By Oladele Eniola

The British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr Jonny Baxter, says his first few weeks in Nigeria has revealed the people as passionate, full of energy, and with entrepreneurial spirit

Baxter, who is new in office, said this in his maiden media interview, with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, on Thursday.

“ I have been here for three and a half weeks so I’m still very new. Nigeria has been an absolutely amazing place to be and as you will know, Nigeria, is well known to UK.

“I was really looking forward to coming to Nigeria, particularly to Lagos, to enjoy the vibrant culture, the vibrant food, all of the things that Lagos produces and is well known for and I have been lucky enough to come across all those things.

“Meeting Nigerians has been fantastic and the welcome I have had has been absolutely incredible. I love the fact that all the Nigerians I have met have been passionate, have been full of energy for the things that they are talking about and things they care about.

“ I have really noticed the entrepreneurial spirit and those things are just brilliant to be around, as you can’t help but be uplifted by it. And you know, I’ve been so lucky to meet an incredible group of people already,” he said.

He said that in his short time in the country, he had been able to visit the beach, amongst other exciting places.

“So I went I went out to a beach and I sat quietly for a while and read Jagua Nana, which is quite an old book by Cyprian Ekwensi, and really enjoyed doing that,” he said.

The envoy said that it was fantastic, when after tweeting about it afterwards, he got brilliant responses from Nigerians and suggestions on other things he could do.

He said he had also enjoyed his visit to the Lufasi Nature Park, where he got to see both the amazing work that had been done there, and also the children and the students who were enjoying the place of peace in the city that is alive all the time.

“Suddenly, there is this green space where you can sit down and enjoy the trees, hear the birds and that was a lovely, lovely trip, so I’ve enjoyed all of that,” he said.

On Nigerian cuisine, he said, “everyone has asked me about Jollof rice, and I already had Jollof rice, and I really enjoyed it. That has been fantastic.

“There are some things that I haven’t tasted, but I’m looking forward to eating more Nigerian food and just experiencing what there is,” he said.

He reiterated his commitment to strengthening the bilateral relations between both countries.

Baxter, before becoming the British Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) in Lagos, served as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan from January 2021-July 2023.

He was Deputy Director, Finance and Performance Department at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office – FCDO (then DFID) from 2018-2020.

He has held various senior positions in the Department of International Development (DFID).

These include running the Human Development Department from 2017-2018, Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State from 2014-2016, and head of the Higher Education Taskforce Secretariat from 2013-2014 all at the DFID Headquarters, London.

Prior to these roles, he did postings in Sudan, Iraq, Guyana and Tanzania.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

By Oladele Eniola

The United Kingdom issued some 132,000 visas to Nigerians in the first half of the year, Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He revealed the number in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

Baxter, however, could not readily give the total number of applications received from Nigerians during the period.

“In the first half of the year, we granted approximately 132,000 visas, and those are all sorts of visas which include visit, work and study visas.

“In the previous full year before that, we issued about 324,000. The UK, in that year, issued about three million visas, and of those three million visas, 324,000 were issued to Nigerians, which is about 10 percent.

“ If you think about Nigeria’s population, relative to the world, that’s actually a higher proportion of Nigerians taking up those visas and coming to the UK which I view is a good thing.

“The UK has a huge number of Nigerian students in the country, and in terms of foreign students in the UK, Nigeria is second only to India.

“We welcome and value the many Nigerians that we have coming to the UK to study or settle, as long as they are coming through legal routes, and it is important that the country’s rules are followed and respected,” he said.

Baxter reiterated that change in the rules of students bringing dependents was a necessity, based on an international challenge.

“ In 2019, Nigerian students going to the UK brought in 1,500 dependents. By 2022/2023, that number had risen to 52,000 dependents, that’s a massive increase.

“ Nigeria is not unique, as it has happened for many other countries and indeed, this change on the dependents is an international challenge.

“It is not surprising that a country, Britain in this case, that is facing that kind of change to the numbers of people coming in the country, wants to look at the policy and would want to change and amend their policy.

“This is definitely not a case of saying that we don’t want students to come, we definitely want students still to come, and the new policy would come in in January 2024.”

He explained that UK government reviews its visa fees on a regular basis, noting that increments are taken when it becomes a necessity.

“What the British government has decided to do is they review fees all the time, and they’ve decided that because of the cost of processing visas, those costs that people applying for visas need to pay should go up as well.

“The other thing that I think is probably not often recognised is that, for some of those people who are going to the UK and are in some limited circumstances, those people will access services when they are in the UK and those services cost money.

“So, part of the money out of the fees in the visa process will be to pay for those services that in certain circumstances, some people may need to access when they’re there. So for me, that’s an entirely justifiable thing.

“But I completely understand it is important for us to explain it so people understand reasons for increment,” he said.

He advised the public to always apply for visa well ahead of their scheduled travels, noting that there are processes and time frames in granting visas. (NAN) ( www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

By Fortune Abang/Anita Uzoagba

Ghana has announced the official opening of the application portals that will enable West African scholars to apply to study at the University of Ghana for the 2023/2024 academic year.

Making the announcement in Abuja on Thursday, Eddison Agbenyegah, the Deputy High Commissioner of Ghana to Nigeria, said at the inaugural ceremony that the portal would remain open for two days.

Agbenyegah said that it would be cheaper for potential scholars in West Africa to go to Ghana and study than schooling in developed countries.

According to him, Ghana offers a lot of opportunities to young people as it can help develop their careers after graduation.

“This year, the premier university, UG-Legon and several other Ghanaian universities have opened their application portals to receive applications from West African scholars.

“University of Ghana has reduced its tuition fees for all ECOWAS students since the 2021/2022 academic year and now allows payment in naira at Access Bank Nigeria, and instituted payment plans to cushion parents and students,” he said.

He further said screening had begun for young people wanting to study at the institution, adding that those seeking clarification to do so at the high commission in Abuja. (NAN) (www.nannnews.ng)

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(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

By Ismail Abdulaziz

President Bola Tinubu has directed that only government officials who have direct relevance to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) should travel as part of Nigeria’s delegation.

A statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed that it was a broader effort to reduce the cost of governance in the country.

The president directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to freeze the processing of visas for all government officials without proof of direct participation in UNGA’s official activities.

‘’To prevent any sharp practice in this regard, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria is accordingly guided on official visa processing while Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York is further directed to prevent and stop the accreditation of any government official who is not placed on the protocol lists forwarded by the approving authority.

‘’By this directive of the president, all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies are mandated to ensure that all officials, who are approved for inclusion in the UNGA delegation, strictly limit the number of aides and associated staff partaking in the event.

‘’Where excesses or anomalies in this regard are identified, they will be removed during the final verification process,’’ he said.

The president stressed that government officials and government expenditure must reflect the prudence and sacrifice being made by well-meaning Nigerians across the nation.(NAN)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, says Nigeria remains committed to collaborating with China and African countries to ensure that the objectives of the partnership are achieved for the benefit of both parties.

Mr Olusola Abiola, Director, Information, Office of the Vice President, in a statement on Friday, said Shettima stated this at the China-Africa Leaders’ Roundtable Dialogue Meeting on the margins of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Shettima spoke to a large audience at the Sandton Convention Centre, including President Xi Jinping of China, and some African leaders on the theme, “Promoting African Integration and Jointly Building a High-Level Africa-China Community with a Shared Future”.

He said “Nigeria welcomes the new initiatives introduced by the Chinese authorities, which include supporting and promoting the modernization of Africa’s agriculture and agribusiness sectors.

“It also supports the provision of robust support for Africa to expedite regional integration and backing Africa’s industrialization and infrastructure expansion.”

He commended the existing partnership between China and Africa, particularly “the three newly-identified initiatives and priority areas of cooperation between China and Africa in the areas of agriculture, industrialisation, and human capacity development.

“These align with the ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra of the President Bola Tinubu’s Administration, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

“They are relevant to our continental and national development aspirations,” the vice president said.

Shettima, who praised the commitment of China, added that Nigeria firmly endorses China and anticipates forging a close collaboration with the Chinese authorities, the African Union, and all other stakeholders.

“This collective efforts will elevate the Africa-China comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership to unprecedented heights, driven by our mutual pursuit of economic prosperity.”

He identified critical areas for the prevailing partnership between Africa and China.

He said the areas include fostering synergy among the pertinent national institutions tasked with formulating, coordinating, implementing national policies in the three priority areas of cooperation; and encourage efforts that promote African ownership of these initiatives.

“Other areas include the new undertakings designed in a manner that acknowledges that local percularities are community-based, and tailors to individual country needs.

“Amplify international resources for financing education in Africa; Solicit input from pertinent African Union institutions and continental organizations such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, and other related regional bodies.”

Shettima also stressed the importance of financing Africa’s Infrastructure, with a focus on advancing key infrastructural components like Farm-to-Market Corridors, Farm-to-Ports Corridors, Export Transport Corridors, Railway Networks and Road Network Upgrades.

“Also, expansions, Airport Enhancements, including dedicated export-oriented airports, Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution, are important.”

On Nigeria’s relationship with the global south, Shettima told his audience that Nigeria prioritises its relations with the Global South and deeply values all aspects of the South-South Cooperation.

The vice president noted that the global South is currently grappling with unparalleled challenges, and we are compelled to devise solutions for climate change and establish security measures to contain and prevent transnational crime, terrorism, and cyberattacks.

“We are confronted with a significant rate of youth unemployment and disruptive natural disasters. This situation provides us with the chance to reassess the challenges we collectively face, as well as those confronting our partners.”

In his address, the President of China and co-chair of the Dialogue, Xi Jinping, assured the African leaders that China would launch initiatives to support Africa’s industrialisation and agricultural modernisation.

Shettima was accompanied to the event by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Amb. Muhammad Manta, the Consul-General, Amb. Andrew Idi, and other senior government officials. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Vincent Obi

By Muhammad Nur Tijani

A don, Prof. Kamilu Fagge, has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to prioritise diplomatic solutions to resolve current political impasse in Niger Republic.

It will be recalled that Niger, one of the 15 member states of the ECOWAS had been enmeshed in political imbroglio sequel to Coup d’etat.

In a swift reaction, the ECOWAS imposed a series of sanctions against the junta and threatened military action if the coup leaders failed to restore the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

Fagge, a lecturer with the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kano.

He stressed the need for the Commission to embrace dialogue and diplomatic response to the situation.

“The best way is for the leaders to sit down to negotiate through diplomatic response to achieve an amicable political solution.

“In some cases, you buttress your diplomacy with a show of force but the most stable way of resolving the crisis is through dialogue.

“This is not the first time we are having similar things, there are a lot of instances when either ECOWAS, African Union (AU) or United Nations promote dialogue and negotiations between the coup leaders and the third force.

“And when you reach that conclusion sometimes it is so stable.

“The irony of it is that, in this case, many of the people who are now calling for war or intervention in Niger, actually if you look at them, they too staged coups in their countries.

“Some were military leaders who have now ‘civilianise’, some are civilians but they staged a civilian coup by distorting the constitution, and by getting themselves into office for so many years.

“We have not exhausted all those options yet; we have to exhaust those options first before opting for war.

“And in any case, war should not be an option,” he said.

According to Fagge, people welcome democratic government because it allows for freedom of expression, and it comes about as a result of the concept of the people and also it is the people that decide who would rule them.

“Democracy is important in the eyes of the people. It is a government that engenders development. This is because it is accountable to the people, it promotes development and peace.

“Once you have people there are bound to be differences,” he said.

Fagge warned that the conflict portends serious economic implications for both the country and the region at large, adding the closure of Nigeria’s borders with Niger Republic compounded the problem of hunger and poverty among its citizens.

“Nigeriens get most of their things here and Nigeria is also bearing the brunt of this decision.

“It has been estimated that Nigeria loses not less than N13 billion every week by stopping trade with Niger.

“And there are speculations that Nigeria and Niger trade is a formal trade that accounts for over N170 billion annually.

“While the informal trade between the two countries accounts for over N580 billion annually.

“So, when you put these things together, it ranges from N900 billion to about N1 trillion that we are going to lose in terms of trade.

“Most of the people to be affected are Nigeriens who are business people transacting all sorts of businesses with Nigeriens.

“This has serious economic implications for both countries and for the region as a whole,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

By Deji Abdulwahab

The International Press Institute (IPI) has described the appointment of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Malam Mohammed Idris, as a testament to his exceptional dedication and hard work.

The institute also said that his appointment indicated that President Bola Tinubu had trust and confidence in his abilities.

The Executive Director of IPI, Mr Frane Maroević, gave the commendation

in a congratulatory letter he personally signed and addressed to the new Minister in Abuja on Thursday.

Maroević said, “On behalf of the International Press Institute, it is with great pleasure that I extend my warmest congratulations to you on your recent appointment as the Minister of Information for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Your elevation to this important role is not only a testament to your exceptional dedication and hard work but also a reflection of the trust and confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has in your abilities.

“We at the International Press Institute are especially proud to have you as our esteemed member,” IPI chief said.

He added that, “your extensive experience and profound understanding of the media sector in Nigeria, intricacies of communication and information technologies make you an excellent choice for this crucial position.

“As a highly respected expert and dedicated IPI member, we look to your leadership in bringing forth positive changes and innovative strategies that will strengthen independent media and enhance the dissemination of accurate and timely information to the citizens of Nigeria.

“Wishing you all the best in your endeavours. I would like to offer IPI’s support and assistance in any way possible as you embark on this new and exciting chapter of your public service career.

“May your mandate be filled with accomplishments, inspiration, and fulfilment of your vision for Nigeria.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)