Travel Restrictions: UAE Backs down, Accepts Nigerian Passengers
There are strong indications that the UAE government may have rescinded its decision against Nigerian travellers as some of the international carriers which earlier rejected to board Nigerians seem to be now ready to airlift Nigerian passengers from Tuesday.
UAE had disallowed quite a number of Nigerians to enter the country on Monday following a circular issued to all the foreign airlines.
The circular titled: ‘Dubai Travel Restriction Update,’ dated December 13, 2021 with the reference number: PSA 12/068/2021, directed carriers not to airlift Nigerians and citizens of the Congo Democratic Republic only from Africa.
However, the latest update shows that most airlines are ready to resume boarding for Nigerians today being Tuesday.
JUST IN: Gunmen abduct mother of Kogi governor’s Chief of Staff
Madam Seriya Raji, the mother of Abdulkarim Jamiu Asuku, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, has been kidnapped by gunmen.
She was abducted around 8 pm on Monday at her residence in the Nagazi community, in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
While the State Police are yet to issue any statement on the incident, aneighbour, who pleaded anonymity, narrated that some gunmen numbering about six and holding a ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag suspected to have contained guns and other dangerous weapons, stormed Madam Raji’s residence at Inese/Ovakere layout at 7.40 pm and whisked her away to an unknown destination.
Gunmen kill 10 in Pinau Area of Plateau
Gunmen have attacked Pinau community in Wase council of Plateau State, killing no fewer than 10 persons. Many more were injured in the invasion, which took place on Sunday evening.
Police spokesman Gabriel Ubah confirmed the incident but said the Command was yet to get details.
A nursing mother, and a politician were abducted from neighbouring Sapiyo town shortly before the Pinau attack.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, condemned the Pinau attack, describing it as ‘’inhuman, senseless and unwarranted.’’ He said the perpetrators must be brought to book.
Gadgets worth millions razed in Computer Village fire
Fire has razed a shopping complex in the popular Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos.
The fire, which started in the early hours of yesterday, destroyed many shops where phones, laptops and other electronic gadgets worth millions of naira were sold.
The cause of the fire was not ascertained at press time but the traders said it started about 4am and lasted till 7am when it was put out.
Police spokesman Adekunle Ajisebutu confirmed the incident in a statement, saying that firefighters had been mobilised to the area.
JusticeforSylvester: Falana asks police to investigate Kemi Olunloyo’s claim
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has asked the police to investigate the claims by social media personality, Kemi Olunloyo, that the late Dowen College schoolboy Sylvester Oromoni Jnr was in the process of joining a cult when he died.
Olunloyo’s story contradicts claims by the Oromonis that Sylvester was bullied by five senior students who wanted him to forcefully join their cult. She had circulated on social media that it was in course of joining the cult that he was beaten and given engine oil to drink.
Falana’s request was contained in a letter signed by a lawyer in his chambers, Taiwo E. Olawanle, and addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, Lagos State Police Command, Panti, Yaba.
The letter requested the police to investigate Olunloyo’s claim with a view to prosecuting her for making false allegations capable of diverting police investigations into the case.
Proposed 2022 Budget To Be Passed This Week – Lawan
Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Monday said the National Assembly will pass the proposed 2022 budget before the end of the legislative week.
He disclosed this in Abuja while giving a lecture at the maiden Distinguished Parliamentarians Lecture Series organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
President Muhammadu Buhari had presented a 2022 budget of N16.39 trillion tagged ‘Budget of Economic Growth and Sustainability” to a joint session of the National Assembly on October 7, 2021.
Lawan said the current National Assembly has made it a practice for the budget to be presented and passed before the end of December yearly, to ensure that its implementation commences in January.
China Records First Omicron Case
China on Monday reported its first case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 amid a spike in coronavirus infections said to be a new Delta strain ”sub-lineage AY.4”.
The development prompted authorities to bar millions of people in the eastern province from traveling.
Authorities in the northern city of Tianjin confirmed the case of an individual who entered the country from an undisclosed overseas location. Details on the person’s nationality or travel history were not immediately disclosed.
However, officials said the individual is an asymptomatic COVID-19 patient and its respiratory specimen has shown the existence of the Omicron variant after tests. The person was under closed-loop management since entry to Tianjin and is now being treated in isolation.
Navy Nabs 20 Alleged Crude Oil Thieves
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh on Monday said it has arrested 20 suspected crude oil thieves aboard a vessel, MT TIS IV, on Akassa River, in the Brass local government area of Bayelsa state. The arrests were made on December 6, 2021.
The vessel was found carrying close to 700,000 litres which is about 603 metric tons or 4,402 barrels of illegally sourced crude oil worth $315,500 (N148,281,000) without the requisite approval for such cargo.
In a press briefing, the Commander, NNS Soroh, Comdr. Patrick Effah, disclosed that the Navy identified the source of the stolen crude and was led to the spot where about four dug-out pits containing an unspecified quantity of crude oil were discovered, much more than what was found on the vessel.
UI Ranks Best Nigerian University In 2021
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has ranked the University of Ibadan (UI) as first in its latest 2021 ranking released on Monday.
The ranking, which was carried out using twelve indicators, involved one hundred and thirteen (113) universities across the country.
The institutions were ranked based on the total number of full-time students, the number of international students, students and staff ratio, efficiency, google scholar index, and contribution to the knowledge economy.
Other criteria are percentage of international staff, percentage of Programmes with full-time accreditation, all citations per capital, amongst others.
Omicron: We are taking Diplomatic Steps To Reverse Travel Ban – FG
The Federal Government on Monday disclosed that it has started taking diplomatic steps to make the United Kingdom and other countries reverse restrictions imposed on travelers from Nigeria on account of the omicron variant.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who said this on Monday, however, warned that while each country is entitled to put in place measures to protect its citizens, Nigeria has similar responsibilities.
He noted that the government is exploring diplomatic measures in resolving the issues surrounding the travel ban.
Mustapha said that the PSC is working with mandate Ministries to address the issues surrounding the restriction imposed by some countries on travelers from Nigeria on account of the omicron variant.
