The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced the restoration of visa services for Nigerians, confirming that they can now visit the country again.
The restoration of visa services was announced in a joint statement by the federal government of Nigeria and the UAE titled “Resumption of Visa Services for Nigerians Travelling to the UAE, ” dated March 4, 2024.
The statement noted that the achievement follows the discussions between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.
The Statement disclosed that the commencement of visa issuance, which resumed on March 4, 2024, is a milestone, reflecting the successful outcome of in-depth talks between the two nations and underscoring, “Our shared commitment to strengthening ties, enhancing cultural exchanges and fostering opportunities for economic and social collaborations.”
To ensure a seamless and efficient visa application experience, the UAE has introduced an enhanced document verification process.
Starting from March 4, 2024, all Nigerian applicants for UAE visas are required to first obtain a document verification number. This essential step according to the UAE is to be completed by visiting the dedicated online Document Verification Hub platform https/documentverificationhub.com).
The UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Saleem Saeed Al-Shamsi, highlighted the importance of this updated procedure.
After obtaining the Document Verification Number, applicants can proceed with their visa applications through designated travel agents, after which the process will be completed at the Embassy of the UAE in Abuja or Lagos.
The announcement, the UAE said signifies, “our ongoing efforts to enhance the strong ties between the UAE and Nigeria, contributing to the prosperity and well-being of our people.”
Naija News recalls the UAE had in 2022, banned about 20 countries including Nigeria from travelling to Dubai, leading to a diplomatic row between the two nations.
However, President Tinubu in 2023, visited the country and engaged in diplomatic talks with the country’s leaders.
An unidentified mother of three little children has reportedly committed suicide in Enugu state.
It was gathered that the woman allegedly ran into a moving vehicle and died instantly, following her husband’s departure from her and their three children due to financial difficulties.
It was further gathered that the incident happened last weekend in front of Ogui Police Station, Enugu.
According to reports, the deceased whose identity is not known yet was reportedly suffering from depression. She dropped her three young children at the police station, pulled her clothes, and ran naked into a moving vehicle which crushed her to death.
When interrogated, the eldest of the children said their father “got lost.”
“She could not give any other information about their family, their town, or residential address”, a police source told the Nation
Meanwhile, the wife of Enugu State governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, has announced sponsorship of a scholarship for the three siblings (under seven years) who lost their parents in mysterious ways.
The governor’s wife announced the scholarship when she paid an unscheduled visit to Ogui Police Station Enugu, where the children were kept in police custody.
Mrs Mbah, who was touched by the pathetic story surrounding the death of the mother of the children, said she would take care of the children and train them from Nursery school to University level.
[VIDEO] Yankee no know star o”; I regret relocating abroad – Femi Brainard opens up on being Uber driver
Admin![Why I regret relocating abroad – Femi Brainard opens up on being Uber driver [VIDEO]](https://www.withinnigeria.com/entertainment/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/photo-output-29-750x375.jpeg)
Nigerian film actor Femi Brainard has opened up about life while living abroad. The thespian granted an interview with Teju Oyelakin, aka, Teju Babyface on his podcast.
Speaking on the perks as well as the disadvantages attached to relocating abroad, especially being a celebrity, Femi Brainard said it is better to be celebrated and be a prince in Nigeria than to move abroad and be a nobody. He also noted that his wife does not love it at all.
While speaking with the comedian, Brainard noted that anytime he is driving, his Nigerian passengers in particular can’t help but stare at him in disbelief and wonder if he is the star they know.
The actor added that the curious ones would approach him to be sure he was the famous actor they knew in Nigeria.
Femi Brainard said the bills are a lot and he has things like rent to think about. The actor who celebrated his 10th wedding anniversary in May of 2023 explained that he was so broke to an extent once that he went to the parking lot and burst into tears
Media
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that over 40 million telephone lines barred because owners failed to link their SIM cards with their National Identification Number (NIN) will soon be unable to make calls.
According to the NCC Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, on Tuesday, if the affected lines are not acted upon in the next 180 days, they won’t be able to receive calls but will only be able to text and make calls. But after the stipulated days, they will also be barred from making calls.
He added that if no action is taken to rectify the SIM’s status within 365 days, the owners will lose such lines completely to the service providers.
According to him, the phone lines blocked by telecommunications companies have exceeded the deadline of February 28, 2024, set by the regulatory body requiring telecom customers to connect their SIM cards to their National Identification Numbers (NIN).
He said, “If the barred lines are not acted upon in the next 180 days, they won’t be able to receive calls but will only be able to text and make calls. But after the stipulated days, they would be barred from making calls too. And might forfeit their lines to their respective service provider within 365 days.”
Crypto trading platform, Binance, has advised Nigerians trading on its exchange to withdraw all their NGN assets as it discontinues services in the country.
This comes amidst ongoing rancour with the Nigerian government over Binance operations in the country.
The crypto platform is being accused of manipulating the country’s currency leading to its steady fall against other currencies. Some of its executives are also currently being detained by the Nigerian government.
The company said it would no longer accept Naira deposit from today, March 5, adding that Nigerians now have until March 8 to withdraw their assets. Binance said any asset not withdrawn by that date would be converted to USDT.
Although the Nigerian government has blocked access to the Binance website weeks ago, the company in a statement released on Tuesday and published on its website, said:
“Fellow Binancians, Binance will discontinue all Nigerian Naira (NGN) services as per the timeline below.
“Users are encouraged to withdraw NGN, trade their NGN assets or convert NGN into crypto prior to the discontinuation of these NGN services.
“From 2024-03-08 08:00 (UTC), any remaining NGN balances in users’ Binance accounts will be automatically converted to USDT based on the conversion rate below.
“Binance will not support deposits of NGN after 2024-03-05 14:00 (UTC).
“Withdrawals of NGN will not be supported after 2024-03-08 06:00 (UTC).
“After 2024-03-08 08:00 (UTC), Binance will convert any remaining NGN balances in users’ Spot and Funding wallets into USDT on behalf of users at a ratio of 1 USDT = 1,515.13 NGN.
“Please note that the conversion rate is calculated based on the average closing price of the USDT/NGN trading pair on Binance Spot in the last seven days.
“The conversion may take approximately up to 24 hours or longer. USDT tokens will be credited to users’ Spot wallets thereafter, and users can confirm receipt of the tokens via the Convert History page.
“If users hold less than 0.00000001 USDT worth of NGN in their Spot and Funding wallets, they will each receive 0.00000001 USDT in their Spot wallets after the conversion.”
Binance said it would delist all existing NGN spot trading pairs (i.e., BTC/NGN and USDT/NGN) at 2024-03-07 03:00 (UTC).
All open spot orders with respect to the above trading pairs will automatically be closed when trading ceases in the relevant trading pair.
“Users should ensure they have not selected “Hide Small Balances” in all of their wallets to view their assets after trading ceases,” it added.
The company it would also convert will delist NGN and all corresponding pairs at 2024-03-07 02:00 (UTC), while Binance P2P delisted all NGN trading pairs at 2024-02-28 15:00 (UTC).
“Binance Auto-Invest will delist NGN after 2024-03-06 03:00 (UTC). Users may choose to remove the plan(s) beforehand. Otherwise, the next recurring cycle of the aforementioned token(s) will fail,” it added.
Binance said it would remove NGN from the list of supported payment options on Binance Pay at 2024-03-06 03:00 (UTC).
Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has rebuked the suspected hoodlums who looted a warehouse in Gwagwa-Tasha on Sunday, saying their action was a sheer criminal act that was not in anyway motivated by hunger.
She said this yesterday at the end of an assessment visit to Gwagwa-Tasha to ascertain the level of damage to the warehouse where the palliatives for the six area councils were stored.
She also vowed that going forward, the FCT administration will now establish police posts in all government-owned warehouses to protect them from looters.
The minister decried the brazen stealing of all the grains and other food stuffs, including the roofs and fence of the storage facility.
She expressed outrage at the attitude of the youths within area, assuring that the administration would now establish a police post in all government warehouses across the territory to deter the recurrence of such act.
“We are here due to the unfortunate incident that happened early hours of yesterday, (Sunday) where hoodlums attacked this very warehouse and packed everything that was here, including the fence.
“Not only the food items that were here, including the roofing, windows, and even the gates of this place and offices were all attacked. You can see the level of damage. There is nothing that is left here, including machineries that are used for the processing of these things.
“As you have heard, people around, the youth of the environment or the community are suspected to have instigated this incident. So, this is a very sad event. And we are not happy about it,” Mahmoud said.
She also vowed that the administration would prosecute those behind the ugly incident, noting that the unfortunate incident occurred when the administration was restocking its warehouse with a view to meeting up with the directive of President Bola Tinubu to distribute palliatives to all the six area councils in FCT.
She said: “We did distribution about twice. And then about to do the third one, where these trucks were here to offload these food items, and then they were attacked, they even injured some people on duty.
“This is really a bad situation. And it is not something that the administration will take lightly. All those that are involved must be brought to book. We have to do something.
“And also, this is a sign that we need to reinforce the security situation around all our warehouses, because you just have to keep food.
“But the way this thing happened actually is beyond hunger. This is a criminal act. Somebody that is hungry cannot move out to remove all the roofing that is here. All the doors, all the windows, and also the gates.
“This is not showing that we are good ambassadors of the nation. So definitely we are going to take action about this event that has happened.”
However, she warned that the incident may slow down the distribution of palliatives in the territory, saying the administration may have to reconstruct the warehouse, all the offices, including the gates that were damaged.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a further decrease in the exchange rate used to calculate import duties at seaports.
This reduction comes after a period of relative stability in the exchange rate between the Naira and US Dollar.
As of Monday, March 4, the new rate for calculating customs duties is N1,544.081 per US Dollar. This represents a 5.3% decrease compared to the previous rate of N1,630.159 per US Dollar used on Friday, March 2. In simpler terms, importers will now pay N86.078 less per dollar when clearing their goods through the ports.
This change reflects the CBN’s ongoing efforts to ensure that customs duties accurately reflect the prevailing exchange rate. By adjusting the rate downward, the CBN aims to ease the pressure on businesses importing goods into Nigeria. The expectation is that this will lead to a more predictable and stable environment for international trade.
On February 23, the CBN issued a circular in response to concerns from importers regarding fluctuating import duty assessments by the Nigeria Customs Service.
Key points from the CBN circular include acknowledging market volatility and price distortions due to the liberalization of the foreign exchange market, addressing importers’ concerns about uncertainties caused by fluctuating exchange rates affecting duty calculations, and advising the Nigeria Customs Service to use the closing FX rate on the date of opening Form M for imports as the fixed rate for duty assessment. This fixed rate will remain valid until the completion of import and clearance of goods.
These measures, along with the reduced customs duty rate and clarified import duty assessment process, aim to bring stability and transparency to the import environment. This is expected to benefit businesses, consumers, and the overall Nigerian economy.
Importers and businesses involved in international trade should keep themselves updated with the latest information from the CBN to accurately calculate duties and avoid potential delays or issues when clearing goods through customs.
The widow of the late former governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has knocked her husband’s niece, Funke Akeredolu Aruna, for supporting the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, ahead of the governorship election in the state.
In a post on her Instagram page on Monday morning, Betty described Funke as shameless, adding that time will tell if she is “truly lucky”.
The late governor’s wife wrote, “Behold the face of Aketi’s niece, Funke Akeredolu Aruna, the former deputy chief protocol to Aketi, shamelessly parades as ‘I am lucky’ Bloody serpent! Time will tell if she is truly lucky.”
Lucky Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as the Governor of Ondo State on December 27, 2023, following the death of his former boss, Akeredolu, who died of prostate cancer in Germany at the age of 67.
National Daily reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed April 16, 2024, for the governorship primary, while the main election will be held in November.
[NationalDaily]
Bitcoin surpassed $65,300 on Monday morning, bringing it one step closer to its all-time high of $69K, which was reached in November 2021.
The cryptocurrency asset increased by more than 6% in the last day. Historical gains associated with Bitcoin’s halving event, euphoric sentiment, and institutional buying demand are positioning the asset to surpass its lifetime highs of $69,000 in March.
The crypto markets have had a very bullish influence since the beginning of February. Every day, the volume has been surpassing, demonstrating the extensive participation of market players.
Given that the price of bitcoin is currently settling into a very small range, it is anticipated that the token will soon mirror a prior price movement.
Investors are pricing the direct impact on the supply side of the Bitcoin economy that will result from the impending halving of the crypto asset, which will reduce daily BTC issuance from 900 to 450.
To successfully navigate this landscape, traders must comprehend the implications of this event in the larger market context, considering other significant factors like Bitcoin ETFs. Interest in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has surged recently, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) leading the way.
At a pivotal point in the institutional adoption of cryptocurrency, the fund broke records by becoming a member of the $10 billion assets under management (AUM) club in a record-breaking seven weeks.
The swift amassing of assets reflects a wider pattern of institutional investors’ growing desire for Bitcoin as they look for ways to gain exposure to the crypto space through conventional investment vehicles.
Vital insights for managing market volatility both before and after market halving are provided by tools such as Glassnode’s data and analytics.
According to the most recent price movement, Bitcoin appears to be preparing for yet another significant breakout and has formally entered a bull market.
Some reports state that OTC desk balances are almost at zero, suggesting that big institutions might begin to accumulate once more. Profit-taking activity has drastically decreased in comparison to the 2021 bull run, which may be another reason to be bullish on Bitcoin.
The record-high open interest in Bitcoin futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange is another important indicator of a potentially overheated market (CME).
According to CoinGlass, open interest in CME Bitcoin has increased to an all-time high of $8.66 billion. Together, these elements suggest that there is a strong bullish sentiment surrounding Bitcoin, but investors should exercise caution.
[Nairametrics]
Experts Rate BlockDAG Crypto’s 5000% ROI Potential Higher Than Injective (INJ) Forecast And Ethereum Evolution
AdminThe latest Injective (INJ) forecast has been the talk of the town and signals a promising rally in the crypto market. Furthermore, the evolution of Ethereum has also been a significant industry trend in recent times, with the Ethereum ETFs on the horizon.
Interestingly, new crypto projects have also started to sprout. One of such is BlockDAG (BDAG). BlockDAG stands out due to its various incredible achievements since its inception. It has raised over $2.56 million in 2 presale batches, selling over 2 billion tokens. It has also generated $1,567,640 through BDAG miner sales, selling more than 3.1K miners. This development underlines BlockDAG’s potential as it aims to become a cryptocurrency giant within the market soon.
Injective (INJ) Forecast: Gliding Through Volatility
The Injective (INJ) forecast is poised for a rally after a 70-day buildup, signaling potential upward movement. Known for facilitating smooth transactions, Injective stands out in the cryptocurrency arena. Despite market volatility, Injective’s prospects for growth are strong, attributed to its secure, fast trading and ability to link diverse ecosystems.
While the outcome of the expected rally is uncertain, highlighting the speculative nature of cryptocurrencies, Injective’s technology is pivotal in DeFi’s expansion, with a focus on interoperability and user-friendliness, garnering attention from cryptocurrency enthusiasts.
Ethereum’s Evolution: Adaptability & Innovation
Since its inception in 2013, Ethereum has been a leading cryptocurrency, second only to Bitcoin, and a key player in DeFi, NFTs, and the Metaverse. Its continuous evolution has expanded its influence into gaming, art, and online casinos, enhancing its value and solidifying its status as a blockchain leader.
With upcoming updates like Danksharding, Ethereum aims to improve data management and scalability. These advancements, along with efforts to increase transaction speed and reduce costs, highlight Ethereum’s commitment to progress and user experience, positioning it for a dynamic future in blockchain innovation.
BlockDAG’s $2 Million Mega Giveaway Allure
BlockDAG is turning heads in the crypto market. It has raised over $2.56 million in its presale phase, trading over 2 billion tokens. It has also generated $1,567,640 from BDAG miner sales, selling more than 3.1K miners. These achievements show BlockDAG’s strong potential in the crypto market, elevating its current status as a leading presale crypto.
There’s more buzz with the $2 Million Mega Giveaway. So far, almost 3000 people have joined. The giveaway offers the community a chance to win big cash prizes. This prize will be shared among 50 lucky members who engage on BlockDAG’s social media platforms. Participants must follow BlockDAG’s social media pages to participate, submit their wallet address and engage with the community to increase their chances of winning. Users can also bring friends into the challenge, increasing their chances of winning.
This giveaway is not just for promotion, it is a big deal. It shows BlockDAG’s dedication to its community and innovation. However, users must hurry and join now, as this giveaway ends on April 15. As BlockDAG nears selling out its second presale batch, its quick sales highlight its growing status in the market and its resolve to bring the needed transformation into the crypto space.
Quick Take
The Injective (INJ) forecast and Ethereum’s ongoing innovation are no doubt, top projects. However, BlockDAG’s presale looks most promising, as investors are sure of a 5000x return on investment. Moreover, it’s a win-win situation, as BlockDAG’s $2 Million Mega Giveaway further creates more avenues for winning. BlockDAG’s place as a top investment option for 2024 cannot be contested.
[DailyTrust]
More...
•Says Nigeria must focus on production, discourage dollarisation of economy
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has predicted tougher times for the Nigerian economy, due to what he termed as the bad policy decisions of the federal government, even as he condemned the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to increase the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 22.75 per cent.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN had last week raised the MPR, also known as the benchmark interest rate by 400 basis points to 22.75 percent from 18.75 percent.
Obaseki, who spoke at the annual Edo Zone Bankers’ Committee Dinner held in Benin City, Edo State, was quoted in a statement yesterday, to have cited the potential adverse effect of the interest rate increase by the CBN on businesses and the nation’s economy, reiterating the need to focus on productive activities.
The governor said, “The next few months will be difficult because the policies rolled out by CBN will unfortunately not support growth in our economy. The interest rate is already high and jacking it up will not allow small businesses access to credit to make them grow.
“We must focus on the fundamentals which is increasing production, making sure our citizens produce what we consume and depend less on imports. Our economic and monetary policies should not be determined by exchange rate alone.
“The issue of increasing the cash reserves in a bid to tighten liquidity is going to be detrimental to our economy. We should focus on fiscal issues to enable us to grow our economy, not panic about the interest rate. Creating jobs should be a priority for us as a nation.”
Commending the role of commercial banks in societal development, Obaseki tasked the banks to come up with products and services which can assist the majority of citizens in overcoming the harsh economic realities experienced nationwide.
He, however, reassured that his government would continue to partner with the financial sector to cushion the effects of the present economic realities on the people of the State.
Noting that his government has over the last seven and half years undertaken several policies and programmes to reposition the State as a leading sub-national in terms of GDP growth, the governor reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the welfare of the people.
He said, “We have built institutions, empowered our people with skills, and ensured they are gainfully employed and seven years after, we are ranked as one of the top States in terms of GDP growth in Nigeria.
“I am here to thank you for collaborating with us to grow the economy of Edo State in the last seven years. You have supported me to make progress this far.
“I thank each bank and management for taking advantage of the opportunities created in the last seven years, especially with our reforms and growth.
“In the last seven years, we have improved our security, ensuring our people walk freely as the ability to restore security gives confidence to our people who come back home to invest in our State.”
The governor further stated, “Before now, our young ones traveled at will to seek greener pastures but our administration in 2017 got the report about how desperate our youths are traveling out but we have changed the narrative.
“As I wind down as governor, I am leaving a strong State economically; agricultural production has been ramped up significantly. We are leaving a State that is the most digitally connected in Nigeria today as we have laid over 2,000km of fiber optic connection across the state and we have connected the 18 LGA and all your branches are well connected.
“We are leaving a State that is leading in terms of electricity generation. We have Azura, contributing to the stability of the national grid. We also have Ossiomo Power. Investors are ready to support our initiative in the State. We have the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Law that will allow us to regulate those who want to generate and distribute electricity in Edo State.”
He added: “We have laid the basis for economic growth and development in Edo State and Nigeria. We saw this difficult time coming but could not move and make the necessary decision that would have saved us, but those who ought to act to save us failed to do that, hence here we are today.”
[ThisDay]
South African artiste, Black Coffe has recounted how his estranged wife, Enhle Mbali’s “ungrateful” reaction to an expensive car he bought for her during their marriage left him disappointed.
Speaking in a recent interview with Kaya 959, the Grammy-winning DJ revealed that after presenting his gift to his woman, the reaction he got was unexpected.
He stated that the event made him feel as though his efforts were not valued or appreciated.
“The response wasn’t what I expected; she wasn’t excited. I expected her to even cry, but she was just like; ‘Oh, nice, thank you.’ And it sat with me heavily for a long time as someone who was not appreciating,” he said.
Recall that Black Coffe and Mbali’s marriage ended in 2019 after she accused the record producer of infidelity and abuse.
The ‘We Dance Again’ DJ fathered two children with other women while the couple was married.
[DailyPost]
An employee of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, (BEDC), was on Monday electrocuted while carrying out repairs on a 33KVA line.
The tragedy occurred at Evwreni community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the deceased simply identified as Kingsley was electrocuted while reconnecting a damaged cable on the high tension cable transmitting current to Uwheru, Patani, Bomadi and other communities in the state.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a source from Evwreni disclosed that the deceased met his untimely death when electricity was suddenly restored to the high tension pole on which he was working.
“He is from Evwreni community and we know him as a BEDC Staff all these years until the unfortunate incident occurred on Monday afternoon,” the source said.
When contacted for her response, BEDC’s Public Relations Officer, Evelyn Gbiwen said she was on leave and has not been briefed about the incident.
A rights campaigner, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, on Monday filed a suit before a Federal High Court Lagos against telecommunications companies over recent barring of phone lines.
Joined as respondents in the suit are the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aminu Mada and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.
The applicants also named Airtel Networks Nigeria Ltd; Globacom Ltd and Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd. (EMTS 9 Mobile) as other responders.
Ogungbeje in his affidavit, averred that sometime in January, the respondents had threatened to bar, or deactivate mobile lines of Nigerians whose phone lines were not linked with their National Identification Number (NIN).
He averred that he had proceeded to court and obtained an order on Feb. 22, restraining the respondents from barring or deactivating the phone lines of Nigerians, pending determination of the suit following this threat.
Ogungbeje to his amazement, he discovered that his mobile lines, as well as those of many Nigerians had been barred by the respondents on February 28 in defiance to a subsisting court order.
The applicant therefore sought a declaration that the act by the respondents in barring and deactivating the lines of Nigerians from February 28 till date, inspite of a subsisting court order, is wrongful and illegal.
He is also seeking a declaration that the respondents being a creation of law, are subject to the court of law and its judicial powers, and are under an obligation to obey same.
He consequently, seeks an order, setting aside the entire directives, restricting the phone lines of Nigerians .
The applicant also wants an order directing the respondents to immediately unlock and unrestrict the phone lines of affected Nigerians.
He is claiming the sum of N10 billion against the telecom companies, as exemplary damages for their unlawful restrictions on phone lines of Nigerians.
He also wants an order of perpetual injunction restraining the responders from taking further steps or action against such affected citizens in relation to the facts of the case.
No date has been fixed for hearing of the new suit.
(NAN)