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Tag: Geoffrey Onyeama

  • Ex-minister closes case in libel suit against former Nigerian envoy

    Ex-minister closes case in libel suit against former Nigerian envoy

    A former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has closed his case against Ms Lilian Onoh, a former Nigerian ambassador to Jamaica and Namibia, over allegations bordering on defamation.

    According to a report by the News of Nigeria (NAN), Onyeama closed his case after a cross-examination on Friday before Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya of a Federal Capital Territory High Court at Zuba in Abuja on allegations of financial misappropriation at Nigerian embassies in Jamaica and Namibia.

    NAN reports that the ex-minister, who served during the Muhammadu Buhari-led government, had sued Onoh after the latter accused him of condoning grand corruption at Nigerian foreign missions.

    Onyeama alleged that Onoh, who was his sister-in-law, “sponsored” newspaper articles that were critical of him on issues of sleaze while he was the foreign minister.

    Onoh had raised an alarm that the sum of $2.8 million was being frittered away out of the $5 million donations by the Red Cross in Nigeria to victims of the deadly 2010 Haiti earthquake by Nigerian diplomats in Jamaica.

    The Nigerian mission in Jamaica was saddled with the responsibility of applying the $5 million donations to the humanitarian disaster occasioned by the earthquake in the Caribbean country.

    In Namibia before her arrival as Nigeria’s High Commissioner, she had said about $600,000 was embezzled by officials including shortchanging the Namibian government in VAT remittances.

    While being cross-examined by Onoh’s lawyer, Monday Ejeh, on whether he probed allegations of fraudulent financial transactions raised against Nigerian diplomats by his client, Onyeama said he took action on every complaint received.

    “I took action on them by referring such issues to the permanent secretary (Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and directing that investigation be conducted,” Onyeama.

    In his response to the issues in Jamaica and Namibia, he said, “With regards to two major complaints in respect of Jamaica and Namibia, I was informed that the cases had been passed on to the EFCC.”

    He explained further that the permanent secretary was “charged with dealing with financial transactions and irregularities.”

    Read Also: Seun Kuti: I’m ready to defend libel suit over P&ID

    He said the two matters Onoh brought to his attention were about her predecessor and some people in Namibia defrauding the Namibian government.

    “In Jamaica, it was about misappropriation of funds meant to assist Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake,” said.

    He told the court that he took interest in those two incidents because of their impacts on Nigeria’s bilateral relationship with Jamaica and Namibia.

    “I went to the office of the Auditor-General (of the Federation), and requested for a comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he said.

    When Ejeh asked about the outcome of investigations into the malfeasance, Onyeama’s lawyer, Agada Elachi (SAN), raised an objection.

    Determined to get a response, Ejeh pressed further asking if the allegations were true or false, Elachi objected to the question.

    “These questions are immaterial as they have nothing to do with the issues at hand,” the lawyer said while objecting to several other questions bordering on his client’s role as foreign minister.

    The objections were sustained by the judge.

  • S’Africa rules out redress as govt mulls legal option

    SOUTH Africa has snubbed Nigeria’s quest for compensation for its citizens who incurred losses from xenophobic attacks.

    Nigeria is pressing for full compensation for victims of the unprovoked attacks and wanton killings.

    The Federal Government’s envoy is in Pretoria in a diplomatic move to end the impasse created by the situation.

    But South Africa’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Naledi Pandor, said on Thursday that payment of compensation was not in the country’s law.

    Following persistent attacks over the years, many Nigerians – about 200 – have been killed. Many more have lost properties and goods worth millions of dollars, according to the President of Nigerian Union in South Africa Adeola Olubajo.

    As a result of this, the Federal Government has been pressing for compensation.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama reiterated the demand for compensation on Thursday in an interview with reporters at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    He said: Our citizens there have suffered a lot. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that they are compensated and we will take measures necessary and do whatever we have to do to ensure that they are compensated.”

    On Tuesday, Onyeama said:  “Full compensation has to be paid because as we have discovered from previous experience, a lot of these Nigerians loss their property and it is a long drawn out process and very often are not compensated for it. But on this occasion, the Nigerian government is going to fight for full compensation and hold the government of South Africa to count.”

    The South African foreign minister also alleged that Nigerians are involved in drug and human trafficking.

    Pandor spoke while responding to criticisms that South Africa’s security agencies were not doing enough to protect foreigners in the wave of xenophobia rocking the country.

    In an interview with eNCA, a South African outfit, Pandor said South Africans believe many Nigerians are “harming our young people.”

    Asked if the country’s security agencies had helped in protecting foreigners including Nigerians, she responded: “I would appreciate them in helping us as well to address the belief our people have and the reality that there are many persons from Nigeria dealing in drugs in our country.

    “I believe that Nigerian nationals are involved in human trafficking and other abusive practices.

    “These kind of assistance of ensuring that such persons do not come to our country will be of great assistance to our nation.”

    Read Also: South Africa’s Ramaphosa says at least 10 killed in riots

    The xenophobic attacks forced Nigeria to pull out of the ongoing World Economic Forum in South Africa.

    In its initial response to the fresh attacks, the federal government summoned Bobby Monroe, South Africa’s high commissioner to Nigeria.

    The Nigerian government is now considering the option of suing the South Africa government to force her to pay compensation, as shown by the move being made by the federal ministry of justice.

    South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa who addressed the nation yesterday on his attacks, did not mention the concern of Nigerians on the killing of her nationals.

    He merely said at least 10 persons were killed, two of them foreigners, in a wave of riots and attacks.

    In the televised address in Johannesburg, he said: “Over the past few days, our country has been deeply traumatised and troubled by acts of violence and criminality directed against foreign nationals and our own citizens,” Ramaphosa said.

    “People have lost their lives, families have been traumatised … We know that at least 10 people have been killed in the violence. Two of whom were foreign nationals.”

    South African police arrested more than 80 people and confirmed five deaths as riots in Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria intensified on Tuesday, spreading to surrounding townships with roving groups attacking mainly foreign-owned shops.

    “We can’t rule out pure criminality of criminals using a sensitive situation where there are real grievances on issues of unemployment and foreign nationals,” police minister Bheki Cele said.

  • China to fund UNGA President’s office for one year

    The Chinese government has promised to fund the office of the President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, for the next one year.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, stated this after President Muhammadu Buhari’s meeting in Abuja with a special envoy, Yang Jiechi, from the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping.

    Muhammed-Bande, who is Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), was elected as President of the 74th UN General Assembly in June.

    He is the second Nigerian to hold the office after Joseph Garba, a retired military officer and diplomat who led the organ between 1989 and 1990.

    Onyeama said: “On the global level, the Chinese have agreed to support the UN’s reform for Africa to be presented in the Security Council.

    “We have, as you know, had a Nigerian representative at the United Nations, Prof. Muhammed-Bande, elected as the next President of the General Assembly. The Chinese have provided a funding for that office so that he can function effectively over the next one year.”

    Read Also: Oil dips on U.S, China tariffs trade war

    At the meeting, the minister said President Buhari was presented with an overview of the support and cooperation between China and Nigeria and how it can be taken forward.

    “In the area of power, the President emphasised the Mambilla power project and the importance of getting that moving again. They looked at the issues of airport, the progress of the airport terminals that the Chinese are helping to construct across the country.

    “We also discuss the support of the cooperation in the area of agriculture as well as encouraging Nigeria to export more to China. We talked about the China exhibition by the end of this year, which will be a platform for us to also showcase what we can export, not just agricultural products but also finished products.

    “China is also putting more money on security, sharing of intelligence with our military, assistance with arms production and in the fight against terrorism.

    “On the issue of Lake Chad, China has had a lot of experience with refilling dams and long-range water project. So, Mr. President also feels that we need their support in that area. They are already supporting the Lake Chad Basin Commission and we are hoping that they will help us with regard to recharging of the Lake Chad,” he said.

     

  • Nigeria to invite High Commissioner for consultation

    THE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama on Thursday explained that Nigeria will invite its High Commissioner to South Africa, Kabiru Bala, for consultation.

    Inviting him to Nigeria, he said, would help the Federal Government to get the necessary information on what transpired in South Africa.

    Briefing State House correspondents on Thursday, Onyeama said: “On Wednesday, I did make the comment that we have not taken a decision to withdraw or recall our High Commissioner in South Africa, what I pointed out on Thursday is this, Mr. President has sent Special Envoy to South Africa.

    “So we are going to wait for the report of the Special Envoy when he comes back in about two days time. And on that basis after we have received the report, it is likely that we must supplement that report by also calling the High Commissioner back for consultation so that Mr. President will be able to get as comprehensive and full a picture of the situation in South Africa.

    “So, the High Commissioner will be coming after the Special Envoy has returned for consultations and then once the President has full briefing from all the actors directly engaged, we will be able to make an informed decision on what further steps to take.”

    Read Also: Onyeama confirms Nigeria’s boycott of WEF in South Africa

    “The meaning of recall of an Ambassador is an indication of extreme displeasure and disagreement, a sign of how grievously report has deteriorated between any two countries. It is the penultimate step before the breaking off of diplomatic relationship.

    “Nigeria does not seek escalation of the on-going situation. We will work with South Africa to find solutions to their problems which have become our own problem. We will work as brothers. That is why the mission by the President’s Special Envoy to South Africa, which is the second presidential directive, is going ahead.” the source stated

    Onyeama also said the Federal Government was unaware that the South African government has closed down its foreign mission in Nigeria.

    South African Foreign Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor was reported to have said that the country had temporarily closed its embassy in Nigeria.

     

  • Nigeria demands compensation as South Africa denies attack is xenophobic

    THE Federal Government on Tuesday demanded an end to the killing of Nigerians in South Africa and called for compensation for the victims

    At a joint news briefing with the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Bobby Moroe, Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, spoke on the xenophobic attacks.

    The proposal also includes security collaboration between the two countries.

    He said: “We feel that very definitive measures have to be taken to stop once and for all this act of aggression and criminality against Nigerians in South Africa.

    “For us, Nigerian government, we are determined that we should not have any reoccurrence of this going forward. So, we have to put in place mechanism to ensure that this do not occur.

    “We made very concrete proposals to South African government today, and we believe if those measures are implemented, we will have a very good chance of ensuring that this does not reoccur.

    “In the first place, we must address the issue of compensation. There has to be accountability and there has to be responsibility for compensating all those Nigerians that have suffered loss and we are going to absolutely push forward.

    “Secondly, we believe that the two security forces (South Africa and Nigeria), can have an arrangement where there will be cooperation on the ground in South Africa to arrest such events and occurrences and this is obvious something we have to work out details with the South African government and hopefully, see us addressing at the field level the challenges caused by this incessant attacks so we have put that forward to the South Africa government. Very clear proposals and we will be discussing that and hopefully the South African government will support us in that initiative as we believe it will make all the difference.”

    The minister said past efforts made to stem the incessant attacks included a jointly agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which the South African government was yet to sign.

    “As you are all aware, there has been another looting and burning of properties belonging to Nigerians in South Africa and of course this is something we have seen in the past. As a result of some of these incidence in the past, I undertook at a time with the former minister of interior a trip to South Africa where we met senior members of the South African government.

    “We proposed then that we should have an early warning mechanism, which essentially would see regular meetings between South African government and the Nigerian High Commission and Consul-General and Nigerian Union in South Africa on the other side meeting regularly, informing each other, anticipating events and essentially been prepared to preempt such attacks as we are witnessing today and taking other measures including compensation and so forth. Essentially haven the two working as a team.

    Read Also: Nigerians protest in South Africa

    “Now unfortunately, the Memorandum of Understand (MoU) that was prepared to capture this has not been signed. The disadvantage with that is that there is no framework now for the relevance parties to meet and address this ongoing situation.”

    Moroe noted that his country cherished the long term relationship it shared with Nigeria, informing that 90 arrests have been made so far across the cities.

    He stressed that the recent attacks was not xenophobic attack but an act of criminality and sporadic attacks and hence, attention should be on the cordial relationship between the two countries rather than the challenges, stressing that the bond is stronger.

    He condemned the attacks on Nigerian businesses; adding that his country has been doing its best to address the ugly situation.

    He commend the minister  for  providing the opportunity to unlock the bottlenecks between the two countries.

    “Every national in South Africa have always been integrated within the society and we have a lot of foreigners who have chosen South Africa as their home. It is therefore very unfortunate that we found ourselves in this situation we found ourselves now.”

    In a statement, the government condemned the spade of violence and rate of criminality, which demonstrate that there are criminals within society that seek to destabilise the country and create an impression that South Africans do not subscribe to the principle of “Obundo”, you are because I am”.

    The South African Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) quoted the envoy as calling for calm in the statement.

    The South Africa  government according to the statement denounced  violence and crime as a way of addressing grievances.

    It stated: “The government calls for calm and restraint in certain parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, as community members raise their concerns and grievances about various issues affecting them. No amount of grievance or unhappiness can justify the looting of shops, destruction of properties and illegal blocking of roads. Such acts constitute a criminal offence and the law enforcement agencies must respond without any fear or favour

    “We are a democratic state that promotes robust dialogue and engagement with the dissatisfied communities. As government, we will not allow anarchy and violence to be the order of the day. We commend the quick response of the South African Police Services (SAPS) which has resulted in the arrest of a number of individuals.

    “With regard to the attacks on trucks, 20 individuals have been arrested in KwaZulu-Natal after responding to incidents along major routes and known hotspots in the province. These arrests relate to public violence and obstruction of traffic, possession of unlicensed firearms, attempted murder and malicious damage to property.

    “In Gauteng following the violence and looting of shops in Ekurhuleni, Tshwane and the Johannesburg CBD, seventy (70) arrests have been made in connection with public violence, malicious damage to property and theft.

    “The police will continue their work to restore order in the affected areas and government urges all the law-abiding citizens to continue to work with the police and isolate the criminals.  Let us remain vigilant against fake news that are being peddled through the social media platforms to fuel tensions within the respective communities. Anyone found to be spreading the fake stories on social media will be dealt with accordingly. We cannot allow those who want to portray our country in a bad light to succeed.

    “The government urges all members of the community to work together with the law enforcement agencies. Community members can report any criminal activities they have witnessed to the police using the 10111 emergency number.”

    In South Africa, the Nigerian Mission attributed the renewed xenophobic attacks on its citizens and the spate of violence to weak judicial system and lack of adequate stringent measures against crimes in South Africa.

    The Nigeria Consul-General in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone chat that lack of arrest, prosecution and trial with stringent punishment against crimes and other offences have contributed to the rising crime wave in South Africa.

    The consul-general was reacting to renewed attacks against foreigners on Aug. 28 and Sept. 1, in Pretoria and Johannesburg, leading to looting and burning of businesses and property belonging foreigners and death of three people.

    Adama called for review of the South African judicial system to promote the fights against crime and all forms of impunity in that country.

    He said: “The judicial system is very lenient with those types of crimes, so if somebody commits crime now, the system will grant him bail immediately.

    “Criminals cease the opportunity of such lenient system to commit crimes; and it is expected that if the government can review its judicial system, it will boost fights against crime.

    “This will help in the future because as it is today, the whole law is lenient and it leads to impunity. This is why the crime rate is difficult to control, even when you kill somebody now, they will grant you bail almost immediately and this is what leads to impunity.”

     

  • Foreign minister’s tweet on Xenophobia sparks row

    THE renewed attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africans took a new twist on Monday. This followed the “Enough is enough” tweet by Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama.

    There was a row on the social media with Nigerians and their South African counterparts exchanging banters.

    Onyeama described the perpetrators as “mindless criminals”.

    He said Nigeria would take definite measures against the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

    The minister, who stated this on his Twitter handle, described the South African police as ineffective, adding “Enough is enough”.

    The minister, however, did not to state what measures the government would take.

    Onyeama’s tweet reads: “Received sickening and depressing news of continued burning and looting of Nigerian shops and premises in South Africa by mindless criminals with ineffective police protection.

    “Enough is enough. We will take definitive measures.”

    The tweet sparked reactions from South Africans and Nigerians, blaming one another on twitter.

    Yolanda Gielink asked Onyeama: “Why are they (Nigerians) not trading in their own country sir?”

    Emeka Nnodim said South Africans continue to attack Nigerians because they knew that the Government lacked the political will to take action.

    Kagiso Matlala replied the minister to “come and take your Nigerians in South Africa because they are damaging my country.”

    Obioma wrote: “I, we wish these words would be as heavy as it sounds. I wish these words will bring South Africa to their knees. I wish these words will make Nigerians beat their chests. I wish these words will shake the government of South Africa.”

    Read Also: Nigeria remains steadfast in anti-graft war – Onyeama

    Enetomhe Stephen said Nigerians would support any retaliatory actions that the Federal Government would take against South Africa, adding “we have been so patient and understanding for long. We can’t take it again.”

    Solomon Apenja said: “It is time to show South Africa fangs and prove to them that we can bite. Recall our envoy to Pretoria and expel their High Commissioner from Abuja. Also withdraw all further security guarantees for South Africans and South African businesses in Nigeria.

    “For every day Nigeria continues ‘brotherly’ discussions with South African authorities who do nothing. Our government further exposes Nigerians in South Africa as prey for easy picking. Nigerians are not the only foreigners doing business in Mzansi. They can’t try that nonsense with nationals of other countries.”

    Hope Ikuru said: “Nigeria should ask all South Africans in Nigeria to leave in 24hrs.  Thereafter, immediately freezing all bank accounts of South African companies and individuals in Nigeria.”

    David Mpina made jest of Nigerians, saying “Dstv, Mtn and others are companies giving Nigerians service they need. We don’t need hairdressers in South Africa. How about you give us some doctors, Maths and Science teachers? You can’t come all the way from West Africa and open a salon in South Africa.”

    Dr Peter Okereke responded: “The truth is that the South African black youths are lazy. Most of them live in ghettos. They come to city daily with free train rides.”

  • What investors stand to gain in Nigeria, by Buhari

    INVESTMENT opportunities in Nigeria are not only attractive, they have some of the highest returns-on-investment globally, President Muhammadu Buhari told participants on Thursday at the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) in Tokyo, Japan.

    Presenting Nigeria’s statement at Plenary Session Three on “Public-Private Business Dialogue” at the TICAD7, he took advantage of the forum to market the country’s potential to foreign investors.

    According to  a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said he looked forward to prospective investors making inroads in power and renewable energy, petrochemical and gas, maritime (shipping and ports), automobiles, mining, agribusiness, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, ICT and railway, which he classified as priority sectors.

    Urging investors to take advantage of ongoing reforms being carried out by his administration, Buhari added: “I have also established a Presidential Committee on Enabling Business Environment, which is made up of key Ministries and prominent businessmen to promote the Ease of Doing Business and make Nigeria more attractive and competitive for investment.

    “Our administration is committed to removing all impediments to private sector participation in these sectors by creating policies that will ensure consistency, predictability and a level playing field for all.”

    He identified power, transportation, infrastructure, maritime/shipping, agro-processing, mining, manufacturing, petro-chemicals, food processing and textiles among others, as “key drivers to the diversification” of the local economy as well as “priority areas that will drive our Economic Agenda.” The President said he looked forward to “welcoming prospective investors to Nigeria.”

    Reviewing the Nigeria-Japan relations, President Buhari commended the existing bonds of friendship and economic cooperation between both countries, describing the Asian country as “a strategic partner for our socio-economic development.”

    He explained Nigeria’s intention to “further encourage relationships with key public and private sector stakeholders” in both nations.

    Read Also: I’m not dictating to Judiciary, says Buhari

    The President hailed the level of “discussions on the establishment of the Japan-Nigeria Business Facilitation Council, an initiative of the Japanese government, which would be launched on our return to Nigeria.” He added: “I look forward to positive reports of increased trade and investment between Nigeria and Japan from these initiatives.”

    Describing the TICAD forum as important to Nigeria, President Buhari said: “It coincides with the period when the country is faced with a number of challenges that affect our economy.”

    Noting that his administration “has put in place measures seeking to diversify the economy by developing agriculture, emphasising on manufacturing and addressing the energy and infrastructure deficit,” he expressed confidence that, “with these, we shall be placing Nigeria on the path of rapid growth and sustainable development.

    President Buhari stressed: “TICAD is also coming at a time when our government is implementing home-grown and private sector-driven economic measures that are predicated on good governance, infrastructure and human capital development as well as, business climate reform.”

    The above domestic measures, he explained, informed his invitation to “the private sector to come and invest in Nigeria.”

    According to him, “Nigeria and indeed Africa, expect much from this forum in terms of investment, considering the role of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in all economies – developed and developing.”

    President Buhari also expressed Nigeria’s gratitude to the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, “for his unwavering commitment to strengthen trade and investment between Japan and Africa through various initiatives, partnership and support of the Japanese Government.”

    He sought the support of the Asian government in combating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea as well as illegal fishing in that region.

    The President made the request during a bilateral meeting between the Nigerian delegation and Japanese officials, led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on the margins of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7).

    Buhari, who commended Abe for the invitation extended to him to attend the triennial forum, also thanked the Japanese government for attending the pioneer celebration of June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria.

    Prime Minister Abe pledged a $300,000 support for Nigeria’s Defence College and 12 million Yen for the country’s public health sector.

    He also promised his country’s support for Nigeria’s Presidency of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, while seeking Nigeria’s support for Japan’s bid to occupy some global positions.

    Also yesterday in Yokohama, Nigeria and the European Union (EU) signed a €50 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support humanitarian and development efforts in the country’s Northeast region.

    The pact, which was signed by Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, and EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Mr. Neven Mimica, would bring EU’s support to the country to €562 million for 2014-2020.

    President Buhari, who thanked the EU member states for their support especially for the North East, described as “pathetic the situation in internally displaced camps.”

    He also called for further assistance to improve youth education in the region to take them out of poverty.

    Mimica said Nigeria’s request for enhanced assistance would be given priority consideration since it had come at the time that the EU was in the process of preparing its seven-year budget.

  • Nigeria shuts Czech, Sri Lanka, Serbia Missions, downsizes Ukraine

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, says the Federal Government has closed three of the nation’s foreign missions and downsized another due to insufficient funds.

    Onyeama said this on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking on activities of the ministry in the last three years.

    The Minister said that the countries where Nigeria closed its missions included Sri Lanka,  Czech Republic and Republic of Serbia while Ukraine was drastically downsized.

    Before the closure Nigeria had 119 foreign missions.

    Onyeama added that the reduction of Nigeria’s foreign missions remains one of the agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    He explained that the closure of the missions was occasioned by inability of the ministry to maintain them due to insufficient funds.

    Read also: Nigeria to enhance cultural ties with ASEAN countries – Onyeama

    “Every embassy has written to us about their huge financial demands. and when we go to these embassies we see clearly very unattractive state that does not reflect well on the country.

    “Very often the staff of the embassy really find things extremely difficult.

    “Clearly, if we want to operate on the scale and scope in which we are at the moment with over a 100 missions around the world, we need to spend a lot more.

    He said though Nigeria has spent a lot, it was not enough, compared to what other countries around the world spend

    “What I am saying is that rather than having this terrible circle of inadequate funding for missions, headquarters and so forth we have to reduce the scope.

    “We should have foreign missions that we can fund, we might not necessarily close the embassies per se, it might be reducing the number of staff in the embassies.

    “Because what we found out is that it is more expensive to close the embassies than operating them,” he said (NAN)

  • Buhari wades into legislative crisis in Guinea Bissau

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Envoy to Guinea Bissau, led by Foreign Affairs Minister,  Geoffrey Onyeama, has expressed optimism that the legislative crises in the country would end soon.

    Onyeama, in a video clip made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, said parties involved in Guinea Bissau legislative crisis had pledged their commitment to peace.

    The minister said that the parties made the commitment after meeting with the ECOWAS Chairman, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Envoy in Bissau the country’s capital on Wednesday.

    Guinea Bissau has been embroiled in political crisis after the country’s legislative election on March 10 over power sharing in the legislature between the ruling party and the opposition.

    Due to the political crisis, the Chairman of ECOWAS, President Muhammadu Buhari, directed that the issues be resolved immediately by the sub regional body.

    Onyeama, who is also the Chairman, ECOWAS Council of Ministers, led the ECOWAS peace delegation.

    He expressed optimism that with the commitments made by all the parties, the issues would be resolved soon.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari directed us to come here and nip this in the bud – sort this out very quickly.

    “We have had excellent discussions with all the main protagonists – the President, the Prime Minister and the leaders of all the political parties.

    “We are very happy with the way it went, and commitments that were made and we believe that if those commitments are respected and kept, this problem will be over in a matter of a week or two.”

    The delegation met with the President of Guinea Bissau, Jose Mario Vaz; the Prime Minister Aristides Gomez; President of the National Assembly, Mr Cipriano Cassama and various parliamentary groups in the country’s National Assembly.

    Other members of the peace delegation, led by Mr. Onyeama are  Mr Naby Kiridi Bangoura, Minister of State and Secretary General of the Presidency in Guinea Conakry, representing Alpha Conde; President of Guinea Conakry who is also the Chairman, ECOWAS Mediation Committee on Guinea Bissau and the President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean –Claude Kassi Brou. (NAN)

  • FG expresses delight over Zainab Aliyu’s release

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama has expressed appreciation to the Saudi Authority for the release of Zainab Aliyu, who was held for alleged drug trafficking offence.

    Ms. Zainab Aliyu and Ibrahim Abubakar were erroneously accused of trafficking hard drugs to Saudi Arabia.

    Reacting to the release, Onyeama disclosed that the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had engaged the Saudi Arabian authorities in a very quiet diplomacy to secure the release of the two Nigerians.

    The minister, in a statement by his media aide, Sarah Sanda further said that the release of Zainab Aliyu by Saudi Authorities is a further sign of the immense goodwill Nigeria enjoys on the global stage under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari whose integrity is widely acknowledged.

    The minister, who received the news of the release while on official assignment in Guinea Bissau, noted all diplomatic channels at the highest levels were explored to achieve the desired results.

    “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been conducting a very quiet diplomacy with the Saudi Authorities for some time now, we provided them with documentation and this has obviously led to the release.

    “It also shows the benefit of quiet diplomacy which has been conducted as opposed to conducting our foreign affairs on twitter and other social media, so we are very happy that quiet diplomacy has proven its worth.

    “In this case we know this is an innocent Nigerian who some criminals had planted drugs in her name.”

    Ms. Aliyu is a Nigerian student who was detained in Saudi Arabia after hard drugs was found in a bag labeled in her name at the Saudi Airport.

    The federal government said she was a victim of drug cartel at the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State, North West Nigeria.

    Read Also: Photo: Zainab Aliyu after her release

    The cartel is reported to specialise in placing hard drugs in bags owned by travelers while on their way to destination countries. Some members of the cartel have been arrested.

    On the execution recently of another Nigerian, Kudirat Afolabi in Saudi Arabia for drug smuggling, Onyeama denied allegations that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs failed to do anything to avert that.

    “It was unfortunate that there was another case a couple of weeks ago where a Nigerian lady was executed in Saudi Arabia for drug smuggling.

    “Some people were very unfair, giving impression that  the Ministry was somehow responsible for the execution of this lady because she was innocent, off course that was not true, it was unfortunate the false narrative that was created.

    “In that case unlike this case, that lady was found with drugs, they want to make it look like the same case as the present case.”