TheNewsGuru

Tag: Consulate

  • Tension as Nigerians in South Africa are denied access to healthcare services

    Tension as Nigerians in South Africa are denied access to healthcare services

    The Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, South Africa has raised an alarm, saying that Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country are being denied access to basic healthcare services.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the Consulate General of Nigeria made this known in a statement while urging Nigerians in the country to remain calm and seek healthcare services outside those owned by the government.

    The Consulate said the development is a complete deviation from what the South African government stands for as a country governed by the rule of law, confirming that the South African government has condemned the reprehensible action.

    While the Consulate believes that the South African government would intensify efforts to address the situation, it has advised Nigerian residents in the country to be vigilant and avoid possible volatile areas.

    The statement reads: “The Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg is aware of action by some groups who are determined to prevent non South Africans from accessing basic health care services in the country, in breach of constitutional provision by the South African State.

    “This development is a complete deviation from what the South African government stands for as a country governed by the rule of law. The South African government has condemned the reprehensible action.

    “The Consulate calls on our South African broths and sister to have trust in constituted authority and allow relevant government officials to carry out their assigned duties, rather than resorting to protest and/or taking the laws into their hands.

    “It is the belief of the Consulate that the South African government would intensify efforts to address the situation. In the interim, members of the Nigerian Community are advised to seek healthcare services outside those owned by the government, where it becomes absolutely necessary. Nigerian residents in the country are also advised to remain vigilant and avoid possible volatile areas”.

  • Nigerian Consulate in South Africa opens up on death of Anambra lawmaker

    Nigerian Consulate in South Africa opens up on death of Anambra lawmaker

    The Consulate General of Nigeria in South Africa has opened up on the death of Dr Nnamdi Okafor, an Anambra lawmaker, whose death occurred on 23rd August 2022 in Johannesburg.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Dr Okafor, until his death, was the Majority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly, representing Awka South Constituency One.

    The legislator was in South Africa to attend a training programme alongside other State legislators. He slumped in his hotel room while getting ready for his return trip to Nigeria and was later confirmed dead by paramedics.

    The Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg confirmed the death of the Nigeria legislator and disclosed that the remains of the late lawmaker have been deposited at the mortuary while investigations are continuing to ascertain the possible cause of death.

    “The Consulate was alerted and officers moved to the scene immediately,” a statement by the Consulate reads while expressing readiness to collaborate with relevant South African agencies on the investigation into the cause of his death.

    While appreciating relevant South African agencies that have been assisting since the sad development, the Consulate General also commiserated with the immediate family members of Okafor, the Anambra State House Assembly, as well as the government and good people of Anambra State on the painful loss.

  • Consulate to protest continued killing of Nigerians in S/Africa, says envoy

    Consulate to protest continued killing of Nigerians in S/Africa, says envoy

    The Consul-General of the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, Mr Godwin Adama, says the mission is to protest killings and high-handedness of the South African police against Nigerians.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the planned protest follows the recurring killing of Nigerians resident in the former apartheid enclave, where some 130 Nigerians were murdered in 30 months up to September 2018.

    The figure has since jumped.

    Adama made the announcement, while reacting to the latest killing of a Nigerian, Maxwell Okoye by the South African police.

    He spoke in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

    Adama said that Okoye was killed on June 14.

    The envoy, who described the persistent killing of Nigerians as unacceptable, said the issue had become worrisome and deserved urgent intervention of the South African authorities.

    ”I have confirmed the death of Maxwell Ikechukwu Okoye in the hands of South African police officers at about 01.00 hours on Friday, June 14 when a group of policemen invaded his house in Ladysmith in Kwazulu Natal Province.

    ”He reportedly alerted a leader of the Nigerian community in the area of the presence of policemen in his house and called for their intervention.

    ”However, help was not immediately available, due probably to the time of the night and the fact that all attempts to get him on line was futile.

    ”He eventually was reported dead by the police who claimed they met him foaming when they broke into his house in that odd hour of the night, a claim that appeared suspicious and compromising.”

    Adama said that by the time members of Nigerian community in the area got to Okoye’s home, his house was turned upside down and he was reported dead by the police, who took his body to the mortuary on their own.

    The envoy said that the matter was reported by Nigerians to the South African police, who promised to commence investigation into the matter.

    He said that the mission had also reported the matter to the national headquarters of the South African Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

    ”We intend to protest the matter officially through the usual diplomatic channels by the high commission in Pretoria once all details are collated.

    ”This is about the third case involving alleged torture and murder of Nigerians by the South African police within one month.

    ”It happened in Cape Town, Durban and now in Ladysmith. As the Nigerian Mission in South Africa, we will not fold our hands and allow these infractions to continue.

    ”We will not stand by and allow this development to continue. We shall be visiting the area to see things for ourselves while engaging relevant authorities on the matter. It is unacceptable.”

    Adama recalled that in October, 2017, a similar murder of a Nigerian, Badmus Olalekan from Lagos State by men of the South African police led to the arrest and arraignment of eight policemen in Vanderbijpark Park, near Johannesburg.

    This followed the intervention of the Nigerian Consulate, he stated.

    According to him, the case is currently at the High Court in Johannesburg and will be concluded in October, 2019 going by the conclusions of the last court sitting.

    ”We are closely following up this along with the others to ensure that justice is served. We shall not leave any stone unturned concerning these matters.

    ”The high handedness of the South African police against Nigerians over flimsy excuses has become worrisome and deserves the intervention of the authorities.

    ”This is to protect the excellent relations that existing between the two countries as well as preserve coexistence of Nigerians and their South African hosts.”

  • Russia retaliates, expels 60 U.S. envoys, closes Consulate

    Russia has expelled 60 U.S. envoys and also ordered the closure of the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg, within 48 hours, the U.S. Department of State has announced.

    Russia’s actions were in retaliation to the expulsion of 60 Russian envoys from the U.S. during the week and the closure of Russian Consulate General in Seattle.

    The U.S. had expelled the Russian envoys in solidarity with its most important ally, the UK, over Russia’s alleged use of a military-grade nerve agent to attempt to murder a British citizen, Yulia Scripal and his daughter in Salisbury.

    The spokesperson for the Department, Heather Nauert, said she spoke with U.S. ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman, and quoted him as explaining the Russia’s actions against the U.S.

    Ms Nauert said: “This evening, Ambassador Jon Huntsman was convoked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

    “The Russian Federation dubbed 60 of our staff persona non grata, and they now must depart within seven days.

    “They also ordered the closure of our consulate in St. Petersburg within 48 hours.

    “It’s clear from the list provided to us that the Russian Federation is not interested in a dialogue on issues that matter to our two countries.”

    Ms Nauert, however, said the U.S. regretted Russia’s actions, saying there was no justification whatsoever.

    She declared: “Russia is responsible for that horrific attack on the British citizen and his daughter. Once again, they have broken the Chemical Weapons Convention. It was a banned substance that they have used – Novichok”.

    “I want to remind you that there is no justification for the Russian response. Our actions were motivated purely by the attack on the United Kingdom, the attack on a British citizen and his daughter.

    “Remember, this is a first time that a weapons-grade nerve agent, Novichok, has been used outside of war on allied soil.

    “We have not taken these steps lightly; we’ve taken these steps in concert with our allies across the world,” she said.

    According to her, 28 countries now joined the U.S. to back its allies in the decision to kick out 153 Russian spies from the various countries, with Georgia being the latest country that has joined.

    “We are now reviewing the Russian Government’s note informing us of their response. It appears that Russia has chosen to take the regrettable, unwarranted action to respond to our entirely justified action that I just covered.

    “As I understand it, Russia plans to take the same unjustified actions against 28 other countries, countries that stood in solidarity with the UK. Russia is further isolating itself following the brazen chemical attack.

    “We are still reviewing the details of the Russian action, but let me say, again, that we reserve the right to further any Russian retaliation against the United States.

    “So we are reading this. We are reviewing it, and we’ll respond accordingly,” Nauert said.