youth, that is helping the youth, that is transforming their lives, that is making it possible for the children of the poor to pursue their educational pursuits. So they should now reciprocate by coming together to work with Mr President so that all the goodies that Mr President is providing will continue and their lives will be fully transformed,” he said.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Senator Barau commended President Tinubu for his bold and impactful reforms in the education and other sectors, noting that the ongoing government initiatives are laying a strong foundation for national development.

Senator Barau who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, said education remains the most powerful tool for national transformation, hence the need to commend the President for his purposeful interventions in the sector.

“We must continue to expand access, improve quality, and align education with the realities of a modern, dynamic world. Our young people must be equipped not just with certificates but with skills, innovation, and entrepreneurial capacity, and that is what Mr President is doing.

“Key among these is the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which is expanding access to higher education; the establishment of new tertiary institutions( including in my village, Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo); improved engagement with academic unions; and policies that are helping to stabilise the academic calendar with a view of ensuring that students graduate on time. These are critical foundations for a stronger future,” he noted.

Senator Barau stressed that education remains central to the Tinubu administration’s broader vision for economic growth and national transformation, urging students to take full advantage of the opportunities being created.

“Our young people must be equipped not just with certificates, but with skills, innovation, and entrepreneurial capacity,” he said.

While acknowledging the historic role of Nigerian students in nation-building, the Deputy Senate President described NANS as a critical partner in advancing government efforts aimed at youth development and inclusive growth.

Senator Barau urged the leadership of NANS to sustain its role as a responsible voice for students and a partner in building a stable and prosperous Nigeria

“Let your activism always be guided by patriotism, integrity, and a genuine desire to build a sound nation that we shall all be proud of. Let this 45th anniversary be more than a celebration of the past; let it be a renewed commitment to the future: A future of unity, opportunity, justice, equity, and shared prosperity,” he said.