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Tag: Nigerians

  • No proof to show Cameroon killed 97 Nigerians – FG

    The Federal Government has said there was no evidence of 97 Nigerians being killed by Cameroonian Gendarmes.

    This was revealed on Wednesday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama.

    Onyeama said the 97 deaths represented the accumulation of all the Nigerians that had been killed in previous events in the Bakassi region since 2008.

    He made the clarification before the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, headed by Rep. Nnena Elendu-Ukeje‎, which is probing the incident.

    The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Olusola Enikanolaye, revealed that independent investigation had shown that such killings did not occur.

    He further explained that the incident started following the deployment in July 2017 of a new Divisional Officer (DO) to Idabato sub- division of Cameroon to administer the Bakassi General Area.

    “On assumption of office, the new DO commenced the imposition of new taxes on the residents after a meeting with all the chiefs.

    “Accordingly, all men engaged in fishing and other business activities in the area were to pay N55,000, women 30,000 and churches N50,000 per annum.

    “Furthermore, taxes on packets of fish were raised from N200 to N1,000. Butchers were to pay N1,000 per head for goats slaughtered by them.

    “The sanctions placed on the residents for violation of the tax rules include seizure of their boats and payment of 200 per cent of the initial tax.

    “This accounts for the N100,000 which was hitherto heralded in the news and initial reports as the amount of the tax to be paid by Nigerians”, he said.

    He said by the records of the Nigerian Mission, the deaths recorded were not caused by the Gendarmes.

    He added that some Nigerians fled their homes and headed for the Ikang Jetty “when the new DO threatened to use force. It was while they were on their way that some of them reportedly drowned”.

    “Unfortunately, the leaders who confirmed these assertions to the team had no corpse of persons drowned in the incident as proof of the manner of death,” he said.

  • 150 Nigerian students offered $2m to study in US

    150 Nigerian students offered $2m to study in US

    The United States Government has offered 150 Nigerian students within the Lagos Consulate District scholarships worth $2m to study in various universities in the US.

    Out of the students, seven, who applied through the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Programme, were granted fully-funded scholarships.

    Speaking on Tuesday at the 2017 Pre-Departure Orientation Programme for the students, the US Consul General, John Bray, said five of the seven students, who got full scholarships were travelling for their postgraduate studies, while the remaining two were going for their first degree programmes.

    Quoting the latest Institute of International Education’s Open Doors Report, Bray said Nigeria had experienced a remarkable increase in the number of students pursuing higher education in the US.

    According to the report, about 10,674 Nigerians are studying at more than 730 colleges and universities in the US, making Nigeria the leading source of African students in the country.

    Bray urged the students to conduct themselves well in the US, asking them to be good ambassadors for Nigeria.

    “I urge you to be exceptional ambassadors for Nigeria and to take seriously your responsibilities to be good citizens and scholars, just as I wish you great success in your chosen academic fields and a fulfilling experience in the US,” he said.

  • Jonathan attends PDP’s National Caucus meeting, says ‘Nigerians still believe in us’

    Jonathan attends PDP’s National Caucus meeting, says ‘Nigerians still believe in us’

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan said Nigerians still believed in the capacity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lead the country.

    Jonathan stated this at the expanded National Caucus of the party held on Monday night at Wadata House, Abuja.

    He said that this was demonstrated with reactions by Nigerians to the Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership crisis on Wednesday.

    He urged that all our efforts by PDP members and supporters within this period should be channeled towards building the party.

    “Nigerians still believe in the PDP because when the Supreme Court judgment was given, I was so surprised because some of people called and sent text messages to me.

    “They are not even politicians but they are so happy that PDP has come on stream because they were worried that PDP will go down.

    “So, if people who are not even members of PDP are so happy that PDP has now gotten a platform to operate in spite of the negative propaganda against us, it means people still believe in PDP.

    “PDP is a party that Nigerians still believe in,” Jonathan said.

    He appealed to party members to rebuild it, assuring that many people who stepped aside from the party as a result of its leadership crisis would return.

    “The first thing we need to do is to rebuild the party because when the party is strong, everything will be added to that.

    “Whether you have individual or group interest, as a politician, you must serve. These are very basic things, but first and foremost, we must strengthen the party.

    “Let us cooperate with the Caretaker Committee and make sure that PDP is very cohesive. And when that happens, people who stepped aside may step back.

    “We may not even need to go on a voyage of discovery to discover people. But they, themselves will come back because a strong party acts like a magnet.

    “It will attract all the people that are interested,” he said.

    On his part, Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, said only a miracle would stop PDP from regaining power in 2019.

    Makarfi said the meeting was convened to chart the way forward for the party.

    “We call this caucus before the meeting of other organs. You are our party leaders.

    “Immediately judgment was delivered, I said no victor nor vanquished, and we mean it.

    “It does not mean taking what belong to people and giving to a few people.”

    On his part, Mr Ayodele Fayose, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, urged party members and leaders to return to the “home” and mobilise Nigerians at the grassroots.

    “If this party must win, if PDP must get the confidence of Nigerians, if this party must be restored, our leaders must go back home and work,” Fayose said.

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, said that the Lord gave PDP the victory because He loved Nigerian.

    He said that the time had come for the party to work together and deliver good governance to the country.

    “Time to work is now; we must go back to the drawing board. We must not disappoint Nigerians. It is time for fence-mending and reconstructing Nigeria for real change.

    “We all believe in the party that was why we stayed. We need everybody in this party to re-build the party,” Ekweremadu said.

    The Board of Trustees Chairman, Alhaji Jubril Walid, said it was time for the party to build a new Nigeria.

    Walid, who was represented by Mr Aminu Wali, said “this is a new PDP. It is going to have a new beginning, a new start, by the grace of God.”

    Present at the meeting were David Mark, Remi Bakare, Stella Omu, Godswill Akpabio, Nyesom Wike, Sule Lamido, Ahmadu Ali and also Uche Secondus.

    Others were Olisa Metu, Jonah Jang, Jerry Gana, Grace Bent, Gabriel Suswam, Emmanuel Udom, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Darius Ishyaku

    The other persons were Tom Ikimi, Vincent Ogbulafor, Ahmadu Ali, Jimi Agbaje, Solomon Ewuga, Liyel Imoke, Ibrahim Mantu, Emeka Ihedioha, Dimeji Bankole.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the former Chairman of the Party, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff who was sacked last week by the Supreme Court did not attend the meeting.

     

  • U.S intensifies clampdown on Nigerians, Brazilians, others with overstayed visas

    U.S intensifies clampdown on Nigerians, Brazilians, others with overstayed visas

    Indications have emerged that a crackdown on visitors with visa overstays is imminent in the United States of America with Nigeria, Brazil, Venezuela, China and Colombia listed as countries with the most total overstays that do not participate in the visa waiver programme.

    The Trump Administration says it has a problem with visa overstays in the country and is now determined to step up enforcement to try to cut down on the violations.

    Consequently, the government is introducing a face scan for all US citizens travelling abroad.

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said this is aimed mainly at better tracking visa overstays and also at tightening security.

    The agency said it’s the only way to successfully expand a programme that tracks non immigrant foreigners.

    A report in May showed that more than 54 million visitors checked in last year – and nearly 630,000 of them didn’t go back home.

    John Wagner, the Customs deputy executive assistant commissioner in charge of the programme, confirmed in an interview that U.S. citizens departing on international flights will submit to face scans.

    The number of visa overstays was about 200,000 higher than the previous 12-month period.

    Libya, a country of special interest because of terrorism concerns, saw 43 percent of its students refuse to leave on time, while a staggering 75 percent of students from Eritrea broke the terms of their deal, the report said.

    Jessica Vaughan, policy studies director at the Centre for Immigration Studies, said those kinds of rates should force a rethink at the State Department, which issues visas, and should spur immigration officials to put more effort into deterring and deporting overstays in the U.S.

    “The fact that more than 700,000 visits were overstayed last year shows just how much we need to step up interior enforcement to create more of a deterrent, not only by identifying and deporting overstays, but by weakening the job magnet by cracking down on employers who hire illegal workers,” she said.

     

     

  • PDP agrees it failed Nigerians, hopes to reclaim power in 2019

    PDP agrees it failed Nigerians, hopes to reclaim power in 2019

    Acknowledging it failed Nigerians in the past, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP said the party is ready to seek forgiveness and move forward while laying emphasis that PDP will regain power in the country in 2019.

    “The enemies are shivering already. Today is a turning point of things in Nigeria. We are moving forward. Where we have erred, we must tell Nigerians that we erred and seek their forgiveness. This is a collective victory.’’ Makarfi said.

    Makarfi stated this at a meeting he had with members of the party’s Senate caucus shortly after the Supreme Court verdict which affirmed his leadership of the party.

    The meeting was held at the private residence of the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, in Abuja.

    Fayose is the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.

    Makarfi said the party would not repeat the mistakes of the past, adding that history must not be allowed to repeat itself.

    He urged the leadership of the party to work together and also ensure that nobody “is allowed to hold the party to ransom again.”

    He said the All Progressives Congress made a blunder in Osun State, adding that this was the reason why the ruling party in the state lost the Osun-West senatorial election to the PDP.

    He said, “Work, we must work together. We must also learn to accommodate. But that should not be to the detriment of the people who fought for the party.

    “Just as we take Osun West, we will take Nigeria in style by 2019.

    “We would be coming with a programme that would be realistic and will not be against any constitution of the party, electoral act or any law whatsoever.

    Makarfi told the senators and others present at the meeting that the party’s leadership would meet on Tuesday with the party’s Board of Trustees.

    He said it was after the meeting that decisions would be taken on when the party would have its National Executive Committee meeting.

    The former governor of Kaduna State added, “All the caucuses are meeting soon, I think on Tuesday or so. We must be tactical, we must be careful and we must know that the enemies are also watching.

    “The enemies are shivering already. Today is a turning point of things in Nigeria. We are moving forward. Where we have erred, we must tell Nigerians that we erred and seek their forgiveness. This is a collective victory.’’

    Fayose, however, said, “The wall of Jericho has fallen. We must come together to get power in 2019.”

    He declared that the Supreme Court judgment had placed the party on good stead to return to power in 2019.

    He assured the Makarfi-led leadership of the full cooperation of the governors, adding that, “where we need to speak we will speak, where we need to spend money, we will spend”.

     

  • Stop mutilation of naira notes, we spend billions printing it — CBN tells Nigerians

    …Says its symbol of national sovereignty

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has condemned the mutilation of naira notes, saying it represents an abuse on national sovereignty.

    Mr. Isaac Okorafor, CBN’s acting Director of Corporate Communications, made the condemnation in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to Okorafor, the mutilation of the naira as perpetrated by members of the public at wedding ceremonies and parties end up damaging the currency.

    He, therefore, called on Nigerians to treat the nation’s currency with respect.

    “You see it is unfortunate that Nigerians do not take pride in symbols of our national sovereignty.

    “The Naira is a symbol of our National sovereignty.

    “We have embarked on sensitisation across the nation and we have gone to 28 states of the federation in the last one year, trying to tell Nigerians how to identify fake Naira notes, counterfeits notes and how to handle the naira with care.

    “In some cases, we have distributed wallets so that people can put their money neatly.

    “For us, it is so frustrating that not many Nigerians are listening to it.

    “We spend a lot of money printing these bank notes.

    “And we print a banknote, release a bank note on a Friday, people go to parties they dance on them.

    “They go to churches, they squeeze it and put it in offering and by Monday it is already old and mutilated and we spend hundreds of billions of Naira on printing these note.

    “It is so unfortunate.’’

    He said that under no circumstance should the Naira be squeezed or reduced to a piece of paper for writing.

    On hawking and sale of newly printed Naira notes popular known as “mints’’, Okorafor said that the apex bank was working with the police to stop the illegal practice.

    Section 20 and 21 of the CBN Act recommends that whoever sells, buys, sprays and squeeze the naira, will be imprisoned for six months or given an option of N50,000 fine, or both.

    Okorafor said that the police carried out raids in Abuja and Lagos, where mint vendors were arrested and their monies seized.

    “On our side internally, we have made it clear to all that any CBN staff that is found complicit in any of this act, will be summarily dismissed.

    “That is our position,’’ he said.

    The CBN spokesman also gave reasons why there are so many mutilated Naira notes in circulation, especially the lower denominations.

    “The first one is the fact that people handle these notes so badly and so within a short while they don’t get to their lifespan anymore and for the lower denomination notes, they have a higher velocity of circulation.

    “What that means is that you use it more often and as you use it in exchange, it gets worn out it gets torn more frequently. So that also creates another problem.

    “Another factor is that the banks that have the duty to bring back to us mutilated notes do not do their jobs well.

    “Banks are supposed to sort the notes into unfit notes and then when they are bringing the notes back to us, they bring those ones that they have sorted and brought out as unfit and worn out.

    “But they don’t do that. And what we do, if they bring it back to us like that, we do the sorting and charge them because it is a job they have failed to do.

    “But then, what we have discovered is that banks instead of bringing these notes like that for us to sort them and charge them, they will re-circulate it.’’

    Okorafor said that the apex bank would soon release new regulations concerning the role of banks in taking mutilated notes out of circulation.

    The CBN spokesman stated that the bank plans to print more money, especially the lower denominations, to ease pressure on the Naira notes already in circulation.

     

     

    NAN

  • Mixed reactions trail Wizkid’s donation to Greenfell Tower victims

    Mixed reactions trail Wizkid’s donation to Greenfell Tower victims

    Nigerian Afropop singer, Wizkid who recently hosted a successful show in London in a tweet revealed that the proceeds will be donated to the Greenfell Tower fire survivors.

    Recall that the Greenfell Tower fire incident which happened mid last month killed lives of young and old. The development got the attention of many from around the world which saw people donating and sympathising with the victims. The Ojuelegba crooner has also empathised with the victims of the tower

    However, his intention to donate to an incident outside Nigeria has got Nigerians talking with mixed reactions trailing his decision.While some have welcomed the decision, others have blamed him of disregarding the many Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria.

     

     

     

  • Only three million Nigerians subscribe to insurance policies – Adeosun

    Only three million Nigerians subscribe to insurance policies – Adeosun

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, on Monday, said only three million out of 180 million Nigerians are currently subscribed to various insurance policies to protect themselves from uncertainties.

    Adeosun, who made the disclosure at the ongoing 2017 National Insurance Conference in Abuja, noted that insurance was playing critical roles in the economy.

    The theme of the three-day conference is: “Nigeria Open for Business.’’

    Represented by Alhaji Mammud Dutse, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Adeosun said that insurance was facilitating investments by reducing the amount of capital and savings needed by individuals, corporations and agencies to fight unforeseen losses.

    She said that total insurance premiums grew from N75bn in 2005 to over N300bn in 2016 and contributed approximately 0.7 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product.

    She said that the figure was less than the African average of 3.3 per cent and the global average of seven per cent.

    The 2017 event would be the third since the conception of the Insurance Industry Consultative Council in 2015.

    IICC is an amalgamation of all the constituent arms of the insurance industry, which includes the Nigerian Insurers Association, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers and Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria.

    The minister lamented that the insurance industry was facing the challenge of low-level penetration.

    “This means insurance from writing more premiums from millions of Nigerians can provide finance for our long-term economic growth for the country’s recovery.’’

    She said that practitioners must be willing to do more to make insurance a giant industry to look up to, adding that distribution channels must be innovative and that new products should be developed to attract the populace.

    She argued that to achieve conclusive growth, insurance must be deployed to rural areas.

    “Deepening insurance penetration to the rural areas must include, improving technical capacity to meet the emerging market trends.

    “The best way to promote insurance is to incorporate both individuals and corporate entities into the insurance market,’’ Adeosun said.

    The minister said that the Federal Government would ensure that its economic reforms supported the growth of the insurance industry, adding that many foreign investors had indicated interest to invest in the sector.

    “There is also a high level of ownership of insurable assets in Nigeria, despite the economic situation.

    “We expect that industry reforms will continue to drive investments and new market entries.

    “Foreign investors have shown great interest in the Nigerian insurance sector by entering into the market and progress can be seen in the introduction of new insurance products in the growing mortgage and housing sector.

    “To concentrate on the progress being made so far, Federal Government will always play its part to ensure that government assets are properly insured,’’ she said.

    Also speaking, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, said the best way to move the industry forward was for the practitioners to accept responsibilities.

    “The practitioners need to work hard to ensure that many Nigerians are dragged into insurance net.

    “The practitioners cannot compare themselves to entertainers,’’ Enelamah said.

    Earlier, Alhaji Mohammed Kari, the Commissioner for Insurance, National Insurance Commission, commended the Federal Government for its support for the industry.

    Kari described insurance as promoter and stabiliser of economic and commercial activities.

    He said the commission had commenced the review of processes which included timelines and deadlines.

    Kari said that the growth of the industry was hindered by unripe products, religious beliefs and wrong perception.

    Over 400 participants are taking part in the NIC conference.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the three day event will end on Wednesday, July 12.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • Ebola, Lassa Fever: Don’t drop your guards yet, NMA warns FG, Nigerians

    Ebola, Lassa Fever: Don’t drop your guards yet, NMA warns FG, Nigerians

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has alerted Nigerians on the need to be alert on the outbreak of the Lassa fever and Ebola viruses by not dropping the preventive measures as highlighted in 2013 when the epidemic broke out.

    This was revealed in an interview on Monday by Dr. Tunde Olawepo, the Chairman of the Association in Kwara.

    He noted that the government and people have relaxed measures that were initiated to contain the spread of Ebola at its outbreak in 2013.

    According to him, surveillance of travellers entering the country has stopped just as people had relaxed with personal hygiene like regular washing of hands and use of sanitisers.

    “People have stopped using hand sanitisers and frequent hand washing as before.

    “We need to step up with preventive measures and this means people must keep up with hygiene at all times,” he said.

    The physician warned that if these measures were not sustained these contagious diseases could resurface.

    The NMA chairman also advocated for a psychological examination of people aspiring to hold sensitive positions in the government.

    He explained that psychopaths abound in society who appeared to be many normal but need psychological examination to confirm the true state of health.

    “Predicting signs of abnormality in people assigned with taking decisions that affect the country is a duty of the government,” he said.

    Olawepo also urged Nigerians to be whistle-blowers against those who abuse hard drugs before driving as to promote a healthy society.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that some states in the nation recently witnessed an upsurge in the spread of the virus with several deaths already recorded.

     

     

     

  • 90% of students in Benin Republic varsity are Nigerians – official

    90% of students in Benin Republic varsity are Nigerians – official

    President of the Houdegbe North American University, Republic of Benin, Dada Houdegbe, on Saturday announced that about 90 percent of its students were Nigerians.

    Houdegbe made the remark at the University’s award of degrees and conferment of honorary awards to its graduating students and other local and international personalities, NAN reports.

    “Three years ago, we graduated about 3,000 students from different areas of studies.

    “Today, the Houdegbe North American University is graduating about 2,000 students, as well as the conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees on deserving personalities.

    “Let me say that about 90 percent of students in our university are Nigerians, who are happy being our students,” he said.

    According to him, there is currently a growing interest of many young Nigerians in the courses being offered by the university, its affordability and good learning environment.

    The president said that the university was meant to build bridges across political, economic, linguistic and cultural divides in West Africa, in particular, and Africa, in general.

    Houdegbe commended former President Olusegun Obasanjo for his belief in the institution’s ideals, as well as the encouragement he had continued to give to the university.