Air Peace, Nigeria’s flag carrier, says it will increase airfares on local routes from November 1.

According to an internal memo, seen by TheCable, the airline said it would increase fares on the route by 100 percent.

“Please be informed that effective 1st November 2024, Air Peace would be adding a 100% increase to their fares across all local routes,” the circular reads.

“Kindly reach out to your dedicated consultant for further support.”

According to a source at the airline who preferred anonymity, the memo was a leak that was sent to private partners.

“It was a leak from someone. It was shared to someone and the person leaked it online. The issue is being treated internally,” the source said.

TheCable has reached out to the corporate communications department of Air Peace for clarification.

The airline commenced its international flight on March 30, from Lagos to Gatwick Airport in London.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says Nigerians should disregard claims that the old naira notes will cease to be legal tender on December 31, 2024.

In a statement on X on Thursday, Sidi Ali, Hakama, acting director, corporate communications, said the old series of N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes will remain legal tender as ordered by the supreme court on November 29, 2023.

Earlier, the house of representatives said December 31, 2024, was the deadline for old naira notes to cease being legal tender.

However, CBN said its directive to all its branches to continue to issue and accept all banknotes — old and re-designed — to and from banks remains in force.

“The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to discussions at different
fora suggesting that the old series of the N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes shall cease to be legal tender on December 31, 2024. We wish to state categorically that such claims are false and calculated to disrupt the country’s payment system,” CBN said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, granting the prayer of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to extend the use of old Naira banknotes ad infinitum, subsists.

“Similarly, the CBN’s directive to all its branches to continue to issue and accept all denominations of Nigerian banknotes, old and re-designed, to and from deposit money banks (DMBs) remains in force.

“It will be recalled that the Supreme Court ordered that the old series of N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes shall continue to be legal tender alongside the redesigned versions. Accordingly, all banknotes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will continue to remain legal tender indefinitely.”

CBN advised Nigerians to continue to accept all naira banknotes — old or redesigned — for their day-to-day transactions.

“We, therefore, advise members of the public to disregard suggestions that the said series of banknotes will cease to be legal tender on December 31, 2024,” the apex bank said.

“We urge Nigerians to continue to accept all Naira banknotes (old or redesigned) for their day-to-day transactions and handle them with the utmost care to safeguard and protect their lifecycle.”

CBN further urged the general public to embrace alternative modes of payment, e-channels, to reduce pressure on the use of physical cash.

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to embark on a strike over the seizure of two trucks laden with automotive gas oil (AGO).

PTD said the trucks carrying AGO, popularly known as diesel, were allegedly seized in July by a task force setup by Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP).

If the union embarks on a strike, it could affect the supply of petroleum products across the country.

In a statement on Thursday, Augustine Egbon, PTD’s national chair, said though samples of the products from the two trucks have been certified by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Products Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the tankers have not been released.

“The truck with registration number, GRY 155XA loaded 49,000 litres of AGO at Prudent Energy Limited in Oghara, Delta state,” Egbon said.

“The destination was Sokoto but it was impounded in Funtua, Katsina, State on July 31, 2024.

“The second truck with registration number, TWD272XA, with 45,000 litres of AGO loaded the products at Integrated Oil and Gas in Apapa, Lagos.

“Its destination was Yobe State before it was impounded in August in Abuja.

“We have presented authentic documents to the police that the products were genuine and the point of loading. The IGP office has continued to ignore us.

“At our last NEC meeting, we issued a deadline to them, demanding for the release of the impounded trucks and a stoppage to the continued harassment of our members.

“We have been making our contributions to assist the federal government in its genuine efforts to make petroleum products available and ease the sufferings of Nigerians.

“It is unfortunate that the office of the IGP is unmindful of the threat that the excesses of its men constitute to the federal government determined efforts to promote effective distribution of petroleum products and peace in the industry.

“We are giving another two weeks’ notice.”

The PTD chair said if the police fail to release the trucks within the ultimatum they have given, tanker drivers would not lift products from the depots.

Muyiwa Adejobi, police spokesperson, has been contacted for comments.