Air Peace Lagos-bound flight was disrupted by a bird strike shortly before takeoff in Abuja on Thursday.

A bird strike is a collision between a bird and an aircraft which is in flight or on a takeoff or landing roll.

According to a statement by Ejike Ndiulo, its head of corporate communications, Air Peace said the flight from Abuja to Lagos took off around 6:30am.

“We wish to inform our esteemed passengers that our Abuja-Lagos 06:30 flight experienced a bird strike before take-off, prompting a ramp return as a safety measure. All passengers disembarked normally,” the airline said.

“We have deployed a replacement aircraft for the affected flight in order to minimize disruptions, thus ensuring that passengers continue their journeys promptly.

“We appeal for the understanding of our valued passengers impacted by this development, as well as those on other flights that may experience delays.

“At Air Peace, we are committed to providing safe, comfortable, and reliable air travel for all our passengers.”

A passenger, Inibehe Effiong, a Lagos-based human rights lawyer, took to his Facebook page to share his experience on the flight.

Effiong said the development threw some passengers into panic with the attendant screaming.

“While taxing on the runway and just before takeoff, our Air Peace flight from Abuja to Lagos scheduled for 6:30 AM today was stopped forcefully, resulting in panic and screams by some passengers,” he posted.

“The captain attributed the incident to a bird strike. We have been deboarded to await either a replacement or repair of the aircraft.

“Thankfully, whatever happened did not occur after takeoff. It would have been scarier.”

A few minutes later, Effiong posted that the faulty aircraft had been replaced and the passengers were already boarding preparatory to the Lagos trip.

On November 4, one of Air Peace’s flights heading to Abuja from Benin could not continue the trip due to a technical snag the aircraft encountered shortly after takeoff.

Access Holdings has announced that Access Bank United Kingdom (UK) has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Afrasia Bank Limited, the fourth-largest bank in Mauritius by assets.

In a statement on Thursday, Olakunle Aderinokun, head of media relations at Access Holdings, said Mauritius holds a strategic advantage, with the financial sector contributing 13.4 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

He said the acquisition will provide Access UK with a robust platform to grow its personal and corporate banking operations.

“Furthermore, Access Bank will utilize Mauritius as a strategic hub for trade finance and regional connectivity, thereby enhancing its capacity to facilitate cross-border transactions across Africa and beyond,” Aderinokun said.

“The transaction represents a transformational step forward for Access UK and the overall Access Holdings’ banking franchise.

“At the end of its fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, Afrasia Bank recorded Total Assets of more than US$5.7 billion and Net Profit After Tax of US$152.4 million.”

Roosevelt Ogbonna, chief executive officer (CEO) of Access Bank, said Mauritius offers immense potential as an international financial hub.

“This acquisition marks a pivotal moment in our African growth strategy, reinforcing our position as a leading Pan-African financial institution,” he said.

“Mauritius offers immense potential as an international financial hub, and through Afrasia Bank, we are excited to unlock new opportunities to drive trade, support businesses, and foster economic inclusion across the region as we continue our mission to be the World’s Most Respected African Bank.”

On his part, Jamie Simmonds, managing director of Access Bank UK, said Afrasia Bank offers the financial institution a sustainable platform for long-term profitability due to its strong balance sheet and reputable brand in Mauritius.

Simmonds said the deal aligns with the bank’s strategy to diversify and future-proof its earnings while enabling clients to access global markets easily.

On October 29, during a media parley, Ogbonna said the bank will continue to invest in other African economies as part of its growth strategy.

The NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) has signed a gas supply deal with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.

The agreement was signed by Justin Ezeala, the managing director of NGML, and Aliko Dangote, the president and CEO of the Dangote Group, on Tuesday.

The gas sale and purchase agreement (GSPA), signed at the corporate head office of Dangote in Lagos, outlines the supply of natural gas for power generation and feedstock at the refinery.

Under the arrangement, the NGML — a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited — will supply gas of about 100 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) for 10 years.

In a statement on Wednesday, Olufemi Soneye, the chief corporate communications officer at NNPC, said the milestone conforms with President Bola Tinubu’s policy of utilising Nigeria’s abundant gas resources towards revamping the nation’s industrial growth and kickstarting its economic prosperity.

“This development, which sees a huge investment of this nature penned with zero capital expenditure (CAPEX) outlay, has been described by many as unprecedented in the history of NGML or any gas Local Distribution Company (LDC) in the country,” the statement reads.

“Under the terms of the agreement, NGML will supply 100 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCF/D), 50MMSCF/D being firm supply and the rest 50MMSCF/D interruptible natural gas supply to the refinery for an initial period of 10 years, with options for renewal and growth.

“This collaboration is a significant step toward ensuring the operational success of the Dangote Refinery and enhancing Nigeria’s domestic gas utilization.

“NNPC Ltd, through NGML, its gas marketing subsidiary, continues to lead efforts in promoting the use of domestic gas to support industries and
businesses nationwide.”

Soneye said the agreement represents a milestone for both companies, aligning with their shared commitment to boosting local production and providing vital products for the benefit of all Nigerians.

He said the deal further proves NGML’s unwavering commitment to business excellence and fulfilling NNPC Ltd’s core mandate of ensuring Nigeria’s energy security through the execution of strategic gas projects across the country.