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Trump questions taking of immigrants from ‘shithole countries’

President Donald Trump has questioned why the U.S. would want to have immigrants from Haiti and African nations, referring to some as “shithole countries,” according to two sources familiar with the comments.

Trump’s remarks, made in the White House, came as Democratic Senator Dick Durbin and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham briefed the president on a newly drafted immigration bill being touted by a bipartisan group of senators, according to the sources, who asked not to be identified.

Sources said government officials were present during the conversation.

The lawmakers were describing how certain immigration programs operate, including one to give safe haven in the United States to people from countries suffering from natural disasters or civil strife.

One of the sources who was briefed on the conversation said that Trump said, “Why do we want all these people from Africa here?

“They’re shithole countries … We should have more people from Norway.”

The second source familiar with the conversation, said Trump, who has vowed to clamp down on illegal immigration, also questioned the need for Haitians in the United States.

Many Democrats and some Republican lawmakers slammed the president for his remarks.

Republican U.S. Representative Mia Love, a daughter of Haitian immigrants, said the comments were “unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation’s values”.

Love called on Trump to apologise to the American people and to the countries he denigrated.

Another Republican Representative, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who was born in Cuba and whose south Florida district includes many Haitian immigrants, said: “Language like that shouldn’t be heard in locker rooms and it shouldn’t be heard in the White House.”

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a frequent Trump critic, said the president’s comment “smacks of blatant racism, the most odious and insidious racism masquerading poorly as immigration policy.”

Read Also: “Obama sold the finest embassy for Peanuts,” Trump cancels UK visit

In an apparent response to his critics, Trump took to Twitter late on Thursday night.

Trump tweeted: “The Democrats seem intent on having people and drugs pour into our country from the Southern Border, risking thousands of lives in the process.

“It is my duty to protect the lives and safety of all Americans. We must build a Great Wall, think Merit and end Lottery & Chain. USA!”

The programme that was being discussed at the White House is called Temporary Protected Status.

In November, the Trump administration decided to end the status for immigrants from Haiti and Nicaragua.

It gave the approximately 59,000 Haitian immigrants who had been granted the status until July 2019 to return home or legalise their presence in the U.S.

Nicaraguans were given until January 2019.

On Monday, Trump moved to end the status for immigrants from El Salvador, which could result in 200,000 Salvadorans legally in the United States being deported, beginning in September of 2019.

Reuters/NAN

January 12, 2018
10, 000 female drivers to be recruited in Saudi Arabia

Uber and Careem, a Dubai-based ride-hailing app, is planning to hire no fewer than 10, 000 female drivers in Saudi Arabia by June 2018.

CNN reported that the companies have already launched training sessions targeting Saudi women who have already obtained driver’s licenses from abroad.

Female customers currently represent the majority of Uber’s rider base and its local counterpart, Careem, the report said.

In September 2017, Saudi Arabia announced in a royal decree that it would allow women to drive, ending a long-time policy in the Middle Eastern country.

Also Read: Saudi Arabia council studying proposals on whistleblowers

Currently, all drivers employed by the two ride-hailing firms are male, and many working Saudi women spend much of their salaries on drivers or must be driven to work by their male relatives.

(Xinhua/NAN)

January 12, 2018
“Obama sold the finest embassy for Peanuts,” Trump cancels UK visit

U.S. President Donald Trump canceled a visit to London scheduled for early this year, saying he was disappointed with the “Obama administration having sold” the U.S. embassy in the British capital.

“(The) reason I canceled my trip to London is that I am not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for “peanuts,” only to build a new one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars,” Trump said in a tweet late on Thursday.

However, the embassy website showed that the decision to move the location was taken months before Barack Obama took office in January 2009.

The U.S. Embassy & Consulates in the UK said in October 2008 the embassy would be relocated for security reasons.

“Bad deal. Wanted me to cut ribbon-NO!,” Trump said on Twitter.

The Daily Mail earlier reported the cancellation of Trump’s UK visit in which he was expected to inaugurate the new embassy.

The U.S. is leaving behind an imposing 1960 stone and concrete embassy in London’s upmarket Grosvenor Square, an area known as ‘Little America’ during World War Two, when the square also housed the military headquarters of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Read Also: I would beat Oprah Winfrey in White House race -Trump

The new embassy on the South Bank is a veritable fortress set back at least 100 feet (30 meters) from surrounding buildings, mostly newly-erected high-rise residential blocks, and incorporating living quarters for the U.S. Marines permanently stationed inside.

The one billion-dollar-edifice, overlooking the River Thames, was wholly funded by the sale of other properties in London. (Reuters/NAN)

January 12, 2018
Engineer ejected by landlady emerges N20m lottery winner

Mr Sidney Osahon, 35, Engineer from Edo, who won the ‘Give ‘n’ Take N20 million’ National Jackpot Bonanza said, his landlady almost ejected his family hours before he won the lottery.

Osahon, who disclosed this at a news briefing organised by Give `n` Take National Lottery in Abuja, said he was threatened by his landlady on his way to claim the prize.

He said that his family was being threatened by his landlady before he received the call that changed his life.

He said, “My mother is still alive, my father passed on last year. So we couldn’t pay our rent and we were almost thrown out of our house.

“My landlady gave us quit notice. As I was coming out to claim my prize she sent a text message that she will soon be at the house to give me a show down.

Osahon revealed that he had been playing the Give `n` take National lottery from the beginning in June 2017, but just got lucky now.

“Last week Sunday while watching the jackpot, and I saw my ticket number, I was in tears, I told God that I was tired of embarrassment of rent and I am moving into my house.

“The interesting thing about this win is that there was another bonanza draw the first one, I did not win. But the person who won apparently did not show up to pick his ticket.

“What this means is that if the person had showed up, I wouldn’t have been the winner, but God just got it for me. Today I am twenty million naira richer.

“The whole thing is like a dream but I am living that dream. I say a big thank you to Give ‘n’ Take national lottery; they have changed my life for good. Now I am a landlord,” he said.

In his address, Jolly Enabulele, Managing Director, Give ‘n’ Take National Lottery, said the N20million lottery prize from available records is the biggest in the history of lottery in Nigeria

He added that a winner emerged for the N20 million bonanza of National Jackpot after 29 weekly Rollover.

“Today we are bold to inform you that so many millionaires have been made in this lofty venture of giving back to the society through lottery business and good courses.

He noted that the bonanza was done to reward the loyal players who trusted the brand and identified with it since its inception in June 2017.

He added that the cheque will be officially presented to him on Sunday, January 14 during the live National Jackpot Game show by the Director-General of National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

NAN

January 12, 2018
Kaduna to execute N33bn capital projects in 2018

The Kaduna State Government plans to spend N33 billion on capital projects in the education sector in 2018.

This figure is contained in the state’s 2018 budget obtained from state Planning and Budget Commission.

The document indicated that the amount was however lower than the N44.8 billion budgeted for the sector in 2017.

A breakdown of the figure shows that N20 billion would go to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and N13 billion to State Universal Basic Education Board ( SUBEB ) and tertiary institutions.

The ministry is expected to spend N6.3 billion on school feeding programme in public primary schools, Islamiyya, and Quranic schools, as well as the 31 boarding secondary schools in the state.

The N6.3 billion was less than the N14.7 billion allocated to the programme in 2017.

According to the document, primary and secondary school rebuilding and equipping programme would gulp N5 billion, while the Global Partnership for Education was allocated N1.9 billion as against N2 billion in 2017.

The document indicated also that the education ministry in partnership with Islamic Development Bank (IDB) would spend N761.7 million on the construction of six science secondary schools in the state.

Also in the document, N1 billion would be spent on supply of furniture in secondary schools across the state and N511 million on the provision of school uniforms.

Read also: Teachers’ strike will not stop education reform – Kaduna Govt.

“N377 million was earmarked for teacher development programme, a joint project with United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID).

“Procurement of science equipment will cost N177.8 million, N400 million for procurement of books, and N2.3 billion for fencing of government-owned facilities.

“N138 million was allocated for the construction of computer laboratories and supply of 20 desktop computers each to 50 secondary schools.

“N50.2 million was set aside for development of three Computer Based Test centres, one each in the three senatorial districts,’’ the document added.

According to the document, N50 million will be spent on the supply and installation of LGP tanks, burners, and industrial boiling pans in 29 boarding secondary schools.

It also indicated that N14 million was allocated for the construction and equipping of a multipurpose workshop at the headquarters of the education ministry.

“N65.5 million was allocated for development of web portal for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services and multi media/video conference centre.

“Development of scientific glass technology got N2.5 million; while technology-based school management solution services got N120 million.’’

For tertiary institutions, the budget provided N2.1 billion to Kaduna State University (KASU); N1.5 billion to College of Education, Gidan Waya; N670 million to Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria and N110 million to College of Midwifery, Kaduna.

Other capital allocations include N113 million to Shehu Idris College of Health and Science Technology and N182 million to the State College of Nursing and Midwifery.

NAN

January 11, 2018
Influx of awaiting trial inmates worrisome – NPS

The Controller-General, Nigerian Prisons Service ( NPS ), Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed, has decried the influx of awaiting-trial inmates in the nation’s prisons.

Ahmed raised the concern at a media briefing after a facility tour of Dukpa Prison Farm Centre in Gwagwalada, FCT, on Wednesday.

Represented by spokesman of the Service, Mr Francis Enobore, the NPS boss said the situation was a potential threat to efforts to de-congest prisons nationwide.

“Although the population of inmates awaiting trial shows a considerable reduction, the rate of influx, if care is not taken, will sooner than later make a travesty of the present decongestion effort.

“Some state task forces arrest minor offenders like street hawkers and even those without proof of means of livelihood and send them to prison without a corresponding mechanism for further care and support.

“Managing this category of inmates has always been fraught with risks and myriad of problems even with the deployment of large toll of Service’s human and material resources,” Ahmed said.

He reiterated the NPS’ call for alternative custodial punishment through the domestication and implementation of the 2015 Administration of Criminal Justice Act by states.

As of December 15, there were 48,527 awaiting-trial inmates nationwide, representing 66 per cent of a total prison population of 72,384, according to the NPS.

Ahmed also raised concern over the “rejection of ex-convicts by members of the society,” noting that it was pushing former inmates back into crime.

“It is sad that the sanctimonious attitude of some relations of offenders has remained a bane in ex-convict reintegration into the society.

“These offenders often return to crime due to continuous discrimination and unfriendly disposition of members of the society.

“We believe that ex-offenders that have served term in the prison have received due punishment for their wrongful behaviour and therefore should be forgiven so that the circle of criminality can be broken,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Dukpa Prison Farm Centre, operated by the FCT Command of the NPS, fetches the Federal Government N3 million annually, according to the officer in charge, Mr Benjamin Jatau.

Leading journalists on a tour of the facility, Jatau, an Assistant Controller of Prisons, said the revenue was generated from the sale of products of the farm.

He stated that the facility, established in 2006, was one of the 17 integrated farm centres run by the NPS nationwide.

According to him, the farm which sits on 27 hectres of land in Dukpa community, Gwagwalada Area Council, was designed to teach inmates vocation in poultry, cattle rearing, fishery and piggery.

“Besides, we grow some crops, mainly rice and maize, and then we have some subsidiary crops like soya beans.

“All these activities are done by the inmates under the supervision of staff and professionals.

“The aim of the farm is to affect the communities around on cropping techniques and modern livestock farming methods,” he said.

Jatau said the that every season the farm produced between 40 and 6o bags of maize, including Quality Protein Maize, “which is good for diabetes patients”.

Ibrahim Abdullahi, one of the inmates held at the farm, said the facility was more of a school than a detention/labour centre.

Abdullahi, who is serving one-year jail term since July, state that he had learnt a lot of farming skills which he intended to put to use after his stay in prison.

NAN

January 10, 2018
Germany pledges intervention in conflict mitigation in Nigeria

The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Bernhard Schlagheck has pledged to collaborate with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution ( IPCR ), to strengthen peace building and other interventions to mitigate conflicts in Nigeria.

According to a statement by the IPCR Media Officer, Michael Abu, on Wednesday, Schlagheck made the pledge in Abuja when he visited the Director-General of the IPCR, Prof. Oshita O. Oshita.

Schlagheck who expressed concern over the spread of dysfunctional conflicts in the country, expressed his willingness to support all conflict management activities especially as they relate to the 2019 general elections.

Oshita in his remarks said that the Institute in collaboration with the German Embassy would embark on series of intervention towards peaceful 2019 elections.

He said that IPCR was open to creditable organisations and entities for collaboration for peace building activities including various interventions for conflict resolution.

The DG said that the institute in collaboration with the Embassy would train journalists on peace journalism in the monitoring and coverage of elections.

“IPCR will train of a number of media practitioners from all the geopolitical zones of the country on peace journalism and conflict-sensitive reporting,” he said

The DG said that the intervention would also include election conflict management for Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and others handling various aspects of the election processes.

He added that the Institute established the National Peace Academy to build capacities in the country and Africa to support the Infrastructure for Peace and to encourage the spread of peace ambassadors and practitioners.

He said that the Institute was already putting up election conflict management programme, countrywide peace campaigns and sensitisation programmes to ensure peace during the 2019 general elections.

Oshita expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Chairman and members of a Governing Council for the Institute for the first time.

He stated that through this, the Institute would be properly mobilised and supported towards fulfilling its mandate for peace promotion and conflict resolution in Nigeria.

NAN

January 10, 2018
Accident: God is faithful to us, says Kwara United President

Kwara United President, Prince Oladimeji Ladi Thompson, has expressed gratitude to God for sparing the lives of the club’s players and officials involved in a motor accident on Wednesday in Ibadan.

He said that the degree of the accident was high but God saved all the lives involved.

He expressed satisfaction that three members of the team who sustained injuries were responding to treatment.

A player and two officials of the club were injured when a bus conveying the team got involved in an accident at 7.00a.m at Moniya, Ibadan.

The team were returning from Lagos where they participated in the just-concluded Bet9ja Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 4.

They were returning to their base in Kwara when the accident occurred.

The team had lost their first match to the eventual winners of the competition, Go Round FC.

The Afonja warlords lost the match 4-2 on penalties after the regular time ended in a barren draw.

The team management was displeased with the knockout format adopted by the organisers of the competition.

Kwara United management contested the format in a statement issued by the club’s Media Officer, Abdul Waheed Bibire.

In the statement, the club signified intention to discontinue.

On the accident, Bibire said that no life was lost although three people sustained various degrees of injuries.

“Kwara United players and officials in the early hours of today were involved in a motor accident in Ibadan.

“The coaster bus conveying the harmony boys who were on their way from Lagos from the NNL Super 4 tournament ran into a parked trailer.

“The bus rammed into the stationary trailer in an attempt to avoid a speeding vehicle from the other end of the road.

“Three out of the people on board sustained various degrees of injuries and have since been taken to hospital for medical attention,’’ he said.

The Team Manager, Jimoh Oke, said that no life was lost to the accident.

Oke said that the injured player and officials were receiving treatment in a hospital in Ibadan.

“A player and two officials were injured; they are responding to treatment.

“We thank God that no life was lost to the incident; we will proceed to Ilorin today,” Oke said.

Kwara United will lock horns with Niger Tornadoes of Minna in the opening day of the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), on Sunday in Ilorin.

NAN

January 10, 2018
PDP backs teachers’ strike in Kaduna

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday said it was in support of the current indefinite strike by public school teachers in Kaduna State.

The State Chairman of PDP, Mr Felix Hyat made the declaration in a statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Abraham Catoh in Kaduna.

He faulted the state government on its threat to sack teachers that joined the strike, stressing that strike was “a legal means for all civil servants to seek redress on the injustice presently meted out on them.’’

According to the PDP chairman, the sack of the teachers was callous, insensitive and meant to increase the level of unemployment and poverty in the state.

“The incessant sack of civil servants in the state, if allowed to continue unabated, would definitely lead to high rate of crime, social vices and would dampen the morale of civil servants in the state,” Hyat added.

The PDP chairman also faulted the provision of N1 billion in the state 2018 budget to construct new legislative quarters after selling the ones on ground by the government.

“We condemned this act in its entirety, for it is another ploy to fleece the resources of the people of our state of their collective commonwealth.’’

Hyat also accused the state government of undertaking “fictitious projects and consultancy contracts’’ with no bearing or direct impact on the masses.

Read Also:2019: PDP begins search for presidential flag bearer

On security, the state PDP chairman said Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i has demonstrated “ineptitude and lack of capacity to curb the insecurity challenge bedevilling the state.’’

According to the chairman, the PDP would “reinstate all unjustly sacked civil servants’’ if elected in 2019.

He advised the electorate to use their permanent voter card to vote out the APC government in the state in 2019.

Reacting to the statement, the State APC Director, Media and Publicity, Mr Manasseh Istifanus said the party would not exchange words with the PDP.

He however said the sack of teachers and other civil servants was part of ongoing reforms in the civil service.

According to him, the state government would replace the over 21,000 teachers sacked with 25, 000 qualified ones that would add value to the education sector.

On the N1 billion budgeted for the building of legislative quarters by the government, Istifanus dismissed the claim as mere “concoction’’ by the PDP.

He stressed that the government had considered so many factors in arriving at the number of civil servants being disengaged, so as to rejuvenate and inject vibrancy in the state civil service.

NAN

January 10, 2018
Three women in court over theft of lace materials worth N10.2m

A 55-year-old businesswoman, Kuburat Sheu, and two others, were on Wednesday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over alleged stealing of lace materials valued at N10.2 million.

Others facing trial along with the businesswoman are Husseini Isiaka, 32 and Mutairu Abdullahi, 27, both sales representatives.

They are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen goods.

The prosecutor, Peter Nwangwu, told the court that the accused committed the offences with others still at large on November 13, 2017 at No.11, Ereko St., Idumota, Lagos.

Nwangwu said that the sales representatives, who worked for Alhaja Remi Bakinson, stole three hundred bundles of assorted lace materials from the complainant’s warehouse.

“The sales representatives later sold 80 bundles of the materials to Sheu at N2.7million,’’ he said.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 287, 328 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 287 stipulates three years jail term for the offenders.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Aje Afunwa, granted the trio bail of N900, 000 each with two responsible sureties in like sum.

Afunwa said that one of the sureties should be a blood relation of the accused.

She said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

She adjourned the case until March 19 for mention.

NAN

January 10, 2018