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Saudi Arabia Cancels Visa Of 264 Nigerian Passengers After Arrival

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Saudi Arabia authorities has cancelled the visa of all the 264 passengers who travelled from Nigeria to Jeddah.

The Air Peace flight took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, via the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on Sunday night, Nov. 12, and arrived in Saudi Arabia’s major city, Jeddah, today, Nov. 13.

However, on landing, the Saudi Arabian authorities announced that all the passengers’ visas were cancelled and they should return to Nigeria.

A source told Vanguard that all the passengers and the airline personnel were shocked at the cancellation of the visas because during check the passengers went through the Advanced Passengers Prescreening System, APPS, which was also monitored by the Saudi Arabia authorities before the flight left Nigeria.

The source wondered whether what happened was a strategy to discourage the airline from operating to the destination because since it started the operation it has been recording a high load factor and even the flight expected to leave on Tuesday to Jeddah was already fully booked.

When the Nigerian embassy waded in Saudi authorities were said to have reduced the number of passengers that would be returned from 264 to 170.

Saudi Air has been operating directly from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia and since Air Peace started flight service to the Middle East nation at relatively lower fares, it has been receiving high patronage and as a Nigerian carrier, it helps to conserve foreign exchange for the country.

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A source from the Nigerian embassy in Jeddah said that even the Saudi immigration personnel said that they didn’t know who cancelled the visas but that they were cancelled when the airline was already airborne to Jeddah.

According to the source, “The airline was exonerated in all this as the APPS, which is live between both countries would have screened out any invalid visa and its passenger. The system accepted all affected passengers and passed them on.

“Those deported were 177 passengers and Air Peace has already left with them back to Nigeria. They are on their way to Nigeria now.”

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the sector have attributed the development to aeropolitics.

They stated that it is a way to force the Nigerian operator out of the route, unless the government intervenes by adopting the principle of reciprocity.

According to industry experts and the Chief Executive Officer, Centurion Aviation Security and Safety Consult, Nigeria, Group Captain John Ojikutu, the action of the Saudis is aero politics and diplomacy.

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He also requested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should step in immediately and intervene in the case.

He said that what happened showed why it is important for the Nigerian government to stand strongly with any Nigerian carrier designated to operate international destinations.

Ojikutu said: “The action of the Saudi Authorities is shocking. There is geopolitics there and there is also diplomacy. There is the need for the Nigerian government to stand firmly with Nigerian carriers and also designate them as flag carriers; so that other countries will know that they represent Nigeria.

“Government must come out and intervene. The government must be behind Air Peace now to ensure that it is not denied its rights as contained in the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between the two countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must not keep quiet. Nigeria must not keep quiet. Ideally, the government is expected to stand behind any of the country’s airlines that it designates to fly overseas.”

The post Saudi Arabia Cancels Visa Of 264 Nigerian Passengers After Arrival appeared first on Jomog.

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CIMFEST -Libianca, Mic monsta,Tenor and other Cameroonians win big at cimfest award.

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Cimfest award took place in Buea Cameroon on the 18 th of November 2023 .

Below is the full list of winners .

🏆 𝐂𝐈𝐌𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒

1. 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 – The Stars are Watching – Mic Monsta
2. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 – LOCKO
3. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 – KRYS M
4. 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 – “People” Libianca
5. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 – Tenor

6. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐩 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 – Mic Monsta
7. 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 – Ko-C
8. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 – Cameroon Afro Gospel Group
9. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 – Grace Decca
10. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐤𝐮𝐬𝐢 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 – Bel’yv

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11. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 / 𝐓𝐕 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭 – Faith Tata
12. 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 – Vera Ngandjui (Kamenii)
13. 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 – Le Car Qui Part Remix (Gifto Le Russe Feat Croqueuse De Diamant X Mink’s)
14. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐤𝐓𝐨𝐤 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐫 – Caro & Copees
15. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 – Maureen Forbah

16. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 – Maxy Manorh
17. 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 – Loïc Sumfor
18. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐉 – DJ Patcul
19. 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 – Elisha K
20. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐠 – Fuchor

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21. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫 – Liish Visual
22. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 – Mama Atalaku
23. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 – Teddy Beatz
24. 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 (𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩) 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 – Danielle Ipa
25. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 – Mr Tcheck

26. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 – Hens ‘Nalandi’ (Kankan)
27. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 – G2 Melody Group
28. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫 – Sulet Noire
29. 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 – Ewald Music Band
30. 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 – Asaba

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Akeredolu: Calls Intensified To Declare Ondo governor Incapacitated

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For the past couple of weeks, the call for the resignation of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has been growing louder as the governor continues to govern Ondo State from far away Ibadan in Oyo State.

The governor has been in Ibadan since he returned from a medical trip in Germany and many in the state believe that governance in the Sunshine State has been on auto-pilot.

Akeredolu left Nigeria on June 13, 2023, for medical treatment in Germany and spent about three months before he returned to Nigeria on September 9. He had earlier notified the Ondo State House of Assembly that he would be taking a 21-day leave and transmitted power to his deputy to govern in an acting capacity.

Upon his return, the governor is yet to set foot in Akure, the state capital, instead, he is staying at his personal residence in Ibadan.

The First Lady, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has been accused of pulling the strings to allow the husband to continue the stay in power despite the reported ill health.

Ondo State has been in political turmoil since the governor returned from his medical trip as his loyalists are making frantic efforts to remove the deputy governor of the state for actions taken during the absence of Mr Akeredolu.

Move to impeach Deputy Governor

Lucky Aiyedatiwa is currently fighting to survive the ongoing political battle as loyalists of Mr Akeredolu are making moves to remove him.

The travails of the deputy governor commenced when Mr Akeredolu returned to the country, and all media aides in the office of the deputy governor were sacked.

The loyalists of the governor in the State Assembly listed 14 offences committed by Mr Aiyedatiwa, including “gross misconduct, abuse of office with actions likely to bring down Ondo State Government, financial recklessness, publication in print media by your media aides maligning the credibility of the Governor, etc”.

The impeachment move has sidelined the deputy governor, who has been fighting in the courts.

The intervention by the National Working Committee of the APC appears to have slowed down the move but the deputy governor seems to have been relegated completely.

However, in the past couple of weeks, the attention has shifted away from the deputy governor to Mr Akeredolu. Ironically, the governor, who was the President of the Nigerian Bar Association during the sickness of Umar Musa Yar’Adua, was very vocal in the call for the resignation of the then-president over his health.

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“No matter how much you love your country, it should not be at the detriment of your health. It is not your party or your wife that will decide whether you are capable of handling state matters; it is only your doctors that can decide that. The bar is not asking the president not to come back and take his seat, but the right thing must be done,” Akeredolu had said in 2010.

Steps to declare Akeredolu incapacitated

Kennedy Peretei, the National Publicity Secretary of the Ondo State PDP, had called for the impeachment of the governor for violating the constitution.

“The time has come for the Ondo State House of Assembly to immediately begin the impeachment process of Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for violation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

“It is no longer news that Ondo State has been on auto-pilot for nearly six months, grounding all activities of the government due to the ill health of the Governor,” he said in a statement.

However, the Assembly has consistently defended Mr Akeredolu and ignored any call for action.

According to legal experts, in the case of health challenges, the first move to remove the governor must start from the commissioners, who have the power to declare that the governor is incapacitated.

Rasheed Bakare, a legal practitioner in Abuja, explained to DAILY POST that Section 189 of the 1999 constitution provides the steps to be taken before a governor or deputy governor can be declared incapacitated to continue in that office.

According to section 189 of the Nigerian Constitution, only the commissioners of Ondo State can trigger the process of declaring Mr Akeredolu incapacitated.

The first step is that 2/3 of the state executive council must resolve that the Governor is incapacitated to continue in office.

“189. (1) The Governor or Deputy Governor of a State shall cease to hold office if, by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of all members of the executive council of the State, it is declared that the Governor or Deputy Governor is incapable of discharging the functions of his office,” the constitution reads in part.

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After the resolution by the body of commissioners, the constitution provides that the speaker must set up a panel to examine the health status of the governor.

The medical panel must comprise five medical practitioners, including the physician of the governor. The panel must determine that the “Governor or Deputy Governor is suffering from such infirmity of body or mind as renders him permanently incapable of discharging the functions of his office, a notice thereof signed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly shall be published in the Official.”

Once the report has been submitted to the speaker, it must be published and the governor is officially removed.

Mr Bakare told DAILY POST that as the law stands, it is going to be difficult to remove Mr Akeredolu or any other governor in Nigeria on the basis of section 189.

According to the legal practitioner, since the Governor appointed the commissioners, it will be hard for them to recommend the removal of their boss.

“The challenge with section 189 is that it is hard to see a commissioner that will say ‘My boss, the governor is sick and unable to perform, so let us pass a vote to that effect’. It is hardly done. In fact, that provision needs amendment.

“Who appoints the commissioners? The governor. For them to pass a vote against the governor, owing to the infirmity of the mind or body— they won’t. It hardly occurs,” he said during a phone interview.

Last week, 33 out of the 35 State Executive Council members passed a vote of confidence on the ailing governor and declared their loyalty to him.

Only the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Razak Obe, and the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, and Cooperative Services, Akin Sowore did not sign the document.

There are indications that politicians in the state prefer to wait for the next election which is in November 2024. The primary election is scheduled for April next year.

 

The post Akeredolu: Calls Intensified To Declare Ondo governor Incapacitated appeared first on Jomog.

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Polaris Bank deepens promotion of SMEs in Nigeria, Sponsors 2023 Year End Fashion Souk with Eventful 

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Polaris Bank, Nigeria’s Leading Digital Retail Bank, in partnership with Eventful Limited will host the 2023 season end edition of The Fashion Souk 9.0 scheduled to hold at the Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday, December 2nd and Sunday, December 3rd. 

The Fashion Souk is Nigeria’s premier marketplace where smart Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the fashion industry gather to display and market their diverse goods and services to a large audience.

With its extensive collection of fashion-related SMEs, The Fashion Souk stands as the largest congregation of such businesses in Nigeria to date. The event will primarily focus on four thriving industries: manufacturers, leather, retailers, and jewelry & accessories.

Over 140 established SMEs in Nigeria’s fashion industry, leather, and jewelry/accessories sectors, spanning across manufacturers, retailers, and dealers, will participate in The Fashion Souk 9.0. This incredible platform provides these businesses with an unparalleled opportunity to exhibit their creativity, product lines, and unique offerings to a discerning audience.

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The Fashion Souk promises to be a memorable event that showcases the rich diversity, talent, and innovation within Nigeria’s fashion industry where attendees and shoppers can expect an immersive experience, with an array of unique products, inspiring fashion shows, and networking opportunities with industry experts.

In line with its SME focus and commitment, Polaris Bank has partnered and supported businesses in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy including; health, education, manufacturing, agriculture, export, and others. The Bank has advanced credits to these sectors for acquisition of medical equipment, machines, distribution, and logistics of medical products; laboratory equipment, stationaries, furniture, classrooms, school bus; working capital for businesses, expansion, etc.

BusinessDay in a November 2022 article valued Sub-Saharan fashion market at $31billion, with Nigeria accounting for 15 percent to the total regional market; while Statista put the value of the global fashion industry in 2022 at $1.53trillion, with revenue forecast to increase in 2023, to more than $1.7trillion.

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Polaris Bank was adjudged Nigeria’s Digital Bank of the Year in 2023, 2022 and 2021 in Business Day’s Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards. It also emerged as the Nigeria’s Best MSME Bank of the Year because of its ability to use technology to enable bottom-up support to the MSME sector.

Polaris Bank was adjudged Nigeria’s Digital Bank of the Year in 2023, 2022 and 2021 in Business Day’s Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards. It also emerged as the Nigeria’s MSME Bank of the Year because of its ability to use technology to enable bottom-up support to the MSME sector.

As a digital-forward Bank, Polaris Bank is dedicated to forging a customer-focused future through innovative partnerships that reshape both businesses and communities.

 

The post Polaris Bank deepens promotion of SMEs in Nigeria, Sponsors 2023 Year End Fashion Souk with Eventful  appeared first on Jomog.

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