TheNewsGuru

Tag: Nigerians

  • We won’t retaliate South Africa’s fresh xenophobic attacks on Nigerians – FG

    We won’t retaliate South Africa’s fresh xenophobic attacks on Nigerians – FG

    The Federal Government on Sunday said it will not retaliate against South Africa or any other country over xenophobic attacks by their nationals against Nigerians living in those countries.

    The Federal Government’s decision was revealed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama at a forum in Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Nigerians living in South Africa have been attacked up to four times since Feb. 5, while those living in India suffered similar attack on March 27 over the death on an Indian student.

    “It has not been something that has been part of our way of behaving.

    “I would often say that Nigerians, we tend to be much friendlier to foreigners than even to ourselves. So it’s never really been an issue.

    “With regard to South Africa, there was a demonstration but that was really all.

    “I would like to think that Nigerians will not start targeting innocent citizens for no other reason than that they are nationals of the countries in which some Nigerians were attacked.

    “We are better than that and so far we have proved better than that.”

    The minister also said that the ministry was putting in place modalities to ensure that Nigerians abroad got fair treatment through Nigeria’s embassies and missions.

    He said complaint about services was not limited or peculiar to embassies alone but something that needed general change of behaviour

    “Unfortunately, this is not something that is peculiar to embassies; the service culture is something we have to work on in Nigeria, it is obviously not something that comes naturally to us.

    “Even here in Nigeria, in almost every sector, we get a lot of complaints.

    “There have been a lot of complaints at our embassies and I have met with the Minister of Interior for us to issue joint directive to all our embassies and missions.

    “This is because the people who provide the consular services are very often from the immigration service and not actually Foreign Service officers.

    “Which is why I am cooperating with the Ministry of Interior on that.”

    He however said that the ministry had always reminded Foreign Service officers that they were service providers and should behave as such.

    “We are absolutely insistent that we have to remember that we are service providers and we have to provide those services in a very professional way.

    “We spoke to this new batch of ambassadors-designate reminding them of what these embassies, consulates and missions are; they are service provision hubs.”

     

  • Again, 50 Nigerians deported from 8 European countries arrive Lagos

    Again, 50 Nigerians deported from 8 European countries arrive Lagos

    Some 50 Nigerians were on Thursday deported from eight European countries for committing immigration-related offences.

    The Nigerians were deported from Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Luxembourg, Austria, Belgium, Spain and Hungary.

    Their deportation is coming barely 48 hours after another set of 40 Nigerians were deported by the Italian Government, for similar reasons.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the fresh batch of deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMlA, Lagos at about 7.36 a.m.

    The deportees, comprising of 48 males and two females, were brought back in a chartered privileged time aircraft, with registration number EC-L20.

    Joseph Alabi, spokesperson of the Lagos Airport Police Command, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria.

    Mr. Alabi said: “this morning, we received 50 Nigerians who were brought back from Europe.

    “We had three males from Switzerland; from Germany, we had seven males; from Sweden, we had four males, from Luxembourg, we had six males; from Austria, we had 18, comprising of 17 males and one female.

    “From Belgium, we had only one female; from Spain, we had five males and finally from Hungary, we had six males, which makes it a total of 50,’’ he said.

    Mr. Alabi said all the deportees were alleged to have committed immigration-related offences in their host countries.

    He said the deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, and the Police.

    Also on ground to receive them were officials the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

    NAN gathered that the deportees were profiled by immigration authorities and were allowed to depart to their various destinations.

     

    NAN

  • Speed limiting device: Don’t bring further hardships on Nigerians, Melaye warns FRSC

    Speed limiting device: Don’t bring further hardships on Nigerians, Melaye warns FRSC

    The Senate on Thursday, resolved to halt the plan by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to implement the use of speed limiting device by vehicles in the country.

    Consequently, it mandated its Committee on Federal Character to investigate the plan to ensure that it did not add to the hardship currently being experienced by Nigerians.

    This followed a point of order raised by Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi) during plenary.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the FRSC had in 2016 advised vehicle owners to install speed limiting device in their vehicles.

    The device is electro-mechanic and restrains a vehicle from moving on more than the stipulated speed limit, and its enforcement is to check speeding believed to be a major cause of vehicles accidents.

    Melaye said, “there is a proposal by the Federal Road Safety Corps to begin implementation of speed limiting device and this device is to be sold to individuals by the commission.

    “This policy will not go down with the masses of this country.

    “This is not the time to bring economic hardship on the already traumatised people in this country.

    “In every civilised part of the world, it is the responsibility of road safety authorities or agencies like her to mark speed limits on the road and when you beat this speed, they charge you.

    “To ask individuals to purchase speed device from Road Safety is unacceptable and this is even not the time to do it,” he said.

    He called on the leadership of the Senate to intervene in the matter and stop the “draconian move”.

    In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, referred the matter to the Federal Character Committee to handle and report back urgently.

     

     

    NAN

  • Meningitis: All diseases come from Allah, Yari insists

    Zamfara Governor, Dr. Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, has issued a statement to debunk media reports stating that he said outbreak of the deadly Cerebral Spinal Meningitis which has killed over 300 Nigerians is as a result of God’s punishment arising from fornication and other sinful acts.

    In a statement issued by his media aide, Yari however insisted that all diseases come from Allah while urging Nigerians to move close to God.

    Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, the Governor said he urged Nigerians to move closer to God as he insisted that all diseases come from Allah.

    “The Governor noted that the situation was unfortunate because the state does not have enough vaccines yet for the Type C Meningitis.

    “The governor thereafter enjoined all Nigerians to embrace prayers, as God who is aware of the outbreak of the ailment surely has the antidote for it.

    “The Governor specially appealed to Nigerians to make a deliberate effort to be closer to God by shunning sins of fornication and other forms of disobedience so as to receive his divine health and other blessings, as he is closer to those who obey him and distant themselves from sins.

    “No doubt, as a God-fearing man, and a Muslim, the governor believes in the powers of Allah to inflict whatever punishment He decides on the human race.”

    “The governor added for example, that fornication “should not spread so much in society that it becomes common place and if that happens, Allah promises to inflict, on its perpetrators (people) a sickness that would have no cure.”However, the governor who spoke in Hausa had a particular audience in mind when he spoke to the BBC Hausa reporter.

    “Let it be known too that the governor still insists that all diseases come from Allah and that at no point in his interaction with the reporters did he insinuate that Allah was punishing Nigerians but instead drew from the teachings of great Islamic traditions to buttress the point he was trying to convey.

    “This is exactly what the Governor said. But because some people are out there to ridicule him at the slightest opportunity and make a mountain out of a molehill with a view to tarnishing his rising reputation, the innocuous statement was misinterpreted and quoted out of context for reasons best known to the authors.

    “We, therefore, use this medium to appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians to ignore the story making the round and condemn the act of unethical practice by those disseminating the deceptive story.

    [Read Also:] “Meningitis is caused by bacteria, not sin” | Ben-Bruce replies Gov Yari

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Zamfara State Government in conjunction with relevant federal government agencies is making frantic effort to contain the outbreak of meningitis in the state by taking immediate steps to secure appropriate vaccines for the latest health challenge.

    “Let it be on record that the state under the leadership of Governor, Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari will not abandon the wellbeing of the people, who elected him to pilot the affairs of the state for any other thing.

    “As the saying goes, health is wealth, and the administration will not settle for anything apart from vigorously pursuing the overall well-being of Zamfara people,” he said.

  • Stop unlawful arrest, detention of innocent Nigerians, IGP warns officers

    Stop unlawful arrest, detention of innocent Nigerians, IGP warns officers

    The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has warned personnel of the force against unlawful arrests and detention of innocent Nigerians.

    Idris gave the warning at a meeting with Commissioners of Police and above in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He directed all commissioners of police in the states to ensure close supervision of operations of all units in their commands to avoid this unpleasant situation.

    “You should ensure close supervision of operations of all units stationed in your commands,” he said.

    The IG said that all police units in the state were under the supervision of the commissioner who supervised activities of the command.

    He expressed concern over the conduct of some police officers who were arresting suspects and detaining them without recourse to thorough investigation.

    Idris attributed the recent achievements recorded by the police to the synergy between it and other security agencies in the country.

    “Police is having a robust synergy with other security agencies, this is seen in operation jointly carried out by the police and the security agencies,” he said.

    He said that such joint operations had resulted in the arrest of 18 suspects and recovery of cache of arms in Benue.

    The police boss assured that the notorious leader of the gang, Gana, who was still on the run, would be apprehended and brought to justice.

    He said that the suspect under-declared the arms in his possession during the amnesty given to militants in the state.

    “We seized arrays of arms from him, what he declared during the amnesty programme was to fool Nigerians,” he said.

    He urged command commissioners to give field commanders maximum support to enable them to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

    Idris said that more area commands would be established in the states to address the issue of stagnation of personnel in the commander cadre of the force.

    In a related development, the IG has decorated 11 newly-promoted commissioners of police and one Assistant commissioner of police.

    The beneficiaries are: CP John Amadi, CP Undie Adie, CP Olugbenga Adeyanju, CP Patrick Garba, Joseph Agaji and CP Akinpelu Olajumoke, among others.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Police Service Commission had on Feb. 23, promoted 11 DCP to the rank of CP.

  • Again, Italy deports 40 Nigerians over immigration offences

    The Italian government has deported 40 Nigerians for committing various offences in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMlA) Lagos on Tuesday night.

    The deportees,who are all male, were brought back in a chartered aircraft with registration number EL-SMU/3737.

    DSP Joseph Alabi, the spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command, confirmed the development to newsmen.

    Alabi said 39 of the deportees were alleged to have committed immigration-related offences while one of them was allegedly involved in drug dealing .

    He said the deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) , the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police.

    Also on ground to receive them were officials the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the deportees were profiled by immigration authorities while those without serious charges were allowed to depart to their various destinations.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that he Italian government had earlier on Feb. 23 and March 8 deported 33 and 37 Nigerians respectively.

     

  • Nigerians will buy 50kg of rice for N10,000 from June – RIFAN

    Nigerians will buy 50kg of rice for N10,000 from June – RIFAN

    Rice farmers under the auspices of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN, has assured Nigerians that in June 2017 a 50 kilogramme of the commodity will sell at N10, 000, against the almost N20,000 it is sold now in the market.

    The assurance was given by the National President, RIFAN, Aminu Goronyo, while speaking on the current development in the rice industry.

    Goronyo disclosed that rice farmers under the association now have direct access to fertiliser which was hitherto scarce and expensive for the farmers to buy.

    In his words: “Fertiliser was a very big challenge, but today it has become a history. We have signed MoU where the fertiliser is sold N5, 500 per bag of fertiliser, and is now a government policy. We have more fertiliser in the country and go direct to the hands of the farmers and is everywhere in the country.

    “We have already achieved rice sufficiency in the last two years because all the rice we eat is grown here in the country. With the government through the Nigeria Customs Service on the land borders, including the high exchange rate no importer can go to other countries and import rice for profit. I assure you in the next three months a 50kg bag of rice will come down to N10, 000.

    “The Anchor Borrowers Scheme was conceived through collective effort by the Central Bank of Nigeria, RIFAN and other relevant key stakeholders, and we are everyday meeting with the CBN reviewing the process.”

    He, however, lamented inadequate rice seeds for his over 4.2 million registered members, which according to him said past governments have failed to provide certified and quality seeds for over 30 years.

    “Seed is the most essential component of any commodity that is going to be produced. We do not have rice seeds in Nigeria. The few companies we have in the country do not have the capacity to supply the quality and certified seeds we need. What we have is grossly inadequate and not up to one percent of the need by Nigerian farmers.

    “I blame the previous governments because for the 30 years we don’t have enough certified seeds. The government has played vital role in creating this problem for the farmers.

    “The research centres are there and they are being paid but they are not doing what they are supposed to because government rely on them to come up with certified seeds, and we the end users, the farmers, we know that we are not getting then real certified seed.

    “Even the current Anchor Borrowers Scheme that is going on we are just managing seeds from few companies that rarely have certified seeds.

    “Most of the seeds that are being supplied are from the companies that do not have all it takes, and we do not have other options than to use what they are giving to us. The seeds released are not up to five percent of our total requirement,” he stated.

  • Harass harmless citizens, be arrested, Police warns masquerades

    Harass harmless citizens, be arrested, Police warns masquerades

    The Enugu Command of the Nigeria Police Force Command has warned masquerades and their assistants against assaulting, harassing, and intimidating Nigerians in the state under whatever guise.

    This warning was given by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, in a statement he signed and issued in Enugu on Monday.

    According to Amaraizu, the police would arrest anyone caught committing any offense under the guise of masquerade displays and festivals.

    He noted that the command had continued to say that people’s rights should not be infringed upon in any show or festivity.

    The police spokesman also advised communities to celebrate their culture and masquerade festivities within the confines of the law.

    He said: “The Police have frowned at the report received concerning the alleged recklessness of some masquerades and their assistants on the issue of assault, molestation, and intimidation of good people of the state.”

    “Anyone caught committing offense or wrecking havoc on members of the public under the guise of masquerade festivities will be promptly arrested and prosecuted,’’ he said.

    He also disclosed that the command, through its operatives in Nsukka Police Divisional Headquarters, nabbed one of the assistants of Oriokpa Masquerade, Nnamdi Okoro, in Nsukka on March 26.

    Okoro was alleged to have assaulted Mr. Ezeugwu Lawrence, which caused him injury on his head at Ugwuoye axis of Nsukka.

    “Okoro is now helping police operatives in their investigation.

    “He will be arraigned properly in court after investigation,’’ the police spokesman said.

     

  • Unemployment: FG begins online registration of affected Nigerians April 5

    The Federal Government is to register unemployed Nigerians online as from Wednesday April 5.

    The Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Edmund Onwuliri, announced this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    Onwuliri said the registration was aimed at collecting up to date data of the unemployed Nigerians.

    He said the registration was in compliance with NDE’s mandate “to obtain and maintain a data bank on unemployment and vacancies in the country.”

    The deputy director said the exercise would enable the directorate to serve as a clearing house linking job seekers with existing vacancies in government agencies and the private sector.

    “The online portal which goes live on Wednesday April 5, 2017, is designed to capture the relevant details of any unemployed person. It will equally serve as a job exchange portal that will link job seekers and employers.

    “There will be a practical demonstration of the workings of the portal at the NDE stand at the ongoing 28th edition of the Enugu International Trade on Thursday”, he said.

    He gave the portal’s address as: www.jobsforall.ng.

    “The directorate sees this initiative as a bold step toward deepening the effectiveness of its employment creation strategies and a critical input into the process of designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating programmes and schemes.”

    Onwuliri explained that the online portal would henceforth serve as a meeting point for job seekers and their prospective employers, adding that the initiative would go a long way to eliminate the cumbersome process of recruitment by employers of skilled labour in private and public sectors.

     

  • Just in: ‘New passport holders now need NDLEA certificate to travel…’

    Just in: ‘New passport holders now need NDLEA certificate to travel…’

    Nigerians with new passports seeking to travel to Indonesia will need to present a certificate of recommendation from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, among other documents to process their visas.

    Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Harry Purwanto, who told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said that that the new visa policy, was in line with global measures to promote safety for its citizens.

    He said that it was reviewed in October 2016.

    He, however said that it was easier for those with frequently used passports, to get visas.

    He explained that applicants seeking to travel to Indonesia also need to be invited or have certain recommendations to visit that country.

    The envoy added that the policy had made visa application process for Nigerians “quite tough” but added that it was for the safety of all.

    “We (the embassy) could authorise the issuance of visas without having to get in touch with Jakarta but since Oct. 2016, we have to send visa applications from here to Jakarta for approval.

    “We here can make only recommendations on visa applications, especially if applicants have programmes to undertake in Indonesia, but it is at the discretion of authorities in Jakarta to approve the visas that will be issued.

    He also said that about 2000 visas were issued to Nigerians in 2016.

    Purwanto also said that in 2015, the embassy issued 2000 visas.

    He further said that both countries were working on programmes that could enhance people-to-people relations adding that such relations would promote understanding between both cultures.

    “We have about 50 Nigerian students in Indonesia, some under scholarship, and they serve as ambassadors for Nigeria there.

    “The Nigerian community in the country is not so large that is why crimes committed by a few could tarnish the image of others.”

    Purwanto, however, assured that both governments were working to change such bias.