Folarin Kehinde

European Union Approves Plan To End Physical Presence For Schengen Visa Procedures

According to the Parliament of the EU on Tuesday, the report on the digitalisation of visa procedures in the Schengen area was adopted with 34 votes in favour, five against, and 20 abstentions.

Members of the European Union Parliament, MEPs, have adopted a report that seeks to modernise the visa application procedure in the Schengen area by moving from physical applications and visa stickers to a digital system.

According to the Parliament of the EU on Tuesday, the report on the digitalisation of visa procedures in the Schengen area was adopted with 34 votes in favour, five against, and 20 abstentions.

EU Parliament said that digital visa applications would speed up the process, reduce the efforts and costs required to make an application, and would promote security.

In addition, it was also stressed that the digitalisation of the visa application process would also ensure consistent practices throughout the EU, SchengenVisaInfo reports.

“By digitalising the visa application process for the Schengen area, the proposal aims to reduce the costs and efforts required to make an application, while ensuring harmonious practises throughout Europe and improving its security,” the statement of the EU Parliament reads.

The EU Parliament further notes that by digitalising the visa application for the Schengen area, visa applications would be processed in a single online platform which would let applicants know which country will receive their application.

The new system is designed to work harmoniously with the border management systems as well as databases of the EU, meaning that it would also reduce security risks.

The decision to approve the report which seeks to streamline visa application procedures was welcomed by rapporteur Matjaž Nemec who said after the vote that the digitalisation of the process would help people to see the bloc as a single geographical entity.

“We want to deliver a modern, user-friendly digital solution for EU visa applications, along with simplified application procedures. Replacing the visa sticker with a digital visa would also reduce security risks posed by physical stickers, and a unified system would help people see the EU as a single geographical entity,” Nemec stressed.

At the same time, Nemec has sought to ensure that the new system is more applicant-friendly. Regarding this, MEPs said that they want to see increased language options in the new system as well as safeguards for persons lacking in digital literacy and those with disabilities.

MEPs also want to make sure that certain visa applications do not get refused when they are filed from the same IP address, which may be the case in some areas that have poor internet connectivity.

MEPs also argue that IP addresses should be processed or collected as part of the visa application.

The EU Parliament is now expected to announce the inter-institutional negotiations on the file. If there are no objections, negotiations on the final details can begin.

Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the scarcity of the new naira notes and high charges by POS operators in the territory.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that residents in Gwagwalada, Kuje and Abaji Area Councils said customers paid more than 10 per cent on every withdrawal.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele said the apex bank sought and obtained President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval to extend the naira deadline swap to February 10.

However, some POS operators said the sharp increase in their service charges is due to difficulty accessing the new notes from the commercial banks.

A building engineer in Gwagwalada, Abraham Gado, who expressed unhappiness with the development, said that the exploitation strategy adopted by POS operators was not in the interest of the masses.

Gado said that the situation called for a rethink on the side of the POS operators and the commercial banks to do something drastic to address the problem to help cushion the hardship.

“I wish to appeal to the Federal Government, particularly the CBN and commercial banks, to adopt a stress-free strategy in the process of withdrawing old naira notes from circulation,” he said.
Mr Emmanuel Nonso, a trader in the Abaji market, said POS operators were charging N1,000 for every N10,000 transaction.

“The new naira notes are not much in circulation and buyers still bring the old naira notes to buy our goods because they need the new ones.

“The POS operators are charging us N1,000 for every N10,000 transaction, which is not good for our businesses,” he said.

A resident of Kuje Area Council, Mrs Eunice Madaki, said the new notes were not in circulation in the area, adding that the queues at ATM points were worrisome.

Mr Silas Lagi, a POS operator at Kuje Area Council, said the 10 per cent charges on each withdrawal were based on an agreement among POS operators in the area.

Lagi added that the new notes were only available; sometimes they went to withdraw money at the commercial banks in the area.

“If you know what we go through to get money from our banks to do this business, you will not complain or blame us for the increased charges.

“The problems and the struggle associated with getting money from the bank to pay customers who only want to withdraw is something else,” he stated.

The Department of State Services on Monday said its officers have arrested an undisclosed number of persons involved in the sale of the new naira notes.

The DSS, in a statement on Monday by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, accused some commercial bank officials of aiding the crime.

The statement was titled, ‘DSS intercepted syndicates selling new currency notes, bank official implicated’.

It read, “The Department of State Services hereby informs the public that it has intercepted some members of organised syndicates involved in the sale of the new redesigned naira notes. In the course of its operations, in this regard in parts of the country, it was also established that some commercial bank officials are aiding the economic malfeasance.

“Consequently, the Service warns the currency racketeers to desist from this ignoble act. Appropriate regulatory authorities are, in this same vein, urged to step up monitoring and supervisory activities to expeditiously address the emerging trend.

“It should be noted that the Service has ordered its Commands and Formations to further ensure that all persons and groups engaged in the illegal sale of the notes are identified. Therefore, anyone with useful information relating to this is encouraged to pass the same to the relevant authorities.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) has bowed to the demand of the House of Representatives for a gradual phase-out of the old naira notes.

Its Governor Godwin Emiefele, who appeared before the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee, said Nigerians won’t lose the old notes after the February 10 extended deadline.

He said while the old notes cease to be legal tenders after the expiration of the deadline, Nigerians can still take them to the bank for exchange of new notes or deposit the old notes in their accounts.

Section 20(3) of the CBN Act, 2007 provides that the Apex Bank should continue to accept the old notes until they are phased out of circulation.

He said the CBN stands with the position of the House of Representatives on the provisions of section 20(3) of the CBN Act, assuring Nigerians they will not lose their money.

According to him: “You will not lose your money even when it loses its legal tender. You can take it to the bank, pay it into your account. But we should please allow this policy to succeed.”

He however said that the apex bank was aware of the pains Nigerians were going through but assured that they were doing everything possible to address them.

Details Shortly…

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a 10-day extension of the deadline for the use of old naira notes across Nigeria.

The CBN governor, who spoke to journalists Sunday morning, said he had the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the extension.

The new deadline is now 10 February instead of the former 31 January deadline, he said.

Mr Emefiele spoke in Daura, Katsina State, after a meeting with the president who is in his home state for official duties.

Mr Emefiele said Nigerians, who are yet to change their naira notes from the old to new ones, now have an opportunity to do so.

He said people must utilise the opportunity because the deadline will not be extended again.

It would be recall that CBN last October introduced redesigned 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes and gave a deadline of 31st January for the use of the old notes.

However, the new notes have been scarce, thus leading to calls for an extension.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the timeframe for the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in its 774 Local Government Offices nationwide. The extension is for one week.

The Commission once again salutes the patience and doggedness of citizens.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye Esq., disclosed this in a statement issued this Saturday evening, January 28, 2023.

The statement reads: “The Commission met today, Saturday, 28th January 2023 a day after its meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal capital Territory, Abuja and deliberated on a number of issues, including the reports from RECs on the ongoing collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in its 774 Local Government Offices nationwide.

“It will be recalled that at the meeting with RECs on Friday, 27th January 2023, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu indicated that the Commission will not hesitate to consider additional measures to ensure that all citizens have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the General Election.

“Having reviewed reports from all the States of the Federation, the Commission is encouraged by the progress made so far as more Nigerians troop out daily to collect their PVCs.

“Arising from reports from the various States and discussions with Resident Electoral Commissioners, the Commission has decided to further extend PVC collection in all its Local Government Offices nationwide by an additional one week. The ongoing collection of PVCs nationwide will therefore continue and end on 5th February 2023. This is the second time the Commission is extending PVC collection nationwide and this will be the last extension of the exercise. Collection period has further been extended by an additional two hours and will start at 9am and end at 5pm daily including Saturdays and Sundays.

“Those that engaged in double and multiple registration should not bother visiting any of the Commission’s Offices as the Commission did not print their PVCs. The Commission will continue to act on all reported cases of sharp practices during the ongoing PVC collection and will ensure that no Nigerian is disadvantaged and all those that carried out valid registration have an opportunity of collecting their PVCs.”

The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which convened in Osogbo, has removed Governor Ademola Adeleke as the state’s duly elected governor.

The tribunal ruled by a vote of two to one that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should revoke Adeleke’s Certificate of Return and reissue it to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

According to the majority judgment, which was read by the Chairman, Justice Tertse Kume, Oyetola received 314,931 lawful votes to Adeleke’s 219,666.

The minority judgement is still being considered.

More details later…

As part of effort aimed at ensuring Nigeria achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) Status by 2025, the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) and Network of Female Professionals in WASH (FEMinWASH) has collaborated in accelerating progress towards an open defecation free Nigeria and the improved sustainability of water supplies.

The President, Network of Female Professionals in WASH (FEMinWASH) Dr Mrs Bolu Onabolu led the team at a courtesy call to the Registrar, Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) Dr Yakubu Mohammed in Abuja.

Also, the collaboration which aimed at accelerating progress towards an open defecation free Nigeria and the improved sustainability of water supplies will be done by leveraging about 40,000 of the Environmental Health Officers at all levels with the statutory powers of the Council to promote WASH and promulgate Public health related edicts and enforce laws.

The duo agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be developed to formalize the partnership between the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria and the Network of Female Professionals in WASH.

Also, there will be brokering and fostering relationships that harness the huge potential of the Council to contributing to moving sanitation and hygiene access forward in Nigeria.

“Capacity building Leveraging and extending the reach of the National Resource Center of the Council which houses the best E-Learning Platform in the country”

Furthermore, the duo will leverage on the skills of the member organizations and individuals that are members of the Network whilst the council will make it mandatory for all female EHOs in Nigeria to be members of FEMinWASH and also develop an associate membership for FEMinWASH members to register with the council.

The collaboration which aimed at accelerating progress towards an open defecation free Nigeria and the improved sustainability of water supplies will be done by leveraging about 40,000 of the Environmental Health Officers at all levels with the statutory powers of The Council to promote WASH and promulgate Public health related edicts and enforce laws.

In her own remark, the President FEMinWASH, Dr Bolu Onabolu ,emphasised the need to scale up intervention on the more than 40 million Nigerians who are still practising open defecation and bringing more female professional participation in WASH in Nigeria .

Chairman ,WASHSmedia Network , Mr Wale Elekolusi also emphasis the need to create more awareness for the people at the grassroot to understand the importance of open defecation free,ODF, society ,as he outlined some of the work of the network in some community and IDPs camp.

Former Special Adviser to the Minister of Environment, Dr Mrs, Pricilla Achakpa reiterated the commitment of the newtwork of Female professional in WASH to support the ECHON in capacity building in proposal writing to access more fund and resources from interested international agencies.