Foreign News
Nigeria Begins to Issue Visas on Arrival to Africans January 2020
By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday, in Egypt revealed that Nigeria would commence issuing visas on arrival in January 2020 to all holders of African passports as a way of promoting free movement and facilitating the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
The Nigerian leader said that Africa must take its destiny in its own hands by minimizing reliance on donor funding for the execution of its vital peace, security and development agenda.
Buhari disclosed this during the opening session of the ongoing Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa, taking place in the Egyptian town.
In order to realize its Pan-African vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena, President Buhari declared: “We in Nigeria have already taken the strategic decision to bring down barriers that have hindered the free movement of our people within the continent by introducing the issuance of visa at the point of entry into Nigeria to all persons holding passports of African countries with effect from January, 2020.”
According to him, as Africans, it was important to focus on the issues of conflict prevention and resolution.
Buhari declared that the resolution of conflict situations in African countries remained a key component in the overall development of the continent.
According to him, “Nigeria is not only host to our sub regional body ECOWAS but has also been supporting substantially the ECOWAS budget up to about 60 percent.
“Nigeria has been funding by almost a 100 percent the operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) fighting Boko Haram Terrorists in the Lake Chad Basin.”
Conflicts have devastating effects on our societies and they militate against our progress. In this regard, the need to silence the guns cannot be overemphasized.”
President Buhari equally emphasized that massive investment in transportation infrastructure was necessary for African economic resurgence as this would facilitate the African Free Trade Area Agreement recently signed on by the continental leaders.
“Africa should embark on the provision of transport connectivity by enhancing the development of roads, rail, and air links which will ease the free movement of persons, goods and services within the continent. In this regard, we in Nigeria have already commenced an aggressive drive to upgrade our rail transport system and road networks across the country.
“We should furthermore promote free trade within and amongst Africa and Africans especially now that we have launched the African Free Trade Area Agreement,” he said.
President Buhari also harped on the fight against corruption and inclusive growth: “The menace of corruption undermines our efforts to achieve sustainable development and realize the goals of the AU Agenda 2063. It is also important to attach great priority to the promotion of good and inclusive governance as we equally strive to empower our women and youth.”
The President once again used the opportunity to draw global attention to the recession of the Lake Chad and its attendant economic consequences for the region.
“The issue of climate change should be given the due attention that it deserves. The effects of Climate Change are at the root of some of the conflicts in parts of the continent. This is why we must focus on the issue of the recharging of the Lake Chad which used to provide livelihood to over forty million people in the region. It is difficult to expect durable stability in the region without restoration of the shrinking lake.”
He urged African leaders to see education as a key tool for the transformation and repositioning of our continent, saying, “Africa would need to heavily invest in education and capacity building. Education creates opportunities and holds the key for a better and prosperous future of our people.”
The President added that his administration was, “ pursuing the diversification of our economy through the development of agriculture and mineral resources, the promotion of manufacturing sector and the creation of job opportunities for our teeming youths. By so doing, we will also discourage the irregular migration of our youth out of the Continent through dangerous journeys.”
Pope Leo XIV said on Wednesday that he was praying for the victims of the mass shooting in a school in the Austrian city of Graz.
“I would like to express my prayers for the victims of the tragedy at the Graz school,” Leo said during his weekly audience in the Vatican.
Leo added that he is keeping the families, teachers, and fellow pupils in his thoughts.
According to police, a 21-year-old former pupil at the school entered the grounds on Tuesday and opened fire, killing 10 pupils aged between 15 and 17 as well as a teacher.
He then shot himself.
Eleven people remain in the hospital, most of them in intensive care.
All are now reported to be in a stable condition.
Graz, in south-eastern Austria, is home to around 300,000 people. (dpa/NAN)
The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NiDO)-Worldwide has appointed Mr Chibuzo Ubochi, as its new Coordinating Chairman of NIDO-Europe.
Ubochi succeeds Dr Victor Ubani, the Chairman of NIDO Americas and outgoing coordinating chairman of NiDO-Worldwide.
Ubani disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, against backdrop of the end of his tenure as coordinating chairman and inauguration of Ubochi’s tenure as the new chairman of the organisation.
He congratulated Ubochi over his recent electoral victory where he emerged chairman of the organisation, saying it was a closely contested NIDO-Europe election against Dr Johnson Odibo.
According to him, the process which was conducted with robust participation, ushered in a new era for NIDO-Europe.
Ubani said: “It is one marked by renewed strength, unity and purpose. I write in my capacity as the outgoing Coordinating Chairman of NIDO-Worldwide, having had the honour of serving in this rotational role on behalf of the Americas.
“I am deeply grateful for the cooperation and commitment demonstrated by our continental bodies throughout my tenure.
“Together, we pursued the vision of a more effective, united and relevant NIDO across all regions. I believe we made notable progress in advancing our collective mandates.
“As is the custom within our global structure, which comprises five continental bodies, I will now be handing over the rotational leadership of the Coordinating Chairmanship to the current Chairman of NIDO Europe, Sir Chibuzo Ubochi”.
Ubani explained that he had observed Ubochi’s leadership as Chairman of NIDO UK South and his previous tenure as Legal Adviser to the NIDO-Worldwide Coordinating Platform, to express confidence in the latter’s ability to lead the organisation.
“I am confident in his capacity to fulfill this responsibility with vision, integrity and diplomatic skill.
“He is well acquainted with the complexities of our global structure and is well-positioned to continue strengthening and advancing a more focused and impactful NIDO Worldwide.
“As he assumes this role, I urge all continental chairs, executives and members to extend the same cooperation and collegiality accorded me to him.
“The task ahead requires a united front, focused energy and shared commitment free from unnecessary distractions and geared solely toward the progress of our global diaspora, and the development of our homeland,” he said. (NAN)
The U.S. Treasury Department has announced sanctions against more than 30 individuals and companies accused of helping Iran evade sanctions and launder billions from oil and petrochemical sales to fund its nuclear and missile programmes.The sanctioned network operated as a system of “shadow banking” involving front companies in places like Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, the department said in a statement.
The goal, it said, was to bypass existing sanctions, obscure the origin of oil proceeds, and funnel money into military-linked projects. The new sanctions freeze any U.S.-based assets of the targeted entities and bar U.S. citizens from doing business with them.The measures also complicate the ability of those sanctioned to operate internationally, especially in transactions involving U.S. dollars.Washington and Tehran are engaged in negotiations over the future of Iran’s nuclear programme.U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he “aims to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons”.Tehran insists its nuclear activities are purely for civilian purposes.Trump has warned that military action remains on the table if diplomacy fails. (dpa/NAN)
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