Business News
As another Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes, should Air Peace be worried?
Earlier today, an Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 carrying 157 people, crashed merely minutes after takeoff from the Bole International Airport.
Earlier today, an Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 carrying 149 passengers and eight crew members, crashed merely minutes after takeoff from the Bole International Airport.
The plane was flying from the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa, to Nairobi, Kenya.
A spokesperson for the company said there were no survivors; unfortunately.
According to available information, the flight took off at 8:38 a.m local time and lost contact six minutes later.
Following the disaster, Boeing issued a statement saying that it is “deeply saddened” by the development, and that it is ready to provide technical support towards unravelling the mystery of what caused the brand new jet to crash.
Tragedy strikes twice in 5 months for Boeing’s 737 Max 8
On October 29th, 2018, an Indonesian airline, Lion Air flight 610, took off from the Soekarno-Hatta international airport in Jakarta at 6:21 a.m. The flight’s destination was Pangkal Pinang, the provincial capital of a small island in the Java sea. But eleven minutes after takeoff, the plane plunged into the sea. All 189 passengers were killed.
What many people find alarming is fact that both Lion Air flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 are the same model 737 Max 8 airplane from American aerospace manufacturer — Boeing. The Max 8 is an upgrade on Boeing’s best-selling 737. Investigations (which are still ongoing) carried out on the Lion Air crash, speculated that a Sensor malfunction on the plane may have been responsible for the sudden nosedive into the sea.
It should also be noted that Lion Air has had a long history of maintenance problems with its fleet.
But in the case of the Ethiopian Airline flight 302, it is a brand new jet that was just acquired by the company barely four months ago.
Should Nigeria’s Air Peace and other Airlines be worried?
In September 2018, Air Peace and Boeing made a joint announcement — Air Peace had placed an order for ten 737 Max 8 planes from Boeing. It is understood that the planes will be delivered over a number of years, as Air Peace increases its fleet to expand to international travel. The announcement was made at a signing ceremony in Lagos.
In the events of these reported crashes, should the young Nigerian airline be worried over its continued partnership with Boeing?
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema (right) with the Sales Director (West and Central Africa) of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Mr. Larry Tolliver.
It should be noted that the Boeing 737 Max 8 is already in use around the world by other airlines including American Airlines, Air Italy, FlyDubai, LOT Polish Airlines, Norwegian Air and TUI Airways.
Further information on what caused the tragic crash in Addis Ababa is expected over the coming days and weeks.
Financial Services
CBN grants Greenwich Trust Limited operational license for merchant banking
CBN has upscaled Greenwich Trust Limited to the status of a merchant bank.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has upscaled Greenwich Trust Limited and granted it, operational license for merchant banking in the country.
According to an official statement released by the firm, the entity would be known as Greenwich Merchant Bank Limited. This license allows Greenwich Merchant Bank to upscale and offer such diverse services as corporate banking, investment banking, financial advisory services, securities dealing, treasury wealth and asset management, etc., making it possible to provide increased value to stakeholders beyond its previous scope.
Recall that the minimum capital requirements for establishing a merchant bank according to Merchant Banking Licensing Regulations in 2010 are N15 billion
(READ MORE: CBN debits banks N216.1 billion for CRR compliance)
With the addition of Greenwich Merchant Bank, Nigeria now has six merchant banks. The others are; FBN Quest, Coronation Merchant Bank, DSH Merchant Bank, Nova Merchant Bank and Rand Merchant Bank.
About Greenwich Trust Limited
Greenwich Trust Limited is an investment banking firm duly registered with relevant authorities such as the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It is a diversified firm with subsidiaries such as Asset management, GTL Properties, GTL Securities Limited, Cedar Express Limited and Meyer Plc.
Business News
Emirates Airlines banned from operating in Nigeria
UAE’s Emirate Airline has been banned from operating in Nigeria.
Emirates Airline has been added to the list of airlines which have been banned from operating in Nigeria. The ban will take effect from the 21st of September.
This was announced by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika in a social media statement on Friday.
The PTF sub committee met today with EU Ambassadors to discuss Lufthansa, Air France/KLM ban. The meeting progressed well. Emirates Airlines’s situation was reviewed & they are consequently included in the list of those not approved, with effect from Monday the 21st Sept. 2020🇳🇬
— Hadi Sirika (@hadisirika) September 18, 2020
“The PTF subcommittee met today with EU Ambassadors to discuss Lufthansa, Air France/KLM ban. The meeting progressed well. Emirates Airlines’s situation was reviewed & they are consequently included in the list of those not approved, with effect from Monday the 21st Sept 2020.” Sirika stated.
This comes as the UAE government has been accused of not renewing visas of Nigerians in Dubai and also rumours of a VISA ban for Nigerians applying for visas.
Last month, the UAE embassy in Nigeria denied there is a VISA ban on Nigerians entering the Middle Eastern country. They said: “At the onset of the COVlD-19 pandemic, the UAE took a number of precautionary measures to combat the virus’ spread, including the temporary suspension on issuing UAE visas for all nationalities as of March 17, 2020.
After entering the recovery phase of the pandemic, the UAE eased some measures on July 7, permitting visitors from various countries to adhere to the necessary precautionary measures, including by showing negative PCR test results within 92 hours of travelling to the UAE. This includes those visiting from Nigeria.”
Energy
CBN introduces N250 billion stimulus package for gas investment to ease pain of fuel price increase
The CBN has introduced a stimulus package to help stimulate investment in gas as an alternative to fuel.
As part of the palliative following the sharp increase in the price in the pump price of petrol, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced a N250 billion stimulus package under a National Gas Expansion Programme that it hopes will help stimulate investment in the gas value chain and spur its use in transportation as an alternative to fuel-powered cars.
Large scale projects under this intervention programme will be financed under the Power and Airlines Intervention Fund (PAIF), in line with existing guidelines regulating the PAIF, while small scale operators and retail distributors will be financed by the NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB) and/or any other Participating Financial Institution (PFI) under the Agribusiness/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AgSMEIS).
This initiative is to be implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The objectives of the facility include;
- Improved access to finance for private sector investments in the domestic gas value chain.
- Stimulate investments in the development of infrastructure to optimize the domestic gas resources for economic development.
- Fast track the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as the fuel of choice for transportation and power generation, as well as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as the fuel of choice for domestic cooking, transportation, and captive power.
- Fast track the development of gas-based industries particularly petrochemical (fertilizer, methanol, etc) to support large industries such as agriculture, textile, and related industries.
- Provide leverage for additional private sector investments in the domestic gas market.
- Boost employment across the country.
The activities that are eligible under the intervention shall include;
- Establishment of gas processing plants and small scale petrochemical plants.
- Establishment of gas cylinder manufacturing plants.
- Establishment of L-CNG regasification modular systems
- Establishment of autogas conversion kits or components manufacturing plants.
- Establishment of CNG primary and secondary compression stations.
- Establishment and manufacturing of LPG retail skid tanks and refilling equipment.
- Development/enhancement of autogas transportation systems, conversion, and distribution infrastructure.
- Enhancement of domestic cylinder production and distribution by cylinder manufacturing plants and LPG wholesale outlets.
- Establishment/expansion of micro-distribution outlets and service centres for LPG sales, domestic cylinder injection, and exchange and
- Any other mid to downstream gas value chain related activity recommended by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The aggregators, manufacturers, processors, wholesale distributors, and related activities shall be funded under the Power and Airline Intervention Fund (PAIF), while the Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) and retail distributors shall be funded by NIRSAL Microfinance Bank under AgSMEIS.
For the manufacturers, processors, wholesale distributors, etc, the term loan shall be determined based on the activity and shall not exceed N10 billion per obligor. The working capital shall be a maximum of N500 million per obligor.
While for the small and medium enterprises, the term loan shall be based on the activity and shall not exceed N50 million per obligor. The working capital shall be a maximum of N5 million per obligor.
Interest Rate
The interest rate under the intervention shall be at not more than 5% per annum (all-inclusive) up to February 28, 2021, thereafter, interest on the facility shall revert to 9% per annum (all-inclusive) with effect from March 1, 2021.
Loan Tenor and Moratorium
The manufacturers, processors, wholesale distributors, will have term loans which shall have a maximum tenor of 10 years (not exceeding December 31, 2030) with a maximum of a 2-year moratorium on principal repayment only. The working capital facility of 1 year with a maximum rollover of not more than twice, subject to prior approval.
The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and retail distributors will have term loans that shall have a maximum tenor of 5 years (not exceeding December 31, 2030) with a maximum of 2 years on principal repayment only. The working capital facility of 1 year with a maximum rollover of not more than twice and subject to prior approval.
This new initiative involves getting many vehicles to run on gas by collaborating with investors to build the required infrastructure such as pipelines and petrol stations. It is also expected to help accelerate the use of natural gas and end gas flaring.
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CBN grants Greenwich Trust Limited operational license for merchant banking
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CBN introduces N250 billion stimulus package for gas investment to ease pain of fuel price increase
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