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Swiss and Nigerian delegates met for 5th technical committee meeting
BERN – Over three years after Switzerland and Nigeria signed their migration partnership agreement, the delegations of these two countries met today in Abuja for the 5th technical committee meeting.
One of the main points of discussion was Switzerland’s recently launched regional migration and development programme in West Africa, for which Nigeria is one of the main beneficiaries. The meeting also enabled follow-up of the June 2013 joint action plan to counter irregular migration, improve police cooperation and assess progress made in various projects.
Launched in August 2013 by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the regional migration and development programme in West Africa follows the same partnership logic whereby migration is viewed in its entirety and the interests of all stakeholders (Switzerland, the partner country and migrants) are taken into account. With a total budget of CHF 7.5 million for the period running from October 2013 to the end of 2016, the programme seeks in particular to reinforce regional dialogue on migration within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and to support implementation of coherent migration policies in Nigeria, Benin and Burkina Faso. The programme also supports the West Africa Network for the Protection of Children, which is coordinated by the Swiss Foundation of the International Social Service.
This 5th meeting of the technical committee for the Swiss-Nigerian migration partnership also enabled partners to take stock of progress made towards implementation of the joint action plan on asylum and return, which was adopted by Switzerland and Nigeria in June 2013. Among other things, this action plan is intended to help find ways to reduce irregular migration towards Switzerland. Last year, the number of asylum applications filed by Nigerian nationals fell considerably. Since 2013, a fast-track procedure has been used to accelerate processing of asylum applications from Nigerian nationals. The two delegations agreed to intensify cooperation in the area of identification of presumed Nigerian nationals as well as in the area of return.
Programme for the exchange of personnel
As far as police cooperation is concerned, two Swiss cantonal police officers were sent to Lagos for two weeks of work with the Nigerian anti-drug agency. Other projects for the exchange of personnel are planned in 2014. These projects will help to intensify police cooperation.
A new project has also been launched to encourage members of the Nigerian Diaspora in Europe to become involved in development programmes in Nigeria. Two volunteers from the Nigerian Diaspora are currently in Lagos to help provide vocational education and training to young Nigerians.
Multilateral cooperation
In addition, Switzerland and Nigeria work together on migration issues within multilateral institutions. At the second High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development held in New York in October 2013, Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga and Nigerian Minister of Interior Patrick Abba Moro co-chaired an official roundtable discussion on coherence and partnerships in the area of international migration. This gave them the opportunity to present a concrete example of implementation to illustrate the migration partnership concept to representatives of the international community, numerous international organisations and civil society organisations.
The Swiss delegation in Abuja was jointly led by FOM Director, Mario Gattiker, and the head of the FDFA’s Human Security Division, Ambassador Claude Wild. The Nigerian delegation was led by Ambassador Abdulaziz Dankano, Under Secretary Economic and Consular, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The next meeting of the technical committee will take place in Bern.
Nigeria was the third main country of origin for asylum seekers in 2013
A total of 1,764 aslyum applications were filed in 2013, making Nigeria the third main country of origin for asylum seekers in Switzerland. The number of aslyum applications from Nigerian nationals fell by 35.8% in 2013 compared to the previous year. Also in 2013, the Swiss authorities accompanied 544 Nigerian nationals to the departure gate for return flights to their country of origin. This was 103 more than the 441 supervised departures reported for 2012
Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa has been signed up by Jaiz Bank as a brand ambassador.
An elated Musa made the disclosure in a statement on his verified handle on micro-blogging site, X on Thursday.
The Kano Pillars striker urged his fans to troop to Jaiz Bank to do business for trusting him with the new role.
He exclaimed, “And to my amazing fans – if you want to support me, make sure to head over to Jaiz Bank and open your accounts with them today! ”
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He wrote, “✨Alhamdulillah✨ I am SO excited to announce that I’ve officially joined Jaiz Bank as their newest ambassador! 🎉💼
“A huge thank you to @JaizBankNG for trusting me and allowing me to be a part of this amazing journey! 🙏🏼💚 It’s an honor to represent a brand that believes in growth, security, and financial empowerment.
“I can’t wait to share all the incredible things we’ll be doing together! 🚀💡
And to my amazing fans – if you want to support me, make sure to head over to Jaiz Bank and open your accounts with them today! Let’s grow together! 💪🏼🔑
“@JaizBankNG is a non interest Financial institution poised with a mission to make life better through ethical Finance. 👌👌”
#NewBeginnings #BankWithJaizBank #PartneredUp #TeamJaizBank”
On November 20, 2024, Kenya’s First Lady, Rachel Ruto, celebrated her 56th birthday and her husband President William Ruto publicly expressed his love and appreciation for his wife on this special day, wishing her well.
The birthday celebrations were marked by an outpouring of goodwill from political figures, media, and citizens across Kenya, who praised her for her grace, leadership, and significant contributions to society, particularly through initiatives like the Joyful Women Organisation, which aims to empower rural women.
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The day was characterized by a collective acknowledgment of her role as a national figure dedicated to community upliftment.
In a heartfelt message, President William Ruto took to social media, writing, “Happy birthday my love, @MamaRachelRuto. Continue being a blessing to me and our children. Mungu akubariki sana,” which translates to “God bless you abundantly.”
Other prominent leaders also extended their wishes to the First Lady, with Anne Waiguru, EGH, OGW, Governor of Kirinyaga County, tweeting, “Happy Birthday First Lady,” further showing the respect and admiration for Rachel Ruto’s leadership and impact.
A gas cylinder explosion at a filling station in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State has resulted in significant damage to six vehicles, according to a statement from the Katsina State Police Command.
The command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, confirmed the incident, which occurred on Friday, November 15, 2024.
He explained that a loud explosion alerted police operatives from the Jibia Divisional Police Headquarters. Responding promptly, the Divisional Police Officer led a team to the site, supported by military personnel.
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“Upon arrival, operatives found a truck loaded with gas cylinders engulfed in flames at Tamal filling station, along Kagadama-Magamar Jibia Road,” Sadiq-Aliyu stated. The joint team acted swiftly, deploying measures to protect lives and limit property damage. Their efforts successfully extinguished the fire.
The spokesperson added, “Six motor vehicles were significantly affected by the fire incident, but fortunately, no life was lost.”
State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar-Musa, has directed a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the explosion. Updates on the findings will be provided as investigations progress.
This incident highlights the need for heightened safety measures at gas filling stations to prevent such occurrences.
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