Category: News

According to the UAE authorities, the resumption was effective from March 4, 2024, which is said to be the outcome of fruitful discussions between Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayad Al Nahyan.

This was disclosed via a statement posted on X by a presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday.

Recall that the Arab country had imposed visa restrictions on Nigerians following developments it was not comfortable with. Before the ban, Dubai in the UAE was the tourist destination of Nigerians of all walks of life as many Nigerians owned a lot of property and businesses in Dubai.

However, the statement that contained the announcement highlighted mutual commitment to stronger diplomatic relations.

Part of the statement read: “The government of Nigeria and the government of the United Arab Emirates are delighted to announce a pivotal development in our diplomatic relations: the resumption of visa services for Nigerian citizens wishing to visit the UAE, commencing on 4th March 2024,” the document reads in part.

“This agreement is the culmination of extensive dialogues between the two nations, highlighting a shared vision for enhanced cooperation and mutual growth.

“To facilitate a smooth visa application journey for Nigerians, the UAE has introduced an innovative document verification process.”

UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Saleem Saeed Al-Shamsi, also noted that on the new system, “Nigerian applicants for UAE visas are required to first obtain a Document Verification Number by visiting the dedicated online platform.

“This initiative aims to expedite the application process, ensuring efficiency and integrity. Applicants are advised to follow the new guidelines closely, applying through designated travel agents and completing the process at the UAE Embassy in Abuja or Lagos.

“This visa service resumption is more than a procedural update; it’s a testament to the evolving relationship between Nigeria and the UAE. By easing travel restrictions, both countries anticipate a surge in tourism, business exchanges, and cultural sharing, laying the groundwork for a robust partnership.

“The emphasis on a streamlined, transparent application process reflects a mutual desire for accessibility and trust, setting a positive precedent for future diplomatic endeavours.

“As the doors open for Nigerian visitors to the UAE, the broader implications for international relations, economic collaborations, and cultural exchanges are profound.

“This initiative not only facilitates personal and professional travel but also symbolizes a step towards deeper understanding and cooperation between two dynamic societies. As both nations embark on this renewed journey, the potential for shared prosperity and mutual respect is boundless, heralding a new era in Nigeria-UAE relations,” he stated.

Leadership

President Bola Tinubu had on his inauguration declared an end to the subsidy era, triggering a hike in the prices of petroleum across the country. But in recent times, the World Bank and the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited Mr. Robert Dickerman claimed that the Federal Government is still paying subsidy for the product.

Citing these claims, Falana in a Sunday statement called on the government to respond to them and also review the policy.

“Curiously, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited has not deemed it fit to deny the serious allegation that fuel subsidy has been restored. Since there is no provision for fuel subsidy in the 2023 and 2024 Appropriation Acts the federal government should, without any further delay, confirm or deny the serious allegation and end the opacity surrounding the importation of fuel from foreign countries,” Falana said.

“It would be recalled that after the Muhammadu Buhari administration announced that it had removed subsidy on petrol, it turned around to spend N11 trillion on the so-called “under-recovery” within a period of 8 years.

“Therefore, instead of urging Nigerians to continue to endure the hardship caused by the removal of subsidies on petrol, the Bola Tinubu administration. If the federal government is spending as much as N1 trillion on fuel subsidy per month, it is high time the policy was reviewed in the interest of the Nigerian people.”

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Nnaji, who is The Chief Executive Officer of Geometric Power Limited, the owners of the Aba power plant, said that replicating the project across the country will be a good way of getting out of the reliance on the national grid.

“It’s a blotter, an ink approach. So, if you drop ink on a part of a blotter, then it begins to spread. And if you drop it at various places, then eventually the entire blotter will have ink. If I look at the project that we have here, you can do the same thing in Lagos.

“You can do it in Eko, you can do it in Ikeja, you can do it in Kano, you can do it in Kaduna, various places where you have economic activities, industrial activities,” Nnaji said in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily during the week.

“If you begin to look at the possibility of all of them eventually expanding, then that’s what can help the country. You need to have a tight generation and distribution, not generation that has no direct relationship between generation and distribution.

“It is possible for this to be replicated throughout the country. And it will be a very good way to not have to rely on the national grid power arrangement.”

A new electricity distribution company, Aba Power Limited Electric has started taking electricity from the plant and supplying it to about nine of the 17 local government areas in the South-East state.

According to Nnaji, the power plant’s 188 megawatts capacity is more than the required power needed for the 9 LGAs. He said the capacity is almost two-thirds of what Enugu Electricity is currently serving the five South-East states.

“By the time we finish installing, we have 188 megawatts capacity, that’s almost two-thirds of what Enugu Disco is serving five states in the East. The way to ensure reliability is that you have to have more than just adequate power.

“You have to have more than the requirement of the area. It must be more. So, because you cannot predict peak load for power always, people can just decide to do something and drop power, “he said.

The ex-power Minister believes that with the power plant, industries struggling around the Aba area over power issues would come back to life.

“Some products are made here that can now be seamlessly done. The leather products industry, for example, very big business area, shoes, belts, and handbags can be made from hides coming from the northern part of Nigeria. Some of the things that used to exist in Nigeria can begin to come alive.

“There was such a time when rubber coming from the Midwest would be used to make tyres in Ibadan, in Port Harcourt. Michelin, Dunlop and then brake parts, these bricks. All those things can now be made because of electricity availability.”

Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the geometric power plant in Aba, the industrial hub of Abia State on Monday.

The power plant which was described as the first integrated electricity facility in Nigeria is located in the Osisioma industrial hub of Aba in Abia.

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The Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft has arrested a Ghana-registered vessel, Motor Tanker Sweet Miri suspected to be involved in crude oil theft.

The vessel was arrested 174 nautical miles of the coast of Nigeria, approximately 320 kilometres, heading to Benin Republic.

Base Information Officer of the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, Lieutenant Hussaini Ibrahim, in a statement, disclosed that the vessel had 13 crew onboard at the time of arrest, 12 Nigerians and one Ghanaian.

The statement quoted the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral MB Hassan, to have said that was carrying about 2 million litres of suspected product without approval.

He added that the NNS SOKOTO was deployed to double up the search and interdict the vessel. On arrival, it was discovered that she was carrying about 2 million litres of suspected product without approval.

The statement reads, “The Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT under the strategic leadership of Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga and Maritime Component Commander Operation AWATSE, arrested a vessel, Motor Tanker SWEET MIRI suspected to have been involved in crude oil theft. The vessel had 13 crew, 1 Ghanaian and 12 Nigerians.

“While briefing newsmen onboard the vessel, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral MB Hassan stated that the vessel has been a vessel of interest to the Nigerian Navy, and she is being arrested on suspicion of crude oil theft. He added that, on 25 February 2024, the vessel was observed to have switched off its Automatic Identification System to avoid detection.

“The vessel was arrested 174 nautical miles of the coast of Nigeria, approximately 320 kilometres, heading to Benin Republic. This necessitated the deployment of Nigerian Navy Ship ABA to investigate the vessel. Subsequently, she was found carrying products suspected to be crude oil.

“Thereafter, NNS SOKOTO was deployed to double up the search and interdict the vessel. On arrival, it was discovered that she was carrying about 2 million litres of suspected product without approval.

“The FOC further disclosed that, in line with the directive of Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, the ship is opened for other agencies to come and take samples and carry out their own independent investigations to find out the culpability of the vessel. Also speaking, the FOC said that the vessel is owned by a Ghanian and registered in Ghana by a Ghanian company.

“In the same vein, while giving update on the earlier arrested Motor Tanker VINNALARIS, the FOC said that, the CNS has instructed that the investigations of all arrested vessels should be conducted beyond the level of crew.

“In this regard, the FOC has extended the investigation to uncover the kingpins. He finally appreciated the efforts of DSS for assisting the Nigerian Navy in conducting investigations when matters of crude oil theft are brought to them.”

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They expressed dissatisfaction over the decision, a situation that forced the prison authorities to fire tear gas canisters and gunshots into the air to bring the situation under control.

Sources at the correctional centre indicated that the contractor in charge of food supply to the centre had complained to the authority about the high cost of food items, especially rice which is a stable menu of the inmates will have to be adjusted from four times to twice in a week and will be substituted by either grains or garri.

This decision seemed not to go down well with the inmates as they expressed their grievances on Friday during a routine briefing by the official in charge.

Confirming the incident to journalists at the Nigerian Correctional Service in Jos, the Controller of Corrections Plateau State Command, Raphael Ibinuhi, stated that tear gas canisters and firing shots in the air were applied to disperse the unruly inmates when they refused to return to their cells.

“By the time the inmates were called this morning for briefing, they were not happy that the period for consumption of rice has been reduced from four times to two in a week and expressed dissatisfaction on the development,” Ibinuhi said.

“I instructed the officer in charge to return them to their cells but instead they became violent and started throwing stones at the personnel. In response and to keep the situation from getting out of hand, we have to resort to firing tear gas canisters and gunshots which enable the handsmen to return the inmates to the cells. Some of the personnel sustained minor injuries from the stones thrown at them but no inmates were injured during as the situation was brought under control.”

The Jos Custodial Centre has 1,064 inmates comprising 1,035 males and 19 females. Of the figure, those awaiting trial are made up of 647 males and 14 females. While convicted inmates consist of 205 males and four female, inmates on death roll are 131.

Following the rising cost of living in the country, many Nigerians have demonstrated, asking the Federal Government to ameliorate their pains.

President Bola Tinubu has called for patience, saying there are benefits of his economic policies in the long term. He however condemned Monday’s nationwide protests embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), describing it as unacceptable.

“Allow me to throw a jab here. The Labour Union should understand that no matter how much we cling to our freedom and rights, to call for a strike within nine months of an administration is unacceptable,” Tinubu said in Lagos while commissioning the Lagos Red Line Train connecting Agbado to Oyingbo.

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He stated this on Wednesday during a meeting with Forum of Commissioners of Energy, made up of energy commissioners in the country.

“When each of the  States starts getting involved, there would be healthy rivalry akin to what we used to have in the days of regional government,” the minister was quoted in a statement by his media aide, Bolaji Tunji.

Adelabu drew attention to Abia State where Geometrics Power Limited has established a 188 megawatts power generating plant supplying and distributing power to between seven and eight local government areas in the state.

He said, “They enjoy 24 hours power supply, this is what we want states to also adopt, it might look difficult,  but with tenacity and if we endure, it is achievable”, he said.

The minister also reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling the nation’s power challenges.

“We are poised to address the root cause of the electricity challenge. We have done enough diagnostics, we know the cause of the problem, we are now in the implementation stage,”

“We have realised that in the past, temporary solution were applied to the challenges without dealing with the root cause.”

Adelabu said efforts are put in place to address the challenges in the sector, urging Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government.

He said that the government has acquired about 10 mobile power substations that could be moved to places where there are challenges or disruption due to fault  on the substation, advising state governments to  get involved in distribution networks in their States and also bridging the meter gap.

“You can always call on me to intervene, I will stand by you and I know once the States start to perform and take up further responsibilities, it means I have also performed.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Forum who is also the Commissioner of Power and Energy, Cross River State, Prince Eka Williams re-affirmed unflinching support towards the outstanding visions, ideas and the electricity reforms of the Federal Government.

He said that the Electricity Act has given the States the responsibility of running the affairs of electricity in the state.

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