The US Federal Aviation Authority ordered a temporary halt to all domestic flight departures Wednesday, after a major system outage that disrupted air traffic across the country. Airlines and airports were left scrambling with news of the nationwide pause, as the White House said there was no immediate evidence of a cyberattack. The FAA, which paused flights until 9:00 am (1400 GMT), said a key process had been “impaired” after a problem with its Notice to Air Missions system (NOTAM), which provides information to flight crews about hazards, changes to airport facilities and other essential information. The pause, it said, would allow “the agency to validate the integrity of flight and safety information.” Speaking to reporters, President Joe Biden said that he had been briefed by the transportation secretary and that “aircraft can still land safely, just not take off right now.” “They don’t know what the cause of it is, they expect in a couple of hours they’ll have a good sense of what caused it and will respond at that time,” Biden said. “The FAA is still working to fully restore the Notice to Air Missions system following an outage,” the agency said in a statement, adding that while “some functions are beginning to come back on line, National Airspace System operations remain limited.” – Thousands of delayed flights – White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted that “there is no evidence of a cyberattack at this point.” “The President directed DOT to conduct a full investigation into the causes. The FAA will provide regular updates,” she said, referring to the Department of Transportation. There were at least 3,500 flights delayed in the United States by 8:00 am US Eastern time (1300 GMT), flight tracking website Flight Aware data showed. American Airlines said that it was “closely monitoring the situation, which impacts all airlines, and working with the FAA to minimize disruption to our operation and customers.” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he was in contact with the FAA. “I have been in touch with FAA this morning about an outage affecting a key system for providing safety information to pilots,” he tweeted. “FAA is working to resolve this issue swiftly and safely so that air traffic can resume normal operations, and will continue to provide updates.” The halt comes in the wake of a large-scale aviation meltdown in the United States over the Christmas holiday, as a storm brought unseasonably cold temperatures to the majority of the country and caused chaos, with thousands of flights delayed or canceled. Hard-hit Southwest Airlines canceled more than 15,000 flights over eight days after what it said was a breakdown in its scheduling systems. AFP

  The World Bank has said that high borrowing costs, lower energy prices, slow growth in oil production and subdued oil-sector activity weaken Nigeria’s fiscal position. The Washington-based bank also said that Nigeria’s growth weakened to 3.1 per cent in 2022 and will further decelerate to 2.9 per cent this year. This was according to the latest Global Economic Prospects report by the World Bank on Tuesday. The bank noted that a number of factors, such as low oil output, insecurity, petrol subsidies, forex scarcity, among others, hamper growth in the country. The report read, “Growth in Nigeria—the region’s largest economy—weakened to 3.1 per cent in 2022, a 0.3percentage point downgrade from the June projection. Oil output dropped to 1 million barrels per day, down by over 40 per cent compared to its 2019 level, reflecting technical problems, insecurity, rising production costs, theft, lack of payment discipline in joint ventures, and persistent underinvestment, partly because of the diversion of oil revenues to petrol subsidies, estimated at over 2 per cent of GDP in 2022 (NEITI 2022; World Bank 2022t). “A strong recovery in non-oil sectors moderated in the second half of the year as floods and surging consumer prices (annual inflation surpassed 21 per cent for the first time in 17 years) disrupted activity and depressed consumer demand. Persistent fuel and foreign exchange shortages, with the naira depreciating by over 30 per cent last year in the parallel market, further dampened economic activity.” The bank further noted that the poor economic growth of 2.9 per cent in 2023, will be barely above population growth, which is often said to be around 2.5 per cent in previous reports. The report added, “In Nigeria, growth is projected to decelerate to 2.9 percent in 2023 and remain at that pace in 2024—barely above population growth. A growth momentum in the non-oil sector is likely to be restrained by continued weakness in the oil sector. Existing production and security challenges, and a moderation in oil prices are expected to hinder a recovery in oil output. “Policy uncertainty, sustained high inflation, and rising incidence of violence are anticipated to temper growth. Growth in agriculture is expected to soften because of the damage from last year’s floods. “The fiscal position is expected to remain weak because of high borrowing costs, lower energy prices, a sluggish growth of oil production, and a subdued activity in the non-oil sectors.” The bank also said that debt sustainability and investor sentiment deteriorated further in many other countries, leading to rising borrowing costs and credit rating downgrades like in the case of Ghana and Nigeria. It added that increased insecurity has worsened fragility and is expected to reduce access to food for many more people across the region, further weighing on economic recoveries.

  A Jos-based pastor, Albarka Bitrus, has been arrested by operatives of the Plateau State Police Command for stagging his own kidnap and demanding ransom from members of his congregation. The command’s spokesman, Alabo Alfred, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday said that the clergyman was arrested alongside his collaborators following intelligence reports after church members paid N600,000 ransom to secure the cleric’s release. The statement read, “The Plateau State Police Command has again uncovered the nefarious act of one pastor Albarka Bitrus Sukuya ‘m’ of Jenta Apata, Jos who on several occasions staged his kidnap with his cohorts and receive ransom from sympathizing members of his congregation. “Sequel to his spurious kidnaps of 14/11/2022 and 30/11/2022 where the sum of Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N400,000) and Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000) were respectively paid by his sympathizers as ransom for his release, the incidents triggered suspicion. “Through credible intelligence, the clergyman was invited by the DPO Nassarawa Gwong Police Station, CSP Musa Hassan, and investigation commenced immediately. In the course of investigation, it was established that the suspect has been conspiring with his gang to stage his kidnap and fraudulently collect ransom. “On interrogation, the suspect confessed to have committed the crime and mentioned the following persons as his accomplices : (1) Baruk Mailale, (2) Nathaniel Bitrus both males of Yelwan Zangam village of Jos-north and (3) Aye (surname yet to be known) ‘male of Jalingo, Taraba State.” “The suspect further disclosed that on 04/01/2023, he set ablaze two motor vehicles ( a Mercedes Benz and a Toyota) and a bicycle parked at ECWA Bishara 3 Jenta Apata premises belonging to his colleagues who he alleged one of them hates him, referring to his senior pastor. “However, police operatives of Nassarawa Gwong Division, Jos-north LGA arrested two (2) of the suspects namely, Baruk Mailale and Nathaniel Bitrus while effort is been intensified to arrest Aye, the third suspect”

  The Police in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has dragged a Nigerian journalist and activist, Agba Jalingo, to court for allegedly defaming Elizabeth Ayade, a daughter-in-law of the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade. Jalingo had in August 2022 been arrested by the police after hours of laying siege to his Lagos residence. The PUNCH reported that he was later released on bail. The suit dated December 6, 2022, according to a Wednesday report by Sahara Reporters, partly read, “That you Agba Jalingo male of No.14 Oremeji Street, Ojudu Alapere Lagos on 30th June, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally Published online at Cross River Watch and alleged that one Mrs Elizabeth Ayade Procured the services of one Pascal Aboh to write Nigeria Law School Examination Bar Examination for her an information you know to be false for the purpose of causing her annoyance, ill will and insult. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1) b of CYBERCRIMES (PROTECTION, PREVENTION ETC) ACT, 2015. “That you Agba Jalingo male of No.14 Oremeji Street, Ojudu Alapere Lagos on 30th June, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally publish at your Facebook page known as Agba Jalingo that one Mrs Elizabeth Ayade procured the services of one Pascal Aboh to write Nigeria Law School Examination Bar Examination for her an information you know to be false for the purpose of causing her annoyance, ill-will and insult. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1) b of CYBERCRIMES (PROTECTION, PREVENTION ETC) ACT, 2015.” The PUNCH had reported that Elizabeth Ayade, the wife of Frank Ayade – a brother to the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, was linked to the arrest of the activist and journalist. The FCT police had stated, “On Saturday, August 20, 2022, Jalingo was arrested by the State Criminal Investigative Department operatives in response to a petition filed against him by one Elizabeth Ayade. “He was arrested over a false allegation, claiming that she (Elizabeth) paid one Mr. Pascal to write an examination for her at the law school.” Elizabeth had, through her lawyers, Uyi Frank Obayagbona & Co, in a letter obtained by our correspondent, dated July 6, 2022, directed to Jalingo, asked the publisher to delete a report on his media platform allegedly defaming her character. The letter stated that Elizabeth was being linked to one Paschal Aboh, who was said to have been arrested in May 2022, and being prosecuted for involving in examination malpractice at the Nigerian Law School for impersonating a yet-to-be-identified candidate – rumoured, allegedly to be Elizabeth, the wife of the governor’s brother. Paschal is said to have been suspended as a lecturer at the University of Calabar for impersonation. The letter from Elizabeth’s lawyer was titled, ‘DEFAMATORY PUBLICATION ON MRS ELIZABETH ALAMI FRANK AYADE,’ The PUNCH reports. The letter partly read, “We are solicitors to M. Elizabeth, on whose instructions and behalf, we write. “Our client has drawn our attention to your online publication Cross River Watch, of June 30, 2022 and your Facebook publication.” It further read, “Similarly, sometime in the month of June, 2022, you also published in your Facebook account as follows: ‘Pascal Aboh, the Law lecturer who was arrested at the Law School in Bwari, went to write that exam for the wife of a prominent politician from Obudu, just wait for the details. “‘#LawSchoolNeedstoExplain. Why charge Pascal Aboh to court and shielding Alami Frank Ayade, who procured Pascal to write her Law School Exam for her? Because she is rich?’” It added, “We wish to state emphatically that the natural and ordinary meaning of these words which are seriously defamatory of our client is that our client is a cheat, fraudster, influence peddler, untrustworthy and a deceitful person, who obtained her numerous academic qualifications by false pretences and also seeking to become a member of the noble profession as a Legal Practitioner by dubious means. The above words published by you are completely false in their entirety and extremely libellous on our client in total disregard of the ethics and tenets of journalism. “By your said publication, our client’s reputation and personality have been seriously maligned and injured by the defamatory words, the nature of which are deeply distressing and embarrassing to our client and her family. “Flowing from the foregoing, we have our client’s instructions to demand and we hereby, demand as follows: The immediate unequivocal retraction of the publication on all your media platforms. That you publish forthwith an open apology to our client on two National Dailies and your online platforms including but not limited to CrossRiverWatch, Facebook, Instagram etc.” A sum of 500 million naira was also demanded from Jalingo as compensation, and subsequently threatened legal action. He was asked to respond within 14 days of receipt of the letter. The PUNCH reported that Jalingo was arrested in a Gestapo manner after his Lagos residence came under siege by men of the Nigeria Police Force. He was subsequently moved to Alapere Police Station and subsequently detained at Area F Police Station. The police flew him to Abuja and subsequently released him on bail in the night.

  Outrage have greeted the killing of a sesame seed farmer, Ibrahim Ahmadu by two brothers who were alleged to be pillaging his farm the same time Ahmadu went to spray herbicide on his farm. The unfortunate incident which happened at Papa hamlet in Darazo local government area of Bauchi state on 20th December, 2022 has led to the arrest of two brothers, Babangida Adamu and Abubakar Adamu. According to Police account, the Bauchi Command PPRO, Ahmed Wakil narrated how Ahmadu (now deceased) had gone to his father farm on a fateful day to tend to the farm, but met two suspects, Babangida Adamu, and his brother Abubakar Adamu trespassing on the farm with intent to steal his father’s produce. He said that there were altercations between the Ahmadu and the suspects and eventually, they overpowered and killed him went he attempted to go back to his father to tell him what he saw. “After the suspects finished packing all the farm produce and were about to load it into a sack, the victim who was sent by his father to spray insecticide appeared on the farm and approached the suspects. “He however turned to go back home after seeing that the farm was near empty. But one of the suspects, Ubale gripped the victim and told him to stop. When the suspect stopped, Ubale asked the victim where he was going. “The victim said he will not spray the insecticide anymore since the suspects had already packed everything on the farm. On hearing this, Ubale called his cohort (Babangida) to kill the victim to avoid being apprehended.,” the Command PPRO said. “They started struggling with the victim, then Ubale drew a knife which they found in possession of the victim. But, his accomplice, Babangida was unsure whether to let the victim go or to kill him, while Ubale boldly said they should go ahead and kill him because no one was looking at them and that they will deny committing the act if apprehended. “Ubale held the legs of the victim, while Babangida gripped the head and hands of the victim with his knee before putting the knife on the neck region and cut off the throat of the victim, and later abandoned him in a pool of his blood,” SP Ahmed Wakil added. One of Ahmadu’s acquaintance, Abdulkadir Lawal who was contacted by Arewa Voice, expressed disappointment at Ahmadu’s untimely death while also consoling the bereaved family he left behind. “What happened was very unfortunate. The news of his death brought shock waves to my entire being. How could they have killed the innocent man, what was his offence? It is so sad that life has become so cheap to the extent that some people can kill anybody at anytime without an atom of fear. “I can’t wait for justice to be served because he surely deserves it. I also feel for the family because I can’t imagine what they are going through right now, it must be very difficult for them. I pray that Allah will grant him Aljana and make it easy for his family,” he prayed.

  UNKNOWN gunmen on Tuesday killed four persons at the popular Bank road in Ihiala, fueling renewed fear in the area. It was gathered that the four people, including a pregnant woman, were killed in their houses and dumped on the street. A resident of the area told Vanguard that following the incident, traders at the popular Nkwo Ogbe market, Ihiala could not open on Tuesday. He said: “We woke up to see the four dead bodies and we could not ascertain who killed them and the circumstances that led to their death. “Later, we saw a vehicle drive to the area and removed the dead bodies. “Most traders were afraid to open their shops, but normal business has resumed today (Wednesday). Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Tochukwu Ikenga said operation is ongoing in Ihiala to fish out those responsible for the killing.

  The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry has revealed that he came to this world with the main purpose of serving as a spare for his elder brother, Prince William, who is the Prince of Wales. Harry said this in his autobiography ‘Spare’ which hit the bookshelves across the globe yesterday, according to Daily Mail on Wednesday. He said he grew up knowing that the purpose of his existence was to donate organs such as kidneys or offer blood transfusions to William, should anything bad happen to him. “I was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy,” Harry revealed in the book. Prince Harry who is 38-year-old said he grew up to realise he was a spare part for his 40-year-old brother, the heir. He described his life as a “mission to offer a source of distraction, entertainment and, in case of need, a spare part”, such as a kidney, blood transfusion or bone marrow. Harry’s memoir, which was released to the public space on Tuesday has been revealing his explosive childhood experiences. Meghan Markle’s husband explained in the book that his growing up was understood with the idea of ‘heir’ and ‘spare’ as reinforced throughout his entire life. He said that this idea of only being in the world in case something happened to William was made “abundantly clear” to him from an early age and was “regularly reinforced” throughout his life. Harry continued that he heard a story about his father’s “supposed words” to his mother, Princess Diana, on the day he was born. King Charles III is alleged to have told Princess Diana, “Wonderful! You have already given me an heir and a spare; I have done my job.”

  Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked the Ushafa community in Bwari Area Council, Abuja, killing a man and abducting his family members. According to DAILY POST, the incident occurred on Wednesday morning at about 1 am, leading to tension in the area. A member of the community, Mr James Olachi, told the newspaper that the incident happened behind the LGEA Primary School Ushafa, close to the popular Going-Park. According to Mr James, the assailants invaded the area and were shooting for over 30 minutes without interruption from any security agency. The deceased, simply identified as Mr Adegoke, was said to have struggled with the gun-wielding kidnappers before he was gunned down. The daredevil attackers whisked away the wife and a cousin to an unknown destination. At the time of this report, the police is yet to react to the development.