10,000 Nigerian girls forced into prostitution in Burkina Faso

The Nigerian Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Ramatu Ahmed, says no fewer than 10,000 Nigerian girls are forced into prostitution in Burkina Faso.

Ahmed disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN)  in Ouagadougou on Monday. She said the victims of the sex-trade were mainly underage girls kept in appalling conditions in Ouagadougou and mining camps across the West African country.

Ahmed, who has been in Burkina Faso since August 2017, said that over 200 Nigerian girls had been voluntarily repatriated this year. According to the Ambassador,  many of the girls, who were promised jobs in the country and Europe by the human traffickers, are not willing to return home.

“The spate of human trafficking here in Burkina Faso is a big concern to the embassy because, at present, we have nothing less than 10,00 Nigerian girls who have been trafficked into Burkina Faso as commercial sex workers. And most of these girls are underage; most left schools and are roaming about doing commercial sex work in Burkina Faso, she said.

“This apart from been a dent to our country, it is also a sort of concern as far as their health is concerned. This is very serious to us and most of the girls who want to go back, as a result, this voluntary repatriation does it because they were tricked, they did not know the condition there are going to found themselves here. For every Nigerian girl that escapes and wants to go back, there are more than 10 in the bush that is willing to carry on,” she explained.

Ahmed condemned the activities of Nigerian syndicates operating in Burkina Faso, vowing that the embassy will continue to track them down and bring the perpetrators to book in collaboration with the local authorities. She said the embassy was partnering with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) office in Ouagadougou to assist in the voluntary repatriation of some of the victims of human trafficking.

“Two hundred girls have been repatriated to Nigeria by the embassy, this is apart from the ones that run to the churches, some to other Civil society Organisations (CSOs) and the International Organisations on Migration (IOM).

The IOM is complaining to the embassy that most of its money meant for West Africa is used to repatriate Nigerian girls back home and they are complaining that with time, they would not be able to cope with the number.

“So, if the embassy alone has repatriated 200 girls, you can imagine how many girls the IOM has repatriated and the reason they are complaining,” she said.

Ahmed appealed to Nigerian parents and guardians to monitor their children and wards more closely and not to be swayed by promises of greener pastures abroad.

“I am pleading with  Nigerian parents that they should know what their children are doing. Most of the girls said that their parents don’t know that they are here and some will tell us that their parents know and some will say that they were sent by either their father, mother, uncle, she said.

“This is a problem that emanates from the family. For the girls, I wish to tell them that anybody they see that comes to tell them that he is taking then to somewhere to either be employed as hairdressers or work in the shop, these are human traffickers. Anybody that will tell them not to work in Nigeria, but to move outside is simply a human trafficker and they should be wary of such persons” she added.

- PM NEWS

Ikoyi immigration office begins Saturday operations

The Ikoyi office of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has included Saturday in its workdays to meet the demands of passport applicants.

This means that applicants can now visit the Ikoyi office to apply and pick up processed passports during the weekend.

Complaints of the laborious process involved in applying and getting a Nigerian passport are not uncommon.

Speaking to NAN on Saturday, Uju Grace, the public relations officer of the passport office, said office ran shifts to ease the burden and guard against undue backlogs.

Mannir Yari, the passport control officer of the Ikoyi centre, said the extension of workdays was part of strategies developed by the office to ensure Nigerians accessed NIS service delivery speedily.

“Ikoyi passport is where you can apply and get your passport in a week, in fact, our office has cleared all backlog of the old passport,” he said.

“We are just waiting for applicants to come for collection.”

An applicant who spoke to NAN under anonymously commended the centre for striving hard to meet the demands.

She affirmed that the collection process had become easier and better if compared to some years back.

“I advise the Federal government to employ more hands to meet these ever-increasing demands,” she opined.

“More Nigerians troop to this office to seek for passports, although the banks within NIS premises provide seats and conducive environment for applicants.”

Yetunde Maja, another applicant, decried the time wasted on queues to collect the passports.

“I was scheduled for Friday to collect my passport; however, I have been here close to three hours,” she said.

“Although the queue is moving gradually.”

- THECABLE

Iwu to sleep in jail 3 months for fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Makurdi Zonal Office has secured the conviction of one Charles Chijioke Iwu.

The Commission had arrested, investigated and taken Chijioke before Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

Following a plea bargain agreement between him and the Commission, he was re-arraigned on a two-count amended charge that replaced the initial charge against him.

One of the Count reads: “That you, Charles Chijioke Iwu sometime in June, 2019 in Makurdi, Benue State within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court; had in your possession documents containing false pretence; to wit document labeled FBI scam, document of scanned FBI Logo, document of scanned US Naval Seal, document of scanned US Military Crest, document of scanned US Air Force Seal, document of scanned Philippine Passport; which documents you knew contained false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

He pleaded “guilty” to the charge.

In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, G. G. Chia-Yakua, urged the Court to accept the plea bargain and convict him accordingly.

Justice Maha pronounced him guilty and subsequently convicted him to three month imprisonment, also to pay fine of N200,000 (Two hundred Thousand Naira), forfeit Fifty thousand naira (N50,000.00) found in his Access bank account and his laptop to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Also, the Court ordered the convict to sign an undertaking to be of good behaviour and never to be involved in any form of fraud within and outside the country, adding that failure to comply will attract judicial sanctions.

Court also ordered him to be remanded in prison custody pending the payment of fine.

- PM NEWS

Lecturers issue fresh warning to Buhari govt on impending strike

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), has called on the Federal Government (FG) to take immediate step towards acceding to the various demands of the union.

This is based on the understanding and agreement reached before the suspension of its industrial action, which lasted for over two months in December 2018.

COEASU made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of the Expanded National Executive Council (ENEC) meeting of the union held on 10th and 11th of September, 2019 in Akoka, Lagos.

The Union, in the communiqué, jointly signed by the President, Nuhu Ogirima and General Secretary, Taiwo Olayanju, and made available to DAILY POST warned that only an urgent attention by FG to the lingering contentious issues, would forestall disruption of academic activities in the Colleges of Education across the country.

Decrying the disposition of the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) towards the desired effective resolution of all the protracted issues, COEASU said: “Following the re-appointment of Malam Adamu Adamu, as Minister of Education, the Union expects a meaningful rejigging of the system to ensure the resolution of all lingering issues in contention and that FME would address the manifest marginalization of the COE system in the governance of tertiary education sub-sector.

“While our expectations subsist, Council charges FME and the NCCE to take the issues of the colleges seriously to avert any possible disruption in the COE calendar in the pursuit of the following lingering issues mentioned in several of our correspondences: (a) Presidential assent to the reviewed Establishment Laws of FCEs and NCCE as passed by the National Assembly; (b) executive approval of Dual Mode (NCE and Degree) for Colleges of Education; to check attrition of subscription to teacher education by both students and lecturers; (c) the non-release of the fifteen billion naira (N15bn) palliative funds pledged by the FGN to revitalize the public COEs; (d) the non-payment of the sum of about two billion five hundred million naira (N2.5bn) Peculiar Earned Academic Allowances (PEAA); and (e) review of the policy of out-sourced services and its implication on security in the institutions.”

COEASU expressed dissatisfaction over the attempt to impose the application of the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS) on colleges of education, considering the peculiarities of tertiary institutions.

It said: “For the records, it is instructive to note that Council reiterated her dismay over the prolonged surreptitious plan to impose an incongruous and defective payment platform on the colleges of education system. Council also decried the ubiquitous discrimination against COEs as regrettably manifest in the manner by which the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has handled the issue of IPPIS… Recently, the OAGF constituted Technical Committees on the issue of mutually acceptable implementation of IPPIS for sister institutions (the federal universities and polytechnics) without doing same for the colleges of education.”

The academic body reaffirmed its non-aversion to policies of FG to check perceived indications of corruption and leakages towards more cost-effective payroll management system, it however, insist that “such should take cognizance of peculiarities to avoid the entrenchment of questionable payment regime that could shortchange our members irredeemably.”

According to the union, “Fundamental questions abound relating to salary manipulation, domestication of sabbatical leave, non-recognition of peculiar allowances and 65years retirement age, contract staff and visiting lecturers, tenured appointments, payment of promotion arrears, the disciplinary prerogatives of the Chief Accounting Officer of the institution and the general security of the system. Juxtaposed with the difficulty in tackling the menace of cyber infiltration by the global ICT criminal world – a challenge which has become seemingly intractable even in technologically advanced nations – the imposition of IPPIS cannot be a solution. Furthermore, the over-centralization of personnel payroll, as represented by IPPIS, contradicts global best practices in the fiscal management of tertiary institutions, given their operational intricacies.

Consequently, a fiscal practice that may be adjudged suitable for the core civil service could be antithetical for the tertiary education sub-sector given their diametrical differences in all ramifications.”

COEASU condemned “the refusal of FME to direct the enrolment of teachers of Demonstration Schools on the payroll of the institutions as done in the case of a sister tertiary institution with similar policy.” It also observed “as utterly unacceptable, the persistent poor handling of staff welfare related issues in most State Colleges of Education in the country. The pathetic situation is evident in the introduction of promotion criteria extraneous to the extant provisions of the conditions of service.”

The union of lecturers in colleges of education “critically assessed the security challenges besetting Nigerians within and outside the country”, noting that “While the internal security challenges may be receiving appropriate attention, the recent surge in the rate of criminal activities presupposes that a change in strategy may be required for effective crime control.”

The communiqué further indicates that COEASU “considered as unwarranted and condemnable the Afrophobic (xenophobic) attacks that have bedeviled the Republic of South Africa in recent time.” It added that, “although homicide, wherever it is perpetuated, remains condemnable, for a nation that owes the achievement of her sovereignty to the magnanimity of other spirited nations especially African nations led by Nigeria, the current situation tends to question the very morale that has been instilled in the struggle for a nation state. Council, therefore, implored Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa and those in their respective home countries to avoid violent reprisals as ongoing international conversations hold promises of stopping the crisis and ensuring compensation for the victims.”

- DAILY POST

ICYMI: Nine wounded as ‘drunk’ policeman goes on stabbing spree in Ondo nightclub

Taiwo Orisadare, a police officer, has reportedly stabbed about nine people at a night club in Akure, Ondo state.

The police officer with the state command, who was said to be drunk, engaged in an argument with some people at the club on Friday before stabbing them.

According to The Punch, the argument was said to have led to a fight between the police officer and some of the men at the club in Alagbaka area of the state capital.

A witness said the victims sustained varying degrees of wounds and were rushed to hospitals for treatment.

“It was clear that Sergeant Orisadare was drunk and he was already becoming uncontrollable at the club,” the witness said.

“He won’t just listen to those trying to tell him to take things easy. It got to a point that things went awry as he started attacking everyone he could lay his hands on. In total, he stabbed nine people before he was overpowered.”

Confirming the incident, Femi Joseph, the command’s spokesperson, said the officer was involved in an altercation with one of the victims.

He said the officer will be dealt with if he is found culpable of the allegation.

“There was a fight between the policeman and some young men, but we have started investigation into the matter,” Joseph said.

“All those involved in the brawl are already in hospital receiving treatment. But if at the end of the day we find our man culpable, we will deal with him, because we don’t tolerate indiscipline in this command.”

- THECABLE

FG sets dateline to depot unregistered foreigners

Nigerian Immigration Service said it will soon start to deport foreigners living in Nigeria without permit.

Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Muhammad Baba-Dede said this while addressing border communities at Maigatari local government in Jigawa State.

He stated that from 12th of January 2020, Nigeria will depot any foreigner living illegally back to their country.

“Federal Government has given six months of grace to all foreigners living in Nigeria illegally to register before 12th of January 2020.

“We have already started registration, therefore, whoever refuses to register before the dateline will be forced out of the country”

Baban-Dede said that the registration of foreigners was aimed at enhancing national security.

He also advised citizens to obtain their National Identity Card and report any foreigner who failed to register after the expiration of the dateline.

- DAILY POST

Ogun tops list of South Africa returnees

Ogun state has the highest number of returnees from South Africa, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has revealed.

Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, CEO of the commission, said 30 of the 187 returnees are from Ogun – the highest number; 28 are from Imo – the second highest number, while 23 are from Oyo – the third highest number.

She said Kogi and Benue have the least number of one each.

According to Dabiri-Erewa, seven returnees are from Abia state; 13 from Anambra; 15 from Delta; two from Ebonyi; 13 from Edo; six from Ekiti; seven from Enugu; three from Kwara; seven from Lagos; six from Osun and six from Ondo.

She said the returnees were profiled according to their states, adding that she expects the governors to take responsibility for them.

She also said the list containing details of the returnees will be forwarded to the various states to ensure proper reintegration.

“I am going to stressed one thing, those who returned are not criminals, in fact they are very hardworking Nigerians and have lost everything they have ever worked for in South Africa,’’ she said.

“So their only crime is being black and being Nigerian. We had father’s separated from their children, we have a widow with four children who just had to come back home. They are already offers for scholarships for her children.”

Dabiri-Erewa also said 319 citizens will be returning to the country from South Africa on Tuesday evening.

President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa in the wake of the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in that country.

Air Peace, a Nigerian carrier, offered to airlift Nigerians willing to return to the country at no cost.

Last Wednesday, the first of batch of returnees arrived in Nigeria.

- THECABLE