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Tag: Chad

  • Olonisakin visits wounded troops in Chad

    Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, has visited wounded troops engaged in the war against Boko Haram insurgents in Lake Chad region.

    Col. Timothy Antigha, the Chief of Military Public Information, Multi National Joint Task Force ( MNJTF ), made the disclosure in a statement in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

    Antigha stated that Olonisakin visited Nigerian, Camerounian and Chadian troops receiving treatment at hospitals in N’Djamena, Chad.

    He said the troops on treatment sustained injuries in the ongoing Operation AMNI FAKAT in Lake Chad region.

    He noted that Olonisakin visited troops on admission at the Renaissance Hospital, N’Djamena and commended them for their sacrifice.

    “Gen. Olonisakin expressed the appreciation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for the sacrifices of the wounded soldiers and assured that every effort would be made to ensure their speedy recovery.

    “The Chief of Defence Staff also visited wounded Cameroonian and Chadian troops at the Military Hospital, N’Djamena; where he commended them for their courage and doggedness in fighting alongside Nigerian and Nigerien  troops, in a sub regional effort to rid the Lake Chad Basin of violent extremism and terrorism.”

    Antigha added that Olonisakin also donated drugs and dresses toward the up keep of the wounded troops.

    According to him, Operation AMNI FAKAT was launched by the Task Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, in the past two weeks.

    The operation was designed to flush out Boko Haram terrorists from their last stronghold in the Lake Chad Basin.

    NAN

  • UNESCO to train 300 experts to implement Lake Chad project

    UNESCO to train 300 experts to implement Lake Chad project

    UNESCO says it will train 300 scientists, decision makers and community leaders in techniques of water resources management for the implementation of the Biosphere and Heritage of Lake Chad (BIOPALT) project.

    Mr Getachew Engida, the Deputy Director General of UNESCO announced this on Monday in Abuja.

    He spoke during the launch of the project at the ongoing International Conference of Lake Chad (ICLC).

    The theme of the conference is: `Saving the Lake Chad to Revitalise the Basin’s Ecosystem for Sustainable Livelihood, Security and Development.’

    Engida said that the project implementation will employ trends in technology, scientific research findings to ensure long term planning and successful execution.

    “The project aims to enhance our scientific understanding of the complex factors altering the Lake Chad: the effects of climate change, human activity, and how we can adapt to these changes.

    Read Also: UNESCO urges govt to sustain mother tongue

    “We will bring cutting edge technology, including drones and other imaging equipment, and provide training.

    “These new findings will be shared via databases and atlases to strengthen scientific cooperation, to collectively devise innovative responses.

    “Chad, Cameroun and Nigeria will integrate the African Drought Monitor system to share data,’’ he said.

    Engida said that the interventions to be deployed in the restoration of the lake were expected to launch it to trans-boundary World Heritage Site, as well as boost animal farming.

    “To ensure the long-term success of this project, the local people must have a stake in it.

    “The training will eventually reach some 30,000 residents who will be empowered to make decisions for their community, yet in harmony with the whole ecosystem.

    “A community radio will also reach two million more residents to understand the implications of sustainable water management in their daily lives.

    “By creating a common knowledge basis, we hope to set the region on course to have several new trans-boundary World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve.

    “This international recognition would further bind the destiny of the diverse groups in the region in finding a long-term sustainable balance,’’ he added.

    Engida recalled that over two million people in the region have been displaced and close to seven million people in the area faced food insecurity.

    Engida said that the issue of Lake Chad impacts heavily on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030 calls for the collective action to eradicate poverty and tackle climate change.

    He noted that the restoration of Lake Chad is a universal imperative, adding that the world will be poorer ecologically and culturally without it.

    The Lake Chad Basin shrank for the past 30 years from 25,000 square kilometres in the 1960s to 2,500 square kilometres in 2000.

    NAN

     

  • Arms from Libya, Yemen, others fueling crime in Nigeria – Dambazau 

    Arms from Libya, Yemen, others fueling crime in Nigeria – Dambazau 

    Proliferation of firearms being smuggled in from Libya, Yemen, Mali, Niger and Chad and increasing use of illegal drugs are responsible for the worsening crime situation in Nigeria, Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General, Abdulraman Dambazau (rtd) has said.

    The minister also asserted that the farmers/herders conflicts being witnessed in some parts of the country has no ethnic or religious colouration, stressing that it is a regional problem over sharing of land and water resources.

    According to Dambazau who met the Inspector-General of Police,  Ibrahim Idris, Commissioners of Police and other senior officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday , security and agriculture ministers from West and Central African nations will comprehensively address the issues at a conference scheduled to take place soon.

    On proliferation of firearms and their sources, the minister said: “Firearms and drugs are drivers to violent crimes. They do not cause the crimes that we are witnessing but they drive them.

    “As police officers, we have a role to play; weapons are drivers to criminal violence. There are huge numbers of the weapons in circulation and we know the sources.

    “Some of these weapons come from Libya because of the instability, Mali, Yemen, Niger, Chad. We also know that some of the weapons come from Niger Delta by way of trade by barter involved between oil thieves and militants.

    “They exchange oil for weapons. We know the sources and we also know that they come through armed merchants through our ports and seaports but we must do something about them because the weapons give confidence to criminals and they kill without thinking about it.

    “They are easily accessible because you can either buy or acquire.”

    On the way forward, the minister urged the police to enforce the law of firearms and also widen the scope of the law.

    He said: “You must enforce the law against illegal possession of firearms and we must also widen our enforcement to include local made weapons that are not classified as firearms.

    “We must widen our law to include those ones that are not presently included and as for me, anyone found to be in possession of firearms would be assumed to be a violent criminal. He is either armed robber, terrorist, cultist, militant or bandits.”

    On farmers/ herders conflicts, he said: “Today, in the front burner of issue of security is rural banditry and herders /farmers conflict. These are issues that have a lot of dimensions and for us to deal with the issue of farmers/herders conflict; there is need for us to look at it from multidimensional approach.

    “Realising that this issue has regional implication, the ECOWAS President and some members  we find it necessary to organise conference that would involve ministers in charge of Internal security and agriculture in the West and Central Africa region.

    He went further to say: “We tend to look at the issue as a local problem but it is not, it is rather a national and regional problem. It is not a religious problem neither is it an ethnic problem, it is problem that has to do with resource sharing; water and land and we must find a way to deal with it.”

    Also speaking, the IG disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force loses over 9000 policemen to retirement, sickness, death and dismissal every year.

    The police chief also said the Force is currently struggling with manpower shortage.

    He said Nigeria Police Force was lagging behind the ratio of one policeman to 400 citizens as stipulated by the United Nations.

    He however said 6000 policemen would be recruited in few months’ times to fill the vacancies in the rank and file cadre.

    He said: “The issue of manpower is one of the challenges the police is facing and every opportunity I have, I tell stakeholders that there is need to look into the manpower strength of the police force.

    “Presently, if you look at the UN ratio, the police is supposed to operate in this manner; 400 citizens to one policeman and presently if you look at our strength,  we are just 308,000 to cover about 182million Nigerians.

    “If you look at the ratio, Nigeria Police is operating about 600 citizens to one policeman. Definitely the ratio is below that of the United Nations. The issue of recruitment has been taken serious by us and the government.

    “Between 2011 and 2015, there was no recruitment until last year and they have been trained and deployed to Commands.

    “This year, we got approval to recruit 6000 for the rank and file to add to the recruitment we have.  If you look at it, statistics wise, Nigeria Police forces loses 9028 officer every year through retirement, sickness and death and dismissal.

    “Obviously, there is need for us to conduct recruitment to fill the vacancies and like I said, the wastages is over 9028 and there is need for replacement and that is what we are struggling with presently.”

    “The federal government approved 6000 recruitment of rank and file in the police force. We are working out the modalities and I’m definitely sure, in a month, we are going to conduct that recruitment.”

    The IGP who expressed optimism that in few months’ time, the Police Trust Fund Bill which is before the national assembly would be passed added that the passage of the bill would make the Force carry out their duties effectively.

    On illegal firearms, he said the Force would soon construct public armoury to store recovered firearms as stated in Firearms Act.

    He said: “We want to check the abuse of firearms all over the country. If you check the firearms Act, one of its provisions is public armoury in each Command where the illegal weapons recovered are stored and I’m sure all over the country, no Command has public armoury.

    “Public armoury has not been constructed and these are issues that we need to address. We have to see how we can construct the armoury where we would store illegal arms and ammunitions from various citizens across the country.”

    Read Also: Update: Police investigate report of aircraft loaded with firearms in Taraba

  • EFCC UNCOVERS N2.5B FRAUD IN NEMA

    EFCC UNCOVERS N2.5B FRAUD IN NEMA

    • Top directors, officers own companies to secure relief materials contracts
    • Four fake IDPs’ camps created to make money

    The National Emergency Manage-ment Agency (NEMA) is currently enmeshed in a massive scandal after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) uncovered an alleged N2.5billion fraud in the operations of the organisation.

    The scandal was perpetrated through incorporation of fake companies, creation of fake IDPs’ camps and award of frivolous contracts.

    The EFCC may invite a former Director-General of NEMA and some serving directors for interrogation on the fraud.

    Some of the companies engaged by NEMA are alleged to have failed to remit N354,905,000 as accumulated taxes to the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS).

    Besides, the anti-graft agency is probing alleged diversion of foods and relief materials meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East to Chad and Niger Republic.

    The Nation gathered that the EFCC launched the probe following intelligence that the ex-DG of NEMA and some directors “siphoned, misappropriated and diverted public funds to the tune of over N2.5billion.”

    A source familiar with the investigation said: “Preliminary investigation indicated that fake companies were incorporated and fake way bills were used in securing contracts in NEMA.

    “Funds were diverted under the guise of some purported training of some staff which was never conducted. Some of the directors involved had incorporated personal companies and secured contracts with the agency.

    “Some of the companies engaged by NEMA have also failed to remit N354,905,000 as accumulated taxes  to the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS). The unpaid taxes were from 2014 to date.

    “There are cases of some directors, who are civil servants, owning about five to 10 companies in order to corner contracts in NEMA. There is an instance of a director with about 20 accounts in which fake contract sums were paid into.”

    A well-placed source said: “As part of our investigation, we are looking into alleged diversion of foods and relief materials meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East to neighbouring countries, especially Chad and Niger Republic.

    “We have discovered instances where trucks loaded with relief materials were diverted to these neighbouring countries for sale.

    “There is also a case of inflated household for phantom purchase and delivery of relief materials. At a point, they even created three to four fake IDP communities where relief materials were diverted.

    “Another dimension to the scandal in NEMA is alleged frivolous and overtime claims by some directors and workers of the agency.

    “Some of the vouchers showed some staff, who are civil servants, demanding refund of N20million as claims they spent on behalf of NEMA. How did a civil servant incur N20million debt on behalf of his or her agency?”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The EFCC will soon invite a former Director-General of NEMA, some directors, staff, companies and contractors for questioning.

    “Already, the detectives handling the case have retrieved relevant vouchers and documents relevant to the ongoing investigation.”

  • Buhari, Equatorial Guinea President meet in Aso Rock 

    Buhari, Equatorial Guinea President meet in Aso Rock 

    *Equatorial Guinea President seeks dialogue as solution to African problems

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met with Equatorial Guinea President, Theodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

    At the end of the closed doors meeting, Equatorial Guinea President, advocated for dialogue as the solution to the myriad of crises plaguing various countries in West African sub-region.

    Speaking with State House journalists, he said that he came to visit Buhari to know about the state of his health in view of the health crisis he went through for the better part of last year.

    Stressing that the visit was also in line with a maxim that when a fellow person is down, it is the responsibility of persons around him to seek his wellbeing, he said that he was glad to see the President looking hail and healthy.

    He also congratulated Buhari for giant strides in the fight against Boko Haram, which he said had caused a great havoc which had spread to some other West African countries including Chad and Cameroon.

    According to him, through Buhari’s committed fight against Boko Haram, the insurgent group is almost eliminated but for pockets of attacks still being carried out by the insurgents.

    “One of the salient issues in the meeting was that l congratulated our dear brother for the great fight against Boko Haram. We realised that Boko Haram had caused a great havoc that had been carried all over the sub-region including Chad and Cameroon. He is doing a great job. He’s almost eradicating the menace of Boko Haram apart from pockets of attacks here and there,” he said.

    Mbasogo, who spoke in Spanish, aided by an interpreter, said the meeting also discussed security concerns in the neighbouring West African countries.

    He said that he and Buhari considered the need to work together with a view to securing a common ground for development and cooperation to achieve desired goals.

    The President who also narrated how his country had been a victim of varying security crises orchestrated by some terrorists from Chad and Sudan in collaboration with a group of deviants from France, disclosed that his decision to promptly reach out to Cameroon helped to put the situation under control.

    Narrating how the country became a victim of the first coup d’etat in 2004, Mbasogo said through the cooperation of neighbouring countries, the coup plotters were apprehended and imprisoned for several years until the government opted to pardon and free them.

    On the plan of West African leaders on the crisis which broke out in Southern Cameroon and resulted in the influx of refugees into Nigeria, Mbasogo said there is no country without its own peculiar crisis.

    According to him, it only behoves on parties concerned to put heads together and embrace dialogue as the platform for solution to the crisis.

    “Cameroon is a big nation whose crisis requires the concern of all forces. There is no nation without its own crisis. What is required is to seek solution through dialogue and use it to find a common axis. Those seeking refuge in other lands need to sit down together and find solution through dialogue. It is only through that, they can find solution to the crisis,” he said.

    On the challenge of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, Mbasogo who said the pirates were destroying and sabotaging Nigeria’s development effort in the area, also advocated dialogue as solution to the crisis.

    “On piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, the pirates are destroying and sabotaging the property of Nigeria. The government of Nigeria cannot develop the area. What is warming therefore is to expect the government of Nigeria to bring the parties to dialogue for a solution to the crisis.

    “In Equatorial Guinea, we feel concerned. We all need to put our hands on deck to ensure that there is security in all regions. We have to develop our nations and we can only do so under peace and harmony,” he said.

  • Obiano bags 2017 Governor of the Year award

    Obiano bags 2017 Governor of the Year award

    Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra has bagged the “2017 Eastern State and Nigerian Governor of the Year Award’’ of the Nigerian-American with Disabilities in the Diaspora and their Public-Private Partners ( P3 ).

    Obiano was chosen for the award by the group after a “massive 2014 to 2017 performance evaluation of the 36 Nigerian state governors, including the Minister of Federal Capital Territory’s works.

    “Today, Jan. 8, we the Nigerian-American with Disabilities in the Diaspora and our Public-Private Partners (P3), chooses, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, as our 2014-2017 Eastern State and Nigerian Governor of the Year,’’ it said.Chief Eric Ndubueze Ufom, President of Houston, Texas-based Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International ( ERPDI ), Incorporated in the U.S. made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Read also: ‘Obiano focused on developing Anambra’

    They were assessed based on works on Nigeria’s disability-inclusive and accessible urban/city developments ( building of the first Silicon Valley of Nigeria at Anambra State ), progress, peace and unity, economic, trade and industrial developments.

    Other areas of the assessment are agricultural developments, social, human, security, democracy and governance, electoral and political, entrepreneurship, job training and placements and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities.

    The rest are Disability-Inclusive Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 Agenda, especially SDGs 1-5 for women and girls and the late effects of Polio virus infection called Post-Polio Syndrome.

    The group said Obiano, broke all records because on November 20, 2017, within less than 48 hours after winning his re-election that took place on November 18, 2017 and also, within 24 hours after he was issued with his re-election Certificate by INEC, he wasted no time to move into positive actions.

    It noted that it set to work through his Managing Director, Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Mr Michael Okonkwo, in collaborations with Nigerians in the Diaspora, led by Chief Eric Ndubueze Ufom.

    Others members of the group are Iyom Ifeoma B. Oni-Orisan, Mrs Ngozi Pauline Ikebuaku, Mr Polycarp Onyeachonam Ufom, Ms. Chinyelum Ozumba, Mrs Uche Helen Okafor, Iyom Mabel Ozumba, Mr Frances Okeke, Mrs Ngozi Okeke and Mr. Grace Njideke Ojukwu.

    The governor introduced “Willie Obiano’s Silicon Valley of Nigeria’’; the Republic of Korea’s KOICA, UNDP and Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD )’s, “Saemaul Initiative Towards Sustainable and Inclusive New Communities ( ISNC ) and A New Rural Development Paradigm and the Inclusion and Sustainable New Community Model Inspired by the Saemaul Undong’’ Institute.

    They also undertook Post-Polio Syndrome Clinics and Centres for Diagnostic and Clinical Managements of the late effects of Polio Virus Infection called Post-Polio Syndrome, Employment Developments, Work Readiness and Skills Training, Job Training and Placements.

    Also the team developed Therapeutic Recreations, Wellness and Fitness Centres for Micro Enterprise Development, Healthcare’s, sports, social engagements, capacity building and management for all the 36 states of Nigeria.

    Other African countries, including Lake Chad Basin Nations, Republic du Niger, Chad and Cameroon, with its headquarters at Enugwu-Ukwu General Hospital, Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra, as the first projects to be built at the Silicon Valley.

    The statement said that the diplomatic meeting where the history was made took place during the UN Africa Industrialisation Day, at the UNDP-Nigeria’s headquarters, Abuja, during a meeting between Anambra, Plateau, Benue, Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, ( ERPDI ) Incorporated and other Government/public-private Partners ( P3 ), with the UNDP-Nigeria’s Country Director, Dr Samuel Bwalya.

    “Industrialisation is a primary driver of economic growth and job creation, and will be pivotal in efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063.

    “This year’s Africa Industrialisation Day highlights the links between industrial development and Africa’s moves towards establishing a Continental Free Trade Area,’’ it said.

    The statement said it would also be critical to unleash the capacities of Africa’s young people and to strengthen African institutions.

    “Both the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 recognise these imperatives,” it quoted the UN Secretary General as saying on Nov. 20, 2017, at the UN Headquarters New York, during the occasion of Africa Industrialisation Day.’’

    Reacting to the UN Secretary-General’s call to, “unleash the capacities of Africa’s young people and to strengthen African institutions,’’ Obiano said it would be establishing the first Disability-Inclusive Silicon Valley of Nigeria being designed by Mr Michael Okonkwo, an Architect.

    He noted the project was in collaborations with Nigerians in the Diaspora, led by Chief Ufom, to ensure nationwide true local Disability-Inclusive economic developments by Nigerians, regardless of their different ethnic and religious groups, language and disability.

    The inauguration of Willie Obiano’s Silicon Valley and its Republic of Korea’s KOICA and other projects under it will be taking place on March 18 and March 19, immediately after Obiano’s swearing in ceremony.

    It will be followed by Obiano’s economic summit to be held at Houston, Texas and other selected countries around the world to introduce it to “our Ndi Anambra and Nigerians in the Diaspora’’.

    NAN

  • Chad rejects U.S. bribery allegations against President Deby

    Chad rejects U.S. bribery allegations against President Deby

    Chad on Thursday rejected allegations made in the U.S. that President Idriss Deby was paid a two million dollars bribe in exchange for providing a Chinese energy company with oil rights without international competition.

    The U.S. announced charges on Monday against former Hong Kong Home Secretary Chi Ping Patrick Ho and former Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Gadio for allegedly funnelling bribes to high-level officials in Chad and Uganda.

    “The government is indignant and questions this fierce attack against our head of state,” Chad’s government said in a statement late on Wednesday, adding that Deby had always sought transparency in the country’s natural resources sectors.

    The U.S. Justice Department alleged that Gadio received 400,000 dollars from Ho via wire transfers through New York to act as a go-between for bribes to Deby on behalf of an unnamed energy firm headquartered in Shanghai.

    Neither Ho nor Gadio, who were both arrested on Nov. 16, have commented publicly on the allegations against them.

    Landlocked Chad pumps about 130,000 barrels of oil per day.

    It ranks third-from-bottom on the UN Human Development Index and 159th out of 176 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.

    NAN

  • Chad withdraws troops from fight against Boko Haram in Niger

    Chad withdraws troops from fight against Boko Haram in Niger

    Chad has withdrawn hundreds of troops from neighbouring Niger, where they were helping local forces fight Boko Haram Islamist militants, humanitarian sources and officials said.

    The pull-out over the past two weeks could weaken a region-wide struggle against the militants who have killed tens of thousands of people, forced many more to flee and triggered a humanitarian crisis.

    There was no immediate explanation or comment from defense officials in Chad.

    The move came a month after the vast central African country complained about an unexpected U.S. travel ban imposed on its nationals.

    Chad warned at the time the order could affect its security commitments, which include its involvement in the U.S.-backed fight against Boko Haram.

    Residents said the withdrawal had already had an impact on Niger’s Diffa region, which has seen a string of attacks by Boko Haram militants crossing over from their base in neighbouring Nigeria.

    Ibrahim Arimi from the border village of Bosso said banditry had increased since the Chadian troops started leaving and he had been temporarily moved to another village for safety.

    Diffa parliamentarian Lamido Moumouni said residents had started complaining.

    “They have come to rely on the forces so there is a perception that security will be lacking,” he said by telephone.

    At its peak in 2016 after an attack in Bosso, Chad had 2,000 troops in Niger to help counter Boko Haram  although security sources said this has fallen since.

    Boko Haram has attacked Chad, Niger and Cameroon from its base in northeast Nigeria.

    Its eight-year bid to carve out an Islamist caliphate has driven millions from their homes, no fewer than 200,000 of them are now based in Diffa, with little prospect of returning home.

    Thousands of them are camped alongside an unfinished highway in the middle of a barren savannah with few resources.

    Chad’s soldiers also occupy front-line positions in a peacekeeping force in northern Mali.

    Analysts say falling oil revenues after the price crash in 2014 has also sapped Chad’s appetite for expensive regional security commitments. (Reuters/NAN)

  • Boko Haram: Nigeria, 3 others to get $54m U.S aid

    Boko Haram: Nigeria, 3 others to get $54m U.S aid

    The U.S. Government has announced 54 million dollars in addition to humanitarian assistance to Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and the four countries affected by the Boko Haram violence.

    U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Mr Thomas Shannon jr, disclosed this at a symposium on Nigeria tagged ‘Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects for Advancing Durable Peace, organised by the U.S. Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C.

    Shannon said that the U.S. Government’s humanitarian assistance to the four countries totalled about 700 million dollars  since 2015

    He said: “On security issues, Nigeria is an important leader and partner in the Lake Chad Basin, collaborating with its neighbors to defeat the scourge of Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.

    “The United States supports this and other efforts to bring security and stability to citizens affected by violence.

    “At the United Nations last week, the U.S. government announced $54 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the Lake Chad region, bringing the total to almost $700 million over the past two years”.

    According to the U.S. envoy, while humanitarian support is an immediate necessity, it cannot be a long-term solution.

    “When Nigeria’s northern governors came to this institution in late 2016, the clear consensus was that addressing the war and poverty plaguing northeast Nigeria required robust initiatives for education, reconciliation and political inclusion.

    “I am pleased the working group here today is bringing together your collective years of experience as spiritual leaders, military commanders, journalists, election officials, human rights advocates and educators to develop strategies to address these enduring challenges.

    “The United States is proud to be your partner in these vital efforts,” he said.

    “Your work to defuse conflicts over a range of issues, from elections to land use, inspires us all,” Shannon commended.

    He recalled his bilateral meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama on the sidelines of the 72nd UN General Assembly last week, saying they had robust engagements about the Boko Haram crisis and other pressing issues.

    Shannon said: “My meeting with the Nigerian Foreign Minister last week was a great opportunity to learn more about what else the Nigerian government is trying to accomplish on the security front.

    “It is clear to me that Nigeria is well aware that the fight against terrorism will be won not only by the military’s conduct on the battlefield, but also by its conduct off the field.

    “Nigeria understands that human rights abuses and impunity tarnish its international reputation, undermine the trust of its citizens, impede counterterrorism efforts, and ultimately hinder our ability to fully partner with Nigeria.”

    According to him, however, a military response alone will not lead to sustained peace in the Northeast.

    “A holistic response is required. One that sets the conditions for the safe return of refugees and displaced persons.

    He commended the Institute and the Senior Working Group for their dedication and determination to create a more peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

  • U.S expands travel ban to include N’ Korea, Venezuela

    U.S expands travel ban to include N’ Korea, Venezuela

    The United States has expanded its controversial travel ban to include people from North Korea, Venezuela and Chad. The White House said the restrictions follow a review of information sharing by foreign governments. The BBC reports President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on the matter late on Sunday.

    “Making America safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet,” Mr. Trump said. The restrictions on Venezuelans apply only to government officials and their family members. The three new countries join five others from Mr. Trump’s original travel ban: Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Somalia. But the new proclamation removed restrictions that were placed on Sudan.

    Mr. Trump’s original ban was highly controversial, as it affected six majority-Muslim countries, and was widely labelled a “Muslim ban.” It was subject to a range of legal challenges and several large-scale protests, and is due to be considered by the U.S Supreme Court in October, having been partly reinstated in July.

    The American Civil Liberties Union rights group said the addition of the new countries “doesn’t obfuscate the real fact that the administration’s order is still a Muslim ban.” It is not yet clear how the President’s new proclamation, which changed several key elements, will affect that legal challenge.