Sexual harassment: FG suspends perm sec, orders probe

The Office of the Head of Service has suspended Ambassador Ibrahim Lamuwa, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, due to an allegation of sexual harassment.  Head of Service, Folashade Yemi-Esan stated that Lamuwa will remain suspended pending the results of an investigation into the matter. “The permanent secretary has been suspended pending the outcome of the probe by the committee set up, “ a senior director in the OHCSF told our correspondent in Abuja. Following a petition submitted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar against Ambassador Ibrahim Lamuwa, the Head of Service established a committee to investigate the matter.  The petition, filed by Simisola Ajayi through her lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, accused Lamuwa of repeated sexual harassment and detailed the alleged incidents.  In a letter dated May 27, 2024, Tuggar conveyed his concern about the gravity of the allegations involving the permanent secretary to the Head of Service. “I am compelled to write to inform you of a formal complaint against the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ibrahim Adamu Lamuwa, on allegations of sexual harassment. “Bearing in mind the gravity of the matter, I feel it necessary to draw your attention to it and ask that you handle it accordingly,” the minister stated in the letter.

El Salvador Launches Innovative Passport Scheme to Attract Global Talent

In a bid to bolster its intellectual capital and foster a diverse community of experts, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has unveiled a pioneering initiative. Under this program, the country will offer 5,000 free passports to highly skilled professionals across various fields including science, engineering, medicine, art, and philosophy. Valued at an impressive $5 billion, this initiative represents a significant investment in attracting global talent to the Central American nation. President Bukele, known for his bold policies and efforts to combat corruption and crime, views this move as a strategic step towards enhancing El Salvador’s societal development and future trajectory. The program promises a welcoming environment for talented individuals and their families, offering incentives such as zero percent taxes and duties on relocation, including assets and commercial items. This initiative aligns with recent reforms aimed at attracting foreign investment and underscores El Salvador’s commitment to becoming a hub for talent and innovation.

Presidency Disowns Viral List Of New Nigerian Ambassadors, Designations 

The Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has described as fake news a purported list of new Nigerian Ambassadors. A purported list of new Nigerian Ambassadors and their assigned countries went viral on social media on Tuesday. In a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Tinubu’s aide said the names in circulation are merely a copy of an outdated 2017 list. Olusegun added that most of those mentioned in the fake list have already retired from their diplomatic duties. He wrote: “The alleged LIST OF NEW NIGERIAN AMBASSADORS AND THEIR ASSIGNED COUNTRIES circulating online is fake. “This list is merely a copy of an outdated 2017 list, where most of the individuals mentioned have already retired from their diplomatic duties. “A few names on the list are even inaccurate, and some have sadly passed away. One must question the sudden emergence of this stale list at this time. “Therefore, it is imperative to disregard and treat this list with utter contempt.” Recall that President Tinubu had, on September 2nd, 2023, recalled all career and non-career ambassadors manning the country’s diplomatic missions, embassies, and consulates globally.

How Relocating to America humbled me – Femi Brainard

Nollywood Actor Femi Brainard shared his insights on the realities of living abroad as a Nigerian celebrity. He narrated his experience during an interview with Teju Oyelakin, also known as Teju Babyface, on his podcast Brainard explained the advantages and disadvantages of relocating, emphasising that it’s preferable to be esteemed and respected in Nigeria rather than becoming anonymous abroad. He also said that his wife did not like the idea of living abroad. While speaking with the comedian, Brainard noted that anytime he is driving, his Nigerian passengers in particular can’t help but stare at him in disbelief and wonder if he is the star they know.  The actor added that the curious ones would approach him to be sure he was the famous actor they knew in Nigeria. Brainard said the bills are a lot and he has things like rent to think about while explaining that he was so broke to an extent that he went to the parking lot and burst into tears. He said: “At times it would be so hard, I no go get Money for hand. That day I went to the parking lot of our apartment, I cried, na me bring this woman here. Yankee no know star o… I had to feed my family. I know these couple from the airport, the husband was like, ‘ask him if he is Femi Brainard and I said yes. The husband didn’t know when he reached at me and asked ‘bros what are you doing here”. “As difficult as Nigeria seems to be, I would rather be a prince and a celebrity in a system that is not working than come to this place and be a nobody. I am still bothered about rent.”

UAE Has Not Lifted Visa Ban On Nigeria – Presidency

The presidency has refuted claims of the United Arab Emirates lifting the visa restriction on Nigerian travellers. The ban was imposed in October 2022 along with restrictions on citizens from about 20 African nations.  Among the affected countries are Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, and others. Reports surfaced on Tuesday that discussions between President Bola Tinubu and his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, regarding diplomatic issues like flight allocations and travel restrictions, prompted the suspension of the ban. However, Bayo Onanuga, senior Special Adviser to President Tinubu on information, clarified that the ban remains in place, stating that the circulating document is unauthorized by both Nigerian and UAE governments. “UAE has not resumed visa issuance to Nigerians. The document in circulation is not authorized either by the Nigerian government or the UAE”, he said.

Tinubu Told To Sack Foreign Affairs Minister

President Bola Tinubu has been advised to sack the minister of foreign affairs Yusuf Tuggar over the leak of a letter from Qatari authorities. Former presidential aide Reno Omokri gave the advice on Sunday. On Saturday, a diplomatic correspondence between the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Tinubu’s proposed state visit to Qatar between March 2 and 3, 2024 was leaked. In the letter dated February 22, 2024, Qatari officials said they would be unable to receive Tinubu for a business parley on the said days because there is no legally binding trade agreement between both nations among other reasons. The Nigerian government reacted to the leaked correspondence by saying it was not a snub on Tinubu. Reacting to the developments, Mr Omokri wrote on X on Sunday, “If I am President and my minister of foreign affairs comes to tell me that a sensitive national intelligence document has been leaked, my response to him would be simple: ‘Find the leaker, or find yourself another job!’ “A nice President cannot last in Nigeria. If you want to last as President, study Obasanjo!” In another post, he wrote, “President Tinubu is too nice, and niceness is a weakness in Nigeria’s politics. Nigeria is a fairly brutal country, and on the scale with niceness on the left end and brutality on the right end, you may not want to move all the way to the right, like Abacha, but you also do not want to be too close to the left. You want to be somewhere in the middle, but tilting to the right, like Obasanjo.  “Whoever leaked that Qatar note verbale should be fished out, sacked, and prosecuted for violating the Official Secrets Act, as well as for economic and political sabotage. However, if you cannot fish out the specific individual or individuals, then you make a scapegoat of those in charge of the foreign affairs ministry.  “Sack the minister in charge of that ministry. Then, remove the civil servant who is the Permanent Secretary and reassign him to a less desirable ministry. Then, demote the Director in charge of the department from where the leak occurred.  “If the President does not ensure that heads roll over this embarrassment to his administration, he will project weakness, and his own head may roll. This is Nigeria. There are too many people in the system whose loyalty is to opposing political parties and actors.”

China guards culture, traditional values Jealously -Runsewe

The Director General, National Council for Art and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, has stated that the celebration of Chinese new year festival is a testament to the fact that China guides very jealously, its cultural heritage and traditional values. Runsewe informed that China is reputed for its diverse culture and its fascinating manifestations, which date back to several centuries. The NCAC boss made the statement while delivering his goodwill message during activities to mark 2024, Chinese New Year celebration at the Chinese cultural center, Saturday in Abuja. Runsewe, who is also the President, World Craft Council (WCC), said it is important to point out that China shares a lot of similarities with Nigeria. While China is the second most populous country in Asia, Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa. Similarly, both China and Nigeria are culturally diverse nations. He said, “China has 56 official ethnic groups while Nigeria has close to 400 ethnic groups, each with its unique cultural peculiarities. China has leveraged its cultural strength to develop its economy. On the other hand, Nigeria harnesses its cultural potential to drive the process of her economic development. “It is therefore clear that both nations have a lot to learn and benefit from each other in the area of cultural exchanges. Indeed, the relationship between China and Nigeria has been quite robust. The cultural sector in Nigeria has benefited greatly from Chinese human capital development programmes. Over the years, the two countries have developed a strong cultural partnership that pays. “Nigeria has a lot of historical and heritage sites that can be upgraded to serve as recreational, religious, and commercial sites comparable to the Chinese Temple fair. We are rich in arts, crafts, other cultural products as well as a variety of food and snacks. Some of our historical sites have been listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. This is why we must strengthen our cultural ties with China so as to tap from their cultural expertise. ” Speaking at the occasion, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Cui Jianchun, stated that the Chinese new year celebration also known as the spring festival is an important Chinese celebration that brings family together to reflect on the past year, celebrate what they have achieved while ushering in the new year. He said, “This year, 2024 is tagged the year of the dragon, in Chinese culture, dragon symbolize three things, one is auspiciousness, second is the wisdom, and the third is about strength. I believe in our relationship with Nigeria. We have been auspicious, applied wisdom, and together, we have shown that there is strength in unity. Delivering his speech, Chairman house committee on Nigeria-China Relation in the National of Assembly, Hon Jafaru Yakubu, stated that the temple fair is an age long celebration that brings family together in love, peace and harmony. He explained that the year’s celebration will also provide an opportunity for Nigerians to learn about Chinese culture and tradition. One of the winners of the Chinese raffle draw, Mr Emmanuel Okoi, thank God for favouring him to be among the winners, and he prayed the Chinese Nigeria relationship will continue to blossom.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Tuggar Welcomes US Secretary of State Blinken for Bilateral Talks

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, warmly received the United States Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. The diplomatic encounter took place at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where Tuggar, alongside Secretary to the Government of the Federation Sen George Akume, led a brief reception and exchanged pleasantries with the visiting American diplomat. Alkasim Abdulkadir, Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, confirmed these details, highlighting the significance of the diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the United States. During Secretary Blinken’s visit, discussions are set to revolve around key areas such as deepening democracy in the West African subregion, enhancing trade relations, and bolstering security cooperation between the two nations. The Minister also plans to utilize the opportunity to advocate for multilateral reforms, specifically emphasizing the need to democratize the United Nations Security Council. The talks aim to strengthen ties and address regional and global concerns in a collaborative manner.

UK Govt Increases List of Organizations that Can Sponsor Nigerian Immigrants

The United Kingdom government has released a revised list of companies and organizations authorized to sponsor skilled immigrants applying for temporary worker visas from Nigeria. The official website, as of January 12, 2024, reveals a significant increase, with a total of 99,856 approved companies, marking a notable rise of 31,226 from the previous count in January 2023, which stood at 68,630. The list spans various industries, including technology, commerce, education, media and advertising, and engineering, among others. The UK government, in an announcement on its website, detailed the categories of workers these sponsors are licensed to support, including charity workers, skilled workers, creative workers, global business mobility: senior or specialist workers, and international sportspersons. Aspiring individuals are encouraged to visit the companies’ websites to explore available job opportunities. The companies listed are: 1. RSS Express Ltd T/A Ledbury Fuel Service Station 2. IECC Care (Independent Excel Care Consortium Limited) 3. AboutCare Hastings Ltd 4. £ ESS Ltd 5. Architect UK Ltd 6. Home Accommodation Services Ltd 7. Ur Eaz Ltd 8. Infiniti Limited 9. Brunswick Stores Limited 10. Plus Care Ltd 11. 003 Ltd 12. 0086 Ltd 13. 00Nation Limited 14. 01 Accounting Services Ltd 15. 012 Global Ltd 16. 023 Ltd 17. 0xA Technologies Ltd 18. 1 Ace Training Limited 19. 1 and 1 Rougamo Limited 20. 1 and 5 Tech Ltd 21. 1 Answer Insurance Services Ltd, among others. This move is expected to enhance employment opportunities and foster international collaboration between the UK and Nigeria in various sectors. Interested parties are urged to explore the expanded list for potential job openings and sponsorships.