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FG Inaugurates Enhanced e-passport, Passport Production Centre in South-East

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The Federal Government, on Thursday, inaugurated enhanced electronic international passport (e-passport) and passport production centre in the South East.

Inaugurating the enhanced e-passport in Enugu, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said that the enhanced e-passport has over 25 security features that distinguish it among other international passports in the world.

Aregbesola said that the state-of-the-art and technological-driven security features make the e-passport virtually impossible to counterfeit or manipulate.

He noted that the enhanced e-passport, including its elaborate security features, is a major design of the Federal Government to check international passport racketeering and other forms of manipulations.

According to him, we urge Nigerians to fill their forms online, pay for it online and get their biometric capturing dates as well online; by using their simple android phones within the comfort of their homes or offices.

“Those days of asking people to help you do it or an immigration officer to assist passport applicants are over and this will help check racketeering, fraud and other manipulation in the system.

“With the enhanced e-passport, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Interior will eliminate corruption and racketeering in the system,” he said.

The minister said for now, the electronic passport (e-passport) and the enhanced e-passport would be in existence side-by-side.

He said that there were over 50,000 processed and uncollected international passports throughout the country, adding that the ministry would help to meet the backlog of 14,021 passports in demand as at today.

“Between 2019 and now, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has issued three million passports and just last year alone, we issued 1.3 million passports. So, there is more need for our passport.

“The people of South-East travel a lot and the enhanced e-passport, with some of its categories is longer validity and pagination. It would surely help the people of the zone meet their international travel needs,” he said.

On the passport production centre, the minister lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his kind disposition to the ministry and the NIS for providing the most sophisticated international passport production facility in in Enugu.

Aregbesola noted that the passport production facility would facilitate the ease and speed of getting passports in the zone, adding that it would not be more than six weeks for fresh applicants and three weeks for those applicants for renewal.

The minister, however, urged Mr Joachim Olumba, Controller of NIS, Enugu State Command, to liaison with the state government to plant massive trees within the NIS complex in Enugu to safeguard the environment against harsh weather.

Earlier, Mr Isah Idris, the acting Comptroller General of NIS, said that the introduction of enhanced e-passport is meant to transform the entire passport issuance and processing system as well as improve service delivery.

Idris said that the enhanced e-passport is water-resistant, durable, user-friendly and highly technologically compliant.

He noted that the enhanced e-passport comes in three categories: 32 pages with five years validity; 64 pages with five years validity and 64 pages with 10 years validity (only for adults above 18 years).

“Applicant’s National Identity Number (NIN) is a compulsory requirement for obtaining the enhanced e-passport,” he added.

In an address, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari, the minister and NIS authorities for inaugurating the enhanced e-passport and passport production facility in Enugu.

Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, said: “We sincerely believe that the enhanced e-passport will definitely eliminate corruption, bribery, manipulation and racketeering in the entire passport system.

“As a government, we are happy that the Federal Government, through the ministry and NIS, has kept faith and assurance of providing Nigerians and indeed the entire citizenry an enhanced e-passport we can be proud of.

“The state will continue to partner the NIS and the Federal Ministry of Interior to ensure that immigration services get to all,” he said.

The governor also assured the minister that it would cooperate with the command to ensure that trees are planted all over the NIS Command complex in Enugu. (NAN)

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AfDB Signs $75m Loan Agreement to Boost Indorama’s Fertilizer Production, Export Capacity

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The African Development Bank (AfDB), has signed a 75 million dollar loan agreement with Nigeria’s Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited.

The bank announced this in a statement issued on its website late Thursday.

According to the statement, the loan will enable Indorama to increase its fertilizer production and develop a port terminal for exports.

The statement also said that the loan would help in supporting food production and food security across regional and international markets while fostering job creation in Nigeria.

It said that the expansion would include the development of a third urea fertilizer production line and a new shipping terminal at Indorama’s facilities in Port Harcourt.

“The new production line is expected to have an annual capacity of 1.4 million metric tons of urea, one of the most widely used fertilizer worldwide.

“Indorama’s two operational urea fertilizer lines serve Nigeria’s domestic market.

“It supports the country’s agricultural sector, which accounts for a quarter of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs about a third of its labour force.

“The new production line and terminal, which will help meet growing global demand for fertilizer, is expected to create up to 8,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria”, the statement said.

The statement also quoted the Acting Director of Industrial and Trade Development Department, AfDB, Ousmane Fall, as commending the partnership.

Fall said the bank was proud of its continued partnership with Indorama, the IFC, and other lenders on this critical project.

He said the partnership aligned with the bank’s strategic priorities to Feed  and industrialise Africa, while generating significant development outcomes in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Manish Mundra, Group Director for Africa, Indorama Corporation said the establishment of the fertilizer plant underscored Indorama’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s industrial growth, economic diversification, and leveraging its strategic geographic location.

“This landmark financing represents a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey towards becoming a major player in the global fertilizer market.

“With this third line, Nigeria is prepared to significantly ramp up its export capacity, thereby, enhancing its position as a key exporter of fertilizer to Africa and the world.

“Furthermore, the establishment of this fertilizer plant will not only address critical issues such as broader food security but will also stimulate agricultural growth and create employment opportunities in Nigeria,” he said.

Reports says that the AfDB’s loan follows a strategy to support investment in private sector development to promote the growth of the real sector.

The 75 million dolllars loan is part of a 1.25 billion dollars facility arranged by IFC.

The financing package includes a 215.5 million dollars loan from IFC’s own account, a 94.5 million dollars loan through the Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Programme (MCPP), and 940 million dollars in parallel loans mobilised from other development finance institutions and commercial banks.

Some of the banks include the AfDB, Bangkok Bank, British International Investment, Citibank, Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG), DZ Bank, Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) and Rand Merchant Bank.

Others are Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden (FMO), Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank) and Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM).

The Standard Bank Group, Standard Chartered Bank, and the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) are also part of the banks.(NAN)

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NSCDC Arrests 3 Suspects with 1,625 Litres of Adulterated Diesel

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The Anambra Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested three suspects with 1,625 litres of adulterated diesel.

The NSCDC Commandant in Anambra, Olatunde Maku, told newsmen on Friday in Awka, that the suspects were arrested on March 23 along Atani Road, in Odekpe, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.

He said that his team arrested Oluchukwu Okeke, 28, from Ogbaru in Anambra; Emeka Chukwuma, 34, also from Ogbaru in Anambra; and Ifunanya Ike, 29, from Mbano in Imo state.

According to Maku, they were conveying 65 kegs of 25 litres each of suspected adulterated diesel, estimated to be 1,625 litres in four different vehicles.

He said that the vehicles were two shuttle buses, a white-colored bus with registration number AWK429XY and another ash-coloured bus with registration number GDD277XB.

“This arrest was made possible in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, and preliminary investigation revealed that the illegally refined products were loaded at Ogbakuma and headed to Okoti community, both in Ogbaru area.

“I want to commend the Nigerian Navy for their support in the fight against criminality in the state.

“This type of synergy is what is needed to wage a full-scale war against perpetrators of this heinous crime.

“NSCDC, as the lead agency in the protection of critical national, state, and local government assets and infrastructure, is known for its zero tolerance in crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities.

“We remain focused on freeing Anambra state of illegal petroleum products racketeering and other related criminalities,” he said.

Maku added that the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations were completed.

He called on members of the public to assist the command in its renewed vigour to stamp out illegal oil refining activities in the state through the provision of intelligence on illegal oil bunkering activities within their domains. (NAN)

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Good Friday: Catholic Bishop urges Leaders, Nigerians to Emulate Christ’s Sacrifice

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As Christians celebrate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Good Friday), the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, has urged leaders and Nigerians to emulate Christ’s sacrifice.

Badejo made the remark in his Good Friday message made available to Newsmen on Friday in Ibadan.

Badejo enjoined all leaders, people in authority and Nigerians to emulate Jesus in order to improve society and institutions.

The catholic bishop emphasised that Good Friday teaches us the best qualities of leadership in service, humility and love.

He noted that Good Friday represents all the challenges and problems in life, at work, in family and country at large.

According to him, those problems will be solved not just by praying, but by serious, honest and selfless efforts by everyone to do good and oppose sin and evil.

“Nigeria is not beyond repair, but it is righteousness that exalts a nation.

“Good Friday is the day on which Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, giving His life on the cross for the salvation of the world.

“That is exactly what is good about it, even though his suffering and death are painful and unjust.

“Jesus Christ, the son of God, gave his life in love and humility, leaving His glory aside. By His death on Good Friday, Jesus taught us that there are benefits in making sacrifice for the good of others.

“Such suffering or sacrifice, like that which a mother makes for her children, or a friend for another, is pleasing to God.

“Good Friday invites us to repent, do away with sin, but do something for the good of others and thus, enjoy God’s favour,” he said.

Badejo remarked that Easter Sunday is the celebration of the victory of Jesus Christ, which reminds all that the victory of good over evil is inevitable.

He said that, just as all conspiracies against Christ’s resurrection could not stand, similarly, all the evil happening in the world cannot stop the celebration of Easter as planned by God.

“That is why Christians rejoice at Easter. Alleluia! Easter Sunday answers all the questions of Good Friday. Why should good people suffer sometimes?

“Well, because God always has a superior reason and for allowing such to happen.

“If Jesus had not died, salvation would never have come. To all who suffer, I say: “Be comforted: with Jesus, Good Friday is not the last word, Easter Sunday victory is.

“I urge all Nigerians to emulate Jesus’ way of love and sacrifice for others,” Badejo said. (NAN)

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