News
FG launches Nigeria’s e-passport in UK to ease application process
The Federal Government has launched an enhanced e-passport to improve application process for Nigerians in the country and abroad.
Official roll-out of the enhanced e-passport took place at the Nigerian High Commission in London, Sola Fasure, media adviser to Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said in a statement.
He quoted the minister as saying, “What we have come to do here (UK) is symbolic of the core mandate of the ministry and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria affirmation of citizenship integrity.
“As we are all aware, there have been huge challenges in passport administration, from shortage of booklet to touting and an economy of corruption built around it.
“These challenges have persisted for too long and a lot of people have become cynical while others have taken them as normal and then roll with it.
“I do not believe that any problem is insurmountable, so we are going to solve all the problems associated with passport administration and we are already succeeding.”
Aregbesola also said the new e-passport was a “huge improvement” over the standard passport introduced in 2007.
He said it has more sophisticated security features, making it one of the most secured passports in the world.
“The enhanced e-passport is a great improvement on the biometric passport technology which Nigeria adopted in 2007 as a strategic step towards curbing forgery. Impersonation and other forms of frauds associated with obtaining travel document under the old machine readable passport regime,” he said.
“We are aware that technology rules the world and we are keeping abreast of the latest development in the field.
“Over the years, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had worked assiduously and in close synergy with Messrs Iris Smart Technologies Limited to develop and implement passport reforms.”
Aregbesola said the reforms are in tandem with international best practices, including extant International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Standards and Regulations.
In his remarks, Isa Jere, the acting comptroller-general of NIS, expressed the service’s readiness to meet the demands for passports in the UK.
Jere said his officers are ever ready to roll out the new passports at the official rate published on the NIS website.
“We are ready to serve the public and start rolling out the new enhanced e-passport in the UK with immediate effect. Our staff are professionals and will deliver excellent service to our citizens,” he said.
“Those who have any complaints whatsoever are advised to use the publicly listed complaints channels to adequately resolve any issues raised.”
News
Three senior govt officials arrested over alleged illegal citizenship for foreigners
Three senior govt officials arrested over alleged illegal citizenship for foreigners
The Kano State government said three of its top civil servants have been apprehended for engaging in citizenship racket.
The indicted government officials were arrested by the State Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Agency.
According to the anti-graft agency, the three senior officials allegedly recommending Nigerian citizenship to illegal migrants.
Speaking to newsmen on Thursday in Kano, the chairman of the agency, Muhuyi Magaji, disclosed that the suspects collected bribes from the foreign nationals for the the illegal activity.
He alleged that the suspects planned to write letters of recommendation to the Federal ministry of internal affairs, using government letter-headed papers.
READ ALSO:
- N3bn fraud: Court adjourns trial of ex-Benue governor Suswam until May 8
- Group protests alleged imposition of Imam in Osun
- FG paid $500m to terminate Ajaokuta Steel contract – Minister
He named the suspects as Kabiru Shehu of the ministry of information; Hassan Aminu from Office of the state Head of Service; and one AMusa Falgore, a retired staff of the information ministry.
“These are senior officials of Kano state government conniving to write fake letters recommending illegal aliens to secure Nigerian citizenship.
“We have arrested them. They are giving us useful information. We will keep interrogating them and at the end, if found wanting, they will be prosecuted.
“We will not tolerate this kind of unpatriotic action from senior government officials.
“This government abhors corruption, and we will do everything possible to ensure that anybody found neck-deep in corruption is exposed,” Mr Muhuyi said.
Three senior govt officials arrested over alleged illegal citizenship for foreigners
(NAN)
News
Group protests alleged imposition of Imam in Osun
Group protests alleged imposition of Imam in Osun
A Muslim group in Inisa, Odo-Otin Local Government area of Osun State, has threatened to embark on mass protest over alleged imposition of Imam on the community’s central mosque.
The mosque had been without leadership since the demise of the imam, his deputy, and third in command, within the space of two months, in 2020, following the crisis over succession plan.
However, in December 2023, Osun State governor, after observing Juma’at prayer in the mosque, adopted one Hakeem Jamiu as the imam.
READ ALSO:
- FG paid $500m to terminate Ajaokuta Steel contract – Minister
- Rivers: Wike, Magnus Abe settle long-standing rift
- Naira depreciates again, trades at N1,402/$
But a Muslim group in the town, Inisa Muslim Elites Association, IMEA, while addressing newsmen in Osogbo, yesterday, described the governor’s action as an affront on Islamic teachings and provided guidelines on the appointment of an imam.
Fielding questions from journalist, Imam Raji Oladejo said the Muslim Ummah in the town are ready to lay down their lives to the dictates of the religion on the matter and would not succumb to any imposition from any quarter.
His words: “We have called the attention of every stakeholder on this matter over the illegalities of those who imposed an imam on us in Inisa. We have repeatedly stressed the need to follow due process, and a case is still in court.”
Group protests alleged imposition of Imam in Osun
News
FG paid $500m to terminate Ajaokuta Steel contract – Minister
FG paid $500m to terminate Ajaokuta Steel contract – Minister
The Minister of Steel Development, Alhaji Shuaib Abubakar on Thursday disclosed that the Federal Government paid the sum of $500 in order to terminate the concession agreement on Ajaokuta Steel Company.
The minister, who disclosed this during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development in Abuja said the government was working assiduously to find a solution to the Ajaokuta Steel imbroglio.
He said, “It is a problem that has persisted for 45 years. We have gone to China to come and invest in the steel company including setting up a new plant and we have gone to seek financing”.
According to him, the challenges had changed as new technology had come up and there had been innovations and there had been discussions around it but it had not been finalised.
“Funding is a big challenge to the Ministry of Steel Development. Steel industry will be the bed rock of industrialization if we have proper funding.
“I am still at a stage where to find a solution to the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
READ ALSO:
- Rivers: Wike, Magnus Abe settle long-standing rift
- Naira depreciates again, trades at N1,402/$
- Why I killed my one-year-old son – Delta woman
On the $2 billion being requested to revive the moribund steel company, the minister said it was just a preliminary calculation, adding that the figure might not be up to that.
According to him, this is an estimate that may not be accurate at the last decimal point. It is just a process that will allow us to arrive at the right destination.
“The president has asked me to find a solution to Ajaokuta, so the figure will change pending the outcome of the technical audit.
“It’s clear to Nigeria that for this to happen we need funding and all the help we can get from the two chambers, this is why we need. I need all your support to make this a reality.”
Abubakar also disclosed that the nation spends $8 billion annually to import steel into the country, saying that it is in the best interest of Nigeria for the Ajaokuta Steel Company to work.
He noted that the revival of Ajaokuta Steel will cost money, and we have written a 10 year document for the revival. We will present the document to Mr President.
He said that it was in his own interest for Ajaokuta Steel to work, adding that he is from Kogi State and must push for such interest
Chairman, House Committee on Steel Development, Hon. Zainab Gimba, the urged the ministry to provide it with all the procurement process and other responses demanded by the committee
The committee said that Ajaokuta had remained a nightmare to many, adding that now that the minister had accepted to superintend over it, Nigeria expected more from him.
FG paid $500m to terminate Ajaokuta Steel contract – Minister
Gaza: Police arrest 2,000 pro-Palestine protesters on US campuses
Three senior govt officials arrested over alleged illegal citizenship for foreigners
N3bn fraud: Court adjourns trial of ex-Benue governor Suswam until May 8
-
metro2 days agoLabour Day: Nigerian workers are dedicated, resilient, says NURTW leader
-
Auto2 days agoAppeal court takes over NURTW case as NIC withdraws
-
News2 days agoLabour-FG face-off imminent as NLC rejects new salary increase
-
News2 days agoFG approves salary increase for civil servants, military, police
-
metro2 days agoTerrorists release video of kidnapped palace servant, others in Zamfara
-
International2 days agoBinance founder bags jail term in US
-
News3 days agoFG set to repatriate 20,000 Nigerians from Chad, Cameroon
-
metro24 hours agoSecurity forces, vigilantes arrest kidnapper terrorising communities in Kogi