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Tag: U.S embassy

  • Govt shutdown: U.S. embassy, consulate to remain open

    THE United States (U.S.) government has said that its embassy in Abuja and the consulate general in Lagos will remain open while the American government shutdown last.

    In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, the embassy said the earlier report to the contrary was incorrect.

    The statement reads: “The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will remain open during the U.S. government shutdown.  This includes the consular sections.  Prior reports to the contrary were incorrect.

    “American Centers and EducationUSA offices operating on embassy and consulate grounds that are managed by Mission Public Affairs Sections will remain closed throughout the shutdown.  American Spaces, such as American Corners operated by partner institutions and located off embassy or consulate grounds, however, will remain open.”

  • Protest at U.S. Embassy over visa for Atiku

    Protesters, under the aegis of the Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations in Nigeria, yesterday stormed the United States (U.S.) Embassy in Abuja. They urged American government to deny former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar visa to the U.S.

    The group alleged that Atiku, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in next year’s presidential election, was allegedly involved in a bribery scandal for which Senator William Jefferson was tried and jailed for 13 years in 2009.

    The group’s convener, Wole Badmus, said: Granting his (Atiku’s) visa request will amount to a negation of the Patriot Act which makes the acceptance of foreign corruption proceeds a U.S. money laundering offence.

    “It also makes a mockery of the United Nations (UN) Convention Against Corruption enacted in 2003 in which the U.S. played an active role in its enactment and presently ratified by over 40 countries.

    “It is also against the spirit of investigative group dedicated to combating foreign corruption by Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) formed in 2003 by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

    “Finally granting such request makes a mess of a president Bush Presidential Proclamation 7750 denying U.S. visa to foreign officials involved with corruption, and other supporting legislations by the congress.”

    He noted that if the U.S. denied the former vice president its visa for 13 years and now grants it to him in the twilight of his presidential election, it will be tantamount to making a mockery of the UN convention against corruption.

    Badmus added that if the U.S. that is seen as a global seat of democracy, rule of law and transparency grants its visa to Atiku, the country would have aided him to score a cheap political goal.

    Although the US embassy in Abuja was on a public holiday yesterday following the burial of former President George Bush, Badmus read his letter addressed to the U.S. Ambassador, Stuart Symington before a surging crowd of protesters and the armed policemen on guard.

    The letter, titled: “The Imperatives of Rejecting Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s Visa Request,” reads: “We write to officially and strongly advise the United States Embassy against granting this request as doing so has the capacity if portraying the great American state as being supportive of illicit transactions and gross abuse of public office for personal aggrandisement.

    “This is apart from the tacit and covert electoral gain such can confer him as the general correct perception in our country now is that an Atiku is being denied America Visa because of proven cases of money laundering and financial crimes against him.”

    The protesters were decked in orange T-shirts and fez caps, carrying different placards with inscriptions as “U.S., stay clear of Nigeria’s internal politics”; “No issuance of politically motivated visa to Atiku”; “Senator Jefferson was jailed, Lady Jennifer was jailed, Atiku must also be jailed in the U.S.”;  “Nigerians say no to America’s interference in the nation’s politics”; and “Go, Atiku Go to jail in America.”

  • Activities pick up at U.S. Embassy Abuja

    Activities picked up yesterday at the U.S. Embassy Abuja as it resumed consular activities.

    The embassy on its twitter handle @USEmbassyAbuja yesterday morning announced resumption of full consular services at the embassy in Abuja.

    “Full consular visa and American Citizen Services (ACS) resume in Abuja today. We regret the inconvenience the temporary closure of the Abuja Consular office caused. Good to be back,” the embassy said.

    The embassy had on Aug. 15 temporarily suspended its consular services in Abuja due to reasons it said were beyond its control.

    It however stated that consular functions at the U.S. Consulate Lagos were never affected and will continue as usual.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed that scores of applicants who had their appointments rescheduled for Aug. 24 after the suspension of services defied the Friday downpour to meet up with their appointments.

    Many of them were sighted on a queue at the embassy waiting to be attended to by consular officials.

    Few of them who spoke with NAN said that they initially had appointments between Aug. 15 and Aug. 23 but were informed that their appointments had been rescheduled to Aug 24

    Others also said that their appointments were fresh ones.

    An applicant, a student who simply identified himself as Jones, said that his appointment was rescheduled from Aug. 15 to Aug. 24.

    Another applicant, Miss Busayo Adetipe, said that her appointment was a fresh one.

    “I received a notification for interview from the embassy,” she said.

    A source who preferred anonymity said that most of those who came to the embassy on Friday were those who had their appointments rescheduled.

    “That is why you see the crowd. Ordinarily, you do not find this many people ,” the source said.

    NAN also observed food vendors resumed operations near the embassy.

    Also drinks sellers, airtime top-up, internet services, photographers resumed operations.

    Mr Ikechukwu Valentine, a taxi operator said: “activites have picked up.

    “Honestly, business was dull during the closure of operations at the embassy. But I must say that things are good again.

    “Before they closed operations, I make N7,000 on the average in a day.”

    A photographer, Mr Ojo Seun, said before the suspension of consular services, he makes N10, 000 every week.

  • USAID partners Sokoto, Bauchi on primary health care

    The United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ) has signed two agreements with Bauchi, Sokoto States and other stakeholders to expand access to quality, affordable health care in the two states.

    A statement by the U.S. Embassy on Monday in Abuja explained that the agreements were aimed at boosting access to quality Primary Health Care services in the two states.

    “USAID Mission Director, Stephen Haykin, joined the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’adu Abubakar, Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, philanthropists Bill Gates and Aliko Dangote, and governors of Bauchi and Sokoto states by video teleconference to sign the two agreements.

    “Under the four-year addenda to improve routine immunisation and expansion of funding for the Primary Health Care.

    “USAID will provide technical assistance to the Bauchi and Sokoto States Primary Health Care Development agencies to help expand access to routine immunisations and primary health care.

    “While UNICEF will partner with the Gates and Dangote foundations to match the states’ investments in the sectors,’’ the US embassy stated.

    The embassy explained that in return, the Bauchi and Sokoto Governments agreed to earmark 1.8 million dollars to invest in routine immunisation and primary health care in 2018.

    “Under the agreements, both states will incrementally raise their funding contributions in these sectors to become self-sufficient by 2022’’.

    Haykin described the agreements as “new stage” in USAID’s partnerships with Bauchi and Sokoto states, which would adapt its health programming to the needs of the states to help extend life-saving treatment to millions across Nigeria.

    “I applaud the governors’ efforts to improve public health care service delivery in their states, and strongly encourage them to continue working towards optimising their state’s capacity to deliver quality, affordable health services to their constituents,” Haykin said.

    After the ceremony, Gates said, “Vaccinations are phenomenal in their impact because a child that has not been vaccinated is twice likely to die. We can prevent millions of deaths through routine immunisation”.

    NAN

  • Suicide attacker targets U.S. embassy in Montenegro

    Suicide attacker targets U.S. embassy in Montenegro

    An attacker threw an explosive device at the U.S. embassy in the Montenegrin capital Podgorica on Thursday morning and subsequently blew himself up with another bomb, the Montenegrin government said.

    Both devices were probably hand grenades, the first thrown into the embassy yard and the second, who killed the attacker in the street outside, the government, said on Twitter.

    According to the government, the blasts occurred at 1.30 a.m. (23:30 GMT), adding that the police are investigating the incident.

    An embassy spokesman, Jeff Adler, told the Vijesti news website that it was checking the security status of its staff and cooperating with police to identify the attacker.

    Read Also: Djokovic weds Jelena in private ceremony in Montenegro

    The embassy also posted an alert on its website advising U.S. citizens of “an active security situation” and to avoid the embassy until further notice and “employ security practices”.

    The smallest former Yugoslav republic with just 620,000 inhabitants and the last to split from Serbia, in 2006, Montenegro joined NATO in 2017, severing traditionally close ties with Russia.

    On the day of parliamentary elections in October 2016, the authorities arrested a group of people it accused of planning a coup in conspiracy with Russia.

    Moscow dismissed the allegations as absurd and counter-accused the Podgorica government of inventing the plot in order to alienate Russia.

    NAN

  • Group threatens to occupy U.S. Embassy

    A civil society organisation, Good Governance and Transparency Initiative has threatened to occupy the United States embassy and other places if nothing is done by the government and the international community to bring Governors Samuel of Benue Ortom and  Darius Ishaku of Taraba States to book.

    Its Executive Director Mrs Mrs. Jaiyeola Mohammed, who spoke during a rally held at the Unity Fountain in  Abuja yesterday,  faulted the two governors for what she called their lackadaisical attitudes which sled to the killings.

    She said: “The New Year’s Day  killings in Benue state shocked not just the entire nation but also confounded the world.

    “Our bigger worry, however, is the inaction that has continued to allow attention to focus on the wrong sources of the crisis. There is so much of playing the ostrich going on while the crisis festers. Our thoughts are that the problem in Benue state would have been contained to that geographical entity and promptly dealt with to save other states from suffering the fallout of a politically and ethnically motivated crisis.”

  • “Obama sold the finest embassy for Peanuts,” Trump cancels UK visit

    “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)

  • Russia, Vatican disagree with Trump over Jerusalem

    Russia, Vatican disagree with Trump over Jerusalem

    Russia and the Vatican disagree with the decision of President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv, Alexander Avdeyev, the Russian ambassador to the Vatican City has said.

    Avdeyev recalled that Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, in one of his recent statements said that the status quo of Jerusalem, which is a place of pilgrimage and worship for Jews, Christians and Muslims, should be respected.

    “This is a city of three Abrahamic religions and it should not be politicised by recognition as a capital.

    “I draw attention to the fact that this statement was made by the Pope, who usually expresses his position very carefully in order not to offend anyone.

    “So we can see a clear disagreement with the U.S. decision here. We have the similar position,” Avdeyev told Sputnik.

    On December 6, Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and instructed the State Department to launch the process of moving the U.S. Embassy, which is currently located in Tel Aviv, to Jerusalem.

    The step has prompted criticism from a number of states, first and foremost Middle Eastern states and Palestine, and triggered a wave of protests in the region.

    On December 7, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on Jerusalem’s legal status.

    The document called on UN member states to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the city.

    The diplomat also said that Russia and the Vatican share similar views on the world and the threats posed to it in the 21st century.

    “We have much in common in our vision of the threats and dangers of the 21st century. This is an important issue that unites us.

    “First of all, I speak about the threat of any terrorism, criminal, religious or separatist one. The second threat is the weakening of non-proliferation regimes.

    “Of particular concern is the drug trafficking and the separation into rich and poor in the world,” Avdeyev said.

    The Russian diplomat added that the two states also had a common view on the threats posed by social and economic inequality and terrorism, which were behind migration.

    According to the diplomat, unregulated globalisation that was closely tied with neoliberal values could result in “a significant deformation of the civil societies.”

    Avdeyev added that the two states were supportive of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and backed the negotiating process and dialogue as a path toward these goals.

    The ambassador also said that the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church were concerned over the destruction of the moral and ethical values of the Christian civilisation.

    (Sputnik/NAN)

  • U.S. Embassy awards $404,553 in grants to civil society groups

    The United States (U.S.) Mission to Nigeria has awarded $404,553 in grants to civil society groups in response to applications for its 2017 annual programme, it was learnt yesterday.

    The grant is expected to be used to address 23 projects of concern to the country and its citizens.

    A statement issued by the embassy in Abuja yesterday said projects that will be executed are aimed at promoting women entrepreneurship and economic growth.

    The statement reads: “The grantees include civil society organisations, arts companies and alumni of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Programme.  Grantees will execute projects to promote women’s entrepreneurship and economic development; increase disabled and non-disabled students’ access to primary and secondary education; mitigate farmer-herder conflict and support anti-corruption efforts.”

    Already, a one-day workshop has been conducted to ensure effective management of the funds.

    U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria W. Stuart Symington, who spoke at the workshop, underscored the key role the grantees could play in “solidifying Nigeria’s democratic gains, creating economic opportunity and ensuring a united Nigeria”.

  • U.S to train NSCDC operatives on counter-terrorism in Borno

    U.S to train NSCDC operatives on counter-terrorism in Borno

    The U.S says it will train and provide technical support to personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to enhance its operations in the counter-terrorism campaign.

    Mr Michael Bonner, the Senior Police Advisor U.S. Embassy, stated this when he visited Ibrahim Abdullahi, the state NSCDC Commandant in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

    Bonner said that such support had become necessary in view of NSCDC’s contributions in promoting national security, especially in the protection of critical infrastructure.

    “Absolutely, when you talk about safety and security in Nigeria, the primary concern is the North-East, and the state that needs attention the most right now is Borno.

    “It is a great opportunity to meet NSCDC officers and hear from you how the U.S can assist you?

    “We are also planning to train the NSCDC personnel on post-bomb blast investigation techniques.

    “We have already put in place some courses that will run strictly for the NSCDC on critical infrastructure protection. “The course is designed to train about 25 officers of the NSCDC who will also train other officers of the command.’’

    According to him, we are also looking at providing a joint training for the NSCDC and the Nigeria Police Force.

    “The training includes counter-terrorism techniques to enable you to identify potential threats and protect people in soft targets as well as prevent terror attack,” he said.

    According to Bonner, the NSCDC plays a vital role in community policing, in view of its closer ties with people in the society.

    He said that the U.S. Embassy would liaise with some humanitarian organisations to assist the command improve its operations.

    Responding, Abdullahi said the command had recorded significant success toward providing civic protection in the state.

    He recalled that at the beginning of the Boko Haram insurgency, personnel of the command were not allowed to carry arms, noting that the trend did not deter them from their duties.

    The NSCDC commandant said that the command had recorded successes in various operations against the insurgents in the state.

    “We have arrested a lot of high profiled Boko Haram insurgents, their food and fuel suppliers, we also intercepted some cow rustlers and recovered a spiritual Book which the insurgents used to hypnotise new recruits,” he said.

    According to him, the command has deployed personnel to some of the liberated areas and University of Maiduguri.

    Abdullahi added that the command had also resolved more than 15,000 cases under its dispute resolution exercise.

    The commandant listed lack of patrol vehicles and obsolete equipment as some of the challenges being faced by the command.

    He stressed the need to rehabilitate offices of the command vandalised by the Boko Haram insurgents in the 27 local government areas of the state.