The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has warned the Nigerian military to keep off from the group as they prepare the burial ceremony of their leader’s parents His Royal Majesty, Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his queen.

The warning came from the spokesperson of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Powerful who said that Nigerian Army should focus on the real security challenges facing the country rather than harassing and intimidating the good people of Afaraukwu community in Umuahia-Ibeku.

He claimed that the Nigerian Army has invaded the communities, killing and destroying people and properties at will.

He called on International bodies to take note of the unlawful Intimidation and harassment by Nigerian Army since they have resolved to kill innocent civilians at will.

The burial of Nnamdi Kanu parent’s, His Royal Majesty Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his wife is scheduled to hold on 14th February, 2020.

The Federal Government has slashed its visa application charges for citizens of the United States from $180 to $160.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the old amount comprised $160 as visa fee and $20 as “processing and expedient fees”.

According to the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, the reduction followed a review of the U.S.’ visa reciprocity policy for Nigeria.

Babandede stated this in a Feb. 5 memo marked NIS/HQ/CGI/806/7 and addressed to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In August, 2019, the U.S. government imposed additional visa fees on Nigerians in retaliation for the “treatment afforded to U.S. citizens” by the Nigerian government.

The policy required successful applicants for non-immigrant U.S. visas in the B, F, H1B, I, L, and R categories to pay between $80 and $303 as reciprocity fees.

This is in addition to the normal visa application fees of between $160 and $190.

“The total cost for a U.S. citizen to obtain a visa to Nigeria is currently higher than the total cost for a Nigerian to obtain a comparable visa to the United States.

“The new reciprocity fee for Nigerian citizens is meant to eliminate that cost difference,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement on its website then.

In his letter, the NIS urged all Nigerian missions in the U.S. to immediately implement the new visa charges payable by US citizens, and “discontinue charging processing or expedient fees”.

“Our Missions are to issue up to two years multiple entry visa to frequent short visit travelers on request in line with reciprocity,” he said.

A senior official of the Nigerian Consulate in New York, told NAN that the “processing and expedient fees” of $20 was for online application and payment services rendered by a private firm.

NAN reports that Babandede’s letter came a day after President Muhammadu Buhari launched the Nigeria Visa Policy 2020 which, among others, increased the country’s visa classes from six to 79.

(NAN)

The House of Representatives on Thursday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently deploy the armed forces to restore peace and order in lsu Beachline Boundary Community, Arochukwu local government area of Abia state.

The House also urged the federal government to temporarily take over the disputed land pending when proper demarcation is done.

The lawmakers also urged the National Boundaries Commission to immediately and without further delay clearly and unambiguously demarcate and define the boundaries of both communities to avoid further clashes

“The House mandated the Committees on Defence, and National Security and Intelligence to coordinate the implementation and attainment of the above resolutions with the Presidency, the National Emergency Management,” it added.

Leading the debate, Hon. Uko Nkole noted that violent communal conflicts have become perhaps the singular, deadliest threat to Nigeria’s national security.

“Saddened that between Sunday, February 2nd, 2020 and Monday, February 3rd 2020, communal clashes erupted in lsu Beachline Boundary Community in Arochukwu local government area of Abia State which has its boundary with Utuma in Cross River state in which the Utuma attacked the lsu Beachline communities of lheosu, Aba and Amachi.

The lawmaker said the clash has left many dead with the three villages along the lsu beachline boundary community completely razed down resulting in the displacement of community members.

“There is an urgent need to bring this conflict to a halt as the killings, destruction of property, displacements and humanitarian suffering, constitute crimes against humanity and, are already in genocidal proportions; they should not be allowed to further deteriorate,” he said.

Nkole said that further attacks must be prevented so that the people of the community will not, out of helplessness and frustration, be forced to employ every means necessary to defend themselves such that the situation will completely degenerate.

“Cognizant that under section 217 (2) ( c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), this National Assembly has a fundamental role to play in recommending the deployment of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order.

“Every effort must be made to save the Isu people from these needless and brutal killings and unnecessary destruction of property and that this incident should be the last of its kind,” he said.

Daily Trust

The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, presided over plenary on Thursday. It is his first since the inauguration of the ninth Senate in June 2019.

Mr Omo-Agege took over the dais from Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, shortly after he (Lawan) said the prayers to commence the business of the day.

There have been speculations of friction between Mr Lawan and Omo-Agege as many wondered why the latter has not been allowed to preside over plenary sessions.

Many also believed that the deputy senate president was not fully aligned with the interests of the executive.

With the development, however, it appears that the insinuations will now be put to rest.

There were cheers in the chamber the moment Mr Omo-Agege took over the podium.

“It’s great to see you there,” James Manager (Delta South) told the deputy senate president who is also from Delta state.

“Thank you,” Mr Omo-Agege replied amidst cheers and laughter.

Constitution Review Committee

Prior to his exit, Mr Lawan announced the formation of the Constitution Review Committee.

Mr Omo-Agege will chair the 57-member committee.

Principal officers who constitute the steering committee but are also members of the main Committee as announced by Mr Lawan include Abdullahi Yahaya, Robert Boroffice, Sabi Abdullahi and Eyinnaya Abaribe.

Others are Emmanuel Bwacha, Philip Aduda and Sahabi Ya’u.

The rest are;

Theordore Orji (Abia)
Aisha Ahmed (Adamawa)
Stella Oduah (Anambra)
Albert Bassey (Akwa-Ibom)
Haliru Jika (Bauchi)
Diegi Biobakara (Bayelsa)
Gabriel Suswam (Benue)
Abubakar Kyari (Borno)
Gershom Bassey (Cross-River)
James Manager (Delta)
Samuel Egwu (Ebonyi)
Mathew Urghohide (Ebonyi)
Bamidele Opeyemi (Ekiti)
Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu)
Danjuma Goje (Gombe)
Rochas Okorocha (Imo)
Sabo Mohammed (Jigawa)
Uba Sani (Kaduna)
Kabiru Gaya (Kano)
Babba Kaita (Katsina)
Adamu Aliero (Kebbi)
Smart Adeyemi (Kogi)
Sadiq Umar (Kwara)
Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos)
Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa)
Sani Musa (Niger)
Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun)
Nicholas Tofowomo (Ondo)
Bashiru Ajibola (Osun)
Teslim Folarin (Oyo)
Hezekiah Dimka (Plateau)
George Sekibo (Rivers)
Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto)
Yusuf Yusuf (Taraba)
Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe)
Hassan Gusau (Zamfara)

Also in the committee are zonal representations with each zone represented by two senators.

They are, Ibn Na’allah and Ibrahim Shekarau (North West), Kashim Shettima and Lawal Gumau (North East) and Tanko Al-makura and Yakubu Oseni (North Central).

Others are, Abdulfatai Buhari and Biodun Olujimi (South West), Uche Ekwunife and Chukwuka Utazi (South East) and Akon Eyakenyi and Rose Oko (South-South).

While Mr Lawan advised members to represent the Senate and the national assembly as a whole. He said senators who are not members can still participate “by way of giving any solution and any advice they feel strongly about, for the committee to succeed.”

“As for the activities of the committee, you will engage not only members of the National Assembly and other statutory bodies like INEC and Civil Society groups but Nigerians are interested in the way and manner we do our activities here.

“Nigerians have interest in the Constitution review that the National Assembly will bank upon.

“There are several issues Nigerians feel very strongly about, the constitution review committee is supposed to be a platform where such issues could be brought and where those who are interested should ensure that they make every possible effort, including a presentation for their views to be considered,” he said.

He also welcomed any organisation that has anything as a contribution to the Constitution amendment review committee.

Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP, Anambra) however complained that his party, Young Progressives Party, was not mentioned in the committee.

“I think it is, maybe, an oversight. Mr President should consider our party because we are here on our own and I am a caucus of my party.”

In his response, Mr Lawan noted that the membership was not based on political parties. He said each state will be represented by a Senator and each geopolitical zone will have zonal representation.

“This is part of what we are trying to do in the Constitution review. I am sure the Constitution review committee, chairman and members will take note of this.

“Don’t despair, you are YPP, you have other opportunities so, this is our Senate, including the YPP,” he said.

The committee is expected to deliberate on all bills that seek to alter the constitution.

The Federal Government said that it will spend  N620m special intervention fund to monitor, detect and contain the deadly Coronavirus.

Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, stated this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on health.

He briefed the Senate panel on the level of his ministry’s preparedness to manage the Coronavirus outbreak in the country.

He said the fund would come directly from the service-wide vote.

His appearance was sequel to a resolution of the red chamber based on a motion by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, on the need to summon the minister over the issue.

Enahire said the ministry, on Thursday, submitted a memo proposing for the release of the sum of N620m to take proactive measures to contain the virus.

He said Nigeria was prepared to ensure its health security which could disrupt economic stability if left unchecked.

The Minister was in the Senate in company with the Director, Port Health Services, Dr Morenike Alex-Okoh, and the Director-General National Centre for Disease Control.
Enahire said already,  N71m was released to the port health services for its operations.

Ehanire said the ministry had a multi-stakeholder meeting to deploy port health services there to screen all passengers.

He said the national intervention on containing the Lassa fever outbreak enjoyed the timely release of N313m intervention fund from the Federal Government to manage the outbreak.

Meanwhile, the Senate expressed concerns over the non-screening of the  Chattered flight passengers wing of the local flight arrivals at the airports.

The senators expressed fears that it may be a loose end to import the Coronavirus.

Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, said the absence of health services at the private terminal could make for easy movement of infected bodies into the country.

The Senate, therefore, ordered the Minister to deploy health officials to the private tarmac and conduct screening of VIPs on chartered flight stressing Coronavirus was both a national and global health emergency.