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Private Jet owners grieve over maintenance cost, Turn expensive toys to commercial use + All the millions splashed on maintenance

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This is definitely not the best of seasons for wealthy Nigerians who are owners of the expensive toys called private jets. We reliably gathered that private jet owners in Nigeria are currently groaning under the pain of exchange rate which has placed the naira on 316 against a dollar.

 

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It would be recalled that as at 2015, reports confirmed that  the 250 private jet owners in Nigeria splashed an average of N34.9 billion (the calculation then was an average of N166 against a dollar ) to maintain their expensive toys. Information available to Sahara Weekly revealed that due to the splurge in naira which placed it at N310 against a dollar, they would spend about N65.3 billion. Checks by us revealed that aside splashing over N1.8 trillion to acquire their jets, they spend an estimated $46million monthly (that’s about N7.6 billion altogether)  as salary to their expatriate pilots, but now that a dollar is equal to N310, they would cough out about N14.2 billion. They splashed about $1 million monthly to the crew, which was equivalent to N166 million then but now N310 million, while a whopping N25 billion is splashed on general maintenance annually by them.

Two expatriates usually man these toys and their take-home monthly is $10,000 (which was equivalent to N1.6 million last year but is now N3.1m). That means an average of 500 pilots are in charge of the wheel of these jets. Thus, monthly, the 250 jet owners squander over N750 million, and that equals N9 billion annually.

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Also, an average of three cabin crew members are usually on board, and their monthly take-home is averagely N100,000. Thus, an average of 750 crew members are on the payroll of these wealthy Nigerians and they splash an average of N75 million and their monthly salary and N900 million annually.

Furthermore, an estimated N100 million is expended on each jet annually for maintenance at home and abroad. This includes daily landing and parking fees at home and abroad, A and B checks, mostly in the USA, several millions on jet fuel, among others. Consequently, the naira issue has a negative effect on the jet owners and many are not finding it easy to maintain them under the present economic situation.

Nigerians who have taken the front seat in the business of private jet ownership, which is now a trend and competition among the rich in the country, are not finding it easy under the current administration as some of them have converted them to commercial purposes.

Industry sources revealed that most of them are battling with financial challenges, which necessitated them being converted to commercial purposes. In fact, we reliably gathered that some of them, like Bishop Oyedepo, have sold some of their spare jets. Out of the four jets he has, we learnt, he sold out three.

It was reported that the penchant for private jet acquisition has cost wealthy Nigerians over N1.8 trillion aside the several billions used to maintain them annually. Investigation The luxury trend actually rose by 700 per cent between 2007 and 2014 and this increased the rate of private jet acquisition from 20 in 2007 to over 250 in 2014, placing Nigeria and China as the fastest growing private jet markets in the world.

Aircraft manufacturers like Bombardier, Gulf Stream, Embraer, Hawker Siddley and Challenger have made Nigeria their huge market because of the demand for these aircraft types.

The common brands of private jets in Nigeria are Hawker Siddley 125-800 and 900XP, Gulfstream 450, 550 and 650; Bombardier Challenger 604, 605; Global Express; Embraer Legacy and Falcons.

 

 

 

 

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Crude Price Surge: Importers, Depots Hike PMS to N940, Dangote Maintains at N825/L

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Dangote is committed to operational sustainability

Crude Price Surge: Importers, Depots Hike PMS to N940, Dangote Maintains at N825/L

 

 

The volatility of crude oil prices in the international market has harmed Nigeria’s downstream oil sector, with importers and depot operators raising petrol prices to between N905 and N940 per litre. In contrast, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has maintained its ex-depot price at N825 per litre.

 

Crude Price Surge: Importers, Depots Hike PMS to N940, Dangote Maintains at N825/L

According to data gathered, Rainoil increased its price to N920 from N850 per litre, while Fynefield and Mainland raised their ex-depot prices to N930 and N920, respectively, an increase of N50 and N10.

 

 

Additional pricing data showed Sigmund selling at N920 per litre, Matrix Warri at N910, and NIPCO rising sharply to N920 from N827 the previous week. Aiteo was reported to be selling petrol at N920 per litre.

 

 

Further increases were recorded as Swift Oil moved to N920, Emadeb and Wosbab to N910, and First Royal to N905. Pinnacle made the most significant adjustment, now selling at N940 per litre.

 

 

These price hikes follow sustained gains in global crude oil markets, with Brent crude trading at $75.63 and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) at $74.03 per barrel, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

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Nigerian Bank Customers Cry Foul Over Excess Charges, Demand CBN Action as AI Sparks Hope for Reform

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Nigerian Bank Customers Cry Foul Over Excess Charges, Demand CBN Action as AI Sparks Hope for Reform

Nigerian Bank Customers Cry Foul Over Excess Charges, Demand CBN Action as AI Sparks Hope for Reform

The Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN) has raised alarm over unauthorized and excessive charges levied on customers’ bank accounts, urging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to intervene urgently before public frustration boils over.

BCAN President, Dr. Uju Ogubunka, made this known on Thursday while speaking at the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Conference hosted by SuperNews. Themed “Power of AI: Enhancing Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction for Better Financial Services Experience,” the event spotlighted the role of emerging technologies in improving Nigeria’s banking landscape.

Ogubunka revealed that BCAN has formally petitioned the CBN concerning the controversial end-user billing model for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), which deducts charges directly from customers’ bank balances—contrary, he said, to the CBN’s approved bank fee framework.

“On the issue of excess charges, we’ve written to the Central Bank to find a permanent solution. If they fail to act, bank customers may have no choice but to take to the streets. Let’s pray it doesn’t come to that,” he warned.

He also decried the current state of banking experiences in Nigeria, describing customer satisfaction as practically nonexistent. “If people were truly satisfied, we wouldn’t be seeing petitions piling up at the CBN, NDIC, mediation centers, and the courts. AI has not yet made the impact we expect in Nigeria’s banking sector,” Ogubunka noted.

Keynote speaker Johnson Chukwu emphasized how artificial intelligence is transforming global financial systems—and could do the same for Nigeria. “AI enables hyper-personalisation. One million customers, and each treated uniquely. It knows your face, your spending habits, and tailors services to your needs,” Chukwu said.

He pointed out that AI is already driving a surge in consumer credit accessibility, with instant microloans being approved based on data analytics from telecoms and banking apps. “The machines know your income and expenses. If you’re eligible, you can get a N50,000 loan in minutes,” he explained.

Chukwu also said AI could speed up complaint resolution by leveraging big data. “The system knows what to do with your complaint based on patterns and prior cases—it’s swift and effective,” he added.

He concluded by listing the “7 Cs” essential for implementing AI in finance: capacity, capability, collaboration, creativity, cognition, continuity, and control.

“AI will redefine human interaction in business. Companies that ignore it risk extinction,” Chukwu warned.

As the pressure mounts on financial institutions and regulators, both speakers agreed on one point—artificial intelligence could be the breakthrough tool for resolving long-standing issues in Nigeria’s banking sector, if properly harnessed.

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Festus Keyamo has proven that he is a true son of Delta State through Warri Airport – Igosave

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Festus Keyamo has proven that he is a true son of Delta State through Warri Airport – Igosave

…says the immense roles of the state governor, the Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori (JP) is well appreciated

One of Nigeria’s most prolific and most creative rib crackers, Otaghware Otas Onodjayeke popularly known as Igosave met with the Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Barrister Festus Keyamo to appreciate his great and selfless contributions to Aviation transportation in Delta State After Igosave dragged them to make more flights available for warri and its environs against the single flights they used to have.

In an appreciation message to the Minister, Igosave expressed the feelings of Warri people as regards the airport and how it will go a long way in boosting the economy of Delta State. He also emphasised on the incomparable and unparalleled contributions of His Excellency Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori (JP) .

Igosave was quoted during the meeting to have, on behalf of the entire people of warri and its environs say “a very big thank you to Governor Oborevwori and the Distinguished Honourable Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo for listening to the cries of the good people of Warri. Igosave added that the people need more flights to further booster economic activities in Warri and it’s environs. He urged all the people of Warri to show appreciation to this bold step taken by the Honourable Minister to ensure that a modern-day air traveling facility is provided for the people, for their own convenience and for business activities to grow in Delta State.

Igosave delivered a very thought provoking but explanatory message to the Distinguished Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, recognising his gallantry input to the Warri nation in particular and Delta State in General.

In his response, Hon. Festus Keyamo appreciated the visit of Igosave and his team and as a bonafide son of Delta state , Keyamo spoke the local dialect, expressing his views on why all hands must be on the desk to develop not only Warri but the entire Niger Delta region.

Hon. Keyamo ascertained that the input of Governor Oborevwori in Delta State. He said, the Governor calls him everyday to ascertain the ministry of Aviation’s input in Delta State and thr modalities to be implemented. Keyamo also expressed that since the 1960s, Warri has not produced any Minister in the aviation sector and this time that God has made it happened, there must be a significant sign of aviation development. The Honourable Minister said this is the first time when a sitting Governor, Minister and senator will combine together foe the development of their state.

 

Keyamo added that illumination lights will be erected at the airport so that the facility will be lightened brightly all nights because for now, there is no conventional light there and which is very important. “As a matter of fact, we are planning to upgrade the airport to international standard and I want to assure you that it’s in the 2025 budget. Our prayer now is that the Federal Government should honour the budget and make this unforgettable dream a reality. One the budget is 80% or 90% funded, of course, the project will be completed by next year. What I used to tell people is that it is not the Federal Government that owns the airport, it was owned by Shell who sold it to a company called Shoreline. All these things we are doing, we are thinking outside the box just for us to develop our region. Meanwhile those companies cannot run the facilities and that is why we need to take over and make it useful for our people.

So it’s not a Federal Government airport, it’s a private airport so it not FAAN that rubs it and not the government. So,like Asaba, Warri Airport is private and not owned by the Federal Government. Thanks.

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