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http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Some stakeholders at a colloquium marking the Africa Day on Wednesday, urged countries in the continent to adopt and embrace the use of African Union (AU)Passport. They spoke in a group discussion to celebrate the Day with a theme, “One People, One Continent: Making the All-Africa Passport Work,” in Lagos. Mr Segun Adegoke, Deputy Controller of Immigration (DSI) said that the AU passport is a biometric electronic passport that contains contactless smart-card technology Adegoke said that the passport represent a key plank of the agenda 2063 action Plan, which emphasises the need for greater continental integration, drawing on the popular vision of Pan-African unity. He added that freedom of movement has been a longstanding priority among member states as enshrined in previous agreements such as the 1991 Abuja Treaty. According to him, it is expected that the introduction of the passport will help create jobs and stimulate economic activity that would increase ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Appeal Court sitting in Kaduna on Thursday adjourned hearing till Nov. 9, in the appeal filed by former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema against his trial by a Katsina State High Court. Newsmen report that Shema had approached the Appeal Court with an interlocutory application, to challenge the ruling of the high court. The Katsina High Court had on March 29, 2017 refused Shema’s motion seeking the court to quash his trial by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). The EFCC had arraigned the former Governor and three others before Justice Maikaita Bako for alleged fraud of N11 billion belonging to the State. However, Bako could not go on with the case following an application brought before him by the accused persons for a stay of proceedings on the trial. Counsel to Shema Akinlolu Kehinde had also told the court that the motion before the court of appeal had been assigned and scheduled for hearing on 25 May, 2017 and urged it to stay pro...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday evacuated 270 Nigerian refugees who returned from Cameroon Republic to Nigeria, from Mubi Transit Camp to Borno. The refuges, mostly women and children, are from Gamboru- Ngala Local Government Area of Borno, who escaped Boko Haram attacks to Cameroon in 2014. Mr Sa’ad Bello, NEMA Coordinator for Adamawa and Taraba, said the returnees left Cameroon to Nigeria without any official arrangement. Bello, represented by Mr Abubakar Sadiq, an official of the agency, said that in the last two months 500 Nigerians had left Cameroon to Nigeria without formal communication from the Cameroonian Government. “So far, today (Thursday) we are evacuating 270 Nigerian refugees from Mubi Transit Camp to Maiduguri. “The refugees after thorough investigation left Cameroon Republic to Nigeria without any official notification from Cameroon Government. “Majority of them are women and children and are indigenes of Gamboru Ngal...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Nigerian Navy (NN) on Thursday said it would continue to protect the nation’s maritime domain. The Chief of Policy and Plans (CPPs), Rear Adm. Henry Babalola, made the statement while briefing journalists at its 61st Anniversary at its Headquarters in Abuja. Babalola said the objective of the briefing was to acquaint Nigerians with some major achievements of the NN in area of security and protection, especially the nation’s assets in the maritime domain. “It is evident that NN has made remarkable peace, progress, prosperity and global image of the country. “With this legacy of service to the nation, the NN is justified to annually celebrate its founding days and achievements”, he said. The CPPs said that NN has made giant strides in fleet renewal, operational activities, infrastructure development and personnel welfare. This, he said, were geared toward moving the country forward and motivating personnel to carry out their professional duties of safeguar...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J President Trump vowed on Thursday to bring anyone caught leaking U.S. intelligence to justice after British police stopped sharing information about the Manchester suicide bombing with the United States. In a statement released after Trump arrived at the NATO military alliance, the president said he would seek an official review to stop leaks that he said posed a serious security threat. “The alleged leaks coming out of government agencies are deeply troubling,” Trump said in the statement. “I am asking the Department of Justice and other relevant agencies to launch a complete review of this matter, and if appropriate, the culprit should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” He said the relationship between the U.S.s and Britain was the most cherished of all U.S. ties. Newsmen report that Greater Manchester police stopped sharing information on Monday’s suicide attack with the U.S. over leaks to New York Times, the BBC reported on Thursday. Britis...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s Oando says worst disruptions in oil-producing Delta region are over, and production could reach 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) by the end of June. Oando chief Pade Durotoye told the Africa Independents Forum on Wednesday in London that the long-closed Forcados oilfield could also be back to capacity by the end of June. “We think that the worst is behind us,’’ Durotoye said. “Before the end of June, we will have Forcados back, which would take us comfortably back to 2.2 million bpd.’’ Attacks in the Niger Delta had pushed production to just over 1 million bpd at certain points last year, the lowest in decades, but attacks have abated since the start of the year. The first Foracdos cargo from the main Trans-Forcados export line loaded last week, though operator Royal Dutch Shell has said force majeure remains in place. Durotoye said “bold actions’’ by the government to address security in the area had helped, and that...

http://ift.tt/2q7diAf President Muhammadu Buhari (C), Chief of Staff Abba Kyari (R) and NSA Babagana Monguno, at Juma'at prayer at the State House Mosque on Friday. PHOTO: TWITTER/PRESIDENCY NIGERIA President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday made his first public appearance in weeks, re-emerging amid mounting concerns about his health. The 74-year-old, who spent nearly two months earlier this year receiving treatment in London for an undisclosed illness, was at Friday prayers at a mosque in the presidential villa in Abuja. Video posted on Twitter by presidential aide Bashir Ahmad showed Buhari dressed in white, shaking hands with fellow worshippers and waving after the service. The former military ruler has missed the last three weekly meetings of his cabinet, Friday prayers last week and his grandson’s wedding at the weekend. He had been due to meet his counterpart from neighbouring Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, for talks on Friday but the meeting was cancelled, Buhari’s offic...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Henry Umoru ABUJA- AS Nigerian Workers mark this year’s workers’ day, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has reiterated his call for the implementation of N50,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers. According to Ekweremadu, the current N18,000 minimum wage was no longer realistic given the hyperinflation in the country, just as he said that this has made it difficult for overwhelming majority of Nigerian workers to afford the basic needs of life, adding that the nation could afford N50,000 minimum wage through proper management of the economy and prudent expenditure by all levels of government. In a goodwill message to workers on May Day signed by his Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu, Ekweremadu said: “I felicitate with our workers who toil day and night to move the nation forward. But we must collectively show the workers that we care beyond lip service. Importantly, it is high time we raised the minimum wage from N18,000 to N50,000. ...