Enugu State Gov’t Lauds UK’s Establishment of Visa Center in Enugu.

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September 12, 2023

The Enugu State government has commended the United Kingdom government for setting up a visa centre in the state to facilitate visa applications by residents in the state, the South-East zone, and the country at large.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Chidiebere Onyia, recalled that the visa centre was part of Governor Peter Mbah’s earlier requests during the visit to the Government House, Enugu, by the UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, in June this year.

The statement said the government received the news of the visa centre with delight and satisfaction, stressing that it would further enhance economic partnership and cultural exchanges between Enugu State and the United Kingdom.

“The Enugu State Government therefore looks forward to a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with the UK, as the visa centre would help cement the relationship”, the statement added.

The government called on the people, especially those residing in the South-East to avail themselves of the opportunity provided to file their visa applications in the state, saying the government would ensure improved security both to residents and visitors carrying on business in the state.

It reiterated that the state was open for business and investment more than ever before.

According to the British High Commission , the centre would be opened from September 13, 2023, in addition to current locations in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt.

The facility which is temporary, according to a statement from the Commission sighted by Pacesetter, will operate out of the Omedel Luxury Hotel, 4/6 Link Road off Pascal and Jerk Bus Stop, Independence Layout, Enugu and will shortly offer a twice-a-week service.

Renewed Hope, Not Mere Talks, Wike Assures Nigerians.

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September 12, 2023

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Nyesom Wike has assured Nigerians of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises, telling them that the Nigerian leader feels their pain.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said this during the flag-off of the rehabilitation of roads in the Garki area of Abuja on Monday.

“The FCT minister of state and I are here to assure you that his [Tinubu’ agenda of Renewed Hope works and to let you know that the FCT is working.

The agenda of Mr President is not just by talking [but also in doing].

And that is why we have come to start with flagging off a number of roads in this area,” Wike told the gathering.

“This is just phase one. In the next few weeks, we go to phase two. This is about road – infrastructure. So many things Mr President has promised. We are taking them one after the other.

“I have told you here if anything was not going to work, I would not be a party but because I know Mr President means well for this country, he wants the best for the country, that’s why I said I would serve in his cabinet because he has shown Nigerians that he feels their pains,” the former governor of Rivers State added.

Wike who lamented the state of infrastructure and others in Nigeria’s capital city, assured Abuja residents of his administration’s commitment to giving the FCT a better bargain.

“FCT before now is not the same FCT as of now. We would change everything,” he said, asking residents of the area to support the government and be patient as the road projects commence.

‘It Will Not Work’

But he has a warning to contractors handling the projects.

“Nothing like variation. It will not work. A job of N1 [would] in the next seven days becomes N15. It would not work. Don’t even try it, he maintained.

“There is no variation in this job. We have the money to pay you. If you like, go to engineering services and do anything with them. It will not work.

“We are paying you your money and I assure you that nobody will owe you a dime. We are going to pay you and you must finish within the time we have agreed with you.”

Tribunal Sacks Three LP Reps, Orders Rerun.

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September 11, 2023

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The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital on Monday sacked three House of Representatives members elected on the platform of the Labour Party.

A panel of the tribunal led by Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe had sacked the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, Mr. Ibe Okwara Osunwa, for non-compliance with the electoral act 2022, in a petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the election, Daniel Okeke.

The tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Osunwa and issue a new one to Okeke.

In a related development, another panel led by Justice Hajaratu Hajjo Lawa nullified the election of

Munachim Alozie, representing Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency.

The court also ordered a rerun within the next 90 days according to the constitution.

The tribunal noted that the LP candidate was declared in error and therefore cannot stand.

Reading out the judgement, Prof. Muhammad Mahmud on behalf of the three-man panel headed by Lawal, said the number of leads is more than the number of voters who were disenfranchised in some polling units who collected their Permanent Voters Cards.

The candidate of the Young Progressives Party, Ibe Michael Nwoke, had approached the court after the declaration of Alozie as the winner of the February 25 National Assembly election demanding its nullification.

Nwoke prayed the court to among other things nullify the election of LP’s Alozie as he was not duly elected and his election was invalid based on the margin of lead.

While counsel to YPP’s candidate adjudged the ruling as fair, the LP’s counsel insisted on appealing the case.

Similarly, another panel of the tribunal nullified the election of the member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency Mr Emeka Nnamani, for certificate forgery.

The tribunal declared the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the election, Alex Ikwueche as the winner of the election and ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Nnamani and Issue a new one to Ikwueche.

UAE Lifts Visa Ban on Nigerians, Resumes Flight Operations.

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September 11, 2023

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The United Arab Emirates, on Monday, lifted its months-long visa ban on Nigerians.

Consequently, Etihad and Emirates Airlines will resume flight operations in Nigeria immediately.

“President Bola Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, have finalised a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers

“Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay,” the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed in a statement he signed Monday.

The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu secures landmark deal with United Arab Emirates across sectors; visa ban on Nigerian travellers is lifted immediately.’

Monday’s resolution followed talks between Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu and his Emirati counterpart, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

It also comes nearly three weeks after the President expressed his willingness to personally intervene to end the nearly one-year ban.

“We are family with the UAE; we only live in separate rooms but in the same house. We should look at the issues as a family problem and resolve it amicably. As you know, in every family, there are peculiarities.

“You can have an erring son or daughter, but we must work together. We need to agree on core aviation and immigration issues,” Tinubu told the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, at the State House on August 24, 2023.

It marked the first occasion in which Tinubu addressed the deadlock that led to the suspension of flights to Nigeria by Emirates, the UAE’s national carrier.

In October 2022, the UAE banned nationals of about 20 African countries from entering its borders.

“This is to inform you that we will not be posting 30 days visa applications for these nationalities effective today, October 18, 2022,” the notice partly read.

Affected countries include Uganda, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, Congo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Comoros, and the Dominican Republic.

In a notice issued to trade partners, including travel agents, Emirati authorities demanded that all applications be rejected.

“Any applications from the above-mentioned countries will be sent back or cancelled,” said the notice. However, it does not affect persons holding diplomatic passports.

Since the ban, the UAE and Nigeria have been locked in a diplomatic row over issues involving flight allocations and travel restrictions.

In February, former President Muhammadu Buhari appealed to Al Nahyan via telephone to lift the visa ban. However, the UAE authorities rejected the request.

Explaining the recent development, the President’s spokesman noted that the immediate restoration of flight activity through Emirates and Etihad Airlines and between the two countries does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.

Ngelale said in recognition of Tinubu’s economic development and diplomacy drive and proposals presented to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established.

The framework will involve “several billions of U.S. dollars’ worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy

across multiple sectors, including defence, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates,” the statement read in part.

Additionally, President Tinubu successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two Governments, which Ngelale said will be announced in detail in the coming weeks.

Tinubu commended the UAE President, Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalise and reset the standard of relations between the two important countries to excellence.

The President, who ended his stopover in Abu Dhabi, is expected to return to Abuja immediately.

Catholic Bishops Warns of Uncertainty as Presidential Election Case Heads to Supreme Court Amid Controversy.

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September 11, 2023

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Amid the lingering controversy over the judgment of the Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal, PEPT, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has said Nigeria currently stands on the precipice of uncertainty as the case moves to the Supreme Court.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 2023 Second Plenary Assembly of the CBCN in Abuja yesterday, the President of the Conference, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, voiced concerns over the conduct of the elections, which he said fell short of people’s legitimate expectations and moral and legal standards.

He highlighted the dismissive approach of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT, towards the petitions filed by aggrieved contestants.

The Catholic Bishops stated: “After hearing their petitions, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT, delivered its ruling in a marathon judgement on September 6, 2023.

“The five justices of the Election Petition Tribunal unanimously dismissed the petitions. According to them, they lacked merit.

“Despite the billions of naira of tax-payers money appropriated for the provision of the BVAS technology as a game-changer in our general elections, the judges in their ruling tried, among other things, to suggest that it was wrong to expect INEC to keep its promise or obey the electoral regulation of transmitting election results electronically in real time from polling units.

“While respecting the views of the judges, two of the petitioners rejected their verdict as lacking in justice and so have decided to head to the Supreme Court to seek justice.

“As this case moves to the next level, the fate of the country continues to hang in the balance and the future of democracy in our land stands on the edge of a precipice.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 2023 Second Plenary Assembly of the CBCN in Abuja yesterday, the President of the Conference, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, voiced concerns over the conduct of the elections, which he said fell short of people’s legitimate expectations and moral and legal standards.

He highlighted the dismissive approach of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT, towards the petitions filed by aggrieved contestants.

The Catholic Bishops stated: “After hearing their petitions, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT, delivered its ruling in a marathon judgment on September 6, 2023.

“The five justices of the Election Petition Tribunal unanimously dismissed the petitions. According to them, they lacked merit.

“Despite the billions of naira of tax-payers money appropriated for the provision of the BVAS technology as a game-changer in our general elections, the judges in their ruling tried, among other things, to suggest that it was wrong to expect INEC to keep its promise or obey the electoral regulation of transmitting election results electronically in real-time from polling units.

“While respecting the views of the judges, two of the petitioners rejected their verdict as lacking in justice and so have decided to head to the Supreme Court to seek justice.

“As this case moves to the next level, the fate of the country continues to hang in the balance and the future of democracy in our land stands on the edge of a precipice.

Ugorji lamented the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria, criticizing the government’s approach to the issue.

“In the face of this dismal situation, we cannot get tired of urging the government to rise to its primary responsibility of securing the lives and property of its citizens,” he stressed.
Ailing economy

Ugorji expressed deep concern over the prevailing state of tension and uncertainty in communities, where residents endure a life of increasing poverty, chronic hunger, hardships, and immense suffering.

NDLEA Confiscates 399 Explosives, Apprehends Individuals Involved in Illicit Drug Activities, Including a Grandmother.

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September 11, 2023

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No fewer than 399 pieces of improvised explosive devices were recovered by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency from one Asana Leke, 39, along Mokwa-Jebba Road on Thursday, September 7.

The suspect, who said the explosives were handed to him at a park in Ibadan, Oyo State, to be delivered to someone in Kaduna, had since, alongside the exhibits, been transferred to the military authorities in Niger State.

Apart from the various drug control efforts, the NDLEA state commands and other formations also continued the anti-narcotics agency’s war against drug abuse advocacy campaigns in schools, worship places, palaces, and local communities amongst others.

He also noted that NDLEA operatives intercepted consignments of skunk concealed in tomato pastes, and methamphetamine hidden in used clothes meant for export to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

“While the skunk in tomato pastes consignment weighing 20kgs was intercepted on Friday, September 8, at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, the meth shipment with a gross weight of 1.60kg was seized at a courier company in Lagos.

“Another consignment of 556 grams of Canadian Loud sent from Canada to one Tunji Adebayo in Ikorodu, Lagos, was also intercepted by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, attached to courier firms.

“Though Adebayo was not home when operatives visited his house at 52, Aina Atoloye Street, Ikorodu, he, however, directed his younger brother to sign for the package on his behalf. The brother was promptly arrested,” Babafemi said.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on Monday, September 4, raided the enclave of a notorious drug lord in Akala, Mushin, Lagos, Abdul Rauf, aka ‘Na God’, where 1,101kgs of Ghanaian Loud was recovered and three suspects arrested, while the wanted kingpin remains at large.

In Ogun State, a follow-up operation led to the arrest of Yinka Azeez at Sabo Lafenwa, Abeokuta on Tuesday, September 5, following the seizure of 41kgs of cannabis from Titilayo Adetayo at Sagumu Interchange the previous day.

Also, at least, two suspects: Muhammad Aliyu, 38, and Abdullahi Zakariya, 40, were arrested in Zaria-Kano Road and Haye Arewa, Hotoro, Kano, respectively with over 426.5 kilogrammes of skunk on Tuesday, September 5.

While Onyeka Uzor, 25, was arrested at Idemili, Anambra State, with 64.8kgs skunk and Tramadol, another suspect, Destiny Irabor, was nabbed on Friday, September 8, with over 180kgs of opioids loaded in his Toyota Sienna bus.

In Kaduna, two suspects; Ahmed Yusuf and Rilwan Nura, were arrested on Wednesday, September 6, in connection with the seizure of 100 blocks of cannabis weighing 55kgs along Abuja road.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives stormed the Ekudo forest in Onwude Local Government Area where they destroyed cannabis farms measuring 4.236347 hectares.

FG Flags Off Distribution of Relief Non-Food Materials to Over 900 Households in Shwari IDP Camps in Maiduguri.

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September 10, 2023

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The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, Friday flagged off the distribution of non-food items to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) covering over 900 households at Shwari Camp 5 in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

The relief items include hundreds of mattresses, pillows, blankets, footwear, wrappers, and treated Insecticide mosquito nets.

The Minister assured the 480,000 unregistered IDPs that the Federal government was not unmindful of their plight and humanitarian needs, saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, geared toward eradicating poverty will cover them directly working with the state Government.

She promised them that the social register, conditional cash transfer, and other social intervention programs of the federal government would be extended to them.

Dr. Edu expressed optimism that the relief items will go a long way in cushioning their harsh living condition and the Government will provide more durable solutions for them to cater to their families.

“The goal is to get everybody wherever they are, out of poverty and humanitarian crises, this is the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The President has directed that Nigerians who are living under one dollar per day, not even one dollar ninety-five cents daily, should be reached and pulled out of poverty.

“Vocations and skill training, micro small and medium size enterprises amongst other interventions are important for those who are here and ready, but for those who can trace where they came from, we will reunite them with their families and provide them with economic start-up capital to remove them and their families out of poverty”, the Minister said.

Continuing, Dr Edu said: “For some of you who have lost your husbands or children, Mr President says your resettlement is inevitable, in partnership with the State government and other development partners.

“President Tinubu has asked me to tell you that, you will be given economic startup and properly reintegrated back into society”

She lamented the poor living conditions of the unregistered IDPs who are largely from Northern Borno, vowing “We must change the narrative”. She commended the state Governor Professor Zulum for being exceptionally hands-on!

The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zuwaira Gambo, who was on hand to conduct the Minister around the camp said, the state government had at various times provided for the IDPs.

Gambo appealed to the Federal Government through the Minister to complement what the Borno state government is doing to ease the suffering of the IDPs. She lamented that the number of IDPs keeps increasing daily.

“We appreciate your coming, Honourable Minister; the distribution of these nonfood items will go a long way to cushion the suffering of these IDPs.

“We equally appreciate Mr. President for his interest in the humanitarian needs of our people in various IDP camps in this state”, the Commissioner said

The Minister was accompanied to the IDP camp by the Acting Honourable Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees migrants and IDPs, Ambassador Catherine Udida, and other top officers of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair (ANIPR), Special Adviser On Media and Publicity To Honourable Minister, MHAPA

Currency Swap by CBN Surpasses $12 Billion Despite Reserves Weakness.

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September 9, 2023

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Fitch Ratings has estimated the Central Bank of Nigeria’s currency swaps with domestic banks to be between $10bn and $12bn as of the end of 2022.

It stated that this was 30 percent of the country’s gross reserves (at $37bn as of 2022’s end), and comprised swaps with domestic banks, and others.

According to the international rating agency, this suggested that the country’s net reserve position may be weaker than anticipated, and emphasized its external vulnerabilities.

It disclosed this in a report titled, ‘Nigeria’s weaker reserves highlight external risk and policy challenges’, following the recent publication of the CBN’s financial statements.

The report added that “Fitch estimates, partly based on our survey data, that CBN swaps with domestic banks were $10bn – $12bn at end-2022, and are likely to remain close to that level, but there is less visibility on swaps it may have with international counterparties.

“We anticipate that most of these domestic swaps will continue to be rolled over, reflecting incentives for banks to invest the naira received in high-yielding sovereign securities and the sector’s limited reliance on swaps for foreign-currency liquidity given its sizeable foreign-currency placements with international banks.”

It said the recent publication of consolidated financial statements to end-2022 by the CBN, the first for many years, suggested the net reserve position may be weaker than we had anticipated. The statements, which confirmed sizeable liabilities, increased transparency around Nigeria’s reserves, but important gaps remained, preventing a reliable assessment of the net reserve position.

Fitch said, “When we affirmed Nigeria’s rating at ‘B-’ with a Stable Outlook in May, we stated that external finances were a key rating sensitivity. We estimated that around 30 percent of Nigeria’s gross reserves (which were $37bn at end-2022) comprised swaps with domestic banks, although we considered that some other reserves could well be encumbered.”

The credit rating agency highlighted that the CBN financial statements indicated that liabilities as of the end of 2022 included $7.5bn securities lending ($5.5bn of which was short-term), and $6.8bn short-term liability from foreign-currency forward payables.

It stated that uncertainty surrounded the near $32bn of “FX forwards, OTC futures, and currency swaps”, which were recorded as an off-balance-sheet commitment but were not broken down.

It noted that this could include some non-deliverable contracts settled in naira, which would not be a drain on reserves, as well as commitments of a longer tenor.

Fitch said the recent exchange-rate liberalization and improvements in the overall monetary policy framework could strengthen the country’s credit profile by easing foreign-currency supply constraints, but a recent loss of reform momentum and the constrained reserve position highlighted the significant challenges these policy adjustments faced.

It noted that the reserve disclosures offset more positive recent developments for Nigeria’s credit profile.

Recently, JP Morgan disclosed that the country’s total currency swaps stood at $21.3bn as of the end of 2022. It stated that the slow net FX reserves meant continued FX market pressures.

The Central Bank of Nigeria also recently faulted a recent estimation of the country’s foreign reserves by JP Morgan saying it was presented out of context.

Making clarification on the estimation of Nigeria’s reserves, the Director of the Monetary Policy Department, CBN, Hassan Mahmud, noted, “We have the numbers there. The central bank’s reserves are on our bank net. Yes, the figure you see today may not be exactly to the last decimal point, but you have that picture that you are seeing there.”

He added, “We have $33bn, there is an IMF facility there, the SDR is also there, we have the JP Morgan numbers that you mentioned, we have forwarded, they are all there.”

Tribunal: Osinbajo Congratulates Tinubu, Shettima

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September 9, 2023

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Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has congratulated President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima on their victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, which affirmed the All Progressives Congress winner as the Presidential Election of February 25, 2023.

The PEPC had on Wednesday delivered a 12-hour judgment on the appeals arising from the presidential election, upholding the election of President Bola Tinubu.

Atiku and Obi had rejected the court’s judgment, vowing to approach the Supreme Court.

In a statement on Saturday via his verified Facebook account, Osinbajo stated that the PEPC ruling was a great victory for Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

The statement reads, “Congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, and our great party, the All Progressives Congress, on the judicial affirmation of the victory at the presidential election of February 25, 2023.

“This ruling is a great victory for Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and its rule of law.

“The practice of democracy in our nation has been further strengthened by the fact that all parties faithfully followed the electoral process according to the law and relied on our courts in the event of a dispute.”

He added that President Tinubu and his administration now needed Nigerians to come together and work as one to achieve a common goal.

“Our nation now needs all of us to work together to address our challenges and to deliver the realization of the incredible potential of our nation”, he said.

Kwankwaso Moves to Change NNPP Logo, Amend Constitution.

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September 9, 2023

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The crisis rocking the leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party has taken a new twist following a move by the faction of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso to amend the party’s constitution and logo.

The decision to amend the constitution was confirmed during an exclusive interview with the National Auditor of NNPP, Ladipo Johnson.

The development is coming three days after the faction of the party under the leadership of Major Agbo expelled the presidential candidate of NNPP for alleged anti-party activities and misappropriation of party campaign funds.

Kwankwaso’s expulsion was announced in a statement released on Tuesday by the NNPP’s factional National Publicity Secretary, Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq.

Abdulrasaq affirmed that the decision to expel Kwankwaso with immediate effect was taken after he failed to appear before the disciplinary panel to defend himself over the allegations leveled against him.

The expulsion of the former Kano governor caused disaffection within the party and saw chieftains from opposition camps trading blame.

A few days after the drama, Saturday PUNCH findings revealed that there was a subtle move by the Kwankwaso camp to amend the logo and constitution allegedly to weaken the grip of the NNPP founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam.

Although the development was confirmed by Johnson who was the chairman of the disciplinary committee that expelled some factional members of the party a few weeks ago, the national auditor, however, denied the move was a response to the emergence of a faction within the NNPP.

“No, it has nothing to do with any faction. It was something we already discussed at the NEC. Unlike them (Agbo faction), we are serious people. But we haven’t changed the logo yet. We are planning to throw it out there for our members to compete and come up with ideas,” he said.

Reacting, the acting National Chairman of the faction, Major Agbo, told our correspondent that they were aware of the subtle move which they believed was directed at removing the immunity of the founder.

He said, “Obviously, the proposed amendment to the constitution and changing of logo they are talking about was deliberate. That was because they discovered suddenly that the man they were after (the founder) had immunity by the provision of that constitution. That’s why they are in a hurry to amend it.”