By Cecilia Ologunagba

The Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Lot Egopija, has said that 400 Nigerian passports remained uncollected at the Consulate, urging the applicants to come forward and claim them.

Egopija disclosed this at the virtual 8th Town Hall Meeting with the Nigerian Community in New York Jurisdiction.

“Right now, we have so many uncollected passports as at the last count, we have 400 uncollected passports that were produced within the last two years,” he said.

“We have posted the names of the original owners of the documents on our website and also on our community platform, the WhatsApp group,” he added.

“We have also asked Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), New Jersey Chapter, and other relevant groups, to bring it to the notice of their members,” he said.

“Please, while you get this, circulate and bring to the notice of your members, let them send self-addressed envelopes to us and we would post these documents to them,” he said.

According to him, some passports were earlier posted to the addresses provided but they were returned to the Consulate.

He urged those that would like to renew their passports to do so before they expire, saying, “if you begin on time, you’ll certainly get your passports renewed before the expiration date or your intended travel date”.

The envoy explained that the call for early renewal of passports was because the Consulate does not have printing machines to produce passports in New York.

“We have been exploring a kind of model where we go to Washington DC once in a month to produce the passports, pending the time when the machine will be installed in New York,” he said.

According to him, there are three categories of the new Enhanced e-passport, listing them as the 32-page passport validity, five years, 64-page and 10 years 64-page passport.

He advised applicants to indicate the passport category in their forms, noting that all the categories of passport will require National Identification Number (NIN).”

Egopija said that the nationals could look up the updated information of NIN centres on its website.

The Consul General said the updated information on NIN had been sent to the WhatsApp platform for the community leaders to pass the information to their members.

He assured that any applicant that meets the requirement would get his or her passport between six and eight weeks, noting that passport timeline for collection is usually in two or three months.

In addition, he assured that the Consulate would continue to be responsive to the yearning of its nationals, adding that the mission has started to recalibrate or change its telephone system.

“We have started to recalibrate or change our phone system whereby we will hear less of complaint that we have called and have not received or our calls have not been picked,” he said.

“We are returning to the old system where all the phone lines will go to the operator who will receive the calls and now send it to the relevant officers,” he said.

He urged the association and group leaders to inform the Consulate about their activities for the year so that the Consulate can participate and factor them in its programmes.

He said that the Mission would be relating with its nationals more this year by visiting them and attending their events, saying, we are open to attending your events if you inform us in time.

“You should let us know when you intend to host or have your National Days and the Flag Raising ceremony, we will come and support you,” he assured. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=================
Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Vincent Obi

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Dr Emem Omokaro, Director General, National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), has advised civil servant not to steal in service for the fear of unknown when they become senior citizens after retirement.

Omokaro, who gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York, also advised them not to falsify their age for fear of becoming older citizens.

The NSCC said with the provision that the Federal Government had made to care for the older citizens, no civil servant should steal to amass wealth.

“You don’t need to steal. When you know that insurance is there. When you know that you can access health care, when you know that you can continue to engage after retirement.

“When you know that what is your due, your gratuity will be paid so it’s a multi sectoral and it takes political commitment and determination.

“The beauty of it is that we (NSCC) are backed by law and we are committed to reverse the material, psychological and economic derivations that all the old people face.

“But as a matter of fact, the truth is that yes, you may have the money, but you may be in a situation that you need the cash and you are lonely and that money can’t buy you the comfort you need.’’

She said the civil servants amass wealth when in service because of the unfriendly environment and because of the multi-dimensional poverty of older people, and because of the administration of pensions.

She said there was a time in Nigeria where the toil of senior citizens wasn’t commensurate with the compensation they got when they retire.

The director general also said there was no value, respect, and dignity in retirement that became like a norm and brought a culture of fear of old age.

“So, that is why we have that mandate and NSCC by legislation to start the campaigns and put things in place that people will see concretely, to know that you can grow old in Nigeria and be dignified.

“There is no excuse for corruption or stealing money. Do you understand? Because the money that you have compromised can affect your future. What should have been used to develop infrastructure.

“What should have been used to put institutions in place that will help you in your future. So, no matter how you amass the money, you cannot help yourself at a certain age.

“So, it’s better that we become forthright and then, we all get determined to ensure that we build a future that we want to grow old in,’’ she said.

Speaking on the achievements of the NSCC, she said that the Centre had addressed paucity of data by partnering with relevant agencies such as National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)

“What we did was as soon as we were inaugurated, we identified the agencies with statutory mandate and that we could get data from; so our first call was NBS.’’

According to her, NSCC is discussing with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) for support to conduct a National Multi-Indicator Survey on ageing.

Omokaro said that the survey would provide all the indicators needed and the Centre could then build a baseline from there.

On funding, she said that the NSCC had been receiving funding allocation from Federal Government.

“The government never funded ageing so people needed to understand ageing as development issue, but they still continue to see it as a poverty issue.

“But we are breaking grounds, getting partnership, technical support because my philosophy is that when they now see it, they will support, for instance when we launched Strategic Roadmap on Ageing.

“They saw different dimension and holistic approach and their agencies compelled to be part of it. It leads to understanding, they see us developing programmes,’’ the director general said.

On challenges, Omokaro said dynamics of partnership had been a big challenge to the progress of the Centre, noting that what you want is the statutory mandate of a ministry and you cannot run ahead of them.

“For instance, health, we want to develop care competency certification, we cannot do it without regulatory agencies. we have to bring all of regulatory agencies on table to understand it.

“Our greatest challenge is the pace in which our partners move, they have other initiatives they focus on statutory, it’s not only older people that they focus on, they focus on entire population.

“The pace is a challenge because they too are occupied with so many things and it’s the dynamic of partnership that determines your pace and range you want to go.

“Another challenge is ageism, that negative perspective that you need to campaign to change them when you go the ministries, they have been doing things for so many years without including older people,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The Director-General of the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), Dr Emem Omokaro, says there is a better deal for older citizens in Nigeria with the implementation of Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA).

Omokaro, who gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York, said Nigeria had also developed effective national policies on ageing.

According to her, MIPPA is a policy instrument that brings a holistic perspective on Ageing.

It brings multi sectoral approach to ageing, lifting it from that small pocket of welfare and fragmented approach to a comprehensive approach.

“There is a better deal for older citizens in Nigeria with MIPAA, because Nigeria has the necessary institutional frameworks that should be in place to enable interventions to better the lives of older persons.

“There are frameworks in place to give them a life of dignity, security and opportunity for them to continue to participate and then healthcare has been put in place by this present administration.

“There is a Policy on Ageing, that means challenges of older persons had been articulated, and strategic interventions had been recommended.

“That policy on Ageing now has been operationalised in other words, being broken down in practically into plan of activities, and then objectives, justification, and timelines,’’ the director general said.

She said that Nigeria had also developed a strategic roadmap to help navigate ageing, noting that it is complicated because all the persons and issues of older persons sit as statutory mandates in many other ministries.

“So, we have developed a 10-year strategic roadmap that tells us exactly what we are going to do and how we are going to do and who we are going to do it with.

“So, Nigeria has come out of that web of not knowing what to do and we are not overwhelmed, because we have clearly mapped out our plans.

“Apart from that, we have now integrated this plan of activities into the National Development Plan of the country because without being integrated into the national Development Plan, there will not be budget line for the Centre,’’ she told NAN.

Omokaro said that the NSCC was established by a legislation and mandated to identify the needs of older persons and cater for those needs.

She said that Centre has been able to clarify its vision, its mission, its commitment, identify priority areas and has developed programmes and was implementing them.

“For instance, under income security, there are two pathways; mainstream into already existing income security programmes which was not done before, and older people were left out.

“The National Directorate of Employment never gave older persons loans but now they’re giving loans (to them) because we mainstreamed older people.’’

In addition, Omokaro said the Centre had mainstreamed older people into Social Safety Nets programme of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

She said that no fewer than 3,000 older people benefited from grant for the poor and vulnerable, adding that the ministry has increased the slots for older persons.

The NSCC boss, however, advised older citizens to make themselves available and be involved in the programmes and initiatives of the Centre.

“They should be involved in our programmes, from our planning to implementation they should get in touch with the Centre.

“We will introduce them to mechanism already existing in their states where they can be involved, they are the best advocate for themselves.

“They should speak out where they are, if there is no coordinating agency and their government is not doing anything, they should mobilise and engage,’’ she said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

By Angela Atabo

The Wife of Kebbi Governor, Dr Zainab Bagudu has vowed to sustain the fight against the menace of cancer even after leaving office in the next few weeks.

Bagudu, who is also the Chairperson of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation disclosed this in Abuja at an interactive session with Journalists on her stewardship from 2015 to date.

According to her, ”the cancer epidemic will keep on recurring. It will keep on increasing and more needs to be done to tame it.

”There is also an imbalance in the required interventions and adequate funding. Cancer should be seen as an emergency.

”I will sustain my ongoing grassroots mobilisation to create the needed awareness in the above direction.”

Bagudu further said an immediate action was desired by the government and all the stakeholders to stem the tide of the disease, saying, ” a stitch in time, they say, saves nine.”

She promised to work with government, CSOs and all the critical stakeholders to increase funding to the cancer fight, as well as shore up preventive measures.

Bagudu added: ‘It is a very big problem in Nigeria as the country is not doing enough considering the population of the country.

”Strong partnerships are very important in this direction just as grassroots mobilisation is also very crucial.

”Kebbi state has done a lot. We have a cancer control plan and the indigent cancer fund.

”There is also the health insurance scheme especially at the PHC level and we must do more to [provide more actions.”

She also expressed gratitude to her husband and all the stakeholders for the passage of the child and women rights laws in the state.

She listed them as : VAPP law, Child Rights and GBV Acts, saying that the action of the state government led by her husband, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu was commendable.

Bagudu also stressed the need for the people especially the victims and parents of victims of rape to always speak out and report such cases.

”The people should take the right action and get the right evidence. Sensitisation should also be sustained,” she urged.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Angela Atabo

A coalition of Obidient groups on Saturday called on Nigerians to vote for a presidential candidate without political baggage ahead of the Feb. 25 elections.

Mr Marcel Ngobgehei, Head of Strategy and Operations, Obidient Global March, made the call on Saturday during a rally in Abuja.

Ngobgehei said that this was because the political atmosphere had been characterised with “moneybags” and godfatherism politics.

He said that the 2023 General Elections had presented Nigerians with the opportunity to change the narrative of politics in the nation .

He said that the Obidient Movement started from the idea of rescuing Nigeria by ensuring that credible leaders came into power.

“So at the inception, the obedient movement came together and said it was enough, Nigeria has to move ahead the way other civilised countries are moving.

“We deployed some strategies and identified a candidate different from what we have in the political space of the country where we have money bags.

“This is because we don’t want our candidate to carry baggage because when people sponsor your candidate, then it becomes baggage.

“When he gets into office they will want to influence him to say ‘remember we put you there’, but Peter Obi has no political baggage, nobody can say he is the one that brought him this far .”

Ngobgehei said that the masses were the structure of Labour Party and they would do their best to ensure his victory, adding that Obi had come this far because of the goodwill of the people and notary political father.

He said that the group deployed some strategies to promote his presidential ambition by mobilising resources and people.

He called on Nigerians not to sell their votes but use them wise to decide their leader .

“It is a new era where the youth decide who becomes their president and not one imposed on them by some money bags or groups of delegates anywhere, enough is enough.

Ms Nina Atalor, Focal Person for Support Groups at the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), said so far the party had carried women along in its affairs .

She said it was a sign that women would benefit greatly and be supported in the govement of Peter Obi.

“The female gender is well represented, most of our regional and state coordinators are females, they are well positioned and they have proved themselves.

“This is our time, not just the youth this, it’s the time for the female gender .

“Our principal Peter Obi has always said that he is very interested in the female gender, in positioning and strengthening us .”

Atalor urged Nigerians to come out in mass and vote for Obi for a better nation.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

============
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Florence Onuegbu

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Saturday appealed to residents to remain calm, even in the face of the difficulties and frustrations due to cash shortage.

Sanwo-Olu made the appeal while addressing newsmen at Lagos House, Marina, on the current situation caused by Naira redesign in the country.

He urged Lagos residents to avoid all forms of violence, arson and rioting, as sure were not the solutions to the difficulties and frustrations being presently experienced.

“Let me thank you, the good people of Lagos for your patience and unwavering perseverance even in these challenging times.

“My fellow Lagosians, this is a heartfelt call to you, as your Governor, to please remain calm at this time, and avoid all forms of violence, arson and rioting.

“Even in the face of the difficulties and frustrations being faced by all, violence and destruction should not and will never be the answer.

“We know that there are unscrupulous persons who want to sow seeds of violence and discord by their very utterances and actions, all with the view of robbing you of the chance to cast your votes in the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“Do not allow them to use you to achieve their evil intentions,” the governor said.

According to him, there is no justification whatsoever for attacking public or private property.

He said that the law enforcement agents had received clear instructions to take full control and ensure zero tolerance for any and all acts of arson, violence and destruction.

Sanwo-Olu enjoined all law-abiding residents to carry out their lawful activities without fear.

“As a government that fully understands the challenges that you are faced with, with regards to access to cash, we are working very hard to provide palliative measures to lessen the burdens being faced.

“As part of these measures, I have already approved an immediate reduction in transportation charges for public-owned transport, across the Lagos State public transport system: our buses, ferries and taxis.

“We are also equally in discussion with private transport operators not to hike fares at this point of time, given the difficult circumstances in which many Lagosians find themselves.

“We have also since commenced the distribution of food packs, to the most vulnerable citizens, the people most impacted by this disruption in the supply of cash.

“We will continue to highlight more vulnerable groups within our distribution channels who would benefit from the palliatives.

“As we scale up the rollout of these palliatives, we ask for your continued patience and understanding. Remain calm and go about your lawful activities and duties,” he said.

The governor said the Lagos State Government under his watch would continue to stand by, with and for the ordinary people of Lagos.

He thanked the Police and other security agencies/operatives that had been working round the clock to maintain the peace, law and order in the state.

“We owe you a debt of gratitude. May I also use this opportunity to ask you not to relent in your efforts at continuing to keep the peace in and around the metropolis,” Sanwo-Olu said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==============
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered an additional sum of nine hundred million Naira for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The spokesman for the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday.

He alleged that the sum was part of money which some deposit money banks fraudulently withheld since 2015 and refused to remit into the Treasury Single Account for NHIS.

According to him, the recovered sum was released to NHIS on Feb. 8.

He noted that the commission, had on Feb. 10, 2022, released to the NHIS, N1.5 billion recovered from the banks.

The commission had also on Aug. 5, 2022, released N1.4 billion to the scheme.

The Executive Secretary of NHIS, Prof. Muhammad Nasir Sambo, had on July 29, 2021, praised EFCC for assisting NHIS in the recovery of funds trapped in commercial banks. (NAN)(www.nannews ng)

===========
Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

By Temitope Ponle

Chinese President Xi Jinping said he stands ready to work with leaders of African countries to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

In a statement issued by the People’s Republic of China in Abuja, Xi said this in his message to the 36th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday.

The Chinese president extended congratulations to African countries and the people in the opening of the summit.

He said the AU, over the past year, had united and led African countries to stand up to global challenges and accelerate the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

He also said the AU played an important role in mediating issues in Africa, which had boosted its international status and influence.

He also spoke of sincere hope for African countries and people to achieve greater success on their path of development and revitalisation.

Xi further said China-Africa relations maintained sound momentum in development in 2022, adding that cooperation between China and Africa was moving steadily forward in an all-round, multi-tiered and high-quality fashion.

He said the cooperation took the lead in international collaboration with Africa.

However, the Chinese president said he was willing to work with African leaders to further enhance friendly cooperation between China and Africa, and facilitate coordination in international and regional affairs. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Former Ghanaian President John Mahama will lead West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mediation Team to Nigeria for the 2023 general election.

The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) in a statement by its Communications Officer, Wealth Ominabo, in Abuja on Saturday said that Mahama and his team are billed to arrive in Abuja on Feb. 22.

Ominabo said that the team was expected to be on the ground for the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections as well as the March 11, state elections.

He listed other members of the team to include Nigeria former President Goodluck Jonathan; former Beninese President,  Boni Yayi, and former Vice President of the Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang.

Also in the team are former Burkinabe Prime Minister and president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  Kadre Ouedraogo and former Deputy Chair of the African Union (AU), Dr Erastus Mwencha.

Ominabo said the GJF Executive Director and Coordinator of the WAEF Secretariat, Ann Iyonu, disclosed that the focus of the forum is to interface with key stakeholders and provide the necessary support that would ensure peaceful elections.

Iyonu added that the leaders would be working with key stakeholders in the elections as well as the observer missions, to ensure a crisis-free process before, during, and after the elections.

“Unlike other observation missions, the forum has a special focus on election-related conflicts, and the Elders will be on the ground for a longer time.

“The forum made up of former Presidents and Heads of Government in West Africa will be interacting with the candidates, political parties and members, the citizens, the election umpire, observers, and other key stakeholders all the time.

“The leaders will be looking out for crisis triggers, with the mind of nipping them in the bud by offering mediatory roles and giving relevant advice to ensure peaceful polling, based on their personal experiences as former leaders of the sub-region.

“The leaders will also be calling for individual accountability by those who by their actions or inactions undermine the democratic process and endanger lives,” Iyonu said.

Ominabo recalls that during the Gambian elections in December 2022, WAEF carried out a similar engagement where they deployed a team led by Jonathan.

He said that the presence of the WAEF team in The Gambia and their mediatory activities, especially after the elections, helped to resolve post-election tensions that threatened the integrity and outcome of the poll.

He added that WAEF team would  be in Abuja to witness the second signing of the National Peace Accord by Presidential candidates and chairpersons of political parties.

He recalled WAEF earlier deployed a three-man delegation to Nigeria to undertake a pre-election mediation mission.

The delegation, which had strategic engagements with key stakeholders from Dec. 4 to Dec. 6, 2022 was made up of former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma; former Vice President of the Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang.

Also in the team was Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambers; former President of the ECOWAS Commission and former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the UNOWAS.

The WAEF, an initiative of the GJF, was established to serve as a home-grown and non-partisan platform of past heads of state and government in West Africa.(NAN)
Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz