According to him, the minister made the disclosure at the official rollout of the enhanced e-passport at the Nigerian High Commission, London.

The minister, who revealed that the Nigerian passport was the highest affirmation of Nigerian citizenship, noted that it was the responsibility of the Federal Government to provide the passport without any stress and within a reasonable period.

“What we have come to do here (UK) is symbolic of the core mandate of the ministry and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria affirmation of citizenship integrity.

“As we are all aware, there have been huge challenges in passport administration, from shortage of booklet to touting and an economy of corruption built around it.

“These challenges have persisted for too long and a lot of people have become cynical while others have taken them as normal and then roll with it.

“But I come from a tradition of problem-solving in public administration.

“I do not believe that any problem is insurmountable, so we are going to solve all the problems associated with passport administration and we are already succeeding, “ he said.

On the features of the enhanced passport, Aregbesola noted that it was a big improvement over the standard passport that was introduced back in 2007.

He said it has more sophisticated security features, making it one of the most secured passports in the world.

“The enhanced e-passport is a great improvement on the biometric passport technology which Nigeria adopted in 2007 as a strategic step towards curbing forgery.

“Impersonation and other forms of frauds associated with obtaining travel document under the old machine-readable passport regime.

“We are aware that technology rules the world and we are keeping abreast of the latest development in the field.

“Over the years, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had worked assiduously and in close synergy with Messrs Iris Smart Technologies Limited to develop and implement passport reforms,’’ he said.

Aregbesola said the reforms are in tandem with international best practices, including extant International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Standards and Regulations.

The minister, who seized the opportunity to reel out some of the achievements of the NIS under his tenure, noted that the service had issued a total of 2.7 million Nigerian passports in the past two years.

“ We have taken substantial measures to address the issue of shortage of passport booklets.

“In 2021, the ministry approved the deployment of over 600,000 booklets, the largest of its kind ever done.

“That is not all. The NIS, through MIDAS, is now connected to INTERPOL and can upload information to the agency on lost, stolen and invalidated passports in real time.

“The ministry has consistently provided the enabling environment for the NIS to undertake and implement several reforms especially, with regard to border management and passport administration, as well as internal monitoring and control mechanisms,“ he said.

According to him, the aim is to enhance efficient and effective service delivery to Nigerians and foreigners alike,” the minister said.

In his remarks, the Acting Comptroller-General of NIS, Isa Jere, expressed the service’s readiness to meet the demands for passports in the UK.

Jere stated that his officers were ever ready to roll out the new passports at the official rate published on the NIS website.

“We are ready to serve the public and start rolling out the new enhanced e-passport in the UK with immediate effect. Our staff are professionals and will deliver excellent service to our citizens.

“Those who have any complaints whatsoever are advised to use the publicly listed complaints channels to adequately resolve any issues raised,” Jere advised.

(NAN)

Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) has announced the suspension of its planned strike and any other actions for the next two weeks.

The group in a statement on Wednesday said the decision was taken after a meeting with MD/CEO of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) where it was agreed that a four-man follow-up and implementation group be submitted by NATCA to work with the management team in looking into their demands.

Find below the full statement of the group.

Sequel to the operational flow control embarked upon by our esteemed professional association on the 23rd November 2021 and the numerous calls and interventions by well-meaning Nigerians, the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (NATCA) wishes to communicate and clarify the following:

1. That it embarked on Air Traffic Flow Control because an operational ATC flow control is part of the tools recognised by ICAO, and used worldwide in the event that there exist a deficiency or inability of the ATM system to deliver a safe, efficient and effective ATC service.

1. That NATCA decided to embark on such process and to use such tool, after a deliberate due diligence indicated that due to some failures in the ATM system, it’s members could no longer guarantee the delivery of a safe, efficient and effective ATC service.

1. That as a consequence of the death of one of our member on active duty under conditions which the executive council considers unacceptable by all standards, and the resultant trauma suffered by his immediate colleagues causing real apathy in its ranks due to perceived negligence on part of management.

As a consequence of the above, the executive council agreed that, as a  disciplined and responsible body, it cannot allow it’s members to operate to full capacity under such stringent and inadequate conditions, hence we decided that a reduced capacity is better, so as to safeguard and maintain a semblance of the safety standards established by ICAO SARPs and NCAR in the system.
It is important that we clarify the above so as to correct some misinformation being reported.
As a fallout of our actions, the MD/CEO of NAMA requested for a meeting with NATCA EXCO.
The meeting discussed extensively all the issues highlighted by NATCA and it was agreed that a 4-man follow-up and implementation group be submitted by NATCA to work with management team immediately.
That management of NAMA will immediately implement 3 crucial demands from NATCA as a show of goodwill as others are being worked on for implementation.
That as a sign of reciprocating management’s action, NATCA shall suspend all further action on all forms of reactions as it further engages management on implementation.
That the MD/CEO shall be the direct head of the implementation group.
In consideration of all of the above, NATCA has agreed to suspend any further protests or actions for 2 weeks pending the outcome of the implementation of the 3 items agreed to.

NATCA had earlier on Tuesday lamented poor working conditions and threatened industrial action following the death of their colleague, Aniekan Effiong Inuk, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The group said they have lost nine members on active service due to stress-related health complications which seem associated with poor working conditions and inadequate staffing.

They announced the commencement of three-hour flow control for two days affecting flight operations in the country.

Fraser knows there are a lot of challenges ahead of him, but sees an opportunity to make a positive difference on Canada's immigration system.

BY  Kareem El-Assal

Sean Fraser knows he has a lot of hard work ahead of him.

In his first major interviews as Canadian immigration minister, Fraser spoke with Shelly Hagan of Bloomberg and Nicholas Keung of the Toronto Star to discuss the opportunities and challenges of his new role.

Speaking with Bloomberg, the minister said he is prepared to increase Canada’s immigration levels if it is necessary to address labour shortages. Canada is currently experiencing significant job shortages in large part due to fewer immigrants arriving from overseas amid the pandemic.

The country is currently pursuing its most ambitious Immigration Levels Plan in its history as it aims to welcome 401,000 immigrants in 2021, another 411,000 in 2022, and an additional 421,000 in 2023.

Fraser said he is “very much open to” even higher levels if there is an appetite from businesses and communities for more workers.

The Immigrations Levels Plan 2022-2024 is due to be announced by February 10, 2022 at the latest.

46,000 immigrants landed in October, mostly from within Canada

The minister also revealed that Canada is well on track to achieve its 401,000 newcomer target for this year.

Bloomberg obtained data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) showing that 46,315 new permanent residents completed their landing in October, even more than the 45,000 landed in September. These figures represent monthly records for Canada in the modern era (monthly immigration landing data is only readily available dating back to 1980).

A landing means that an existing temporary resident of Canada, or a person from overseas has their immigration status officially converted to a permanent resident of Canada. The vast majority of those who have landed during the pandemic are existing temporary residents of Canada. This helps to explain why Canada’s population and labour force growth remain weak. In fact, Statistics Canada data shows Canada’s population grew by just 0.5 per cent last year, the weakest growth since the First World War. Under normal circumstances, most new permanent resident landings come to Canada from abroad.

Canada has now welcomed 313,838 immigrants between January and October 2021. It needs to land about 87,000 more immigrants (an average of 43,500 per month) in the remaining two months of this year to achieve its newcomer goal for 2021.

Opportunities and challenges facing immigration system

Fraser spoke candidly in his interview with the Toronto Star on current obstacles, conceding “There are no shortage of challenges ahead of me.”

Discussing Canada’s backlog of some 1.8 million immigration applications, Fraser said “I don’t want to communicate to you today that in a short period of time, all of these problems will be fixed. They weren’t made overnight and they won’t be fixed overnight. I want to accelerate the work that’s going to help clear some of these backlogs. It’s going to make the process less painful for families that are trying to pursue a new life or reunite with their loved ones or find a job to contribute to our economy.”

He noted that citizenship applications are being digitized and IRCC is looking to address other issues slowing down the immigration system. For example, he said it does not make sense to deny the temporary entry of family members currently awaiting the processing of a sponsorship application.

The minister also said that most of his focus since becoming minister in October has been on resettling Afghan refugees. The federal government has committed to resettling 40,000 Afghans but has only resettled 3,500 so far. Fraser said “Canadians are right to be frustrated about what’s going on in Afghanistan. The reality on the ground right now is that we don’t have access the way we did in Syria, and that’s the equation that a lot of Canadians I think are trying to make.”

Nonetheless, Fraser sees a tremendous opportunity ahead of him to help improve the immigration system.

“Things are at such a strained point as a result of COVID-19 that I see an opportunity to make an extraordinary difference coming from this particular starting point.”

South African Airways (SAA) has concluded plans to resume the Johannesburg-Lagos route on December 12, 2021.

The airline had been out of service for 18 months due to operational turbulence before it resumed operation on September 23rd, 2021.

After resuming operations, it would be restarting the lucrative Lagos flight which it described as an important continental route, commencing with a three-times a week flight to Lagos.

The interim CEO of South African Airways, Thomas Kgolo, in a statement said, “This specific destination takes SAA into one of the biggest travel markets in Africa and we’re delighted that we are again able to resume operations, providing a link between Africa’s two biggest economies.”

According to him, the service is part of SAA’s gradual growth strategy, having resumed full operations in September.

He said, “Our intention is to continue to develop our route network driven by passenger demand and revenue potential. We are constantly evaluating opportunities, both locally, regionally, and internationally.”

He further stated that not only does the new Johannesburg Lagos route function as a key economic link between the two countries but would also service the burgeoning tourism market in both countries.

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria aims to launch a new national airline by April and will seek to sell a minority stake to a foreign airline or financial institution, Hadi Sirika, minister of state for aviation, said on Wednesday.

The plan, one of President Muhammadu Buhari's 2015 election campaign promises, has been on and off the table. The government suspended it in 2018, with no reason provided.

Sirika said the government will source a strategic partner via a procurement process to take a 49% stake in the new carrier, called Nigeria Air. The government would not own more than 5%, while local entrepreneurs would hold a 46% stake.

"The best case is that the airline will pick up... April 2022 if all things go equal," he told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Abuja.

The government has said the airline will require initial capital of between $150 million and $300 million.

Nigeria has been seeking to set up a national airline and develop its aviation infrastructure - currently seen as a barrier to economic growth - to create a hub for West Africa.

But decades of neglect and lack of investment have left Nigeria with low-quality infrastructure. The government has said that upgrading it will require private investment.

The West African country's previous national carrier, Nigeria Airways, was founded in 1958 and wholly owned by the government. It ceased to operate in 2003.

British billionaire Richard Branson set up domestic and international carrier Virgin Nigeria in 2000, but pulled out in 2010 in frustration at what he said was interference by politicians and regulators.

The airline he created, which was later rebranded Air Nigeria, closed in 2012 after collapsing under about 35 billion naira ($85.4 million) of debt which left it unable to pay staff, a former finance director of the company told Reuters at the time.

($1 = 409.6300 naira)

(Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by Jan Harvey)

By Felix Onuah

BY  Adepeju Adenuga

The Federal Government and the State of Qatar are considering partnership that will lead to the development of gas in both countries.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, said collaboration in the area of gas development between Nigeria and Qatar would enhance economic growth and development.

A statement by the Embassy of Nigeria in Doha, Qatar, quoted Aduda as saying when he met with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, in Doha.

The Permanent Secretary was accompanied to the meeting by the Nigerian Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Yakubu Ahmed, and the Head of Chancery, Mr. Kimiebi Ebienfa.

According to the statement, the Federal Government is currently deepening natural gas utilisation to enable it boost investment in power and gas-based industries.

Aduda called for investment in gas exploration and infrastructure, technology exchange, skills acquisition and knowledge sharing, manpower development in safety and environment.

He also listed other areas of potential partnership to include gas shipping and marine transportation, advocacy and collaboration in campaigning for gas as fuel of choice in the midst of climate change and global energy transition.

As a result, the permanent secretary called for relaxation of visa restrictions on Nigerians who intend to visit Qatar as well as easing of work visa for Nigerian professionals.

In his response, Al Hammadi recalled the robust relations between Nigeria and Qatar and lauded the proposal for cooperation between the two countries.

According to him, Qatar is ready to provide training for Nigerian diplomats.

To achieve this, he said the Head of the Diplomatic Institute would meet with the Nigerian side and agree on the terms and develop a framework to actualise set objectives.

BY  Segun Adewole

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 32-year-old drug trafficker based in Liberia, Maduabuchi Chinedu, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with 9.30 kilograms of cocaine worth over N2.7 billion in street value.

The suspect is said to hail from Obaha Okigwe Village, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, and works as a miner in Liberia.

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘NDLEA intercepts N2.7b cocaine at Abuja airport,’ and issued on Thursday.

The statement said the suspect was arrested during an inward joint search of Ethiopian Airlines flight 911 at the Abuja airport on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, with 9.30kg cocaine with each pellet in candy wraps and concealed in his luggage.

According to the statement, “During his preliminary interview, Chinedu claimed he left Nigeria in 2018 to settle in Liberia where he now has a residence permit. He however added that economic pressure and the need to raise money to treat his mother for an eye problem led him to seek help from a friend in Liberia who introduced him to another friend based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia who eventually gave him the drug to deliver in Abuja for a fee of N1million. He added that he was initially scheduled to deliver the drug to Ivory Coast but was rerouted to Nigeria at the last minute.

“While commending the officers and men of the NAIA Command of the Agency for their vigilance and working in synergy with other security agencies at the airport, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their colleagues in other commands to always remain two steps ahead of merchants of death who are daily getting more desperate to make money at the expense of the image of the country and Nigerians’ wellbeing.”

BY  Holly Ellyatt

(Bloomberg) --

The U.K. said a net 94,000 European Union nationals left the country last year as overall migration levels plummeted during the pandemic.

Office for National Statistics figures published Thursday show that the EU population in Britain shrank as more Europeans left the country than in 2019, and at least 100,000 fewer arrived. 

The figures help to explain why companies are now struggling to recruit workers, particularly in sectors such as hospitality and retail that relied heavily on foreign staff before the pandemic struck. The squeeze is driving up pay and inflation, making it likely the Bank of England will raise interest rates as early as next month.

The ONS said Covid-19 and Brexit, with the U.K. formally leaving the EU in January 2020, were responsible for the drop but that it was “difficult to disentangle the effects.” The sharp fall in net immigration partly reflects restrictions on international travel to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

A separate and more up-to-date ONS population release for the year to June 2021 suggested that the trend continued early this year. The number of EU nationals living in the U.K. was estimated to have fallen by 200,000 to 3.4 million by that point.

The drop in EU nationals was offset by movement from other countries. An estimated 130,000 more non-EU nationals came to the U.K. in 2020 than left, but that figure was also sharply lower than recent years. In 2019, net non-EU immigration was 277,000.

As a result, overall net migration “fell considerably” to just 34,000 from average annual levels of 250,000 over the previous decade.

“Although there is no evidence of an exodus from the U.K. in 2020, global travel restrictions meant the movement of people was limited, with all data sources suggesting migration fell to the lowest level seen for many years,” said Jay Lindop, director of the Center for International Migration at the ONS. 

“These are our best current estimates for international migration over this period,” he said. “However, they are modeled figures based on experimental research and subject to a high level of uncertainty,” he said.

(Bloomberg) -- The number of Hong Kongers applying for a visa that provides a pathway to U.K. citizenship continues to fall. 

The decline comes after authorities made it more difficult to move pension savings out of the region. Some people using the route found themselves unable to take their retirement money with them, Bloomberg reported in August, as China cracks down on the city’s freedoms.

There were 24,000 applications for the British National (Overseas) in the third quarter compared with about 34,300 in the three months through January and about 30,600 in the second quarter, the latest government data show.  

The visa was drawn up amid concerns in London about the imposition of the national security law on Hong Kong, a former British colony. Officials had estimated that more than 320,000 people could take up the offer in its first five years.

The visa to remain in the U.K. for five years costs 3,370 pounds ($4,500). Successful applicants must also pay a health-care surcharge and show they have enough funds to house and feed themselves for six months.