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Tag: Nigerians

  • UAE Imposes Visa Ban on Nigerians

    UAE Imposes Visa Ban on Nigerians

    United Arab Emirates Immigration authorities have imposed a visa ban on Nigerians and are now rejecting visa applications.

    This was conveyed in a notice issued to UAE’s trade partners in Nigeria including travel agencies on Friday October 21.

    No reason was given for the visa ban, but the United Arab Emirates Immigration authorities said all applications are on-hold until issues between the UAE government and the Nigerian government are resolved.

    It read;

    “All Dubai applications submitted are now rejected. It is general for Nigerians and approvals are on hold at the moment.

    “Kindly advise your clients to resubmit C2=A0 applications when the issue is resolved between both governments.”

    Punch reported that a source at travel agency, Wakanow confirmed the development. The source said;

    “It is true, it was issued yesterday. The Dubai immigration did not state when the ban would be lifted but for now, everything is on hold.”

    A customer representative from Air Peace, however said the airline is still flying to Dubai with those who already have a valid visa. The representative added that if any changes were to occur as regards flight for Nigerians, it would be duly communicated.

  • 2023: Only Nigerians Can Make Country Better -Tambuwal

    2023: Only Nigerians Can Make Country Better -Tambuwal

    By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto 

    Ahead of next year’s general elections in the country, it has been observed that only the people of Nigeria can make the right choice to turn its fortunes around.

    This observation was made by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state at the fathe -child dialogue on education and youth development organised by state ministry of youth and sports development in collaboration with the state chapters of students leaders forum and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN),held at the International Conference Centre, Kasarawa.

    The statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Bello Muhammad further said Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal made it known, 

    at the ceremony, which was in commemoration of the 62 independence anniversary of the country, 

    Tambuwal reiterated that it is only when Nigerians can choose the right type of leadership and put same in place that the mission of rescuing the country and making it better again would be successful.

    Recalling how,  in 2019, he engaged some academicians in Sokoto state on the question of leadership selection in the state and admonished them to elect someone that have the competence, character and capacity to lead the state, the Governor noted that today similar challenge still loom large.

    He said the candidates that Nigerians should strive hard to elect must be ones that not only project ideals and values they present to the people but their ability to provide good leadership.

    Tambuwal thanked the people of Sokoto state for standing and rising to the challenge posed about four years ago, despite every and all effort to block his victory back in 2019. explaining that a fresh round of campaign has now started nationwide.

    The governor further listed more qualities that the electorate should look out for before electing candidates. He suggested that they should not go for any candidate that is a tribal, sectional or a religious jingoist.

    Instead, he offered that the people of the country should go for a candidate that is pan-Nigerian and has the capacity and experience to govern the country.

    Tambuwal challenged the youths to always be conscious of the fact that moneybags, religious and  ethnic champions will come around during elections flouting their propaganda and talking about the future of the country.

    “We have not been doing what we have been doing just for us to please ourselves, but we are making continuous sacrificing, toiling and working round the clock to make sure that we showcase the best candidate to govern this country,” he added.

    The governor said the youths must be very vigilant, conscious and exercise their franchise in the best interests of their country, while charging the people of the state, particularly the academia and the youths, on the challenge of ensuring that they will not suffer the choice of having a bad leader who will jeopardize the future of the state.

    “We must not take the risk of allowing certain character to come back to the leadership of the state,” Tambuwal maintained, comparing the abysmal performance of his predecessor to the earnings that accrued to the state under him, which wasn’t utilized properly but wasted.

    The governor appealed to the youths to continue to build on the solid foundation his administration has provided for them and consolidate on the gains. “ I have no tolerance for youth restiveness and for the engagement of our youths as political thugs. Anybody that asks you to engage in political thuggery, ask him to put his son forward,” he added 

    He stressed that under his leadership the state government will not allow leaders who encouraged the youths to go into drugs to seek electoral offices in the state.

  • 2023: Don’t Vote Killers Into Power – Jonathan Warns Nigerians

    2023: Don’t Vote Killers Into Power – Jonathan Warns Nigerians

    Ahead of the 2023 general elections, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has charged Nigerians not to make the mistake of voting those he described as killers into elective positions.

    He gave the charge on Sunday in Uyo during a special interdenominational service to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State.

    “In 2023, you must not make the mistake to vote killers,” Jonathan said. Those who will carry knives, guns, and all kinds of gadgets to go and kill people because of politics, are the enemies of society. If you kill to become a leader, you will continue to kill to remain a leader.”

    “The people will continue to suffer. Make sure that from the House of Assembly to the House of Representatives to Senate to governor, you vote the right people in Akwa Ibom State.”

    The ex-President commended the state governor, Udom Emmanuel for his developmental strides in the South-South state.

    He recalled that when the ex-governor, Godswill Akpabio was leaving office, there was uncertainty over the performance of Emmanuel who was the Secretary to the State Government at the time.

    Although Emmanuel veered into politics from the private sector, Jonathan explained that Emmanuel has done well within seven years in office.

    The former Nigerian President stated that the election that brought the Akwa Ibom State governor to the office is one that should teach politicians a lesson.

    “The election of Governor Udom should teach us, politicians, a good lesson. When Governor Udom was to come as a governor, people said this man has never been into politics.

    “Though we know he is a finance person who has been in the bank, he may not know how to manage human beings. But Udom came on board and changed the story,” he added.

    Jonathan also commended members of the State Executive Council for supporting the governor to achieve success in office.

    He equally commended the youths of Akwa Ibom State for their cooperation, describing them as good people. He also thanked the Christian Association of Nigeria for organizing the programme in honour of Akwa Ibom State.

  • PDP Crisis: Our Arrogant Actions Are Telling Nigerians Not To Trust Us – Wike

    PDP Crisis: Our Arrogant Actions Are Telling Nigerians Not To Trust Us – Wike

    Governor Nyesom Wike has said that with the crisis rocking the People Democratic Party at the moment, the PDP is only telling Nigerians not to trust them ahead of the 2023 elections. 

    At a media chat in Port Harcourt on Friday, the Rivers State governor was of the opinion that the pride which threatens the peace of the party at the moment, might be its doom when the Nigerians head back to the polls.

    “We have not won election we are too arrogant, we have not won election and we are telling Nigerians look you cannot trust us, we say one thing and we do a different thing,” Wike asserted.

    Speaking further on the issue threatening the peace within PDP, Wike said it is sad that no southerner occupies any of the three top positions within the party.

    He added that the seed of discord was planted when the PDP shunned the zoning formula which would have seen a Southern candidate emerge as presidential flagbearer.

    Speaking on the way forward, Governor Wike stated that sacrifices must be made in order for PDP to win the election.

    “We sat there and he (Atiku) agreed with us that Ayu has to go what was remaining, he said we should give him one week… let Governor (Ahmadu) Finitiri, who is the governor of Adamawa State, let him tell Nigerians it is not correct.

    “Let Governor Seyi (Makinde) tell Nigerians it is not correct. For us to have peace let us move on, let bygone be bygone. What is the problem? You are the presidential candidate, just give chairmanship to the South…. Within that one week, we didn’t hear from the presidential candidate again. If the presidential candidate respects us, what stops him from calling us and saying, ‘look, I have gone to look at this thing and the constitutional issues’?

    “Even in that meeting, we told him to bring your lawyer, we will bring our lawyer let us sit down and work it out, but he never told us (no). All we now heard on TV was that there will be constitutional issues. We forgot that we have constitutional matters, that the constitution says we must zone, but now we have forgotten the constitution (and) now you are bringing constitutional matters,” Wike contended.

  • Nigerians Want An Alternative To PDP, APC – Obaseki

    Nigerians Want An Alternative To PDP, APC – Obaseki

    The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, says Nigerians are no longer interested in the two top political parties in the country — Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Party — and are in search of an alternative.

    Obaseki while speaking in an interview with African Independent Television on the just concluded Ekiti governorship election, further revealed that the future of politics in the country was changing.

    In a video snippet posted on the verified Instagram page of the media mogul, Dele Momodu, the Edo governor said, “How can PDP, the party; not win? They were not even number two. So, you can see that something is going on and we do not want this to be a trend. The future of our politics in this country is changing.

    “I do not know whether you are closely watching what is going on; the level of disenchantment within the parties. I am sure in all of our homes now, we have so many people now who call themselves ‘Obidients’.

    “I don’t know whether you have them in your house. Just ask them, ‘which party are you?’, they say ‘Obidients’; you understand. They do not want us; they are not talking about PDP or APC. They are looking for alternatives and they are many. You see all of them queuing for their PVCs now. They are not looking at the direction of PDP or APC now. They are looking for alternatives.

    “If we do not curb this, if we do not make our party attractive, I do not know what will happen in the next elections.”

    Also commenting on the Ekiti election, a chieftain of the party, Tom Ikimi, stated that the party was defeated because of the activities of a former governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose.

    Ikimi said, “I am not afraid to say that our problem in Ekiti has been caused by the activities of our past governor, Ayo Fayose. He ruined the place before he left office. He insisted on putting his candidate with all kinds of struggles, even though we persuaded him to do otherwise.

    “He ended up, on the election day, rolling on the floor and crying but that did not get us anywhere. Put that to rest; the build-up to the choice of the candidate in Ekiti was a big struggle. All kinds of meetings, peace interventions, until we had the heart to push away Segun Oni, who went to SDP that was not known here. The outcome is clear.”

  • SERAP, Nigerians sue INEC over Failure to extend Voter Registration

    SERAP, Nigerians sue INEC over Failure to extend Voter Registration

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 185 Nigerians have filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    They want the court to declare the failure of the electoral body to extend the deadline for voter registration unconstitutional.

    INEC recently extended the last day for the conduct of primaries by political parties by six days, from June 3 to June 9.

    But the commission did not extend the online pre-registration which ended May 30 2022 and the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) ending 30 June 2022.

    In the suit FHC/L/CS/1034/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP demands that the INEC decision be declared a violation of eligible Nigerians’ rights to participate in their own government.

    The suit is asking the court for an order to compel INEC to extend voter registration by a minimum of three months.

    “The extension of voter registration would ensure that Nigerian voters are treated equally and fairly. The future of Nigeria’s democracy depends on it”, it reads.

    The applicants insist voters are critical stakeholders in the electoral process and that treating all eligible Nigerian fairly would advance the people’s right to vote.

    “INEC must not only be independent and impartial in the exercise of its constitutional and statutory responsibilities but must also be seen to be independent and impartial”, they said.

    SERAP and others also want an order restraining INEC, its agents, privies and others from discontinuing the continuous voters’ registration pending the hearing and determination of this suit.

    The suit filed by Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi noted that extending the voter registration exercise would further bolster voter confidence in the electoral process.

    The court is expected to fix a date for the hearing this week.

  • We’re not recruiting, beware of fraudsters – DSS tells Nigerians

    We’re not recruiting, beware of fraudsters – DSS tells Nigerians

    The Department of State Services has warned Nigerians to be wary of fraudsters as they are not recruiting.

    DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya told the general public in a statement released on Friday April 29, that the service does not recruit online, nor does it sell job application forms or demand money from job seekers before recruiting.

    It read;

    “The Department of State Services wishes to notify the public that it is not currently recruiting.

    “It also uses this opportunity to reiterate that it does not recruit online, sell job application forms or demand money from prospective employees (when and if it recruits).

    “The public is, by this notice, advised, for the umpteenth time, to be wary of fraudsters who operate fake and misleading websites designed to fleece them.

    “Interested candidates are advised to make recruitment enquiries from the Service’s Headquarters, Abuja, its State Commands, other Formations nationwide, official website.”

  • Nigerians Should Be Allowed To Bear Arms to Defend Themselves – Reps Majority Leader

    Nigerians Should Be Allowed To Bear Arms to Defend Themselves – Reps Majority Leader

    Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ado Doguwa, has said Nigerians should be allowed to bear arms in self-defense considering the deteriorating security situation in the country.

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) member who is representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State said this during plenary on Thursday when the House was debating the aftermath of the terrorist attack on a train filled with passengers in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State.

    Doguwa, who was moved to tears by the tragic incident, is of the opinion that the security agencies have failed and citizens should not be at the mercy of terrorists or bandits.

    Another lawmaker, Honourable Aminu Suleiman who is also a member of the APC in his contribution said the security agencies are displaying ineptitude.

    He drew the attention of the House to a group of young boys in Kano State called Suka, which he says are budding and could grow into another security threat.

    Suleiman questioned the effectiveness of the House regarding the resolutions passed on security-related matters and urged the lawmakers to embark on a strike until the security situation is handled.

    He also wants President Muhammadu Buhari as Commander-in-Chief to live up to his responsibilities and guarantee the security of lives and property.

    The lawmakers also questioned the capability of the National Security Adviser, who has remained in the position since 2015, unchanged.

    Honourable Ahmed Jaha while making his contribution spoke with an angry tone lamented that a member of the House wrote a commendation letter to one of the Service Chiefs and he is pained by it.

    Jaha, who is representing Chibok, Damboa and Gwoza Federal Constituency said he will deal with the member eventually.

    He was eventually prevailed upon by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila to withdraw the statement.

    Honourable Dachung Bagos asked that the house suspend releases to security agencies until they can account for all the funds released so far.

    In honour of those who have died in the past week due to banditry and terrorism, the lawmakers made special prayers and the House is adjourned.

  • Viral Memo: Nigerians Criticize RCCG’s Alleged Foray into Partisan Politics

    Viral Memo: Nigerians Criticize RCCG’s Alleged Foray into Partisan Politics

    By Joyce Babayeju

    Some Nigerians have expressed concern over what looks like a needless foray into divisive politics by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

    This is coming a day after the leakage of a memo creating the department of governance and politics to support its members vying for political offices in the country.

    Some Nigerians who spoke to our correspondent saw the development as unhealthy for the polity and the fragile unity of the country.

    Some of the respondents were of the opinion that the development was meant to declare open support for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who is rumoured to be vying for the office of the President next year.

    Umar Ayuba told POLITICS DIGEST that the Vice President, who is a Senior Pastor in the Church, must dissociate himself from such moves in order not to alienate his non-Christian supporters.

    “We are trying to tell people to shun religious politics. When Osinbajo entered a mosque with shoe, we told people that it is not in his character but with the emergence of this letter, its hard to convince people,” he said.

    A member of a group supporting Osinbajo in Lagos, Isiyaku Usman, has also condemned the creation of the department in RCCG.

    “Why is the department coming up now, because their active member is contesting for the President of this country?” he asked.

    He also urged the Vice President to be wary of further dividing the country along its fault lines.

    Usman also advised the RCCG not to proceed to openly polarise the country with such moves as according to him the viral memo is bad optics for the polity.

  • We Will Not Tolerate Recruitment Of Nigerians As Mercenaries In Ukraine – FG

    The Federal Government on Monday said it will not tolerate the recruitment of Nigerians as foreign fighters in Ukraine.

    According to a statement signed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Francisca Omayuli, the government is in talks with Ukrainian counterparts to forestall such an occurrence.

    The government’s statement comes after reports emerged of Nigerian volunteers being drafted into the Ukrainian army at the Ukrainian Embassy in Abuja.

    “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted the Embassy to verify the speculation,” the statement said. “The Ukrainian Embassy refuted the allegation, but confirmed that a number of Nigerians had approached the Embassy indicating their willingness to fight on the side of Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

    “Furthermore, the Embassy clarified that the Ukrainian government is not admitting foreign volunteer fighters and as such dissociated itself from the claim that it is requesting $1,000 from each Nigerian volunteer for air ticket and visa.

    “As a responsible member of the international community and consistent with out obligations under international law, Nigeria discourages the use of mercenaries anywhere in the world and will not tolerate the recruitment, in Nigeria, of Nigerians as mercenaries to fight in Ukraine or anywhere in the world.

    “The Federal Government will continue to engage with the Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria and other relevant authorities to prevent this possibility.”