society
EXCITEMENT AS FIRST AIRCRAFT LANDS AT EKITI AIRPORT
EXCITEMENT AS FIRST AIRCRAFT LANDS AT EKITI AIRPORT
Aviation Minister Inaugurates Airport
” My job is done”, Fayemi tells Ekiti people as he leaves office
It was a dream come true for the people of Ekiti as the Ekiti State Agro-Allied International Airport, Ado- Ekiti, was inaugurated for public use shortly after the first aircraft landed at the facility on Saturday.
With the commissioning and landing of the first flight on its soil, Ekiti has joined the elite club of states in Nigeria that boast of functional airport which is expected to boost export of agricultural produce, service educational and health institutions and abundant tourism potentials in the state.
The first aircraft, ATR 42 Nigeria Air Force plane piloted by Flight Lieutenant E.A. Balogun, landed at the airport’s runway at exactly 10.20am amidst cheers and excitement by eminent guests, government officials and members of the public who came to witness the historic occasion.
Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who performed the official inauguration of the airport, was among the personalities on board of the aircraft which flew all the way from Abuja to make the historic landing on Ekiti soil.
An excited outgoing Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who could not hide his joy expressed satisfaction that the project eventually saw the light of the day ten years after its conception during his first administration in 2012.
A fulfilled Fayemi at the conclusion of his speech before the commissioning of the airport said: “My job is done, Ekiti Kete,” which drew a thunderous applause from the crowd that massed on the tarmac to be part of the auspicious occasion.
Dr. Fayemi also used the occasion to give an assurance to the people of the state that the federal roads that are in dilapidated condition would be given attention to bring relief to their users and complement the newly inaugurated airport project.
The Governor said himself, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe have been making strong representations to the Federal Government to facilitate urgent intervention on federal roads in the state that are in present state of disrepair.
Shortly after the plane landed and taxied to the tarmac, the excited crowd of residents and guests drew out their phones to take the pictures of the moving aircraft and enthusiastically welcomed the Aviation Minister and officials off agencies under his ministry who disembarked from the aircraft.
In his welcome address, Mr. Zhang Zichen, the Chairman of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which handled the project, praised Governor Fayemi for the vision which he said would change the face of the state economy.
Mr. Zichen explained that the airport is not just a project but “the engine of the economy of the state” said it would open up Ekiti to more development and investment to the benefit of the state and business community.
The CCECC boss who also described the airport as a “landmark project” said it was among notable projects completed by its corporation. He also hailed the Aviation Minister for being part of history and making the airport a reality.
Dr. Fayemi said the inauguration of the airport was in fulfillment of his promise to continue to work for the people of the state who elected him to his very last day in office saying the project saw the light of the day despite the very limited resources available to the state.
The Governor noted that his administration defied the challenges of COVID-19 which affected global, national and state economies to ensure that the dream of the airport became a reality which culminated in the test landing of the first flight on his last day in office.
Going down the memory lane, the Governor recalled that the move to start the project began during his first tenure in 2012 with a Committee on the Viability of the Airport led by legal luminary, Aare Babalola, raised by his then administration noting that the Committee submitted its report in 2012.
According to him, his first administration through the State Executive Council considered and approved the report submitted which was accommodated in the its plan for 2013-2015 Medium Term Sector Strategy but the plan was halted by his exit from office after the 2014 governorship election which placed the project on suspension.
The Governor said his successor in office, Mr. Ayo Fayose, embraced the idea to continue with the project but it couldn’t see the light of the day until the tenure ended in 2018.
He said further: “Upon my assumption of office in 2018, I appointed aviation experts and industry related officials to kickstart the implementation of the project. They made several Advocate visits to communities in order to meet the requirements for the establishment of the airport.
“The administration took the following steps: we secured the approval, the revalidation of approval from the Federal Ministry of Aviation. We also secured the Department of State Services (DSS) clearance, we paid all the necessary fees for the construction, planning and certification to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and conducting Environmental and Sustainability Impact Assessment.
“As a government that adheres strictly to the rule of law with unwavering respect for the rights of our people, we made several appeals to communities affected for enumeration of their farmlands to ensure commensurate monetary compensation is paid on their crops.
“To this end, a total of 669 claimants were duly compensated out of those that presented themselves for the exercise. We acquired 4,017 hectares of land from nine communities: Ago Aduloju, Aso Ayegunle, Bolorunduro, Igbogun, Araromi, Obbo, Afao, Orun, Igbemo and Ijan covering three local government areas in the state.”
Aviation Minister Sirika also announced to the excited audience that the Federal Government would site a cargo facility at the airport. He described the Ekiti Airport as “an extremely very important project” which would turn facilitate import and export of goods and commodities.
Senator Sirika recalled that when he was on the site for groundbreaking in October 2019, there were divergent views as to the viability of the project noting that airports are being used by what he called “one-city nation-states in the world” to drive their economy.
He added: “I use to make an assertion, thay one mile long road leads to nowhere but one mile runway leads to everywhere. You see, I came here today through the runway of this airport provided by Governor Fayemi. There is future with this project, market and trade can drive everybody here.
“I was at ABUAD, I saw the university,t he farm, the industrial park and the hospital. If there is an airport here, it will connect people to this facility and reduce foreign medical tourism. Airports are by no means the best catalysts for economic growth of any state or nation.
“35 per cent of global trade by value is moved through airports and $18.6 billion of cargo is moved daily through air transportation. The wealthy among you should take to agriculture for example and begin to produce things that you will export to other parts of the world.
“You can be land-locked but you cannot be sky-locked. We can all see the importance of having a facility like this. Thank you Mr Governor, you have provided this facility for the people of Ekiti State; they should own it, they should own it.”
The guests were later conducted on facility tour round the terminal and other facilities at the airport.
Personalities who were present included the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; the wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye; Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Dr. Eniola Ajayi; Representatives of Ekiti in Diaspora, traditional rulers, state lawmakers and officials from the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Information Minister Did Not Dismiss Governor Zulum’s Security Concerns
The Office of the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation has noted a misleading caption by an online publication suggesting that the Honourable Minister, Mohammed Idris, (fnipr), dismissed the recent concerns raised by the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, regarding the security situation in the state.
This is categorically false and a gross distortion of the Minister’s remarks. At no time did the Honourable Minister say “Ignore Zulum, Boko Haram is not taking over Borno.” Such a headline is not only sensational but deliberately crafted as a deliberate act of misinformation to stoke public misunderstanding and distract from the serious work the Federal Government is doing to address security challenges.
In his response to media inquiries on Governor Zulum’s remarks, the Honourable Minister acknowledged that while the Federal Government has made significant progress in restoring peace and security across many parts of the country, some areas continue to face security challenges.
He emphasized the ongoing efforts by the military and security forces, the sustained investments in security hardware and intelligence, and the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating terrorism and banditry under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).
The Minister further called on all stakeholders, including state governments, to continue partnering with the Federal Government to bring lasting peace to affected communities.
His comments were intended to provide context on the progress made, not to dismiss or downplay legitimate concerns.
We urge media platforms to uphold the ethics of responsible journalism by avoiding sensationalism and publishing only verified and accurate information. The task of rebuilding peace and security in our nation is a collective one that must not be undermined by reckless and irresponsible reportage.
Rabiu Ibrahim
Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation.
10th April, 2025
society
Broken Promises and Broken Backs: The ₦70,000 Minimum Wage Law and the Betrayal of Nigerian Workers
“Broken Promises and Broken Backs: The ₦70,000 Minimum Wage Law and the Betrayal of Nigerian Workers”
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
In a nation where the cost of living rises faster than hope, Nigeria’s workers remain the punching bag of economic mismanagement, political indifference, and institutional hypocrisy. It is nothing short of a national disgrace that almost a year after the Federal Government passed the ₦70,000 minimum wage into law in June 2024, only 16 out of 36 states have bothered to implement it. That leaves 20 states—more than half the federation—brazenly violating a law meant to protect the most vulnerable: local government workers, primary school teachers, cleaners, and support staff who keep the wheels of governance turning.
A Law Betrayed
The passage of the ₦70,000 minimum wage law was hailed as a necessary step to cushion the blow of the floating naira, spiraling inflation, and the withdrawal of fuel subsidies. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the bill into law amidst fanfare and political grandstanding, declaring that “no worker in Nigeria should earn below a livable wage.”
Yet, in reality, those words have rung hollow. In states like Kogi, Bauchi, Zamfara, and even oil-rich Delta, the new minimum wage remains a cruel illusion. Workers still earn the outdated ₦30,000 or, in some cases, even less. Local government employees and primary school teachers in these states have become beggars in a country they serve diligently.
Economic Injustice in Broad Daylight
What exactly does ₦70,000 buy today? In 2025, ₦70,000 is barely enough to cover rent in most urban centers, let alone feed a family, pay for transportation, school fees, or basic healthcare. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the average monthly cost of living for a Nigerian family of four is now over ₦180,000. So even the ₦70,000 wage—far from generous—is the barest minimum needed to scrape by.
Yet many state governments are dragging their feet, citing “inadequate funds” and “bureaucratic delays.” These are tired excuses from administrations that continue to waste public resources on bloated convoys, foreign trips, and frivolous allowances. Economist Dr. Bismarck Rewane, CEO of Financial Derivatives Company, remarked in a recent interview, “State governments crying about affordability should look inward. There is enough waste and duplication in their budgets to fund this minimum wage if fiscal priorities are restructured.”
Where is the Accountability?
It is important to ask: why are these states not being held accountable? The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has issued threats, organized protests, and released statements, but what has changed? Why has the federal government, which passed the law, not enforced it with the same zeal it uses to collect taxes or chase debtors?
It is yet another example of Nigeria’s selective enforcement of laws—one for the elites, another for the poor. If a citizen fails to pay taxes or utility bills, the system comes down hard. But when governments fail to obey a law passed by their own legislature, silence and complicity reign supreme.
Voices from the Ground
Workers across the 20 defaulting states are speaking up—but who’s listening? Mr. Musa, a local government clerk in Gombe State, says, “I have not been able to pay my children’s school fees since last term. They keep telling us they are ‘working on it.’ Since June last year? My salary is ₦28,000. What can I do with that today?”
Mrs. Onome, a primary school teacher in Edo State, adds, “They want us to teach with passion, but they don’t pay us enough to eat. The government talks about education reform while starving the educators.”
The Hypocrisy of Governance
This situation reveals a deeper malaise—Nigeria’s chronic hypocrisy when it comes to governance. Governors are quick to increase their own allowances, fund their re-election campaigns with public money, and host lavish state dinners, but suddenly become frugal when it concerns paying the minimum wage.
As respected economist Prof. Pat Utomi rightly put it, “A nation that fails to prioritize the welfare of its workers is a nation preparing for social implosion. Wage justice is not a luxury—it is a foundation for peace, productivity, and patriotism.”
Political Will or Political Wickedness?
Some states like Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Enugu have implemented the new wage and are adjusting their budgets accordingly. This proves that implementation is not about resources—it’s about political will. The states that have refused to comply are not necessarily the poorest; they are the most irresponsible.
The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) reports that all 36 states received an average of ₦60 billion each in federal allocations between July 2024 and March 2025. If even 10% of that allocation were directed toward wages, most states would easily meet the minimum wage threshold.
The Role of Civil Society and Media
Civil society organizations, labor unions, and the media must do more than issue statements. There must be coordinated action, legal battles, and naming-and-shaming campaigns. Let every Nigerian know which governors are breaking the law. Let them be exposed in every forum, from town halls to social media.
In the words of Femi Falana (SAN), “Workers must rise to defend their rights. When government disobeys the law, civil disobedience becomes duty.” Falana further suggested that workers should sue non-compliant states and seek judicial enforcement of the wage law.
A Call to Action
Enough is enough. This is not the time for diplomacy or patience. The Nigerian worker has endured decades of deception, delay, and disdain. We must demand a national audit of state compliance with the minimum wage law, backed by sanctions for erring states.
Let the governors who refuse to pay their workers feel the pressure. Let every non-compliant state be exposed. Let labor unions organize strategic strikes. Let civil society file class-action lawsuits. And let the international community take note that Nigeria cannot claim to be democratic while treating its workforce like slaves.
Conclusion: Justice Delayed is Justice Denied
The refusal of 20 states to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage is not just an administrative failure—it is a betrayal of trust, a violation of human dignity, and a ticking time bomb. The poor cannot continue to subsidize the waste and luxury of the rich.
We cannot claim to build a prosperous future on the backs of underpaid, disrespected workers. If the government is serious about peace, progress, and productivity, it must start by paying its debts—starting with the most basic one: a fair wage.
And to those governors still playing politics with the lives of workers, remember this: history never forgets. Nigerians are watching, and justice may be slow, but it always arrives.
Uniqueness, Raw Talent, Creativity distinguishes Femi Trinity among Colleagues .
One of the famous Music Act making waves in the entertainment industry with dynamisms and ability to translate Songs into creativity is no other person than the famous Falade Oluwafemi aka Femi Trinity of Trinity Rhythmic band,
He is Good,Talented, Handsome, Creative and very humble to all his fans across the globe
He has created a niche for himself, therefore His name is now a household name in the entertainment world Particularly Fans and lovers of Live Bands.
Femi Trinity Talents to sing creative songs is beyond any ones imaginations, full of Power he has the ability to transfer any one from a stage of helplessness to a full stage of hope, his songs give hope, rethink, and melodious.
Without mincing words Femi trinity is a talent full of great unique experiences, His Christian choir background page way for him in the music industry and stands him out among his colleagues in the industry, when Femi Trinity sings, he takes full charge, releasing messages to all his fans and making sure they get the best of him at all times
The jeka a baa na owo e crooner recently shake the federal capital city of Abuja with the best of his songs along side his crew members, it was really a moment where Society meets music, it was never a dull moment,a fans who witness the show remarked
This is why I said Femi Trinity remains the best, heaven is just his starting point, he has a very big hidden Talent, when well exploited will make him a popular Music Act across the Globe,
If you want the best of Music, Femi Trinity is the talent that can give you good music for your money
Watch out for Part 2, more of Femi Trinity
Packaged by
Hon Babatunde Samuel Seidu
Youths Ambassador
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