Home Blog Page 584

Home delivery of passport to commence in June – Minister

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
-
0
Home delivery of passport to commence in June – Minister

THE Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has announced that home delivery of Nigeria passports would commence in June.

This means Nigerians will be able to obtain their passports at the comfort of their homes without going to the offices of Nigeria Immigration of Service.

Tunji-Ojo disclosed this on Friday, May 25  when he inspected the electronic gates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport’s new terminal in Abuja.

He revealed that the delivery service would not cover every location to prevent overloading and damaging the system.

According to him, the Nigerian Immigration Service would begin home delivery in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Abuja.

For Nigerians abroad, he stated that the home delivery service would initially be launched in the United States and the United Kingdom, with preliminary testing to ensure its effectiveness.

The minister explained that the delay in implementing home delivery was due to a lack of data centres.

He noted that the NIS had been using a private company’s data centre and stressed the need for a permanent solution to this issue.

“We have completed the whole solution but when we came on board, we realised that the data centre was not really there. We were leveraging on a private company data centre and we appreciate them for that assistance. We think that it is better to create a permanent solution to problems rather than quick fixes.

“We could have done it in February but we had to build our data centre from scratch to be able to keep the integrity of our data and national security intact. This is more important. It is disgraceful that NIS is 61 years old and NIS is a custodian of biometric data of Nigeria and we believe that NIS should be in charge of the data of Nigerians. It is not acceptable that this data is domiciled in a third party and that is why we have been able to do this,” he said.

He explained that the data centre had been constructed and the passport delivery issue has been resolved.

“It is about national security and I can assure you that It is comparable with anyone you can find anywhere in the world.

“We have built the data centre, sorted the passport delivery solution and done the final presentation in terms of technology deliverables and the tracking solution which will all be embedded in the application we have so we do not create multiple lines of failure,” the minister said.

He stated that the final presentation of the electronic visa had been completed, adding that it would reduce the visa processing time from 72 hours to 48 hours.

“The passport automation process is almost complete,” he added.

Before now, Nigerians used to wait for a long time for their passports after application.

But in October 2023, the Federal Government, through  Tunji-Ojo informed Nigerians that the era was over.

He stated that starting in February 2024, Nigerians would be able to have their passports delivered to their homes, offices, or any other location of their choice.

The ICIR reported how difficult passport application and access have been with officials neck-deep in passport racketeering.

Kano police to enforce court order against Sanusi’s reinstatement

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Kano police to enforce court order against Sanusi’s reinstatement

THE Kano Police Command has said it would enforce an order by the Federal High Court in the state restricting the government from reinstating Lamido Sanusi as emir.

Kano State Commissioner of Police (CP) Usain Gumel disclosed this during a press briefing on Saturday, May 25.

He also said that the police would work closely with other law enforcement agencies to carry out the ruling by the court.

“The police command is expressly obeying the court order with Suit No. FHC/KN/CS/182/2024 Dated 23rd May, 2024 issued by the Federal High Court sitting in Kano alongside all law enforcement agents in the state.

“Therefore, we are calling on members of the public to know that the police in the state is working together with the military and other security agencies to provide the adequate security to everyone, as we are committed to carrying out our statutory duties as provided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the CP said.

The ruling was delivered on Thursday, May 23, refraining the government from enforcing the newly amended Emirate Council Repeal Law of 2024.

The law was amended on Thursday by the Kano House of Assembly, and it abolished the five emirates in the state, leaving room for the position of only one emir.

It also vested constitutional authority to appoint an emir in the state governor.

The bill was quickly signed by the Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who reinstated Sanusi as emir.

Sanusi was the emir of Kano until 2020 when he was dethroned by the former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, following the establishment of five emirates in the state.

Yusuf presented Sanusi with an appointment letter on Friday, May 24, 2024 in defiance of the court order.

However, security officials escorted Ado Bayero, the recently dethroned emir, whom Sanusi is now to replace, to the palace on Saturday morning.

Soldiers shield deposed emir Bayero despite arrest order by Kano governor

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Soldiers shield deposed emir Bayero despite arrest order by Kano governor

FOLLOWING his return to Kano State after his dethronement, the former emir Ado Bayero made his way to the mini palace along Nasarawa in the ancient city of Kano under the protection of security officials believed to be soldiers of the Nigerian Army on Saturday, May 25.

This is despite an order for his arrest by the State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

According to a report, the state deputy governor, Aminu Gwarzo, accused the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu of aiding Bayero’s return.

Videos of vehicles said to be Bayero’s convoy driving through the city in the company of at least six trucks filled with security operatives have also been circulated across various social media platforms.

Since he was deposed, Bayero had not been in Kano but only returned to the city early on Saturday morning.

The Nasarawa palace is different from the emir’s main palace in the city.

Bayero was welcomed by his supporters, who chanted verses from Surah Al-Fatihah in the Holy Quran in his honour.

Yusuf ordered Bayero’s arrest after his return on Saturday morning immediately the governor learnt of of the deposed emir’s arrival in the city.

A statement by the director-general (DG), Media and Publicity, Kano Government House, Sanusi Tofa, disclosed that the order was to prevent the former emir from causing tension in the state.

“The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has ordered the immediate arrest of the former Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, for creating tension in the state. The former Emir was smuggled into Kano city last night in an attempt to forcefully return to the palace two days after being deposed by the governor,” the statement read.

Ado Bayero was dethroned as Emir of Kano along with four other emirs on Thursday, May 23.

The dethronement of the emirs followed the amendment of the Emirate Council Law of 2019 by lawmakers in the state.

The Emirate Council Law came into existence under the previous administration led by former Kano governor Abdullahi Ganduje, creating five emirates in the state.

After the five emirates were created, Ganduje deposed the former emir, Lamido Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and replaced him with Bayero.

However, the recent abolishment of the five emirates paved the way for the return of the single emirate system in the state, vesting the constitutional powers to appoint emirs in the governor alone.

The current governor immediately reinstated Sanusi as emir and handed him an appointment letter on Friday, May 24, 2024, despite an existing court order restricting him from doing so.

Edo LP suspends Abure

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
-
0
Edo LP suspends Abure

THE National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has been suspended from the party by the stakeholders in Ward 3 in Arue-Uromi, in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The state executive committee ratified his suspension.

Abure was suspended over alleged high-handedness and anti-party activities.

This was contained in a letter of suspension dated May 14, 2024, and another letter of ratification dated May 15, 2024, both of which were ratified at a meeting of the state executive committee on Friday, May 24 in Benin, the state capital.

The party stated that the suspension was with immediate effect and advised him to stop holding out or parading himself as a party member.

The ward chairman, Thompson Ehiguese, and Ward Secretary, Stanley Usiomoh, signed the suspension letter.

The letter of ratification of his suspension was forwarded to the state executive committee of the party through the state chairman by the local government chairman of the party in Esan North-East, Patrick Onogbeni, and local government secretary, Ehikioya Eromosele.

Part of the letter reads, “Here forwarded to you and for your consideration is the ratification of the suspension of Julius Abure from the membership of Ward 3, Arue, Uromi, Esan North East LGA, Edo State.

“The LGA executive met on 15th of May, 2024, about noon, to consider the matters presented on the suspension and accordingly found them weighty and the suspension ratified and upheld.”

The state executive committee led by Kelly Ogbaloi approved the decisions of the ward and local government committees of the party on Friday.

The state executive committee considered the letters and the issues raised in them and ratified Abure’s suspension.

The ICIR reported that Abure was re-elected as the party’s National chairman on March 27 despite opposition from the Joe Ajaero-led Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

Abba Yusuf orders arrest of dethroned Kano emir

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Abba Yusuf orders arrest of dethroned Kano emir

KANO State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has ordered the arrest of one of the recently deposed emirs, Aminu Ado Bayero.

This was disclosed in a statement by the director-general, media and publicity, Kano Government House, Sanusi Tofa, on Saturday, May 25.

According to the statement, Bayero is to be arrested for allegedly creating tension in the state and attempting to return to the palace forcefully.

“The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has ordered the immediate arrest of the former Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, for creating tension in the state. The former Emir was smuggled into Kano city last night in an attempt to forcefully return to the palace two days after being deposed by the governor.

“As the chief security officer of the state, his excellency, the executive governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed the commissioner of police to arrest the deposed emir with immediate effect for disturbing public peace and attempting to destroy the relative peace the state enjoys,” the statement stated.

Bayero had returned to Kano early on Saturday morning to what was described as a hero’s welcome.

According to a report, his supporters welcomed him upon his arrival at the Aminu Kano International Airport on Saturday, chanting a verse from Surah Al-Fatihah in the Holy Quran.

This occurred shortly before the order for his arrest was issued.

He was dethroned as Emir of Kano along with four other emirs on Thursday, May 23.

The dethronement of the emirs followed the amendment of the Emirate Council Law of 2019 by lawmakers in the state.

The Emirate Council Law came into existence under the previous administration led by former Kano governor Abdullahi Ganduje, creating five emirates in the state.

After the five emirates were created, Ganduje deposed the former emir, Lamido Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and replaced him with Bayero.

However, the recent abolishment of the five emirates paved the way for the return of the single emirate system in the state, vesting the constitutional powers to appoint emirs in the governor alone.

The current governor immediately reinstated Sanusi as emir and handed him an appointment letter on Friday, May 24, despite an existing court order restricting him from doing so.

UN SDG Action Award calls for application

Blessing Amala Muonwe
-
0
UN SDG Action Award calls for application

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Action Awards, organised by the UN SDG Action Campaign, want to recognise individuals and organisations working to advance the global movement for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Storytellers, visualisers, activists, and others can be part of this competition.

The contest has three award categories: creativity award, impact award, and changemaker award.

For the creativity category, campaigns, through the power of creativity, must have galvanised SDG action to be eligible for this award.

For the impact category, eligible entries include initiatives with innovative approaches, tackling current challenges, that have achieved significant, measurable impacts in improving people’s lives and accelerating progress towards SDG achievement. 

For the changemaker category, exceptional individuals who have made a difference in their communities and societies are eligible for the award. 

Winners will be honoured at the October UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony in Rome, Italy.

The deadline is June 17.

To apply click here

IBP, CSJ, train over 30 women farmers on budget advocacy

Kehinde OGUNYALE
-
0
IBP, CSJ, train over 30 women farmers on budget advocacy

MORE than 30 women farmers, under the auspices of the Smallholder Women Famers of Nigeria (SWOFON), have been trained to understand the cycle of the budget process with a view to increasing the advocacy for inclusion, accountability and allocation in the agricultural sector. 

The two-day training, held in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was organized by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) in collaboration with the Center for Social Justice (CSJ) to cover the basic process of budgeting, legal and policy frameworks around budgeting, budget formation and implementation, and audit. 

The senior program officer of IBP, Adedeji Ademefun, said that the capacity training was part of the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK) program for small women farmers to access farm input, credit and deepening their campaign around gender-friendly types of equipment, and improve budget for agricultural initiatives in Nigeria. 

Ademefum noted that the program focused on five states; Jigawa, Anambra, Oyo, Niger and Nassarawa, where representatives of women farmers would be empowered with knowledge on how to engage the 2024 budget, which is being implemented, and the formation process of the 2025 budget in their respective states. 

SWOFON members
SWOFON members

He said, “We want to see more improved spaces for women farmers to participate in the budget process because they understand how they understand their issues and can drive their campaign for better advocacy. 

“If you cross-link this with our SDG 2030 goals on zero hunger, there is no way to achieve this without empowering the community of smallscale women farmers which constitute over 70 per cent of the farming population in Nigeria.”

Also, the Executive Director of CSJ, Eze Onyekpere said, “Members would be asked to design follow-up plans which they would implement in their respective states in identifying key stakeholders they have to talk to in the pre-budget stage, budget formulation stage and implementation.”

Onyekpere noted that the impact of the training could birth gradual developments in allocation to the agricultural sector and inclusion of smallholder women farmers in the budgeting process over the years. 

Meanwhile, the National President of SWOFON, Fatima Bello, lauded the initiative saying that the training would help women farmers identify and interact with key stakeholders to strengthen the advocacy effort. 

“As farmers, we need this to improve our farming yields and boost our farming to address food insecurity. With this training, we understand the budget cycle to help advocacy efforts so that women farmers can get the right allocation,” she said.

Sanusi receives appointment letter as Kano emir, despite court order

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
Sanusi receives appointment letter as Kano emir, despite court order

THE Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has reinstated Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano state and presented him with an appointment letter on Friday, May 24, 2024, despite an existing court order to the contrary.

The letter was issued at the Kano State Government House on Friday.

“By the powers conferred on me by the Kano Emirate Council Law of 1984 and 2024, and supported by the recommendation of the kingmakers, I have the singular pleasure to confirm the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and the head of the Kano Emirate Council,” the governor said.

The reinstatement comes four years after the previous administration deposed Sanusi under Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who created four additional emirates in the state.

However, the State Assembly finalised the amendment of the existing emirates law during plenary on Thursday, May 23, 2024, thereby dethroning the existing emirs.

The bill revived the single emirate system in the state, vesting constitutional powers to appoint a new emir in the State Governor Abba Yusuf alone.

The governor then announced the reinstatement of Muhammadu Lamido Sanusi as the 14th Emir of Kano state on Thursday.

Earlier, a Federal High Court in Kano issued an order stopping the government from enforcing the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law, which abolished the five emirates and gave room for Sanusi’s reinstatement.

But this ruling was ignored by the governor, who alleged that the High Court Judge Mohammed Liman passed the judgment while in America. He also threatened to report Liman to the Nigeria Governor’s Forum.

Protesters storm Abuja against reinstatement

Meanwhile, protesters stormed the streets of Abuja on Friday to express displeasure over Sanusi’s reinstatement.

The protesters also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing crises regarding the emirate in Kano.

They carried banners saying that the governor was desecrating the Northern Traditional Institution for political vendetta. Some of the banners also suggested that Kwankwaso and his supporters were orchestrating the development to cause trouble in the state.

Nigeria’s GDP falls to 2.98% in Q1 2024 despite Tinubu’s promise

Kehinde OGUNYALE
-
0
Nigeria’s GDP falls to 2.98% in Q1 2024 despite Tinubu’s promise

LATEST data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have shown that for the first three months of 2024, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dropped to 2.98 per cent in real terms.

The 2.98 per cent is lesser than 6 per cent annual growth promised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his inauguration on May 29, 2023.

According to the report, although the GDP is higher than the 2.31 per cent recorded in the first quarter of 2023, it is lower than the fourth quarter of 2023 growth of 3.46 per cent.

NBS said that the performance of the GDP in the first quarter of 2024 was driven mainly by the Services sector, which recorded a growth of 4.32 per cent and contributed 58.04 per cent to the aggregate GDP.

Findings from the report showed that crop production, trade, and information and communication services contributed almost 50 per cent to the GDP than other sectors. 

 “The agriculture sector grew by 0.18 per cent, from the growth of -0.90 per cent recorded in the first quarter of 2023. The increase in the industry sector was 2.19 per cent, an improvement from 0.31 per cent recorded in the first quarter of 2023. 

“In the quarter under review, aggregate GDP stood at N58,855,142.27 million in nominal terms. This performance is higher when compared to the first quarter of 2023 which recorded an aggregate GDP of N51,242,151.21 million,” the statistics office added.

The ICIR also reported the promise of the president, while giving his inaugural speech on May 29, to increase Nigeria’s GDP by six per cent annually, but, experts had told The ICIR that President Bola Tinubu was unlikely to achieve his target of increasing the country’s GDP rate to six per cent annually.

Regarding real GDP per capita, The ICIR calculation shows that each Nigeran contribution to the GDP growth is around N12.5 over the projected 228.54 million people. The decrease in the GDP might not be unconnected to the rising inflation rate which climbed to 33.69 per cent in April from 33.20 per cent in March 2024. 

Court orders forfeiture of $4.7m, N830m,properties linked to Emefiele

Mustapha USMAN
-
0
Court orders forfeiture of $4.7m, N830m,properties linked to Emefiele

A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered an interim forfeiture of the sums of $4,719,054, N830,875,611, and several properties linked to the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

The Presiding judge, Justice Yellim Bogoro gave the order on Thursday, May 23, 2024, after taking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)‘s counsel’s submission. 

His ruling followed an ex-parte application by counsel of the Commission, Bilkisu Buhari.

The ICIR  reports that the anti-graft agency sought an interim forfeiture of the monies and properties from the court, citing Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act, 2006, Section 44(2)(b) of the Constitution, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

EFCC requested the court of: “An Interim Order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the funds warehoused in the accounts particularized in Schedule ‘A’ which funds are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

“An Interim order forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria Properties provided in 2nd Schedule ‘B’ which are proceeds of unlawful activities.

“An Order directing the publication in any National Newspaper, the interim order under reliefs 1-2 above, for anyone interested in the properties and funds sought to be forfeited to appear before this Honourable Court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture of the said properties and funds should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, passing his ruling on the case, Bogoro, held he found merit in the application and further granted the commission’s prayer.

“The applicant should publish this order in any daily newspaper circulating all over the federation for anybody interested to show cause why the final order of forfeiture should not be made. Case adjourned to July 2, for motion for final forfeiture,” he said.

The monies forfeited to the federal government in the interim were said to be warehoused in First Bank; Titan Bank and Zenith Bank, being operated by Omoile Anita Joy; Deep Blue Energy Service Limited; Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd; Lipam Investment Services Limited; Tatler Services Limited; Rosajul Global Resources Ltd and TIL Communication Nigeria Ltd.

His properties forfeited to the federal government include 94 units of an 11-floor building under construction at 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (Formerly Club) Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza, 11-floor office space, situate on 1E, Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos; Imore Industrial Park 1, Esa Street, Imoore Land purchased with (Deep Bive Industrial Town, Oriade LCDA, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos; Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at Bogije) near Elemoro Lagos, Owolomi Village, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos; and two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, Closed PFA Fund, Block B.Lot twin completed property in Lakes Estate, Lekki, Lagos.

Others include One plot measuring 1,038.069 sqm, at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Block A, Plot 4, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa, LGA; Estate located at 100, Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, Owned by Lipam investment Services; a Land at 1, Bunmi Owulude Street, (Maruwa), Lekki Phase 1, Lagos and a property situate on 8, Bayo Kuku Road, lkoyi Lagos.

1...583584585...3,439Page 584 of 3,439