NIGERIA’S ARMY CHIEF PARDONS FEMALE SOLDIER WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH YOUTH CORPS MEMBER BY NEWSDESK

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Faruq Yahaya has pardoned the female soldier who publicly accepted the proposal of a male youths corps member at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Kwara state. PRNigeria learnt from credible military sources that Gen. Yahaya made overtures to the leadership of the Nigerian armed forces for the soldier to be pardoned. He however, warned that the erring soldier should be reprimanded against engaging in any kind of act that contravenes the military code of conduct for its officers and men, the sources said. The Military authority has considered the appeal of the Army Chief and ordered the release of the soldier to enjoy Christmas with family and friends. Recalled that a video of a male corps member proposing to a female soldier at the Yikpata Orientation Camp of the NYSC in Kwara state recently surfaced online and went viral. In one of the video clips, some corps members are seen having a discussion at a venue believed to be the parade ground of the orientation camp. The discussion is still on when the yet-to-be-identified corps member, who is seen holding a ring, goes down on one knee and pops the question to the soldier with the lady accepting the proposal. The corps member goes on to insert the ring in the finger of the visibly excited soldier amid cheers from others at the scene. In another clip, the pair are seen sharing lovey-dovey moments. The corps member is seen wearing the lady’s military cap as she stands directly behind him. They thereafter share a kiss to the delight of other corps members filming the incident. There were reports after the incident that the soldier was detained by the Army, an action that received wide condemnation on social media. However, aside public ‘outrage’ over the action of the Nigerian military, PRNigeria gathered that Lt. Gen. Yahaya’s ‘appeal for mercy’ for the female soldier, may not be unconnected with the fact that the Christmas season presents an opportunity for persons who erred to be given clemency. “The COAS, in his wisdom, believes that the young female soldier will retrace her steps and show remorse for engaging in acts that negates military ethical codes, by the time she is pardoned and forgiven. Hence, he has been appealing for her to be pardoned. This is what he has been doing behind the scene, in the last few days,” said a senior military officer, who does not want PRNigeria to mention his name. When contacted, the Army Spokesperson, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu told PRNigeria that the soldier would be released on Christmas Day. “I can confirm to you that an order has been made for the soldier to be freed and enjoy the Christmas with her family and friends with a serious warning for her not to repeat such act again,” he said. PRNigeria

Important Updates on Dubai Visa For Nigerians By travelwaka

dubai visa for Nigerians This post is regarding the latest updates on the Dubai Visa for Nigerians. In the last few months, there have been several updates regarding Dubai visas for Nigerians. However, there is no official statement from the United Arab Emirates government yet regarding these latest developments. If you are planning to visit Dubai, this article is for you. Dubai Updates In the Last One Year These are some of the recent updates regarding the Dubai visa for Nigeria. These are some of the updates below: Dubai Visa Ban For Nigerians Early 2021, there was rumour that Dubai is no longer giving visas to Nigerians. The United Arab Emirates government has denied such claims. There was no formal ban, but we experienced a rise in the rate of refusal and denial rate for Nigerians. Latest Updates: Nigerians can apply for Dubai Visas, however, Dubai is still rejecting some applications. Delay in Processing Dubai Visa Usually, Dubai visas processing takes between 24 hours to 72 hours. With the recent updates, processing a Dubai visa now takes between 3 to 7 days. The processing days depends on the type of visa. Latest Update: The processing days for Dubai Visa is still between 3 to 7 working days. High Rate of Denial Before now, the Dubai visa is one of the easiest to get in Nigeria. The acceptance rate is almost 99 per cent. However, in the second/third quarter of 2021, there has been a significant increase in the number of Dubai visa denials for Nigerians. It was almost like a 30 per cent acceptance rate. Latest Updates: In the last six months, there’s been an increase in the rejection rate of Dubai visas for Nigerians. However rate of denial has reduced significantly. dubai visa for nigerians Denial of Dubai Visa for Nigerian Male Who are Below 35 Years Over the last few weeks, there is also a new update regarding Nigerian men that are 35 years and below. We also noticed a trend for single Nigerian men who are not married. The rate of rejection is over 95 per cent. The only exception is men below 35 who are married or travelling in the company of their parents or family. Married men who are below 35 years were granted Dubai visas. But the majority of men under 35 years were denied the Dubai visa. Latest Update: Men below 35 years can now apply for a Dubai visa. No direct Flight from Nigeria to Dubai Another related update regarding travelling to Dubai is the ban on direct flights from Nigeria to Dubai. Early this year, there was a ban on direct flights from Nigeria to Dubai. The Nigerian government and airlines flying from Nigeria to Dubai did not meet the requirement for the Rapid PCR test facility. It is the new standard requirement for airlines flying to Dubai. In addition to the regular covid test carried out, the airlines are mandated to carry out another test on passengers flying into Dubai. Latest Updates: Since the ban of direct flights from Nigeria to Dubai. Most people can only travel from Nigeria to Dubai Through Cotonou and Ghana. As of October 2021, There is still no direct flight from Nigeria to Dubai. However, you can travel to Dubai through Kenya Airways, But you have to ensure that the airline will be having a long layover. This is to give room for the instant test at the airport. Non Issuance of Work Permit to Nigerians Another recent development is the issue of Dubai work permits for Nigerians. Hundreds of people are denied work visas. Dubai Authorities has denied not granting work permits to Nigerians. But we noticed the UAE is not currently renewing nor giving work permits for many Nigerians. Most of the applications got rejected. Getting a work visa in Dubai has become harder than ever. This is for Nigerian citizens in Dubai. It doesn’t matter how long you have been working in Dubai, Dubai was not granting Latest Update: As of October 2021, the majority of Nigerians living in Dubai are still finding it hard to process or renew Dubai work permits. Also Read: What Nigerians Travelling to Dubai Through Cotonou Are Going Through Possible Reasons for these developments Increase in Crime Activities by Some Nigerians: Some people have attributed it to the recent criminal activities by some Nigerians living in the United Arab Emirates. One of the cases is the Hush Puppy cyber-criminal case. Hush Puppy is currently in a federal prison in the United States of America. He is currently facing several criminal charges. Some people claimed some of the visa difficulties Nigerians are experiencing may be related to these recent criminal activities. Cultism Activities by Some Nigerians: Another recent development is a high increase in cultism activities and gang wars by some Nigerians in the United Arab Emirates. These activities have left some people dead and others injured. These may also be related. Some Nigerians were Tagged Global Sponsors of Terrorism: Sometime in 2021, some prominent Nigerians were tagged global sponsors of terrorism. Also, this may somehow be connected to the recent visa ban for Nigerians. Issues with the Federal Government: There is a pending issue between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Arab Emirate government. This issue is still pending that subsequently led to the banning of direct flights to Dubai from Nigeria. Reduce The Number of Nigerians Coming to UAE: This may also be an attempt to reduce the number of Nigerians coming to the UAE in search of greener pasture. Things to Do To Avoid Dubai Visa Ban Do a Social Media Audit: Always ensure you do a social media audit on all your social media pages. Ensure that your profile does not suggest you are into any illegal activities. Also, ensure your page does not support any form of criminal activity. You May Travel With Your Family: One of the easiest ways to get a Dubai visa is to travel in the company of your spouse, older siblings or parents. It has become a sure way to get a Dubai visa. Apply from A Trusted Agent: Dubai usually blacklists agents whose clients are on a wanted list or whose client has done something in the past. Applying from such agents may lead to visa rejection. Always ensure you apply from trusted agents with high integrity. Below is the list of trusted Dubai Agents in Nigeria. Travelwaka Tours www.travelwaka.com/contact www.instagram.com/travelwaka_tours www.twitter.com/travelwakatours Our Recommendation If you are still in Nigeria, this is not the best time to travel to Dubai in search of jobs. You may also have to suspend visiting Dubai for now if you do not have something very important to do in Dubai. With these recent updates, You can still apply for your regular tourist visas. Tourist visas are currently being granted to Nigerians as of October 2020. However if you are planning to travel, kindly follow the above recommendations for the best strategies to get Dubai in Nigeria.

2023: I look forward to going back to my farm, says Buhari BY Segun Adewole

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has said he looks forward to taking charge of his farm in 2023 when his tenure ends. He, however, said he will do his best to advance the interest of the nation and its people before the time comes. Buhari said this while marking his 79th birthday in Istanbul, Turkey, where he is scheduled to participate in the Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit, hosted by his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Recep Erdogan. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu. Shehu quoted the President as saying, “I thought that being away from Abuja I will escape these things. The Guards Brigade had written to tell me what they wanted to do on this day. Now here you are doing this far away from home. “I look forward to the year 2023 when I finish, to go home to take charge of my farm. Between now and that time, I will do the best that is possible to advance the interest of the nation and its people, and carry out my duties as prescribed by the Constitution.” PUNCH.

UK resumes visa application processing from Nigeria By Vincent Ikuomola

The United Kingdom (UK) has announced resumption of processing of visa applications in Nigeria. The decision, which was announced through a statement, followed the Wednesday removal of Nigeria and 10 other countries from the red list. The statement titled: “UKVI lifts pause on processing visitor visa applications”, also contains information for non-visitor visa applications, including student and work visas as well. The statement reads: “In line with the lifting of red list restrictions – following the UK Government announcement that from 4:00am on 15th December, all countries who were on the red list will be removed – UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) will lift the pause on processing visitor visas in all countries previously on the red list. “Due to extremely high global demand, standard UK visitor visas are currently taking significantly longer than usual to be processed. UKVI are working hard to process visitor visa applications as soon as possible and sincerely apologise to all our customers affected. “Non-visitor visa applications (including student and work visas) are still being processed within published service standards and we are working hard to meet customer demand.” It added: ”Applicants will be contacted by the Visa Application Centre (VAC) when their passport is ready for collection. They should not visit the VAC until they have been invited to do so. “You are not required to book any travel before applying for a visa, or before a decision is made on your application. ”Those with an urgent need to travel to the UK for compassionate reasons will still need to apply for a visa in the usual way, including submitting biometrics at a VAC. Applicants should clearly explain the compelling or compassionate reasons for the visit in their application form and must alert the VAC staff during biometric submission. “If you have already submitted your visitor visa application, and you need to urgently travel to the UK for compassionate reasons, you can contact UK Visas & Immigration for help. Please note that this is a chargeable service for overseas customers. “Priority Visa (PV) and Super Priority Visa (SPV) services remain temporarily suspended for all visa routes in all countries coming off the red list. This allows UKVI to concentrate on assessing applications in date order for all our visa customers, and to deal equitably with the increased demand we are currently experiencing. This will be kept under review and we hope to be able to reinstate PV services in due course. “Students who may have planned to use PV services can speak to their course provider about options, including COVID-19 concessions or slightly later starts if necessary. However, students may wish to consider making their application early, rather than waiting for PV and SPV services to be resumed.”

Akande: I’ve never seen anything genuine in Obasanjo. By Olukorede Yisau

*'Ex-president did everything to bring my government down'

A former Osun State Governor and first National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Bisi Akande has said he has never seen anything genuine in ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. Akande, in his book, ‘My Participations’, narrated several instances of Obasanjo’s alleged attempts to bring him down. He added that even after he had been rigged out in 2003, Obasanjo did not relent in his effort to bring him closer to himself for the purpose of rubbishing him. Akande said during the centenary celebration of the Baptist Church in Abeokuta, Obasanjo announced that he was “an example of a prudent and honest governor”. “He said I was the most credible. That didn’t make me to have a change of opinion about Obasanjo. “I have never seen anything genuine about him despite his self-glorification,” Akande wrote. He claimed the ex-president’s nationalism and patriotism were fake, adding that his ambition to be the centre of Nigeria’s universe made him express constant hatred for the late Obafemi Awolowo. “It was this vaunting ambition that made him express constant hatred to the most altruistic and selfless leader of our time, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. “He continues to wonder till tomorrow why the Yoruba people, especially after his tour of duty as a two-time President, continue to elevate Awolowo to the highest pedestal while they have no respect for him. So, he would wonder to his grave! “In his detestations for Awolowo, he is ruled by a virulent inferiority complex, believing that he needed to do everything to supplant the greatness of Awolowo or undermine his legacies. “That was why he launched the Universal Basic Education in 1978, knowing that free education would be the core of Awolowo programme for the Second Republic. “That was also why he continued in this line during his two-term disastrous presidency. “For the reason that I was not dancing to his tune, Obasanjo did everything to depress and discredit my government and undermine us in Osun state. “Indeed, he wanted my government to collapse and once I had problem with Omisore, he adopted him as a willing tool and railroaded him into the Senate despite his detention for the assassination of Bola Ige,” he wrote. He accused Obasanjo of ordering that Osun State should be short-paid by N216 million monthly from the Federal Allocation.

‘Don’t set your house on fire over Tinubu’, Bode George asks Akande to withdraw book by Sodiq Oyeleke

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, has asked a former Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, to withdraw his book, ‘My Participation’. In a text of press conference obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, George warned Akande against causing trouble for himself because of the political ambition of Bola Tinubu, APC national leader. According to the PDP leader, the book written by Akande is malicious and offensive to Yoruba elders. While describing the book as “shameful” and “disappointing”, George said Akande must apologise to Yoruba elders publicly. He said, “Akande must apologise openly to Yoruba elders. The attitude that he displayed is not acceptable in a civilised society. Is it his legacy to dishonour Yoruba elders? “At his age, Akande should not set his house on fire because of Tinubu’s ambition. I felt very bad as a Yoruba man and as a Nigerian. He was maligned Yoruba elders and highly respectable people in the country. He was busy giving kudos to Bola Tinubu. Baba Akande is from Osun State and Tinubu is the only man that he could single out to praise. “From the reaction to his book, you must have heard what Baba Adebanjo said. How are we going to be regarded by others? Is that the right thing to do? Baba Akande should withdraw the book that he has authored. It is very shameful. He is older than me and I don’t expect an elderly person to behave in that manner. He must apologise to those he has offended.” PUNCH.

NCC: Tinubu’s alleged connection with Mafab ‘strange

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has denied knowledge about alleged connection of Sen Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s to Mafab Communications Ltd, one of the winners of the 3.5gigahertz (GHz) spectrum auctioned on Monday in Abuja. The Commission in a statement, said in the course of its routine media review, yesterday, it became aware of publications in some online media channels alleging the involvement of the former Lagos State Governor in Mafab Communications Limited. “It bears restating that, consistent with the Commission’s long-established regulatory culture and tradition, the process leading to the auction of the 5G spectrum was open, fair and transparent in the most, as the public auction followed a rigorous due process and was witnessed by a cross-section of stakeholders as observers, including the media, the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as well as civil society groups. “Mafab Communications Limited is a corporate entity duly licensed by the Commission to conduct telecommunications business. The company, which is in good regulatory standing with the Commission, currently holds international data access (IDA), inter-connect data exchange (IDE) and Value-Added Service (VAS) licences. “It is pertinent to state that the Information Memorandum (IM) for the auction of the 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum clearly set out eligibility criteria for participation of interested bidders in the auction, which included that new companies could participate in the bid. “Over the years, the NCC has had spectrum auctions and as an independent regulatory agency, has maintained an undisputable reputation of successful auctions based on openness, fairness and transparency, a fact widely acknowledged locally and internationally. NCC’s auction proceedings conform to international best practice, devoid of any undue influence or interferences whatsoever. “A higher standard of integrity and openness was emplaced in the 5G auction as the process was, for the first time, witnessed by the public both physically and virtually through a link provided by the Commission on its official website. “The Commission would like to assure Nigerians that, following the successful auction of the 5G spectrum, it is prepared to drive the implementation of the next phase of the deployment of the new technology, in line with the Federal Government’s approved plan, for the benefit of all citizens,” the statement explained.