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Ikoyi Passport Office: Why We Work On Weekends

By
Akintomide Aroso
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Ikoyi Passport Office: Why We Work On Weekends

The Ikoyi Office of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Lagos says that it has extended its working days to include Saturdays and Sundays to meet the demands of its applicants.

Ibrahim Liman, the Passport Control Officer (PCO), stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

Liman, a Deputy Controller of Immigration (DCI), added that the office also had issued, at least, 15,000 passports to qualified applicants since his assumption of office in June 2021

The official said these while reacting to a series of complaints regarding passport racketeering and cases of uncleared backlogs of passports among others.

He said that his office would fishout and sanction offenders appropriately.

According to him, the office has extended its operational days to include Saturdays and Sundays in order to meet the demands of thousands of applicants who troop into the office to obtain the documents.

He urged Nigerians to see beyond the fact that the passport is just a travelling document, saying it should be seen as a security document that would help them in many ways.

He stressed that his office was fully committed to efficient service delivery and it would not relent in justifying its operational mandate.

Liman also warned those who were always indulging in passport racketeering to desist from the act or face severe consequences.

The PCO emphasised that his department had been working unrelentingly to meet the demands of applicants and adhering to due process required in obtaining it.

He explained that some challenges might hinder the timely release of some international passports to prospective applicants.

He said this would be due to the need for discreet investigation to be conducted by the department on such applicants to determine their elligibility.

Liman, however, stressed that NIS would not hesitate to discipline anyone found to be involved in defrauding or shortchanging any applicant, engaging either in sharp practices, or any illicit acts capable of spoiling the name of the department.

He said the Nigeria Immigration Service would continue to remain one of the best passport issuers globally.

”The service has recently introduced additional sophiscticated measures toward checking attitudes inimical to the conduct of its official duties, especially, issues to do with corruption” he added.

He appealed to applicants to always endeavour to visit the NIS Servicom department in all passport offices to make enquiries.

“NIS has reiterated that all qualified prospective seekers of the travel document should apply online,” he added.

He lamented that some applicants were impatient and were always in a hurry to push their ways to get the document in few hours and finally get things messed up.

“Can this be done in advanced countries?

“I specially appeal to prospective applicants to visit immigration.gov.ng,which serves as the service website to apply and make payments for their passports” he added.

Premium Times

Gulder Ultimate Search: Show Unveils 16 Jungle Contestants, Others

By
Akintomide Aroso
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Gulder Ultimate Search: Show Unveils 16 Jungle Contestants, Others

The organisers of the Gulder Ultimate Search have unveiled 16 contestants for this year’s edition. The 16 contestants were selected from the 20,000 applicants with regional screenings in Abuja, Enugu, and Lagos. The screening lasted for four days.

Although 20 contestants were unveiled for the 2021 Gulder Ultimate Search, only 16 have made it to the jungle, while others will serve as wildcards on the show.

This information was revealed by ace actor, Gideon Okeke, who is the host of the show. Popular actor and an alumnus of the show, Kunle Remi, will be the taskmaster for this year’s edition of the competition.

The 16 contestants who will venture into the jungle are Adewale Adedamola Thompson, Chidinma Okeibe, Damilola Odedina, Emmanuel Nnebe, Estima Edem, Gerald Odeka, Tosin Eniola, and Umorean Iniabasi.

Others are Jennifer Okorie, Mfom Mikel Essien, Tubuchukwu, and Olayinka Omeya, Omokhafe Racheal, Solomon Yankari, Opeyemi Ishmael, and Orevapghene Godswill.

The four contestants that are placed on wildcards are Samson Abah, Odudu Otu, Shalom Omoikhudu, and Osasere Ogbanile.

Meanwhile, Okeke noted that although four contestants have been placed as wildcards, one of them would be returned based on the viewers’ votes.

The voting lines were opened at 12:00 am on Monday and would last for 24 hours.

Angela Merkel’s Party – CDU – Loses At Germany’s Elections

By
Akintomide Aroso
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Angela Merkel’s Party - CDU - Loses At Germany’s Elections

Projected results showed that the opposition parties may lead the German government for the first time since 2005, ending 16 years of Christian Democratic Union rule under Angela Merkel.

Olaf Scholz of the centre-left Social Democrats defeated Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party in a close call election. The SPD took 25.7 per cent of the vote, while the Christian Democratic Union under Armin Laschet got 24.1 per cent.  Parties such as The Greens came in at 14.8 per cent and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) at 11.5 per cent.

Scholz has been a member of the SPD since he was 17 and has served as the Vice-Chancellor and German finance minister since 2018. Laschet has been the CDU’s deputy leader since 2012, he was selected as the party’s candidate in January 2021.

Both men said they aim to head the country’s next government. Bloomberg reports that all the parties will hold separate meetings on Monday in Berlin to discuss the next steps.

Due to Germany’s complicated election system, the winning party does not automatically appoint the next chancellor. Instead, the chancellor is voted in by parliament after a coalition government has been formed.

Scholz and Laschet have said they aim to strike a coalition deal before Christmas, adding that it may be the first time the German government will have a threeway coalition.

“We cannot be satisfied with the results of the election,” Laschet was quoted as saying, “We will do everything possible to build a conservative-led government because Germans now need a future coalition that modernises our country.”

Until the coalition is formed, Merkel will remain in office as a caretaker. If Merkel remains in power through mid-December she will overtake Helmut Kohl as Germany’s long-serving post war leader.

Merkel has been the second-longest serving Chancellor in German history, providing stability to the European country in spite of challenges such as the financial crisis of 2007-2008, Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.

NDLEA Seizes 3.3 Metric Tons Of Drugs Across Nigeria

By
Akintomide Aroso
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NDLEA Seizes 3.3 Metric Tons Of Drugs Across Nigeria

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raided a hotel that sells cocaine and seized 3,300 kilogrammes of drugs in Abuja, Lagos, Edo and Kaduna States.

The agency spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said Sunday that operatives uncovered a hotel in Abuja that sells drugs and young ladies camped for commercial sex.

He said four persons – three ladies and a man – were arrested during the raid of Jat Suites, located at 30 Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, and quantities of Rohypnol and paraphernalia for smoking crack cocaine were found.

According to him, the hotel is being operated in a high profile neighbourhood without requisite approval and patronised by call girls.

He said the bar served as the spot to smoke and sell drugs to the young girls and their customers.

NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, directed the FCT Command and the Directorate of Assets and Financial Investigations of the agency to deal with the anomaly.

The property was to be forfeited to the federal government as a deterrent to others that use their premises for drug deals.

A woman, Ozigbo Nneka, was arrested at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Babafemi said the suspect was trying to export packs of codeine tablets weighing 15.15kg to the United Kingdom on Wednesday.

He said that narcotic officers at the airport had earlier arrested Nwajindo Emmanuel during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline passengers at the e-arrival hall on Tuesday.

“Some bottles of codeine weighing 5.65kg were recovered from him.

“Also at the airport, a total of 150.30kg of khat was seized on Monday, September 20, after six weeks of placing the consignment, which arrived at SAHCO shed on August 2, via Kenya Airways cargo flight, on surveillance,” he said.

In a related development, two female part one students of Edo State Polytechnic, Uzen Babalola (19) and Esekhagbe Sonia, 20, were arrested on Thursday with 21 wraps of skunk.

Babafemi said another lady, Chioma Okocha, 25, was arrested on Friday when she tried to deliver 200 grammes of crack cocaine to a customer at an eatery in Benin.

“Earlier the same day, men of the Irrua Area Command of the agency working on intelligence evacuated 10 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 135kg in Amahor bush in Igueben area.

“The exhibits were stored ready for transportation to other parts of the country,” he said.

In the same vein, he said men of the Okada Area Command in the early hours of Sunday evacuated 2,937 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa from Utese forest in Ovia North East Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo.

Babafemi said a widow and notorious drug dealer, Fatima Musa, was arrested on September 18, at Afana village in Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna State while moving 12 kilogrammes of cannabis to Jos.

“She had earlier been convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment on July 7, 2020, following her arrest on March 3, 2020, with 45 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa,” he explained.

He said the NDLEA boss urged the officers and men of the FCT, MMIA, Edo and Kaduna commands of the agency to bring the drug abuse scourge to its barest minimum.

Nigeria At 61: Wike Fumes Over Buhari’s Fresh Loan Request

By
Akintomide Aroso
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Nigeria At 61: Wike Fumes Over Buhari’s Fresh Loan Request
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said it was regrettable that 61 years after independence, Nigeria was still grappling with leadership challenges.

The governor noted that because of such leadership failure, Nigeria was now at a point in its history needing God more than ever.

Wike made the assertion at the Interdenominational Church Service organised in commemoration of the 61st Independence Anniversary of Nigeria at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

The Governor stated that there is hardly anything for Nigerians to celebrate as the country marks 61st Independence anniversary because its leadership continues to entrench hatred, mediocrity, and promote ethnicity and religion.

The Governor’s remarks were contained in a statement by his media aide. Kelvin Ebiri titled ‘Nigeria suffering from leadership failure’ and made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt

“This is the time that Nigeria needs God more. The country is gone. Insecurity everywhere. Everyone needs to say God, we need you because man’s leadership has failed this country,” he added.

The Governor noted that perhaps the only thing Nigerians can boast of celebrating is the existence of the name Nigeria.

“At 61 years, Nigeria is full of enmity, full of divisions, hatred, ethnicity. A country that cannot put itself together. Everybody has responsibility, so ask yourself questions, have I done my own part?” the Governor said.

Governor Wike also observed the sorry state of Nigeria and said at 61, it is far removed from being a country that can compete favourably with prosperous countries of the world, given its abundant resources.

The governor bemoaned what has become of the nation’s legislature that continues to approve anything for the presidency and not minding the consequences, faulting the fresh loan request by the President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also decried how the nation’s judiciary has succumbed to intimidation because its judges have abandoned their responsibilities out of fear. He wondered what fate Nigerians will have under such a seemingly tyrannical atmosphere.

“We cannot do the right things. Other countries are talking about how their elections will be transparent, we are talking about how we will rig the election in 2023.

“Simple thing, transmit election results electronically to show transparency, that really that the person you’re declaring won the election but we are afraid.

“Where is the legislature? A legislature that cannot think, a legislature, anything they bring is right, a legislature that cannot say that Nigeria has nothing to regret from conducting free and fair elections.

“A legislature that you’ll close your eyes, anything they bring, about borrowing, you say borrow. A legislature that cannot say that this money we are borrowing, where is it, where are you applying it? You have no confidence to ask questions.

“The courts have been intimidated. The judges have abandoned their responsibilities out of fear. You’re seeing something that is wrong, but because you will be summoned in the night, you abandoned your responsibility,” he added.

Buhari To Inaugurate Police Quarters Built By NDDC In Rivers State

By
Akintomide Aroso
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Buhari To Inaugurate Police Quarters Built By NDDC In Rivers State
President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, inaugurate the Nigeria Police Barracks, Special Protection Unit, Base 6 built by the Niger Delta Development Commission at Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Dr Ibitoye Abosede, in a statement on Sunday, said the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, will commission the 66-flat residential quarters and administrative block for security personnel in Rivers State on behalf of the president.

The project which had previously been inspected by the NDDC Interim Administrator, Mr Efiong Akwa, consists of an administrative block, an armoury, gatehouse, underground cell and 66 units of accommodation made up of the commander’s residence, second-in-command’s residence, and 64 one-bedroom flats.

The NDDC spokesman quoted Akwa as saying, “When people say that NDDC is not working, you can see that it is not true. The problem is that people don’t get to acknowledge the numerous projects that the commission executed or is executing.”

The NDDC boss noted that the project was very important in view of the security and economic challenges in the Niger Delta region, stating that it would add value to the living conditions of security officers in the region.

Akwa further said the project was part of a broad-based partnership with the Nigeria Police Force to add value to their efforts at improving regional security.

OPC: Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Gumi, May Be A Spy For Bandits

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
OPC: Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Gumi, May Be A Spy For Bandits
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi

The Oyo State chapter of the Oodua Peoples Congress under the leadership of Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, has said the unexpected visit of an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi to Igboho, a town in Oyo State is an affront to the entire Yoruba nation.

Addressing journalists during the weekend, Rotimi Olumo, the coordinator of the OPC in Oyo State, said Gumi outstepped his boundary and warned him to steer clear of all parts of the South-Western region of Yoruba land.

According to Olumo, Gumi’s visit poses a big security threat to the entire Yoruba nation because they did not see any reason or interest it serves, rather than to make a mockery of the people in the South West.

He argued that the verbal attack by Gumi and his entourage on Igboho was a clear manifestation that they were there to ridicule and provoke Yoruba people in their domain, which the OPC frowned upon.

He said the Yoruba Nation did not need the assistance of someone like Gumi to protect “our people” as adequate measures have been put in place to secure the region.
Olumo noted that it should be remembered that he was the one who raised the alarm that there were plans to invade Igangan and other parts of Ibarapa by bandits, which eventually took place, and that the visit of Gumi to Igboho called for concern.

He called for adequate vigilance from the people of the entire South-West, saying Gumi could not be trusted.

The OPC argued that Gumi’s visit to the region was suspicious, as it was being insinuated that he could have come as a spy for bandits.

Olumo said the Oyo State executive of the OPC reiterated their unflinching confidence in the leadership of Iba Gani Adams and commended his efforts for the way he has been handling the affairs of his office as the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land and the General Overseer of the OPC, as well as the security of the people of the entire South West.

He said the OPC under the leadership of Iba Gani Adams is prepared for any eventuality in the region, adding that the region is now being closely monitored against any infiltration into the region by bandits and other unscrupulous elements.

The OPC also commended the South-West Governors for their relentless efforts in ensuring peace in the region.

He added that OPC members are law-abiding and ready to work and operate within the ambit of the law and collaborate with all security agencies to ensure the protection of lives and property in the South West.

Olumo also warned Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai that he cannot decide for Yoruba people over the issue of Fulani herdsmen.

He said, “We are battle-ready to resist them. Yoruba land is our fatherland. Oyo OPC is fully ready to resist them.”

Ganduje Appoints Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya New Emir Of Gaya

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
Ganduje Appoints Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya New Emir Of Gaya

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State on Sunday appointed Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya as the new emir of Gaya.

Ibrahim-Gaya, who was until his appointment the Chiroman Gaya, succeeds his late father, Ibrahim Abdulkadir, who died on September 22, at the age of 91, after a protracted illness.

The Secretary to the State Government, Usman Alhaji, announced the appointment on behalf of the State Government.

“Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, by the power conferred on him by the Kano Emirate Law 2020, as amended, has approved the appointment of Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya as the new emir of Gaya.

“The appointment followed the recommendation of the Gaya Emirate kingmakers who presented three candidates to the governor. The Governor chose Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya, as the new emir,” he said.

The kingmakers included Usman Alhaji as the leader of the kingmakers, with Wada Aliyu, Bashir Albasu, and Jafar Usman, as members.

Gaya was among the four new emirates created by Ganduje in 2019, alongside Bichi, Rano and Karaye.

NAN

BUHARI: Nigeria’s Energy Plan To Gulp $400 Billion

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
BUHARI: Nigeria’s Energy Plan To Gulp $400 Billion
President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria needs $400 billion on an ambitious energy plan to reduce energy shortcomings by 2030 the Federal Government is working on.

According to him, the scale of financing required for Nigeria to achieve net-zero amounts to over $400 billion across the Nigerian economy “in excess of business-as-usual spending” over the next 30 years.

“This breaks down to $155 billion net spend on generation capacity, $135 billion on transmission and distribution infrastructure, $75 billion on buildings, $21 billion on the industry, and $12 billion on transport,” stated Buhari.

The President, however, stated that gas would continue to have a big role to play before being phased out, explaining that solid fuel cooking is still wreaking havoc in Africa.

“As a global leader on the energy transition, it is imperative that I flag a major risk to development that stems from the current narrative around the energy transition, particularly on the role of gas and the lack of financing. Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan has laid out our roadmap to reach net-zero and highlights the scale of the effort required,” said the President.

“This is challenging for any country, especially a developing country. On our development objectives, gas will have a key role to play here for some years before being phased out.”

Buhari noted that the plans must also consider access to electricity and clean cooking solutions for those in Nigeria and around the world currently without access.

“Globally, there are 2.6 billion people who lack access to clean cooking – which is unacceptable. Even more concerning is that solid fuel cooking in Africa causes almost 490,000 premature deaths annually, making it the second-largest health risk in Africa,’’ the president added.

According to a statement by Femi Adesina, Buhari’s media aide, Nigeria’s commitment to a just transition “is reflected in our ambitious Energy Compact,” including the “government’s flagship project” to electrify five million households and 20 million people using decentralised solar energy solutions.

“This is a major first step towards closing our energy access deficit by 2030,” said Buhari. “Nigeria’s commitment is also reflected in the development of our Energy Transition Plan, which was developed with the support of the UK COP26 Energy Transition Council.”

The Nigerian leader called for support from developed countries to unlock the financing needed to accelerate a just energy transition for all.

“The focus of our discussions on transition must now evolve how we help countries develop detailed energy transition plans and commitments to mobilise enough financing to empower countries to implement those plans,” he said.

NAN

Joshua Heads To Hospital To Fix Broken Eye After Heavyweight Bout

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
Joshua Heads To Hospital To Fix Broken Eye After Heavyweight Bout
Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua, fresh from being dethroned as world boxing heavyweight champion, is set to go to hospital to check a suspected broken eye socket.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, who announced this moments after the loss to Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine on Saturday in London, said also that his fighter was “devastated” by the defeat.

He however acknowledged that the Joshua camp had no reservations about the result, and the better fighter won the bout.

“Congratulations to Oleksandr Usyk. What a fighter. He put in a great performance and the better man won,” Hearn said.

“I had it reasonably close in the eighth and then Usyk ran away with it.”

Usyk dethroned Joshua in his own backyard with a stunning display to earn a unanimous points decision in front of a sell-out crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The 34-year-old former undisputed cruiserweight world champion put on a masterclass to silence the vast majority of the 67,000 fans who packed into the huge arena.

Usyk, giving away height, weight and reach to the champion, proved too elusive for Joshua throughout an enthralling contest and landed the much cleaner shots.

He finished with a flurry in round 12 as he went in search of a knockout.

Joshua stayed upright but the decision was a formality as Usyk seized the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts with the three judges scoring it 117-112, 116-112, 115-113.

Former Olympic champion Usyk, contesting only his third professional heavyweight fight, follows in the footsteps of compatriots Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko.

The Klitschko brothers dominated the division for a decade from 2004 to 2015.

He is only the third cruiserweight world champion to step up a weight and become the heavyweight world champion after Evander Holyfield and David Haye.

For Joshua, a second career defeat was a crushing blow and scuppered hopes of a unification showdown with fellow Briton Tyson Fury, the WBC title holder.

Fury takes on American Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas on October 9.

Even the most diehard Joshua fans had to concede their man had been schooled by a skillful craftsman who rarely looked ruffled even when sustaining a cut above his eye late on.

Joshua gave the crowd little to cheer and ran out of ideas against his southpaw opponent who was ahead throughout.

A sensational atmosphere greeted the fighters as they made the long walk to the ring, with the crowd in full cry and fireworks blasting into the sky.

But from the first bell, Joshua appeared unsure whether to try to overpower his opponent or outbox him — failing miserably at both.

A nervous hush descended on the stadium in the opening rounds as Usyk’s threat became all too apparent.

Constantly on the move, he rocked Joshua in the third with a powerful left hand.

Usyk retained control in the following rounds as Joshua failed to unleash his supposed superior power and the Londoner was in big trouble again in the seventh round as he was sent staggering backwards by a big left hook.

A nick appeared above Usyk’s eye in the 10th round but Joshua’s face was showing signs of battle damage.

Joshua needed a knockout to retain his belts but it was Usyk who came closest with a ferocious attack at the end of the 12th which left the Briton reeling.

Even before the official result was announced, some Joshua fans were heading for the exits while Usyk’s followers were just getting the party started.

Joshua later took to Twitter, saying: “Keep positive even if the world’s crumbling in front of you! London I love you and thank you each and every time!”

Reuters/NAN

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