The Nation Newspaper

Tag: UK

  • Atiku reports Buhari to US, UK, EU, France, Germany

    FORMER Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar took his case beyond the shores of the land yesterday. He reported President Muhammadu Buhari to word powers.

    The presidential contender cited what he classified as alleged constitutional breaches against incumbent President and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

    He chronicled the alleged breaches in a letter he personally signed and addressed to the ambassadors of the United States (U.S., France, Germany, the European Union (EU) and the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom (UK).

    Atiku accused President Buhari of serially breaching the provisions of the Constitution and undermining organs and institutions of state to advance his personal interest.

    The Presidency had counselled the international community against meddling in what are purely internal affairs of Nigeria.

    Only yesterday, APC National Chairman Adams Oshiohmole reminded the UK, U.S. and the EU Election Observer Missions (EOM) that Nigeria is not a colony.

    Atiku’s letter reads in part: “I am writing you as Nigeria’s international development partner working together to deepen and strengthen our democracy as well as to help in the transformation of our economies and societies for the better.

    “As a presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections that will be conducted and supervised by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, I feel the urgent need to share with you some of these key violations of the provisions of our constitution and to demand that you pile pressure on the Federal Government to desist from these violations and ensure a level-playing field for the general elections that are only a couple of weeks away.”

    He appreciated the stand adopted by some members of the international community on Nigeria, urging the envoys to speak against the alleged breaches.

    According to Atiku, some of the constitutional breaches allegedly committed by the President, was the recent suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen and his replacement by Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.

    He said: “For the records, Justice Walter Onnoghen is the head of one of the tripartite but mutually independent organs that form the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “To attempt to muscle out the Chief Justice of Nigeria using phony charges at a time when His Lordship was primed to play a central role in the fast approaching nationwide electoral process represents the boldest steps in the march to undermine our democracy.

    “This is undoubtedly an anti-democratic act which my political party and I reject without reservation and for which I urge Your Excellency to condemn unequivocally.”

    The PDP presidential candidate expressed the fears that the alleged unlawful suspension of the CJN might affect the outcome of the 2019 presidential election.

    He also accused President Buhari of illegal purchase of Tucano Aircraft for the Nigerian military.

    The presidential candidate said the aircraft, valued at $496 million, were bought without seeking prior approval of the National Assembly contrary to Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    But the National Assembly approved the $1 billion requested for the President to buy weapons for the military, especially the troops fighting Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast.

    He also accused the President of disregarding court orders on former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki and leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

    He stated: “The enactment of the controversial Executive Order No. 006 as an executive legislation which permits security agencies to freeze the assets of persons standing trial or undergoing investigation without recourse to court orders.

    “This is a usurpation of legislative and judicial powers of the National Assembly and the judiciary as enshrined respectively under Sections 4 and 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and reminiscent of the military era of decrees.

    “The above, and many more that did not make it into this very short letter, are the unfortunate actions of the government of a man who merely pays lip service to being a reformed democrat.”

    He urged the international community to stand by the country. “I urge you to partner with Nigerians to defend our constitution and play an active role in building our country,” Atiku said.

     

  • FG backs US, UK’s planned sanctions against election riggers

    The Federal Government yesterday expressed support for the United States and the United Kingdom in demanding credible and peaceful elections

    in Nigeria and threatening punitive measures against election riggers and perpetrators of electoral violence.

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said  in Ilorin that government was particularly  delighted that the statements came after it alerted Nigerians  to the machinations of some opposition elements “ working to scuttle the 2019 polls through widespread violence.”

    The alleged plan, Mohammed said, was  to “scuttle the election and then push for an interim government, having realized they can’t win a free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.”

    He added: “The fact that those statements came after we issued our red alert, which is based on credible intelligence, shows that the international community is closely monitoring events ahead of the election. We urge them to keep a close tab on the desperate opposition, whose language, actions and undisguised threats are antithetical to the conduct of peaceful polls.’’

    Read also: APC to Ndigbo: Atiku has nothing, but deceit to offer you

    Alhaji Mohammed said Nigerians and the international community should take seriously the assurance of a credible and violence-free election that has been consistently given by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said the APC-led administration was confident of the victory in the forthcoming elections, adding that a party that was not so desperate as to rig election while in opposition had no business rigging election or perpetrating violence now that it is in power and is enjoying massive support from the citizenry.

    The minister asked the international community to keep a close eye on those who are spending more time on a dubious strategy of scuttling the polls than campaigning to win in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful election.

    ‘’As their campaign flounders and their strategies collapse, they have resorted to seeking power by subterfuge. That’s why they are doing everything possible to discredit an election that has yet to be held by unleashing their attack dogs on the INEC, the police and the entire electoral process.

    ‘’On our part, we have confidence in the electoral process and the institutions saddled with organizing and securing the election. That’s why we have been busy campaigning vigorously across the country, attracting unprecedented, organic crowds everywhere we go,” he said.

  • FG hails UK, US for demanding credible polls

    The Federal Government ( FG ) has described the demand by the United States of America (USA) and United Kingdom (UK) for credible and peaceful elections in the country as a welcome development.

    It also applauded the duo’s threat of punitive measures against election riggers and perpetrators of electoral violence in during the polls.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, in a statement, said the Federal Government is particular delighted the statements came after it alerted the nation to machinations of some opposition elements who are working to scuttle the 2019 polls through widespread violence.

    ”A few days ago, we alerted the nation to the plot by the opposition to orchestrate widespread violence in the country, using insurgents and criminal elements within and outside the country.

    “Their plan is to scuttle the election and then push for an interim government, having realised they can’t win free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.

    ”The fact that those statements came after we issued our red alert, which is based on credible intelligence, shows the international community is closely monitoring events ahead of the election.

    “We urge them to keep a close tab on the desperate opposition, whose language, actions and undisguised threats are antithetical to the conduct of peaceful polls,” he said.

    Mohammed said Nigerians and the international community should take seriously the assurance of a credible and violence-free election that has been consistently given by President Muhammadu Buhari, who he described as a tried-and-tested democrat and a globally-acclaimed man of integrity.

    Read Also: Thugs attack refugee commissioner, officials in Sokoto

    He said the APC-led administration is very confident of victory in the forthcoming elections, adding a party that was not so desperate as to rig election while in opposition had no business rigging election or perpetrating violence now that it is in power and enjoying massive support from the citizenry.

    The Minister called on the international community to keep a close eye on those, he alleged, are spending more time on a dubious strategy of scuttling the polls than campaigning to win in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful election.

    ”As their campaign flounders and their strategies collapse, they have resorted to seeking power by subterfuge.

    “That’s why they are doing everything possible to discredit an election that has yet to be held by unleashing their attack dogs on INEC, the police and the entire electoral process.

    ”On our part, we have confidence in the electoral process and the institutions saddled with organizing and securing the election. That’s why we have been busy campaigning vigorously across the country, attracting unprecedented, organic crowds everywhere we go.”

  • Visa denial, other measures await perpetrators of polls violence, say UK, U.S.

    THE United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US) have announced repercussion for any individual, who interfere or responsible for violence in the forthcoming general polls in Nigeria.

    Both countries warned that any form of interference could lead to visa ban for culprits and their relatives.

    Besides, the UK said such people may be stopped from accessing UK-based funds or be prosecuted under the international law.

    The two countries, which  are Nigeria’s critical partners, also noted that the conduct of the upcoming elections in Nigeria is important not only for Nigeria, but for the African continent.

    Their positions were contained in separate statements issued yesterday in Abuja.

    In its statement, the UK reaffirmed its support for free, fair and peaceful election in Nigeria.

    The statements reads: “Twenty-three days to the presidential and National Assembly elections and 37 days to the gubernatorial and state assembly elections, the British High Commission in Abuja would like to reaffirm our strong support for free, fair and peaceful elections in Nigeria.

    “We and our international partners remain committed supporters of Nigeria’s democracy.  We do not support any party or individual and believe that the Nigerian people should be able to choose their leaders in an environment free from hate speech and insecurity.

    “We continue to provide significant support to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and to Nigerian civil society to help them deliver credible elections.

    “We also regularly engage with actors across the political spectrum to encourage them to respect electoral rules and maintain an atmosphere of peace and calm.  We will be deploying an extensive observation mission for the forthcoming elections, including coordinating with the EU’s Election Observation Mission.

    “Our monitors will in particular be looking out for any attempts to encourage or use violence to influence the elections, including on social media. We would like to remind all Nigerians that where the UK is aware of such attempts, this may have consequences for individuals.

    “These could include their eligibility to travel to the UK, their ability to access UK based funds or lead to prosecution under international law.

    Read also: Keyamo: why Nigerians must vote for Buhari

    “The UK is a friend and partner of Nigeria.  We hope our continued support will play a role in helping Nigeria take a further step towards consolidating the progress made since democracy returned in 1999.”

    The U.S. also stated that its support in the forthcoming elections is not for any candidate or party but for Nigeria democratic process.

    “The United States government does not support any specific candidate or party in Nigeria’s upcoming elections.  The U.S. supports the Nigerian democratic process itself.  We support a genuinely free, fair, transparent and peaceful electoral process.

    “We and other democratic nations will be paying close attention to actions of individuals, who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence against the civilian population before, during, or after the elections.

    “We will not hesitate to consider consequences – including visa restrictions – for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process.  Under U.S. immigration law, certain violations may also lead to restrictions on family members.

     

  • Four Nigerian ‘pirates’ charged in UK

    Four Nigerians yesterday appeared before a magistrates’ court  in the United Kingdom (UK) for attempting to hijack a container ship heading to Britain.

    Samuel Jolumi (26), Ishola Sunday  (27), Toheeb Popoola  (26) and Joberto McGee (20)were arraigned before  the Southend Magistrates’ Court for attempting to hijack the 770-foot cargo ship, Grande Tema, sailing off the coast of Kent last month.

    They had previously been charged with affray on the ship which they had allegedly boarded illegally in Lagos as stowaways.

    They entered no plea yesterday.

    However, Prosecutor Lesley Chipps told the court that the accused persons were stowaways on a vessel and that when the  crew became aware of them,they were  ”secured into a room and provided food and so on.”

    Chipps added: “The allegation is they then made good their escape from that room.

    “The captain had to secure his crew into a secure room, so they were safe.  They then approached the room with iron bars and made the threats.

    “The ship was off the port of Tilbury and forces had to board the ship to get them

    “At that point they were fully compliant when they were taken off the vessel.”

    The crew of the ship locked themselves in the bridge after the stowaways apparently broke out of a cabin they were being held in.

    The accused persons allegedly broke out of the cabin they were locked in, smashed some windows and smeared faeces to force the crew do their bidding.

    The situation was only brought under control after Special Boat Squadron team stormed the ship and arrests were made.

    The case was transferred to crown court. The men were remanded in custody.

  • UK, IFC partner in $2b deal to boost green construction

    Globally, more green construction would emerge, as the United Kingdom and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have concluded a deal to raise $2billion to help in transforming construction markets.

    The said money, it was learnt, would be drawn from both public and private sector financing for certified green buildings in emerging markets.

    The new deal is coming on the heels of several warnings against increasing global warming due to continuous human activities, especially in the construction sector.

    Indeed, the UK-IFC Market Accelerator for Green Construction Programme will be the first UK-IFC partnership in blended concessional finance for climate change mitigation.

    The U.K. government’s contribution of £105 million will include £80 million for investments and £25 million for advisory services. The funds will be used to incentivise the development of green buildings through certification with IFC’s EDGE and other leading certification systems.

    Globally, buildings generate 19 percent of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and consume 40 percent of electricity. Every year, an additional 5.5 billion square meters of floor space is constructed, mainly in emerging markets where green construction makes up only a small fraction of new buildings. The global built environment is expected to double by 2050, and green construction can secure lower emissions for decades.

  • Four Nigerians held in UK as police secure cargo ship after `stowaways threaten crew´

    FOUR Nigerians are being  detained in the United Kingdom under the Immigration Act after police boarded a cargo ship amid reports of stowaways threatening crew.

    Essex Police said the vessel, in the Thames Estuary, was boarded at around 11pm on Friday and was taken to the Port of Tilbury in Essex.

    It arrived at just after 4.20am yesterday, according to MarineTraffic.com.

    The ship’s operator, Grimaldi Lines, said four stowaways had been found on board and were armed with iron tubes.

    They were said to be calling on the crew to navigate closer to the coast.

    The force was called at around 9.15am on Friday relating to the safety of the crew on board the Grande Tema, a 71,000-tonne ship which set off from Lagos, Nigeria, on December 10.

    Paul Kyprianou, a spokesman for Grimaldi Lines, told Sky News on Friday morning: “We found four stowaways on the vessel.

    “The vessel was coming from Nigeria and was bound to Tilbury, and those four stowaways were in the cabin, and today they managed to escape from the cabin and they started threatening the crew, requesting the master of the vessel navigating very close to the coast.

    “That request was probably because they wanted to jump and reach the British coast.

    “The crew reacted and they locked themselves in the bridge of the vessel and so they are safe, we haven’t had any injuries.”

    The force said the ship was secure and there were no reports of injuries.

  • Nigeria lauds international support on Boko Haram

    Nigeria has lauded the international support to the country and neighbouring countries in addressing the challenges caused by the Boko Haram terrorists and the shrinking of the Lake Chad.

    Nigeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, stated this in New York at the ‘Security Council Open Debate on the Role of States, Regional Arrangements and the United Nations in the Prevention and Resolution of Conflict.

    Bande said “As we all know, the Lake Chad region has been facing its worst crisis ever, primarily because of the impact of climate change.

    “However, the ability of the Lake Chad basin countries to obtain international support and attention is paying off.

    “An array of countries – Norway, Germany, UK, U. S., China, Canada and others – have joined the UN to provide financial and technical support to the on-going efforts to not only conquer Boko Haram, but also work at the same time across the whole pillars, as the only way forward.

    “Indeed, so successful has this been, since the visit by the Security Council in March 2017, and the various pledging conferences – Abuja, Oslo and Berlin – that we are even talking of recharging of the basin, to restore and or stabilise the livelihood of some 45 million people affected by this unfortunate situation.

    “Through it all, ECOWAS, AU and the UN have been working very well together to galvanise support, towards the same end”.

    Bande pledged Nigeria’s resolve to continue to support efforts at maintaining peace and security in all regions of the world.

    According to him, more than ever, there is the need to strengthen collaboration between the UN and the various regional and sub-regional organizations around the world.

    The need to ensure that effective and mutually reinforcing mechanisms (both regional and global) that are flexible and responsive enough to ensure peaceful coexistence among communities are prioritized, he said, were critical.

    Bande said it was imperative to ensure that a means of financing regional bodies-led peace support operations that were authorized by the Security Council would be predictably and sustainably worked out.

    “We owe this to the millions that suffer and are waiting for our help.

    “In this regard, I wish to commend the Secretary-General on the current AU-UN partnership on peacekeeping, as this is a right step in the right direction,” he said.

    The envoy said in the effort to prevent and resolve conflicts, there is the need to also take due cognizance of the structural challenges to peace and security.

    These challenges, like climate change, mismanagement of natural resources, cross border and international crime, are at the root of some of the worst conflicts of our time, he said.

    The Nigerian envoy added that the challenges are best tackled through a broad collaboration among States, sub-regional and regional organisations and the UN.

    NAN reports that the UN says nine years into the conflict, the humanitarian emergency in the Lake Chad region is among the most severe in the world.

    The world body says while the crisis is unfolding in a region already affected by severe underdevelopment, poverty and climate change.

    The impact on the lives of around 17 million people is devastating, with women, youth and children bearing the brunt.

    In 2018, more than 10 million people require humanitarian assistance and protection.

    The humanitarian response was expanded significantly in 2017, reaching over six million people with life-saving assistance and protection, and effectively averting a famine.

    But needs in the affected regions remain acute and will persist at large scale into 2019 and beyond. Humanitarian organisations are requesting 1.6 billion dollars for 2018.

    Support from the international community to national efforts will be essential in the coming months to ease hunger, provide water, shelter, hygiene, healthcare, protection and education, and help communities rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

    The UN also said without continued assistance, hard hit communities risk sliding back into distress.

  • More people still arriving to live in Britain than leaving — Report

    A total of 625,000 people moved to Britain and 351,000 people emigrated in the last six months, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed on Thursday.

    ONS said non-EU net migration was the highest since 2004, with 248,000 more non-EU citizens arriving than leaving Britain.

    “Increases in immigration for both work and study have been seen in the most recent year, particularly for Asian citizens.

    “The number of people arriving for post-graduate studies this year from countries such as China and India is up by 10 per cent,’’ ONS said.

    The overall number of non-EU citizens coming to Britain had continued to add to the population, with 74,000 more non-EU citizens coming to the UK than leaving.

    “This was the lowest estimate for EU net migration since 2012 and the lowest immigration level since 2014,’’ ONS added.

    The report revealed the number of EU citizens coming to the UK for work had continued to fall.

    In the most recent period, this was driven by a decrease in citizens from EU 15 countries, such as Germany, Spain and Italy, arriving in Britain with a definite job.

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    Net migration among EU8 citizens, which includes Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, has seen a sharp decrease over the last two years.

    “It is now estimated that 14,000 more citizens from those countries left the UK than arrived.

    “This has been driven by a decrease in EU8 immigration, particularly for work, and an increase in emigration over the last two years.

    “Away from Europe, citizens coming to work in Britain from around the world have seen a gradual increase over the last five years,’’ the study showed.

  • Leah Sharibu: Student theologians urge EU, US, UK to intervene

    The newly elected First Chairman of National Theological Students Body, Mr. Okorie Chukwuemeka, has called on the European Union, United Kingdom and United States of America, to support Nigeria’s efforts to secure the release of Leah Shaibu and others in captivity.

    Chukwuemeka, of World Harvest Bible College and Seminary, Calabar, Cross River State, in his inaugural address, demanded that the plight of the girl should be of concern not only to the Christians but to all countries and organisations of conscience.

    In his speech, Okorie said “we are concerned because we are students of the Word of God, and we also know that people in captivity have the right to move freely and choose who to worship”.

    He called on youths to know their rights, develop strong morals and seek national unity and peace.

    The chairman of the student theologians warned upcoming Christian leaders to avoid heresy and worldliness.