News

Breaking: Tinubu, governors mull establishment of state police

Published

10 months ago

February 15, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Francesca Hangeior

President Bola Tinubu alongside the governors on Thursday agreed to establish state police in the country.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris disclosed this on Thursday.

He spoke while briefing State House correspondents at the end of an emergency meeting summoned by the President at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Minister said that there will be a series of meetings to fine tune the modalities for setting up state police.

He said, “But now, there is also a discussion around the issue of state police. The federal government and state governments are mulling the possibility of setting up state police.

“Of course, this is still going to be further discussed, a lot of work still has to be done in that direction. But what the federal government and state governments are agreeing to the necessity of having state police.

“Now, this is a significant shift. But like I said, more works need to be done in that direction. A lot of meetings will have to happen between different government and sub nationals to see the modalities of achieving this.”

News

Reps To Probe Nigeria Customs Over Smuggling Activities At Badagry Border

Published

15 minutes ago

December 11, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has moved to investigate the Nigeria Customs Service over smuggling of cars and bags of rice through Badagry under the watch of the officers.

This motion was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, Member, Representing Badagry Federal Constituency of Lagos State on the “Need to Investigate the Activities of the Nigeria Customs Service”, on Wednesday at plenary.

Rep. Whingan noted that Section 4 (b, e, and f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is mandated to collect revenue, prevent smuggling and customs fraud, and ensure the security of Nigeria’s borders.

But according to him, recent reports by “Sahara Reporters on November 18, 2024, exposed the mass smuggling of over 2,000 cars carrying 6,500,000kg of rice through Badagry under the watch of Customs officers. Videos published by investigative joumoalist Fisayo Soyombo provided evidence of complicity by Customs officers in these illegal activities”.

He also noted that, “Reports of brutality have emerged, including an incident along the Badagry-Seme Expressway on December 1, 2024, where officers from the Nigerian Customs Service, in collaboration with soldiers, violently assautted two transporters, Taofeek Olatunbosun and Rafiu Abdelmalik. The victims were suspected of documenting smuggling activities, leading to threats against their ives and a standoff that required intervention from residents and police”.

He expressed worries that smuggling has severe economic consequences, including undermining local industries, reducing government revenue, promoting unfair trade practices, and flooding markets with substandard and potentially harmful products.

Rep. Whingan added that the actions of some officers within the Nigerian Customs Service contravene its core mandate, erode public trust. and raise concems about the oversight of joint security operations involving military personnel.

The motion reads: “Concerned that: Despite the presence of multiple checkpoints during the day, particularly in Badagry and other border communities in the nation, economic activities and legitimate trade are paratyzed by excessive scrutiny and extortion by Customs officers and other law enforcement personnel. At night, these same Officers reportedly enable or tum a blind eye to rampant smuggling activities, undermining public trust and perpetuating economic hardship Small businesses, such as fice farmers and poultry producers, ore unable to compete with the influx of contraband goods, leading to job losses and impoverishment, Furthermore, the erosion of law and order in border regions like Badagry threatens community stability, leaving citizens vuinerable ond disillusioned.

“Further Concerned that the complicity of Customs officers in smuggling operations and the use of violence to intimidate civilians pose significant risks to national! security, economic stability, and the rule of law.

“Recognizes that The integrity of the Nigerian Customs Service is essentiol for securing Nigeria’s borders, facilitating legitimate trade, and upholding the economic and social well-being of the nation. Addressing these lapses 5 critical to restoring public confidence and ensuring fhe sovereignty of the country”.

The House unanimously adopted the motion and mandated the Committees on Customs and Excise.and Defence, to investigate the operations and activities of the Nigerian Customs Service across Nigerian borders, with a specific focus on smuggling activities, allegations of complicity, and incidents of brutality. and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.

The House also madates Committees to examine the role of military personnel attached to Customs patrols, ensuring their operations comply with legal frameworks and human rights standards.

The Committees on Defense and Customs and Excise to recommend appropriate measures to enhance oversight. accountability, and efficiency within the Nigeria Customs Service to restore public trust and safeguard Nigeria’s economic and national security interests.

News

Reps Direct NPF, Banks, Fintech To ensure Victims Of One Chance Get Justice In FCT

Published

24 minutes ago

December 11, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…direct FCT minister to ensure operation of Abuja Urban Mass Transit

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has urged the Inspector General of Police and other heads of security agencies to enhance surveillance in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and nip on the bud the activities of one chance.

The House also directed the Nigeria Police, all banks and FinTech operators like Opay and MoniePoint in Nigeria to give preference to such cases and ensure that victims get justice by providing on time, all information needed about the owner of the account used for such heinous act, also use their mechanism to get hold of the account and apprehend the criminal.

The House further urged the Federal Government to close down the operation of illegal and unauthorized loan companies in Nigeria used by these criminals.

These resolutions was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Billy Osawaru on the “NEED TO CALL ON THE SECURITY AGENCIES TO BEEF UP SECURITY MEASURES IN FCT AND ENHANCE SYNERGY WITH THE BANKS IN NIGERIA TO UNRAVEL THE ONWERS OF BANK ACCOUNT USED BY ONE CHANCE OPERATORS”, on Wednesday at plenary.

Rep Osawaru highlighted the heinous operation of one chance and Kidnappers in the FCT, Abuja, which has left victims in a sorry state due to severe torture on them and their bank account emptied simultaneously at gun point.

According to him, the perpetrator’s alleged magical powers used to hypnotize their victims and take them to an unknown destination, where the money in their different bank accounts are emptied with the use of POS and other money transfer devices, and at the same time, inflict pain/injuries on them, rape their female victims and push them out of a speed moving vehicle afterwards.

The motion reads: “Concerned that the victims of this despicable act and bank account used for this criminal purpose seem to be difficult to track or trace, due to lack of synergy between the security agencies and Banks, and also the bank’s unwillingness to help customers and do proper investigation on their own with the excuses of waiting for police extract or affidavit or other requirements that could be frustrating coupled with the money involved in the process which the victims whose money were stolen may no longer afford;

“Cognizance of the CBN directives mandating all Bank operators to ensure that individual or cooperate accounts of every customer are linked to their NIN and BVN which means every transaction done within and outside the bank could be traced;

“Worried that in most cases the phone numbers and bank accounts of their victims are used to borrow money from illegal and unauthorized loan apps of the companies in Nigeria, thereby incurred humongous debt which their victims must offset afterwards;

“Also worried that on daily basis cases of such abound including that of our children/relatives, staff, secretaries etc and if nothing urgent is done to curb the activities of one chance in the FCT, Abuja and other state in general, and its perpetrators brought to book, FCT may not be safe for every one of us to stay”.

The House unanimously adopted the motion and resolved to mandate the minister of FCT to ensure the maximization of the operation of Abuja Urban Mass Transit whose Buses are lying fallow in its office premises; to enable them provide the FCT residents with a reliable transportation system and extend their services to 9:30pm daily.

The House further mandated the House committees on FCT, Police Affairs, Banking Institutions and legislative compliance to look into this and ensure compliance.

News

US Embassy issues new directive for Nigerian visa applicants

Published

2 hours ago

December 11, 2024

Naijablitznews

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced updates to its immigration visa process, effective January 1, 2025.

Applicants with scheduled interviews will now need to visit the Consulate General in Lagos twice as part of the application procedure.

The embassy shared on its official X page that “For applicants with interviews scheduled after January 1, 2025, applicants are required to visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during the immigrant visa process.

“This new process is designed to help you prepare for your visa interview and to prevent significant delays in processing your immigrant visa.”

According to details on the embassy’s website, the first visit will involve an “In-Person Document Review” with a consular staff member.

The embassy explained, “This review ensures that applicants are prepared for their visa interviews. The review allows applicants to retrieve any missing documents ahead of their visa interviews, helping to avoid delays in application processing.”

The second visit will be the visa interview itself, conducted by a Consular Officer. This appointment will be scheduled by the National Visa Center (NVC).

“If you do not complete the In-Person Document Review before your visa interview, you will be required to reschedule your appointment,” the embassy noted.

These changes, the embassy said aim to enhance efficiency and reduce delays caused by incomplete documentation.

As announced earlier, in a related development, the embassy has transitioned to a new visa services provider for its Abuja and Lagos consulates on August 26, 2024.