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NIS to open more passport service points in UK, USA, others – CG
NIS to open more passport service points in UK, USA, others – CG
The Comptroller General, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs Caroline Adepoju, has said that the service would open more passport service points to meet the needs of Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Adepoju said in an interview with journalists on Friday in Abuja that efforts were also on to ease passport processing in the country.
“I have it on good authority that in UK, we have over four million Nigerians and this number increases everyday because of the “Japa syndrome”; families that relocated, students, and those in search of greener pastures and jobs.
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“So all hands are on deck to ensure that we create more service points in the UK, Canada and in the USA.
”We listen to the plight of our nationals, we hear their cries and we are working hard and by the grace of God, we will get there,” she said.
Adepoju said that the service had opened three additional passport processing centres in Nigeria located at Ikorodu, Offa and Ile-Oluji to ease demands on passport centres in Lagos, Kwara and Ondo states.
“More are coming, we are going to Ibadan, Badagry, we will look at everywhere we have high volume of applications.
“I want Nigerians to continue to support me, understand and be aware that they owe us the duty of ensuring that they apply for their passports when it is about six months before the expiry date, that will ease the pressure on them and the system.
”And Nigerians should stop patronising touts. Nigerians can apply for International Passport online and can make payment and book appointment online.
“Very soon, we are looking at making everything digital so that there would be minimal human interference,” the NIS CG said.
She also appealed to those in diaspora whose passports were tied to their stay and status abroad, to always be conscious of the need to renew their passports on time.
Adepoju attributed delays being experienced in passport issuance to technical issues like non alignment of applicant’s data with their National Identity Number (NIN), which must be rectified by the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC).
“Usually when such a thing happen, such passport may have technical issues like non alignment of the NIN with the data supplied for the passport application.
“Fortunately, NIMC are in the same ministry as us and we have engaged with them and we are having a robust relationship, so the issue of NIN being a problem will soon become a thing of the past.
”But that being said, for people who are experiencing such hardship, we have mechanisms in place where complaints and feedback can reach us through our website, and we will do everything we can to resolve the issues,” she said.
Adepoju said the NIS has cleared thousands of pending passport applications and urged those who applied to come forward and collect their passports.
“There are thousands of uncollected passports. About a few months ago, I published the names of all applicants and the passports ready in Nigeria.
“I was in London two weeks ago and I was shocked at the number of passports already produced, waiting for collection,” the NIS boss added.
NiMet predicts 3-day sunshine, thunderstorms from Sunday
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorms from Sunday to Tuesday across the country.
NiMet`s weather outlook released on Saturday predicted sunny skies on Sunday with patches of cloud over the northern region.
It forecast isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Katsina, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa and Taraba States during the morning periods.
According to it, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Adamawa, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna and Taraba States later in the day.
“Cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected over the North Central region with prospects of thunderstorms over Kwara, Niger, Benue and Kogi States during the morning hours.
“ Widespread thunderstorms are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kogi States later in the day.
“Cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are anticipated over the southern states with chances of thunderstorms over parts of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Delta States during the morning periods, “ it said.
According to him, thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Delta States later in the day.
NiMet envisages sunny skies on Monday with patches of cloud over the northern region during the morning periods.
“ Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Kaduna, Adamawa and Taraba States.
“The North Central region should be cloudy with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Kogi, Benue, Niger the Federal Capital Territory and Kwara States during the morning hours.
“In the afternoon/evening hours, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States,“ it said.
According to it, the southern region should be cloudy with thunderstorms over parts of Edo, Ondo, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Delta States during the morning hours.
It anticipated thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia, Ekiti, Edo, Ogun, Ondo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Delta States later in the day.
It predicted sunny atmosphere on Tuesday with patches of cloud over the northern region with prospect of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba during the morning hours.
It predicted isolated thunderstorms over parts of Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Adamawa and Taraba States as the day progresses.
“ The North Central region should be cloudy with sunshine intervals with prospects of isolated thunderstorm over parts of Niger State during the morning hours.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Kwara and Benue States.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the southern region during the morning hours,“ it said.
The agency predicted thunderstorms over parts of Lagos, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States later in the day.
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also advised Airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from NiMet for effective planning of their operations.
NiMet predicts 3-day sunshine, thunderstorms from Sunday
Fuel scarcity will soon be over, Senate leader assures Nigerians
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has assured Nigerians that the fuel crisis experienced in the country will soon be a thing of the past.
Bamidele gave this assurance in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of the Oil Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, on Friday.
According to him, the legislature is working tirelessly to ensure that fuel scarcity and frequent queues at filling stations are resolved.
He said that there were plans to involve more private-sector players in the construction of new refineries.
“The Senate is working to ensure that more private-sector players are licensed to own and operate refineries.
“This is to support other smaller ones that are springing up in several parts of the country.
“In addition to licensing new refinery operators, the Federal Government and Senate are working to ensure that the existing refineries are turned around with repairs and replacement of parts carried out where necessary.
Bamidele said the Senate had gotten assurance from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd., (NNPC Ltd.) that two of its refineries in Warri and Port Harcourt would come on stream before the end of the year.
He also noted that the commitment to licensing new refinery operators and revitalising existing refineries remained vital for increasing domestic oil production.
Opeyemi maintained that the focus was to ensure that Nugeria meets its OPEC production quota.
He explained that achieving such milestones would provide more revenue for the government and halt lack and borrowings.
By enhancing local refinery capacity, the Senator said that the country could reduce its dependence on fuel imports, leading to a potential decrease in petrol prices.
He explained that what drives pricing is the ability to meet demand in the face of every product, finding its level and place in a free market.
Also speaking, the Chairman,
Senate Committee of Downstream, Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, said the last Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) that happened at the refineries was about 15 years ago, which led to the comatose state of the facility.
Ubah said that the non-deregulation of the downstream sector had put undue pressure on NNPC Ltd., as the entire industry depends on company for its petroleum needs.
He pointed out that no country could meet its energy needs by having a single entity; importing its petroleum product needs.
However, to be self-sufficient, Ubah urged the government to create a cluster of five to eight modular refineries within the riverine communities.
Fuel scarcity will soon be over, Senate leader assures Nigerians
NERC unbundles TCN, establishes new system operator
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has unbundled the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) with the establishment of the Nigerian Independent System Operator of Nigeria Limited (NISO)
The company disclosed this in an order signed by its Chairman, Mr Sanusi Garba and Mr Muslim Oseni, Vice Chairman in Abuja on Saturday.
According to the order, TCN will transfer all market and system operation functions to the newly formed NISO.
The company said that this is in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, which provides clearer guidelines for the incorporation and licensing of the independent system operator (ISO).
It said that previously, TCN held Transmission Service Provider (TSP) and System Operations (SO) licences issued by NERC.
”With the establishment of NISO, TCN will now transfer its assets and liabilities related to market and system operations to the new entity.
According to the order, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has been directed to incorporate a private company limited by shares under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) by May 31.
”This new company, to be named the Nigerian Independent System Operator of Nigeria Limited (NISO), will assume the market and system operation functions as specified in the Electricity Act and the terms of TCN’s system operation licence,”It said.
The company outlined NISO’s responsibilities to include managing assets and liabilities related to market, and system operation on behalf of market participants and consumer groups.
”The new ISO will also negotiate contracts for ancillary services with independent power producers and generation licensees.
”In addition to performing market and system operation functions for the benefit of market participants and system users”It said.
NERC unbundles TCN, establishes new system operator
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