A disabled Nigerian man, who has resided in the UK for 38 years, is facing the prospect of being forcibly removed from the country by the Home Office, the Guardian UK reports.

Olubunmi Anthony George, who is currently 61 years old, travelled from Nigeria to the UK in 1986 when he was just 24 years old.

He has been in the UK ever since, and the Guardian reports that he has no criminal convictions on his record.

He suffered two strokes in 2019 that significantly affected his speech and movement.

George claims that none of his close family members are now living in Nigeria.

According to George, he no longer has any immediate relatives residing in Nigeria.

He is said to have faced numerous episodes of homelessness and admitted that he has lost track of the countless friends who have sheltered him over the years.

George said, “I don’t know how many different sofas I’ve slept on – too many to count. I don’t have my life, living the way I’m living now. My health problems since I had my stroke are my biggest worry. All I’m asking for is some kindness from the Home Office.”

George has submitted multiple applications for leave to remain in the UK, all of which have been denied by the Home Office, with the most recent rejection occurring on May 7, 2024.

In 2005, his previous solicitors submitted a falsified entry stamp in his passport which has since been reported to the police and the legal regulatory bodies.

According to George, he was completely unaware of the passport stamp until several years later, as he revealed to the Guardian.

According to his current lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, George’s difficulties can be attributed to his poor past legal representation.

In their latest rejection, officials from the Home Office stated that the situation was not deemed to be an exceptional circumstance.

Kandiah has filed an appeal challenging the most recent denial.

Kandiah said, “My client has been living in limbo for 38 years, with no family, has suffered two strokes and has no family left in Nigeria.

“His situation is not just because of Home Office policies but also because of poor representation by previous solicitors who failed to uphold professional integrity and ethical standards.”

A spokesperson for the Home Office told the Guardian that, “applications have to be considered on their merits in accordance with the immigration rules with the responsibility on applicants to demonstrate they meet these rules.”

The Guardian also covered the story of Nelson Shardey, a 74-year-old newsagent from Merseyside.

Shardey has been living in the UK since 1977 and was recently denied indefinite leave to remain by the Home Office, despite having spent the majority of his adult life in the country.

Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority received a letter from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority claiming that Air Peace had allegedly broken several aviation safety laws.

The event transpired just three months subsequent to the Nigerian airline initiating the Lagos-London route.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority had apparently received two necessary occurrence reports on Air Peace.

The NCAA received the allegations from the UK CAA.

“United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report with reference number: CAA-UK, -2024-0217” and “NATS Management System Safety Report” were the titles of the CAA’s letter of complaint that was sent to the NCAA.

Additionally, the NCAA has written to Air Peace to elucidate the matters at hand.

The letter, with reference number: NCAA/DOLTS/APL/Vol.11/03624 was titled, “United Kingdom SAFA Ramp Inspection Report.

It was dated May 14, 2024, and signed by the NCAA General Manager of Operations, Capt. O.O. Lawani.

In the letter, the NCAA said the UK CAA had called its attention to the no operational approval of Electronic Flight Bag functions affecting the safe operation of the aircraft, while adding that the captain of the flight admitted that an Electronic Flight Bag was being used for navigational purposes.

NCAA further noted that the CAA stated in its letter that there was “no mounting device for the use of EFB, no charging points or battery for backup.”

Air Peace recently commenced operation to London Gatwick from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, which Nigeria has with the UK.

The spokesperson of Air Peace, Stanley Olisa, could not be reached as of press time.

When called, the spokesperson of the airline picked but when this reporter began to enquire about the development, he kept mute until the call ended.

Our correspondent also sent a text message of enquiry to the spokesman but there was no response as of the time of filing this report.

Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has set up the presidential committee on climate action and green economic solutions.

The committee will be chaired by Tinubu, and its vice-chairman will be Environment Minister Balarabe Abbas.

Segun Imohiosen, the director of information in the secretary to the government of the federation’s office (AGF), stated in a statement on Sunday that Ajuri Ngelale was also named by the president as the special presidential envoy on climate action.

Ngelale serves as the president’s special media and publicity advisor.

The committee is expected to “coordinate and oversee all policies and programmes on climate action and green economic development”.

The statement added that the committee will also “identify, develop, and implement innovative non-oil & non-gas climate action initiatives”.

The committee will coordinate the activities of relevant federal government institutions towards the “attainment of all agreed climate action and green economic objectives and non-oil/non-gas ambitions”.

FULL LIST

(1)  President Bola Tinubu – Chairman

(2) Balarabe Abbas Lawal (Minister of Environment) – Vice-Chairman

(3) Ajuri Ngelale (Special Adviser) – Secretary/Special Presidential Envoy

(4) Lazarus Angbazo (CEO, InfraCorp) – Member

(5) Salisu Dahiru (CEO, NCCC) – Member

(6) Michael Ohiani (CEO, ICRC) – Member

(7) Aisha Rimi (CEO, NIPC) – Member

(8) Aminu Umar-Sadiq (CEO, NSIA) – Member

(9) Yusuf Maina-Bukar (CEO, NAGGW) – Member

(10) Abdullahi Mustapha (CEO, ECN) – Member

(11) Abba Abubakar Aliyu (CEO, REA) – Member

(12) Uzoma Nwagba (CEO, CrediCorp) – Member

(13) Khalil Halilu (CEO, NASENI) – Member

(14) Fatima Shinkafi (CEO, SMDF) – Member

(15) Bala Bello (Deputy Governor, CBN) – Member

(16) Lolade Abiola (UN SE4ALL) – Member

(17) Teni Majekodunmi (NCCC Adviser) – Member

(18) Representative, Federal Ministry of FCT – Member

(19) Representative, Federal Ministry of Finance – Member

(20) Representative, Federal Ministry of Power – Member

(21) Representative, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment – Member

(22) Representative, Federal Ministry of Water Resources – Member

(23) Representative, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security – Member

(24) Representative, Federal Inland Revenue Service – Member

(25) Representative, Nigeria Customs Service – Member