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Reissuance Of Lost Passport, Change Of Data Takes Longer Time– Ag. CGI Caroline WuraOla Adepoju Tells Nigerians.

• As she searchlights alleged misconduct of officers at passport offices.

The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Caroline WuraOla Adepoju pcc+, fsi, has received with deep concern, some complaints of misconduct levelled against our personnel in some Passport offices across the nation.

The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Caroline WuraOla Adepoju pcc+, fsi.

The Comptroller General has ordered an investigation into the matter, especially in regards to the noncompliance with Ministerial directives on the timeline of Passport administration.

Following the complete clearance of Passport application backlogs
nationwide in line with the directive of the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, a new timeline of 2 weeks for processing and issuance of Passport was announced by the Minister on the 4th of October, 2023.

The Honourable Minister and the Ag. CGI provided different phone numbers to the general public to report misdemeanors by NIS personnel at any of our offices.

In a press statement e-signed and released by the Service PRO, DCI Aridegbe Adedotun stated: ‘From NIS we gave two numbers: 08028320751 (SPRO), 08067761196 (SA – SERVICOM), and we are not only ready to answer your calls but resolve issues.

The Service has on a daily basis, monitored the compliance level at all Passport offices nationwide and at our missions abroad. We receive daily reports on production and issuance of Passports from all Passport Control Officers.

As at today, Friday 13th October, 2023, most of our Passport offices are producing Passports of applicants enrolled on Wednesday, 11th
October, 2023.’

The Ag. CGI Wuraola Adepoju also used the opportunity to enlighten the general public that applications for reissuance of lost Passport and change of data takes a longer time. Some applicants in this category may put the Service in bad light when they complain of delay and noncompliance with the new timeline. These applications are required to go through security clearance and correspondence with Service Headquarters before approval for production.

‘Meanwhile, the Acting Comptroller General wishes to appeal to
members of the public to feel free to contact the Service through its
various public communication channels including Twitter, Facebook
handles (@nigimmigration) and our Contact Center on;
• 09121900655
• 09121556359
• 09121477092
To report any form of misconduct by any member of the workforce for
appropriate sanctions.’

‘The Service enjoins prospective Passport applicants to please visit the Nigeria Immigration Service’s official website at immigration.gov.ng to apply for Passports and make payments for their preferred Passport categories and avoid patronizing individuals or entities that request cash payments for Passport services.’

Ondo Assembly Halts Impeachment Process Against Deputy Gov.

The Ondo State House of Assembly on Friday said plans to impeach the state Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, have been suspended.

Ondo Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The Ondo Assembly said it decided to back down on Aiyedatiwa’s impeachment proceedings during its plenary session on Thursday, following the refusal of the state Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, to set up a panel to probe the deputy governor.

Earlier on Thursday, Justice Olusegun Odusola declined the state Assembly’s request to set up a seven-man investigation panel to investigate Aiyedatiwa.

The Ondo State Assembly, as part of efforts to impeach Aiyedatiwa, had written to the CJ to form an investigative panel in line with section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended to look into the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the embattled deputy governor.

A move Aiyedatiwa kicked against by writing a counter letter to the CJ not to grant the assembly’s request to investigate him.

Meanwhile, the Ondo CJ, in a letter to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Oladiji Olamide Aderanmi, with ref no. CROD/1123/V.3/ dated October 6, 2023, gave reasons for declining their request.
The CJ cited Section 287 (3) of the Constitution as to why he cannot act on the letter from the House. He said the above provision of the Constitution barred him from performing the function by an order of a Federal High Court.

Sequel to this development, the Ondo Assembly bowed to pressure, saying that it would obey the order of the court and suspend the impeachment proceedings.

Speaking to pressmen in the state on Friday, the Chairman, of the House Committee on Information, Mr Olatunji Oshati, who revealed the development, noted that the House is suspending the impeachment proceedings until the order of the court is vacated.

Oshati stated, “We have considered the letter, which is everywhere in the public domain, and we are halting the impeachment process until the order of the Federal High Court is vacated.

“It is not about being arrogant with power, it is about holding public officers accountable. It also shows that the process of impeachment transcends the monopoly of the legislature, as we can see that the judiciary has stalled it. This is to show that it is not a witch-hunt, it is about carrying out our oversight functions.”

Stop bombardment of Gaza or suffer ‘huge earthquake’ Iran warns Israel.

Hossein Amirabdollahian, Iran’s foreign minister, has asked Isreal to cease its attacks in Gaza. According to the cable, while speaking on Saturday in Beirut, capital of Lebanon, Amirabdollahian said the ongoing war may expand to other parts of the Middle East if Hezbollah joins and that Israel may suffer “a huge earthquake” if that happens.

Hezbollah is an Iran-backed Shiite Muslim political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Amirabdollahian said Hezbollah has considered all the scenarios of the war, asking Israel to cease fire as soon as possible.

He added that the group’s fighters have been on full alert along Lebanon’s borders with Israel following the October 7 attack by Hamas.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has said Gaza is “being pushed into an abyss”.
Speaking with BBC, Juliette Touma, UNRWA’s director of communications, said “this is the worst we’ve ever seen. This is hitting rock bottom. This is Gaza being pushed into an abyss, there is a tragedy unfolding as the world is watching. This is Gaza”.

“According to colleagues on the ground, there is an exodus. People are leaving. Those who can, with their cars, some are walking, some are carrying mattresses,” she added. “People are terrified.”

Nigerian Military airstrikes eliminate dozens of Terrorists, destroy gun trucks.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Components of Operations Hadin Kai and Hadarin Daji, have eliminated scores of terrorists in stream of air strikes in their enclaves across the theatres.

This is contained in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, on Sunday in Abuja.
Gabkwet said the Air component in the early hours of Saturday, carried out air interdiction missions at a newly identified terrorists’ hideout at Bukar Meram, near the Lake Chad region in Borno.

He said the strikes became necessary after it was established that recent relocation of terrorists from Suwa to Bukar Meram general area, was to for possible resurgence of attacks on ground troops and innocent civilians.

According to him, air strikes were authorised at the location in Bukar Meram to decimate the terrorists. “Feedback received after the strikes revealed the expected outcome was achieved as several terrorists were neutralised while over 40 motorcycles and six gun trucks were destroyed,” he said.

NAF spokesman said that similar air strikes were carried out on terrorists on Oct. 11 by the Air Component of Operation Haradin Daji around Sangeko axis of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara.

He said the terrorists, who were in a convoy of about 70 motorcycles on the road track from Kabaro towards Sangeko, were subsequently engaged with several neutralised, their motorcycles destroyed, and others injured.

Gabkwet said the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has commended the professionalism and dedication of the Air Components.

He quoted Abubakar as saying, “your efforts and support to the ground troops is commendable. Stay focused and do not be complacent as we must continue to give our citizens the confidence they deserve to thrive”. (NAN).

Three persons reportedly dead as Commercial Bus rams into truck in Lagos.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Sunday said three persons died instantly in an auto crash involving a commercial bus and a truck.
A statement by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, on Saturday, said the incident happened at Gbagada, by Charlie Boy bus stop.

“Following a distress call received at 22:01hrs through the agency’s toll-free lines, LASEMA activated the Lagos State Emergency Response Plans with an arrival time of 22:17hrs.

“Upon arrival of the agency’s LRT at the scene, it was observed that a white commercial bus lost control and crashed into a moving truck.

“The 18-passenger commercial bus, with registration number JJJ-844YA and loaded to capacity, was heading to Ajah from Oshodi.

“It lost control while on motion, rammed into a moving truck from behind and three people died instantly. “Two males and one female, all adults immediately lost their lives to the incident, while others sustained various degrees and categories of injuries,” he said.

He added that out of the seven people injured, three were promptly administered pre-hospital care and ferried to Gbagada General Hospital for further treatment by the agency’s paramedics. “The three commodities have been bagged awaiting arrival of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, (SEHMU), to convey them to the morgue.

“Light Tow Truck has been deployed to recover the affected vehicle from the busy road to forestall secondary incidents.
“The LASEMA Response Team, LASEMA Pre-Hospital Care Team, Nigeria Police and Lagos Fire and Rescue Services were all present at the incident,” he said. (NAN).

Notable heads of Militant groups meet in Rivers unite to combat oil theft in Niger Delta.

Some top powerful heads of militants’ groups in the Niger Delta have reportedly had a crunch meeting in a bid to eliminate all forms of oil theft especially illegal bunkering as part of the economic recovery programme of President Bola Tinubu.

It was gathered that popular ex-militant leaders and members of the Big Five held a crucial meeting in Rivers State to form an alliance against oil theft.

The meeting, which had in attendance key stakeholders from the nine states of the Niger Delta, was said to have held on Saturday at the Okochiri Palace of King Ateke Tom in Okirika Local Government Area.

Ex-militant leaders at the meeting were His Royal Majesty, King Michael Ateke Tom; High Chief Ajube Bibopiri, famously known in the creeks as General Shoot-at-Sight and Victor Ben Ebukabowei alias General Boyloaf.

A famous freedom fighter and activist, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, known for his support for President Tinubu was also said to be in attendance. Though King Ateke and Dokubo were notorious for their prolonged enmity over irreconcilable political and personal difference, their surprised meeting at the weekend reportedly marked fresh beginning for the common interest of the Niger Delta and the country’s economy.

Sources close to the ex-militant leaders disclosed that the meeting was centred around oil theft and the best modalities of executing the pipeline contracts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The former creek warlords were said to have advocated that to permanently resolve the ongoing economic sabotage, NNPCL pipeline surveillance contracts must be decentralised.

They were said to have insisted that instead of giving all the contracts to a single firm or an individual, such jobs should be allocated to them in their areas or states of influence.

The source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Those in attendance shared the objective of intensifying their efforts to combat oil theft in the area and agreed the contract to be decentralized.

“It is apparent that it marked a unified front against the persistent problem of oil theft in the region. The stakeholders are resolute in their commitment to boost collaborative endeavors aimed at safeguarding the pipelines and the interests of the NNPCL”

“This collaborative approach has the potential to be a turning point in the ongoing struggle against oil theft, with far-reaching benefits for the entire region and the Nigerian economy”.

The ex-militant leaders’ position was said to be similar with the stance of the Rivers State Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara, who on August 26th kicked against the practice of awarding all pipeline surveillance contracts to a single individual. Fubara spoke when a Federal Government delegation on the security of oil and gas assets led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, visited him.

He said: “Security of pipeline should not be given to one man or one person. How can someone from Kalabari be controlling the pipeline in Ogoni? There is no way it will work. We must look at bringing all the key people in the various communities”.

It was, however, gathered that the NNPCL had renewed the pipeline surveillance contract of Tantita Security Service Limited owned by a former militant leader, Government Ekpumpolo alias Tompolo, for another three years.

Though details of the the renewal were not disclosed, a source indicated that the total package had added responsibility of offshore surveillance.

The source, who spoke from Bayelsa State, said: “Tantita’s pipeline surveillance contract has been renewed for another three years. I don’t know the details but I heard additional responsibilities have been included. I was told offshore surveillance was also included”.

In August 2022, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mele Kyari, justified the government’s decision to award pipelines surveillance contract valued at N48bn to Tantita Security Services led by Tompolo