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Tag: UK

  • Flights grounded as UK air traffic control systems suffer ‘technical issue’

    Flights grounded as UK air traffic control systems suffer ‘technical issue’

    Planes leaving and flying to the United Kingdom have been grounded following a “technical issue” with air traffic control systems.

    In a statement yesterday, National Air Traffic Services (NATS), the country’s air traffic controller, said its engineers were making efforts to identify the fault.

    “We are currently experiencing a technical issue and have applied traffic flow restrictions to maintain safety. Engineers are working to find and fix the fault,” the statement reads.

    “We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

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    The organisation did not provide any further information about what caused it or how long it would take to fix.

    Easy Jet, a British multinational low-cost airline, told its passengers that the issue is currently affecting all flights due to fly in or out of the UK.

    A message sent to travellers, reads: “We have been advised of an air traffic control issue currently affecting all flights due to fly into or out of United Kingdom airspace.”

    “We are working with the relevant authorities to understand the impact of this issue and the timescale for normal operations to resume.

    “If you are already onboard one of our places waiting to take off then our crew will keep you updated.

    “If you are in one of our airports waiting to board then please continue to check the flight information screens in the terminals.

    “Whilst this disruption is outside of our control we sincerely apologise for the disruption to your travel plans today.”

    Gabby Logan, a television presenter working with BBC, is among those affected by the shutdown, which has left her stranded on the runway at Budapest Airport.

    “After almost 3 weeks away from home I am hours from hugging my family. And have just been told UK airspace is shut. We could be here for 12 hours. So we sit on the plane and wait,” she wrote on X.

  • Adapting to native accents, accommodation are biggest challenges UK migrants face

    Adapting to native accents, accommodation are biggest challenges UK migrants face

    Chibuzor Ezekiel, UK-based pastor and humanitarian, speaks of his exploits, helping migrant Nigerians find their feet in the UK. He also offers some tips on skills UK-bound migrants should arm themselves with. He spoke with Gboyega Alaka.

    YOU are pastor of a church, but you are also into helping Nigerians in the Diaspora, especially the UK, to settle in quickly, what’s the connection?

    Yes, I  pastor one of the fastest growing churches in Manchester, Jesus Foundation Family International. However, I do not only help Nigerians, rather I extend support to skilled immigrants from across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean etc to settle and find expression in the United Kingdom. The connection is rooted in one word ‘Ministry,’ as I consider these gestures as a service to God and to humanity.

    Why did you choose this path? Was it born from a personal experience?

    This path, I believe is in alignment with my purpose and it started off as a genuine commitment to help people adjust to the day to day living in the UK. Immigrants to any part of the world are often faced with a long list of what they would consider problems because they have limited or no access to quality information; this I know from experience. In recent times, we have put systems in place that have benefited more than 1,000 families within a 14-year period; catering to a wide range of areas, including but not limited to accommodation, jobs, food, career ,investment etc.

    Do you do this as sheer passion for humanity or as a business concern? Tell us more about  it.

    Most of what we do is done through the Church, Jesus Foundation Family International, which is based in Salford, the United Kingdom. Like I said, not having the right information is at the center of I do. I had my fair share as a new migrant in the area of dealing with the various native accents while trying to communicate; dealing with extortion through over-priced rents; navigating through the cities and identifying opportunities on demand with likelihood of sponsorship.

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    More recently, more Nigerians are getting desperate to relocate abroad; I’m talking about the ‘Japa’ syndrome; do you think it is worth it? Who are the categories of people you would recommend migrating to the UK or any other country in Europe or America for?

    Relocation has to come with your personal convictions, dreams, what you want to achieve  or what God has told you, because it comes with its own challenges. We have several biblical examples of people that relocated; God told Abraham to leave his family…, Joseph, Jacob even Isaac relocated. But if you don’t have the relevant skills or have not developed your capacity as an individual, you may struggle abroad. Skilled healthcare professionals, that is Medical Doctors, Nurses, Veterinarians, Pharmacists with the required certification and training have amazing opportunities in the UK; likewise skilled musicians, automobile mechanics; just to mention but a few.  At gov.uk one can see a list of occupation shortages in the UK and position to fill these gaps with the required capabilities.

    Having the ability to learn quickly and with something to exchange for value gives one an edge.

    Many still travel by irregular means; such as going through the desert and co; what is your advice to them?

     It is one of the most unsafe and illegitimate ways to immigrate because one really goes through unpleasant extremes. Even if one eventually  makes it through, one must have an appropriate reason to claim asylum. Otherwise one risks extradition or at best being an illegal immigrant, who is not able to settle in, let alone work. One even risks being caught and imprisoned. So going through all these irregular means is not advisable at all.

    What are the major challenges Nigerians relocating abroad face; and how do you go about helping them get past or round them?

    Chief amongst the most prevalent chal lenges aside the culture shocks, is accommodation. It takes relatively up to 12months of stay in the UK for Immigrants from Africa, most especially to adjust to the reality of monthly rental payments ,alongside the attendant utility bills.

    Navigating between one’s ideal and the available job opportunities is another major challenge.

    Not having the required job experience in the UK could be a barrier of entry into one’s most desired job. One would have to make do with what one can find, whether or not it is in one’s area of interest and work one’s way up; gaining the most needed UK experience which will come handy in applying to one’s most desired job.

    As we speak, the governments back in Africa seem to be at a loss as to how to stem this migration trend; what useful advice would you offer in this area?

    Government needs to provide employment for people, because once people are done with university and can’t get a job, they will want to  move so as to be able to survive. Ensure people are well paid for their job roles, well secured; also an enabling environment, infrastructures like good medical facilities, good schools, and insurance that covers almost everything  should be emulated from  western world.

    Your bio describes you as a career mentor and transformational leader; let’s talk about those. What are your exploits in these areas?

    Yes I am a career mentor, I have a professional MBA, two Master’s degrees;  I like to encourage people to put their skills to use in their career. We as Christians should be able to influence people in their career space. I mentor people; if you have a business idea or want to do marketing or finance we advise on the relevant skills and certificates needed to acquire and point you to the organisation you need to work for. I’m a transformational leader because I believe in leadership by example. I run a multi versatile company in UK which is meant to empower people to fulfill their dreams.

  • Saving millions with data: Inside the UK Ministry of Defence’s intelligence revolution

    Saving millions with data: Inside the UK Ministry of Defence’s intelligence revolution

    United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace’s Integrated Review, which restructured the Armed Forces to adapt to modern threats, is playing a pivotal role in strengthening the Ministry of Defence.

    Under Wallace, the government is also saving millions through a nondescript government building far from the battlefield. It has been likened to a new kind of warfare, not fought with tanks or missiles, but with data, dashboards, and algorithms.

    At the heart of the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) sprawling infrastructure, a quiet revolution is unfolding. Far from frontlines and fighter jets, teams of data scientists, analysts, and engineers are redefining how Britain defends its interests, one code string, one insight, and one saved pound at a time.

    This is not the warfare of the past. It is a new model for national defence where information, not just ammunition, is the currency of power.

    Until recently, many of the MOD’s processes resembled those of a traditional bureaucracy: siloed teams, disconnected databases, and sluggish reporting cycles that sometimes took days to complete.

    “We were flying blind in a lot of areas,” says a senior official from Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the agency responsible for military procurement and logistics. “Reporting could take up to 72 hours. By the time the information was available, the problem had already evolved or worsened.”

    The turning point came with the recognition that the MOD wasn’t just a defence institution. It was also one of the largest data ecosystems in government handling everything from supply chains and personnel to equipment failures and battlefield intelligence. But none of that data was being used to its full potential.

    Enter a new generation of data professionals. The team’s mission: to break down silos, automate analytics, and build tools that could help the MOD not just understand the present, but anticipate the future.

    The shift began with real-time dashboards built using Power BI and predictive analytics models coded in Python and R. These tools replaced static spreadsheets with dynamic visualisations and alert systems capable of flagging potential issues in minutes rather than days.

    “Think of it like air traffic control for defence logistics,” a source explains. “When something starts to go wrong, the system highlights it fast so decision-makers can act immediately rather than after the fact.”

    At the centre of this change is a team led by Nigerian-born Maureen Odum, a data and business intelligence professional with a background in data science, economics and mathematics. Working with Python, R, Power BI, and SQL, these analysts have developed tools that spot problems before they escalate. One standout example came when the team’s predictive tools identified an anomaly in a radar component that appeared to be failing at an unusual rate. Left unchecked, it could have grounded a key fleet. Instead, the alert was raised, parts were replaced preemptively, and over £4 million in potential damage and downtime was avoided.

    Across the organisation, the results have been dramatic: Reporting time has dropped from 72 hours to under 15 minutes; critical failures in equipment have fallen by 65 perfect; SQL-driven audits uncovered 12 perfect of redundant assets, leading to a major cleanup of outdated inventory; and supply chain vulnerabilities have been cut by nearly 40 perfect, strengthening resilience in procurement and logistics. Overall, the transformation has saved the MOD more than £20 million, a figure that continues to grow.

    These aren’t just back-office improvements. In military terms, better logistics and early warnings can mean the difference between mission success and failure or between safety and risk for service personnel.

    While technology was a critical enabler, insiders say the most profound change has been cultural.

    “This wasn’t just a software upgrade,” says an MOD digital strategist. “It was a shift in how we think. We’ve moved from a reactive posture to a proactive one from managing problems to preventing them.”

    That culture change has extended to training and ethics. The MOD is actively upskilling staff across its divisions to become data-literate decision-makers. Thousands of personnel have now received instruction in basic analytics, AI literacy, and data governance.

    At the same time, the MOD is keen to ensure its use of artificial intelligence aligns with national values and international law. The UK’s Defence Artificial Intelligence Strategy, released in recent years, outlines a framework where AI is used to augment human decision-making, not replace it.

    “Transparency, accountability, and legality are non-negotiable,” the strategy declares. “AI in defence must be ethical by design.”

    That means embedding safeguards around bias, privacy, and security particularly when dealing with sensitive data or life-and-death decisions. The MOD’s commitment to compliance with GDPR and broader data ethics standards has become a cornerstone of the transformation effort.

    The MOD’s ambitions also stretch beyond its borders.Through NATO and bilateral partnerships, the UK is sharing knowledge and technology with allies contributing to a broader effort to modernize defence infrastructure across Europe and North America.

    “Interoperability is key,” says a senior adviser from the Joint Forces Command. “It’s not enough to be data-savvy within your own military. We need to ensure our systems can talk to each other, learn from each other, and respond together in real time.”

    The MOD is also working closely with British universities and private sector firms to stay on the cutting edge of AI and analytics research. The cross-sector collaboration has yielded new tools, talent pipelines, and joint development initiatives that fuse academic innovation with defence rigour.

    For the MoD, the work is far from over. New threats from cyberattacks to disinformation continue to emerge. But so do new opportunities.

    “Every byte of data is a chance to understand more, to anticipate better, and to protect faster,” a source says. “We’re just beginning to see what’s possible.”

    The MOD’s transformation offers a powerful case study in what happens when an institution steeped in tradition embraces the logic of the digital age. In doing so, it has redefined what strength looks like, not in firepower, but in foresight.

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    Today, real-time dashboards, predictive models, and AI-powered alerts have replaced outdated systems and slow reporting cycles. Labour costs are down by £3.6 million a year, and reporting that once took three days is now done in 12 minutes.

    The use of dashboards has enabled smarter, faster decisions and avoiding over £20 million in unnecessary costs.

    But the MOD’s ambitions go further. These changes are part of a broader vision outlined in the UK’s Defence Artificial Intelligence Strategy. The goal: to position AI not just as a tactical advantage but as a strategic cornerstone of future defence.

    That vision includes more than code. It demands a new mindset, one that puts ethics, accountability, and transparency at the forefront. AI systems must support human judgment, not replace it. Compliance with GDPR and alignment with legal frameworks are non-negotiable.

    There is also a growing emphasis on collaboration. The MOD is working with industry partners, universities, and international allies, particularly within NATO, to build a defence ecosystem where intelligence and agility go hand in hand.

  • My tailoring exploits in UK, Ghana, Sierra Leone

    Chief Fatai Layiwola Olumegbon, MON, popularly known as Lai Tailor, pioneered indigenous industrial tailoring and garment manufacturing in Nigeria. He started as a street tailor on Lagos Island and rose to become a tailor for the high and mighty. He was once the tailor that sewed the uniforms worn by the Nigerian Army and had many political elites on his long list of clients. Olumegbon, who recently turned 90, spoke with OKORIE UGURU about his life, career and the industry that turned him into a celebrity.

    How you do feel at 90?               

    Well, I don’t feel like I felt when I was 20, 30, 40 or 50. But other than that, I feel very well.

    Are there dos and don’ts you observe in order to live long?

    Normally I used to drink, but not too much. Anywhere I went, I took a little. But that was a long time ago. When I realised that drink is not good for me and my religion, I stopped it.

    Is that your secret for long life?

    Not just drinking, the most important in life, from my experience, is to be closer to God. When you are closer to God, you get closer to your heart and your heart talks to you. If you are doing well, or anything you want to embark upon, whether you like it or not, it comes from the mind. And anything you want to lay hands on, you have to put it across to God. Ask God for assistance.

    The brand Lai was for many years synonymous with tailoring in Nigeria, particularly when it comes to industrial tailoring. Was moving from a single shop tailor to an industrial one a target you set for yourself from the beginning?

    Actually you are asking me about my beginning or the beginning of my profession.

    Yes.

    Well, I was going to school. I went to a Catholic school. I had everything and I was looked after from both sides of my family. But suddenly, I stopped my education.

    Why?

    I don’t know why. I didn’t know why. When I stopped it, they (family) were having meetings on my case. It took months before they allowed me to go for tailoring. The reason being that my paternal grandmother in Kakawa compound (in Lagos) had deposited so much money for my education, including a house. They wanted me to be a doctor, because at that time, people recognised doctors, lawyers and engineers. So, I don’t know why I just stopped going to school. But they asked one of our servants in the house and she told them I said I wanted to learn tailoring.

    Then, there was a young man that used to come to our house. He was usually impeccably dressed. His name was Iroko. He came from Badagry area. I saw the way he dressed when he would come to see my sister. I always admired him. They were two, but I didn’t admire the other one that wore ties. The one I admired was a very physical man. He came in white short and shirt all the time. It was later on that I realised what I was doing.

    They took me to one of our family members, Oni, on Akin Ajisomo Street, and that was where I stayed. It was God that put the career in my mind. That is why I cannot forget what God has done for me in life. When they (family members) decided to allow me to go and learn tailoring after one month, I started having money in pocket from mending clothes.

    Were you happy with what you were doing?

    Oh yes. I was to spend three years as a trainee, but I ended up spending seven years. My boss was John Ade Taiwo.

    Why did you have to spend seven years instead of three?

    No, I knew the job within three years, but I was managing the whole place for my boss. He felt comfortable with me being there. So, my boss was not even coming to work. I was the one to take clothes from customers, sew, collect money and go to my boss to deliver it.

    You were probably thinking of being a single shop tailor when you set out. How did the vision change to become so big?

    I became known as Lai the Tailor in 1946. I became very well known in the whole of Lagos Island. I was sewing clothes for justices, politicians, lawyers, and other big people at that time.

    You were the like the biggest fish around at that time. Why did you decide to travel out of the country?

    That is why I say God is the best in everybody’s life. If you are close to God, you get direction. At that time I decided to go abroad, I was planning it at all.

    What were you thinking about?

    I thought I was alright in the market. That was when one of my friends, who is very well known, even abroad, his name is Omooba (Prince) Subomi Balogun (the founder of First City Monument Bank), he has a lot of stories in my life.

    How?

    The first was when he came with many others from Ijebu Ode; children from well-known Ijebu Ode families; they came to me whenever there was a holiday or a festival, to sew their clothes. But on this particular occasion, they were all coming to me to make two, three or four pieces of suits. I asked them, ‘Why do you want to have two three or four suits?’ It was Subomi who told me why when I called and asked him why they were all sewing so many suits. He said that their families were sending them abroad for further education. Then I said to myself, if all my customers, they were more than 20 going abroad, by the time they would come back, they might not want to patronise me again. I therefore decided to also try and go abroad and learn more.

    I asked somebody how I could get myself to London. I had no knowledge. Then, one of my best customers was the late popular musician, Bobby Benson. I was designing all Bobby Benson’s clothes and he was very popular.

    Even at the height of his music career?

    Yes. So, I told him that with your fame, you know so many people, how could you secure a visa for me? I told him that I would love to travel out of the country. Bobby said, ‘Ah, you want to travel? To where?’ I said to the United Kingdom or the United States of America. He said he could not help me. I asked him why and he said, ‘You are the one sewing all my clothes. I will help you only if you agree to make 12 pieces of suits for me.’

    I said okay, I will do it. After I finished making the suits, he took me to one of the embassies at Herbert Macauley. So, they helped me to get Authority to Pass (lesse passé). The idea was that I would use the lesse passe to board the ship here as a stowaway. They would hide me in the engine room until we got to the middle of the sea and I could then come out. I said okay and started preparing for it.

    After that, I got my passport. Then another friend came. His name was Mikano. I told him that I was winding down my business, and he asked why. I told him I was travelling abroad. He asked how and I told him the secret; that I wanted to stow away. He said, ‘Ah, Lai, you want to do that and you didn’t tell me?’ He asked me to give him only one day and he would come back to me. He came back to me the second day and told me he knew somebody who could get me a visa, but I would have to go to Ghana.

    From here, I took a plane; they just started operation then, and I flew to Ghana. He was able to get me the visa. I worked there until everything was perfected. I had customers in Ghana. Then I used to have customers from all over the West Coast. So, knowing that I was in Ghana, they came.

    So, why did you decide to take this kind of risk, trading the known for the unknown?

    You know I started this interview by calling God. There is nothing you can do without God’s direction. If something is worrying you and then you talk to God, God will guide you on how to get out of that problem. So, it was God’s direction, because even after I left Ghana, I travelled to Freetown, Sierra Leone. They invited me to Sierra Leone. I was there working. I opened a shop there and I was sewing for the top personalities there, including ministers.

    Your family members were not worried?

    I had left my family and didn’t think so much about them. I just took the risk because I wanted to make progress in my life and in my business. I knew that if I became successful, my family would also become successful. I just kept thanking God for every situation, because as at the time I left, I had four children with a wife. I promised my wife that I would be away for two years, but I ended up spending seven years. This was because I didn’t pass through any formal tailoring and garment school here in Nigeria.

    There in the United Kingdom, I finished my tailoring course at the Tailors Academy and then went for a holiday job. Where they took me, Elen Clothiers, at Old Street, London, they gave me a job as a machinist. But as I was doing the machinist job, it just occurred to me that if I could get the knowledge to establish something like this in Lagos, I would be on top of the business since not many then had the opportunity to get the kind of exposure that I was getting. So, I approached a technical college that was off Oxford Street then. When I got there, the college said they could not take me unless I had three subjects: English Language, Mathematics and Anatomy.

    Anatomy? When you are not studying medicine?

    Yes, if some people see me do certain things while sewing, they think maybe I’m using juju. It is the study. You go through everything. So, I had to enrol myself into another college, Pitman’s College at Osborne Street. It was a private school for those who could afford it. They take one-on-one tuition. I was able to go through that within a year.

    How were you able to finance the tuition in the school?

    I had to work. I went to work in the day, came back and went to school. I was attending school for three or four days in a week.

    When you came back, did this knowledge give you the edge you anticipated?

    Of course, it did.

    What was the level of tailoring in Nigeria when you left and when you came back?

    You know there were some things that happened. I had to join the association of tailors in the United Kingdom. Our boss then was one Mr. Botha. Whenever we wanted a job, we would consult our association, and they would send us out to whoever wanted our services. So, on this particular day, they sent me to a company on 11 Savon Road, W1, just behind Oxford Street. The area the company was located was where you find the leading tailors in the United Kingdom. They sewed for American shipping magnates, politicians, presidents and so on.

    So, they called me to go there for an interview. They asked me to come to the fitting room. They came and interviewed me and realised that I was good for them. But their problem was my colour as an African. So, the man who was interviewing me left to go and consult with his superiors. While there, customers came and he forgot about me at the fitting room. They closed and locked up the place, and I was still sitting. But when I saw that the light was being switched off, I shouted and drew their attention. The cleaner then had to call the police. The head of the place also came and he apologised.

    Did they give you the job?

    No, they didn’t complete the interview. So, when I left, about a week or two after that, they wrote to me to apologise again and asked me to come. This time, they didn’t interview me at the fitting room. They took me to the top floor where their more experienced workers were. Those workers, when they saw me work, they advised their management not to lose me, that I was an asset. I was there until it was time to come back home. Before coming back, I had started sewing for top Nigerians in the United Kingdom.

    I said I didn’t want to come home and stay without a job. I decided that I would come and get a job that I would be doing until I established my own place. I brought two machines and everything that I would need. I didn’t come with cash, but I came with a lot of materials.

    So, the money you were making, you were also investing them in equipment?

    Yes. I bought the equipment and sent them home. Finding job was also difficult because the place they asked me to work when I was given my first letter of employment was Apapa, but Apapa was not ready while Ibadan was ready. They asked me to go to Ibadan and I didn’t know anybody there. I had never travelled to Ibadan. I was waiting for the place in Ibadan to be ready when one day, the personnel manager called. He told me, ‘Lai, we have found out about you that you were the best before you travelled and now you are even more qualified. So, why are you waiting for our job? You see, we know that most of the tailors who studied abroad established their business along Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. Why can’t you go there and find a place and establish your business? We are sure it will be better than anything we would offer you.’

    Prince Adekunle Ojora was with the company at that time. I went to Herbert Macaulay Way. The first place I got was where I met the Vanguard publisher, Mr. Sam Amuka. He was a tenant in that property.

    Who gave you the name Lai the Tailor?

    It was given by my late friend, Mr. Wilki. He was a sign writer and he had a shop also at Herbert Macaulay.

    How did you start sewing for the Nigerian Army?

    It was Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle who found me. When the Biafran Army got to Ore, Ondo State, the top officers of the army had a meeting. After the meeting, at around 5 pm, Adekunle drove to my shop to collect his safari. When he asked of me, he was told I was not around, that I had gone to the factory. He said, ‘Eh! He has a factory? Take me there.’ They drove to the factory. My factory was at Sabo, Yaba. It was given to me by the Lagos State agency in charge of SMEs. I had one unit. But when I started having jobs from the army, it increased from one to four units. At four, they couldn’t give me any more. I had to go and build my factory at Ilupeju.

    So people would ask, what do I need to do to be 90 years, what would you say?

    First you have to know the direction of God for your life. For that, you need to be closer to God.

  • Nigeria, UK explore naira-denominated instruments

    Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK) have agreed to fast-track key regulation to deepen the insurance market, expand the digital economy and explore naira-denominated financial instruments in collaboration with the City of London. Both countries are also to endeavour to accelerate progress on franchise regulation to facilitate British brands positioning and investments that deliver sustainable new jobs in Nigeria.

    These are part of the communique signed at the First Economic Development Forum (EDF) of both countries in Abuja by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who led the UK delegation.

    The Forum was launched in August 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari and Prime Minister Theresa May as a platform to foster economic and development ties between Nigeria and the UK.  The event was to take stock of progress against the joint commitments made and celebrate the successes achieved so far.

  • President off to UK on 10-day private visit

    President Muhammadu Buhari left last night for the United Kingdom (UK) last night for a 10 day private visit.

    The President took off from was in Maiduguri, after a day working visit to Borno State, where he inaugurated a number of projects executed by the Governor Kashim Shettima administration.

    In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity aide, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President is expected back in the country on 5th May, 2019.

    The statement reads: “Further to the official visit by President Muhammadu Buhari to Lagos Wednesday where he commissioned a number of projects executed by the State Government, the President is scheduled to depart for Maiduguri, the Borno State capital for another official visit Thursday.

    Read also: NLC to Buhari: overhaul security architecture

    “He is expected to commission developmental projects especially in the sectors of education, healthcare and roads.

    “At the end of the visit, President Buhari will be proceeding to the United Kingdom on a private visit. He is expected to return to Nigeria on May 5, 2019.”

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presided over the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting which held yesterday.

    The weekly meeting was shifted because of the Easter break.

  • UK seeks partnership with Nigerian lawyers

    Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK) legal sectors are exploring closer working relationships to facilitate trade and investments between the UK and Nigeria.

    A  UK legal services trade mission visited Nigeria to discuss possible collaborations and business opportunities post-Brexit.

    The mission, organised by UK Ministry of Justice, the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, the UK Department of International Trade and Hook Tangaza (a research and consulting firm for the UK legal services sector), involved a 25-man delegation.

    It engaged members of the Nigerian legal community for three days in Lagos.

    A member of the trade mission organising team, Nankunda Katangaza, described the visit to Lagos as an exciting one for the UK legal services sector.

    She said: “The three-day programme presents an excellent opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and forge new ones.”

    The organisers further expressed hope that the mission would deepen the collaborative relationships between the UK and Nigeria legal sectors, with prospects of future businesses and new partnerships.

    It would be recalled that on a visit to Nigeria in 2018, the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May launched the ‘UK Legal Services are GREAT’ campaign. The current mission is a fallout of the prime minister’s visit.

    Welcoming the delegates to Nigeria, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Paul Usoro (SAN), who spoke at the joint seminar organised by the NBA Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) and UK Legal Services, in Lagos, stated that it was important for the partnership between Nigeria and UK legal firms to be a win-win deal.

    In his opening remarks, NBA-SBL Chairman Seni Adio (SAN) said the collaboration and a possible assent to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement would bring lots of opportunities to African lawyers and by extension, infrastructural development.

    The event, which consisted of four panel sessions, had an array of discussants who touched on legal and economic issues.

    A member of the first panel, Jeremy Cape of Squire Patton Boggs, said the collaboration between UK and Nigerian law firms will bring loads of opportunities for domestic firms, with objectivity and equality at the fore of every deal.

    Buttressing this fact, Aelex partner, Soji Awogbade stated that the regional integration was already working.

    “What the government needs to do, is to put a cloak around it for it to be strengthened,” he said.

    A panelist and member of the UK trade delegation, Oba Nsugbe (Q.C., SAN), who is a Nigerian lawyer based in the UK, made a case for knowledge exchange between Nigeria and the UK – a development which he says, would benefit young lawyers from both jurisdictions.

    The event featured several panel discussions. Among the speakers were Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) President Abimbola Ogunbanj, Yinka Edu, Partner, Udo, Udoma & Belo-Osagie (UUBO), Oliver Mellman, of PJ Legal Europe Limited, Matthew Woods, Partner, Ashurst LLP, and Dr. Tominiyi Owolabi, partner, Olaniwun Ajayi LP.

    According to Edu, Fintech was a huge industry, which has gained traction and attracted huge investments; adding that Crowd funding was an aspect of financing yet untapped and which must be adequately explored.

    In addition to this, Woods spoke overcoming financing challenges, stating that Nigeria has a lot to gain if BREXIT falls through.

    Mellman enlightened participants on the Financing of Commodities.

    Highlighting current trends globally, he observed that there was increased focus on renewable lending, lender bias towards established names, and lender bias towards deals involving international trading firms.

    Buttressing Woods’ position, he reaffirmed that BREXIT would enable UK firms seek partnerships elsewhere especially in Africa, and also create opportunities for African businesses.

    Also speaking on the same panel, Dr. Tominiyi Owolabi, noted that infrastructural development would require a lot of funding in Nigeria and should be at least 70 per cent of the GDP. He added that $30 trillion has been estimated to get infrastructure working perfectly with $30 billion spent annually on it.

    He gave reasons as to why investments a   weren’t coming into Nigeria. According to him, investors aren’t just looking for opportunities but bankable opportunities because they need to make money; ease of doing business in Nigeria should also be critically looked into as taking security is still a challenge here; government support and credit enhancement, stressing that the government is still reluctant in this area and lawyers have to enlighten them on the many benefits it has.

    He said: “We need to support capacity building in the country and provide support to agencies to create bankable deals.”

  • US, UK, China, Turkey congratulate Buhari on reelection

    THE United States Government as well as the leaders of the United Kingdom (UK) China and Turkey have congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria on the success of the presidential election that granted Buhari a second term.

    A statement issued by the President Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday congratulated President Buhari on his decisive win in the February 23 presidential election.

    In his congratulatory message, President Xi said: ‘‘On the occasion of your re-election as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I would like to, on behalf of the government and people of China and in my own name, extend to Your Excellency warmest congratulations and best wishes. I wish you continued success in fulfilling the lofty mission.’’ President Xi said through joints efforts with President Buhari, Nigeria and China in recent years have significantly enhanced political mutual trust and secured fruitful outcomes in practical cooperation, which have delivered tangible benefits to both countries. ‘‘

    I highly value China’s relations with Nigeria and stand ready to join hands with you to follow through on the outcome of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and take the China-Nigeria strategic partnership to a new height, to the greater benefits of the two countries and two peoples,’’ President Xi said. In a statement made available to The Nation and titled ‘Nigerian Election  Results,’  the US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, praised “Nigerians who participated peacefully in the election.”

    The US also condemned “those whose acts of violence harmed Nigerians and the electoral process.” The statement added: “We note the assessments of international and domestic observer missions affirming the overall credibility of the election despite localised violence and irregularities.

    “We also congratulate all the other candidates for their peaceful participation in the electoral process. We call on all Nigerians to ensure successful state elections next week. “Going forward, the United States remains committed to working together with Nigeria to achieve greater peace and prosperity for both our nations. President Buhari also received separate telephone calls from UK Prime Minister Theresa May and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, congratulating him on his re-election and wishing the Nigerian people progress and prosperity. President Buhari, according to a statement issued by Adesina, thanked the two leaders for their unflinching support to Nigeria and her people.

  • APC chieftain to U.S., UK, EU: solve your own problems first before helping us

    AN All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Yekini Nabena has asked the United States (U.S.) to concentrate on probing the alleged involvement of Russia in its 2016 presidential election instead of trying to dictate to Nigeria how to conduct its general election.

    Nabena also asked the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) to find ways of addressing the breakdown of the Brexit deal between them and many other serious challenges facing them.

    In a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja, Nabena reminded the western nations that they have enough already on their hands and therefore, their time and energy should be spent on the probe of alleged Russian interference in the immediate-past U.S. elections.

    He said: “In all elections conducted in the country, we have always welcomed local and foreign monitors and observers. In our view, this is a best practice and geared to ensure the transparency of our elections.

    “But comments on our election processes coming from some western diplomats and accredited foreign observer missions have been downright meddlesome and tantamount to interference.

    “Nigeria is a sovereign nation and such actions by these western countries negate the principles of international law, which outlaws interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign nation by another country.

    “While the electioneering process might not be perfect as seen with the last-minute postponement of the general elections, we must all work together to make it better. Statements and actions by these western diplomats and accredited foreign observer missions that erode confidence in the elections are inexcusable and strongly condemned. As a country, we will always find local solutions to our local challenges whenever they arise.

    “The U.S., UK and EU have enough already on their hands. Their time and energy should be spent on the probe of alleged Russian interference in the immediate-past U.S. elections, the breakdown of the Brexit deal between the UK and EU and many other serious challenges they face.”

    He, however, condemned the last-minute postponement of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He urged the INEC to correct the lapses, which led to the postponement to ensure hitch-free rescheduled elections on Saturday.

  • UK, US-backed monitor YIAGA to deploy 3,906 observers

    The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa will deploy 3,906 observers on Saturday to observe the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    It said it would have mobile and stationary observers in the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and state collation centres.

    YIAGA has as its technical partners the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the US-based National Democratic Institute.

    YIAGA Africa, in a briefing, said it would conduct parallel vote tabulation (PVT) – the gold standard observation methodology which it said has been utilised throughout Africa and the world.

    Its Communication Officer Moshood Isah said: “This deployment will enable YIAGA Africa to provide the most timely and accurate information on the opening of polls; the conduct of accreditation and voting; and the counting, announcement and posting of results throughout the country.

    “Based on reports from its observers in 1,515 sampled polling units, YIAGA Africa will also provide an independent projection of voter turnout and will be able to project the vote shares that each party should receive within a narrow range.

    “If the official results fall within YIAGA Africa’s estimated ranges, then the public, political parties and candidates should have confidence in the ballots cast at the polling units. Only INEC, however, has the legal mandate to announce the election results.”

    YIAGA Africa Watching the Vote Chair Dr. Hussaini Abdu explain added: “YIAGA Africa’s observers, who have all been carefully selected and extensively trained in accordance with strict criteria to ensure their independence and neutrality, are properly accredited with INEC and have signed a project Code of Conduct to uphold standards of impartiality, objectivity and professionalism.

    “YIAGA Africa observes on behalf of all Nigerian people and speaks in their name on the basis of verified data.”

    The group will share a mid-day situational statement on the opening of polls, a preliminary statement on the conduct of the 16 February election process and will hold a final press conference to share its statement on the accuracy of the election results announced by INEC.

    “YIAGA Africa PVT findings are from a statistical sample of polling units located in all 774 LGAs that is truly representative of the entire country and therefore provide unbiased information on the overall conduct of the presidential election and the accuracy of the results.

    “YIAGA AFRICA is a strictly nonpartisan and independent civil society organisation without affiliation to any political party, candidate or state agency.