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Immigration Cleared About 60,000 Backlog Of Passport Applications In Four Days — Tunji-Ojo

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Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has cleared about 60,000 passport backlog in four days.

Tunji-Ojo spoke on Tuesday when Betta Edu, minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, paid him a courtesy visit in office in Abuja.

He said the number was out of the over 200,000 pending passport applications.

The minister had directed the NIS to ensure the clearance of all pending passport applications within two weeks.

According to a statement by Alao Babatunde, his special adviser on media and publicity, Tunji-Ojo said he would clean up the passport crisis in the country.

“When we came on board, the passport crisis was an embarrassment to the country and we said there is no way it can continue,” he said.

“As at this morning, I can tell you that about 60,000 passport backlogs have been cleared, specifically, 59,906.

“On Sept. 6, when I gave the 2-week ultimatum, we had over 200,000 backlogs. However, we have recorded tremendous progress, and I still maintain my words, those backlogs must be cleared.”

On her part, Edu said her visit was informed by the need for the two ministries to collaborate in reducing human trafficking.

She added that the collaboration would also include other related challenges such as the poor welfare of veterans, underemployment and poverty reduction.

Edu said the interior ministry is in the best position to solve issues of human trafficking as it plays a supervisory role in the service.

Responding to her, Tunji-Ojo said the interior ministry welcomes such initiative as it is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.

He commended Edu for the concept and assured her of his support.

“There is a lot of work to be done and we cannot work in silos as the President has directed,” Tunji-Ojo said.

“We are not just working on humanitarian endeavours such as human trafficking, NIS must help us change the story completely.

“We may only have to expand it to include the welfare of inmates in our correctional centres as they are Nigerians as well.

“Let’s see how they can benefit from your welfare packages. Of course, there is a lot we can achieve together.”

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In Pursuit Of Cleaner, Greener Lagos: Ex-Beauty Queen, Tomi Salami’s Mission To Educate Students

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For some years now, Tomi Lydia Salami, a former beauty queen and social entrepreneur, has been on a mission of advocacy for clean energy, climate action and environmental protection through her registered non-for-profit organization —Aurora International Charity Foundation. Through the Foundation, Ms. Tomi has established a solid track record of successfully impacted positively over 30,000 adults, youths and children across the country using various platforms of education, welfare, empowerment and health.

Following the huge successes of her previous projects in Lagos and other states of Nigeria, Tomi is set to unveil another out-of-the-box concept which would take environmental advocacy to a whole new level in Nigeria nay Africa. On Thursday 30 May, Tomi would be unveiling a new elite project tagged, ‘Catch Them Young: Environmental Awareness Convention 2024’. This highly impactful gathering —which aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Sanitation, Clean Energy, Climate Action and Environmental Protection— targeted at high school students in Lagos, holds at the J.F Ade Ajayi Auditorium, University of Lagos.

According to Tomi, who is the Project Coordinator, Lagos maintains a strong position as one of Africa’s top destinations for business, culture, tourism, politics, entertainment, hospitality, sports and more. Thus, “it is imperative that we engage in activities that creatively and succinctly educate and inspire citizens to become environmentally conscious, thereby fostering a sense of responsibility to our planet.

“Our focus for the ‘Catch Them Young’ campaign is geared towards the highly impressionable younger generation as we strongly believe that pioneering an environmentally conscious foundation for children early in life will bring about far-reaching success that will spread further and last longer thus establishing children as young Environmental Ambassadors for their various communities,” the ex-beauty queen added.

The epoch-making environmental convention will include engaging, interactive sessions by expert speakers and stakeholders in the industry, environmental activists, celebrities and major inspirational figures in Nigeria.

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Kano Governor Yusuf Orders Arrest Of Deposed Emir Bayero For Allegedly Creating Tension In The State

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Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the governor of Kano State, has issued an order for Aminu Ado Bayero, the ousted emir of Kano, to be taken into custody right away.

The directive was stated in a statement released on Saturday by Sanusi Tofa, the Director General of Media and Publicity at Government House in Kano.

Bayero should be placed under custody, according to the governor, for allegedly inciting unrest in the state.

“The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has ordered the immediate arrest of the former Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, for creating tension in the state,” stated the statement headed “Gov. Yusuf Orders Arrest of Deposed Emir of Kano Aminu Ado Bayero.”

“The former Emir was smuggled into Kano city last night in an attempt to forcefully return to the palace two days after being deposed by the governor.”

According to the statement, the new Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, arrived at the palace in the company of the governor, the deputy governor, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, and other top government functionaries at about 1 am on Saturday, May 25 2024.

“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest the deposed Emir with immediate effect for disturbing public peace and attempting to destroy the relative peace the state enjoys,” the statement added.

Bayero, whose whereabouts had been unknown since he was deposed on Thursday, returned to Kano on Saturday.

The state House of Assembly repealed the law that ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje had signed on December 5, 2019.

After signing the law, Ganduje split the emirate into five and appointed Emirs to each.

Upon signing the repealed Kano Emirates Council Law, Yusuf gave all the Emirs affected by the law 48 hours to vacate their palaces and hand them over to the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

He subsequently announced the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi, whom Ganduje had deposed in 2020 as Emir of Kano.

The governor issued a reappointment letter to Sanusi on Friday, and Sanusi led Jumat prayers at the Government House, Kano.

In the early hours of Saturday, Ado Bayero returned to Kano into the waiting hands of a crowd of supporters, according to a video sighted by Daily Trust.

On Friday, the governor reappointed Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.

Sanusi received his letter of reinstatement at the Government House in Kano.

While presenting him with the letter, the governor said, “By the powers conferred on me by the Kano Emirate Council Law of 1984 and 2024, and supported by the recommendation of the kingmakers, I have the singular pleasure of confirming the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and the head of the Kano Emirate Council.”

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BREAKING: Fire Outbreak In Ibafo On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway [VIDEO]

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There is a massive fire outbreak in the Ibafo area of Ogun State on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) has called for the usage of alternate routes as a result of this.

TRACE claimed in an alert sent out by K. A. Ojerinde, posing as DC Mowe Ibafo: “Firefighters from the NNPC petrol station at Ibafo are still fighting the fire as it continues to rage.”

“So, if you’re on your way to Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ijebu axis and caught up in the standstill; know the cause as both inbound and outbound are affected.

“If you’re yet to set out both inbound and outbound Lagos, alternative routes preferred if the journey is a must pls.

“For those coming from Lagos to Ibadan, Sagamu and the eastern part of the country should go through Lagos-Epe road to link east and Ijebu Ode, those going to Ibadan, Abeokuta should go through Sango-Abeokuta road.

“Those going to Lagos from the interchange should go through Sagamu-Abeokuta road.

“And those to Lagos from the east go through Ijebu Ode-Epe road.”

Video credit: Eagleonline

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