NEWS
NIMASA Cadets in Philippines Decry Nigerian Embassy Snub
By Funmilayo Olusanya
The Batch 2 cadets under the National Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) have lamented that the Nigerian Embassy denied them access to lodge their complaints.
The NSDP Program is a brainchild of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as an intervention program to train and ensure the supply of qualified seafarers from Nigeria.
The Batch 2 cadets had previously protested to the NIMASA authority about negligence and nonpayment of their allowances, which prevented them from renewing their housing rents, obtaining their visas, and paying other fees in August. There are around 117 cadets.
According to one of the protesters in the video, they are supposed to complete their course within four years but it is now running to 10 years as there have been several delays and arbitrary extensions of some of their examinations.
In the footage, they were prevented from entering the Nigerian Embassy by Philippine officials, who are seen stating that they had been told not to allow them access to the embassy.
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However, according to a press release from the Nigerian embassy on Thursday and a copy of which Daily Trend was able to obtain, the Cadets were protesting against NIMASA and making their complaints and demands known.
It said that they behaved improperly and completely disregarded the nation.
The statement reads in part “The Embassy of Nigeria, Manila wishes to refer to allegations against the Embassy making the rounds through videos on social media posted by some disgruntled NIMASA cadets on the 5th of October, 2022, where they accused the Embassy of refusing them access to the building to protest their grievances against NIMASA.
“The Embassy wishes to inform the public that the said cadets did not have any scheduled appointment with the Embassy on the said date which is defiant to the rules of Estate management in the Philippines.
“As such, the Estate/ Barangay reserves the right to prohibit persons from entering the premises without an appointment.
“Secondly, the cadets did not submit any formal notification of protest to the Philippine Authorities before they embarked on the protest.
This explains why there were a lot of policemen present at the scene where the unruly cadets were disturbing the peace of the residents in the area and obstructing vehicular traffic.
“It is pertinent to mention that the officials of the Embassy went to meet with the defiant cadets at the entrance of the estate to listen to their complaints which were delivered in a very insulting and demeaning manner with no regard for the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on whose sponsorship they were in the Philippines in the first place.
“Kindly note that all complaints from the cadets have since been communicated to the relevant authorities in NIMASA and the Embassy waits for further directives in that regard” it states.
The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has issued a stern warning against any attempt to establish a Sharia Court in the state without legal authorization.
This comes in response to the circulation of a digital notice announcing the launch of such a court.
In a statement personally signed on Tuesday, Governor Abiodun emphasized that Sharia Courts cannot be legally established by individuals or groups outside the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
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He reaffirmed that the state government only recognizes courts constituted through the legal framework of the Constitution and state laws.
“No Sharia Court is authorized to operate within Ogun State,” Abiodun stated. “The courts legally empowered to adjudicate disputes in the state are Magistrates’ Courts, High Court, Customary Courts, Customary Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.”
He further clarified that Sharia law does not form part of the legal framework in Ogun State and warned against the operation of unauthorized courts or assemblies.
According to the Governor, the state government respects the rights of individuals to practice their religion and apply their faith in personal matters.
However, this freedom does not extend to the creation of institutions or courts without proper legal backing.
Governor Abiodun directed all individuals involved in the creation or operation of the illegal Sharia Court to immediately cease all activities and disband the entity.
He also urged the public to disregard any summons, documents, or communications from the unauthorized court and to report such incidents to the authorities.
“The Ogun State Government will uphold the rule of law, ensure respect for the legal and judicial framework within the state, and prevent any breakdown of law and order,” the statement concluded.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The presidential aircraft, 001, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 7:40 pm on Tuesday, according to the State House media office.
The President was received by top government officials, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
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The summit, organized by the Tanzanian government in partnership with the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank, centered on advancing “Mission 300,” an initiative designed to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.
During the event, African leaders, private sector representatives, development partners, and civil society organizations discussed strategies to overcome the continent’s energy challenges.
Discussions focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and accelerating energy access in underserved regions, with an emphasis on mobilizing private sector investment.
On the opening day, ministers from participating nations presented their national energy strategies, known as compacts, which outlined their plans to achieve universal energy access within five years.
The summit culminated in the endorsement of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration by Heads of State, including President Tinubu, which charts a unified path for achieving the goals of Mission 300.
In his address, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa’s energy sector and emphasized the country’s commitment to universal energy access.
He highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing clean energy initiatives and detailed its strategy for integrated energy delivery across the continent.
“Nigeria remains committed to achieving universal access to energy and will continue to champion solutions that integrate renewable energy and enhance efficiency across Africa,” Tinubu said.
The President was accompanied by key members of his administration, including the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; and Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen.
An Air Busan passenger plane caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of 176 people on board, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT) as the aircraft, which was bound for Hong Kong, ignited near its tail section.
A total of 169 passengers and seven flight attendants were evacuated using inflatable slides, Yonhap reported.
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One person sustained injuries during the evacuation, but no further details about the injury or the fire’s cause were immediately available.
South Korea’s Busan fire authorities were not reachable for comment, according to AFP.
This incident comes just weeks after South Korea’s worst aviation disaster in decades.
Recall that on December 29, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed and exploded after striking a concrete barrier at Muan International Airport.
The crash killed 179 of the 181 passengers and crew on board.
According to Flightradar24, Air Busan’s fleet is composed entirely of Airbus aircraft.
The cause of Tuesday’s fire is under investigation.
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