TheNewsGuru

Tag: Visit

  • U.S. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson to visit Nigeria, four other countries next week

    The U.S. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, would visit Nigeria and four other African countries from March 6 to 13, the U.S. Department of State has said.

    The spokesperson for the Department, Heather Nauert, said Tillerson would also travel to Addis Ababa, Djibouti, Nairobi and N’Djamena.

    During his visit to Abuja, Tillerson is expected to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and other top government functionaries.

    Ms. Nauert said: “On his first official trip to Africa, Secretary Rex Tillerson will travel to N’Djamena, Chad; Djibouti, Djibouti; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Nairobi, Kenya and Abuja, Nigeria, March 6-13, 2018.

    “Secretary Tillerson will meet with leadership in each country, as well as the leadership of the African Union Commission based in Addis Ababa.

    “This is to further our partnerships with the governments and people of Africa.

    “In particular, he plans to discuss ways we can work with our partners to counter terrorism, advance peace and security, promote good governance, and spur mutually beneficial trade and investment.”

    During his trip, Tillerson will also meet with the U.S. Embassy personnel and participate in events related to U.S. government-supported activities.

  • Herdsmen/farmers crisis: Buhari visits Nasarawa today

    …scheduled to visit Taraba, Zamfara, Benue later

    As part of efforts to douse tension and restore peace in some troubled states, President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to visit Nasarawa State today.

    The president is also slated to visit Taraba, Zamfara and Benue states but the dates of the visits are yet to be decided, a Presidency source said last night.

    The President is expected to console victims of herdsmens killings and douse tensions in the trouble spots.

     

  • Osinbajo’s Kano visit not politically motivated – Presidency clarifies

    The presidency on Monday clarified that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s visit to Kano State had no political undertone.

    The presidency also denied that the vice president met with any political group during the visit.

    The clarification was contained in a statement made available to journalists by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande.

    The statement further clarified that Osinbajo’s visit to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II on the same occasion, was a traditional courtesy call and not political.

    The statement read, “The attention of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has been drawn to a TV news report suggesting that he was in Kano State on Saturday, 3rd of February, 2018 to meet with some political groups. This is completely false and misleading.

    “On the contrary, the Vice President was in Kano to attend the wedding ceremony of his Personal Assistant, Hafiz Ibrahim Kawu, which was well publicised over the weekend.

    “On arrival, he was met by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje at the airport, and went straight to the mosque, venue of the wedding nikhai.

    “After that, he paid the traditional courtesy call on the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and proceeded back to the airport.

    “At no time during the visit did he meet with any political group or groups. Any attempt to give the impression that he was in Kano for a political purpose is mischievous and should be disregarded.

    “Indeed, the Vice President has, in the past few weeks, met in Abuja with the Kano APC leadership to ensure unity and full cooperation among party leaders, and this has also been well reported in the media.”

  • Kwankwaso suspends planned visit to Kano amidst security concerns

    Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has suspended his planned visit to Kano earlier scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 30.

    The Chairman of Kwankwaso Visit Reception Committee, Dr Rabi’u Bichi, announced the suspension while addressing newsmen in Kano on Monday.

    He said the decision followed the intervention of some well-meaning Nigerians who called from home and abroad.

    “This standoff has attracted the attention of well-meaning Nigerians at home and abroad.

    ‘’They have called to give advice that mostly borders on the preservation of lives and property of our supporters and admirers.

    “In view of the above and after lengthy consultations with well-meaning Nigerians, we painfully have decided to shelve the visit at the moment,“ he said.

    Bichi, therefore, thanked all those leaders and supporters who advised and showed concern as well as put in a lot of time, energy and resources to make the visit successful.

    “It is important to state that Kwankwaso’s visit will never be a reason to deliberately inconvenience any citizen, small or big let alone spill a drop of blood.

    “We, therefore, appeal for peace, calm and call on our supporters to disregard any provocative statement,” Bichi said.

    The state police Commissioner, Mr Rabi’u Yusuf, had on Friday advised against the planned visit for security reasons.

     

  • Why Buhari allowed politicians to visit him in London – Presidency

    The Presidency on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari recently allowed politicians to visit him in London “due to change in circumstances.”

    Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, disclosed this to pressmen at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    It said this was the proper time for him to receive delegations rather than when he was indisposed.

    When asked to give specific details on the mission of state governors who will be visiting Buhari on Wednesday.

    Shehu said, “The visit is a goodwill visit and there is nothing more than that.

    “I believe Nigerians in various positions have yearned to go and meet the President and at some point, this obviously has not been permitted.

    “But given the change in circumstances, you can see that it is coming from London itself and the President is welcoming it.

    “It is a goodwill visit. As a cultural people, we visit people leaving hospital and I am sure the President himself will be delighted to see people coming from the six geopolitical zones to convey the goodwill of Nigerians.”

    When also why the President preferred such visits to broadcasting a message to Nigerians, Adesina said that was Buhari’s choice.

    “It is a question of what he (the President) prefers and this is what he prefers for now. He would rather receive that delegation and that is what is happening. If the President opts for address, he will do it,” he said.

    Shehu further said, “You will notice that those that went at the weekend are members of the All Progressives Congress.

    “So, those who are going now are on a broader platform, which is the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. As to who is sponsoring, I don’t have any information on that,” he said.

  • Osinbajo to visit Zamfara on Tuesday

    Osinbajo to visit Zamfara on Tuesday

    All is now set in Zamfara to receive Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, expected on one-day official visit on July 18.

    The acting President was scheduled to inaugurate projects executed by Governor Abdulaziz Yari across the state.

    Some of the projects include Federal Government road linking Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states which was executed by the state government under agreement for repayment by Federal Government.

    The Chairman of the state government committee for inauguration of government projects, Alhaji Lawal M-Liman, told newsmen in Gusau on Saturday that Osinbajo’s visit was also part of the Sixth year anniversary of
    Yari’s administration.

    M-Liman who is also the state’s Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, said other projects to be inaugurated included General Hospital and Semi Urban Water Projects in Rini and Gamji communities in Bakura Local Government.

    Others were Government Girl Science Secondary School Talata-Mafara, Government Girl Day Secondary School, Kwatarkwashi and Danturai Government Day Secondary School Gusau and Bungudu local government areas.

    Also to be inaugurated was School for Handicapped in Gummi Local Government, he said.

    According to him, the acting President is expected to pay courtesy visit to Gusau and Gummi emirates during the visit.

    Acting President was earlier scheduled to inaugurate the projects during 2017 democracy day celebration but postponed till July 18.

     

     

    NAN

  • JUST IN: World boxing champion, Anthony Joshua visits Nigeria in August

    Baring any last minute change of plans, world boxing heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, is set to visit Nigeria on a three-day tour in August, during which he would pay courtesy calls on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja; and the governors of Lagos and Ogun states.

    He would also visit some royal fathers, including the Ooni of Ife, the Awujale of Ijebuland and the Oba of Lagos.

    The organiser of the tour and Director of Peel Aston Global, Khomeini Bukhari, explained that the boxing champion would attend a charity boxing match, Inspire Nigeria, 2017 at the Eko Hotel and the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja where he would take questions from the audience.

    Bukhari, in an emailed statement on Wednesday, said arrangements had been concluded for the boxing champion’s homecoming.

    He explained that the Inspire Nigeria 2017 is a platform for Joshua to encourage Nigerian youths that their dreams and aspirations are achievable and that there is hope for them.

    He said, “This event is part of his (Joshua’s) social corporate responsibility and duty to give back to Nigeria, where he is the son of the soil.

    “Part of the tour will be to visit the Presidency, some state governors, as well as pay his respect to royal fathers.

    “I have secured the endorsement and support of several notable people in Nigeria and I’m very positive that this event will be, by far, the biggest event in Nigeria in a very long time.”

    The businessman said Joshua had really made Nigeria proud, describing him as a true role model, hope for the youths, and a fine example of a good sportsman.

    “We are working very hard on his trip, as he is the best sports personality right now as far as I am concerned; and thus deserves the best homecoming reception,” he added.

    On reports that Joshua’s next fight may hold in Nigeria, Bukhari said it was up to the boxer’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, to make the decision.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Anthony Joshua recently defeated Ukranian Wladimir Klitschko to become the unified World Heavyweight Champion.

  • Pope to visit South Sudan with Anglican leader

    Pope Francis said he wants to make a trip to South Sudan together with the head of the Anglican Church to bring attention to the suffering of people stricken by civil war and famine.

    Francis made the disclosure in impromptu comments during a visit to Rome’s Anglican church, the first to the parish by a pope, to mark the 200th anniversary of its opening.

    “My aides and I are studying the possibility of a trip to South Sudan,” the pope said in response to a question about Christian Churches in Africa.

    He recalled that in October 2016 the Catholic, Episcopalian and Presbyterian bishops came to Rome to discuss the situation in their country and invited him to visit.

    Francis said they told him “but don’t come alone, come with Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury”. Welby is spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican communion, which counts about 85 million members and is the world’s third-largest Christian denomination.

    “The situation is a bit ugly down there but we have to do it because the three of them (the local bishops from different churches) together want peace and they are working together for peace,” Francis said.

    Oil-producing South Sudan, which became independent in 2011, descended into civil war in December 2013 when a dispute between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar ended with fighting, often occurring along ethnic lines.

    Both sides have targeted civilians, human rights groups say.

    Kiir’s government declared a famine in some part of the country last week.

    South Sudan has been hit by the same east African drought that has pushed Somalia back to the brink of famine, six years after 260,000 people starved to death in 2011.

    Francis said the trip would likely last just one day, which Vatican sources have said would be for security reasons.

    Francis gave no indication when it could take place but sources have said it would be this year.

    The Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches have been split since 1534 when King Henry VIII broke with Rome to start the Church of England.
    President

    NAN reports that the UN says it has been unable to reach some of the worst hit areas because of the insecurity.

    South Sudan has been hit by the same east African drought that has pushed Somalia back to the brink of famine, six years after 260,000 people starved to death in 2011.

    The UN children’s agency UNICEF on Tuesday said nearly 1.4 million children were at “imminent” risk of death in famines in South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen .

     

    NAN

  • US warns citizens against visiting Gambia

    US warns citizens against visiting Gambia

     

    The United States on Saturday warned its citizens against visiting the tourist destination of Gambia.

    It told those there to consider leaving the country, citing the risk of unrest as President Yahya Jammeh digs in despite losing an election.

    “The US Department of State warns US citizens against travel to The Gambia because of the potential for civil unrest and violence in the near future,” the statement said.

    It said the supreme court hearing on Jan. 10 of Jammeh’s challenge to the result that elected his rival Adama Barrow was a potential flash point for violence.

    “US citizens should consider departing on commercial flights and other transportation,” the statement said.