Author name: Umar Idris Shuaibu

In a move to modernise Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), in partnership with MTN Nigeria, has launched free high-speed WiFi services for passengers across selected international airports. The initiative was piloted on Thursday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Terminal 2 in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, officially unveiled the service at MMIA Terminal 2. She was represented at the event by the Director of Airport Operations, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood, who described the initiative as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem. According to Kuku, the rollout sets a new benchmark in digital infrastructure and passenger experience across the country’s airports. She disclosed that the free WiFi service would be extended to the MMIA Temporary Terminal within weeks, before expanding to airports in Enugu, Port Harcourt, and Kano over the next three months. Read Also: Ganduje, Kuku Lead Nigeria’s Airports Into a New Era “In 21st century Nigeria, no airport should remain an offline island,” she said. “This collaboration with MTN Nigeria demonstrates how effective Public-Private Partnership alignment can modernise infrastructure and strengthen the nation’s digital economy.” Kuku reaffirmed FAAN’s commitment to bridging service gaps and improving operational efficiency nationwide. “This WiFi is our promise that FAAN is listening. While we have turned on the signal today, the message is clear: Nigerian aviation is entering a new phase of innovation, partnership, and commitment to excellence,” she added. She noted that the project aligns with the digital economy agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the reform-driven vision of the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo. Kuku also commended MTN Nigeria for its technical expertise and investment, describing the partnership as transformative and purpose-driven. Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, the Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, assured passengers of reliable, secure, and efficient connectivity. “This initiative reflects our shared commitment to enhancing passenger experience and expanding digital access across public infrastructure,” she said. She noted that airports serve as key gateways for business travellers, tourists, and service providers who rely on seamless internet connectivity. “With this service, passengers can stay connected while waiting to board, in transit, or upon arrival,” she added. MTN Nigeria also announced plans to commence on-ground engagement campaigns at the Lagos and Abuja airports in the coming weeks to drive awareness and encourage usage. The telecom company stated that the project reinforces its commitment to national infrastructure development and expanding digital inclusion in public spaces.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) Bill into law, days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unveiled the timetable for the 2027 general elections. The signing ceremony took place on Wednesday at about 5:00 p.m. at the State House, Abuja, in the presence of principal officers of the National Assembly. The National Assembly had on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) Bill, paving the way for presidential assent. The latest amendment follows intense public debate over the electronic transmission of election results in real time, a contentious issue that has generated nationwide discussions among political stakeholders and civil society groups. Read Also: INEC Sets Dates for 2027 Presidential, Governorship Elections Last week, protests erupted at the National Assembly complex as civil society organisations and opposition figures urged lawmakers to mandate the live transmission of results directly from polling units to INEC’s central server. The protesters maintained that real-time electronic transmission would minimise manipulation of results and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process. However, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and some stakeholders expressed concerns over the technical feasibility of implementing live transmission nationwide, particularly in areas with poor telecommunications infrastructure. They advocated a phased or hybrid approach that would permit manual collation in instances where electronic systems encounter challenges. The new amendment is expected to shape preparations for the 2027 general elections, as INEC and political actors begin aligning with the revised legal framework.

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria, has directed the immediate disengagement of directors who have spent eight years or more in the directorate cadre. This was conveyed in a memo issued on Tuesday and signed by Tetshoma Dafeta, who oversees the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the ministry. Those affected include directors serving within the ministry, federal hospitals, and affiliated agencies. The directive follows an earlier mandate requiring all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to implement the eight-year tenure policy for directors and permanent secretaries, in line with a fresh deadline issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. According to the memo, the enforcement of the policy is in accordance with the Revised Public Service Rules 2021. Read Also: At 50 Years, Murtala’s Legacy Still Outpaces Many Governments “Further to the Eight (8)-Year Tenure Policy of the Federal Public Service, which mandates the compulsory retirement of Directors after eight years in that rank, as provided in the Revised Public Service Rules 2021 (PSR 020909), I am directed to remind you to take necessary action to ensure that all affected officers who have spent eight years as Directors, effective 31st December, 2025, are disengaged from Service immediately,” the memo read. The circular also directed all heads of agencies and parastatals to ensure that affected officers hand over all official documents and government property without delay. It further instructed that salaries of affected officers be stopped through the IPPIS Unit, while any emoluments received beyond their disengagement date must be refunded to the government treasury. The memo referenced an earlier circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, dated February 10, 2026, which reiterated the enforcement of the policy. Additionally, all agencies were directed to forward the nominal roll of directorate officers across specified salary structures to designated official email addresses for monitoring purposes. The ministry warned that officials from both the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the ministry would conduct compliance monitoring, reiterating that failure to adhere to the directive would attract stiff sanctions.