The Nation Newspaper

Tag: United States (U.S.)

  • Ebonyi begins certification of yam for export

    Ebonyi begins certification of yam for export

    The Ebonyi State Government said on Friday that it has started discussion with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for the certification of yam for export.

    The Gov. David Umahi, who made the disclosure to journalists in Abakaliki, said the move was in line with the Federal Government’s efforts to boost yam export to the United Kingdom and the United States (U.S.).

    According to him, when the certification is through, we will commence export of the yams immediately.

    “Our yam is the biggest and sweetest in the whole country.

    “I have discussed with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; we have agreed that the certification of our yam will be done.

    “The moment that is done, by the next dry season, you will see containers of yams leaving Ebonyi State for export,’’ the governor said.

    Umahi said the state would establish an equity investment law that would enable land owners benefit from foreign investment in the state.

    “We will establish a law whereby if you want to take 5,000 hectares of land that you want to farm in as an investor, the farm owners will aggregate to form a cooperative society.

    “The farm owners will become shareholders by reason of the percentage of the area the owners have on the hectare housing the investment.

    “The law will be such that individual owners will have like 10 per cent equity of investment and the state will have 10 per cent as the constitutional owners of the land,’’ he said.

    The governor explained that the law would no longer tolerate the previous business of employing only host community natives or paying tax to the government.

    “I recommend this to the Federal Government too. Let investors come but let the owners of the place have equity in whatever business that will be set up on the land.

    “Host communities should be part of the consideration in terms of benefits because their land is being damaged and de-possessed.

    “If you didn’t damage the land, they should have used it to do other things within their reach,’’ Umahi said.

  • Nothing has changed in US visa policy for Nigerians-Ambassador

    Nothing has changed in US visa policy for Nigerians-Ambassador

    The United States (U.S) government has allayed the fears of many Nigerians over the Executive Immigration Order.

    According to the U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, no Nigerian will be discriminated against on the basis of the order.

    Trump had signed an executive order barring citizens from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan from entering the country for 90 days and also suspended the admission of all refugees for 120 days.

    Symington stressed that the Nigeria-U.S relationship  is a strategic one that must be sustained; adding that the connection between our two countries has been strong today and will continue to be strong tomorrow.

    He however stressed that in granting of visas, the full process must be followed and not religion.
    The envoy therefore emphasized that should there be any rejection, it should not be construed to mean discrimination, as every single conversation will be part of the process.

    Symington who briefed newsmen on the Executive Order on ‘Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorists Entry into the United States’ said  relating to Nigeria, nothing has changed.

    He also said that contrary to the report making the rounds, U.S has not reduced the visa time frame for Nigeria, saying that the two years multiple entry visa policy is still in place.
    Besides, he said those with valid visas have nothing to fear, as the validity of the visa will remain until the expiry date.

    Also, for a Nigerian with dual nationality affiliation with the seven affected Muslim countries, the ambassador said  he or she would not be banned from entering U.S.

    “Security is not the job of only one country. Let me reassure Nigerians that every single action the US takes would be on the basis of legality and due process no one will be discriminated against. No Nigerian would be denied visas because he or she is from a particular region of the country.

    “The new order now is for the US government to cross check as many that are coming into the US before issuing visas; we will not discriminate on the basis of religion in issuing visas to Nigerians. The two years visa is still valid contrary to reports we have heard in the media.

    “Nigeria’s leadership role is crucial in the world and Nigeria cannot be blacklisted. The importance of Nigeria in the world is legal.”

    Meghan Moore, Head of Consular U.S Embassy, Abuja explained that, “the  idea of how the US government decide the duration of Visa issuance is based on Nigeria government treatment to US travelers to Nigeria.  The US government generally issues multiple entry non-immigrant visas  with a validity of two years to eligible individuals who are travelling with the Nigeria passport. We issue as a general rule a two year visa and that has not changed. There  can be some exception based on some specific individuals.”

    What has changed, according to her is the period for visa renewal.

    “It used to be 45 month for visas renewal before now, but as a result of the new order, it’s now 12 month to renew visas. If not, registration and visa interview has to be carried out,” she explained.
    “Nigerians can use the DHL renewal process if their visas expire within 12 month.  If not, they have to schedule another interview with the embassy,” Moore said.

  • College republicans revoke Trump’s endorsement

    College republicans revoke Trump’s endorsement

    Young republicans at the University of Virginia (UVA) have withdrawn their support for the Republican Party candidate in the November 8 presidential election of the United States (U.S.), Mr. Donald Trump. The decision came barely four weeks after the young republicans grudgingly endorsed Mr. Trump’s candidature.
    The UVA republicans withdrew their endorsement for the party’s candidate, following the widespread condemnation trailing Trump’s offensive comments in a sex tape released by the Washington Post last week.
    Last month, it was a hot battle of wits and arguments at the series of meetings held last month by UVA college republicans for the endorsement of Mr. Trump. The decision of the young republican to support Trump’s candidature in the presidential election was taken after a close vote.
    The young republicans said their Mr. Trump’s past remarks and actions toward women had changed the way many people feel about him.
    A statement by the group’s Executive Board reads: “In light of recent events, we, the Executive Board of the College Republicans at UVA, have decided to issue a revoke our endorsement of Donald Trump. We respect our members’ original vote to endorse him, but we also realise Mr. Trump’s past remarks and actions toward women have changed the way many people feel about him.
    “We were elected to our positions by our members, who count on us to represent them to the best of our ability. This revoke is nothing more or less than to ensure we are doing just that, by making sure our current actions and positions continue to accurately reflect the views and desires of our members.”