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Tag: Nigerians

  • UK Visa: British High Commissioner issues key advisory to Nigerians

    UK Visa: British High Commissioner issues key advisory to Nigerians

    Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, has urged Nigerians to remain alert to visa scams and to apply for UK visas only through official and authorized channels.

    Speaking at the UK-Nigeria Economic Growth Conference held Wednesday in Abuja, Montgomery stressed the importance of submitting complete and truthful documentation to avoid visa denials. While acknowledging that concerns about visa refusals exist, he reassured the public that many Nigerian applicants are still being granted visas.

    “We handle around 1,500 visa applications daily from Nigeria,” he noted, highlighting that Nigerians represent approximately 10% of all visitors to the UK.

    Montgomery emphasized that most visa refusals are due to documentation problems rather than a lack of eligibility. He also pointed out that applicants can choose from various processing options, including standard, priority, and super priority services.

    The High Commissioner underscored the enduring diplomatic and historical relationship between Nigeria and the UK, as reflected in the high volume of Nigerian visitors among the UK’s 37.9 million annual arrivals.

  • NDDC warns Nigerians against scammers offering fake scholarships

    NDDC warns Nigerians against scammers offering fake scholarships

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has warned the public regarding the activities of fraudsters offering non-existent postgraduate scholarships to unsuspecting victims.

    Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs at the Commission, issued the warning in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

    She disclosed that the scammers had been soliciting money from members of the public under the pretext of securing scholarship placements.

    “The attention of the NDDC has been drawn to fraudulent emails and messages sent to applicants of the commission’s Postgraduate Foreign Scholarship Programme,” she said.

    Thompson-Wakama revealed that the fraudulent emails, purportedly sent from nddcregistry@gmail.com and claiming to be from the NDDC’s ‘Board Registry,’ invite recipients to a fictitious document verification and authentication exercise.

    According to her, the purported exercise is scheduled to take place from May 19 to May 21 at Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    “Members of the public are hereby advised that the NDDC has no affiliation with this fraudulent selection process,” she stressed.

    She further clarified that all official communication concerning the commission’s scholarship programme are conducted exclusively through the official NDDC portal: www.scholarship.nddc.gov.ng.

    “Applicants are strongly advised to disregard any unsolicited messages requesting money, invitation, sensitive information, or offering scholarship placements outside of the official NDDC procedures,” she added.

    Thompson-Wakama urged anyone who receives such fraudulent emails to report them immediately to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for prompt investigation and action.

    She encouraged Nigerians interested in the commission’s programmes to utilise only its official communication channels.

    “We also advise former beneficiaries of the commission’s programmes and prospective applicants to verify all information through the NDDC’s official website official: www.nddc.gov.ng,” she concluded.

     

  • 231 Nigerians repatriated from Ghana

    231 Nigerians repatriated from Ghana

    The Nigerian government has welcomed the return of 231 citizens from Ghana, comprising 204 victims of human trafficking and 27 individuals suspected of involvement in cybercrime and trafficking-related offenses.

    The returnees arrived in Lagos on Friday and were received by officials from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), in collaboration with Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). Wema Bank supported the repatriation by providing transportation, meals, and financial assistance to the returnees.

    According to Dominic Mensah, head of EOCO’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, the arrests followed a tip-off about a criminal syndicate operating within a 50-house estate in Ghana. The resulting operation, codenamed Rescue Shield, targeted 26 properties believed to be hubs for illegal cyber activities.

    “Out of 233 people initially apprehended, 204 were identified as victims, while 27 were confirmed as suspected traffickers and cybercriminals,” Mensah said. He added that the estate owner is currently under investigation for potentially facilitating the crimes.

    Most of the victims, many of whom are under 18, were reportedly smuggled into Ghana through unauthorized border routes after being deceived with fake job offers. Once in Ghana, they were trapped in forced cybercrime operations, with some being coerced into overseeing new recruits for traffickers based in Nigeria.

    Of the 204 victims, 76 hail from Edo State, while others come from states including Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, Imo, Enugu, and Ebonyi.

    NIDCOM Chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, stressed the importance of public awareness in combating human trafficking. “Victims should be encouraged to tell their stories. Many of the traffickers are people they know—family or friends. These perpetrators must be publicly exposed, just like drug traffickers,” she said.

    NAPTIP’s Lagos Commander, Comfort Agboko, called on parents to be more vigilant, noting that traffickers often use deceptive promises of jobs in Lagos or overseas to lure their targets and instruct them to keep silent about their plans.

    NAPTIP confirmed that all returnees will undergo profiling and begin the reintegration process, while the suspects will be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.

  • Plateau Killings: FG can stop violent attacks if there’s will —Nigerians react to nass killings

    Plateau Killings: FG can stop violent attacks if there’s will —Nigerians react to nass killings

    Nigerians have continued to express condemnation over recent attacks incommunities in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State that claimed no fewer than 51 lives, while tasking the Federal Government to prevent future occurrences.

    The ugly development happened barely one week after the National Emergency Management Agency confirmed that deadly clashes in another part of the state left 52 people dead.

    The call was made during a radio programme, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, on Wednesday in Abuja. The programme also examined a report by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) highlighting security concerns over the influx of beggars from neighbouring Republic of Niger into Abuja.

    Security expert and public good advocate Prince Kevin Fyneface described the killings in Plateau communities as subtly genocidal, calling on the federal government to tackle insecurity in Plateau state and other parts of the country with every sense of sincerity and truth.

    Fyneface alluded that the “President Bola Tinubu-led administration has what it takes to stop the spate of insecurity and wanton killings destabilizing the Plateau and almost every part of the country if there is will,” adding that true federalism and the adoption of effective community and state policing would go a long way in helping the Plateau combat violent attacks.

    He asked Governor Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State to build cattle ranches in his state since the farmers/herders crisis is a serious part of it, while urging the residents of Plateau communities to rise in defence of their lives.

    “My understanding of things, having been part of the government in the past, the attacks in Plateau communities are what I call the subtle genocidal reality that we’re faced with in these areas. It’s happening in Southern Kaduna, Benue, Plateau, and a bit of Taraba is also being affected recently; it’s subtle genocide taking place in those places.

    “I agree that the federal government can stop what is going on if there is a will. President Tinubu has what it takes to stop the spate of insecurity. Also, true federalism can be of great help, and adopting community and state policing is important; citizens must defend themselves at this point. It is about self-preservation,” he stressed.

    Fyneface identified poor and faulty recruitment processes in the military and law enforcement agencies as the bane of ineffective security of the country, adding that unequal and unfair treatment of security operatives goes a long way in undermining strategies to confront insecurity nationwide.

    “Military and other security personnel are not well motivated. There is poor remuneration, poor housing, education, insurance, and health system. Our recruitment process should be based on merit, not ethnic or religious sentiments.

    “Politicians are not supposed to be paid less than security agents. If we make these changes, security men will be able to do the right things and shun cutting corners, and as a country, we need to tell ourselves the truth. It’s high time we got to sit down together and say we are supposed to be a country and not a captured territory,” Fyneface stated.

    On his part, Ukandi Odey, a journalist based in Jos, the capital of Plateau state, joined the call for the federal government to show sincerity and seriousness in its efforts to tackle insecurity in the state.

    Odey decried the inability of security operatives and military personnel to avert the attacks or go after the perpetrators immediately. Disclosing that there is a wide belief that the recent attacks in the state were for “land grabbing purposes.”

    He faulted President Tinubu’s continued stay in France on a working leave at a time bandits are unleashing terror on the Plateau, adding that governors can do small given the constitutional powers at their disposal, hence the need for the federal government to frontally address the worsening insecurity situation.

    “I expected the federal government to be very sincere. We saw a press statement from the presidency with respect to the situation in Plateau; based on the issue canvassed in that press statement, I think the president is misinformed. President Tinubu should cut short his working leave in France and return to Nigeria at this point,” Odey said.

    Speaking earlier during the radio programme, ICIR’s reporter, Nanji Nandang Venley, said the Nigerien beggars are trooping into Abuja due to hunger and insecurity, warning of the potential threat to the people’s safety.

    According to Venley, the community of beggars from Niger occupy parts of the pedestrian in Lugbe, revealing that they are brought in their numbers by trucks daily.

    She decried the lack of a proper and effective database of people resident in Nigeria, noting that “even Abuja, the nation’s capital, lacks an advanced security system to track the number of people coming in and going out.” She added that following the investigations, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) were all unable to react to the influx of foreign beggars into Abuja and plan to ensure they do not pose security problems.

    Nigerians who called into the radio programme condemned the killings in Plateau state and urged the federal government to address the deleterious situation frontally and decisively, insisting that the federal government has what it takes to stop the killings in Plateau communities and other parts of the country.

    President Bola Tinubu condemned the violence in the state, urging the state’s leadership to find a lasting solution to persistent communal conflicts.

    Meanwhile, Gov. Mutfwang of Plateau in a statewide broadcast on Wednesday in Jos banned night grazing in all parts of the state following the spate of attacks and killings in some communities.

    The governor assured residents of the state of his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property and promised to support the state’s security agencies.

    Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program, PRIMORG, that draws the government’s and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

    The program runs in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation.

  • Tinubu extends immigration CG, Kemi Nandap’s tenure till 2026

    Tinubu extends immigration CG, Kemi Nandap’s tenure till 2026

    President Bola Tinubu has approved the extension of the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, until December 31, 2026.

    Nandap, who joined the NIS on October 9, 1989, was appointed as Comptroller-General on March 1, 2024, with an initial tenure set to end on August 31, 2025.

    A statement by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday, said Tinubu commended Nandap for her leadership, noting improvements in border management, immigration modernisation, and national security under her watch.

    “Under her leadership, the Nigeria Immigration Service has witnessed significant advancements in its core mandate, with notable improvements in border management, modernisation of immigration processes and national security measures.

    “President Tinubu commended the Comptroller-General for her exemplary leadership and urged her to continue dedicating herself to the Service’s strategic priorities, which align with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement read.

    He also reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the NIS in safeguarding Nigeria’s borders and ensuring safe and legal migration.

  • The march of Nigerians in march – By Owei Lakemfa

    The march of Nigerians in march – By Owei Lakemfa

    March has been a celebratory month as President Bola Tinubu turned 73. As the celebrations began, Nigerian Shiites were simultaneously being shot for marching on the streets. March 2025 has also seen  an escalation in the unending Fubara-Wike drama. It  has now soaked in the Presidency, Executive, legislative and judicial arms including  the Supreme Court.

    Equally, the Nathasha-Akpabio tango which began in the ballroom of the Nigerian Senate, has taken international stage.

    it  has also been the month when some perceptive Nigerians  in organising  a posthumous birthday for radical intellectual, Professor Nuhu Omeiza Yaqub, analysed the country’s past and suggested ways forward.

    President Tinubu was on Friday, March 28, the eve of his birthday,  at the National Mosque, Abuja for Jumat prayers. The faithful were also with him.  The country was in a joyous mood as Ministers and Governors, legislators, political appointees and the hopeful were in a near-stampede to congratulate the President, and perhaps  assure him that there is ‘no shaking’

    Simultaneously,  less than a ten minute- drive away, the Shiites were marking their international Qudus or Wufus. This Day of Ashura is designated  a day of mourning the  martyred.  For over four decades now, they have dedicated this day as an annual international march for a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue.

    So, if in a democracy, the Shiites march, exercising their fundamental right to freedom of religion, movement and assembly, how does it constitute a security threat for which the army and police annually open fire on the children, women and men in the procession?

    All that is required by the  Police Act, is for the police to provide protection for those marching or demonstrating, and for the general populace.

    It appears that the annual murder of Shiites in Nigeria is beyond a so-called security reason. If the Shiites march, let them march! Are they marching with your legs? It is their religious belief, so the annual slaughter will not stop them from marching, and they have a fundamental human right to do so.

    President Tinubu does not need to inherit the enemies of  former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Shiites in Nigeria are not our enemies. If anything, they are our fellow citizens and government has the constitutional duty to protect all Nigerians irrespective of belief. Also, as Nigerians, we have the right to be briefed by government on how many Shiites were killed this Friday, how many injured and if there are still some being detained.   We need an enquiry into this crime and how it can be prevented   in future.

    My final take on this is that we must make far less use of the army. Its intrusion in normal civil life is becoming pervasive and must be checked.

    On Thursday, March 27, 2025,  Nigerians  were also on the march in the endless ritual of constitutional amendments. On that day, the House of Representatives passed 31 Bills   after second reading. For me, the most attractive was one that seeks to review the requirements of those contesting the Presidential and Gubernatorial elections. It seeks to stop anyone above sixty years from contesting those positions.

    I laughed. If by any miracle such an amendment is passed, we are in for another melodrama. Eighty year old politicians would start producing birth certificates   or sworn age declarations that purport them to be fifty five! This is more so in a country where birth and death records are not readily available.

    So, why not concentrate on enforcing existing requirements that can be better verified? For instance, the constitutional provision that such aspirants should process a minimum high school leaving certificate?

    It reminds me of the case of former President Muhamadu Buhari who in contesting the 2015 elections, could not produce a school leaving certificate or any such documentary  evidence. He claimed that the Nigerian Army had custody of  his certificate. The Army denied.   What is  instructive is that for the eight years he was President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he could not produce the certificate he claimed he had deposited with the army.

    The Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan saga is one of the wonders of the Nigerian polity. She was said to have refused to change her seat. She in turn, accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. How these two matters constituted “gross misconduct” for which over 250,000 otherwise busy  constituents would go queue to sign a recall petition, is baffling except that it might be one those  scams in our politics.

    There was the joke that the Senator had externalised the issue by taking it to the floor of the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Union. Really? Do the people making this claim not realise that in a  highly digitalized world, the altercation right from the Senate was already internationalized?

    At the Prof Yaqub colloquium held on March 4, 2025 to repair the broken joints of the country, Professor Emmanuel  Osodeke, President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU said the universities  can make meaningful interventions in all aspects provided they are made eternally healthy. He submitted that: “ it is only by priotising  knowledge solution through effective and development-focused university education that Nigeria can get back to its path of sustainable development.”

    A father of Political Science in Nigeria, Professor Adele Jinadu said Africa needs an Afro-centric approach to governance and development based on five types of freedom; political freedoms,  economic facilities, social opportunities, transparency guarantees and protective security. The road to Europe he argued, would not lead to salvation for the continent.

    Senator Ita Solomon Enang, Presidential Adviser, National Assembly Matters, Emeritus, pointed out  to  developing countries that  Trumpism   is the best thing that has activated  their economies and potentials; an opportunity to progress from Self-Governing countries to  truly independent ones.

    Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria,  submitted that the judiciary should have conscience and uphold social justice not technicalities.

    Ambassador  Joe Keshi, President of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria, ARCAN spoke on the need to employ diplomacy as a tool in  solving  Africa’s crises of democracy and  development. He pointed out that the crises are international  in nature, so the solution  has to be national and international.

    Dr Usman Oladipo  Akanbi,  President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA in assessing Professor Yaqub who apart from being a leading political scientist and former Vice Chancellor in the Universities of Abuja and Sokoto State, was also engaged in the Arts, spoke about the public intellectual.  He  pointed out that in this new generation, the public intellectual rather than recede  into academic obscurity, can evolve with the times and still contribute  to upholding  social justice  by remaining  true to the ideals of his status.

    Obviously, Nigerians have a long way to tread.

  • MacArthur Foundation lauds PRIMORG’s partnership, impact on Nigerians

    MacArthur Foundation lauds PRIMORG’s partnership, impact on Nigerians

    The MacArthur Foundation says effective partnerships with the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG) and others have positively influenced society and significantly enhanced impacts during its over 30 years of operation in Nigeria.

    The Foundation’s Deputy Director, Africa Office, Dr Amina Salihu, made the revelation after a tour of PRIMORG’s office in Pyakassa, Lugbe – Abuja, on Thursday, 27 February 2025.

    During the visit, Salihu stated that the MacArthur Foundation appreciates PRIMORG’s efficacious use of funds from the Chicago-based organization, which has impacted communities and added value to their over three decades of work in Nigeria.

    She extolled PRIMORG for choosing an office location that aligns with its purpose and immediately impacts the underserved nearby community. She noted that for future partnerships, “MacArthur Foundation does not leave their friends behind.”

    “To PRIMORG CEO and team, do not thank the MacArthur Foundation; let us thank you because philanthropy is as good as the partner. If you don’t take philanthropic resources and put them to good use, no one will see the value of the MacArthur Foundation.

    “People will be asking, you’ve been in Nigeria for the last 30 years, what have you achieved? So, we thank you for making it worthwhile for us. We must thank you for the legacy you are building.

    “Your work (PRIMORG) speaks for you; you are interested in community development, making an impact, and thinking about progress. In all honesty, you couldn’t have chosen a better name, and you have also lived it.

    “I commend your sense of community work. PRIMORG is not just in the mix, talking about the progressive impact or community development but living it out by the succour you are providing for people in the community where your office is located. Your social interventions in the neighbouring community are laudable. Thank you for impacting your environment.

    “Imagine the one person’s life you save now; the outcome is that the person is safer to pursue the future, and that future is the impact because they go on to import ideas and go on to impact more lives – it is like sowing one’s seed that gives you 7 years, and the 7 years give you a 100 years of grains.

    “Ahead of future partnerships, the MacArthur Foundation does not forget their friends – the greatest success of the foundation is that they have built roots.

    “So thank you, PRIMORG, for the honour of visiting you today, and I look forward to more such opportunities; thank you for all you do for Nigeria,” she stated.

    Salihu also used the occasion to call on the government to use taxpayers’ money wisely to provide infrastructure and basic amenities for the people, stressing that citizens providing basic amenities despite paying taxes to the government amounts to exploitation.

    “Nigerians are paying tax, they are law-abiding, and they want to know what their taxes are being used for. If you pay taxes and you don’t see what it is used for, it is really an exploitation.”

    In response, PRIMORG’s Executive Director, Augustine Okhiria Agbonsuremi, hailed the MacArthur Foundation for its support over the years, which has been instrumental to the impact it is making in communities around the nation.

    Agbonsuremi said PRIMORG’s vision to impact communities and the lives of citizens was borne out of anxiousness to give back to society while thanking the MacArthur Foundation for believing in PRIMORG and helping it achieve set goals.

    “When we started in 2018, we never expected to go this far with the MacArthur Foundation. When we started, it was like, what can I give back after 35 years in journalism? Then, I came in contact with the foundation’s staff. So, we are grateful for everything we’ve achieved by working together, and we are ready to continue this partnership when you (MacArthur Foundation) decide on a project or area of focus.

    “We had a lot of experiences from working with MacArthur Foundation, from coordination and training that we got -in terms of report writing, project focus, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI),” He stated.

    Agbonsuremi thanked Dr. Salihu for visiting the organization’s facilities, which were the product of the MacArthur Foundation’s funding support under the guidance of staff in the Nigerian office.

    He disclosed that Sailhu has been of great value to PRIMORG, especially in helping them intervene in issues affecting women and children, gender-balancing advocacies, and underserved communities.

    Agbonsuremi said: “When we encountered you (Dr. Salihu), you always talked to us about balancing and interventions for underserved communities, especially women and children. We have started to infuse your suggestions into our radio programmes, which have made them better for us, and we appreciate you for this.”

  • BEWARE! British govt warns Nigerians against fake UK visa, work, school offers

    BEWARE! British govt warns Nigerians against fake UK visa, work, school offers

    The British High Commission in Nigeria has issued a notice cautioning Nigerians to be cautious of scams related to UK work and study opportunities if they are planning to migrate to the United Kingdom.

    The caution which was disclosed in a press statement, follows increasing reports by universities in the UK of fraudulent schemes targeting foreign students.

    The UK memo lists the types of scams that have been found to target foreign students, saying, “Over the years, there have been reports of the sharing of worthless visas and work offers, especially for care homes that do not exist in the UK, have become more widespread in recent years.

    These schemes have left many individuals stranded in the UK, having invested all their savings in what turned out to be fake opportunities.”

    A BBC investigation revealed that, in September 2024, a network was found selling bogus work visas and care worker jobs, leading to the exploitation of unsuspecting applicants.

    Some victims, particularly women, are now trapped in the UK, unable to return home without losing the money they paid for these fraudulent offers.

    The British High Commission has specifically warned against offers that guarantee visa approval or claim to provide quicker, easier entry into the UK than official methods. They also cautioned against requests for money to prove financial support, as genuine visa processes do not ask for such payments.

    The UK government urges applicants to verify job and study offers using official sources, including the government’s Register of Worker and Temporary Worker licensed sponsors, to ensure the legitimacy of potential employers and institutions. It is also important to avoid paying fees to agents claiming to work for UK authorities, as these are often scams.

    For those considering UK opportunities, the British High Commission stressed the importance of researching official guidance pages to identify common fraud tactics and ensure their applications are legitimate.

  • Support Families of Fallen Heroes, Oborevwori Urges Nigerians

    Support Families of Fallen Heroes, Oborevwori Urges Nigerians

    Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Wednesday, urged Nigerians to demonstrate enduring commitment to the welfare of widows and families of the country’s fallen heroes.

    The governor made the plea while addressing journalists shortly after participating in the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremony held at the Cenotaph in Asaba, the state capital.

    Governor Oborevwori, who led other top government functionaries, military, and paramilitary personnel to lay wreaths in honour of the nation’s fallen heroes, stressed the significance of the event in commemorating the sacrifices of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.

    “This day happens to be a day we celebrate every year in remembrance of our fallen heroes.

    ” My prayer is for God to grant the souls of our fallen heroes eternal rest and also to console with their families,” the governor said.

    He assured the families of the deceased military personnel that their sacrifices would not be in vain.

    “I want to reassure their families that they will never be neglected. Whichever way we can support them, we will continue to support the widows and also those in the forefront today.

    “It shows that Nigeria cares, our people care. I will encourage them to stand firm, to stand for our country, Nigeria,” Oborevwori added.

    Highlight of the ceremony was the laying of wreaths by the Governor, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, military commanders, and the Commissioner of Police, among others.

  • CHRISTMAS: Oborevwori urges Nigerians to prioritise national interest

    CHRISTMAS: Oborevwori urges Nigerians to prioritise national interest

    Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has called on Nigerians to use the season of joy and goodwill typified by the Christian Festival of Christmas, to reflect on the values of unity, peace and selflessness to work for the sustainable progress and development of the country.

    Governor Oborevwori made the call while speaking to journalists after the Christmas service at the Living Faith Church, Asaba, on Wednesday.

    The governor, who was joined at the Christmas service by his wife, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, and other family members, emphasized the need for citizens to place national interest above personal or sectional aspirations in order to foster sustainable progress and stability in the country.

    Governor Oborevwori reminded Nigerians that the essence of Christmas laid in mutual selfless love, sacrifice, and the spirit of giving, as exemplified by the birth of Jesus Christ, and urged citizens to emulate the virtues in their daily lives, particularly during these challenging times.

    He said: “I am very happy to celebrate this Christmas in Asaba. I don’t know if am the first Governor to do that. But last year, I celebrated the Christmas in my village and I said this year I will be celebrating it here in Asaba. Here is the capital and I need to celebrate it will all of you.

    “I am happy to be here in this Christmas service. I want to assure Deltans that throughout this celebration, there shall be peace everywhere and I thank them for all the support they have given to this administration.

    “I know that these are trying times, but I believe that 2025 shall be better than this year in Jesus’ name.

    “I also know that there is crisis everywhere in the world but we are managing ours very well in Nigeria.

    “The most important thing is that we are united and I believe that the major interest should be Nigeria, not personal interest.

    “A lot of things have happened in the last few days. There is no where people don’t make mistakes. Where we have stampedes, we commiserate with them and their families over the losses. I pray to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the losses.

    “Like I have said, 2025 will be a good year. It will be a year of consolidation and I pray for more unity in Delta State and in Nigeria in general.”

    Earlier in his Christmas message titled “Understanding the purpose of the coming of Christ”, Pastor Samuel Johns of Living Faith Church, Asaba, said Christmas was all about the celebration of salvation, adding that Christ came to save mankind from their sins.

    The cleric said Christ came to open a new chapter for human race, to experience a new beginning, restore joy to mankind, bring peace to humanity and restore divine presence to man.

    He added that “Christ came to give us life at its best, to destroy the works of the devil, to restore the supernatural back to mankind and to give Christians what is due them”.

    Pastor Johns also said for Christians to access the blessings of the coming of Christ, they must accept and believe Him as their Lord and personal Saviour, believe in the provisions of redemption and engage in the obedience of faith to His word.