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Aviation Workers Plan Strike From May 6

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Flight operations across Nigeria may face significant disruption from Wednesday as the Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) has issued a final notice to airlines over unpaid debts, warning that services will be withdrawn within days if outstanding obligations are not settled.

 

Airlines are said to be owing operators to the tune of N9bn amidst financial strain facing the airlines with the federal government writing off 30 per cent of their debt owed to the aviation agencies.
Ground handling companies offer safety critical services including passenger check-in, baggage handling, refuelling coordination and ramp services to airlines.

The affected ground handling companies are Skyway Handling Company of Nigeria (SAHCO) Plc; Nigerian Aviation Handling Nigeria (NAHCO) Plc, Butake Handling Company, Precision Handling Company Limited and Swissport Handling Company.

In a letter dated April 30, 2026, and addressed to the Airlines Operators of Nigeria, the association expressed frustration over what it described as persistent silence and inaction by airline operators despite earlier correspondence.

Copies of the letter were also sent to key authorities, including the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and the Department of State Services, citing the broader economic and security implications of the dispute.

“We refer to our letter dated 20th April 2026… and wish to bring to your attention that, as of the date of this correspondence, we are yet to receive any communication, commitment, or concrete action from your members regarding the outstanding indebtedness,” the letter stated.

AGHAN warned that the situation has continued to place severe financial and operational strain on its members, despite repeated efforts to resolve the matter amicably.

“Consequently, we are constrained to issue a final notice of three (3) days for the settlement of all outstanding obligations, failing which our members shall proceed with the withdrawal of services to all indebted airlines, without further recourse,” the association said.

Although the ultimatum was initially set to begin on May 1, the group said it deferred the timeline in recognition of the May Day celebrations and the need to maintain industrial harmony.
“Accordingly, the notice period shall now run from Monday, 4th May 2026 to Wednesday, 6th May 2026, after which the intended action will take effect should there be no satisfactory resolution,” the letter added.

The association, however, signalled openness to dialogue, noting: “We remain open to immediate and constructive engagement aimed at resolving this matter amicably and avoiding any disruption to aviation operations and the travelling public.”

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Transfer: Real Madrid , Cucurella Reach Verbal Agreement 

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Chelsea reliable defender, Marc Cucurella may join Spanish giant, Real Madrid before the end of the current transfer window.if information from transfer journalist, Fabrizio Romano are anything to go by.

 

Romano In a latest transfer update, said Real Madrid has reached verbal agreement to sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.

“Verbal agreement in place between all parties, player too — he’s the left back wanted by Mourinho” the update read.

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Hakimi, Vinicius Barred From Speaking Spanish At World Cup

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FIFA has come under scrutiny after several high-profile players, including Achraf Hakimi and Vinicius Junior, were discouraged from speaking Spanish during media engagements at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.

 

The issue first surfaced ahead of Morocco’s Group C clash with Brazil when a Spanish-speaking journalist attempted to question Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi in Spanish.

Despite Hakimi, who grew up in Madrid and speaks the language fluently, indicating he was comfortable answering in Spanish, event officials reportedly insisted that questions be asked in English.

Hakimi attempted to reassure organizers that language would not be a barrier, but officials maintained that no Spanish translator was available for the session. A compromise was eventually reached, with the reporter asking the question in Spanish while Hakimi responded in English.

The controversy intensified during Brazil’s media session when Vinicius Junior was also interrupted while responding to a question in Spanish.

The Real Madrid forward, who is more comfortable speaking Portuguese or Spanish than English, was reportedly asked by organizers to switch languages.

Rather than continue in Spanish, Vinicius opted to answer in Portuguese before turning his attention back to Brazil’s World Cup preparations.

The incidents sparked widespread debate among journalists and fans, many of whom questioned why Spanish—a language spoken by millions across North America—was effectively restricted at a tournament being hosted largely in the United States.

According to Spanish media outlet El País, FIFA only provides Spanish-language translation services at World Cup press conferences involving Spanish-speaking nations such as Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay.

For all other teams, questions and answers are expected to be conducted either in English or the official language of the participating country.

The policy has generated criticism online, with many supporters arguing that multilingual communication should be encouraged at a global event like the World Cup.

The backlash was particularly strong in Vinicius’ case, as the Brazilian forward appeared visibly uncomfortable being asked to communicate in English.

The controversy overshadowed what was otherwise a highly anticipated encounter between Brazil and Morocco, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

With the issue now drawing international attention, FIFA may face increasing calls to review its media language guidelines as the tournament progresses.

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It’s Illegal’…Falana’s Bombshell Indicts Govs, FG.

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Human rights advocate, Femi Falana, has warned federal and state governments against negotiating with and rewarding terrorists.

 

According to Falana, the practice is illegal.

He stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Amnesty International Second Annual General Meeting in Abuja on June 13, 2026.

Falana claimed it is public knowledge officials of the Federal Government and some State Governments have been holding meetings and negotiating with terrorists and bandits, which has led to thousands of ‘repentant’ criminals being forgiven and given cash gifts of undisclosed sums of money.

Asserting that the “satanic Boko Haram sect and similar bodies have been proscribed” under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, Falana insisted that “their members and allies shall be prosecuted and not pampered and forgiven by the Nigerian State.”

Highlighting the legal consequences, he quoted Section 22 of the Act, stating: “A person who knowingly—(a) arranges, manages, assists in arranging or managing, participates in a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, (b) collects, or provides logistics, equipment, information, articles or facilities for a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, or (c) attends a meeting, which in his knowledge is to support a proscribed entity or to further the objectives of a proscribed entity, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of at least 20 years.”

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