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Tag: Abuja

  • U.S. Embassy announces date for resumption of suspended consular services in Abuja

    The U.S. Embassy says it will reopen its Abuja’s consular section on August 24 for full services for both visas and American Citizen Services (ACS).

    The embassy stated this in a message on its website: https://ng.usembassy.gov on Monday in Abuja.

    Recall that the embassy had on August 15 temporarily suspended its consular services in Abuja due to reasons it said were beyond its control.

    “The U.S. Embassy in Abuja’s consular section will reopen on Aug. 24th for full services for both visas and ACS. Please, note that consular functions at the U.S. Consulate Lagos were never affected and will continue as usual.

    “We regret the inconvenience this interruption of service in Abuja has caused,” it stated.

    The embassy stated that Visa and ACS applicants with scheduled appointments for August 24 should come to the Embassy in Abuja, as usual.

    “Visa and ACS applicants with cancelled appointments between Aug. 13 and Aug. 23 will be contacted by the Embassy for rescheduling.

    “Visa and ACS applicants, who were requested by an officer to appear again for follow-up questions on existing applications should contact our office to arrange a new date (ConsularAbuja@state.gov for visas or AbujaACS@state.gov for ACS,” it said.

    It assured Visa applicants, who submitted passports through the Interview Waiver Programme for visa renewal, that such would be processed as soon as possible.

    “If your application was already approved, it will be mailed out as normal on the next available DHL shipment to your listed address.

    “Abuja ACS applicants, who wish to pick-up their already-printed U.S. passports, may come on Friday between 9:30a.m and 11:00a.m.

    “If you are uncertain if your U.S. passport has arrived yet, please contact us first at AbujaACS@state.gov,” it added.

     

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Buhari departs Abuja for Daura

    Eid-el-Kabir: Buhari departs Abuja for Daura

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday left Abuja for his hometown, Daura in Katsina State.

    Buhari, who returned to Abuja from London on Saturday after 10-day working holiday, is to observe the Eid-el-Kabir (Sallah) in his hometown.

    His convoy left the forecourt of the State House, Abuja around 3.06 p.m

    Before embarking on the trip to Daura, the President presided over the Security Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

  • [UPDATED] Two dead, several others trapped as storey building collapses in Abuja [Photos]

    Two persons have been confirmed dead after a storey building under construction collapsed at Obafemi Awolowo Way by Asuquo J. Okon intersection in Jabi, Abuja.

    According to witnesses who spoke to TheNewsGuru, more than 10 people are currently inside the debris while two people have been reported dead.

    Witnesses said poor construction contributed to the collapse.

    “It sounded like a bomb”, said Chinedu Ike, a witness.

    “The workers, including some women selling groundnut are trapped inside.”

    Officials from the FRSC, NEMA, civil defence, police and other security agencies are at the building making frantic efforts to rescue the people trapped inside.

    The tractors brought were not sufficient and construction companies have been called as reinforcement.

    A police officer said two people have been confirmed dead but did not speak on record.

    Some rescue victims including the contractor who have various degrees of injuries have been rushed to hospital.

  • BREAKING: Three feared dead as building collapses in Abuja

    No fewer than three persons have been killed, while several others were injured after a building under construction collapsed in Abuja on Friday.

    According to reports reaching TheNewsGuru [TNG], the victims were said to be labourers working on the construction site, at Jabi Junction, close to a popular Rukkayat plaz in Abuja.

    The collapse reportedly occurred at about 2:00 p.m.

    As at the time of filing this reports rescue officials were have arrived the scene of the incident.

    Details soon…

  • U.S. Embassy explains temporary suspension of consular services in Abuja

    The U.S. Embassy Nigeria, says it has temporarily suspended its consular services in Abuja due to reasons beyond its control.

    The embassy in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja maintained that its Consulate Office in Lagos was not affected by the development.

    While expressing regret on the inconvenience the development might have caused to applicants, the embassy expressed hope to resume its operations soon in Abuja.

    The embassy in its website earlier did not give reason for the suspension of its consular services in Abuja which it however latter did in a statement.

    “Due to reasons beyond our control we are temporarily unable to provide regular services for visa and American Citizen Services (ACS) in Abuja, but other offices within the embassy remain open.

    “Please note that consular functions at the U.S. Consulate Lagos are not affected and will continue.

    ”Until further notice, applicants are encouraged to contact the Consular Office in Lagos for immediate emergency travel,” the embassy stated.

    The embassy advised applicants to please monitor the Facebook and Webpage of the U.S. Embassy for updates on consular operations.

    It stated that scheduled visa and ACS applicants for Abuja would be contacted for rescheduling.

    ”American citizens in northern Nigeria with emergency services needs should continue to contact the after-hours emergency number for Abuja at 09461-4000 and press “0” to go to the operator to request assistance.

    ”We regret the inconvenience this has caused to our applicants and hope to resume operations soon,” it stated.

     

  • US Embassy closes visa, consular services in Abuja indefinitely

    The United States Embassy has shut its visa and consular services section at its embassy in Abuja.

    It explained that appointments for visa and for American citizen services have also been put on hold temporarily.

    Consular operations in Lagos were, however, not affected, the mission said in a statement on its website on Tuesday.

    The Embassy disclosed this in a press statement issued on Tuesday as it did not give reason for the decision.

    However, no reason was given for the decision.

    Read full statement below:

    Temporary Closure of U.S. Embassy Abuja’s Consular Section

    Until further notice, all consular appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja have temporarily ceased for both visa and for American Citizen Services (ACS). Consular functions in U.S. Consulate Lagos are not affected and will continue.

    Scheduled visa and ACS applicants for Abuja will be contacted for rescheduling.

    American citizens in northern Nigeria with emergency services needs should continue to contact the after-hours emergency number for Abuja at 09461-4000 and press “0” to go to the operator to request assistance.

    American citizens in northern Nigeria with urgent travel needs who are travelling before Tuesday and who are willing to re-schedule their travel through Lagos should contact the ACS office at Consulate Lagos ( 01460 3400 and LagosACS@state.gov) to discuss their options.

    Those travelling after Tuesday should follow up with Abuja ACS to confirm their appointments closer to their appointment date.

  • Photo: Akpabio further seals defection plans, meets Tinubu in Abuja

    Photo: Akpabio further seals defection plans, meets Tinubu in Abuja

    In what appears to be a final seal to his proposed defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, on Monday afternoon paid a courtesy call on the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

    Recall that Akbabio had on Sunday visited President Muhammadu Buhari in London.

    The former Akwa Ibom State governor is expected to defect from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on Thursday.

    He had visited Tinubu at the latter’s home in Lagos on Saturday.

    Akpabio met Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House on Wednesday last week.

    The former governor had earlier denied holding any secret talks with the APC for a possible defection moves.

    Unconfirmed reports have it that the senator is doing everything possible to avoid confrontations with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, hence his proposed defection.

    …More details as events unfold.

  • Buhari departs Abuja for Lome tomorrow – Presidency

    Buhari departs Abuja for Lome tomorrow – Presidency

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on Sunday depart Abuja for Lome, Republic of Togo, to participate in two high-level meetings.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday.

    On arrival in Lome, Shehu said the President would have an interactive session with the Nigerian community based in Togo at the Nigerian Embassy.

    He added that on Monday, Buhari will attend the Joint ECOWAS/ECCAS Summit.

    He said the summit would deliberate on common security threats to countries in West Africa and members of the Economic Community of Central African States with a view to forging concerted strategies in tackling the menace of terrorism, trans-border crimes and other forms of violent extremism.

    He recalled that the President had expressed support for the proposed ECOWAS/ECCAS Summit when he received the current Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo on June 29, 2018 in Katsina.

    “Terrorism now transcends international boundaries, and no country can combat the scourge alone,” Buhari was qouted to have said.

    While in Lome, Shehu added that the Nigerian delegation will also participate in a meeting on a Single Currency for ECOWAS with the deadline of 2020.

    He said being the largest economy not only in West Africa but also on the continent, Nigeria’s leadership role in the sub-regional aspiration cannot be over-emphasised.

    On Tuesday, the presidential aide added that Buhari will join other leaders of the sub-region for the 53rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

    This session, he added, will be dominated by the political and security situations in Guinea Bissau, Mali and Togo; institutional reforms of the ECOWAS Commission to enhance its effectiveness; illegal migration of Africans to Europe; and the worrisome violent clashes between herders and farmers, among other issues.

    The statement added, “At the end of the session, a new Chair of the ECOWAS Authority is expected to take over from the incumbent and host.

    “President Buhari will be accompanied by Governors Ben Ayade and Abubakar Bello of Cross River and Niger States respectively. Others are Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazau; and the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah.

    “The National Security Adviser , Babagana Monguno; the Chief of Defence Staff , Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin; the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar; and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, are also in the President’s delegation.”

     

  • Russia 2018: Nursing mother, 154 other stranded Nigerians arrive Abuja

    Russia 2018: Nursing mother, 154 other stranded Nigerians arrive Abuja

    A nursing mother and 154 out of 230 Nigerian football fans stranded in Russia after the 2018 FIFA World Cup arrived the country on Friday night.

    The stranded football fans came through Ethiopian Airline flight number ET-ALP that arrived Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja at about 9.12 p.m on July 20.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who was at the airport to monitor their arrival, lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort to ensure their safe return.

    He said the president had directed that Nigerians, who were stranded in Russia after the 2018 World Cup tournament, should be evacuated immediately.

    According to him, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been monitoring the process of the evacuation, which is under the coordination of the Mission of Nigeria in Moscow.

    He said 155 stranded Nigerians had been cleared to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to Abuja.

    “The aircraft departed Domodedovo Airport in Moscow with the stranded Nigerians in the afternoon and arrived in Abuja this evening.

    Onyeama said he had been working very closely with the Minister of State for Aviation following President Buhari’s directive on the exercise.

    He recalled that some Nigerian football fans who were stranded had besieged the Embassy of Nigeria in Moscow on July 12.

    “They were among the fans who travelled to the Russian Federation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Tournament and were stranded after the events due to lack of funds for their upkeep,” he said.

    The minister explained that there was also an allegation that some airline travel agents cancelled return tickets of their customers without informing them.

    Onyeama commended the good gesture of Mr President, saying those stranded were never part of government delegates to Russia.

    According to him, the Nigerian Mission had been supportive by making arrangements for the feeding and accommodation of the stranded Nigerians in hostels around Moscow.

    One of the returnees, Bamidele Fatai, was full of praises for President Buhari for making their journey possible.

    He also thanked the Nigerian Mission in Moscow for giving them necessary support.

    Another returnee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was swindled by an agent who cancelled his return ticket.

    He said he was in Moscow to support the Nigerian Football Team and to catch fun only to discover that his ticket had been cancelled when he was ready to return home.

  • IG offers N5m bounty for information on killers of Abuja, Edo policemen

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has offered a N5 million reward for information on the killers of seven policemen in the Federal Capital Territory on July 2 and the murder of four cops in Edo State on July 14.

    The IG urged anyone with useful tips to come forward, stating that any information given would be treated with strict confidentiality.

    The seven policemen were on routine ‘stop and search’ duty when unknown gunmen attacked and killed them, taking away some of their firearms. Five suspects have, however, been apprehended in connection with the incident.

    The latest killing of policemen reportedly occurred in Sabon Gida, Ora, in Edo State last Saturday where four policemen were shot dead and their patrol vehicles razed by suspected criminals.

    The force spokesman, acting DCP, Jimoh Moshood, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, explained that police detectives needed credible information from the public to arrest the killers.

    He said, “In order to arrest the other suspects still at large in the first incident, the Force is desirous of more credible information from the public, and hereby pledges a reward of N5m to any member of the public that provides useful information that leads to the arrest of the remaining perpetrators of the ambush attack and killing of seven policemen in Abuja or the recent ambush and killing of four policemen on patrol at Sabon Gida, Ora, in Edo State on July 14, 2018.”

    “The Force wishes to assure that the informant will be protected and his/her identity secured,” the police added.

    The statement said the IG had also ordered Commissioners of Police and their supervising Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to beef up security in their Areas of Responsibilities.

    They were equally mandated to embark on massive raids of criminal hideouts and flashpoints across the country to forestall any further attack.

    “The IG further placed the Commissioners of Police and police personnel nationwide on red alert and directs 24 hours crime prevention and visibility patrol of flash and vulnerable points in their jurisdictions,” the force said.

    The police spokesman revealed that the IG had directed the prompt payment of the entitlements of the deceased officers.