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Dozens of corellas were unable to be saved after "falling from the sky" in Adelaide, rescuers say.

The Lagos State Chapter of the African Action Congress has told Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, to stop taking from funds belonging to the local governments in the state.

It was disclosed that one month after the National Finance Intelligence Unit (NFIU) guidelines barring state governments from accessing local governments' funds, Sanwo-olu reportedly deducted over N370 million from a council's allocation for June 2019.

An NFIU source told SaharaReporters that the Sanwo-Olu approached it for a concession but the NFIU did not grant it a waiver to access funds meant for the local governments.

Reacting to the development, Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, Acting State Chairman of AAC bemoaned the action by the governor, asserting that the All Progressives Congress deliberately continue to rig the local government elections in the state to continue to illegally access the fund and cover their deeds.  See Also Economy Sanwo-Olu Government Accused Of Breaching NFIU Guidelines, Deducting LGA Funds At Source 0 Comments 2 Days Ago

He said, “Lagos AAC calls Governor Sanwo-Olu to return the N370 million immediately. We also call on the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), National Union of Teachers (NUT) and other worker's unions to rise up and defend the LGs from the bloody teeths of the gluttony. This is the character of the APC government since 1999."

Ajayi urged Governor Sanwo-Olu to stop tampering with local government funds, “as they are not ATMs for him and his greedy party". 

He added, "This is wicked, illegal, and a colossal theft of the people's common wealth. Lagos AAC will henceforth mobilize our LG branches to start engaging the LGs over this legendary fraud by APC. Everyday's for the thief, one day's for the owner.”
 

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The Lagos State Chapter of the African Action Congress has told Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, to stop taking from funds belonging to the local governments in the state.

It was disclosed that one month after the National Finance Intelligence Unit (NFIU) guidelines barring state governments from accessing local governments' funds, Sanwo-olu reportedly deducted over N370 million from a council's allocation for June 2019.

An NFIU source told SaharaReporters that the Sanwo-Olu approached it for a concession but the NFIU did not grant it a waiver to access funds meant for the local governments.

Reacting to the development, Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, Acting State Chairman of AAC bemoaned the action by the governor, asserting that the All Progressives Congress deliberately continue to rig the local government elections in the state to continue to illegally access the fund and cover their deeds.  See Also Economy Sanwo-Olu Government Accused Of Breaching NFIU Guidelines, Deducting LGA Funds At Source 0 Comments 2 Days Ago

He said, “Lagos AAC calls Governor Sanwo-Olu to return the N370 million immediately. We also call on the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), National Union of Teachers (NUT) and other worker's unions to rise up and defend the LGs from the bloody teeths of the gluttony. This is the character of the APC government since 1999."

Ajayi urged Governor Sanwo-Olu to stop tampering with local government funds, “as they are not ATMs for him and his greedy party". 

He added, "This is wicked, illegal, and a colossal theft of the people's common wealth. Lagos AAC will henceforth mobilize our LG branches to start engaging the LGs over this legendary fraud by APC. Everyday's for the thief, one day's for the owner.”
 

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The Lagos State Chapter of the African Action Congress has told Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, to stop taking from funds belonging to the local governments in the state.

It was disclosed that one month after the National Finance Intelligence Unit (NFIU) guidelines barring state governments from accessing local governments' funds, Sanwo-olu reportedly deducted over N370 million from a council's allocation for June 2019.

An NFIU source told SaharaReporters that the Sanwo-Olu approached it for a concession but the NFIU did not grant it a waiver to access funds meant for the local governments.

Reacting to the development, Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, Acting State Chairman of AAC bemoaned the action by the governor, asserting that the All Progressives Congress deliberately continue to rig the local government elections in the state to continue to illegally access the fund and cover their deeds.  See Also Economy Sanwo-Olu Government Accused Of Breaching NFIU Guidelines, Deducting LGA Funds At Source 0 Comments 2 Days Ago

He said, “Lagos AAC calls Governor Sanwo-Olu to return the N370 million immediately. We also call on the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), National Union of Teachers (NUT) and other worker's unions to rise up and defend the LGs from the bloody teeths of the gluttony. This is the character of the APC government since 1999."

Ajayi urged Governor Sanwo-Olu to stop tampering with local government funds, “as they are not ATMs for him and his greedy party". 

He added, "This is wicked, illegal, and a colossal theft of the people's common wealth. Lagos AAC will henceforth mobilize our LG branches to start engaging the LGs over this legendary fraud by APC. Everyday's for the thief, one day's for the owner.”
 

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Churchill Okonkwo Churchill Okonkwo

 

Max Lucado’s book, You’ll Get Through This, digs deep into what it means to go through hard times and struggles and still come out triumphant. This book, centered on Joseph, from the Old Testament Bible, is meant for anyone or group that felt stuck or discouraged because of circumstance. There is no doubt that in Nigeria, most Igbos are discouraged and stuck, politically.

In the Bible, Joseph’s pit came in the form of a cistern. In Nigeria, the pit of Igbos came in the form of depression and paranoid after losing the 2015 and the 2019 Presidential elections. In the Bible, Joseph was thrown into a hole and despised. And we? Thrown into the political wilderness, confused and feeling cheated by the Nigerian political system.

In the pit, life is reduced to one quest: to get out and never get hurt again. Interestingly, this is not easily done. The first thing you will realize is that pits have no easy exit. But once in the pit, one thing you don’t want to do is keep digging, especially if you are serious about getting out.

Joseph’s story got worse before it got better. His abandonment led to enslavement, entrapment, and imprisonment. He was sucker-punched; sold out; mistreated. People made promises only to break them; offered gift only to take them. If hurt is a swampland and Joseph a Nigerian, then, he was sentenced to hard labor in the polluted creeks of Niger Delta.

Yet, Joseph never gave up. He never allowed bitterness to poison his thoughts. His anger never metastasized into hatred. His heart never hardened; resolve never vanished. He not only survived; he thrived. By the end of his life, Joseph was the second most powerful man in his generation

Joseph would be the first to tell you that life in the pit stinks. Yet, for all its rottenness, doesn’t the pit do this much? It forces you to build bridges and look upwards. Someone from up there must come down here and give you a hand. God did for Joseph.

Before Igbos can figure out who will do it for us or how we can do it for ourselves, we need to, first, like Joseph, build bridges. Imagine if Joseph had barricaded himself while in prison. Imagine if he had insulated everyone around him and rejoice in their predicament. Imagine if he had accepted his predicament and buried his head in the ground. Pause at this point and reflect.

While it is true that you should fear no fall when you are down, the critical point is; what should you do when your intention is to get up? Ultimately, we are Igbos and as such, we don’t belong to the ground. We should not be proud of being on the ground or in a political pit. That is why we should reject the narrative, the parable, that he who is on the ground fears no fall.

Life turns every person upside down. No one escapes unscathed.  The question is how can we emerge triumphant from hard times and struggles? The answer is simple, by building bridges and not barricades.

Poking the eyes of Ijaws or Igbo minorities in the Niger Delta for refusing to join the struggle for Biafran independence is barricading ourselves. Tong-lashing Danjuma and Gowon and the rest of the tribes in the Middle Belt for their role in the Nigerian Civil War is barricading ourselves. Rejoicing over the increasing spate of banditry in the northwest is barricading ourselves.

Picking fights with the Yorubas or calling them names is barricading ourselves. Abusing the Yoruba pastors is barricading ourselves. Concocting lies against Obasanjo for refusing to embrace the lie on Jubril is barricading ourselves. If anything, we should build long and strong bridges to the heart of the Yoruba land who despite also having their “son”, Osinbajo, in the 2019 election massively voted for the party with our “son” Peter Obi.

The only practical way of getting up from the ground is to build bridges. A bitter political reality is that the current shaky bridges across the Niger or the ones that are truncated in the Middle Belt or the Creeks of the Niger Delta are not enough to pull us up. We must, thus, build bridges to the heart of the caliphate and to the banks of Lake Chad. That is a metaphysics of becoming, a pragmatic politics that will help us regain political relevance.

Let me stress that the political platform for Igbos to reclaim and remain politically relevance is immaterial. What is important is that we help heal the division in the country by building bridges. In the process, we will build the pedestal on which to stand and play a leading role once more in the difficult task of building a great Nigeria.

If you make friends with the boatman in the dry season, you will be the first to cross the flooded streets when the rains come and the tide is high. Ohaneze that openly campaigned for Atiku in the dry season should stop lamenting that the faces of Igbos around Buhari are not Igbo enough.

The frowning of a goat does not prevent it from being priced in the market. With or without Igbos in key leadership positions in the National Assembly, the work of the legislators, whatever that is, will keep rolling. With or without the support of Igbo majority, the few that backed Buhari will be fully compensated in his administration. That will never make them less Igbo than Nnia Nwodo.

Igbos are beautiful people, enterprising, caring and trailblazers. But we cannot achieve political greatness on our own in a supper multicultural Nigeria. This is succinctly captured in this word of wisdom - only someone can scratch your back.  Just as rising early makes the road short, building bridges make navigation of the shark-infested political rivers in Nigeria safe and sure.

At a time when the familiar and old politics of division is, again, demonstration its incapacity to win the hearts and minds of broader Nigerians, a new politics should rise in its place. That new politics should be focused on aspiration than complaint, on dreams than nightmares, on possibility than limits and on building bridges, not barricades.

Let our greatest trials be the launching pad into our destiny. I am here to encourage us, and shepherd us forward with the confidence that we will get through this; we will regain political relevance and we will eventually overcome, not by barricading ourselves, but by building bridges.  

Together, we can.

You can email Churchill at Churchill.okonkwo@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @churchillnnobi

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The Debt Management Office (DMO) says Nigeria’s domestic debt grew by N458.36 billion between December 31, 2018 and March 31 2019.

The DMO has repeatedly stated that it intended to reduce domestic borrowing to 60 percent from previous highs of 80 percent, as locally sourced loans are more expensive to service than foreign obtained funds.

The release, on Wednesday, by the DMO noted that the ratio of local to international debts currently stands at 68.49 percent to 31.51 percent.

“In relation to the debt management strategy, the ratio of domestic to external debt stood at 68.49 percent to 31.51 percent at the end of March. The total public debt to Gross Domestic Product ratio was 19.03 per cent which is within the 25 per cent debt limit imposed by the government," it stated.

Nigeria pays interests of between 7 to 7.5 percent on its Euro bonds, while domestically sourced treasury bills and FGN bonds are as low as 10 percent and as high as 14 percent.

On the total composition of the country’s debt stock, the debt office says the country’s borrowings soared by 2.3 per cent from N24.39 trillion on December 31, 2018 to N24.95 trillion on March 31, 2019.

Based on DMO’s records, Anambra, Borno, Ebonyi, Ekiti and Lagos states had not borrowed monies domestically since December, while Rivers State had not sourced funds locally since September 2018.

However, Lagos State still has the highest domestic debt stock, as it owes N542.2 billion.

Four Niger Delta States— Rivers; N225.5 billion, Delta; N223.4 billion, Akwa Ibom; N199.7 billion, Cross River; N167.25 billion, come after Lagos.

Osun and the FCT are the only places not in the Niger Delta region besides Lagos owing above N100 billion.

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The Debt Management Office (DMO) says Nigeria’s domestic debt grew by N458.36 billion between December 31, 2018 and March 31 2019.

The DMO has repeatedly stated that it intended to reduce domestic borrowing to 60 percent from previous highs of 80 percent, as locally sourced loans are more expensive to service than foreign obtained funds.

The release, on Wednesday, by the DMO noted that the ratio of local to international debts currently stands at 68.49 percent to 31.51 percent.

“In relation to the debt management strategy, the ratio of domestic to external debt stood at 68.49 percent to 31.51 percent at the end of March. The total public debt to Gross Domestic Product ratio was 19.03 per cent which is within the 25 per cent debt limit imposed by the government," it stated.

Nigeria pays interests of between 7 to 7.5 percent on its Euro bonds, while domestically sourced treasury bills and FGN bonds are as low as 10 percent and as high as 14 percent.

On the total composition of the country’s debt stock, the debt office says the country’s borrowings soared by 2.3 per cent from N24.39 trillion on December 31, 2018 to N24.95 trillion on March 31, 2019.

Based on DMO’s records, Anambra, Borno, Ebonyi, Ekiti and Lagos states had not borrowed monies domestically since December, while Rivers State had not sourced funds locally since September 2018.

However, Lagos State still has the highest domestic debt stock, as it owes N542.2 billion.

Four Niger Delta States— Rivers; N225.5 billion, Delta; N223.4 billion, Akwa Ibom; N199.7 billion, Cross River; N167.25 billion, come after Lagos.

Osun and the FCT are the only places not in the Niger Delta region besides Lagos owing above N100 billion.

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The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), has told Mele Kyari, the new Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that a new deal might be needed to curb the drawback subsidy payment is having on funds available to the different tiers of government.

Kayode Fayemi, Chairman of the forum and Ekiti State’s governor, observed that increases in the price of the cost of a barrel of oil will  always drive up the amount of money spent on subsidizing the cost of the product.

Fayemi informed the GMD that accountability measures had been discussed on how to equitably distribute revenues.

“It is important to highlight that subsidy remains a major drawback to government revenues. We may need to consider a new deal on how the government will absorb the cost of subsidy,” Fayemi is quoted to have said in a statement issued by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, the NGF’s head of media.

“This has become necessary, given the new reality of low oil revenues and rising government commitments. We believe that at the current course, subsidy costs will continue to offset any recovery in the oil market. Fayemi supported this assertion with figures spent on keeping the cost of gasoline at N145 by the NNPC in 2017 and half year 2018.

“The country recorded one of its lowest costs of subsidy in 2016 when oil traded at an average of $48.11bn. Total subsidy that year was around N28.6bn; but the amount rose to N219bn in 2017 and N345.5bn by mid-2018, as the price of oil and domestic PMS— Premium Motor Spirit,  consumption rebounded.

“These are important considerations for us, with direct implications for energy security and economic stability in the country.”

Reiterating the dire dependence of states on petroleum revenue, Fayemi said, “Over the last few years, the forum has built a working relationship with the corporation on matters related to the size and distribution of oil revenues in the country.

“Both organisations have held a series of engagement meetings to discuss ways to address the challenges bedevilling the oil industry. This partnership remains critical to us because it is integral to the fiscal stability of both the federal and sub-national governments, given the central role oil revenues play in funding our budgets.”

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The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), has told Mele Kyari, the new Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that a new deal might be needed to curb the drawback subsidy payment is having on funds available to the different tiers of government.

Kayode Fayemi, Chairman of the forum and Ekiti State’s governor, observed that increases in the price of the cost of a barrel of oil will  always drive up the amount of money spent on subsidizing the cost of the product.

Fayemi informed the GMD that accountability measures had been discussed on how to equitably distribute revenues.

“It is important to highlight that subsidy remains a major drawback to government revenues. We may need to consider a new deal on how the government will absorb the cost of subsidy,” Fayemi is quoted to have said in a statement issued by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, the NGF’s head of media.

“This has become necessary, given the new reality of low oil revenues and rising government commitments. We believe that at the current course, subsidy costs will continue to offset any recovery in the oil market. Fayemi supported this assertion with figures spent on keeping the cost of gasoline at N145 by the NNPC in 2017 and half year 2018.

“The country recorded one of its lowest costs of subsidy in 2016 when oil traded at an average of $48.11bn. Total subsidy that year was around N28.6bn; but the amount rose to N219bn in 2017 and N345.5bn by mid-2018, as the price of oil and domestic PMS— Premium Motor Spirit,  consumption rebounded.

“These are important considerations for us, with direct implications for energy security and economic stability in the country.”

Reiterating the dire dependence of states on petroleum revenue, Fayemi said, “Over the last few years, the forum has built a working relationship with the corporation on matters related to the size and distribution of oil revenues in the country.

“Both organisations have held a series of engagement meetings to discuss ways to address the challenges bedevilling the oil industry. This partnership remains critical to us because it is integral to the fiscal stability of both the federal and sub-national governments, given the central role oil revenues play in funding our budgets.”

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The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), has told Mele Kyari, the new Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that a new deal might be needed to curb the drawback subsidy payment is having on funds available to the different tiers of government.

Kayode Fayemi, Chairman of the forum and Ekiti State’s governor, observed that increases in the price of the cost of a barrel of oil will  always drive up the amount of money spent on subsidizing the cost of the product.

Fayemi informed the GMD that accountability measures had been discussed on how to equitably distribute revenues.

“It is important to highlight that subsidy remains a major drawback to government revenues. We may need to consider a new deal on how the government will absorb the cost of subsidy,” Fayemi is quoted to have said in a statement issued by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, the NGF’s head of media.

“This has become necessary, given the new reality of low oil revenues and rising government commitments. We believe that at the current course, subsidy costs will continue to offset any recovery in the oil market. Fayemi supported this assertion with figures spent on keeping the cost of gasoline at N145 by the NNPC in 2017 and half year 2018.

“The country recorded one of its lowest costs of subsidy in 2016 when oil traded at an average of $48.11bn. Total subsidy that year was around N28.6bn; but the amount rose to N219bn in 2017 and N345.5bn by mid-2018, as the price of oil and domestic PMS— Premium Motor Spirit,  consumption rebounded.

“These are important considerations for us, with direct implications for energy security and economic stability in the country.”

Reiterating the dire dependence of states on petroleum revenue, Fayemi said, “Over the last few years, the forum has built a working relationship with the corporation on matters related to the size and distribution of oil revenues in the country.

“Both organisations have held a series of engagement meetings to discuss ways to address the challenges bedevilling the oil industry. This partnership remains critical to us because it is integral to the fiscal stability of both the federal and sub-national governments, given the central role oil revenues play in funding our budgets.”

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Nigeria's Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has called on officers of the Nigerian Army to put their lives on the line to defend Nigeria's territorial integrity. 

He made the call while commissioning 187 new officers into the Nigerian Air Force on Wednesday, at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna.

He said, “As you already know, this profession you have chosen requires absolute discipline, loyalty, and hard work. It is much more than just securing a job, or earning a salary; and more than just getting the chance to wear a coveted uniform or wield coveted weapons. This is the ultimate form of civic service to defend the territorial integrity of your country and to put your life on the line for the safety and welfare of millions of your countrymen and women. There is no nobler occupation than this one you have chosen.

“You are passing out at a time when our nation is grappling with an insurgency in the Northeast, and the challenges of kidnapping and armed banditry in other parts of the country. You will, therefore, have come to terms with the fact that the days and weeks and months ahead of you will be extremely busy, as you fulfil your responsibilities to the military and the nation.

“While the armed forces have effectively contained the territorial ambitions of the Boko Haram terrorists by substantially degrading their capacity to attack and wreak havoc – they remain intent on shedding blood and sowing fear. There is also the threat of the Islamic State of West Africa Province ISWAP in the Lake Chad Islands and part of Southern Borno.

“Also, more often these days these insurgents are focusing on soft targets, opportunistic attacks on isolated military units, as well as on increasingly sophisticated propaganda aimed at making them out to be more organized and lethal than they really are.

“This ever-increasing reliance on propaganda is a reminder that this is not only a ‘battleground’ war; it is just as much an information-and-narrative war. Winning hearts and minds has always been important in military warfare; it is even more so in a century defined by information and communication technologies.

“As 21st-century military officers, how you project your strength and confidence to your enemies and the world, especially using social and digital media tools, is as important as the sophistication of the conventional arms and ammunition that you wield.

“But to do so effectively also means that you must take the time and trouble to fully understand the nature of the threats that confront us, the narratives and philosophies that underlie those threats.

“This initiative involves the recruitment and training of policemen in each local government and ensuring that such new policemen remain in their local governments working with local and traditional authorities to maintain peace and security.

“As the President has said, Security is a 24-hour occupation involving continuous investments in strategy and innovation. We will continue to take all necessary measures to tackle all forms of criminality across the country and to safeguard lives and property of all Nigerians.

“The Nigerian Air Force will, as part of the Armed Forces, continued to be at the forefront of our national security interventions. I note in particular the extremely successful digitally accurate bombings of terrorist hideouts In April the destruction of Boko Haram mechanic workshop in Borno

“In May, the airstrikes on Tumbun Hamma on the fringes of Lake Chad, inflicting heavy casualties on ISWAP forces under Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE In June airstrikes on Sambisa Forest further eliminating insurgents

“It is particularly commendable that you are adopting measures to ensure that the resources available to you are used judiciously; in a manner that delivers optimal results and maximum value for money.

“This nation is great and can only become greater. We are Africa’s largest economy by GDP – states of Nigeria have larger economies than many African states. We have become the last frontier for major economic growth.

“We are the world’s largest growers of Cassava and yams, we are top 5 in the world in sorghum, millet, we are approaching self-sufficiency in paddy rice production. Our potential in Technology and entertainment has been attracting huge attention.

“First is the market, at 174 million GSM phones we are top ten telephone users in the world, and we have the highest percentage of people who use the internet on their phones in the world, we are also number 2 in mobile internet banking in the world, 17 million Nigerians are on Facebook.

“Microsoft has announced that it will establish a 100 million dollar African Develop Centre in Nigeria. We are already building our own drones. But not only are we building drones, but we are also making spare parts for our aircraft. We are also manufacturing armoured personnel carriers and all sorts of different military platforms.

“All of these are things that Nigerians are doing in this country. Just last week, we saw, at the Army Day, sophisticated minesweepers that are manufactured in this country. In a few short years, this country will be, by far, the greatest military force in Africa and certainly the most developed economy in Africa.

“All of these have been built on the sacrifices of many in blood and sweat, especially men and women of the armed forces. What will undermine our efforts now and in the future is disunity? All of those who are preaching narratives of divisions along ethnic and religious lines. We must resist all who try to destroy our present gains and in particular our future.

“The future of our country is bright, all we need to do is to keep the focus not to allow any to preach any division amongst us. If we remain stable and united, everything that we desire for our great country will be ours.” He said.

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Mohammed Adamu, Nigeria's Inspector General of Police, has warned protesting Shiites to desist from disrupting the peace in Nigeria's capital city, Abuja or face a show of force. He gave the warning while paying a visit to policemen admitted at the National Hospital, Abuja, following injuries they sustained during Tuesday’s protest embarked by members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) at the National Assembly.

Speaking with newsmen after the visit, Adamu said: “I have just seen them, they are carrying bullet wounds and some were attacked with clubs and stones. We showed restraint in terms of not going the same way the protesters went but it is an act that is not tolerated and it is an act we will not take again. 

“The right to express yourself does not mean the right to trample on other people’s rights to the extent of causing a lot of havoc and sufferings on other people. 

“We will make sure that we prosecute those people that have been arrested and those that are yet to be arrested, we will go after them and make sure that they are arrested and justice is done.

“We are ready for them. We will not explain our strategy but we will make sure we don’t allow them to disrupt the peace of the city. 

“We have arrested 40 members of the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement of Nigeria and we will make sure that those on the run are also arrested. 

“In the course of protecting our citizens and giving room to people to express themselves, a group of people went overboard and attacked police officers in the course of performing their duties and you see the result; our officers have been shot. 

“All the policemen you have seen here, the doctor has assured us that they are in stable condition and they are doing well. As you know, police as an institution will take care of their bills, welfare, and insurance. So, for now, everything is in order and the rest of the actions are left to us in terms of how to handle the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement of Nigeria.”

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The National Judicial Council (NJC) on Wednesday recommended Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The decision which was conveyed in a statement by Soji Oye, director of information for the group on Wednesday in Abuja.

Oye said, “Subsequently, the plenary of the Meeting presided over by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR, recommended to the Governors of Sokoto, Lagos, Anambra, Ebonyi, Niger, Taraba, Kano, and Jigawa states, eight successful candidates for appointment as chief judges and grand kadis for the states”, the statement read in part.

"They are Justice Muhammad S. Sifawa, Chief Judge, Sokoto State High Court of Justice; Justice Kazeem O. Alogba, Chief Judge, Lagos State High Court of Justice; Justice Ijem Onwuamaegbu, Chief Judge, Anambra State High Court of Justice and Justice Nwaigwe A. Anselm as Chief Judge, Ebonyi State High Court of Justice.

"Others include Justice Aliyu M. Mayaki, Chief Judge, Niger State High Court of Justice; Justice Filibus B. Andetur, Chief Judge, Taraba State High Court of Justice; Honourable Kadi Tijjani Yusuf Yakasai, Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kano and Honourable Kadi Isa Jibrin Gantsa recommended for appointment as the Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Jigawa State.

"The newly appointed heads of courts are to be sworn in upon the approval of President Buhari and their respective state governors and confirmation by the Senate and State Houses of Assembly, respectively.

“Council at the Meeting commended President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for his unequivocal position on the financial autonomy for the States Judiciary and called on the various State Executives to as a matter of urgency, commence its immediate implementation. It posited that this is not only in line with the constitutional dictates but presently the Judicial position."

Oye added that the council equally considered notification of retirements of Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judges of Gombe, Edo, Niger and Ebonyi States, Acting Chief Judge of Kebbi State as well as those of nine other judicial officers from the Federal High Court and High Courts of Gombe, Delta, Edo, Imo, Benue and Katsina states.

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The National Judicial Council (NJC) on Wednesday recommended Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The decision which was conveyed in a statement by Soji Oye, director of information for the group on Wednesday in Abuja.

Oye said, “Subsequently, the plenary of the Meeting presided over by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR, recommended to the Governors of Sokoto, Lagos, Anambra, Ebonyi, Niger, Taraba, Kano, and Jigawa states, eight successful candidates for appointment as chief judges and grand kadis for the states”, the statement read in part.

"They are Justice Muhammad S. Sifawa, Chief Judge, Sokoto State High Court of Justice; Justice Kazeem O. Alogba, Chief Judge, Lagos State High Court of Justice; Justice Ijem Onwuamaegbu, Chief Judge, Anambra State High Court of Justice and Justice Nwaigwe A. Anselm as Chief Judge, Ebonyi State High Court of Justice.

"Others include Justice Aliyu M. Mayaki, Chief Judge, Niger State High Court of Justice; Justice Filibus B. Andetur, Chief Judge, Taraba State High Court of Justice; Honourable Kadi Tijjani Yusuf Yakasai, Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kano and Honourable Kadi Isa Jibrin Gantsa recommended for appointment as the Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Jigawa State.

"The newly appointed heads of courts are to be sworn in upon the approval of President Buhari and their respective state governors and confirmation by the Senate and State Houses of Assembly, respectively.

“Council at the Meeting commended President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for his unequivocal position on the financial autonomy for the States Judiciary and called on the various State Executives to as a matter of urgency, commence its immediate implementation. It posited that this is not only in line with the constitutional dictates but presently the Judicial position."

Oye added that the council equally considered notification of retirements of Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judges of Gombe, Edo, Niger and Ebonyi States, Acting Chief Judge of Kebbi State as well as those of nine other judicial officers from the Federal High Court and High Courts of Gombe, Delta, Edo, Imo, Benue and Katsina states.

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South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, says his country needs to do more “homework” before adding Nigeria, India, and China to its list of countries that can visit the country visa-free.

SaharaReporters obtained the list of countries released by the department on the Home Affairs’ Twitter handle. 

The following countries will now be able to enter South Africa, visa-free: Qatar, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Ghana, and Sao Tome and Principe.

“Out of the 193 countries that are member states of the United Nations, the Department has granted visa-free status to 75 countries. Of these 16 are in our continent and are SADC members and 59 are from all over the world.

“Tourism will soar if we relax visa requirements for entry into South Africa. We know that Tourism is very important for job creation,” BusinessTech Africa quoted Motsoaledi to have said.

The minister said his office would immediately enter into discussions with the countries about how a visa-free regime will work, with “homework” still needing to be done for countries like China, India, and Nigeria.

“While we are busy tackling the matter of the three countries, we shall this financial year increase two and a half times the number of people who work for Home Affairs to process visas in both China and India. We shall double the number of people who process visas to our country in Nigeria,” BusinessTech of South Africa quoted him to have said.

Speaking to BusinessTech a department spokesperson said that the countries announced by the minister only apply to inbound visas (citizens from the listed countries visiting South Africa) and that outbound visas (South Africans visiting the countries listed) need to be negotiated on a country-by-country basis.

The department noted that some countries, such as Qatar and Ghana, already have visa-free or visa on arrival agreements with South Africa.

According to the latest Henley Passport Index, South Africans can visit 99 countries around the globe visa-free.

Also speaking at the department’s budget vote, deputy minister of Home Affairs, Njabulo Nzuza said that the department is moving forward with the implementation of the country’s e-Visa regime.

“This regime will place technology at the centre of our operations by making it easy, yet secure, to enter South Africa,” he said.

The e-Visa system will allow tourists and visitors to South Africa to apply for their visas online. These applications will then be sent to a central adjudication and approval office, while the prospective visitors “sit at the comfort of their own home”.

The new system will also open South Africa as a desirable destination through the ease of its visa systems, the deputy minister said, adding that it will have huge tourism growth implications for the country.

The e-Visa regime is anticipated to be fully introduced in November 2019.

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