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Tag: Seychelles

  • Drug, fraudulent activities, reasons we banned Nigerian passport holders – Seychelles

    Drug, fraudulent activities, reasons we banned Nigerian passport holders – Seychelles

    The government of the Island nation of Seychelles’ has stated reasons why it banned Nigerian passport holders from entering the country.

    According to Seychelles’ authorities, fraudulent and drug-related activities perpetrated by Nigerians while in the country have forced them to tighten border control when processing applications for entry into the country.

    However,  Seychelles’ Vice President, Ahmed Afif told reporters that Nigerians with diplomatic passports, valid work or resident permits issued by the island nation will be allowed to enter.

    He said “For the others, the government will keep its eyes open and SEBS (Seychelles Electronic Border System) will analyze much more to find out what reasons they are coming example someone who is coming for a holiday for only one day. We have to ask questions because it is strange and we have seen that happening,”

    He added that there were many instances where many Nigerians said they were coming for holidays but only for one or two days.

    “When we checked the payments made for them to come to Seychelles, it is from only one source. This is for different people coming on different days which shows an organized syndicate,” said Afif.

    He explained that in the past year, especially the past few months, the government has observed “a tendency that we have deemed as dangerous for our border control and economy, due to criminal activities happening in the country.”

     

    “We have seen a clear link between this with certain people from Nigeria. In the past two weeks, for example, 13 people coming from Nigeria have been arrested when entering Seychelles because they were carrying drugs into the country,” said the Vice President.

     

    Continuing, he said that in the past months, there have been incidents where Nigerians have used false credit cards at tourist establishments.

     

    “In one case, 62 Nigerians who said they were on holiday used false credit cards, and the money was never credited to the accounts of these establishments. These establishments have lost money. These people spent free holidays in the country at the expense of the establishment owners and there is nothing that can be done for them,” Afif said.

    He also outlined that there have been other incidents implicating financial institutions and in one case Nigerians were involved in a fraud where £1 million was lost.

    “There are other online scams originating from Nigeria. We have seen that these people are also coming to Seychelles and doing those scams. We do not have a problem with Nigeria or its people though we do not tolerate such criminal activities in our country,” said Afif.

    Last Saturday, debates started on social media platforms about an alleged ban on Nigerian passport holders entering Seychelles for holiday purposes. This came after a Twitter user shared a screenshot of what appeared to be a rejected entry application from SEBS.

     

    “We regret to inform you that your application has been denied, as per immigration regulation, for now, we are not accepting any Nigerian passport holder for holiday purposes,” read the screenshot.

    Speaking on the delay of response from the government, Afif said that there was a lack of communication on the matter and “it should be noted that the information that was circulated was not official, coming from a system and it was done in a non-coordinated manner.”

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, in Seychelles, Sylvestre Radegonde, will meet with the Nigerian ambassador for Seychelles to discuss further on the matter.

    Seychelles is looking at handing over convicted Nigerians in the country to Nigerian authorities.

     

     

  • Breaking! Seychelles bans Nigerian passport holders

    Breaking! Seychelles bans Nigerian passport holders

    The Island African nation of Seychelles has placed a travel  ban on Nigerian passport holders applying for short-term visa or holiday purposes.

    The ban has been made public by a travel content creator, @munafromtravelletters, who raised the alarm on Saturday evening with a screenshot of the rejection email.

    The screenshot reads “We regret to inform you that your application has been denied, as per immigration regulation, for now we are not accepting any NIGERIAN passport holder for holiday purposes. Kindly contact http://www.ics.gov.sc/ (Seychelles Immigration) or call 248 4 293 636 for more information”.

    As caption, she wrote ‘It seems Seychelles just placed a ban on Nigerian passport holders. The thing with having a Nigerian passport is you can be postponing travel plans until you become Bill Gates and immigration policies will be like Dey play’.

    The ban comes just six months after Nigeria signed a pact for direct flights between the two countries.

    Before the ban, Nigeria had a long-standing visa-free agreement with Seychelles which allows Nigerian citizens free entry without a visa for 30 days.

  • BREAKING: Seychelles elects Anglican priest as president

    BREAKING: Seychelles elects Anglican priest as president

    The Seychelles has elected an opposition candidate as president for the first time since 1977, authorities announced on Sunday, and winner Wavel Ramkalawan reaffirmed a pledge to hike the minimum wage after COVID-19 stifled the tourism-dependent economy.

    Seychelles State House said in a statement on its website that Ramkalawan and his Vice-President, Ahmed Afif will be inaugurated on Monday.

    Ramkalawan, an Anglican priest but retired, defeated President Danny Faure after three decades of unsuccessful runs for the presidency of the East African nation, an Indian Ocean archipelago famed for its natural beauty and rare wildlife.

    Ramkalawan captured 54.9 per cent of the votes while Faure got 43.5 per cent in the vote held from Thursday through Saturday, the electoral commission announced.

    Ramkalawan promised to continue working with Faure – an unusually good-natured transfer of power for the nearby African continent where many rulers are eliminating term limits and cracking down on political opposition.

    “Mr Faure and I are good friends. And an election does not mean the end of one’s contribution to one’s motherland,” Ramkalawan said in his victory speech.

    “In this election, there were no losers, there were no winners. Our country was given the opportunity as the ultimate winner.”

    As he spoke, Faure sat close by, nodding his head.

    In 1977, power changed hands via a coup that led to 27 years of rule by Albert Rene, punctuated by several coup attempts, including one in 1981 by South African-backed mercenaries masquerading as vacationing rugby players.

    Faure’s United Seychelles party had been in power over the past 43 years but this was the first time he had faced voters himself.

    He was vice president when his predecessor resigned in 2016 after a constitutional amendment was passed limiting presidents to two terms.

    Faure’s chances may have been damaged by a severe economic downturn.

    Travel restrictions imposed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic mean the Seychelles economy is expected to contract by 13.8 per cent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.

    It is a stunning reversal of fragile progress since the government defaulted on its debt in 2008 and sought an IMF bailout.

    Both Ramkalawan, of the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa party, and another opposition candidate, Alain St Ange of the One Seychelles party, had promised voters they would raise the minimum wage.

    This week’s election was for both the presidency and parliament.

    Ramkalawan’s party will have 20 directly-elected parliament seats and five nominated ones, while Faure’s party will have six directly-elected members and four nominated.

  • Super Eagles round off AFCON qualifiers, beat Seychelles 3-1

    Super Eagles round off AFCON qualifiers, beat Seychelles 3-1

    Nations cup bound Super Eagles Friday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba rounded off the qualifiers with a 2-1 defeat of Seychelles. The defeat implies that the Pirates conceded six goals in two legged encounter with Eagles managing to score only one goal.

    Though the Eagles could be said to be unimpressive considering the quality of their opponents the Ahmed Musa captained side nonetheless managed to seal a 3-1 victory with the 90th minute goal scored by late substitute Moses Simon as the best goal of the match

    Odion Ighalo had converted a penalty in the 35th minute to hand Eagles the first goal only for the Pirates to equalise few minutes later capitalizing on miscalculation by goalkeeper Kenneth Uzoho

    Kingley Onyekweru however lifted the Eagles again in the 50th minute and late substitute Moses Simon proved that he was indeed a good material when he produced the icing on the cake just few minutes after being introduced in the pitch.

    The Match appeared to have given Coach Gernot Rohr an opportunity to experiment new play pattern. The German tactician paid more attention to operating through the middle as opposed to usual wing play.

    Ahmed Musa known for coming in through the flanks this time was pulled into the middle perhaps to coordinate in the absence of John Obi Mikel.

    The team will now focus on shaping up for the Nations cup in June, with friendly match against Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday at the same venue.

    As for Seychelles, they proved to be the underdogs of the group. The Pirates unbelievably conceded basketful of goals in the course of the qualifiers with three goals for and 25 goals against.

     

  • 23 Super Eagle players reports to camp ahead of seychelles showdown

    23 Super Eagle players reports to camp ahead of seychelles showdown

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria has commenced their training sessions ahead of their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final qualifying match today, with all invited players present and all took part in the team’s first training session at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba ahead of their match against seychelles on Friday.

    According to reports on the official Twitter handle of the Super Eagles, the latest arrivals on Tuesday were Ahmed Musa, Paul Onuachu, Leon Balogun, Troost Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Abdullahi Shehu, Wilfred Ndidi, Chidozie Awaziem, Moses Simon and Jamilu Collins.

    Others include John Ogu, Etebo Ogenekaro, Victor Osimhen and Henry Onyekuru who arrived later in the day.

    It was also reported that Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi and Semi Ajayi were among the first arrivals in the Super Eagles’ camp in Asaba on Monday.

    Others in camp were Goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi as well as home –based professionals Ikouwem Utin, Ndifreke Effiong and Valentine Ozornwafor.

    Technical Adviser Gernor Rohr had called up 23 players for the final AFCON qualifier against Seychelles and the international friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt, with Utin and Effiong leaping on the list as a result of injuries to Samuel Kalu and Ola Aina.

    The training, which was an open session for both fans and the media, began at about 4:45 p.m. and ended at about 6:30 p.m.

    The three-time African champions, Nigeria, have already booked a place in the AFCON holding in Egypt from June 21 to July 19, with the encounter against Seychelles hardly more than an academic exercise.

    But the Eagles have spoken of the need to end the qualification series on a high and maintain their reputation while using the game to kick-start preparations for the continental competition.

    They take on the Pirates of Seychelles at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, on Friday by 4 p. m and then play an international friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt on March 26 at the same venue.

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  • Looters now stash funds in Seychelles, South Africa, Niger, Ghana – Magu

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, Friday said looters now stash illicit funds in Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, South Africa, Niger Republic, Morocco and other African countries.

    He said the preferred destinations for looters had traditionally been the United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Seychelles, but they are now expanding fast to African countries.

    Magu made the disclosure at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between EFCC and its Nigerien counterpart, the High Authority Against Corruption and Relating Crimes( HALCIA), in Niamey.

    He said: “From available intelligence and our investigations, it has been revealed that looters from Nigeria now go to Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Niger Republic, Morocco, Seychelles and so on, to stash their loots.

    “This has led to sharp increase in the number of Nigerians buying properties in African countries.

    “Nigerians even go to the extent of changing their names and acquiring the destination countries’ international passports in collusion with corrupt public officers in their countries of residence in order to hide their identities and evade detection,” he said, adding that, “the fight of the EFCC against looters’ safe havens is total.”

    The EFCC boss further disclosed that his visit to Niger was part of his ongoing tour at mobilising international effortsto deny looters safe haven abroad.

    He said: “We have already visited Ghana and Cameroun, today we are in Niger Republic and we will continue to reach out to other preferred looters destinations in Africa and beyond. Interestingly, the efforts of the Nigerian Government to trace, recover and return assets stolen from Nigeria coupled with our increased advocacy to discourage safe havens have begun to yield results.

    “It is my conviction that our collaborative efforts will go a long way in eliminating safe havens. In fact, this is in tandem with renewed global commitment by countries to shut their doors to stolen funds.

    “I also want to call for conscious measures to sanitize and strengthen the legal framework so as to make it difficult for looters to transfer illicit funds to Niger Republic for investment or whatever purpose.”

    Magu called on the global community to redouble its efforts towards strengthening the mechanisms for dismantling safe havens for proceeds of corruption.

    He also called on the international community to ensure the return of stolen funds and assets to their countries of origin.

    According to a statement by the Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Tony Orilade, the MoU will strengthen the collaborative efforts between the EFCC and its Nigerien counterpart.

    Section seven of the MoU captures how the parties will exchange information, including those which are necessary to achieve its objectives.

    According to the section, “The parties will exchange information in accordance with this Memorandum of Understanding in conformity to the relevant laws of Niger and Nigeria relating to the protection of privacy and confidentiality.”

    To help the Commission take its fight against corruption to Nigerians looters who have found safe haven in Niger Republic, Magu made a five-point appeal to the President of Niger Republic, which are as follows:

    (i) Identifying huge cash in the financial system owned by Nigerians to enable us find out if they are looted funds/proceeds of crime.

    (ii) Identifying the numerous properties owned by Nigerians including the details of the owners in order to enable the Commission ascertain if such Nigerians acquired the properties from looted funds/proceeds of crime

    (iii) Stopping moves by persons who plan to move funds at this period through the usual medium to destabilize the political stage in Nigeria.

    (iv) Increased clamp down on Nigerians who are involved in cyber-crime and handing over their details to us for further necessary action.

    (v) Assisting the EFCC in the arrest of persons on the wanted list of the Commission who absconded to Niger Republic due to the free movement granted to citizens of the ECOWAS states.

    The EFCC boss praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the Commission, noting that “Nigeria is ready and willing to partner with international agencies and individual countries on bilateral basis to confront crimes and corruption.”

    While meeting with the parliamentarians, at the Assemblee Nationale, Magu told the second Vice President, Mohamadou, that, there was the need to rework existing legislations in Niger to help strengthen anti-corruption fight in the country.

    He also noted the need for the country to domesticate the United Nation’s Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in order to make its meaning and impact bear on the lives of the country’s citizens.

    While decorating the Nigerian Ambassador to Niger Republic, Ambassador Haliru and all the embassy staff with the EFCC lapel, Magu urged them to acknowledge the anti-corruption fight as a collective one.

    “Whether you are at home in Nigeria or in the Diaspora, you need to make your contribution. Add your voice to the crusade against corruption. The fight is real. Don’t also forget that corruption is fighting back, but together, we shall win,” he said.

    Ambassador Haliru, in turn, praised the EFCC boss for his zeal and passion for the job. “We are hearing and seeing all your achievements in the fight against corruption. We are praying to God Almighty to give you good health and long life to confront the corrupt”.

    For the President of HALCIA, Abdourmane Gousmane, there is no better time than now for stronger collaboration between Nigeria and Niger Republic in the fight against corruption.

    “We are ready and willing to partner with Nigeria. Nigeria has the experience and the human capacity and with President Muhammadu Buhari, who is a renowned anti-corruption icon, we have no choice than to leverage on Nigeria for capacity building in taming the corruption monster,” Gousmane said.

    One of the side attractions of the visit was Gousmane’s presentation of a horse as a special gift to Magu.

  • Rohr promises to field his best players against Seychelles

    Rohr promises to field his best players against Seychelles

    Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has revealed his plan for the 2019 AFCON Qualifiers reverse fixture against Seychelles in March next year.

    The Eagles defeated the Indian Ocean country 3-0 in the first leg and have since wrapped up their qualification for the tournament billed to be staged in neighbouring Cameroon.

    But coach Gernot Rohr sees it differently. Said he in Lagos Friday, “That match is crucial to me because we want to top the group.

    We have not won that match yet. That is why we must field our best against Seychelles. We want to win and score as many goals as possible.” Rohr said the match will be viewed with all seriousness as Seychelles who held South Africa to a goalless draw in their last match may want to end the series on a high.

    The coach also shared a thought on what awaits South Africa in Sfax, in their last match against Libya. “The Bafana Bafana have a tough task ahead of them because the Libyans would do everything to frustrate them and stop them from qualifying for the AFCON.”

    With ten points from five matches, the Super Eagles have booked their place in Cameroon already. But Libya(7 points) and South Africa (9 points) have everything to fight for. Only a win can guarantee Libya a ticket but a draw of any scoreline will see South Africa qualify.

  • AFCON qualifiers: Seychelles hold South Africa to goalless draw

    The Bafana Bafana of South Africa played out a goalless draw away to Seychelles in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group E clash at the Stade Linite on Tuesday.
    Bafana Bafana were made to bemoan their missed opportunities after they failed to secure maximum points against bottom-placed Seychelles.
    It was the second time Bafana were held to a goalless draw in four games in group E. The first was in their home match against Libya.
    The Bafana Bafana who outclassed Seychelles in the first leg tie 6-0 at the FNB Stadium Johannesburg had their first real chance in the 9th minute when Dino Ndlovu managed to head a cross back across the face of goal only for the ball to evade Lebo Mothiba.
    The Bafana Bafana continued to dominate and created more chances in the 26th and 28th minutes through the Percy Tau and Lebo Mothiba, but their efforts were saved by the Seychelles goalkeeper Jerome Dingwall.
    Ndlovu also carved out another chance in the 31st minute, but his shot was deflected wide.
    South Africa enjoyed a lion’s share of the possession at the start of the second half, dominating play. And it was Mothiba again who hit the crossbar two minutes after the restart as the the Ephraim Mashaba’s men mounted more pressure to score.
    They finally found the back of the net in the 54th minute after Dingwall was beaten from close range, but the referee ruled it eout for offside.
    Another chance followed in the 68th minute but this time Modiba could only scuff his shot wide of the posts.
    South Africa, who gained one point from the fixture maintain their lead at the top of Group E with eight points.
    The other fixture in the group will see Libya take on Nigeria in Sfax Tunisia tonight.