News
The British High Commission says it will “pause making decisions” on visitor visa applications from all red list countries, including Nigeria.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the commission.
The development comes hours after the UK added Nigeria to its travel red list as a result of concerns over the Omicron Covid variant.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, Sajid Javid, the UK health secretary, had announced a temporary ban on foreign travellers from Nigeria, adding that “only UK residents or citizens of the UK can enter the UK from Nigeria from that point onwards, and they would have to quarantine in one of the relevant hotels”.
On the announcement on the suspension of processing visitor visa applications in Nigeria, the UK said the decision will be in effect until the travel ban is lifted.
“To support the UK Government’s aim to protect public health from Covid-19 and associated variants of concern (VOC), UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) will pause making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries, including Nigeria, until travel restrictions are lifted,” the statement reads.
“Visit visas cover travel to the UK for tourism, visiting family and friends, undertaking short-term business activities (for example, attending meetings), undertaking short-term studies (under 6 months), taking part in research or exchange programmes as an academic, medical reasons (for example, receiving private medical treatment).
“If you apply for a visit visa in a red list country and you meet the UK Immigration Rules, your application will be paused. You will not receive a decision on your visit visa application whilst red list travel restrictions remain in place.
“You will not be able to request a refund of your visa fee once you have given your biometrics at a Visa Application Centre (VAC). If you already hold a valid visit visa and are intending to travel to England as a visitor from a red list country, you will not be allowed to enter.
“Separate guidance is available for travellers entering Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Use https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control and https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-list-of-countries-and-territories.”
The commission also said visas or entry permits from red list countries will only be issued where there are compelling and compassionate circumstances.
“There are only very limited exemptions to travel and entry requirements for critical workers and medical and compassionate cases,” the statement reads.
“If you have submitted a visit visa application and you do not wish to withdraw, we will continue to hold your application.
“If you choose to continue with your visa application, you will not receive a decision on your visit visa whilst red list travel restrictions remain in place.”
Persons interested in applying on compassionate grounds can find more information on the process here.
The Cable
Federal Government on Sunday ruled out the possibility of restricting foreign travellers from visiting Nigeria despite travel bans on the country by Canada, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
This is just as the government stated that most of the in-bound passengers that tested positive for Covid-19 were from the UK.
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said this on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme on Sunday.
Ehanire described as unfortunate the knee-jerk reaction of some countries to the Omicron strain. He noted that even the World Health Organisation had said recently that countries should focus more on collaboration rather than shutting borders.
“At the moment we have no plans restricting anybody coming from another country,” he said.
The UK on Saturday night announced that it found 21 cases of the omicron variant which were linked to Nigeria. It announced that it would, from Monday (today), restrict all flights emanating from Nigeria.
It also suspended all pending visa applications in Nigeria due to the ban on flights from Nigeria due to the Omicron variant.
In a statement on Sunday, the commission said, “To support the UK Government’s aim to protect public health from Covid-19 and associated variants of concern, UK Visas and Immigration will pause making decisions on visitor visa applications in all red list countries, including Nigeria, until travel restrictions are lifted.
“If you apply for a visit visa in a red list country and you meet the UK Immigration Rules, your application will be paused. You will not receive a decision on your visit visa application whilst red list travel restrictions remain in place. You will not be able to request a refund of your visa fee once you have given your biometrics at a Visa Application Centre. If you already hold a valid visit visa and are intending to travel to England as a visitor from a red list country, you will not be allowed to enter.”
The UK said there are only very limited exemptions to travel and entry requirements for critical workers and medical and compassionate cases.”
But the minister said the Omicron strain could not yet be declared as a deadly strain because no deaths had so far been recorded across the world.
“We are watching what the science community is saying and of course not rushing to judgment and we are also not applauding any lockdowns or any prohibitions or banning of flights or movement of people until we know more.
“We believe that the harm it will do to livelihoods and economies may be more that the perceived value that will be derived from shutting movement between countries. I believe countries should come together to take a common approach and that includes the UK and other countries contemplating a red list,” Ehanire added.
When asked why there was a large number of outbound Nigerian passengers testing positive abroad despite testing negative in Nigeria, Ehanire admitted that indeed, some fake test results were being presented by passengers.
The minister said the government had tightened its mechanism for spotting fake results and vaccination cards.
He, however, argued that the development was not peculiar to Nigeria, adding that most of the inbound passengers that tested positive in Nigeria were actually from the UK.
“Because of the very large volume of travellers from the UK, we also have the most positive Covid-19 virus coming from the UK too,” the minister said.
When asked if anyone had been prosecuted for presenting a fake vaccination certificate or test result, Ehanire explained that the normal procedure was to quarantine such people before handing them over to the police. He admitted that he never followed up to know what happened to such people.
Ehanire said the government was exploring the option of setting up vaccination centres at supermarkets and worship centres.
The minister added that the government was looking at vaccinating at least 70 per cent of the population against coronavirus.
He stated that Nigeria had about 100 million doses which would be delivered to the country in phases.
On the possibility of vaccine production, Ehanire said the Federal Government was seriously looking towards that, adding that it would be a collaborative effort with the private sector.
Regarding the possible spike in Covid-19 infections during the Yuletide, Ehanire said the government would continue to encourage non-pharmaceutical interventions like wearing of masks, social distancing and use of hand sanitisers.
When asked if Nigeria was already facing another wave of Covid-19 infections, he responded in the affirmative, adding that the 4th wave had been predicted long ago and this may just be it.
Ehanire stated, “We had the so-called third wave already with the Delta variant. This is what we are looking at as the 4th wave and it was predicted as far back as a month ago that there might be a 4th wave in Nigeria and perhaps the world and it is already accurately manifesting. We hope it doesn’t get to be that and if it becomes the 4th wave, it will not be deadly to our citizens.”
Between Nov 22 and Nov 28, 67 inbound passengers tested positive – NCDC report
Meanwhile, more inbound passengers are testing positive to Covid-19, an analysis of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s weekly situation report has shown.
The report obtained from the NCDC website on Sunday indicated that positivity rate among inbound travellers had increased by 74.6 per cent.
It was also gathered that 48 out of the 94 test centres for inbound persons of interest had not sent in reports of persons tested for three weeks. According to NCDC, in its latest situation report, a total of 17 inbound passengers tested positive between November 15 and November 21.
It however added that between November 22 and November 28, a total of 67 passengers tested positive signifying a 74.6 per cent increase.
Punch
Residents of 1000 Housing Estate in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, woke up to an explosion Saturday morning.
The explosion believed to have been triggered by Boko Haram fighters sparked tension in the area.
A rocket also landed at Gomari, a community about four kilometres from the airport located in the state capital.
In a video seen by Daily Trust, residents of the estate were discussing the incidents in groups.
A large crowd was also seen in one of the houses affected by the explosion.
A resident said no life was lost in the incident but Daily Trust could not independently verify this at the time of this report.
A military source said troops of 33 artillery, Njimtelo, opened fire when they sighted insurgents on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
The insurgents were said to have also engaged troops in a gun battle.
The incident happened after at least 20 persons, including two army officers, lost their lives when suspected ISWAP fighters and troops clashed at a military base in Rann, headquarters of Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno.
Security sources said the incident occurred around 1:30am of Friday at Rann, which shares borders with Cameroon.
It was learnt that troops killed more than a dozen of the outlawed group and destroyed their operations vehicles.
There was also an attack at Malam Fatori, headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area of Borno.
The town, which shares a land border with Niger Republic, had been attacked several times by Boko Haram fighters.
Daily Trust
The United Kingdom says Nigeria will be added to the countries on its red list as a result of the discovery of Covid Omicron cases linked to Nigeria.
Sajid Javid, the UK health secretary, disclosed this on Saturday in a television interview.
The South Africa National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) had, on November 25, announced the discovery of 22 positive cases of the new Omicron variant.
Following the discovery, a number of countries banned travel from countries in southern Africa.
The UK had also placed a temporary ban on air travel from six southern African countries — South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe — with immediate effect to prevent importation of the variant into Britain.
According to the new protocol announced on Saturday, non-UK and non-Irish citizens who are travelling in from Nigeria will not be allowed entry into the UK.
“Over the recent days, we have learned of a significant number of growing cases linked to travel with Nigeria. There are 27 cases already in England and that’s growing. Nigeria narrows second only to South Africa in terms of cases linked to Omicron,” he said.
“So today, the government has decided to add Nigeria to the travel red list and that will be effective from 4am on Monday. This will mean that only UK residents or citizens of the UK can enter the UK from Nigeria from that point onwards, and they would have to quarantine in one of the relevant hotels.
“We’ve also decided to require pre-departure tests for all inward travellers that will be effective from 4am on Tuesday, and they’ll be required maximum of 48 hours before the departure time.”
A statement by the British High Commission also noted that the ban is temporary and “follows 21 recent cases of Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529 (Omicron) linked to Nigeria”.
The ban will also not apply to persons “staying airside and only transiting through”.
The Cable
PRESS RELEASE
Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19 has reviewed the International Travel
Protocol of 22nd October 2021. This revised protocol is aimed at further reducing the risk of importation and exportation of Covid-19 especially the variants of concern.
In-bound Passengers:
All passengers arriving in Nigeria are expected to provide evidence of and comply with the following rules:
1. Covid-19 PCR test to be done within 48hrs before departure
2. Post-arrival Day 2 Covid-19 PCR test
3. Self-isolation for 7 days (For unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals)
4. Day 7 post-arrival exit PCR test (For unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals)
Out-bound Passengers
All out-bound Passengers are required to provide either of the following documentation:
1. Valid evidence of full vaccination against Covid-19.
2. Negative PCR test result within 48hrs from the time of boarding.
The review of the protocol is based on science, national experience, and global developments.
The PSC assures Nigerians that it shall continue to monitor global and specific country situations with a view to taking necessary measures to safeguard the health of Nigerians.
The PSC calls on all Nigerians to ensure that they have taken their full dose of Covid-19 vaccinations and to continue to observe compliance to public health social measures.
This revised protocol comes into effect on 5th December, 2021.
Sun
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is to launch a nationwide deployment and use of virtual court proceedings in Nigeria’s correctional centres.
AGF’s spokesperson, Umar Gwandu, said in a statement on Friday that the minister would “launch the pilot project for the deployment and use (of) Virtual Court Sitting facilities at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja on Monday, December 6, 2021.”
Gwandu explained further:, “The development is part of the process to implement the Post-Covid-19 Justice Sector Plan marshaled out by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in April, 2020”.
The statement added, “Secretary of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion, Leticia Ayoola-Daniels working with the representative of the supporting organization; Oyinye Ndubuisi of the UNDP are working assiduously to ensure achievement of the laudable project.”
This is coming more than a year after Malami muted the idea in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown in April last year.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic last year, virtual court proceedings have gained traction in the Nigeria’s judicial system, due to the lockdown and other safety measures that restrict physical court sittings.
National Judicial Council (NJC) has also issued a virtual court sittings guidelines for various courts, many of whose chief judges have also issued practice directions to that effect.
Gwandu further said on Friday that the initiative was one of the strategic interventions by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice “towards engendering lasting reforms in the Criminal Justice Sector in Nigeria.”
As a way of addressing the intractable delays in Nigeria’s criminal justice system, the statement said the Justice Ministry in collaboration with the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion, conceived the project to “expedite engagement with the Nigerian Correctional Centres to make it possible for evidence of suspects in custody to be taken without their physical presence in court to avoid disruptions.”
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service; Halilu Nababa as well as members of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion, are some of the dignitaries expected at the occasion.
PT
Two persons were on Friday killed during an attack by bandits on Ungwan Gimbiya community, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Over 50 residents of the community were also said to have been abducted by the attackers who invaded the area in the early hours of Friday.
The attack was carried out barely a week after the state government restored telecommunication services that had earlier been shut down to tackle insecurity in some parts of the state.
As of the time of filing this report, there were no official reactions to the latest attack.
Many residents of Ungwan Gimbiya, located around Sabo, had fled the area following the activities of bandits.
The community is a few kilometres away from Kakau Daji where over 60 worshippers of the Emmanuel Baptist Church were kidnapped on Sunday, October 31, 2021, during a church service.
Two of the abductees were killed on the spot while two others were later shot dead.
Similarly, some bandits were reported to have invaded Kainuwar Isa and Kigu of Dutse ward in the Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing one person and abducting 13 others.
The incident, it was gathered, took place Thursday night, according to a source, who added that the gunmen shot indiscriminately when they stormed the community.
There has been no official statement from the authorities.
Punch
Nigeria’s debt to China, France, Japan, India and Germany rose to $4.26bn as of June 30, 2021 from $3.85bn at the end of 2019, according to data obtained from Debt Management Office.
An analysis of the data showed that the country spent $402.74m in the 18-month period servicing bilateral loans, even as it borrowed $400m.
As of December 31, 2019, Nigeria owed $3.18bn to the Exim Bank of China, $76.13m to France’s Agence Francaise Development, $361.75m to Japan International Cooperation Agency, $32.14m to the Exim Bank of India, and $202.27m to Germany’s Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufbua.
The bilateral loans accounted for 13.89 per cent of the country’s total external debt of $27.67bn as of the first quarter of 2020.
A total of $94.99m was paid as debt service for bilateral loans in Q1 2020, with China and India $94.61m and $382,310 respectively. Japan, France and Germany got nothing within this period.
The bilateral loans increased by $110m to $3.95bn on June 30, 2020, accounting for 12.54 per cent of the total external debt of $31.48bn.
The country spent $14.26m servicing the bilateral loans in Q2 2020, with France and Germany getting $14.22m and $44,340 respectively while China, Japan and India got nothing.
The debt owed to the five countries rose by $130m in Q3 to $4.08bn on September 30, 2020, making up 12.74 per cent of the total external debt of $31.99bn.
The cost of servicing bilateral loans was $114.6m in Q3, with China, India and Germany getting $100.86m, $412,220 and $13.32m respectively, while Japan and France got nothing.
Nigeria’s total indebtedness to these countries fell slightly by $2m to $4.06bn at the end of 2020, accounting for 12.17 per cent of the total external debt of $33.35bn as of December 2020.
The country incurred a debt service cost of $34.34m in Q4, with China, France and Germany receiving $20,000, $21.14m and $13.19m respectively, while India and Japan got nothing.
The bilateral loans rose by $120m in the first three months of this year to $4.18bn, accounting for 12.73 per cent of the total external debt of $32.86bn.
A total of $106.33m was paid as debt service for bilateral loans in Q1 2021, with China and India receiving $102.2m and $4.13m, while France, Japan and Germany got.
The total debt owed to the five countries increased further to $4.25bn as of June 30, 2021, with China having $3.48bn; Japan, $74.77m; France, $482.15m; India, $34.59m; and Germany, $174.39m.
Bilateral loans accounted for 12.70 per cent of the country’s total external debt of $33.47bn at the end of June, while it spent $38.22m servicing the loans in Q2 2021.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said in October that the Federal Government was uncomfortable with the fact that it exceeded the borrowing threshold in the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
“But we have made sure that we have planned over the next few years that the borrowing is scaled down, and also that we are able to borrow at levels that we can actually repay the debt service obligation,” she added.
Punch
Lagos State has shut down Dowen College, Lekki, indefinitely following the death of a student, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, after allegedly being bullied by schoolmates.
Commissioner for Education Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo announced the closure after a meeting with the School Management and Staff.
State authorities said the school will remain shut until the completion of the investigations by the police. The Commissioner called for calm, saying no effort would be spared in getting to the root of the incident.
Sylvester Oromoni, a 12-year-old student of Dowen College, located in Lekki area of Lagos State, was allegedly murdered by some cult groups.
The deceased was said to have been assaulted by some cult groups, who he identified before his death, as students of the college for refusing to join the fraternity.
He was admitted in a Lagos hospital on Friday following the attack and confirmed dead on Tuesday.
A relation of the deceased, Perrison Oromoni, took to the micro blogging site, Twitter on Wednesday, to announce his demise.
He revealed that the 12-year-old passed away on Tuesday after a series of tests and X-rays indicated that he sustained internal injuries from severe beating.
But Dowen College, who reached out to the family, said his injuries were sustained while playing football.
Speaking further on the issue, Perrison said: “We’re from Delta State, but he goes to Dowen College in Lekki.
They called my uncle because his son was injured when he was playing football. Reaching the hospital, it was confirmed that he was being bullied and beaten up, causing internal damages.
“After tests and X-rays, it was confirmed he was beaten up badly. He died yesterday (Tuesday) morning, and his entire body was swollen.
“Before his passing, he said they had been pressuring him to join a cult group.. He said they were going to kill him if he talked.”
In a screenshot shared on his blogging site, Perrison said the late Sylvester mentioned a few names of the students, who pressured him to join their cult group before he died.
He said: “Anybody that can kill me should kill me now. My brother won’t die for nothing, Anslem Temile, Michael Kashamu and Benjamin Favour and Dowen college, just know he called your names before he died.”
According to a media report, a representative of Dowen College, Ayomide Falona, has said investigations have begun into the matter while refuting the claims of assault.
When contacted the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adekunle Ajisebutu, said, he had not been briefed.
Thousands of travellers were stranded on Thursday on the Benin-Auchi Road as drivers blocked the route with their vehicles to protest against the abduction of one of their colleagues on Wednesday.
The blockade, which was mounted along the road at Ugha community, left many commuters lamenting their fate.
One of the drivers said they blocked the road to draw attention to the continuous abductions of their colleagues by gunmen on the route.
He said, “One of our drivers was kidnapped on Wednesday and we reported to the police, but nothing is being done to search for him. Another one was kidnapped several months ago and we are afraid he may have died as he is yet to be found.
“We are not leaving here until the government does something about it. We brought with us seven bags of rice, pots and other ingredients to cook. That is how serious we are.”
A passenger, Collins Aghedo, who was travelling to Abuja, stated that passengers had been stranded for hours as the drivers were bent on drawing the attention of the authorities to their plight.
“It has been very tough since morning. Getting stuck in one place without knowing what will happen is a harrowing experience. We hope that the police will come to our rescue,” he added.
Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Kontongs Bello, said the police visited the protest ground to pacify the drivers, adding that efforts were being made to rescue the victims.
In a statement on Thursday, the PPRO said, “On December 1, around 8.52pm, credible information from the Obagie vigilante chairman revealed that armed bandits, suspected to be kidnappers numbering about 20, intercepted a Galaxy bus with the number plate, JJT 989 FC, on the Benin-Auchi Road by Rubber Plantation/ Ugha slope with nine passengers, en route to Uromi, Edo State, from Ibadan, Oyo State.
“On receipt of the information, the Ehor DPO, Ben Alpha, swung into action, mobilised police operatives in collaboration with military and local vigilantes for bush combing and rescue operation. In the process, six victims were rescued unhurt — four males, one female and a baby. Bush combing is still ongoing with the aim of rescuing the remaining four victims and further arrest of the suspected kidnappers.”
Punch
More...
A poultry farm, Redi Foods has dragged Hybrid Feeds Limited to court over sale of poisonous poultry feeds in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Our correspondent gathered that Redi Foods had over a three-month period last year bought poultry feeds from Hybrid Feeds.
It was however revealed that more than 2,000 birds that consumed the feeds purchased by Redi Foods died few days after consumption of the feeds.
Tests conducted by a government approved laboratory revealed that the laying birds kept for breeding by the claimant died as a result of the contaminated feeds.
Our correspondent who witnessed the Court session on Thursday, gathered that failure of the Hybrid Feeds to compensate the claimant made the claimant to drag the company to Court.
Counsel to the claimant, Mr Adebayo Salau told Justice Ishola of Court 8, Oyo state High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan on Thursday that all efforts made by the claimant to get compensation proved abortive.
He said, "I am here to represent my client who is the claimant. What happened was that my client purchased some poultry feeds at Hybrid Feeds and almost the whole stock died.
"It was discovered that the feeds were highly poisonous, with Aflatoxin level 11 times above the safe levels permitted, to the extent that the birds reared by my client died rapidly within a few days.
“At the last sitting of the court on March 11, 2021, counsel to Hybrid Feed pleaded with the court to grant it time to settle out of court with my Client, Redi Foods. It turned out, however, that they were merely playing games and probably looking for ways to buy time.
"Now, today we have applied to the Court that the case be adjourned for hearing.
"We are demanding the sum of N12.5m for the loss and we are demanding the sum of N5m as general damages, making a total of N17.5m
Counsel to the defendant, Ms Seun Akande, in her submission told the Court that the defendant and the claimant were yet to agree on the terms and conditions in the out of Court settlement process.
She said, "We have not been able to reach a compromise".
The presiding judge after listening to both the claimant’s and defendant’s counsels on Thursday, then adjourned the case till 1st March, 2022.
The judge said, "The case has been adjourned till 1st March 2022 for hearing".
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced three telcos as approved bidders of the forthcoming 3.5 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum auction for the deployment of the fifth generation (5G) networks.
The qualified bidders include MTN Nigeria Plc, Mafab Communications Limited, and Airtel Networks Limited.
Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s director of public affairs, said this in a statement issued on Thursday.
The commission said that the qualified bidders met the criteria for participation in the licensing process of the 3.5Ghz spectrum, including payment of the stipulated Intention to Bid Deposit (IBD) as outlined in the Information Memorandum (IM).
NCC said that the three telcos will proceed to take part in the next stage of the bidding process. The telcos will participate in the mandatory mock auction process and the main auction.
“Consequently, the stage is now set for the three companies to participate in the Main Auction as well as in the mandatory Mock Auction process, which will come as a precursor to the Main Auction,” the commission said.
The commission also reaffirmed dates for the conduct of both auctions.
The mock auction is scheduled to hold on December 10 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja by 11:00 a.m, while the main auction will hold December 13 at the same venue and time.
In November, telcos had called on the NCC to reduce the $197.4 million (N75 billion) reserve price set for the planned auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum.
The Cable
In the last one year, 5,238 inmates have escaped from various prisons across Nigeria, according to a PREMIUM TIMES analysis.
There have been 15 incidents of jailbreaks within that period, and eight of those were successful.
The prison break in Jos on Friday is the latest of such jailbreaks. Authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service said eight inmates have been recaptured.
The breakdown of security across the country has led to a surge in frequent prison breaks, kidnapping and banditry.
Here are some of the cases of prison outbreaks in Nigeria in the last one year and the events around them.
Edo
October 19, 2020: The deputy comptroller of correction in charge of Oko Prison, West Amayo, said at 9 a.m., an attempt to break into the jail was repelled. The attack was unsuccessful.
October 21, 2020: Two days after the Oko Prison attack, the Benin Prison located along the Benin-Sapele Road was attacked by hoodlums.
A total of 1,993 inmates escaped from the two facilities.
April 15, 2021: Joint forces from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo Command, and the Nigerian Correctional Service stopped a jailbreak attempt by inmates at a facility at Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area.
October 29, 2021: A fight broke out among inmates at the Benin Medium Security prison on Sapele Road in Benin City, and some of them made efforts to escape, but the intervention of security agencies restored peace to the facility.
Ondo
October 22, 2020: Almost 58 inmates were released from the facility in Okitipupa local government of Ondo State, after thugs broke in. The attackers destroyed properties belonging to the prison and injured staff on the premises.
Lagos
October 22, 2020: An attempt at the Ikoyi facility was foiled by correctional officers and soldiers. During the attack, some prisoners were shot while others tried to breach the gate of the prison.
Abia
October 22, 2020: Another foiled attack occurred at the Afara Umuahia Correctional Centre when a combined team of the Nigerian Army, police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the armed unit of the Nigerian Correctional Centre, repelled an attempted jailbreak.
The security personnel fired shots and tear gas in the air to ward off the hoodlums.
Delta
October 22, 2020 : A warder at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Warri, Delta State, was killed during an attempted jail break by the inmates. The main gate and administrative office of the correctional centre was set on fire in an attempt to facilitate the jailbreak.
Imo
April 4, 2021: Gunmen attacked a correctional centre in Owerri, the state capital, and freed 1,844 prisoners. Officials said in all, 84 inmates were returned to the facility.
Bauchi
April 9, 2021: Two officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) in Bauchi sustained injuries after a riot at the facility. Five of the inmates were injured in the process, but no inmates were able to escape after the riot.
Kano
April 22, 2021: Security agents foiled an attempted jail break by inmates of Kurmawa Prison located within the Emir’s Palace in Kano.
No casualties occurred but gunshots were fired to scare the residents. The spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Kano, Musbahu Lawal, said the attempt was planned by some condemned prisoners.
Kogi
September 13, 2021: Armed men attacked the prison facility in Kabba, Kogi, North-central Nigeria, killing two officials and freeing 240 inmates.
About 114 of the 240 correctional service were recaptured, after the Controller General of the correctional service, Haliru Nababa, gave directives to officers of the service to apprehend the escapees.
Oyo
October 22, 2021: The Abolongo Custodial Centre was attacked and 837 inmates escaped from the facility, but the interior ministry said 262 had been recaptured.
The ministry released the details of the remaining 575 still on the run. It published the photos of prison inmates who escaped from the custodial center.
Jos
July 19, 2021: Four inmates escaped from the Jos Maximum Prison.
November 28, 2021: The most recent jailbreak occurred on Sunday when gunmen stormed the medium security custodial centre, Jos, releasing 262. At least 10 inmates were killed during the encounter and one security personnel also died.
PT
PRESS RELEASE
President Muhammadu Buhari departed Abuja Wednesday (yesterday) to attend EXPO 2020 Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
EXPO 2020 Dubai, with the theme, "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future", creates the environment for Nigeria to join over 190 countries to forge true and meaningful partnerships "to build a better future for everyone.”
The Expo will provide another opportunity for the Nigerian delegation to highlight significant strides in the economy in the last six years as a basis for making the country an important destination for foreign direct investment.
Aside touring the Nigerian Pavilion at the Expo on Friday, Nigeria’s National Day, the President will also receive in audience prospective investors as well as meet with Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.
On Saturday, Buhari will be the Special Guest of Honour at the special Trade and Investment Forum themed: Unveiling Investment Opportunities in Nigeria. It is put together to mark Nigeria’s presence at the gathering by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
The President will be accompanied by Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Defence, Bashir Magashi; Aviation, Hadi Sirika; and Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar.
Others are: Ministers of Health, Osagie Ehanire; Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite; Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Maryam Katagum, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, Director-General of National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar and Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Buhari is expected back in Abuja on Sunday, December 5, 2021.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
December 1, 2021