The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CAR

  • UNILAG student wins car to Konga.com promo

    UNILAG student wins car to Konga.com promo

    400 level Marine Science student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Uzoamaka Anyanwu, has won a car in the Konga.com promo.

    The promo was a deal between Konga.com and Infinix Mobility, makers of Infinix range of mobile devices and tablets. It was aimed at ensuring that Nigerians get access to quality and super affordable mobile and tablet devices.

    The draw was witnessed by journalists.

    The initiative, which saw a slash in the price of the Infinix Joypad 7 tablet, was well received by Nigerians with several positive reviews about how Konga.com and Infinix were truly creating innovations that Nigerians can truly love.

    To further ensure Nigerians get access to mobile and tablet devices, Konga and Infinix partnered to launch the Infinix 8s tablet to the Nigerian market  and to create a promotion called the Konga.com and infinix splash which rewarded loyal shoppers last month with an opportunity to win a brand new Hyundai i10 and gift vouchers by simply buying the Infinix 8s tablet.

    The promo was part of other initiatives like free nationwide delivery which Konga carried out last month.

    Nollywood star actress, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, who was recognised as one of the Times 100 Most Influential People in the World, presented the Hyundai i10 car to  Anyanwu.

    Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Konga.com, Sim Shagaya: said: “It is truly an honour to be in a position to bring such great value to our customers.  This promo is one of the many rewards we have in store for Nigerians who choose to shop online and we are happy to present this brand new car to Uzoamaka.  We hope to have another edition of the promo and I will like to thank Infinix for coming together to make this happen.”

    Also, the Vice President of Infinix Andy Yan, said: “We are very happy with this partnership with Konga.com. The response from Nigerians to the Infinix brand has been tremendous, and our dream is to ensure that all Nigerians get access to our range of devices.

    “We will continue to work with Konga in ensuring that this dream is achieved.”

    The Infinix 8s is one of the best value tablets on the market, and is available exclusively on Konga.com.

    The promo will run again, for the next 500 buyers of the Infinix Joypad 8s.

  • 37 people killed in fresh fighting in CAR

    At least 37 people died between Thursday and Friday during fighting between the anti-Balaka militia and ex- Seleka rebels in Central African Republic’s central town of Dekoa, a source from CAR Red Cross said.

    The Red Cross source said anti-Balaka militia attacked the position of ex-Seleka rebels in Dekoa, provoking fierce fighting.

    “At the moment, we have counted 37 bodies and already buried 10.

    “The insecurity does not allow us to continue collecting dead bodies,’’ the source that did not wish to be named said.

    By midday, there was still confusion in Dekoa town.

    One section of the population had taken refuge in the bush while the other took refuge in a Catholic church within the locality.

    According to Youssouf Adam, an officer of the ex-Seleka rebels present in the town, his fighters are in full control of the town.

    “We just responded to the provocation of anti-Balaka militia while in our camps,’’ he told Xinhua on phone.

    Similar clashes were witnessed on the same day along the road leading to the northern town of Bossangoa as well as along Bozoum- Bouar road.

    The AU peacekeeping mission is charged with the responsibility of providing security along the border of Dekoa and Bozoum.

    The mission has promised to address the media on the fresh clashes after compiling all the information.

    The attacks come at a time when the anti-Balakas and the ex- Seleka rebels had vowed to end hostilities to allow peace to be restored in Bangui and other towns.

  • CAR conflict: UN warns 19,000 Muslims ‘face slaughter’

    The United Nation’s refugee agency has expressed fear for the lives of thousands of Muslims at risk of getting “slaughtered” by Christian militia in the Central African Republic.

    The UNHCR said it was trying to evacuate some 19,000 Muslims from areas near the capital, Bangui.

    Nearly 16,000 people had fled their homes in Bangui in the past 10 days amid an upsurge of violence, it added.

    Unrest broke out after Seleka rebels ousted the president in March 2013.

    Despite the deployment of some 6,000 African Union and 2,000 French troops in the country, violence has continued unabated.

    The conflict has taken on an increasingly sectarian nature, with UN human rights chief Navi Pillay earlier warning that hatred between Christians and Muslims in CAR had reached a “terrifying level”.

    Yesterday, the UNHCR said it was particularly concerned for Muslims who had fled to the so-called PK12 district in Bangui. Other danger zones include Carnot, Berberati, Boda and Bossangoa – cities all currently surrounded by Christian militia known as the anti-Balaka.

    “UNHCR stands ready to assist with their evacuation to safer areas within or outside the country,” spokeswoman Fatoumata Lejeune-Kaba said.

    “We don’t want to stand by and watch people being slaughtered.”

    She added that “the only thing keeping them from being killed right now” was the presence of French and African Union troops.

     

    The announcement comes just days after Chadian troops deployed in CAR opened fire on residents of mainly Christian neighbourhoods in northern Bangui, killing at least 24 people.

     

    The International Committee of the Red Cross describes the situation in the country as one of constant danger, and one where all basic services have collapsed, the BBC’s Imogen Foulkes, in Geneva, reports.

    There have been widespread reports of horrific attacks, including acts of cannibalism and children’s heads being cut off.

    In February, Amnesty International said militia attacks had led to a “Muslim exodus of historic proportions”.

  • Cameroon castaways

    Cameroon castaways

    In spite of previous efforts by the Federal Government to rescue Nigerians stranded in the Central African Republic (CAR), it is truly distressing to know that the travails of compatriots caught up in the crisis is yet to end.

    According to reports, more than 400 Nigerians who fled from the CAR are now refugees in Kentjou in eastern Cameroon, where their situation is becoming increasingly desperate. Deprived of the basic necessities of life, they have been forced to rely on the inadequate handouts of the already-impoverished indigenes. Many of them have been forced to take refuge in places of worship, playing fields and other public spaces. As their situation worsens, there are growing fears of diarrhea, cholera and other diseases. The rapidly-approaching rainy season can only make matters worse for these Nigerians in distress, many of whom are women and children.

    It is surprising that Nigeria somehow managed to overlook these citizens, especially as it was able to evacuate some 1,200 Nigerians from the CAR earlier this year. Apparently, that effort was not as comprehensive as it should have been: the evacuation should not have ended until everyone who wanted to leave the country was safely back in Nigeria.

    A country that likes to call itself the “Giant of Africa” cannot continue to look on while its citizens suffer intolerable conditions in foreign countries. Over the years, Nigeria’s inability to rescue its own people has undermined its grandiloquent claims to sovereignty and continental pre-eminence. The nation was slow to move when crises erupted in Egypt and Libya at the height of the Arab Spring. Nigerians were victimised during conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire. In contrast, Canada, the United States, the European Union and China are very quick to ensure that breakdowns of law and order anywhere in the world do not have overly adverse effects on their citizens. Indeed, many of these countries embark on the proactive strategy of issuing travel warnings when they deem them to be appropriate.

    Like those nations, Nigeria must develop a comprehensive rescue and repatriation system for its citizens. Very few national crises emerge abruptly: the increase in lawlessness and violence in any society can be precisely monitored and threat-levels accurately assessed. In order to do this effectively, the country’s various embassies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will have to be thoroughly overhauled. There should be a reliable database of Nigerians living abroad, with detailed information regarding their location and circumstances. The country can imitate the travel advisory system used by other nations as a means of constantly alerting its citizens on threats to their safety.

    When crises do erupt, comprehensive plans of action must be on ground to act upon. Emergency rescue and evacuation scenarios should be developed in cooperation with the armed forces, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) so that they can be implemented immediately. Points of assembly should be pre-identified; citizens resident abroad should be informed on what to do whenever a crisis breaks out where they live; contact information should be made available for them to utilise.

    In the specific case of the Nigerians now languishing in Kentjou, the Federal Government must move to quickly evacuate them before their predicament becomes worse than it already is. Arrangements should be made to transport them by road or air to Nigeria. Those with medical conditions should be handled with dispatch. It is time for Nigeria to live up to the expectations of its long-suffering citizens.

     

  • Central African Republic MPs elect Catherine Samba-Panza

    Central African Republic MPs elect Catherine Samba-Panza

    Bangui mayor Catherine Samba-Panza, 59, has been elected interim president of the Central African Republic, making her the first woman to hold the post.

    She beat her rival Desire Kolingba in the second round of voting by the interim parliament.

    Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers agreed at a meeting on Monday to send troops to CAR, diplomatic sources said.

    Violence has continued, with two Muslim men killed and burnt in the capital Bangui on Sunday.

    Nearly a million people have been forced from their homes – 20% of the population – by the conflict between Muslims and Christians.

    Thomas Fessy reports from Bangui: ‘”In the absence of government, angry mobs now rule the streets’”

    In her victory speech, Ms Samba-Panza urged Christian militias, known as anti-balaka, and Muslim fighters in the ex-Seleka rebel movement to end the bloodshed.

    “I call on my children, especially the anti-balaka, to put down their arms and stop all the fighting. The same goes for the ex-Seleka – they should not have fear. I don’t want to hear any more talk of murders and killings,’” she said, the Associated Press news agency reports.

    Cheers broke out in the National Transitional Council, which serves as an interim parliament, when Ms Samba-Panza’s victory was announced.

    “Starting today, I am the president of all Central Africans, without exclusion,” she is quoted by AFP news agency as saying.

    Ms Samba-Panza succeeds CAR’s first Muslim leader Michel Djotodia, who resigned on 10 January under pressure from regional leaders and the former colonial power, France, over his failure to curb the conflict.

    She is a Christian but the successful businesswoman is seen as politically neutral.

    She was accepted by both sides when she was proposed as Bangui’s mayor under the interim administration.

    There are currently about 4,000 African troops and 1,600 French troops in CAR to help end the violence.

    They will be bolstered by about 500 troops that EU foreign ministers have decided to deploy, AFP reports.

    Ms Samba-Panza won 75 votes in the run-off, against 53 for Mr Kolingba, the son of a former president.

    The election went to a second round after Ms Samba-Panza failed to secure an outright majority in the first round.

    Six other candidates were knocked out in the first round.

    About 129 members of the 135-seat council took part in the secret ballot, AFP reports.

     

  • A gunner indeed!

    A gunner indeed!

    As on the football field so on the battle ground. This young Balaka combatants –aptly wearing the jersey of English Premier League side –Arsenal FC –nicknamed The Gunners –stands guard in a street in the Cattin district of Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR) yesterday. Fighting has broken out again in the troubled country. Photo: AFP

  • Fed Govt evacuates 1,424 Nigerians from Bangui

    Fed Govt evacuates 1,424 Nigerians from Bangui

    THE Federal Government has evacuated 1,424 Nigerians who took refuge at the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic (CAR).

    The evacuation followed the political crisis in the country.

    The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Mohammad Sani-Sidi, gave the figure yesterday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said although the Federal Government had brought home Nigerians, who took refuge at its embassy in Bangui, the evacuation would resume, if more Nigerians appeared.

    Sani-Sidi said the evacuees were interviewed and confirmed to be Nigerians before they were evacuated.

    NAN reports that Sani-Sidi received the last batch of 147 evacuees on Sunday night in Abuja.

    The first batch of 365 evacuees arrived at the Nnamdi Arzikiwe International Airport in Abuja on January 3.

    Two batches of 748 and 311 Nigerians were evacuated on January 4 and January 5, bringing the total number of returnees to 1,424.

    A screening conducted at the Nigerian embassy in Bangui before the evacuation revealed that the evacuees are from 22 states.

    They included Bauchi, Edo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Borno, Ekiti, and Anambra, Zamfara, FCT, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Abia, Enugu, Kano, Imo and Kaduna states.

    NEMA’s Deputy Director, Search and Rescue, Vincent Owan said Benue, Anambra, Delta, Abia, Edo and Bauchi states had collected their indigenes from the Hajj Camp where they were being accommodated.

  • GTBank rewards promo winner with mini cooper car

    GTBank rewards promo winner with mini cooper car

    Joyous ecstasy best described the mood at the Sports Complex of the University of Lagos, last Wednesday, as Guaranty Trust Bank plc’s loyalty reward promo for holders of its trendy, card-based interest bearing undergraduate account called GTcrea8 e-savers saw a winner, a young undergraded from UNILAG, carted home the coveted prize of a mini cooper car.

    The venue of the grand finale had a packed audience comprising students and other guests, were treated to a potpourri of comedy, dance and music, among others.

    As to be expected, the show was laced with several musical presentations by several upcoming artistes and capped with a performance by wave-making Wizkid.

    The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of the keys to the winner, Miss Shallom Wigwe-Elisha by the Group Managing Director, GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje in company of Odesina and other staff.

    Muhammed Isa, was also part of the winning spree, earning N1million in scholarship just as there were consolation prizes for many others.

    In a short remark, the GTBank boss said the bank will continue to contribute it squota to the society through such gestures.

    The promo, which commenced in March, 2013, has rewarded account holders with gifts such as Blackberry Phones, Ipods, laptops, Samsung Galaxy tab, LED TV and mini fridges in its monthly zonal draws. The Bank also organised events on campuses across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria where students had the opportunity of winning prizes over the period of the campaign.

    To qualify for this promo, students in tertiary institutions were required to open a GTCrea8 e-savers account. In addition, they were also required to conduct a minimum of three transactions per month on alternate banking channels such as ATMs , POS and internet Banking and also maintain a minimum account balance of 5,000.00 for six consecutive months.

    Commenting on the campaign, Head of Guaranty Trust Bank’s Communication & External Affairs division, Lola Odesina stated that the bank designed the product to suit the online lifestyle of Nigerian post- secondary students.

    Expatiating, she said: “The essence of the promo was to promote both a savings culture and an increased adoption of the use of alternate banking channels amongst Nigerian students.”

    She further stated that the gesture is in line with the bank’s support for education, financial discipline and the continuous use of innovation to drive enriching customer experience.

  • CAR crisis to dominate key France-Africa summit

    •As France sends more troops

    Some 40 African leaders gather in Paris this week for a French-led summit on improving security in the impoverished and unstable continent following France’s military mission in Mali and a new one in the Central African Republic.

    The biggest international summit by France’s Socialist President Francois Hollande since he took power is aimed at helping Africa tackle its security problems on its own with less and less Western backing from former colonial masters.

    It comes against the backdrop of French plans to send troops to the Central African Republic and during a time when Paris, which has thousands of troops garrisoned in Africa, is being dragged into action while it is trying to reshape its relations with the continent.

    The two-day summit starting Friday will be dominated by the latest unrest in the Central African Republic (CAR), where clashes between armed Muslim and Christian groups have raised fears of sectarian massacres.

    France has called a mini-summit on the CAR crisis on Saturday after the Africa conference and UN chief Ban Ki-moon and officials from the European Union are due to attend.

    The mini-summit will take place after the UN Security Council votes on France’s plan to deploy about 1,000 soldiers to take on an active fighting role alongside a flagging African-led “stabilisation mission” in CAR.

    The African force for CAR aims to have 2,500 troops but it has been hampered by a lack of funds, arms and training.

    Meanwhile some 200 French troops have arrived, with another 500 expected imminently.

    Some former rebel forces have reportedly been leaving the capital, Bangui, as the French troops arrived in the city.

     

    More than 10% of the 4.6 million population have fled their homes since Michel Djotodia seized power in March.

    He is the country’s first leader from the minority Muslim community. Muslim-Christian sectarian attacks have led to warnings of a genocide.

    Police vehicle in Bangui Bangui is relatively peaceful compared to the rest of the country

    CAR is rich in minerals but has suffered numerous coups, mutinies and conflicts since independence from France in 1960, leaving most of its people in poverty.

  • CAR descending into chaos – UN

    The Central African Republic (CAR) is descending into “complete chaos,” the United Nations deputy secretary general has warned, calling for urgent action.

    Jan Eliasson urged the Security Council to strengthen the African Union-led force in the country, and to turn it into a UN peacekeeping operation.

    The BBC reports that the CAR has been in turmoil since rebels seized power in March.

    France, the former colonial power, has confirmed it would contribute hundreds of extra troops to the force.

    “France will support this African mission with about 1,000 soldiers,” Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told Europe 1 radio on Tuesday.

    He added that – as was the case in Mali – the troops would be deployed for “a short period, in the range of six months.”

    France currently has about 400 troops stationed in the CAR capital, Bangui.