Steps towards commencing fulll commercial operations at the nation’s first Deep Seaport at Lekki received a major boost on Friday with the arrival of a cargo vessel Zhen Hua 28, berthing at the port.
The arrival of the ship, bearing modern ship-to-shore cranes and ten rubber tyred gantries, is historic as it provides a glimpse into commercial operations at the port.
The vessel, 232 meter long with a draft of 9.2 meters, originated from Shanghai China and spent 30 days at sea before berthing at the deep seaport.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Muhammed Bello Koko who led other stakeholders to receive the ship said her arrival is an indication that the September 2022 projection for the commencement of full automated operations at the port is realistic.
The deep seaport, conceived 13 years ago, is the first in Nigeria and the best in West Africa.
It has a draft of 16.5 meters and a turning circle of 600 meters,. giving it huge advantage in terms of container capacity turnout for shippers in Nigeria and other African countries.
The inclusion of my picture on the praying mat by a support group was misguided, even with the best of intentions. It didn't emanate from my campaign team. I have deep respect for the Muslim faith and indeed, for every other religion.
We will never mock any faith, ethnicity or gender. We are one Nigeria. -PO
INEC officially extends Continuous Voter Registration pending further directives
by William Ukpe July 1, 2022
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced it will continue the Continuous Voter Registration and directed all Electoral Commissioners to continue the exercise pending further directives.
INEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday evening.
The Commission also ordered all parties that have concluded governorship and state assembly elections to upload nominated candidates to INEC’s portal from 1st -15th July.
What INEC is saying
It said, following its meeting on Thursday, in which it discussed Voter Registration and issuance of Certified True Copies, “The Continuous Voter Registration will continue nationwide, and all Resident Electoral Commissioners and Electoral Officers have been directed to continue with the exercise pending further directives.”
It added that it has consistently reiterated its resolve to continue to provide electoral services to Nigerian people.
The Commission acknowledged the Federal High Court decision relating to the CVR, which they say they will give an update to the court.
On Certified True Copy Documents, INEC said political parties and all applicants of CTC documents will be treated expeditiously and will be issued soon, announcing that parties that have conducted valid Governorship and State Assembly primrose should upload the list and personal particulars of their monitored candidates between 1st and 15th July, 2022.
“Political parties are advised not to wait until the last day before uploading the list,” it urged.
What you should know
•Following the conclusion of party primaries, there has been more turn out in the number of Nigerians trooping to registration centres.
•June 30 was the scheduled deadline for the closing of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, however, there have been calls from various Nigerians and NGOs demanding an extension of the CVR.
•Recall weeks ago, the House of Representatives directed INEC to extend the voter registration exercise by 60 days. The House gave the directive following the adoption of a motion moved by Ben Kalu (APC, Abia) during plenary on Wednesday.
•On June 20, an Abuja Division of the Federal High Court restrained INEC from ending the voter registration on the 30th of June, 2022.
•Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon gave the order sequel to an ex-parte motion filed by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
•After granting the order, the judge adjourned until June 29, to hear the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.
INEC officially extends CVR, silent on new deadline
INEC had fixed June 30 as the deadline for the CVR.
By Samson Adenekan July 1, 2022
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed its electoral officers to continue with its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide.
It officially announced the extension on Friday after deliberations on some concerns around the exercise, among other emerging issues ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, first hinted about the extension on Saturday at the Youth Vote Count concert in Abuja.
Like Mr Yakubu, the commission, in its latest statement signed by its spokesperson, Festus Okoye, did not also stipulate when the exercise will officially end.
“The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will continue nationwide, and all the Resident Electoral Commissioners and Electoral Officers have been directed to continue with the exercise pending further directives from the Commission.
“The Commission has consistently reiterated its resolve to continue to provide electoral services to the Nigerian people and register all eligible Nigerians that are interested in registering. The Commission has yet again deployed additional machines to areas of pressure and will continue to serve the people of Nigeria,” Mr Okoye said.
INEC, in the last few weeks, has received knocks from Nigerians following the hiccups witnessed by many registrants in some registration centres in the country.
There are also complaints about the unprofessional conduct of the Commission’s staff in some states and the shortage of registration machines.
Apart from the daily affronts from Nigerians on social media, INEC ’s planned deadline has been stalled by a pending case initiated by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and some displaced Nigerians.
“The case at the Federal High Court relating to the terminal date of the CVR came up yesterday Wednesday 29th June 2022, and based on the request of the Commission, the Court granted an accelerated hearing and adjourned the matter to Monday 4th July 2022 for hearing of the substantive matter. The Commission will give an update after the court hearing next week,” Mr Okoye said.
As the July 1 to 15 window for the upload of the list and personal particulars of nominated candidates by political parties approaches, INEC urged parties to properly scrutinise their documents to “avoid any mix-up and duplication of names.”
Meanwhile, some Nigerians that were recently deported from the UK, have arrived Lagos.
UPDATED: Why 30 Nigerians were deported from UK
June 30, 2022 By Prince Okafor
A flight chartered by the United Kingdom Government, carrying at least 30 Nigerians and eight Ghanaians landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, today.
This came as the U.K. announced a “major new agreement” with Nigeria to collaborate on migration issues, following similar arrangements with Ghana and Rwanda.
U.K. Home Office, responsible for migration issues, stated that the flight carried also eight Ghanaians.
The flight is operated by Portuguese charter carrier Hi Fly.
Typically, a deportation order is made when a foreign national is convicted of an offence and sentenced to, at least, 12 months.
It is unclear why exactly the people on the plane were deported, though the Home Office described 11 of those removed as “foreign national offenders” and 10 as “immigration offenders.”
There was no available information about why the remaining deportees were deported.
Vanguard gathered that over 10,000 people had been deported from the U.K. between January 2019 and May 2022.
Earlier, protestors gathered outside the female-only Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre in northern England to register their concern. The protestors demonstrated and shouted pro-refugee slogans as a bus, believed to have been carrying some of the deportees, left the center. Several protestors were arrested,
It has been reported that among those slated for deportation on the flight were mothers and grandmothers, many of whom had been in the country for decades, as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community who had been seeking asylum in the U.K. One gay Nigerian man believed (though not confirmed) to have been on the flight had previously told the Guardian he feared for his life if returned to Nigeria.
The government has repeatedly come under fire for allegedly deporting people to situations where they face grave danger, as well as taking steps to speed up the removal process, which critics say pose “grave human rights violations.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The U.K. only ever returns individuals to their country of origin when the Home Office and, where applicable, the courts deem it is safe to do so. All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered in accordance with our international obligations.
“Each individual assessment is made against the background of relevant caselaw and the latest country information.”
UK agrees deal with Nigeria to tackle shared illegal migration
June 30, 2022. 12:00 PM
LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - Britain said on Thursday that it has agreed a new deal with Nigeria that would see them work together to tackle illegal migration and speed up the removal of foreign criminals.
The government, which has faced criticism for its recently-announced partnership with Rwanda to send asylum seekers to the East African country, said that the agreement with Nigeria would also promote "shared bilateral economic interests".
I am proud to announce the launch of the Asisat Oshoala Academy in partnership with @nikefootball and @Women_Win
The football academy is an initiative that will build upon my mission of providing access to sports and education for young girls in our community. #NewProject
Kamou Malo (Burkina Faso) Amir Abdou (Comoros) Carlos Quieroz (Egypt) Pitso Mosimane (Al Ahly) Tom Saintfiet (The Gambia) Florent Ibenge (RS Berkane) Vahid Halilhodzic (Morocco) Walid Regragui (Wydad Athletic Club) Aliou Cisse (Senegal) Mandla Ncikazi (Orlando Pirates)
National Team of the Year (Men)
Burkina Faso Cameroon Comoros Egypt Equatorial Guinea The Gambia Mali Morocco Senegal Tunisia
Club of the Year (Men)
ES Setif (Algeria) Petro Atletico (Angola) TP Mazembe (DR Congo) Al Ahly (Egypt) Ahli Tripoli (Libya) Al Ittihad (Libya) Raja Club Athletic (Morocco) RS Berkane (Morocco) Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco) Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
Politics › Re: Lekki Deep Seaport Makes History, Receives First Cargo Vessel (Photos) by naptu2(op): 6:40pm On Jul 01, 2022
