Foreign News
Xenophobia: Over 400 Nigerians Ready for Evacuation From S/Africa
The Nigerian Mission in South Africa says no fewer than 400 Nigerians have indicated interest and registered to be evacuated from South Africa following the recent xenophobic attacks.
Nigeria’s Consul General in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, said this in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
Adama noted that Air Peace had offered to airlift those willing to return home sequel to the attacks on Nigerians and their businesses by South Africans.
According to him, the first batch of Nigerians who are willing to return home will be repatriated on Wednesday.
“We have more than enough for that aircraft.
Over 400 Nigerians have already registered; more are still coming,’’ he said.The Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Kabiru Bala, also said that Nigerians had responded positively in good numbers.
Bala said that the mission was equally responding to the needs of those willing to return, especially those who had issues with their documents.
“We are documenting them. Those without travel documents, we shall provide them with Emergency Travel Certificates.
“There are other governmental procedures that we must observe. Relevant agencies of government in Nigeria must be informed and must be ready to receive the returnees.
“Hard work is now going on at the High Commission and Consulate in this regard. As soon as all procedures and relevant protocols are observed, the return is assured and guaranteed.
“A little more patience will be helpful. The response of Nigerians is just amazing,’’ Bala said.
President, Nigeria Citizens Association, South Africa (NICASA), Ben Okoli, said all efforts were geared towards evacuation of those who were ready to come back home.
Okoli said the figure of those ready to come was in hundreds as many had lost their means of livelihood and had nothing to fall back on.
“The Consulate is sorting out the issue of documents. Nigerians are being registered and issued with the necessary travel documents to enable them make the trip to Lagos.
“Some lost their passports in their homes and businesses from the fire that gutted it, while others had their documents and properties stolen by the locals,’’ he said.
The association, he said, was still pushing ahead with the demand for compensation as there was sufficient evidence available to them that the attacks were premeditated and orchestrated.
He also noted that normalcy was gradually returning, stressing that there was no longer tension, or violence against any set of people.
“The violence and hostility have ceased. Many Nigerians were, however, affected by the crisis and lots have been highly distressed with nothing to fall back on.
“So, some of those affected have decided to call it quits and go back to Nigeria.
“Presently, we are collating the data of Nigerians that are to be evacuated back to Nigeria.
“We have it on good record that the first batch will be leaving on Wednesday.’’
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort in sending a special envoy to South Africa.
Okoli said that the move was able to boost the morale of the Nigerian community to go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation or attacks.
“We have actually regained some strength knowing that our government is backing and supporting us, especially at this time.
“So we are no longer afraid because we believe that so long we are doing the right thing, the lawful thing, we have nothing to fear.
“We want to thank President Buhari for the steps he has taken. The special envoy did come to us and pushed the case of Nigerians. We are very grateful and thank him for what he has done so far,’’ he said
Okoli also commended the Management of Air Peace for offering to airlift Nigerians home and urged the airline to endeavour to airlift all Nigerians who were ready to return come home. (NAN)
UN humanitarians on Monday condemned Russian attacks on Sumy city in the northeast of Ukraine over the weekend that damaged a hospital.
Matthias Schmale, the top UN aid official in Ukraine, said that the Russian military strikes killed and injured several people. He insisted that health centres must not be targeted.
Local officials reported that nine had been killed in the twin drone strikes on the northeastern city close to the Russian border, with 12 injured and more than 120 evacuated for their own safety.
Schmale’s comments came amid continuing violence on Monday, including a reported wave of drone attacks on Kyiv and protective air defence manoeuvres launched in response, according to the Ukraine military.
Outside the capital, media indicated explosions as Russia launched drone and guided bombs attack on Zaporizhzhia that damaged railways and buildings, while in Russia, Ukrainian armed forces reportedly shelled the Belgorod region.
Meanwhile, authorities in Algeria were on Monday urged by top independent human rights experts to reverse a prison sentence handed down to a poet for supporting widespread protests against the Government.
Djamila Bentouis received a two-year prison sentence and 100,000 Algerian dinars fine (worth around $750) for participating in the Hirak social protest movement via her songs and poetry recitals.
Initial charges levelled against Bentouis accused her of belonging to a terrorist entity.
The Hirak demonstrations began in February 2019 – initially against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika – but evolved into demands for political reforms and other freedoms.
The independent experts who include Alexandra Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, said that the criminal charges against Ms. Bentouis appeared “directly linked” to her wish to exercise her right to freedom of expression.
The experts – who are not UN staff and receive no salary for their work – also expressed their hope that Algeria “will abide by its international obligations to guarantee the right to freedom of expression” when the appeals court considers the case on Wednesday. (NAN)
At least 20 people died after Hurricane Helene slammed into the south-eastern United States as a dangerous Category 4 storm, before later weakening to a tropical depression by Friday afternoon.The deaths were reported in US media across the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.
The governor of Georgia said at least 11 people had died in his state. Around 3 million people were without power across those states and beyond, with houses destroyed and entire communities flooded. There were fears that many people could still be trapped under collapsed and damaged buildings. Many roads across the region were not passable.The National Weather Service said Helene made landfall on the west coast of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane – the second highest category – but then began losing steam.The service had warned of “historic and catastrophic flooding,” and in some places on Friday the water was about 5 metres high. There were also threats of mudslides due to the extreme rain.Many victims were killed or injured by falling trees, while others died in their cars. In Florida, a woman drowned in her home, CNN reported.In North Carolina, authorities warned that a dam could break and urged nearby residents to move to safety.After pummelling the south-east, it began moving over the Appalachian mountains and affecting states like Tennessee and Virginia.Helene had already caused flooding and power outages in Cuba as it barrelled toward the U.S. (dpa /NAN)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a $7billion loan to cash-strapped Pakistan, as the fragile economy of the South Asian nation grapples with deepening economic troubles.The executive board of the IMF approved a 37-month extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Pakistan.
The fund’s immediate disbursement would be about one billion U. S. dollars, the IMF said in a statement on Thursday. The Prime Minister’s office said that the first tranche of nearly $1.1 billion U.S. would be released immediately.Pakistan has approached the global lender 24 times since 1958 as successive governments failed to break the cycle of economic mismanagement and reliance on external aid.The IMF statement also said that Pakistan’s vulnerabilities and structural challenges remain formidable.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the development: “After achieving economic stability, we will continue to work hard to meet our targets for economic growth.”“If the same hard work continues, God willing, this will be Pakistan’s last IMF programme,” Sharif said in a statement.Sharif’s team started the groundwork soon after the February elections and reached staff-level agreement with IMF in July.His government is facing criticism after the imposition of heavy taxes on the salaried class and increasing the electricity prices.The tough and unpopular decisions taken in line with the IMF’s preconditions have substantially eroded public support for the government.Critics, especially from the opposition led by former prime minister Imran Khan, blame Sharif for making the economic situation worse.The government argues that it inherited the crisis from Khan’s administration, whose policies had left the economy on the brink of collapse. (dpa/NAN)
Alleged kidnap: Ebonyi Court Adjourns Ruling on Fiat Application on Ivo LGA Chairman, 8 others Trial
ShareA High Court in Abakaliki on Thursday fixed Oct. 17 to decide on a fiat tendered by a Lawyer, Mr...
Experts Raise the Alarm over 610,000 Unsafe Abortions in Nigeria
ShareBy Laide Akinboade, Abuja Stakeholders in the health sector yesterday raised the alarm over the prevalence of unsafe abortions in...
Senate Amends N’West, S’East Devt Commissions Acts
ShareEze Okechukwu, Abuja The Senate yesterday resolved to amend the Northwest and South East Development Commission Acts over positions of...
Tinubu Forwards Tax Reforms Bills to NASS, Changes FIRS to NRS
ShareBy Eze Okechukwu, Abuja Both Chambers of the National Assembly Thursday received four different executive bills fromPresident Bola Tinubu yesterday...
Bago Submits N213.7bn Supplementary Budget to Assembly
ShareFrom Dan Amasingha, Minna Niger state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has submitted a supplementary budget of N213, 737, 470, 338.00...
Shetima Commissions Enugu Fashion, Garment Hub
ShareFrom Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Kashim Shettima has commissioned the Enugu State...
FG Removes VAT, on LPG, Diesel
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Federal Government has removed Value-Added Tax (VAT) on Liquefied Petroleum Gas and diesel in the...
IG Presents over N45m Cheque to Deceased Police Officers’ Families in Benue
ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun on Thursday, presented cheques amounting to N45,887,000 to 43 beneficiaries...
NEMA Donates 16,169 Liters of Liquid Fertilizer to Benue Govt
ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi The Benue State Government, on Thursday, received a donation of over 16,169 liquid fertilizer from the...
CBN Releases New Forex Codes to Check Exchange Rate Manipulation
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released the Nigeria Foreign Exchange Code (FX Code) to strengthen...