Metro

Recalled Nigerian envoys stranded abroad

Published

1 year ago

October 10, 2023

The fate of Nigerian envoys who were recalled by President Bola Tinubu over five weeks ago is currently hanging in the balance as they have been stranded in their various countries of assignment.

President Tinubu had, on September 2, announced the recall of all Nigeria’s ambassadors, including career and non-career envoys from all the country’s over 300 foreign missions, giving them anOctober 31 deadline to return to the country. The government later restricted it to only non-career envoys.

But five weeks after the announcement, the diplomats are reportedly still in the missions as the Nigerian government seems to have backtracked on the policy which has further fuelled speculations that the government may have had a rethink or given the envoys another extension.

A top staff of the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said though there was no going back on the recall of the envoys, no machinery has been put in place thus far for their return.

“Under normal circumstances, each envoy who is expected to return by the end of this month, by now should have received his or her AIEs (Authority to incur Expenditures) for his or her passages.

“It is traditional and very important to have swiftly sent these AIEs to ambassadors and other envoys because you don’t expect an ambassador to wake up one morning and just jump into a flight without advanced booking as well as making arrangements to airfreight his or her belongings home.

“The government might have had a change of heart for now, if not, the envoys would have equally received cash backing.”

A serving ambassador who also lamented the situation, was quoted as saying:

“We are in the dark over the whole issue. I asked some Foreign Affairs Ministry officials, one of them said ‘why don’t you stay there? Why are you in a hurry to return?

“They don’t expect you to trek home. Stay put until the government makes up its mind to send you money to come back or extend your stay.’”

Related Topics:Ambassadors Envoys Featured President Bola Tinubu

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Metro

Zambia: Expert warns of food security threat due to climate change

Published

9 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A prominent Zambian climate-smart agriculture expert, Oliver Bulaya, has warned of a collapse of the county’s agricultural sector with a potential threat to food security due to the worsening impact of climate change.

Bulaya, who bared his mind in an interview with Zambia Monitor on Friday, warned that ignoring the crisis could lead to severe disruptions in the country’s food supply and economy.

“Unless concerted efforts are made, the country will continue facing dire consequences from climate change,” the expert noted.

He lamented a growing trend of farmers relocating to regions experiencing above-normal rainfall, such as the northern block, as they struggle with losses caused by climate variability.

Bulaya emphasized that the once-reliable rainfall areas like North-Western Zambia are now experiencing lower precipitation, as seen during the 2023/2024 farming season and cautioned that poor farming practices, which had already strained the Southern region, could lead to similar challenges in other parts of the country if proactive measures were not implemented.

Metro

Outrage over murder of Nigerian beaten to death by South Africans inside estate security office

Published

14 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian community, under the auspices of Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), has raised the alarm over the murder of a 37-year-old Nigerian, Julius Chukwunta, who was beaten to death by four South Africans inside an estate.

According to the association, Chukwunta, a native of Aninri Local Government Area in Enugu State, was reportedly attacked on Saturday, December 7, while driving to his residence in Midrand Protea Estate.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the President-General of NICASA, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, Chukwunta was blocked by the four men while approaching his residence.

Onyekwelu stated that information available to the association noted that after attempting to pass through, Chukwunta was met with resistance by the assailants, prompting him to seek help at the security office of the estate.

“At that moment, the four men allegedly attacked him, leaving him severely injured with a head wound,” the PG said.

“His female companion, who was sitting in the car, rushed to the security office and discovered him bleeding on the ground.

“In spite of attempts to call for help, the security office and residents did not assist in calling the police or an ambulance.

“After an hour, Chukwunta’s partner contacted her father, who, along with other family members, took him to Tembisa General Hospital.

“Chukwunta was placed on life support but later succumbed to his injuries and died at the Tembisa General Hospital on December 10, 2024.”

Onyekwelu also confirmed that the case was reported to the police by Chukwunta’s partner at the Midrand Police Station and was registered under file number 262/12/2024.

The NICASA President said the four suspects, aged 20, 24, 27, and 28, were arrested, and the case was presented in Alexandra Magistrate Court on December 13, 2024, where they were charged with murder.

“The court proceedings on December 18, 2024, saw three of the suspects granted bail of R10,000 each, while the fourth had not yet applied for bail. The case was adjourned to February 3, 2025.”

Onyekwelu however, expressed disappointment at the proceedings, wondering why three of the suspects were released on bail and vowed that the Nigerian community would continue to demand justice for Chukwunta and support his family.

He emphasised that the community would not rest until justice was served and the value of Nigerian lives was upheld in South Africa.