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Nigeria to Host Landmark International Wheelchair Softball Tournament

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Nigeria has been granted hosting rights for a six-nation wheelchair softball tournament by the International Wheelchair Softball Federation, marking the first time such an event will be held in Africa.

President of the Wheelchair Softball Federation of Nigeria (WSFN), Sunday Odion, confirmed the development, noting that interest from the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan could expand the tournament to nine participating nations.

“The international body has given us the hosting right for a six-nation tournament. However, the US, the Netherlands, and Japan have also expressed interest, which could bring the total to nine,” Odion stated.

He highlighted the significance of hosting the event, particularly in terms of technical assistance for Nigeria and other African nations. He emphasized the opportunity to train coaches and officials locally at a reduced cost compared to overseas training programs.

“This will come with technical support from the International Federation to train our coaches. Instead of sending two coaches to the US at a high cost, we can train 20 to 40 coaches here,” he explained.

Odion also noted that other African countries could benefit by sending their coaches and officials for training, enhancing the overall development of wheelchair softball on the continent.

Appealing for support, he called on Nigerians to invest in sports development, not just for wheelchair softball but for other disciplines as well.

“We are counting on Nigerians who have the means to support sports—not just softball but other sports as well,” he urged.

The tournament is expected to leave a lasting legacy for wheelchair softball in Africa, positioning Nigeria as a key player in adaptive sports development and fostering international collaboration in the field.

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BREAKING: US to return $53m Diezani’s stolen funds to Nigeria

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The United States Government and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have signed a memorandum of understanding to repatriate the sum of $53 million stolen funds to Nigeria.

The funds were part of funds of the Galactica asset linked to former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Speaking during the signing, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) said the agreement provides that $50 million of the funds, which is about N77 billion, will be used to fund rural electrification project to increase the reliability and availability of renewable energy in Nigeria.

The minister added that the balance of $2.88 million will be disbursed as a grant by Nigeria to the International Institute for Justice (IIJ) to support “the Rule of Law and Counter-Terrorism Project,” through counter-terrorism capacity building for criminal justice sector practitioners in East, West, and North Africa.

While commending the United States for their cooperation towards the recovery, he assured that measures have been put in place to ensure transparency in the utilisation of the funds.

“I would like to express our gratitude to the United States Government, for their steadfast support and cooperation in this endeavour,” Fagbemi said.
“Your commitment to justice and the rule of law has been instrumental in making this agreement a reality.

However, I implore you to continue to demonstrate the usual cooperation and understanding in other pending cases of repatriation, so that the Agreements in relation thereto can be concluded as soon as possible, as Nigeria is in dire need of these refunds.”

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Africa & World

Nigerians can now apply for South African Visas Without Passports – SA President

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that tourists from Nigeria can now apply for visas without submitting a passport.

Ramaphosa stated this on Tuesday at the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town with President Bola Tinubu in attendance.

According to presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, South Africa has simplified its visa processes to facilitate travel for Nigerian business people and tourists, with measures such as five-year multiple entry visas.

“Our efforts to create a favourable environment include our simplified visa process for Nigerian business people to travel to South Africa. Qualifying Nigerian business people can be granted a five-year multiple entry visa,” he said.

He also pledged South Africa’s commitment to removing constraints on greater investment and addressing the challenges faced by companies in both countries.

“As we mark 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, we see a bright future for our relationship. Our strong bonds of friendship provide a firm foundation for more meaningful economic cooperation.

“Nigeria is host to a number of South African companies. South Africa has always been open to Nigerian business, reflected in the number of investments and operations established in this country.

“But there is much more we need to do. We need to remove the remaining constraints to greater investment, just as we need to address some of the challenges that companies have experienced.”

Ramaphosa acknowledged the Nigerian government’s reforms to further strengthen and foster a business environment that offers assurances to investors, including from South Africa.

Our government continues with its efforts to improve the ease of doing business in South Africa. We want to enable investors to operate, trade and pursue opportunities in various sectors.

“We look forward to seeing more Nigerian companies investing in South Africa,” he said.

The South African leader said Africa’s development and the challenges facing countries of the Global South would be firmly placed on the G20 agenda.

“It will be the first time the G20 Leaders’ Summit will be held on African soil. We will seek to galvanise support for the AU’s Agenda 2063 as we pursue an inclusive global agenda.

“For South Africa, it is our view that in shaping global discourse, programmes should be tailored to ensure that in our societies, no one is left behind,” he said.

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“Spend your resources judiciously, Nigeria is poor” – Tinubu’s minister warns Nigerians

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, has urged Nigerian families to have frank discussions about managing their resources carefully, advising them to prioritize basic needs.

The minister stated that Nigeria is not as wealthy as many believe, even as he called for more prudent financial management at both the national and household levels.

Bagudu made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja, following a meeting between Federal Government officials and representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The meeting comes in the wake of widespread economic hardship, worsened by the soaring costs of energy and food.

“The Bola Tinubu administration has made bold choices that, while challenging, are necessary for long-term growth,” Bagudu said.

He defended the government’s policies, noting that state and local governments are now better funded and that reforms are already yielding positive results in terms of investment.

“Tough decisions might come with some challenges, but we are dealing with them. Most of the measures taken have begun to yield a greater level of investment.

“We believe we have stopped the decline. We are not where we want to be yet, but let us confront our realities. We must tell ourselves that we are not as rich as we thought we were,” he stated.

Bagudu stressed the need for collective action, both at the family level and the national level, to mobilize resources effectively in response to the country’s economic challenges.

Nigerians are grappling with one of the worst economic crises in decades, as inflation surges, driven by skyrocketing energy and food costs.

Critics have pointed to President Bola Tinubu’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and the unification of foreign exchange rates as major contributors to the current economic instability.

Many believe these policies have led to unbearable inflation and an unprecedented rise in living costs.

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“Nigeria currently has 320 unmanned border routes” – Ex-immigration boss alerts FG

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Retired Assistant Comptroller-General of Immigration, Sunday Fagbamigbe, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s security vulnerability, revealing that the country has over 320 unmanned illegal border routes.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abeokuta on Friday, Mr Fagbamigbe warned that these porous borders are fueling insecurity by allowing the proliferation of arms, trafficking in illicit drugs, human trafficking, and the dumping of unwholesome goods.

He urged the Federal Government to strengthen border security by investing in advanced technology such as electronic sensors, night vision scopes, drones, and artificial intelligence to enhance surveillance and detect illegal entries more effectively.

According to Fagbamigbe, modern surveillance systems, which have proven successful in Western countries, are far superior to relying solely on human personnel.

According to Fagbamigbe, modern surveillance systems, which have proven successful in Western countries, are far superior to relying solely on human personnel.

He also called for collaboration with border communities to create awareness and improve border management.

“We have to take seriously border management security and work with border communities.

“We must create a sense of awareness and collaboration,” Mr Fagbamigbe said.

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UNGA79: Nigeria demands UN Security Council Seat

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian government has reiterated its demands for the United Nations Security Council seat after contributing to 41 peacekeeping missions and deployment of over 200,000 troops for Global Peace.

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, while addressing the 79th United Nations General Assembly, Sunday night, emphasised Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to international peace and security.

He said at the Summit of the Future interactive dialogue 2 with the theme: “Enhancing Multilateralism for International Peace and Security” that “Since our first deployment in the Congo in 1960, Nigeria has contributed to 41 peacekeeping missions globally,” highlighting the deployment of over 200,000 Nigerian troops in UN operations.

Badaru called for reform of the UN Security Council to ensure Africa is represented with permanent seats, arguing that this would enhance global stability.

According to him, “Nigeria has remained unequivocal in its commitment to international peacebuilding and security, since the first engagement of its troops in the Congo in 1960. To date, Nigeria has contributed to 41 peacekeeping operations worldwide, with over two hundred thousand Nigerian troops serving in UN peacekeeping missions.

“Under the regional and sub-regional cooperation, Nigeria has been involved in peacekeeping operations in field missions in Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Sudan and Sierra Leone, among others, and has contributed a lot in terms of finance, logistics, troops and civilian experts, making her one of the most significant African troops and police contributors to the United Nations missions.

“It is on this basis that Nigeria continues to call for the reform of the United Nations Security Council to give just representation to Africa permanently for inclusivity and deepening of global peace and security.”

The Defence Minister stressed the importance of building professional African armies to combat terrorism and urged for operationalizing the African Standby Force.

He also highlighted the need for comprehensive strategies to tackle transnational crime and illegal arms trafficking, particularly in the Sahel region, saying, “We recognize the need for Africa to build strong and professional armies, to, among other things, defeat terrorism.

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Billionaire Bill Gates to Visit Nigeria on Tuesday

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Renowned billionaire and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, is scheduled to visit Nigeria on Tuesday.

The visit was disclosed in a statement from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Abuja.

During his trip, Gates will engage in discussions with government officials, youth, and partners to explore solutions to a wide range of development challenges facing the country.

According to the statement, Gates will focus on addressing health, agriculture, poverty, and nutrition challenges in Africa. He will meet with experts in primary health care, agriculture, and nutrition who are driving progress across the continent, despite economic challenges.

He will also participate in a pan-African virtual dialogue aimed at addressing malnutrition through integrated health, agriculture, and financing solutions. He will be joined by musician, educator, and humanitarian Jon Batiste in this dialogue.

Since its inception in 2000, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has supported partnerships with African regional institutions, national governments, and local communities in 49 African countries. These partnerships have contributed funding and scientific expertise to support various agendas for change, driving the success of numerous health, agriculture, equality, and anti-poverty initiatives across the continent.

“The foundation has committed more than $7 billion through 2026 to support African countries and institutions working to develop and implement innovative approaches to confront hunger, disease, gender inequality, and poverty,” the statement said.

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JUST IN: Chinese takes over Nigeria’s guest houses in Liverpool, to sell on eBay for $2.2 million

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

A Chinese investment group racing to recover up to $70 million in arbitration awards from Nigeria has concluded plans to list two residential structures it confiscated from the country for sale on global online marketplace eBay, Peoples Gazette was told by people familiar with the arrangement.

Zhongshang Fucheng Industrial Investment Ltd took possession of two buildings linked to the Nigerian government in Liverpool, United Kingdom, in June 2024, years after Nigeria failed to settle an arbitration judgement handed down in 2021, The Gazette learnt.

The properties, 15, Aigburth Hall Road, Liverpool and Beech Lodge, 49, Calderstones Road, Liverpool, were targeted after a December 2021 British court order gave Zhongshang executives the power to seize Nigerian assets in the UK to retrieve the $70 million payment, which remained outstanding as of August 20, 2024, with two per cent monthly interest accruals.

Zhongshang was awarded $55,675,000 plus interest of $9,400,000 and costs of £2,864,445 as of the date of the arbitration verdict on March 26, 2021, court documents said. The case stemmed from a dispute between Zhongshang and Ogun State. The firm said the state violated a 2001 trade treaty between Nigeria and China when its rights to a free trade zone were rescinded in 2016.

The company dragged Nigeria before the arbitration panel in the UK in 2018, alleging that Nigeria allowed its federal organs like the police, immigration and export processing authority to be deployed by Ogun State without due process. Court documents said two Zhongshang executives were expelled from Nigeria between mid and late 2016 after one of them had allegedly been detained and tortured by the police.

The case has once again thrown Nigeria into confusion, barely months after the country luckily escaped a similar arbitration decision that awarded over $11 billion to a consortium called P&ID. The arbitration verdict was thrown out after it was later discovered that P&ID owners were involved in bribery and corruption.

However, the Zhongshang case appeared different, with several European courts already granted enforcement orders in the UK, Belgium, France and other countries, where Nigerian-owned jets and other assets are being tracked down. An appellate panel recently declined to grant Nigeria sovereign immunity protection over Zhongshang’s recovery efforts in the United States.

A consultant working with Zhongshang said the company has been working to put the two Liverpool houses up for sale, including on eBay, where the source said up to $2.2 million would be asked for both.

“They said the value of both properties should be around $2.2 million, so they already put together a plan to sell them to willing buyers,” the consultant said under anonymity to discuss client deliberations. “Some websites like eBay might bring buyers faster than other methods.”

Even though the properties belonged to Nigeria, they were seized because they weren’t listed as Nigerian diplomatic or consular assets. The Gazette learnt that those currently occupying the properties had no ties to the Nigerian mission in the UK. It was unclear when Nigeria bought the assets, but a senior judge said its officials had regularly rented out both places to guests.

In her June 14, 2024, ruling allowing Zhongshang to seize the buildings from Nigeria, Master Lisa Sullivan of the UK High Court, King’s Bench Division, said: “The properties are currently used for the purpose of leases to residential tenants unconnected with Nigeria and its mission. Those are commercial purposes for the purpose of s13(4) of the SIA and therefore the enforcement against the properties is not barred by state immunity.”

The source said the sale wouldn’t be done in secret because the Nigerian people deserved to know how much all recovered assets were being sold until the full amount had been recovered.

“Zhongshang promised to be transparent with the sale because of the keen public interest of Nigerians in the matter,” the consultant added.

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Nigerian arrested for stealing $10 million in US unemployment benefits

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

A Nigerian man, identified as Yomi Olayeye has been arrested and charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and identity theft for his alleged role in a $10 million pandemic unemployment assistance fraud scheme in the United States.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts under the Department of Justice revealed this in a statement posted on its website on Monday.

The statement read, “A Nigerian man was arrested on Aug. 13, 2024 upon arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City on charges that he and other conspired to fraudulently obtain at least $10 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.

“Yomi Jones Olayeye, a/k/a “Sabbie,” 40, of Lagos, Nigeria, is charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. He made an initial appearance in the Eastern District of New York on Aug. 14, 2024 and will appear in federal court in Boston tomorrow.

“According to the charging document, between March and July 2020, Olayeye and others defrauded three pandemic assistance programs administrated by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and other states’ unemployment insurance agencies: traditional unemployment insurance (UI), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).”

Olayeye and his co-conspirators were alleged to have used stolen personal information to apply for unemployment benefits in multiple states, including Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Indiana.

The statement added, “In total, Olayeye and his co-conspirators allegedly applied for at least $10 million in fraudulent UI, PUA and FPUC from Massachusetts, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Montana, Maine, Ohio and Washington and received more than $1.5 million in assistance to which they were not entitled.

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JUST IN: Nigeria to send first civilian to Space

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to send the first citizen to space.

The Director General, National Space Research and Development Agency, Dr Mathew Adepoju disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

The FG signed the Memorandum of Understanding in a collaboration between NASRDA and The Space Exploration and Research Agency.

The DG noted that “This collaboration, which is coming to the country, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s 25th anniversary of Space Exploration journey and opens new opportunities for scientific research and technological advancement.”

Details later…

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