President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent a high-powered delegation to Vatican City to attend the burial of His Holiness, Pope Francis, on Saturday, April 26.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio is at the head of the five-member delegation.

Other members of the delegation are the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama.

Air Peace says it will resume flight operations on Friday following the suspension of strike by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMeT, workers.

This was contained in a statement by the airline’s Head of Corporate Communications, Ejike Ndiulo, on Thursday night in Lagos.

Ndiulo expressed Air Peace’s gratitude to its customers and the general public  for patience, understanding and  support throughout the period of the strike.

”Your resilience and trust in our brand mean the world to us.

“We commend the active and decisive intervention of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), whose leadership and commitment were pivotal in resolving the impasse and restoring normalcy within the aviation industry,” Ndiulo said.

He noted the minister’s swift engagement with aviation stakeholders, his transparent approach and his dedication to the stability and progress of the aviation sector.

Head of Corporate Communications further stated that Keyamo’s efforts not only facilitated timely resolution of the industrial dispute but also underscored his broader vision for a safer, more efficient and investor-friendly Nigerian aviation industry.

Ndiulo said Air Peace was committed to providing safe, reliable and world-class services.

Ekwutosblog reports that NiMeT workers on Thursday suspended the strike which began on April 22 after the minister’s intervention.

The workers downed tools in protest of alleged poor working conditions, including non-implementation of the 2019 Consequential Adjustment to the National Minimum Wage (affecting at least 30  staff).

They are also demanding a 25/35 per cent salary increase, 40 per cent hardship/peculiar allowance, and  annual staff trainings.

The minister had promised to find lasting solutions to the problems.

The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa, has warned the people of the South-East against propagating the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, on the social media.

Musa, while speaking at a community engagement in Omor, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, stressed that the spread of unverified information not only endangers the region but also poses a threat to national unity and peace.

Represented by Group Captain Ibrahim Bukar, Deputy Director of Defence Media Operations, the CDS visited the Obi Eze Ana-Uku, Eze Igulube of Omor, as part of a people-centric diplomatic outreach within the Operation Udoka Area of Responsibility.

The defence chief stated that IPOB’s actions are detrimental not just to the South East, but to Nigeria as a whole, and should not be supported in any form.

The CDS condemned the trend of circulating false or harmful narratives pushed by IPOB and other outlawed groups, stressing that restoring security in the region requires the active cooperation of the local population.

“People should have trust in the military, because the military belongs to them. They should always provide us with actionable information.

“When you see something, say something. It is only through such cooperation that we can effectively tackle insecurity and restore peace,” he said.

He reassured the community of the military’s impartial role in maintaining peace and order.