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Nigerian Govt urges Ethiopia to expedite action on exchange of sentenced persons

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The Federal Government has urged the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia not to further delay the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Exchange of Sentenced Persons between both countries.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated the country’s position at a meeting with the Ethiopian Ambassador to Nigeria, Legesse Geremew Haile, in her office at Tafawa Balewa House, Abuja.

This is as the minister expressed the Federal Government’s displeasure over the spate of embarrassment and harassment suffered by Nigerians including those with Official and Diplomatic Passports in Addis Ababa.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu reminded the Ethiopian Ambassador that the Nigeria side had concluded with reflection of the Ethiopian observations in the draft MOU on Exchange of Sentenced Persons between both countries and wondered why signing of the MOU was being delayed despite assurances at their meeting of March 6, 2025.

The minister highlighted with deep concern the plight of Nigerian inmates in Ethiopia who she said were not having access to medical care among other challenges. She also noted the overwhelming challenges this posed to the Ethiopian Government.

She expressed dismay that a Nigerian recently died in Ethiopian prison, and declared that as a government deeply committed to citizen diplomacy, the federal government would not want a repeat of such ugly incident.

“Our people don’t want to hear that another Nigerian inmate died in Ethiopian prison,” the minister said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu further decried the continued delay in returning monies seized from Nigerian businessmen by the Ethiopian Government even after the country’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, had at the 40th Session of the Executive Council of the African Union held in February 2022, granted amnesty to all African travellers whose monies were seized at the Bole International Airport, due to non-declaration of the amount over and above three thousand US Dollars, as provided by then Ethiopian law.

She regretted that of the 25 Nigerians whose monies were seized as at the time, only 15 had been approved for refund, due to the stringent condition put by the Ethiopian side for the refunds. Even at that, only two persons had actually been refunded their seized money.

The minister cited the pathetic case of one Mr. Francis Chukwuma Uzoh whose US$70,000 was seized by the Ethiopian authorities. She bemoaned that despite meeting all the conditions, Francis was yet to be refunded since 2022.

Consequently, Mr. Francis has become desolate, homeless, abandoned by family, hugely indebted and a shadow of his former self.

The minister, therefore, urged the Ethiopian envoy to press for a last chance for the Ethiopian Government to refund Mr. Francis his $70,000 while he is still alive, “so they don’t use the money to bury him when he has gone.”

Additionally, the minister noted that visa waiver for holders of Official and Diplomatic Passports was tied to the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed by the two countries.

Following what Nigerians faced at Addis Ababa, Odumegwu-Ojukwu accused Ethiopia of unilaterally withdrawing from the MoU without notifying Nigeria.

According to her, it is of great concern because Addis is a hub and many Nigerians have adopted Ethiopian Airline as the airline of choice.

Regardless, the minister reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Ethiopia, assuring that the 4th Session of Nigeria-Ethiopia Joint Commission would soon hold in Abuja.

Responding, the Ethiopian Ambassador, said that the visa waiver agreement was still in place but needed ratification by the country’s House of Representatives.

That notwithstanding, Amb. Haile said that the Embassy had issued visas to Nigerians with official and diplomatic passports, pointing out that the problem is actually when the applicant is with the regular passport.

“The visa on arrival has neither been withdrawn nor abrogated,” he said, stressing, “We are very close to Nigeria. The Ethiopian Government views the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a very strategic partner.”

He also thanked the Nigerian Government for the additional seven slots recently approved for the Ethiopian Airline on the Lagos route.

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Higher fertilizer cost threatenening wet season farming – Jigawa farmers cry out

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Farmers in Jigawa State have expressed fear of inability to go back to farm due to the higher cost of fertilizer and losses recorded during dry season farming.

Some of the rice farmers disclosed this in an interview with Ekwutosblog ahead of their preparation for the wet season farming.

They explained that many farmers will not go back to farm for the wet season farming because they are unable to recover from the huge losses suffered during the last dry season farming.

 

According to Malam Musa, a farmer, “without government intervention, it will be difficult for most of us to return to our farms for the rainy season.

“The fertilizer we used to buy at N40,000 is now being sold at N60,000 and what we used to buy at N35,000 is now being sold at cost of over N45,000.

“We are therefore appealing to Governor Umar Namadi to come to our aid for timely provision of agricultural inputs,” he said.

They also urged the state government to use the previous section and distribution procedure used under the Fadama office to ensure that fertiliser and other inputs reached genuine farmers at the grassroots.

Another farmer, named Auwalu Kaci said, “It’s only through Fadama lll office our farmers at the grassroots level get access to the government’s inputs directly without any hindrance.”

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Buhari showed little respect for my grandfather – Shehu Shagari’s grandson

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Nura Muhammad Mahe, a grandson of Nigeria’s former President Shehu Shagari, has accused late former president Muhammadu Buhari of showing little respect for his grandfather even in death.
Mahe said this in a statement on Wednesday, publicly expressing dissatisfaction with the way the late Buhari handled Shagari’s death.

He, however, lauded President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a show of honour and statesmanship in organising a state burial for Buhari, who died on Sunday and was laid to rest on Tuesday in Daura with full military honours.

He described Tinubu’s attendance at the funeral as a symbol of national unity and dignity.

“This is in stark contrast to how the late President Shehu Shagari was treated during the administration of Muhammadu Buhari,” Mahe said.

According to him, when his grandfather died in 2018, Buhari neither attended the funeral nor arranged a state burial in his honour despite being in Nigeria at that time .

“Instead, a government delegation led by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who is notably a non-Muslim, was dispatched to represent him,” he said.

Mahe said the actions were a slight to Shagari’s legacy, stressing that the late leader deserved more recognition for his service as Nigeria’s first democratically elected Executive President.

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Military can defeat insurgency with locally made weapons – EIB boss, Echefu

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The Chairman and Managing Director of EIB Group, Dr. Bright Echefu, has said that the Nigerian military now has the capacity to defeat insurgency using weapons made in Nigeria.

He made this statement on Wednesday during a media tour of EIB Group’s facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where journalists were shown locally produced drones, bombs, and other military equipment.

Dr. Echefu said Nigeria no longer needs foreign help to fight insecurity, as local companies are now producing the tools needed to defeat terrorists.

“Nigeria has the capacity right now to end this insurgency with the amount of local companies that are investing heavily,” he said.

He added that the Nigerian military is supporting local manufacturers through partnerships, protection, and direct purchases.

“The Nigerian military strongly supports local manufacturers through research collaboration, protection, and patronage,” he stated.

The Managing director noted that this partnership is helping Nigeria become more self-reliant in terms of defense.

Echefu explained that EIB Group is already helping by monitoring drone operations in many northern states, gathering intelligence to track terrorists hiding in forests.

“Our goal is to ensure that these terrorists are completely removed from our land,” he said.

According to him, with local support, the Nigerian Air Force now has the ability to maintain and service its fleet locally.

Dr. Echefu called on the government to continue supporting local companies and expand policies that help grow the defense sector.

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