The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its air patrol and surveillance capabilities with the acquisition of a Cessna Grand Caravan EX-208B aircraft.

The Comptroller-General of NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, announced this development in a statement issued by the service’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Sunday in Abuja.

Describing the acquisition as a “game-changer,” Adeniyi emphasized that the aircraft would significantly boost the service’s ability to combat smuggling and enhance border security.

The newly acquired aircraft, registered as 5N-BAA, is equipped with a modern Garmin G 1000 avionics cockpit system, allowing it to operate effectively in various conditions, including day, night, and low visibility. Adeniyi highlighted in the statement that the aircraft’s capacity to carry up to ten officers and its six-hour aerial endurance will greatly improve the NCS’s surveillance operations.

“This aircraft will be a game-changer for the NCS air wing,” Adeniyi stated. “Its ability to carry ten officers, coupled with its six-hour aerial endurance, will significantly enhance our capacity for air surveillance and border patrol.”

The statement further outlined that the aircraft is expected to play a vital role in detecting smuggling routes, deploying armed personnel, and providing swift support for ground operations.

This capability is especially crucial in Nigeria’s vast and often challenging border regions, where rapid response times can be the difference between intercepting illegal activities and missing critical opportunities.

By providing an aerial advantage, the Cessna Grand Caravan allows the NCS to survey difficult terrain and monitor suspicious movements that would be difficult to track from the ground.

The statement emphasized that the Cessna EX-208B, equipped with the reliable PT6 Pratt and Whitney engine, is built to withstand the rigorous demands of border security operations.

Its powerful engine allows for operations on remote airstrips and access to areas that might be challenging for other aircraft.

Adeniyi highlighted the aircraft’s rugged versatility, noting that its design supports short-field take-offs and landings, making it ideal for rapid deployment across varied terrains, from dense forests to open savannas.

This capability is expected to significantly enhance the NCS’s ability to conduct surprise inspections and swiftly address emerging threats.

The statement further described the aircraft as a strategic asset for Nigeria Customs Technical and Hangar Services Ltd, offering not only logistical support but also opportunities for revenue generation.

Its dual role in surveillance and transportation enables it to fulfil multiple functions, aligning with the service’s broader operational objectives.

Additionally, the statement noted that the aircraft’s cost-efficiency, due to its relatively low operational and maintenance expenses compared to similar models, makes it a sustainable choice for long-term air surveillance.

This ensures that the service can fully leverage the aircraft’s capabilities without burdening its budget, allowing for consistent operations over time.

Richard, the only son of Pauline Tallen, former minister of women affairs, is dead.

According to NAN, the family announced his passing in a statement on Sunday.

Richard, aged 42, reportedly died on Saturday after being hospitalised at Cedar Crest Hospital in Abuja.

“The cause of his death was not immediately known but he was said to have been placed on oxygen in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Friday night,” the statement said.

“Burial arrangements will be announced by the Family.

“Eternal rest grant unto him oh Lord, may perpetual light shine upon him, may the soul of Richard and all departed VOBA RIP. Amen”

The deceased was a graduate of computer science from a United States university and was blessed with a wife and three children.

Umo Eno, governor of Akwa Ibom, has handed over the office of the first lady to Helen Eno-Obareki, his daughter, following the death of his wife, Patience Umo Eno.

The governor spoke in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital, on Friday during a condolence visit by Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s first lady.

Eno said his administration would sustain the office of the deceased and that Helen would help coordinate its affairs.

“Unfortunately for me, I happen to be the first sitting governor to have lost his wife and I pray it will not happen again to anybody, it is my earnest prayer,” Eno said.

“It is not an easy task ahead but I want to please beg you, I will continue to sustain the office of the first lady and I want to please introduce our daughter, Helen, [and] hand her over to you ma’am. She will continue to coordinate the office, your excellency.”

Eno thanked Oluremi Tinubu for her calls and prayers while his wife was ill, saying she is a mother to the entire nation who — despite party differences — relates with everyone.

“We are a PDP state but that has never crossed your mind in dealing with people. You have been consistently the mother of the nation,” he said.

“Please help extend our warmest appreciation to our father, the president and commander in chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

On her part, Oluremi condoled with the governor, saying the deceased was a “peaceful, God-fearing woman”.

‘A LOSS TO THE NATION’

In a subsequent visit, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described Patience’s death as a loss to the entire nation.

“God gives and God takes. He is a man of God, she herself was a great woman of God and for me, I believe that yes, on the earthly plane, we have lost a first lady, he has lost a wife, the family has lost a mother and lost a grandmother but they have gained an angel in heaven,” Akpabio said.

“So my prayer is that this death will be the beginning of great legacies for Umo Eno because, as she is there now in heaven closer to God, she will be guiding, praying for him and interceding and then helping Akwa Ibom to prosper more under his tenure.”