Abuja—Federal government yesterday said the proposed establishment of a national carrier was to enhance competition in the nation’s aviation sector. The Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, disclosed this in Abuja while receiving the leaders of Air Transport Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, led by its President, Mr Benjamin Okewu.

OUTGOING Vice President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and president of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle yesterday won the first round of the CAN presidential election, defeating his only rival eight votes to two.

President Muhammadu Buhari has re-affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the well-being of its children, reminding them that they had fundamental rights to quality and affordable education, good health and other basic necessities of life.

The Joint Military Task Force, JTF, from 3 Battalion Effurun, Delta State invaded Sandfield II community, Warrri, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state in search of one Mr. Jonathan Oyanwei and his gang over recent bombing of pipeline, kidnapping and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta region.

MAKURDI—Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, yesterday, disclosed that his country home has been sacked by Fulani mercenaries, who he said had killed over 50 of his kinsmen with over 200 hectares of his rice farm razed. He lamented that the incessant killings and destruction of lives and property in the Benue had created a 25 year retrogression of development in the state.