NIGERIAN NOTCH

The Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammed Babandede, has said the visa on arrival for holders of passports of African countries from January 2020 is to accelerate African Integration. A statement from Sunday James, the NIS Public Relations Officer, quoted Babandede as saying the decision would remove barriers hindering free movement of people within the continent. “Nigeria’s strategic decision is taken to bring down barriers that have hindered free movement of our people within the continent by introducing the visa at the point of entry into Nigeria with effect from January 2020,” he said. Babandede assured Nigerians of the service’s commitment to high professionalism in delivering its services without compromising National Security. Babandede’s statement on Dec. 11, which announced the federal government’s decision to allow Africans into Nigeria without visa from January 2020, was greeted with mixed reactions by Nigerians with many expressing fea

The Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered the transfer of Soku oil field from Bayelsa to its rightful owner, Rivers. Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order on Monday while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by Rivers Government against the Attorney-General of Bayelsa and the Attorney-General of the Federation. Ekwo ordered the National Boundary Commission, (NBC) to rectify the error in its 11th Edition of Administrative Map which designated San Bartholomew River as the boundary between the two states, instead of River Santa Barbara. The Counsel had submitted that the error occurred in the 11th Edition of the Administrative Map produced by the NBC in 2002. The NBC was said to have admitted its mistake in a letter dated July 3, 2002 in response to Rivers Government’s protest and had promised to rectify it in the 12th edition of the administrative map. The Rivers government was compelled to file a suit against the Attorney-General of Bayelsa and that of the federation at the Su

By Obi Bright Chinweuba So much has been said about the leadership style of Hon. Obinna Onwubuariri, a young chap notable for his pragmatic leadership influence, unassuming to many, yet diatribed by some. His influence is likened to what Rosalyn Carter opined that a leader takes people where they want to go, but a great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go but ought to be. From in-depth research and reasonable tallying of facts and figures, it was deduced abinitio that the biggest problem rocking the boat of most rural communities in Okigwe North Federal Constituency is the lack of power/energy/electrification to carry about their respective businesses. To eradicate this plague of darkness which primarily was amongst the campaign promises of Hon. Obinna Kingsley Onwubuariri during his first sojourn at the National Assembly, facts available shows that he did justice to those campaign promises. In line with actualizing the connection of Okigwe north to the n

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called on Christians to sustain their prayers for the success of his administration and the development of the State. Speaking during the Golden Jubilee Anniversary celebration and Thanksgiving service of St Peter’s Anglican Church Rumuepirikom Deanery on Sunday, Governor Wike said the state is currently faced with enemies who do not mean well for it. He stated that the State will continue to thrive because of the prayers of committed Christians.  He said with prayers, Rivers State will prevail over her adversaries. “As Christians, I urge you to continue to pray for the state. The prayers of Christians are necessary for the State to remain victorious in the face of challenges “, he said. The Governor was represented at the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Saint Peter’s Anglican Church by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo. The Governor said that his administration will continue to support and defend th

The Nigerian Air force said on Monday that its Air Task prosecuting Operation Rattle Snake in the North East, at the weekend killed several ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists who had gathered at a meeting point in a building at Kollaram, Borno State. A statement by Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said, “In continuation of Operation Rattle Snake, the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has neutralized some Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters as they assembled for a meeting at their hideout in Kollaram on the fringes of Lake Chad in the Northern part of Borno State. ” The operation was executed on 14 December 2019 following credible intelligence reports indicating that some of the ISWAP leaders had assembled for a meeting in one of 2 buildings at the centre of the settlement. “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jets dispatched by the ATF to attack the location scored accurate hits on the target building completely obliterating it and killing its terrorists’

 BY ENGR. DIKEOMA CHIBUEZE The success of any lawmaker in attracting goodies for his people at the National Assembly is highly dependent on the position of the member in any 'juicy' committee. This is because, almost all serious politicking at NASS is done at the committee level. For a member to be assigned a worthy position in a functional committee, the member needs to be a ranking member with networks of goodwill among the members of the house. Being assigned a worthy position in a functional committee means that the lawmaker will in no time influence jobs, road projects, healthcare and entrepreneurial support for his constituents, utilizing his influence in the committee. If truth be made manifest, of all the candidates contesting to represent Okigwe North in Federal House of Representatives, only one of them is ranked and is better positioned to have a large support network among members of the house. He is *Hon. (Engr) Obinna Kingsley Onwubuariri, PDP Candidate.