Home Blog Page 471

Probe cases of rights violation, N’Delta group tells FG

admin
-
0
Probe cases of rights violation, N’Delta group tells FG

The Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group has urged the Federal Government to investigate cases of human rights violations that occurred during the hunger protests which began nationwide on Thursday, August 1, 2024.

In a statement by its Chief Executive Officer, High Chief Anthony George-Hill, and a member of the Nigeria Civic Space Protection Alliance, Stiv Obodoekwe, the group emphasised the need for the government to ensure democratic freedom and safeguard the civic space.

The group issued this statement following its two-day civic space protection training in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The statement reads, “The government must promote and protect the human rights of citizens at all times. Therefore, the government should create an enabling environment for citizens to breathe and exercise their rights.

“Considering the importance of human rights and civic space to the survival of democracy, we call on the government to prioritise citizens’ interests and the protection of human rights and civic space in its agenda, policies, and actions.

“The government should take serious steps to ensure democratic freedom, the safeguarding of civic space, human rights, and the rule of law. Authorities should allow citizens to exercise their rights to freedom of expression.

“Authorities should ensure that incidents of rights violations and civic space suppression are properly investigated, and state actors found culpable should be brought to justice.”

It, however, cautioned individuals or groups calling for a regime change through the military, adding that democracy remained a better option than a minute of military rule.

“Nigeria should be a democratic model in Africa, irrespective of its ups and downs,” the statement added.

Naval officer dies rescuing 59 from drowning in Rivers

admin
-
0
Naval officer dies rescuing 59 from drowning in Rivers

The Base Operations Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Bonny, Lieutenant-Commander Gideon Gwaza, has lost his life during a rescue operation in River State.

The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, in a statement on Friday, said the operation led to the rescue of 59 persons from a dredging vessel, MV AMBIKA 4, that was on the brink of sinking while operating at the Okpobo Field, near the Okpobo River.

Adams-Aliu said the operation was conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force.

He said, “In response, the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Bonny deployed a rescue team comprising 10 armed personnel in two interceptor boats, led by the Base Operations Officer, to carry out the rescue operation.

“Efforts to approach the distressed vessel were challenging due to the strength of the waves, prompting the deployment of another squadron of three boats to reinforce the rescue team.

“Additionally, the Nigerian Navy Ship GONGOLA, drones, Nigerian Navy helicopters, and a Nigerian Air Force helicopter were mobilised for the search and rescue mission. Eventually, all 59 crew members were successfully rescued, but the Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant-Commander Gideon Gwaza, paid the ultimate price.”

He noted that the deceased officer accidentally fell overboard during the rescue operation which lasted for approximately 10 hours, from midnight on July 29 to 30, 2024.

“The Nigerian Navy deeply mourns the loss of Gwaza, who bravely risked his life to save others.

“He was a well-trained combat diver whose untimely death reflects the risks and sacrifices of Nigerian Navy personnel in ensuring the safety of Nigeria’s maritime domain.

“His dedication and sacrifice will forever be remembered,” Adams-Aliu added.

We feel unsafe during riots – Nigerians in UK

admin
-
0
We feel unsafe during riots – Nigerians in UK

Nigerians living in the United Kingdom have expressed fear over the recent attacks on immigrants in the country, saying they feel threatened and unsafe.

Britain has been plunged into a series of protests that erupted early last week following the death of three young girls in a knife attack in Southport, northwest England.

The police arrested a 17-year-old male as the suspected killer of the victim. However, rumour soon spread that the suspect was an Islamist migrant.

Consequently, several thousand far-right natives gathered near Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Downing Street office in Central London to protest.

The protest soon turned into riots as security agents arrested 100 suspects.

There have been riots in more than 20 cities across Britain, including Sunderland, Plymouth and Belfast.

Protesters attacked mosques, buildings housing asylum seekers, cars and houses, including a library, which was set ablaze. Shops were also looted.

Starmer warned that the rioters would be sentenced within a week.

Despite the assurance given, some Nigerians told Saturday According that the rioters targeted immigrants, and some homes belonging to Nigerians were attacked.

A Nigerian engineer living in London, Toyyib Adelodun said, “London has been generally safe, but the Nigerian community is feeling unsafe in places where the riots were intense like Middlesborough and Plymouth. We have reported attacks on some Nigerian homes and some people couldn’t leave their houses for some days.”

Another Nigerian IT professional, Dr Evelyn Okpanachi, blamed the riot on misinformation.

“It’s deeply saddening to witness the rise in violence in the UK, especially the unjust targeting of immigrants. Misinformation has fueled unrest across cities. While law enforcement is doing its best to intervene, more must be done to end this violence,” Okpanachi added.

Another Nigerian student at Cambridge University, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Black British were not excluded from the attacks.

The source said, “I feel threatened because it is targeted towards immigrants. Even the immigrants who are already citizens are also targeted because they are not whites. I feel threatened because it’s been violent and lives have been lost.”

Also, a senior lecturer in London, Dr Oyedele Ogundana said, “As a Nigerian and a person of colour, it’s natural to feel concerned for one’s safety and that of loved ones. Nonetheless, we remain hopeful that peace will be restored.”

But a realtor, Maxwell Adeyemi, who lives in Bradford, said the unrest did not get to the ward, adding that there was peace in the area.

He said, “The tension has created panic almost everywhere in the UK. However, my area in West Yorkshire, the city of Bradford is calm. I can say it’s the headquarters of immigrants in the UK.”

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, assured that Nigerians in the UK are safe.

Montgomery spoke on Wednesday during a meeting with the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

The envoy said, “We will not, as a country, accept discrimination or attacks against any community.”

Adetshina gets support after alleged parental fraud

admin
-
0
Adetshina gets support after alleged parental fraud

Nigerians in South Africa have said the controversial parental history of Chidimma Adetshina who withdrew from a beauty contest should be thoroughly investigated.

Adetshina, 23, pulled out from Miss South Africa Beauty Pageant 2024 on Thursday following criticisms from South Africans that she was not eligible to participate in the pageantry.

Her withdrawal stemmed from the information published on the organisation’s website that she was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambique mother.

The organisers also affirmed that she was a naturalised South African.

However, the Department of Home Affairs for South Africa, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed that Adetshina’s mother might have engaged in a fraud.

“The Department of Home Affairs can indicate that prima facie reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in Home Affairs records as Chidimma Adetshina’s mother,” the statement read.

This forced Adetshina to withdraw from the contest billed for Saturday at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria.

She wrote on Instagram, “I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I.”

The President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mrs Doris Ikeri-Solarin, told Saturday Punch that it was an “unfortunate” incident borne out of “discrimination.”

“It is very unfortunate that this young, beautiful, and intelligent lady is made to face this level of discrimination. The investigation is yet to be concluded; I’m not sure she should be made to suffer the consequences. Let’s wait for the outcome,” Ikeri-Solarin said.

“The Immigration lawyer who was interviewed explained the different ways of acquiring citizenship in South Africa, which is not limited to one. This needs to be thoroughly reviewed. Under what circumstance did Chidinma (Adetshina) acquire hers? Is her father legit and papers in order? If so, let’s look at options.”

Similarly, a Nigerian lawyer in Johannesburg, Austin Okeke, said Adetshina should not be  condemned for her parents’ alleged errors.

He said, “The illegality of her mother has no bearing whatsoever on her citizenship status. That she has now withdrawn from the Miss South Africa beauty pageant was a direct consequence on the growing hostility towards her.

“I am sure she must have been very traumatised and petrified by the level of hostility, which must have invariably affected her confidence and composure to continue with the competition.

“The pageant is nothing but a competition that should not have attracted this level of hatred and abuse of her dignity as a fellow human.”

Asked about the 23-year-old’s safety in South Africa, Ikeri-Solarin said, “I do not think she’s at risk of experiencing xenophobic attacks even though her story and personality stirred up the social media space globally.

“Her talents need to be nurtured and guided to open new doors for the future.”

Lagos-Ibadan expressway accident kills three passengers

admin
-
0
Lagos-Ibadan expressway accident kills three passengers

Three yet-to-be-identified passengers on Thursday lost their lives following a multi-vehicle crash on the Kara section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Saturday According gathered that an unidentified truck driver transporting sugar, lost control and collided with another vehicle, triggering a chain of collisions around 7 pm along Isheri-Olofin, outward bound from Lagos State.

Our correspondent learnt that the other vehicles involved in the accident included an SF3000 truck, a Toyota Camry car with the number plate EPE 200 GK, an Isuzu mini truck with the number plate T-1079 LA and a Honda Accord car.

A fuel attendant at a nearby filling station, identified only as Michael, told our correspondent that he saw several other passengers being rushed to the hospital.

“Three vehicles were involved in the accident, including one fully loaded with bags of sugar. I heard that some people lost their lives.

“However, I saw several injured passengers being rushed to the hospital. The truck driver fled the scene before he could be arrested,” Michael stated.

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident.

She said the victims had been taken to a hospital in Lagos for medical attention.

Odutola said, “Three passengers including two women and one man, died at the scene. The injured were transported to the emergency clinic at Old Toll Gate in Ojota for treatment. The Lagos State Fire Service was present to extinguish the fire.

“The corpses have been taken to the mortuary at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for identification and autopsy. Authorities are actively working to locate the truck driver who fled the scene.”

Also reacting, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Fire Service, Amodu Shakiru, stated, “The incident occurred in Ogun State but our team was on-site to do everything possible to manage the situation. It took place along the Kara Bridge.”

Nigerians criticise govt’s UK travel warning amid local unrest

admin
-
0
Nigerians criticise govt’s UK travel warning amid local unrest

In light of the recent riots in the United Kingdom, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, released a statement cautioning that extra care should be taken by anyone who had plans to travel to the UK.

The statement, which was signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Eche Abu-Obehas, read, “There is an increased risk of violence and disorder occasioned by the recent riots in the UK, stemming from the killing of three young girls at a concert (sic). The violence has assumed dangerous proportions, as evidenced by reported attacks on law enforcement agents and damage to infrastructure.

“To this end, citizens are advised to be extra vigilant and take measures as follows— avoid political processions and protests, rallies or marches. Avoid crowded areas and large gatherings. Be vigilant and self-aware at all times. Demonstrations by far-right and other extra-parliamentary groups in parts of the UK in recent weeks have been large and, in some instances, unruly.

“These disturbances have only been aggravated by the unfortunate deaths of the three girls, spawning an anti-immigration narrative with particular emphasis on targeting Muslim immigrants or persons of colour.”

However, many Nigerians have criticised the statement, accusing the government of playing the ostrich while the country was engulfed in the #EndBadGovernance protests.

A netizen, The_real_localman, wrote, “This is extremely funny. No death has occurred as a result of the riots in a few places in the UK, but you are issuing travel advice. Whereas right under your nose, over 2/3 of the states in Nigeria are rioting and at least 13 deaths have occurred so far. If you care about the safety of Nigerians, you should look within.”

Using Biblical reference, i.am_pauli wrote, “Typical case of trying to remove the spec of from your neighbour’s eyes while a log of wood is in yours.”

Winosa5 also wrote, “Government thinks people will seriously pause plans to travel because of riots in the UK, compared to the supposed luxury of living in Nigeria.”

CSOs demand probe on trapped N4.9bn meal subsidy

admin
-
0
CSOs demand probe on trapped N4.9bn meal subsidy

Civil Society Organisations have called on the Federal Government to investigate why the Ministry of Finance failed to release a N4.9bn meal subsidy for 112 Federal Unity Colleges across the country.

The According had earlier revealed that a sum of N2,478,056,400 was paid monthly to all the 112 FUCs, but the finance ministry skipped the payment of the intervention funds for November and December 2023.

The ministry, however, paid the intervention funds for January 2024 to date. The immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Didi Walson-Jack, who is the Head of Civil Service of the Federation-designate, in February 2024, wrote to her finance counterpart, asking that the intervention funds for the two months be released.

Walson-Jack noted that the failure to release the subsidy was affecting the smooth running of the colleges, adding that the current challenges being encountered in the management of the meal subsidy in the schools were as a result of the inflation and the worsening effect of the recurring late releases of the meal subsidy funds to the schools.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, in a conversation with Saturday According, highlighted the need to investigate and unravel the reason for withholding such funds as the ministry ought to have released the money to the schools a long time ago.

He also raised the alarm that the people in charge of the funds might have temporarily diverted them for personal gains, noting that anybody found culpable of causing the delay should be brought to book.

According to him, while the people in charge of the funds are investigated, all factors, including any bureaucratic disturbances, which may have contributed to the delay, should also be identified.

He said, “It is a fund that ought to have been planned for since a very long time. So, if there is any bureaucratic disturbance, they ought to have ironed it out before it was due not to speak of running it to arrears so those that are in charge should be thoroughly investigated.”

“Everybody involved should be made to account for his role in the delay or in the withholding of that fund, and if anybody has benefited from it, they should be jailed.”

Also, the Secretary of the Oyo State chapter of the Joint Action Forum, Abiodun Bamgboye, said averting such situations would require that the management and control of the resources made for all the institutions were subjected to democratic management and by a board which would include students, parents, and representatives of the government as members.

How FG, states spent N120bn on pilgrimage in three years

admin
-
0
How FG, states spent N120bn on pilgrimage in three years

The Federal Government and no fewer than 21 states have spent a total of N119.9bn on subsidies for Christian and Muslim pilgrimages in the last three years, investigations by Saturday According have shown.

The figure was derived from analysing media reports of the amounts the Federal Government and the states offered to sponsor Muslim and Christian pilgrims between 2022 and 2024.

It was gathered that in 2022, eight governors from Enugu, Delta, Taraba, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Gombe, and Zamfara states spent a combined N4.94bn to fund both Christian and Muslim pilgrims.

Enugu State sponsored 300 pilgrims; Delta, 312; Taraba, 163; Bauchi, 199; Nasarawa, 117; Plateau, 420; Gombe, 29; Zamfara, 1,400, while the Lagos State Government disbursed over $1.2m to pay the Basic Travel Allowance for 1,562 Muslim pilgrims.

In 2023, eight state governors again (Imo, Enugu, Adamawa, Lagos, Borno, Edo, Kano, and Ogun) spent N2.53bn to sponsor Christian pilgrims and N7.35bn on their Muslim counterparts, totaling N9.88bn.

Imo State funded 1,000 Christian pilgrims; Enugu, 300; Adamawa, 120; Lagos, 170; and Borno, 101. Adamawa paid for all its 2,574 Muslim pilgrims, while Edo State sponsored 40 for Hajj, all in 2023.

Also, for the same year, the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, gave N65m to 6,166 Hajj pilgrims from the state, while the Ogun State Government provided logistics support for 2023 Muslim pilgrims.

For 2024, investigations showed that President Bola Tinubu and 14 state governors (Plateau, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Borno, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Sokoto, Kwara, Kogi, Kebbi, Jigawa, and Bauchi) spent a whopping sum of N105bn to sponsor Hajj pilgrims.

Speaking at the inaugural airlifting of the 2024 Hajj exercise from Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, in May, Vice-President Shettima said the President subsidised the 2024 Hajj with N90bn.

“Mr President has been committed to this year’s Hajj due to the economic situation. He has also contributed the sum of N90bn to subsidise this year’s Hajj exercise to ensure a smooth and successful pilgrimage,” the VP stated.

The Kogi State Government was the first to announce full payment of the sum for its 460 pilgrims.

Governor Yusuf also announced a N500,000 subsidy for each of the 2,906 pilgrims in his state, followed by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who announced a subsidy of N959,000 for the 2,290 pilgrims in the state, while the Jigawa and Kebbi state governments subsidised fares with N1m each for their 1,260 and 3,344 pilgrims, respectively.

The Ogun State Government also paid the sum of N119,560,712 for the shortfall in the Basic Travel Allowance of the state’s Muslim pilgrims.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Ogun State Governor, Lekan Adeniran, the shortfall came as a result of the unexpected changes in the foreign exchange rates.

Similarly, the Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, gifted each intending pilgrim from the state 720 Saudi riyal to enable them to perform the Holy pilgrimage with comfort.

A statement issued in May 2024 by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, said, “The governor promised a hadiya package of 720 Saudi riyal for each of the state’s intending pilgrims.”

According to NAHCO, the state registered 2,600 pilgrims, which implied that the state government expended a total of 1,872,000 Saudi riyal, which equals N733,093,920 when converted to Nigerian currency using the May exchange rate of N391.61 per Saudi riyal.

In June, the Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, announced a gift of $100 each to the 3,102 pilgrims in the state.

He made the call last Thursday while bidding farewell to the fifth batch of the 2024 intending pilgrims of the state at the Babatunde Idi-Agbon International Airport in Ilorin, the state capital.

Going by the governor’s announcement, the state has spent a total sum of $310,200 on the 3,102 pilgrims’ travel allowance, which amounts to N456,614,400, going by the exchange rate of N1,472 per dollar.

In the same month, the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, approved 1,000 Saudi riyal for each of the 3,643 pilgrims from the state.

By the approval, the state government has doled out a total sum of 3,643,000 Saudi riyal to the entire pilgrims of the state, which amounts to N1,429,003,180, based on the June exchange rate of N392.26 per Saudi riyal.

FG repaying 69 loans obtained by ex-presidents, W’Bank declares

admin
-
0
FG repaying 69 loans obtained by ex-presidents, W’Bank declares

The World Bank Group Finances has revealed that the Federal Government is still repaying $10.6bn in loans obtained under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, late Umaru Musa Yaradua, and Goodluck Jonathan.

Recall that in June 2024, the Debt Management Office said as of March 31, 2024, Nigeria’s domestic and external debts stood at N121.67tn ($91.46bn).

The domestic debt was put at N65.65tn ($46.29bn), while external debt stood at N56.02tn ($42.12bn).

Saturday According gathered that part of the foreign debt was the $4.95bn in loans obtained by the current administration in its first 12 months, just as the Central Bank of Nigeria said a total of $15.55bn had been spent on debt servicing between 2019 and 2024.

However, the WBG Finances, a digital platform, revealed that the Federal Government was still repaying at least 69 different loans secured between 2000 and 2014.

The platform, an initiative of the World Bank Group Finance and Accounting, offers public financial data and portfolio information from across all WBG entities.

It said, part of the World Bank loans still being repaid include the Community Based Poverty Reduction Project ($60m), Second Primary Education Project ($55m), Economic Management Capacity Building Project ($20m), and Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Programme Pilot Project ($5m), all obtained in 2000.

Those for 2001 include the Transmission Development Project ($100m), Privatisation Support Project ($114m), and HIV/AIDS Programme Development ($90.3m).

In 2002, the Federal Government obtained four loans totalling $438m, including the Second Health System Development ($127m), the Community-Based Urban Development Project ($110m), Lagos Urban Transport Project ($100m), and the Universal Basic Education Project ($101m).

Between 2003 and 2005, the government obtained WB loans worth $1.1bn, and they are all still being repaid. Some of the loan titles include the Local Empowerment and Environmental Management Project ($70m), Second FADAMA Development Project ($100m), Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Project ($32m), Federal Government Economic Reform and Governance Project ($140m), and Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources ($120m).

Similarly, the government secured a total loan of $4bn between 2006 and 2010 and $4.3bn in other loans between 2011 and 2014. But they are all still being repaid as of June 30, 2024, when the platform was last updated.

Some of the loans obtained during this period are the Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance ($200m), Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project for Nigeria ($50m), and Malaria Control Booster Project ($180m), all secured in 2006.

As revealed on the platform, the loans are categorised under the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association, which make up the World Bank.

While IBRD lends to governments of middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, IDA provides interest-free loans – called credits – and grants to governments of the poorest countries.

However, the loan list does not include Trust Funds, Financial Intermediary Funds (FIFs) Commitments, loans to IFC, nor IBRD/IDA guarantees, the platform revealed.

Former envoys lament Nigerian passport poor ranking

admin
-
0
Former envoys lament Nigerian passport poor ranking

As the Nigerian passport continues to decline in global ranking compared to those of neighbouring countries such as Ghana and Benin, former envoys have explained why the situation persists.

According to the Henley Passport Index 2024, which ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa, Ghana is ranked 72nd with 68 visa-free destinations while Benin is ranked 76th with 64 visa-free destinations.

However, Nigeria is ranked 92nd with 45 visa-free destinations.

The latest index places Nigeria significantly lower than Ghana and Benin, which have shown notable improvements in their passport rankings.

The Nigerian passport is ranked as the least powerful among the 15 countries in the Economic Community of West African States.

In 2023, the index showed the Gambia leading the ECOWAS and ranked 72; Sierra Leone at 74th, Cabo Verde at 75th, Ghana at 76th, Benin at 78th, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast at 79th, Guinea at 80th, Senegal and Togo at 81st, Niger at 82nd, Mali and Guinea Bissau at 83rd, Liberia at 87th and Nigeria at 91st.

Reacting to the declining passport rating of Nigeria, the Chief Executive Officer of Henley & Partners, Juerg Steffen, said a fall or improvement in ranking results were from several factors: reciprocity, economic and sociopolitical stability, and tourism.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Saturday According, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Singapore, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, said, “Countries like the Benin Republic and Ghana; do their citizens travel abroad to seek asylum?

“Do they indulge in criminal activities such as human and drug trafficking, etc.? If they do, there will be such an equal ranking. The strength of a passport shows the countries you can visit. So, Nigeria has to do a lot of housekeeping.”

Also speaking, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, said, “The Nigerian passport ought to be one of the tops in Africa based on the size of our economy, military, population and so on. Our passport isn’t rated high because Nigerians are not rated high.”

1...470471472...2,811Page 471 of 2,811
© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv