News

ECOWAS Free Movement: National Security Takes Precedence Over Regional Mobility, – Border Control Authorities

Published

3 months ago

August 30, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

Border officials have emphasized that ensuring national security takes precedence over enforcing the ECOWAS free movement protocols.

This was the position during a joint committee session with security personnel at the Karang-Amdalai border (between Gambia and Senegal) in TheGambia.

Naijablitznews.com reports that the session aimed to address challenges affecting the smooth implementation of these protocols.

Recall that the joint committee earlier held a town hall meeting in The Gambia, where citizens, including trade and transport unions, market vendors, and ECOWAS members, reported issues of extortion and denial of entry at the borders

The Special Commissioner of Police at Karang (Senegal), underscored that “security is the top priority for each of our countries.”

He said: “There are many allegations and complaints but we try to address them.

“Ideally, you need to listen to the security officials to avoid making laws that will not benefit the people.

“All the security officials at the borders have just one target, which is security of people and property”.

According to Diasse, the border police respects the ECOWAS protocols, even as he assured that citizen of the community with a valid national identity card or international passport could move freely across the border as long as he or she doesn’t pose any security threats to Senegal.

“If you assess all the borders in the region, you will realize that this is the border where free movement is fully implemented,” the Special Commissioner added.

Also, in his submission, Head of Customs Senegal at the Karang border, Colonel Yaya Moussa Thiem, denied accusations of extortion, and said, “in Senegal, whatever you pay, you will receive a receipt.”

He alleged that most business people do not have documents to show that the goods they are transporting originated within the ECOWAS community.

He said those who have their complete documents were always allowed to cross the border freely.

Customs Manager, Trade Facilitation and International cooperation, The Gambia, Omar Bojang, said that only those who have their business registered enjoyed the free movement protocols benefits.

He decried that most women complaining of difficulty in moving their goods across the borders are into informal businesses.

Bojang also said informal business people are not covered by the ECOWAS free movement protocols.

He called on member states to mainstream the informal business people, and charged ECOWAS to amend the protocols to capture the informal business people.

On his part, Commissioner of Police at the Amdalai border of The Gambia, Juldeh Camara, urged the ECOWAS to establish a monitoring team at the borders to enforce its free movement protocols.

“If the border monitors are there and are genuine, most of these Juldeh Camara will stop.

“If it (non-implementation of free movement protocols) is happening, those causing it will stop,” he said.

He added that feedbacks would help in improving the implementation of the protocols.

News

FG Commends Governor Bago For Intervention In Federal Road Projects Across The State

Published

9 minutes ago

November 17, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The Federal Government has commended Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, for his intervention in several federal road projects across the state.

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, gave the commendation during an interactive session in Abuja with Niger State Government, and contractors handling various federal road projects in the state, to reviewed ongoing federal road projects in Niger with the goal of addressing outstanding issues.

Umahi praised the Governor’s efforts, calling them “unprecedented,” and acknowledged his exemplary leadership in personally leading the state delegation to the meeting, this is even as he urged other state governors to follow the example set by Governor Bago, emphasizing the importance of effective and continuous project supervision.

The Minister also stressed the need for improved collaboration between federal legislators and the Ministry to ensure sufficient funding for the execution of these projects, and warned contractors to adhere strictly to project specifications, stating that failure to do so would result in contract termination.

The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, who also lauded Governor Bago, described him as a hardworking and passionate leader, and highlighted that the Governor’s people-oriented programs reflect his deep commitment to the wellbeing of his constituents.

In his remarks the Niger Governor revealed that the state government is intervening in 18 federal road projects, aimed at complementing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

Bago suggested that such peer reviews should occur quarterly and encouraged his fellow governors to participate, as it would motivate the Federal Government to further support the people.

The Governor also applauded the Minister of Works for his courage, capacity, and competence in managing his responsibilities.

News

#OndoDecides2024: APC congratulates Aiyedatiwa, applauds Ondo electorate

Published

5 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Francesca Hangeior

The All Progressives Congress has congratulated the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on his re-election in the just-concluded governorship election.

Aiyedatiwa won the election, having polled a total of 366,781 votes across all 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

He defeated his closest rival — Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party, who got 117,845 votes.

In a statement issued by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Sunday, and made available to PUNCH Online, the party described Aiyedatiwa as a “clear attestation” that his administration’s policies “resonated deeply with the electorate.”

The statement read, “The All Progressives Congress (APC) heartily congratulates the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on his re-election.

“Your Excellency’s resounding victory in the just-concluded Ondo State gubernatorial election is a clear attestation that your administration’s policies and programmes and campaign message of hope and consolidation have resonated deeply with the electorate.

News

NiDCOM rescues 13 trafficked Nigerian women from Ghana

Published

5 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Naijablitznews

*** says 163 victims saved between July, November

By Francesca Hangeior

The Nigerian in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, has successfully facilitated the rescue and repatriation of 13 trafficked Nigerian women from Ghana, bringing the total number of victims returned over the past five months to 163.

This was revealed in a statement by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols.

The operation, executed through collaborative efforts, involved the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police Unit, Rescue Live Foundation International, NIDO Ghana, and NiDCOM.

The latest group of rescued women, aged 19 to 30 years, hails from Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna, and Rivers States.

It was gathered that they were lured to Ghana under false pretenses of employment but were subjected to exploitative conditions and coerced into secrecy oaths while their traffickers profited from their ordeal.

NiDCOM’s Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed her gratitude to key supporters, including Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, for their roles in ensuring the safe return of the victims.

She also praised Chief Callistus Elozieuwa, BOT Chairman of Rescue Live Foundation International/NIDO Ghana, and the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police Unit for their commitment to prosecuting the traffickers.

Dabiri-Erewa reiterated NiDCOM’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes combating human trafficking and safeguarding citizens’ rights.

Upon arrival in Nigeria, the women were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for rehabilitation and reintegration.

NiDCOM representative Akinboye Akinsola, who accompanied the women, noted that they willingly sought assistance after learning about previous rescue efforts in Ghana’s Kpone Katamanso and Tema regions.

Chief Callistus Elozieuwa highlighted the support provided to the women in Ghana, including temporary shelter, before their return to Nigeria.

Valentine Okike Uzo, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Ebonyi State, commended Governor Nwifuru’s dedication to supporting indigenes both at home and abroad. He assured that measures are in place to ensure proper rehabilitation for those returning to Ebonyi State.