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Senate slams UK over Omicron travel ban, asks British parliament to intervene

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Senate slams UK over Omicron travel ban, asks British parliament to intervene

 

***Insists travel ban is affront on diplomatic relations

The Nigerian senate on Tuesday kicked against the UK’s Omicron travel ban as the lawmakers called on their British counterparts to prevail on their Government to remove Nigeria from the red list.
The UK had added Nigeria to its travel ‘red list’ over the weekend, meaning arrivals from there will be banned except for British and Irish residents.
This was coming following a Motion pursuant to orders 42 and 52 of the senate standing rules on the need for the Government of the United Kingdom(UK) to remove Nigeria from the red list sponsored by senator Ike Ekweremadu
The President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan while commenting on the issue said
“I am using this opportunity to urge the British Parliament to mount Pressure on their Government to remove Nigeria from the so-called red list.
“Well I am sure with this motion Nigerians have spoken to the British authorities that enlisting of Nigeria is seriously geopardising the relationship between the two countries.
“We are saying let there be justification for it. We are not saying that they cannot put any country on the red list without any cogent reasons for doing that.
He said it is a known fact that Nigeria has done so well to the admiration of many countries in the area of containment of COVID-19.
“So there is no need why Nigeria should be on the so-called red list, I believe
Nigeria deserves a better treatment from the British Government.”
The senate in its resolution earlier condemned in strong terms the U.K Government’s inclusion of Nigeria in their COVID-19 red list without justification.
They called on the Federal Government to constructively engage the British authorities with a view to reversing the inclusion.
They also called on the British authorities to consider removing Nigeria from the COVID-19 red list and to be sensitive to the diplomatic relationship between the two countries in taking decisions that affect Nigerian citizens.
The lawmakers called on the Nigerian Government to remain firm in the enforcement of all necessary protocols in the containment of every COVID-19 variant in Nigeria.
They urged the major vaccine powers, namely, Britain, Canada, America, and the European Union, among others, to take urgent and bold steps to ensure vaccine equity in the best interest of the entire human race.
Senator Ejweremadu while presenting his motion noted with satisfaction the efforts of the Government of Nigeria in the containment and treatment of COVID-19 cases.
He added that Nigeria is among the countries with the lowest cases of COVID-19.
He expressed the concern that the decision by the British Government to include Nigeria in their COIVD-19 list, with its concomitant implications, will affect many citizens of Nigeria, who had planned to spend their Christmas and New Year holiday with their families.
According to him, Nigerians with genuine needs to visit the U.K within the period will be denied VISA and those with Visa will not be allowed to enter the U.K.
Explaining further he indicated that Nigerians have consistently complied with all the COVID-19 protocols required by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and U.K Government for travellers prior to this ban.
Therefore he said targeting African countries, especially in the COVID-19 travel ban, amounts to profiling and discrimination as well as an attack on our cordial diplomatic relationship with the U.K.
Yet he said the global concerns over vaccines hoarding and inequity and the resulting consequences on low-income nations in the fight against COVID-19 is well known to the British Government

NEWS

No Place For Sharia Court In Ogun State, Says Gov Abiodun

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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.

READ MORE: Monarch Crisis: Ogun Court Strips Macgregor Of Olu of Orile Ilawo Title

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.

 

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NEWS

JUST IN: Tinubu Returns To Abuja After Energy Summit In Tanzania

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I’m Working Tirelessly To Solve Nigeria’s Problems, Says Tinubu

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.

READ ALSO: ‘I Can Only Be Removed At A National Convention – PDP’s Samuel Anyanwu Declares

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.

 

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International News

Fire Breaks Out On Air Busan Plane In South Korea, One Injured

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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.

SEE ALSO: South Korean Court To Decide Fate Of Detained President Yoon Suk Yeol

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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