The Nation Newspaper

Tag: UK

  • Sammie Okposo takes SOPP to UK

    Sammie Okposo takes SOPP to UK

    Popular Nigerian gospel artiste Sammi Okposo seems set to storm London for the 2016 edition of the Sammie Okposo Praise Party, SOPP.

    The show which holds at Lighthouse, 254-270 Camberwell Road, London by 7pm on Saturday, January 9, 2016 is expected to present gospel music in an edifying atmosphere.

    Okposo, the ‘Wellu Wellu’ master, in a youtube video confirmed his readiness to host the event and also urged fans to bring ‘their white handkerchiefs.’ He was joined by Nikki Laoye, Tim Godfrey, Enkay and Dayo Bello in the promotional video of the event.

    Some of the artistes billed to perform at the event include Eben, Noel Robinson, Andrew Bello, Diana Hamilton and Nikky Brown.

    Comedian Akpororo is also expected to bring some laughter to the event.

    SOPP, an initiative of Sammie Okposo, is a concert for worship, praise, laughter and family friendly fun.

  • Senator: I didn’t say three million Nigerians living illegally in UK

    Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Monsurat Sunmonu at the weekend said she did not say that three million Nigerians were living illegally in the United Kingdom (UK).

    A statement by Sam Oguegbu, the media aide to Sunmonu, said the clarification became necessary following the erroneous attribution to the senator that she said during a meeting of the Senate committee with top officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) that three million Nigerians were living illegally in the UK.

    It said the Assistant Deputy Comptroller-General, Investigations, Intelligence and Enforcement of NIS, Mr. T. A. Hundeyin, who briefed the Senate committee, should have been credited with the statement.

    The statement said: “Nothing can be further from the truth than that Senator Sunmonu as chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs never said such a thing.

    “It is, therefore, fallacious, untrue and most misleading for anybody, who covered the session of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, where the Assistant Comptroller-General, Investigation, Intelligence and Enforcement of the NIS was invited, to say, infer or credit such a statement to the committee chairman.”

  • Three million Nigerians living illegally in UK, says Senate

    Three million Nigerians living illegally in UK, says Senate

    NO fewer than three million Nigerians are living illegally in the United Kingdom (UK), the Senate said yesterday through its Committee on Foreign Affairs.

    It also said investigation showed there was no plan by the British government to deport 29, 000 Nigerians, contrary to a recent report.

    Committee Chairman Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu made the clarification after a meeting with officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

    She said an Assistant Deputy Comptroller–General, Investigations, Intelligence and Enforcement of the NIS,   Mr. T. A   Hundeyin, also confirmed that the 48 Nigerians recently deported from the UK committed various types of crimes and had served prison terms.

    Her words: “The deputy comptroller just confirmed to us that it is not true that 29, 000 Nigerians are being deported from the United Kingdom or that the UK government intends to deport 29, 000 Nigerians.

    “He (however) said that only 48 Nigerians  were deported and he had shown us their names and records that actually confirmed that they had all served their prison sentences so that is why they are being deported.”

    She said further:  ”About three million Nigerians are illegally living in the United Kingdom and that if three million Nigerians are living there illegally and they are only removing just 48 people confirmed to have committed crime and jailed, then the situation is not too bad.”

    “We will not relent in our efforts on checking and doing our oversight functions. If it requires for us to go there and visit them, and to ask questions, we won’t mind to go there and to give Nigerians and to give them the history and the records of what we find out.”

  • ‘How UK, Nigerian lawyers can collaborate’

    ‘How UK, Nigerian lawyers can collaborate’

    Chairman, British-Nigeria Law Forum (BNLF), Stephen Akinsanya, tells ROBERT EGBE how Nigerian lawyers can become global players.

    What is the British Nigeria Law Forum?

    We are a forum of Nigerian lawyers based in the Diaspora and what we aim to do is to forge links with our Nigeria-based counterparts to see if we can strengthen the legal fraternity and opportunities for both sides of the profession both in Nigeria and here in London. We would love for people to know that as Africa is developing there are law firms with Nigerian lawyers that are more than able to deal with the issues that crop up in the commercial world of developing the economy in Nigeria.

    Are there any challenges you’ve been facing in your relationship with Nigeria-based lawyers?

    While we enjoy a good relationship, one of the issues we’ve had, those of us who qualified in the UK and have been in practice for, in my case, over 20 years, we want to see if we can find ways of working with our Nigerian counterparts to make the Nigerian legal system efficient, so that people will have access to justice, so that the legal system will work efficiently, not only for the profession’s benefit but also on behalf of its clients. What we’ve found is that those of us who have the required experience are perhaps not always welcome; we’re seen as a threat. So, what we’re trying to do is build bridges, establish a connection with ourselves and our Nigeria-based counterparts.

    What opportunities exist for Nigerian lawyers in the UK?

    One of the things that I as the chairman is very keen about is that as Nigeria becomes the focal point to the rest of the world in terms of investment and development, there are many Nigerian lawyers, who are adequately and suitably qualified in the Diaspora, who can bring their expertise to assist Nigerian lawyers here and I want to ensure that there is a proper channel opened up between Nigerian lawyers in Nigeria and British-born Nigerians, so they can work together to improve the system.

    One of the things that frustrate me is that there are firms in the UK, which prior to the growing development and economic activity, Nigeria was not their focal point. Now there seems to be more interest, but ironically those firms never had Nigerian lawyers working for them or had very few. They didn’t even have Africa desks. But now it seems they are all developing Africa desks with people who have either no experience or no connection to Nigeria. And I’m trying to ensure that there is a level playing field so that those, who are suitably qualified Nigerians in London, should be the face or the focal point to represent those firms in Nigeria.

    Do you have any partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association?

    Yes, the BNLF has established links with the NBA principally on the issue of Nigerians in the Diaspora coming home to do law school either Bar Part 1 or Part 2 and it’s still a bone of contention. But we’re trying to work the Nigerian Bar Association and the Council of Legal Education to say, look, when you have lawyers that are over 10 years in practice, qualified in the UK, in that jurisdiction, there should be some dispensation for those lawyers to come home and practice in Nigeria. That’s one of the principle things we’re working on.

     

     

     

     

  • UK deported 48 Nigerians, not 500—High Commissioner

    • States why immigration law can’t be waived
    • UK-Nigeria trade volume is about £6.1b

    The British High Commissioner in Abuja, Mr. Paul Arkwright said yesterday that only 48 Nigerians and not 500 were deported last week from the United Kingdom as illegal immigrants.

    There are about 250,000 Nigerians living legally in the UK, he said.

    About 168,000 others applied for visa in 2014-2015.

    He put the trade volume between Britain and Nigeria at £6.1 billion.

    Arkwright who was reacting to criticism of his country’s ‘unfair’ treatment of the deportees said they were indeed ‘fairly’ treated.

    He said: “The UK and Nigeria have an excellent commercial relationship with £6.1 billion worth of trade per year. We want the numbers of business people travelling to and from Nigeria and the UK to increase and so support the economies of both our countries.

    “Those who break the rules cannot expect to remain in the UK illegally but the UK is open and welcomes Nigerians who want to visit our country for business or leisure.

    “The links between the UK and Nigeria are deep and far reaching and rooted both in our shared past and partnership for the future.

    “Today up to 250,000 Nigerians are living legally in the UK, making a significant contribution and adding to the rich fabric of our society. Every year around 130,000 Nigerians visit the UK from Nigeria for both business and leisure. Nigerians who come to the United Kingdom in accordance with our well publicised rules will always be welcome guests.”

    He added, “In 2014-15 global demand for UK visas from Nigerian nationals was 168,000. Of these, 73% of visit applications were successful, a rise of 5% from the previous year. In addition, 50% of settlement applications were successful. We are also proud to provide a quick service: 95% of visit visas were processed within 15 days with an average processing time of 7.4 days.

    “So it has been disappointing to read, in a few isolated incidents, inaccurate media reporting of the UK’s policy concerning how we return Nigerians back to their home country when they have been present illegally in the UK.

    “This week some media reported that 500 Nigerians had been deported from the UK, arriving on one flight to Lagos. Nigeria’s immigration service confirmed to the media that number was incorrect.

    “The actual number was 48 – all of whom were people who had broken UK law by remaining in the UK when they had no right to be there, and who had been given full right of appeal, and had exhausted that legal process.”

    The High Commissioner said the UK will never allow those who have refused to play by the rules to stay as illegal immigrants.

  • British Council to honour Nigerians who studied in U.K.

    The British Council in Nigeria says plans are ongoing to organise an alumni event for Nigerians who had been to the United Kingdom to study.

    The council’s Communication Manager, Mr Desmond Omovie, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

    According to him, the event is part of efforts by the council to identify with and honour such students that have acquired U.K. education.

    “In some few months from now, we will be organising an alumni event, basically for Nigerians who have been to the U.K. to study and now are back to contribute their quota to the country’s development.

    “You know each time we have Nigerian students going over to the U.K. to study.

    “We usually encourage them to go back home at the end of their courses and see how they can plough back their knowledge and experience back to the society,’’ he told NAN.

    “These people must realise that going to study abroad is all about gaining international or global exposure, where they get to meet and exchange ideas with other people from different parts of the world.

    “And so organising this sort of alumni event is part of our corporate social responsibility to the society, coupled with the opportunities that are attached by the council as they venture to go abroad.

    “We will be honouring some prominent Nigerians such as Prof. Wole Soyinka and Joke Silva among others who as U.K. alumni, have done very well in their respective areas of life’s endeavour.’’

    Omovie added that currently, there was an ongoing campaign by the council to get all alumni of U.K. universities who must have established themselves in various spheres of life to apply for an award.

    He noted that these men and women of distinction have contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria.

    According to him, so far and based on the response to the campaign, the council has recorded between 5,000 and 10,000 individuals who are alumni and have excelled in their chosen careers.

  • HALIMA ABUBAKAR SHOOTS MOVIE IN UK

    HALIMA ABUBAKAR SHOOTS MOVIE IN UK

    CONTROVERSIAL Nollywood actress, Halima Abubakar who started acting in 2001, is currently in the United Kingdom shooting another movie. This is coming on the heels of her successful debut production, Mistresses.

    The CEO of a Modehouse Entertainment, a music label and Entertainment Management Company took to her Instagram page to share the good news; “If anyone told me I would film my own movie in the UK, I would never have believe that. God is good. TBT Oxford Street United Kingdom.”

    An award winning actress, Halima has won awards such as Best Actress Award at City People Entertainment Awards, Best Actress Award at Eminent Achievers Award, Best Actress Award at Leadership as well as Best Supporting Actress from Afro Hollywood Awards among others.

    The Sociology graduate of Bayero University, Kano made her Nollywood debut in the movie, The Rejected.

    She is yet to give the full details of the movie and faces that will be appearing in the movie. Halima also runs a charity organisation, ‘Halima Abubakar Foundation for the Poor’, which focuses on people without food.

  • Coordinator: Amnesty for UK students not suspended

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has said the funding of foundation students undergoing training in the United Kingdom (U.K) has not been suspended or stopped, contrary to speculation.

    In a statement in Abuja, PAP’s Coordinator Gen. Paul Boroh (retd) said foundation students sent for training in the U.K in 2014 were returning because of the expiration of their one-year visa.

    The statement, by PAP’s Head of Media and Communications, Mr Owei Lakemfa, reads: “Foundation students sent to the U.K in 2014 under the Presidential Amnesty Programme are returning to the country following the expiration of their one-year visa. Apart from the completion of their one-year foundation course, they are required to return to the country to renew their visa, where necessary. This has nothing to do with the funding of their programmes, as being insinuated.

    “Also, the Presidential Amnesty Office reiterates that there is no policy or plans under the programme to pay housing or accommodation allowances. It is, therefore, not correct for any beneficiary under the programme to claim he is being owed or is expecting such an allowance.

    “Furthermore, the Amnesty Office reiterates that all allowances and payments under the programme have been effected. However, some beneficiaries, especially in South Africa and United States (U.S.), experienced some delays, perhaps due to the Central Bank’s implementation of the TSA policy. Happily, the affected beneficiaries have started getting alerts, confirming their banks’ receipt of the funds.

    “The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Gen. Paul T. Boroh (retd) appreciates the support of the leaders and members of the various groups and camps under the Amnesty Programme.

    “He reiterates that only under a peaceful atmosphere will investors be attracted to the Niger Delta Region, and sustainable development achieved.”

  • Reps to intervene in deportation of Nigerians from UK

    Reps to intervene in deportation of Nigerians from UK

    THE House of Representatives is to intervene in the planned deportation of 29,000 Nigerians from the United Kingdom  (UK).

    House Committees on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs have been mandated to look into the matter.

    Rita Orji (PDP, Lagos), who raised the issue as a matter of urgent public importance, said it was expedient for the House to address the deportation which, she described as not justified.

    According to her, the deportation was a result of migration crisis created by troubled regions around the world.

    She lamented that most of the Nigerians marked for deportation have spent a minimum of 30 years and have lost touch with the country.

    “Deporting these Nigerians without appropriately ascertaining their identity, economic situation, health and family status will constitute a problem to themselves, Nigeria and Nigerians.

    The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by the presiding officer,  Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun.

  • NBCC, NEPC target foreign investment at UK trade mission

    Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) have concluded arrangements to lead a delegation of 40 business executives on a five-day trade mission to the United Kingdom between November 2 and 6.  The aim is to attract foreign investment to the country with focus on multi sectors, particularly the non-oil products and services.

    NBCC President, Prince Dapo Adelegan, in a statement in Lagos, stated that the Chamber was committed to increasing trade relations between Nigeria and Britain. He said the Chamber’s partnership with NEPC was to enhance its drive to attract UK investors to different states in Nigeria during the UK trade mission. He pointed out that the trade mission will provide opportunities for state governors to showcase the investment potential in their various states.

    Adelegan said: “During the trip, premium members of the chamber and other delegates will have a face-to-face interaction with high level business leaders in the UK, trade related government officials, and a number of UK-based Chambers of Commerce.” He described Nigeria as one of the best destinations for business with its position as the biggest economy in Africa, having enjoyed political stability in the past few years.

    The NBCC boss noted that the highlight of the mission will be the presentations from the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) and the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA). He said they will participate in a-two-day ‘Made in Nigeria Exhibition’ organised to showcase made-in-Nigeria products.

    NBCC has in the past partnered the United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI), a joint effort that has translated to the steady growth of trade relations between the two countries, with trade volume increasing from £4 billion to £8 billion between 2010 and 2014.