By Adedapo Adesanya

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has called for a comprehensive investigation into the runway excursion of an Enugu Air aircraft during landing at the Benin Airport on Thursday.

He also expressed relief, describing the safe evacuation of all passengers and crew as a cause for gratitude in a statement on X on Friday.

Mr Obi said he received the news of the incident “with profound relief,” noting that all 68 passengers and crew members on board disembarked safely without injuries or fatalities.

Business Post reports that Flight 4264 (registration 5N-ENR) from Lagos (LOS) to Benin (BNI) got involved in the runway excursion after overrunning the end of Runway 05 during landing.

Also, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced an investigation into the incident involving the Embraer E170 aircraft at the Benin Airport.

“I join all Nigerians in thanking God Almighty that all 68 passengers and crew members on board disembarked safely, with no injuries or fatalities recorded. The preservation of human life must always remain our highest priority,” he said.

Mr Obi commended the pilot, cabin crew, and airport emergency response teams for their swift and professional response, saying their actions helped prevent a more serious outcome.

“I commend the pilot, the flight crew, and the airport emergency response teams at Benin Airport for their swift, professional, and coordinated handling of the situation, which helped avert what could have been a far more serious incident. Their composure and decisiveness under pressure deserve the highest commendation,” he stated.

While expressing gratitude for the safe outcome, Mr Obi described the incident as a reminder of the need to strengthen aviation safety measures across the country.

“The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of unwavering adherence to aviation safety protocols, rigorous aircraft maintenance, and sustained investment in airport infrastructure and operational standards across the country,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor also called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to carry out a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation into the circumstances surrounding the runway excursion.

“I urge the relevant regulatory and investigative authorities, particularly the NCAA and the NSIBo, to conduct a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident and to make their findings and recommendations public,” Mr Obi said.

He added that every aviation incident should be treated as an opportunity to improve safety standards and reinforce public confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

“Every aviation occurrence presents an opportunity to strengthen our safety systems. Learning from this incident will further reinforce public confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector and help ensure that our skies remain among the safest possible,” he added.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has threatened to impose tougher sanctions on Royal Air Maroc, including pushing for the suspension of its operations in Nigeria, over what it described as persistent violations of consumer protection regulations and poor treatment of Nigerian passengers.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu, said the Moroccan carrier had become a repeat offender in cases involving baggage infractions, poor passenger handling, and delayed resolution of customer complaints despite previous regulatory sanctions.

According to him, Royal Air Maroc was sanctioned in 2025 for consumer protection-related infractions, but the airline has failed to significantly improve its service delivery.

He alleged that passengers continue to experience incidents of short-landed baggage without timely notification, inconsistent payment of compensation and prolonged complaint resolution, with many cases only addressed after intervention by the NCAA.

Mr Achimugu also accused the airline of showing disregard for the authority’s regulatory oversight, alleging that invitations from the NCAA were often treated with “a degree of insolence that is unacceptable.”

He alleged that Royal Air Maroc’s Country Manager, Mr Ahmed Boussouf, routinely declined invitations to attend meetings at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja, opting instead to remain in Lagos while delegating representatives without the authority to resolve pending cases or make binding commitments on behalf of the airline.

The NCAA spokesman further alleged that during a recent engagement over the recurring issues, Mr Boussouf responded to the regulator’s concerns by saying, “Whatever you want to do, do.”

While describing regulatory work as “thankless and exhausting,” Mr Achimugu said the authority would not tolerate what he termed “brazen disregard and non-compliance” from any airline operating in Nigeria.

He stressed that international airlines operating in the country are expected to comply with Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) and uphold global standards in passenger service and consumer protection.

“As regulators, we support airlines to remain in business, but that support cannot come at the expense of Nigerian passengers,” he said, adding that those affected by unresolved complaints are paying customers who deserve fair treatment.

Mr Achimugu disclosed that his department would recommend stricter enforcement measures against Royal Air Maroc, including advocating a suspension of the airline’s operations in Nigeria until it demonstrates a firm commitment to improving passenger service.

He also argued that Nigerian travellers often continue to patronise airlines despite poor service, unlike consumers in some other jurisdictions who resort to boycotts, a situation he said has reduced pressure on some operators to improve standards.

“There is nowhere Royal Air Maroc flies that passengers do not have alternatives such as Air Algérie, EgyptAir and Ethiopian Airlines,” he said.

He maintained that the NCAA would enforce the country’s aviation consumer protection regulations “without fear,” insisting that no airline would be allowed to take Nigerian passengers or the regulator for granted.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation (Transcorp Group), Transcorp Hotels Plc, has posted its unaudited results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026.

In the results submitted to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, it was shown that the performance for the period was driven by disciplined cost management and continued operational excellence despite moderated revenue, with post-tax profit rising by 21 per cent to N10.5 billion from N8.7 billion in the same period of 2025.

However, due to softer market demand in its International Business segment, revenue for the period moderated to N44.4 billion from N46.9 billion in Q2 2025, though Operating Expense Margin improved by 3 percentage points, demonstrating continued operational efficiency and prudent cost management.

These results validate Transcorp Hotels’ resilience and focus on operational excellence, cost efficiency, and customer-centric innovation, reinforcing its leadership in Nigeria’s hospitality sector.

Commenting on the results, the chief executive of Transcorp Hotels, Ms Uzoamaka Oshogwe, said, “Our Q2 2026 performance reflects the resilience of our business and the disciplined execution of our strategy in a dynamic operating environment.

“While market conditions remained challenging, we continued to deliver strong profitability by staying focused on operational excellence, commercial agility, and creating exceptional experiences for our guests.

“We remain committed to strengthening our market leadership, investing strategically in our business, and delivering sustainable long-term value for our shareholders.”

Also, the Chief Finance Officer of Transcorp Hotels, Oluwatobiloba Ojediran, said, “Our disciplined approach to cost management, revenue optimisation, and operational execution delivered a 12 per cent increase in Profit Before Tax to N13.7 billion, alongside a 21 per cent growth in Profit After Tax to N10.5 billion, compared with N8.7 billion in the corresponding period last year.

“These strong financial results reinforce the resilience of our business, provide a solid platform for sustainable growth, and position us to continue investing strategically while delivering long-term value for our shareholders.”

Beyond the numbers, Transcorp Hotels continues to strengthen its portfolio of iconic assets. Transcorp Hilton Abuja remains one of the company’s flagship properties, while Transcorp Centre, one of West Africa’s largest purpose-built event and conference venues, is fast becoming a landmark for business, tourism, and world-class events in Nigeria.

Since its launch, the venue has hosted several landmark gatherings, further cementing its position as a premier venue for high-profile corporate and social gatherings.