Oman, a nation in the Gulf region has suspended the conversion of visit or tourist visas into work visas.
This policy change signifies a significant shift in the country’s immigration regulations, and this took effect on the 31st of October.
Before this decision, those visiting Oman had the choice of initially entering the country on a tourist or visit visa and later transforming it into a work visa.
This process offered a pathway for individuals in pursuit of employment prospects in Oman.
The Royal Oman Police has said that this will have an impact on travellers and expatriates within the Gulf country.
This recent announcement signified that consequently, travellers are now obligated to obtain work visas from their home countries before they arrive in Oman.
Previous law on visitor visas
Previously, expats and visitors entering Oman on visit visas could have them converted into work permits.
The rule applied to those with family joining visas and student visas, among others, provided certain conditions were met accordingly.
According to the decision announced then, the following type of visas stipulated in the Foreigners’ Residence Law, could be converted into a work visa or temporary work visa.
The statement read:
- “A visit visa issued to residents of GCC countries, a visit visa issued to meet relatives and friends in the country, single-entry tourist visas (valid for up to 10 days or a month), single and multiple entry business visas, express visas, investor visas, student visas, visas provided to sailors serving onboard, or passengers aboard cruise ships, visas for owners of residential units and their family members.”
The Inspector General of Police and Customs, General Hassan bin Mohsen Al-Shraiqi, has issued Decision No. 142/2021 amending some provisions of the executive regulations of the Foreigners’ Residence Law, and it stated:
- “Based on the Foreigners’ Residence Law promulgated by Royal Decree No. 16/95, and the executive regulations for the Residence Law issued by Resolution No. 63/96, and based on the requirements of the public interest, it was decided:
- “The competent authority may convert the visas stipulated in clauses (3 / A, 3 / B, 3 / D, 3 / E, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16) of this article into a work visa. Or temporary work if its conditions are met, by the controls set by the competent authority, and after paying the prescribed fee for that”.
What they said
However, the latest policy states that this has been reversed.
According to a statement by The Royal Oman Police in a Twitter post:
- “Within its review of the policies for obtaining some types of visas, announces the suspension of the conversion of all types of tourist and visit visas to work visas for all nationalities coming to the Sultanate of Oman”.
[Nairametrics]
The Imo State Police Command on Wednesday said they were not involved in the alleged arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero in Imo.
The Police through the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Henry Okoye, made this known to newsmen in Owerri while commenting on the arrest of Ajaero by security operatives in Owerri on Wednesday, during the NLC strike action in the state.
Explaining further, the Police said: “The Imo State Police Command wishes to clarify some sketchy reports alleging the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in Owerri. It is pertinent to state that the NLC President was in Owerri as part of arrangements of the Congress to mobilize workers for a mega protest rally in the state. In the course of their planning, it was reported that suggestions arose for the lockdown of some essential facilities particularly the airport which led to some workers and other individuals resisting the picketing process leading to scuffles heated arguments and an eventual attack on the person of the president by a mob.
“Upon receiving this report, the Imo Police Command swiftly deployed police operatives to the scene where the Officer in Charge exercised his operational discretion by taking the NLC President into protective custody at the State Command Headquarters to ensure the protection of his life and that he was not lynched in the scuffle that followed. The Commissioner of Police thereafter directed that he should be taken to the Police Medical Services, Owerri, where he would be accorded medical attention as a result of the attack. He has therefore been accorded adequate security cover to proceed on his other legitimate engagements for the day.”
“It is however necessary to emphasize the existence of a court injunction from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria held in Owerri with Suit No. NICN/OW/41/2023 dated 27th October 2023, barring the NLC from holding the intended protest rally in Owerri.
“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc (+), therefore urges all concerned parties to ensure compliance with the Court directives to avoid jeopardizing the current security arrangements on Owerri and other parts of Imo State, even as the State gears up for the forthcoming electioneering process on 11th November 2023,” he said.
[Vanguard]
The Enugu Government has given logistics services providers a Dec. 1 deadline to register with the state government.
Mr Emeka Ajogwu, the State Commissioner for Special Duties, made this known during a stakeholders’ meeting with the association of courier operators in the state in Enugu.
He observed that a dialogue with the operators had become necessary, following increas in reports of the constant breach of security due to the lack of coordination and chaotic nature of logistic service operations in the state.
”The state government discovered that the courier service providers are not organised. People simply purchase motorcycles and put them on the roads without any registration with the government.
”It is also worrisome that courier service providers operated by midnight without any means of identification showing they were genuine business operators.
“We have also heard that some of the bad eggs among you are hiding under the cover of this business to peddle drugs and move around small arms and light weapons within the metropolis.
“This is unacceptable and a concern to the government”, he said
Ajogwu said the administration of Gov. Peter Mbah was taking the issue of security very seriously.
“We called this meeting so that we will all agree on the measures to put in place going forward, so that we will begin to separate the wheat from the chaff, so that genuine business owners will not be affected by the unscrupulous activities of those who are not genuine.
“Your operations must be organised and regulated so that the logistics industry can play its rightful role in our economy and, henceforth, all operators of logistics companies in Enugu State state must be licensed by the Ministry of Transport.
“All unbranded and unnumbered motorcycles should not ply our roads. Every company must brand their motorcycles and every bike will have a number,” he said.
The commissioner also said every rider myst be dressed in their company uniform and must carry a valid identity card issued by the company.
”Operators are to keep records of delivery pick-ups, their locations and phone numbers, while a waybill for all items in the delivery box must be readily available on demand by the authorities.
Ajogwu said genuine dispatch riders should not be on the road by 8 p.m. except he or she has been verified, certified, and authenticated by the relevant authorities.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu who was represented by the Area Commander, Enugu Police Area Command, ACP S.D West said the meeting was informed by the need to check non-state actors who were exploiting the porous space created by the logistics industry in the state.
“We need to buy into the vision of the state government. Get your bikes properly identifiable so that we can know those who are not part of you and will help us to fish them out.
“I want you all to look at it objectively. You will see that the whole vision is for the state to be secured for everyone,” he said
Reacting, the interim chairperson of the Courier Operators Association, Adaora Okoye said the association will comply with the state government’s demands.
She also noted that licensing of operators would bring sanity to the logistics industry in the state.
[NewsGuru]
The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) says it has shut 34 corporate organisations and 23 hotels for failing to remit personal income taxes (PIT) of their employees and consumption taxes, respectively.
This is according to a statement by Monsurat Amasa-Oyelude, head of corporate communications at LIRS, where she stated that Seyi Alade, LIRS director of legal services, disclosed the shutdown while addressing a state-wide tax law enforcement exercise conducted by the service on Monday.
Alade said the tax liabilities of these companies and hotels amounted to more than N356.12 million, adding that this has caused the state a huge loss in revenue.
He added that the agency had previously reduced its enforcement activities to promote voluntary compliance by taxpayers, however, certain companies and hotels chose to engage in tax evasion.
“Therefore, the renewed enforcement activities of the service are targeted at such companies, restaurants, hotels, and event centers,” Alade said.
“These companies deduct PIT from their employees’ salaries at the end of each month, and charge consumption taxes on goods and services purchased by customers.
Unfortunately, some unpatriotic firms choose to withhold these payments, illegally converting the funds for their own use,” LIRS’ director of legal services said.
According to the statement, Alade also said failing to file tax returns or engaging in tax evasion are considered criminal offences that may result in financial penalties and, in some cases, custodial sentences upon conviction.
He further warned that the enforcement exercise shall be a continuous one, adding that all erring companies, hotels, restaurants, and individuals in the state will be visited if they refuse to regularise their tax positions immediately or if they fail to comply with all extant tax laws operational in Lagos.
Some of the companies shut down by the service include
NTS Nigeria Ltd
Med-In Hospital & Pharma Services Ltd.
Danvic Petroleum Int’l Ltd.
Business Intelligence Technology
Avaya Nigeria Ltd.
Gladstone Tech Ltd.
Courier Plus Services Ltd.
Kurioucity Ltd.
Medilag Ventures Ltd.
Future Oilfields
Seven Six & Ten Limited
While some of the hotels shut down by LIRS include:
Blitz Suites & Hotel
Offshoroomz Hotel
God’s Grace Hotel
De Orange Place Ltd.
De Santos Hotel
Kentade Hotel Limited
Chamcee
Chelsea Suites
Falode Hotels
High Climax Hotel
Chez Moi Apartment
Excellence Hotel
Bereans Venture (Tantalizer Ebute Metta)
La Avril Hotel & Suites
De Orange Place Ltd.
Milaco Guest House
New World Inn
Model Motels Ltd
Rely Maritime Ltd
4 Seasons Hotel
Dream Land Hotel
343 North Restaurant and Lounge
Jade Palace Chinese Restaurant
[BusinessDay]
The Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, has said that the Corporation has commenced online ticketing system for travellers from Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
He said among the routes where the digital service is to be deployed include the Warri-Itakpe Train Service routes.
Recall that, Okhiria had earlier during a symposium on railway safety, organized in June by Transport Day Magazine and partners, assured Nigerians that in less than five months, the e-Ticketing platform would kick off by November 1, 2023.
He noted that as civilization is extended to virtually every sector in the world, the tool of globalisation has found its productive space in the Nigeria Railway Corporation as the government agency in charge of railway services has decided to go digital.
According to him, the process of generating e-ticket is simple, but whoever that wants to use the digital ticket must have a National Identity Number (NIN), after thereafter log-in to see available coach types, select train based on departure time and class, select seat from seat map, proceed to pay and generate his or her ticket.
“The manual or analogue ticketing system is long outdated and definitely had its myriads of demerits and misadventures as both the Corporation and the train users had their stressful time with the old ticketing methodology,” the NRC boss stated.
According to him, the new electronic ticketing was first experimented on the Itakpe-Warri train services, adding that the online ticketing which now takes effect on all routes will enable passengers to buy their tickets online from their homes 48 hours before embarking on a journey, and avoid physical contact with NRC staff.
Okhiria said the new development was necessary because of the reports of misconduct perpetrated by some officials of the Corporation.
He recalled a report that NRC staff were caught on camera for ticket racketeering, saying that the new platform will eradicate such unwholesome practices, and ensure money paid for train ride goes to the right coffers.
“This novel innovation in the Corporation has undergone some practical tests which preclude its eventual launching.
“The good news now is that the Nigerian Railway Corporation has officially announced the launch of its highly anticipated electronic ticketing (e-ticketing) system on its standard gauge network,” he added.
Demonstrating the seriousness and commitment of the Corporation to the digital service, Okhiria, speaking in an interview session on Television Continental (TVC) last week Tuesday, stated that there were trial operation of the digital ticketing in some stations on October 25, 2023.
“The introduction of e-Ticketing platform marks a significant milestone in the annal of history of the Corporation, which will resultantly address existing challenges where passengers were required to visit train stations for ticket purchases physically.
“With e-ticketing, travellers will be able to procure train tickets at least 48 hours before their planned departure, all from the comfort of their homes or offices.
“Furthermore, the importance of e-ticketing cannot be overemphasized as it will enhance the security of both passenger funds and investments. No doubt, the revenues generated through ticket sales would be directly paid into government coffers.
“E-ticketing has already been successfully tested and implemented by the railway corporation on the Abuja-Kaduna route. It is expected to commence on the Warri-Itakpe lines by November 1.
“The adoption of e-ticketing is expected to reduce human interference, streamline revenue collection, and limit the exposure of passengers to staff attempting to manipulate fare rates,” the NRC MD stated.
[Leadership]
The Federal High Court in Abuja has again threatened to order the arrest of former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in a case involving a $53 million judgement debt arising from the Paris Club refund.
The judge, Inyang Ekwo, on Tuesday, gave Mr Emefiele until 25 January to appear to explain the circumstances surrounding the judgement debt.
Mr Ekwo had earlier in July threatened to order the former CBN governor’s arrest due to his repeated absence from proceedings.
Mr Emefiele’s absence from court, resulting from his arrest and detention since June, has stalled progress in the case.
The former CBN was first arrested by the State Security Service (SSS) a day after President Bola Tinubu suspended him from office in June.
The agency kept him in custody till late October, when it transferred him to the Economic and FInancial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to continue the investigations of undisclosed corruption allegations against him.
While Mr Emefiele remained in custody, Mr Ekwo continued to demand his appearance in court and issued an arrest warrant against him in July.
Unrelenting in his quest to ensure Mr Emefiele appeared in court for the case, the judge, on Tuesday, gave Mr Emefiele another opportunity to appear in court in person.
He reiterated that Mr Emefiele risked an arrest warrant being issued against him should he continue to stay away from the proceedings.
The judge stopped short of issuing the arrest warrant against the detained former CBN chief on Tuesday, following a plea by the lawyer representing him and the bank, Audu Anuga, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), that all efforts to ensure that his appearance in person on the order of the court were unsuccessful as he was still in custody.
Lawyer’s plea
Mr Anuga informed the court that an affidavit to show cause on why an arrest warrant should not be issued against Mr Emefiele was filed on 30 October.
The judgement creditor’s lawyer, I.A. Nnana, confirmed his team was served with the affidavit at about the close of work on Monday, adding that his team needed to file a formal response to it.
The judge cautioned Mr Anuga against late filing of processes.
The senior lawyer, however, explained that all efforts were made until Friday (27 October) to ensure that Mr Emefiele was released on the order of the court to enable him to attend proceedings, but that the order was not complied with, which necessitated the filing of the affidavit.
Mr Anuga, however, told the court that since parties had been exploring settlement before and the CBN governor had been appointed, they should be allowed to continue exploring the settlement option.
‘Detention not excuse for contempt’
But Mr Ekwo insisted that Mr Emefiele must appear at the next hearing, saying his detention was not an excuse for contemptuous conduct.
“As for the 4th respondent (Emefiele), I have always said, contempt proceedings follow a person whether the person Is still there or not.
“In this case, I have given this particular person so much liberty, so much leniency and the situation does not seem to change.
“I will adjourn the matter because the other side says they want to react to the process so there is not much talk.
“Order of court must be complied with, and even if no one complies with the order of the court, the court must comply with its order.
“I will give you sufficient time,” he said.
The judge then adjourned the matter until 25 January for Mr Emefiele to show cause why an arrest warrant should not be issued against him.
The case
The suit is one in a flurry of legal actions associated with the federal government’s refund to states and local governments the amounts of funds said to have been over-deducted from their accounts to offset Paris Club and London between 1995 and 2002.
Linas International Ltd and its promoter, Ned Nwoko, had initiated the first major suit, which culminated in a court judgement awarding them huge amounts of money for their roles in helping states and local government areas to discover the excessive deductions from their accounts.
Since then, countless entities, lawyers, and other professionals have surfaced, claiming to have provided one form of consultancy services or the other to recover the money for the states and local governments.
Mr Agi, through his suit, seeks enforcement of a judgement that he obtained against Linas International Ltd for his role in helping the firm secure the recovery of the funds.
NAN reports that Mr Agi’s suit stemmed from an alleged $70 million judgement against Linas International Ltd for his role in the Paris Club refund.
Mr Emefiele was said to have only released $17 million, leaving an unpaid balance of $53 million.
The court had, on 23 January 2020, ruled that Mr Emefiele must appear “to be examined on oath, since the date of the said garnishee order absolute, to pay the balance of 53 million dollars now due and payable under the said garnishee order absolute and also show cause why you should not be committed to prison for default in payment of the said sum”.
In October 2022, Mr Agi, through his counsel, Isaac Ekpa and Chinonso Obasi, filed another application against Linas International, the Minister of Finance and the CBN.
He sought an order directing the Inspector-General of Police to arrest Mr Emefiele and bring him to court alongside his lawyers, Damian Dodo, Audu Anuga, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and Ginika Ezeoke, Jessica Iyoke, Abdullahi Afolayan, and Olayemi Afolayan.
NAN reports that Mr Ekwo had, on 20 October 2022, ordered the then CBN governor to appear in court on 18 January over his alleged refusal to obey the order of the court for the payment of the judgment debt in favour of a legal practitioner, Joe Agi, a SAN.
[Premium Times]
The apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged President Bola Tinubu to disregard the minority of Igbos crying foul over appointments.
Ohanaeze asserted that an overwhelming 99 per cent of the Igbo population fully supports the Southeast Charter of Demands and demands immediate attention from President Tinubu.
The Southeast Charter of Demands, which Ohanaeze Ndigbo has championed since June 2023, encompasses crucial issues that requires urgent resolution for the betterment of the Igbo people.
In a statement he signed, factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, called on Tinubu to heed the voice of the overwhelming majority of Igbos and immediately address the Southeast Charter of Demands.
Isiguzoro said failure to do so will only deepen the discontent and exacerbate the grievances of the Igbo population.
He listed the demands to include:
“Creation of Aba State:
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has long advocated for the creation of an additional state in the Southeast. The choice of Aba State has been carefully considered and is supported by the majority of the Igbo population.
Immediate Release of Nnamdi Kanu:
Ohanaeze Ndigbo insists on President Tinubu’s intervention for the prompt release of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, before December. This act of clemency is essential to restore peace and harmony in the volatile Southeast, allowing our people to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays without fear.
Massive Developmental Projects:
Ohanaeze Ndigbo demands the implementation of transformative projects, such as the construction of a Deep Sea Port in Azumiri Blue River in Ukwa East LGA, Abia State, and the establishment of standard gauge railway lines connecting strategic locations within the Southeast. These initiatives will foster economic growth and alleviate the hardships caused by the removal of fuel subsidies.
Reconstruction of Federal Roads with Cement Technology:
The dilapidated state of federal roads in the Southeast is an urgent concern. Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls for the reconstruction of these roads using modern cement technology, ensuring durability and improved connectivity for our people.
Inclusion of Anambra, Enugu, Kogi States in Oil Derivation Allocations:
Ohanaeze Ndigbo emphasizes the immediate inclusion of Anambra, Enugu, and Kogi states, recognized by the Buhari administration as oil-producing states from the Old Anambra River basin, to benefit from the 13% oil derivation monthly allocations. This inclusion is a matter of justice and fair distribution of resources.
President Tinubu must recognize that the individuals advocating for more appointments in the Federal Executive Council are employing an old elitist strategy to defraud the Igbo people, which has been ongoing since 1999. Ohanaeze Ndigbo vehemently opposes this exploitative approach and stands against those who seek to undermine the interests of the Igbo nation.
Imo State Police Command operatives have arrested the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
Naija News understands that Ajaero was whisked away by the Police at the ongoing protest in Imo state.
According to Vanguard, the development took place as hoodlums descended on protesters, smashing vehicles and inflicting wounds on labour members.
At the time of filing this report, the whereabout of the NLC President is unknown as heavily armed security personnel took him away
Ajaero had earlier directed all members of the Union and affiliate Unions to shut down all sectors in Imo State, including air, land and sea, as the union commences protest today.
Naija News learnt that Ajaero announced the commencement of the protest at the end of the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held in the late hours of Tuesday, October 31, 2023, in Owerri, the state capital.
NLC president had accused the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, of violating and neglecting workers’ welfare.
He alleged that due to the hostile actions of the governor towards workers in the state, many of them have died because of the lack of payment of their salaries.
Speaking further, Ajaero lamented the non-compliance with the national minimum wage by the state government while accusing Uzodimma of refusing to implement previous agreements, especially the accord reached on January 9, 2021.
[NaijaNews]
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele until January 25 to appear in court and provide an explanation regarding the $53 million judgment debt related to the Paris Club refund.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a short ruling on Tuesday, gave Emefiele another opportunity to appear in court in person or an arrest warrant issued against him.
The development followed a plea by Emefiele and CBN’s counsel, Audu Anuga, SAN, that all efforts to ensure that his client appeared in person on the order of the court were unsuccessful as he was still in custody.
Anuga informed the court that an affidavit to show cause on why arrest warrant should not be issued against Emefiele was filed on October 30.
Justice Ekwo then asked I.A. Nnana, the lawyer who represented Mr Joe Agi, SAN, the judgment creditor/applicant in the suit, if he had been served with the affidavit.
Nnana responded that they were served on Monday, almost at the close of work and that they would like to react.
The judge, who cautioned Anuga against late filing of processes, reminded that the matter came up on July 19.
The senior lawyer, however, explained that all efforts were made until Friday (Oct. 27) to ensure that Emefiele was released on order of the court but the order was not complied with, which necessitated the filing of the affidavit.
Anuga, however, told the court that since parties had been exploring settlement before and the CBN had a new governor, they should be allowed to explore settlement option.
But Justice Ekwo insisted that Emefiele must appear on the next adjourned day.
“As for the 4th respondent (Emefiele), I have always said, contempt proceedings follow a person whether the person Is still there or not.
“In this case, I have given this particular person so much liberty, so much leniency and the situation does not seem to change.
“I will adjourn the matter because the other side says they want to react to the process so there is no much talk.
“Order of court must be complied with and even if no one complies with the order of the court, the court must comply with its order.
“I will give you sufficient time,” he said.
The judge, consequently, adjourned the matter until Jan. 25 for Emefiele to show cause why an arrest warrant should not be issued against him.
Two states, Kano and Borno, are experiencing scarcity of the Naira notes ahead of the deadline for the use of the old N200, N500, and N1000 banknotes, as earlier announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Recall that the CBN had previously announced that the old Naira notes would remain legal tender until December 31, 2023, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order.
Former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, had unveiled plans to redesign the N200, N500, and N1,000 notes, urging citizens to deposit their old notes before January 31, 2023, as they would no longer be accepted as legal tender. A development that brought untold hardship on Nigerians across board spiking protests and attacks on banks in various cities across the country.
However, a few weeks before the CBN deadline, business communities in Kano and Borno states have expressed concerns about the Naira scarcity resurfacing.
A CBN official, who reportedly spoke to Daily Trust on the development, however, stated that there was no plan to “phase out the old notes”.
The media platform also quoted a Point of Sales (PoS) operator in Kano, Abdullahi Usman, to have said banks only allowed withdrawals of between N40,000 and N50,000 daily for individuals and N150,000 to N200,000 for corporate entities.
According to him, he gets his cash supply from the markets where cash transactions usually take place.
“As a PoS operator, I can’t give more than N20,000 to individuals because most banks only allow us to have N40,000 to N50,000 daily. I learnt that only owners of corporate accounts can get N150,000 to N200,000. If you go around town, you will find out that most of the PoS centres now have less cash compared to some weeks ago,” he said.
He said the approaching CBN’s December deadline had made many people deposit their money in banks to avoid being trapped after December 31.
Another PoS operator, Bello Shehu, said he had since resorted to accessing cash from fuel stations instead of the banks because they (banks) don’t usually have enough cash to give to customers.
“I get my cash from fuel stations because the cash we get from the banks nowadays is limited and can’t cater for our customers’ demands,” he said.
It was noticed that despite the absence of long queues at bank ATMs, a majority of them were not dispensing cash. A shop owner in Hotoro, Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano, Muhammed Gambo, reported his inability to access cash from ATMs in recent times. Likewise, a civil servant from the Kano State Government shared that he was unable to withdraw his October salary from six ATMs and had to resort to PoS, where he could only obtain half of the required amount.
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A Constitutional Review Committee has been set up by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to carry out comprehensive reforms of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State made this known while speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the Nigeria Police Council meeting on Tuesday.
Mohammed listed members of the committee to include the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam; National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase; and Governor of Kwara and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
He said: “The confirmation of the IGP prompted further discussion on the Nigeria Police Force, and the President has formed a special committee to look at all the gaps in Nigeria’s 1999 constitution with a view to bringing harmony and synergy, closing technology and manpower to the Nigerian Police Force.
“The committee comprises the minister of police affairs, NSA, chairman of PSC, and the chairman of the NGF. They will work together with a view to make sure that the Nigeria Police is reformed.”
Also speaking, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State said the council observed that no meaningful reforms have taken place in the police since its creation in 1861.
The governor added that the committee would develop ideas that would lead to reforms that would characterize the new Nigeria police force.
He said: “The newly confirmed IGP is adequately prepared, his CV is extremely rich, very experienced, intellectually and practically.
“He also addressed us as a council on the state of policing in Nigeria, among other things that he highlighted, he spoke about the need for technology-driven policing.
“The need for community-based policing, the need to ensure that required budgetary provision is provided for community-based policing, which has been proven to be very effective.
“The issue of funding also came up, and this committee of four to five people will look at these issues that borders on reforms.
“We observed that there have been no meaningful reforms since the establishment of the Nigeria Police Force.”
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has maintained that he needs his base in order to be politically relevant.
According to him, once he loses his base as a politician, he has lost his relevance politically.
The former governor of Rivers State said no amount of calumny levelled against him would make him lose sleep.
Receiving South-South leaders in his office on Tuesday in Abuja, Wike said the right thing must be done.
According to Wike: “All of us want to be politically relevant; all of us want to maintain our political structure.
“Is it not your political structure? Will you allow anybody to just cut you out immediately? Everybody has a base. If you take my base, am I not politically irrelevant?”
The relationship between Wike and the Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara is believed to have gone sour.
This led to some lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly moving to impeach Fubara.
The lawmakers who moved to impeach Fubara are said to be Wike’s loyalists.
President Bola Tinubu has sent the names of 10 new Resident Electoral Commissioners to the Senate for confirmation.
This was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, at plenary on Tuesday.
The new RECs were appointed last week to serve in the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The newly appointed RECs are Etekamba Umoren (Akwa Ibom) Isah Shaka Ehimeakne (Edo) Oluwatoyin Babalola (Ekiti) Abubakar Ahmed Ma’aji (Gombe) Shehu Wahab (Kwara) Prof. Mohammed Yelwa (Niger).
Others are Anugbum Onuoha (Rivers), Isma’ila Kaura Moyi (Zamfara), Bunmi Omoseyindemi (Lagos) and Aminu Kasimu Idris (Nasarawa).
Their appointment was greeted with controversies that some of them could be card-carrying members of the ruling All Progressives Congress and two others were also found to be long-term allies of prominent politicians serving in the Tinubu administration.
In the letter seeking the confirmation of the electoral commissioners, Tinubu asked the Senate to give his request expeditious consideration.
Barely two years and six months to the conduct of the gubernatorial election in Anambra state, there are strong indications that there is a plot to stop the second-term ambition of Governor Charles Soludo.
New Telegraph reports that this is the climax of the internal cold war within the ranks of one of the shadowing campaign groups that saw the governor’s victory in the last election, known as Soludo Support Group (SSG).
According to the report, the face-off has pitched the founder of the group and the Deputy Chief Of Staff and Chief of Protocol to Soludo, Chinedu Nwoye, and three top members of the group who the governor’s aide alleged are planning to work against the second term ambition of their principal.
Nwoye, who spoke with reporters, said the three members are fighting tooth and nail to pull the governor down because they claimed the governor didn’t give them political appointments or contracts as a “settlement “.
Nwoye emphasised that the general public, especially other members of SSG, should be mindful of the said three characters who are going around using the group’s name to deceive unsuspecting citizens that they are working for the governor.
He said, in contrast, they are not working for him but seriously plotting his downfall through anti-SSG activities.
He said the “three former members” working against Soludo’s administration are Chidi Okoye Ogazi, Charles Ebulue and Arinzechukwu Awogu.
He said the trio mentioned above had drawn a battle line between themselves and the governor because Soludo didn’t remember them with political appointments and other largesse.
He said one of the three members, Ebulue, during the House of Assembly and Federal House of Representatives Elections in the state, came out openly and worked against the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), saying that the reasons for his anti-APGA activities were because Soludo did not give him appointment.
His words:
”This interview is to present the facts and also to save the vulnerable and people who that may be ignorant of the fact that Chidi Okoye Ogazi from Enugwu-Agidi, Charles Ebulue from Osumenyi and Arinzechukwu Awogu from Ogbaru are deceiving people that they are Soludo Support Group members.
“Yes. There were members, but having checked their activities in the past two years, I discovered that they are clandestinely working against Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.”
Nwoye, therefore, reiterated that the disclaimer was necessary, adding that no one should deal with the three musketeers as SSG members anywhere in the world because they are not supporting Soludo.