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  • FG vows to prosecute airline agents for swindling stranded fans in Russia

    FG vows to prosecute airline agents for swindling stranded fans in Russia

    The Federal Government has vowed to arrest and prosecute the airline travel agents who cancelled the return tickets of 230 Nigerian football fans stranded after the 2018 World Cup Tournament in Russia.

    The Nigerian Ambassador to Russia, Prof. Steve Ugba said this in an online video statement made available by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Tope Elias-Fatile in Abuja on Sunday.

    Ugba made government’s position known while addressing the stranded Nigerians in Moscow, Russia before their departure to Nigeria.

    NAN reports that over 150 stranded Nigerian football fans besieged the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow on July 12, for assistance at the end of the 2018 World Cup tournament.

    The fans had alleged that their return tickets were cancelled abruptly by airline agents, resulting to their being stranded in Russia without any hope of returning to Nigeria.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had on July 16, directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and his Aviation counterpart, Hadi Sirika, to evacuate the Nigerians to Abuja immediately.

    Sequel to the directive, a chartered Ethiopian Airline had on July 20 conveyed the 155 stranded Nigerians back to Abuja.

    The envoy in the 21 minutes video, expressed gratitude to the president for ensuring that the stranded fans returned safely to the country.

    Ugba, who said that the Federal Government did not want the culprits to go free, urged the victims to produce any document they had to enable the government crackdown the agents.

    “Give us any document that you have about the people who deceived you, or the people who scammed you, who did you 419 so that we can have them picked up and prosecuted in Nigeria.

    “We do not want them to go free. So, give us any document you have that will tell us who these people are.

    “We are waiting for them in Nigeria because the kind of behaviour that you exhibited here shows that you have character, shows that you have respect for yourselves, and shows that you have respect for Nigeria,” he said.

    “It is not a crime for you to come and at the end of the show, you want to go back. It is not a crime.

    “But it is a crime for the person who sold you tickets and then, the second leg of going back you do not have tickets anymore. So, it is not your fault.

    “We want to hold those responsible for this terrible behaviour to account for their action so that next time, they will not do the same,” he said.

    Ugba said that the nation was proud of the stranded fans to have made out time to cheer the Super Eagles in Russia.

    He said that the behaviour of the fans and the Super Eagles had earned Nigeria lots of friends in Russia. (NAN)
    IAA/AO/GY

  • Attractive cultural sites: Magnets to foreign exchange, says Don

    By Oladapo Udom
    Lagos, July 23, 2018 (NAN) Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu, an Associate Professor of French Language, University of Lagos (UNILAG), has  said that beautifying cultural sites will attract more tourists to such sites and improve foreign exchange earnings for the country.

    Igbeneghu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the three tiers of government should invest more in the cultural aspect of the country.

     

    The don said that they could achieve this through regular maintenance of infrastructure at tourism and entertainment centres.

    “Nigeria has several untapped tourism potential, both in physical and human resources that can be adequately packaged to attract tourists from around the world.

    “By so doing, we will be selling our products to the international community, and thereby promoting our cultures and traditions in the Diaspora.

    “This will make Nigeria a better choice for tourism, social activities and cultural diplomacy for foreign tourists,” he said.

    Igbeneghu urged the Lagos State Government to embark on the renovation of the Afrikan Shrine and its environments following the visit by President Emmanuel Macron of France to the place.

    He said that the state government should utilise the opportunity the visit had provided to promote trade, commerce, entertainment and international politics in and around the state.

    “Several foreigners will want to see what attracted Macron to the shrine. They will, therefore, be interested in also visiting the shrine whenever they have the opportunity to visit Nigeria.

    “Upgrading the infrastructure in and around the place, such as renovating the road networks, erecting functional street lights and building capital projects around the shrine, will make it more attractive as a tourist centre.

    “This will definitely improve the inflow of tourists, boosts foreign exchange earnings and upscale  tourism ratings in the country,” he said.

    Igbeneghu said that for a world leader to have visited the shrine shows how much Nigeria’s culture is respected in the international community, particularly, its entertainment and tourism sectors. (NAN)
    OUU/PAD
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    Edited by Peter Dada

     

     

     

     

     

     Posted in Tourism |

    News Agency of Nigeria
    Powered by Metric Internet

    NAN

  • $50,000 up for grabs as Africa Freestyle Football Championships debuts

    By Kemi Ajayi
    As the maiden Africa Freestyle Football Championships draws near, the organisers say they are dolling out prizes worth over 50,000 dollars.

    Valentine Ozigbo, the Chairman of Feet ‘N’ Tricks International, the organisers of the event, told a news conference on Monday that the event would hold from Sept. 13 to Sept. 15 in Lagos.

    Ozigbo, who said the competition was being conducted in partnership with the World Freestyle Football Association (WFFA), added that it would feature no fewer than 40 participants from across Africa.

    The chairman said that the success achieved at the 2017 Nigeria Freestyle Football Championship gave birth to the continental event.

    “The success achieved last year at the Nigerian competition gave birth to this African championships, and we are happy that freestyle footballers from across Africa will be in Nigeria for this event.

    “We are excited to pave a new dimension for the event in Africa because freestyle football home is Africa.

    “The prize money includes a brand new car and the winner will represent the continent at the Redbull World Freestyle Football competition in Poland later this year,’’ he said.

    Ozigbo said the body in conjunction with WFFA would continue to work on the development of freestyle talents and continually exploit all available resources to create more awareness.

    He added that Iya Traore, a Guinean footballer and freestyler, who has been featured in Guinness Book of Records, and Raquel Benetti, a famous female freestyle footballer from Brazil would be present to spice up the event.

    Ozigbo said that the competition would be broadcast live on Startimes, while international judges would be used to determine winners.

    “The event is being planned as a perfect fusion of freestyle football and entertainment as top music and dance artistes will be performing.

    “On the final day, two of the prominent freestyle footballers will also be on ground to support the event with their display,’’ he said.

    He commended the sponsors, including Heritage Bank, Sprite and Startimes for partnering with Feet ‘N’ Tricks to ensure the success of the event.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that freestyle football is the art and sport of juggling football using all parts of the body to entertain audiences and out-perform opponents.

    It is also known as Freestyle Soccer in North America, and is a fusion of tricks with a ball, dance and music. (NAN)

  • Facebook to double office presence in London

    Facebook said on Monday it would double its presence in London, acquiring nearly 600,000 square feet (56,000 square meters) of office space across two buildings in King’s Cross – enough for more than 6,000 workstations.

    Facebook shares drop on report of widened probe on data scandal

    The social network did not say how many jobs it would add in the British capital, where it expects to employ 2,300 people by the end of this year. It added 800 jobs in London last year.

    Steve Hatch, managing director for Northern Europe, said Facebook had developed many of its significant products – including its Workplace collaboration and apps for its Oculus virtual reality headsets – in London.

    “Today’s news reflects our commitment to the UK and our desire to grow our business and the UK economy,” he said in a statement.

    Britain to fine Facebook over data breach

    The announcement represents a vote of confidence in Britain at a time of uncertainty caused by its expected exit from the European Union next spring. Failure to agree on terms could trigger a ‘hard Brexit’, potentially hitting growth and jobs.

    Culled from The Express Tribune, Pak

  • Pakistan’s ex-PM Sharif develops health complications in jail – Doctors

    Pakistan’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has developed health complications in jail and should be shifted to a hospital, a team of doctors has advised after examining him.

    Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz have been detained at a high-security prison in the city of Rawalpindi since July 13 following their conviction on corruption charges a week earlier.

    Sharif is dehydrated and at the risk of renal malfunctioning, a report prepared by doctors said after they had examined the former premier.

    It was not immediately known if the government would act according to the doctors’ advice.

    “He is in bad shape and we want authorities to shift him to hospital for better treatment,” said Mohamed Mehdi, a spokesman for Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N party.

    Sharif has a known history of diabetes and a heart condition and underwent a surgery in 20016.

    Jail authorities have not allowed Sharif’s personal physician to see him since his arrest, Mehdi said.

    He might have developed these complications because he was not being treated well, said Mushahidullah Khan, a leader of Sharif’s party.

    Sharif’s group is a frontrunner in national elections set for Wednesday and is slightly ahead of rivals in opinion polls.

    Sharif, who is thought to be a strong advocate of civilian supremacy in a country ruled by generals for several decades, was removed by the Supreme Court in 2017.(dpa/NAN)

  • Indian govt sets up panel to suggest laws against lynching, mob violence

    Expressing concerns over the growing number of mob violence incidents in the country, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday said the government has constituted a four-member committee, headed by Union Home Secretary, to suggest laws against lynching and mob violence.

    The committee, chaired by home secretary Rajiv Gauba, will submit its recommendations in four weeks.

    The latest move comes days after the Supreme Court asked Parliament to come up with a special law to deter such crimes, saying “the horrendous acts of mobocracy cannot be permitted to inundate the law of the land”. The apex court said the “recurrent pattern of violence “cannot be allowed to become the new normal”.

    READ | Mobocracy can’t be the new normal, get a law to punish lynching: SC to Govt

    A group of minister headed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also been constituted to make recommendations for legislation on lynching. The group of ministers will submit their recommendations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    “Government is concerned at the incidents of violence by mobs in some parts of the country. Government has already condemned such incidents and has made its stand clear in Parliament that it is committed to upholding the rule of law and adopting effective measures to curb such incidents,” the MHA said in a press release.

    It stated that the government respects the recent directions of SC on the issue of mob violence, and has issued an advisory to state governments urging them to take effective measures to prevent incidents of mob violence and lynching and to take stringent action as per law.

    ALSO READ | No-confidence motion: Biggest mob lynching took place in 1984, don’t try to teach us, says Rajnath Singh

    The state governments have been advised to implement the directions issued in the matter by the Supreme Court on July 17, the MHA said.

    The high level committee chaired by the Union Home Secretary will have Secretary, Department of Justice, Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Secretary, Legislative Department and Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment as members.

    The GoM headed by the Home Minister will have Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Thawarchand Gehlot and will submit their recommendations to the Prime Minister.

    For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App

  • Trump blames Obama for alleged Russia’s meddling in U.S. election

    U.S. President, Donald Trump, has again blamed former President, Barack Obama, for “not doing something” about alleged Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election, while he was still president.

    Trump, in a tweet, also described the alleged election meddling as a hoax, saying it was the reason Obama did not act.

    He said Obama thought the Democratic presidential candidate and arch-rival, Hillary Clinton, was going to win.

    Trump tweeted: “So President Obama knew about Russia before the Election. Why didn’t he do something about it?

    “Why didn’t he tell our campaign? Because it is all a big hoax, that’s why, and he thought Crooked Hillary was going to win!!!’’

    The president took a swipe at the whole Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) warrant application, released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against Carter Page, a Trump campaign foreign policy adviser.

    Trump described Page’s FISA documents as a scam, “which led to the rigged Mueller Witch Hunt!’’.

    Alleged Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election, in which Trump won by electoral college but lost to Clinton by almost two million popular votes, led to the set-up of the special panel headed by Robert Mueller.

    The FBI on Saturday released a redacted version of the warrant application on Page, marking the first public disclosure of a highly sensitive FISA request.

    Trump said that the FISA documents “confirm with little doubt’’ that the Justice Department and the FBI “misled the courts”.

    Trump went on to allege that his campaign was potentially being “illegally” surveyed for “`the political gain of Crooked Hillary Clinton and the DNC’’ (Democratic National Congress).

    “Looking more and more like the Trump Campaign for President was illegally being spied upon (surveillance) for the political gain of Crooked Hillary Clinton and the DNC.

    “Ask her how that worked out – she did better with Crazy Bernie. Republicans must get tough now. An illegal Scam!’’ Trump tweeted.

    The U.S. leader bragged about having “a great meeting” with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, but blamed the media, which he described as “fake news” for trying to disparage the meeting.

    “I had a great meeting with Putin and the fake news used every bit of their energy to try and disparage it. So bad for our country!’’ Trump tweeted. (NAN)

  • 2019: APC throws fresh challenge at PDP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to drop its antics of seeking a new coalition and the desperate shopping for members ahead the 2019 elections.

    It said that instead of doing all that, the PDP should face the Nigerian electorate on its own merit.

    The APC gave the challenge in Abuja on Sunday via a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abudullahi.

    According to the statement, after three years of defeat, the PDP is understandably excited with the possibility of hiding its “irredeemably bad image under the heap of a new coalition”.

    It said that like the vulture, PDP saw every altercation as a potential opportunity for a feast, alleging conspiracies and threatening to boycott elections.

    It also accused the party of announcing fake defections.

    “What is clear with all these is that no matter how long a leopard lives, it cannot change its spots.

    “What President Muhammadu Buhari and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, our National Chairman, are doing, persuading every aggrieved member not to leave the party, is what responsible and sensible party leaders would do,” it said.

    The APC pointed out that party politics was a game of number.

    It, however, noted that if the PDP had the same presence of mind in 2015, perhaps the calamity that befell it, would have been averted. (NAN)

     

  • Nigeria-China currency swap deal: CBN begins Chinese Yuan sales

    Nigeria-China currency swap deal: CBN begins Chinese Yuan sales

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday launched the sale of foreign exchange in Chinese Yuan (CNY) signalling the consummation of the Nigeria-China Currency Swap Agreement.

    The CBN acting Director,  Corporate Communications, Mr Isaac Okorafor, said that the sale would
    be done through a combination of Spot and Short Tenored Forwards.

    Okorafor added that the sale would be conducted through a Special Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) window.

    He explained that the window would be dedicated to the payment of Renminbi Denominated Letters of Credit for raw materials, machinery and agriculture.

    He said “due to the peculiarity of the exercise, CBN will not be applying the relevant provisions of its Revised Guidelines for the Operation of Inter-Bank Foreign Exchange Market, that is; the guidelines which direct that SMIS bids be submitted to CBN through Forex Primary Dealers.

    “The CBN will also not be applying the guidelines which provide that Spot FX sold to any particular end-user shall not exceed 1 per cent of the overall available funds on offer at each SMIS session.”

    On the bid period, Okorafor said authorised dealers were requested to submit their customers’ bids from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on weekdays.

    He said that any bid received after the stipulated time would be disqualified.

    On funding, he said that authorised dealers were to debit the customers’ accounts for the Naira equivalent of their bids.

    He added that the CBN would debit authorised dealers’ current account on the day of intervention to the tune of the Naira equivalent of their bid request.

    Okorafor explained that there would be no predetermined spread on the sale of CNY by authorised dealers to end-users under the Special SMIS-Retail window.

    He said that authorised dealers would, however, be allowed to earn 50 kobo on the customers’ bids.

    He advised customers who were not willing to accept the settlement terms not to participate in the Special SMIS – Retail.

    He added that Forward Bids would be settled through a multiple-price book building process and would cut-off at a marginal rate to be disclosed after the conclusion of the Special SMIS Retail process.

    He also urged customers who were not willing to accept the terms of the forward rate not to participate in the Special Chinese Yuan SMIS Intervention.

    Okorafor said that the CBN reserved the right not to make a sale if it had the impression that the exercise did not provide effective price for the determination of the CNY to NGN exchange rate.

    The Federal Government on April 27, signed a 2.5-billion-dollar Currency Swap Agreement with the People’s Bank of China.

    The primary aim is to provide adequate local currency liquidity to Nigerian and Chinese industrialists and also assist both countries in their foreign exchange reserves management.  (NAN)