Embassy announces resumption date

NEWS

US Embassy announces resumption date

The US embassy has announced that it will reopen its Abuja consular section on August 24 for full services for both visas and American Citizen Services (ACS).

The embassy said this in a message on its website.The embassy had in a statement on August 15, announced temporary suspension of its regular services for visas and American Citizen Services in Abuja.

The Embassy in its message urged Visa applicants with appointment scheduled for August 24 to report to its office.

The message read: “The US embassy in Abuja’s consular section will reopen on August 24th for full services for both visas and ACS. Please, note that consular functions at the US consulate Lagos were never affected and will continue as usual.

“We regret the inconvenience this interruption of service in Abuja has caused.”

Visa and ACS applicants with scheduled appointments for August 24 should come to Abuja, as usual.

“Visa and ACS applicants with cancelled appointments between August 13 and August 23 will be contacted by the embassy for rescheduling.

“Visa and ACS applicants, who were requested by an officer to appear again for follow-up questions on existing applications should contact our office to arrange a new date (ConsularAbuja@state.gov for visas or AbujaACS@state.gov for ACS.

“Visa applicants, who submitted passports through the Interview Waiver Programme for visa renewal, that such would be processed as soon as possible.

“If your application was already approved, it will be mailed out as normal on the next available DHL shipment to your listed address

“Abuja ACS applicants, who wish to pick-up their already-printed U.S. passports, may come on Friday between 9:30a.m and 11:00a.m.

“If you are uncertain if your US passport has arrived yet, please contact us first at AbujaACS@state.gov.

APC saga

Direct primary tears Ondo APC apart
THE crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, deepened weekend, over the opposition of the faction of the party aligned to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to the introduction of the direct primary mode of electing candidates of the party in the forthcoming elections.
Akeredolu and Boroffice While associates of Senator Ajayi Boroffice have vowed to enthrone the direct primary method, their move is being seriously challenged by the branch of the party associated with the governor. Senator Ajayi Boroffice had raised the issue in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kayode Fakuyi, where he endorsed the use of the direct primary method. “The party has adopted the direct primary as the only means of electing party candidates in Ondo State and other APC- governed states for the 2019 general elections. “The adoption of direct primary is a settled matter because the National leadership of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other prominent leaders of the party have declared firm support for it. “The position of APC on direct primary is clear. It states that direct primary will hold in APC-governed states while indirect primary/delegate primary will hold in states where the state governments are not governed by APC. “The adoption of direct primary by the APC will deepen democracy and ensure popular participation.” You can’t dictate to the party — Ondo APC Reacting in a separate statement, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Alex Kalejaye, and Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said: “It is inappropriate for Senator Ajayi Boroffice to speak on behalf of the State chapter, especially where there is a vibrant Working Committee, led by Engr. Ade Adetimehin, in place. “It is the responsibility of the leadership of the APC to brainstorm, as it has been done elsewhere, and come up with a position that would be announced through the right channels. “The said statement casts him as evolving the rules in a contest he is going to be a contestant. Such uncharitable statement possibly arose out of jealousy for his co-contestants who are more entrenched in the party than he is among the delegates

Politics of hatred

Niyi Odebode, John Alechenu and Eniola Akinkuotu

The All Progressives Congress has accused Saraki of always putting his personal interest above that of the nation.

The accusation is contained in a statement signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, in Abuja, on Monday.

The party levelled the allegation against the Senate President in response to a hint by Saraki that he was considering a presidential run in 2019.

Nabena said Saraki would rather rule in hell than serve in paradise. He urged Nigerians to be weary of Saraki because his ambition would always supersede that of the country.

The statement read in part, “Nigerians should be wary of a man whose personal ambition will always supersede the interest of the majority and national interest as currently displayed in the National Assembly.

While Saraki refuses to reconvene the National Assembly, the 2019 election budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission is dangerously delayed, an action deliberately taken to sabotage INEC’s ability to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2019.

“While Saraki refuses to step down as Senate president as rightly demanded by the APC-dominated Senate, he is bent on foisting a PDP-minority in the upper legislative house.”

He added, “The only politics that Bukola Saraki plays is self, himself only and only himself. The interest and welfare of the people of Nigeria do not mean anything to him.

“Now it is the presidency Saraki wants. And we ask with what antecedents is he doing this? Conspiracy, blackmail, treachery and vaulting ambition which overleaps itself and falls on the other, as rightly captured by William Shakespeare. Bukola Saraki will rather rule in hell than serve in paradise.”

The APC reiterated its call on anti-graft agencies to check the use of stolen public funds to finance elections.

Nabena said, “We reiterate our position that the Nigerian electorate must have the opportunity to choose from candidates that can pass the integrity and anti-corruption test.

“Let us refresh our memory on some of Saraki’s corruption allegations: allegations of fraud which led to the collapse of the Saraki family-owned Société Générale Bank (Bukola Saraki who was director of the defunct bank was indicted over N1bn alleged to have been looted from the bank’s treasury).

“Misappropriation of Kwara State funds, disregard of government due process and conversion of state government assets into his and his cronies when he served as two-term governor of Kwara State.”

The statement further accused the Senate President of having a history of “betrayals; treachery and sabotage – family, political party (PDP, APC), Senate, and government.”

It further said Saraki was questioned by the police Special Fraud Unit over a N11bn financial scandal at the defunct Intercontinental Bank.

APC lists corruption allegations against Saraki

  2019 Presidency: APC lists corruption allegations against Saraki
 By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA— All Progressives Congress, APC, said, yesterday, that Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, would not pass integrity test to contest the 2019 presidential election because of the litany of corruption allegations against him.
Oshiomhole-Saraki The party’s reaction came against the backdrop of reports that the Senate president was nursing presidential ambition in 2019. Saraki had told Bloomberg, an international news organisation, in an interview that he would take a shot at the presidential election next year. But the ruling party in a statement signed by the spokesman, Yekini Nabena, said:  “Saraki’s declaration brings to the fore our earlier call to anti-graft agencies to check the use of stolen public funds to finance elections in this country. ‘’We reiterate our position that the Nigerian electorate must have the opportunity to choose from candidates that can pass the integrity and anti-corruption test. “Let us refresh our memory on some of Saraki’s corruption allegations:  Allegations of fraud, which led to the collapse of the Saraki family-owned Société Générale Bank. “Misappropriation of Kwara State funds, disregard of government due process and conversion of state government assets into his and cronies when he served as two-term governor of Kwara State. “History of betrayals, treachery and sabotage – family, political party (PDP, APC), Senate, government. “Gluttonous property acquisitions and hidden multi-billion dollar assets spread across the world as disclosed by the Panama Papers revelations. “The multi-million dollar white elephant Shonga Agricultural Project in Kwara State when Saraki served as two-term governor. “Falsification of Senate standing order; Saraki’s link to the N298m armoured Range Rover SUV seized by Nigeria Customs Service. “Saraki’s link to $19.5 billion Paris Club loan refund scandal; Oversaw budget padding in the National Assembly, among other numerous corruption scandals.” APC said Nigerians should be wary of a man whose personal ambition would always supersede the interests of the majority and national interest as currently displayed in the National Assembly.

A from Nigeria to Horncastle

Ejiro Efekodo with new work colleagues Roly Freeman and Emma Blow . Chatterton's Horncastle office Published: 06:00 Tuesday 21 August 2018

A leading chain of Lincolnshire solicitors has welcomed the talents of an experienced legal expert to its commercial property department.

Chattertons, which has eight branches across the county and in Nottinghamshire, has appointed Ejiro Efekodo to its Horncastle office.

She is looking forward to navigating the law of the land by offering her expertise in the fast-changing Commercial and Agricultural properties department.

Specialising in property and company law, the dual-qualified solicitor graduated with a Masters Degree in environmental law at the University of Benin, Nigeria, before furthering her career in the UK.

She said: “I am delighted to join the experienced team in Horncastle and look forward to sharing my skills with clients.

“Since qualifying, I have practised actively in my home country and now look forward to sharing my knowledge in property law, civil litigation and landlord and tenant matters.”

Roly Freeman, partner and head of department, said: “The breadth of Ejiro’s knowledge is a valuable asset within the department.

“Whether buying or selling a business including company share sales and purchases or partnership and shareholder agreements, the team here are on hand to offer a personal service to customers.”

Chattertons Solicitors & Wealth Management has offices in Boston, Bourne, Grantham, Horncastle, Lincoln, Newark, Sleaford, Spalding and Stamford.

They provide legal and wealth management services with a focus on professionalism, efficiency and building great relationships with their clients.

•To contact Ejiro please visit www.chattertons.com or call 01507 522456.

HEALTH

   Most African children without birth certificates are Nigerians
 For every 10 Nigerian children that are at least five years old, there are no records about the birth of seven. Even though these children have names, their birth is not registered by the relevant authorities and their identity is therefore questionable. According the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, in Africa, Nigeria is ranked highest for the number of children whose births were not registered.
A UNICEF report entitled:  Generation 2030  which did the ranking also revealed that among the 10 countries contributing significantly to the region’s immense population increase in absolute terms between 2015 and 2050, Nigeria will have additional 257 million inhabitants followed closely by Ethiopia with 89 million and Democratic Republic of the Congo with 84 million. Already, according to the report, the greatest number of births in Africa takes place in Nigeria and by the end of 2015, one fifth of the continent’s births were in Nigeria alone, accounting for  five per cent of all global births. From 2015 to 2030, 136 million births are estimated to take place in Nigeria, which is 19 per cent of all African babies and 6 per cent of the global total. Birth registration is defined as the continuous, permanent, compulsory and universal recording of the occurrence and characteristics of births, as provided by decree or regulation in accordance with the legal requirements in each country. However, despite numerous developmental benefits of birth registration, little or no attention is accorded it in Nigeria. Statistics from the country’s Birth Registration Dashboard show that in 2016, in 24,890 health centres across the country,  birth registration activities took place in only 30 per cent or 7,499 of the health facilities. Thus, millions of children are consistently missed in this most important exercise, constituting a major reason for very low registration rates of newborn and under-1 birth. In 2017, statistics also showed slight reduction in the number of health facilities basically due to the country’s situation and limitations within the health sector. Unlike the 24,890 in 2016, in 2017, there were 24,705 health centres with birth registration services available in only 29 per cent or 7,029 health facilities with 71 per cent of the total health facilities not conducting routine birth registration services across the country. The reduction in the number of health facilities further reduced the coverage of the number of under-1 children registered in 2017. Also, the dashboard showed that in 2017, only 32 per cent  under-1 and 8 per cent under-5 births were registered. Revealing the situation on birth registration in Nigeria, a UNICEF Child Specialist, Mrs Sharon Oladiji, in her presentation entitled: UNICEF African Generation Report: Implication for birth and death registration in Nigeria and Africa, explained that the profile of children whose births were not registered, by implication, have no official record of their full names, parents, place of birth, date of birth and their nationality. Oladiji said such children’s access to basic services was under threat and that their official ‘invisibility’ increases their vulnerability to abuse and exploitation. “In legal terms, they do not exist and violations of their rights are going unnoticed,” she said. Oladiji who spoke during a media dialogue in Kano State organised by UNICEF and the Federal Ministry of Information, noted that urgent and concerted efforts are needed through integrating birth registration services at the health care delivery points across the country. Oladiji who noted that 70 per cent of children in Nigeria still do not have their births registered, according to the National Demographic Health Survey, NDHS,  2013, also said the recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, MICS, indicates that 46.8 per cent of under-5 were registered between 2016/2017 following support from UNICEF. The UNICEF scribe, however, explained that birth registration data, when correctly collected, plays an important role in the planning of a country’s economic and social development. She added that disaggregated population data can help identify geographic, social and economic and gender disparities within national boundaries. “Registering the child will enable government plan and implement basic social services (health, education, employment, etc.) monitor, evaluate and report on the impact of its social and economic policies. “It will also ensure that resources are allocated to where they are really needed within different geographical areas or different groups in society,” she added. She further traced the poor birth registration on internal institutional challenges of the National Population Commission, NpopC. She identified some internal institutional challenges on the part of NpopC to include; attitude of staff, low morale of staff, insufficient workforce and resources, too few registrars covering very large areas or populations including hard-to-reach areas, operation of two parallel and competing systems for birth registration and slow digitalisation process, among others. In her presentation entitled: Historical Perspectives of Birth Registration in Nigeria, the Assistant Director at the National Population Commission, NpopC, Hapsatu Husaini Isiyaku said birth registration of under-5 children in Nigeria is approximately 30 per cent while the remaining 70 per cent remain unregistered and in legal terms, do not exist. Isiyaku said the major reason why the children were not registered was either due to ignorance of parents and care givers or the very rural communities have no knowledge of birth registration. According to her, about 62 per cent of birth occurred at home, only 35 per cent of births in Nigeria are delivered in health facilities. Recalling that the first conscious effort to have a universal system of registration of births and deaths began in 1988 when the Federal Government promulgated the “Birth and Deaths Compulsory Registration Decree 39 of 1979,” she said the decree was aimed at establishing a uniform national and state level registration hierarchy including the appointment of a Registrar-General for the country. The NpopC Director noted that the lack of completeness of civil registration was impacting on the availability of complete data, the quality of the information therein and the use of these data for reliable decision-making processes. She disclosed that birth registrations are manually collected and there was inadequate office accommodation for the registrars. Other challenges she identified include; inadequate storage facilities for the working materials, many localities sparsely distributed in the area hence the need for logistics become apparent to allow registrars navigate catchment areas with less difficulties. Further lamenting the numerous challenges facing the commission, she said there was the urgent need to capture birth registration data in the facility level data tools and in the national DHIS and HMIS tools, “Promote documentation of birth registration services and strengthen integration efforts with the health sector and other convergent programmes. “There is insufficient workforce to adequately provide birth registration services across the country.” Isiyaku said as part of efforts of Child Protection Section to strengthen community level approach, birth registration efforts in the first half of the year focused on community, wards and LGA intervention during the NPopC EAD process in 15 states. “The approach and process enabled birth registration of at least 680,657 under-5 children in 15 LGAs, 150 wards and 1,041 communities, whose births would never have been registered. Currently, 3,411,419 (females/1,652,248 and males/1,759,171) children in different age bands have been registered in the first half of 2018. She said NpopC has produced IEC materials in six languages (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin, Kanuri and English) to promote countrywide birth registration campaign. Isiyaku said there is the need for the commission to take full responsibility to make necessary demand to government. “The NpopC collaboration with UNICEF should be sustained. The Commission should provide adequate office accommodation and storage facilities. There is urgent need to migrate from analogue to digital registration,” she stated.

Crime

Three persons die as APC, PDP thugs clash in Bayelsa

A bloody clash between sody clash between suspected thugs loyal to the AllProgressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party has claimed the lives of three persons in Bayelsa State.The incident reportedly occurred on Monday in the Brass Local Government Area of the state.

One of the persons killed was identified as the spokesman for the umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide in the area.

Different versions have emerged as to the cause of deaths of the three persons.

Some PDP supporters claimed that the death of the three persons occurred during an alleged failed attempt to assassinate the Caretaker Chairman, Brass LGA, Mr Victor Isaiah.

But some supporters of the APC claimed that over 10 suspected gunmen allegedly hired from the neighbouring Odioma community attacked the area.

They claimed that the attackers were challenged by the indigenes of the community and some members of the IYC before they were attacked with machetes and guns.

They said during the attack, three persons died.

However, a source from the community, simply identified as Charles, alleged that the killers, who were suspected to be hired PDP thugs, were allegedly housed at the LGA chairman’s lodge before and after the clash.

He said, “The whole incident started on August 15 with the attack on the IYC chairman in Brass. The attackers and their PDP supporters were chased out of the town but the chiefs and elders pleaded that they be allowed back to town through the town criers.

“On Monday morning, some boys numbering about 10, were noticed to have entered the town through Odioma. They headed for the Imbikiri part of the town and were challenged by the IYC boys and the APC. The suspected thugs opened fire on them. They also inflicted machete cuts on others.”

It was learnt that the council chairman’s lodge is close to the Divisional Headquarters of the police in the area.

It was further learnt that attempts by the Divisional Police Officer in the area to dislodge the fighters allegedly gave undue advantage to the unidentified gunmen from Odioma.

A post from one of the supporters of the PDP in Brass monitored on Victor Isaiah’s Facebook page indicated that the clash was allegedly due to provocation from some APC youths following an attack on the Special Adviser on Youths Matters to the council’s chairman.

“A few days ago, some suspected armed APC youths attacked the LGA chair’s aide and the PDP youths. Now they attempted to assassinate the caretaker chairman of the council,” the poster indicated.