Goodluck Jonathans
Chaos, pandemonium and anger are currently the orders of the day at the Nigeria Embassy in London as many citizens struggle to meet the deadline of December 31, 2010 when the current International passports carried by Nigerians will no longer be valid.
United Kingdom is one of the countries that hosts the largest concentration of Nigerians after Nigeria and the deadline as given by Nigerian government, couple with the numerous challenges people have to meet everyday could be making the December deadline unrealistic.
According to EMNnews.com investigations, Nigerians who visit the Embassy to carry out various required duties such as regularisation of passports either through re-issue to upgrade to the new e-passport , or renewal of expired ones or those visiting for travelling visas are facing untold sufferings everyday as the Embassy appear to be short-staffed.
In particular, the Embassy has been a punishment haven for children brought in everyday for formality reasons but are subjected to sufferings and hardships due to overcrowding and lack of recreation corners where they could take refuge on visits and play the day away without stress.
Mothers are forced to contend with the punishment of cuddling and carrying their children and in many instances, large families are most hit.
As against the old system of issuance of International passports whereby photographs are supplied by applicants, the current passport called e-passport is given with passports taken at the embassy embedded on the issued International passports.
So, every family no matter the number has to be present physically so that individual passport of every family member could be taken and this is the worse situation.
Many family members take their holiday off to meet up their application while many squeezes their off-duty holiday to meet up, and when confronted with such uncertainty anger, frustrations and abuse of staff take over.
A week-long visit to the Embassy recently exposed an air of disenchantment as people complain of undue suffering, hunger and subjection of children to unnecessary hardship and punishment.
Among the problems that people have to contend with are overcrowding and non- provision of children playing gallery where twenties of kids visiting the embassy daily could have found solace.
The resulting inconvenience has created scenarios of occasional lawlessness caused by those who are frustrated and aggravated.
The current state of affairs at the Embassy if discovered by the British law enforcement Agencies may create penalty imposition
Nigerian Embassy, Central London
Among the dangers much inherent are stampede induced problems such as fire- outbreak and infighting which may create a sudden run for cover.
Though, such scenarios are unlikely but the British Security Authority holds the principle that prevention is better than cure. The immunity enjoyed by the Embassy could be creating a total openness for danger and havoc.
There is the danger of suffocation in the event of fire alert or any similar occurrences which may be dangerous for the level of overcrowding.
According to John Ezenwa, one of the frustrated applicants for the e-passport: “There had been total lack of good planning. The issuance of the new e-passport should be given more time and given a more calculative discharge considering the complexity of life in the United Kingdom”.
Already, a December deadline is staying while Embassy Management is failing to notify Nigeria government of the need for the extensions of the deadline to avoid deadly rush and the accompanied consequences.
Embassy staff members have had to contend with huge tasks unusual for their routine job, an indication that the High commission office is grossly under-staffed.
Nigeria Embassy serves between 150-200 in each of their department each day while nothing less than 500 Nigerians turn up to carry out one service or the other. From the staff
Large numbers of those who visit are turned back as mostly, the entrance door is shut to outsiders at 1pm.
Nigeria E- passport
Many who come from far distance are not always aware of the closing door time.
Nigeria introduced a chip-based e-passport to be in line with the new world passport order while also using the opportunity to check the ever growing cases of forgery and identity theft or impersonations.
The new e-passport has an embedded microchip that stores personal information of the holder.
On the eve of the introduction, Nigerians chargeable fees for the e- passports for administration fee is 8,500 naira ($67).
It has the advantage of having the biometric data of the holder encrypted in the microchip embedded somewhere in the passport, making it impossible to tamper with.
Also visit:http://emnnews.com/articles/nigerian-embassy-plans-home-visit-services-for-disabled-and-elderly/
and
http://emnnews.com/editorial/tears-angers-and-frustrations-as-nigerians-queue-for-new-e-passport/
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Yar'Adua on last journey home
Reactions to the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua have been that of indifference as EMNnews was seeking for comments yesterday from Nigerians in the Diaspora.
The announcement of the former President’s departure to the world beyond on Wednesday was met with shock but reserved views as not many were convinced that he had just passed away as has been announced.
However, it was confirmed from London office of the Nigeria Embassy yesterday that many people are calling to request for the condolence register.
Sources at the Embassy claimed activities were partially suspended as top level meetings were held for most of the day.
The low zeal of work however was adduced to the seven days of mourning declared by the Federal government.
The Embassy yesterday was putting in place final arrangement for the provision of a condolence register which will be made available at the Embassy, on Friday May 7 . The register will open at 10am and it would be available for three working days closing on Tuesday evening.
It will be available on both the Embassy reception and in the main bowl of the Embassy premises.
Many who had been saddened by the untimely departure had sympathised with the family and prayed that the soul of the Ex- President be given eternal rest.
There had been no enthusiasm about reactions as many had seen the farewell ceremony bequeath the former President as sheer formalisation and official announcement to the world.
Yar'Adua, a well focussed leader taken away by nature
“ It’s hard to sieve the truth from falsehood by this government considering events in the last few months. A situation whereby the former Deputy was shielded from the President speaks volume that there is a major cover up. What we are seeing now is sheer formalisation of the exit of the former President” a concerned Nigeria said in London yesterday.
“Thank God Nigeria is moving on but the scars remain as the nation has been perceived by the outside world as a nation of political tricksters”, commented Oluseyi Arobade while responding to questions from EMNnews.com
Many who responded to EMNnews shared Mr Arobade’s views showing no enthusiasm about the burial event.
He claimed: “All we saw was only a packed sleeping bag and there was no lying –in –state ceremony to honour him before departure for burial.
“Did you see the face of the former President exposed at all to convince us all? We are no fools. Even if they acted with the truth, we have lost confidence in this government”, another respondent said.
Many spoke well of the former leader as a kind, forthright and well fore-sighted personality who would have left no chance to reshape Nigeria if given the opportunity.
“I love his simple nature. He was not used to speaking much but he had focus and intentions which were well laid out. Imagine how he handled the situation in the Delta regions”, Cecilia Chike said, praying for the soul of the leader to be granted eternal rest.
Social affairs write, Latty Rahman said in his text to EMNnews.com; “He has finally gone to rest from the machinations Rouletting of the cabal”
EX- Presidents wife and families.
The Chairman of Nigerians In the Diaspora Organisation Europe(NIDOE), Dr Alistair Soyode in his reaction said: “Late Yar’Adua came as a hope for the nation. He was a gentle giant ready to change the course of the nation but as we saw it , it was not to be. His contribution towards giving back will remain with us for ever. We pray that God will guide the nation in this period, especially our Golden Jubilee year.
“We are totally sympathetic towards the family and sympathetic towards our dear nation”
From Spain, Elijah Shosore said the Nigerian community met the news of the Presidents death with sober reflections considering the agony he went through in the last months of his life.
Another respondent, Femi Babalola , who just declared his Presidential ambition described the former President as a unique character who would have moved Nigeria forward. He prayed for God to rest his soul in perfect peace
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Toyosi Shittabay
Two brothers have been charged in relation to the death of 15-year-old Toyosi Shittabey in West Dublin on Friday evening.
Paul Barry (aged 38) with an address in Pearse Street in Dublin 2 is charged with the manslaughter of Toyosi on Good Friday, in an altercation in the West Dublin suburb of Tyrrellstown.
His brother and co-accused, 23-year-old Michael Barry, with an address in Ringsend in Dublin 4 is charged with possession under Section 11 of the Firearm and Offensive Weapons Act.
The two unemployed men declined to say anything at the Dublin District Court and spoke only through their lawyers.
Paul Barry is remanded in custody in Clover Hill prison until Tuesday while Michael Barry, who recently returned to the country from Canada, has been granted bail on the condition that he surrender his passport.
Toyosi Shittabey came from Lagos to Ireland 10 years ago and was said to be a promising footballer for Shelbourne under 15’s.
Police in the Republic of Ireland had called for calms after the teenager was stabbed in a high profile murder that has engendered reactions from the nation’s Presidency
The Irish Police have appealed for calm in the area urging for peace to reign after the murder.
West Dublin suburb of Tyrellstown has remained tensed as community teenagers of African descent vowed to take revenge and the situation has drawn the attention of the nation’s President Mary McAleese appealing for peace and tranquillity in the area.
Fifteen year –old Toyosi Shittabey was stabbed to death in cold blood in what the Irish authority regarded as a rare racial murder.
The case has been very high profile because there is hardly racial tension in the area inhabited by multi cultural people.
Many Nigerians had reacted with anger as Irish locals portray the killers as good people who are genuinely Irish blooded. The statement had angered Nigerian community who concluded that the society was encouraging such murders with such a statemet.
Friends of the teenager have vowed a major revenge while police appeal for calms to enable them carry out their normal investigations.
Revenging teenagers smashed windows of a car while returning from a rally that was held in honour of the teenager.
Several youths were restrained for attacking a group of teenagers that they believed to be associated with the murder and a major tension is building up.
Police spokesperson Supt John Gilligan has asked people in the area to “take a deep breath, take a step back and let the gardai (police) do their job.”
The suburb is one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the country, and Gilligan said there has never been racial tension in the area but described the stabbing incident as “truly exceptional.”
Over 300 people attended a memorial at the sight of the stabbing of the Nigerian teenager who had bee allegedly subjected to racial abuse in the past as claimed by Irish national daily, Irish Times.
Irish Presidents McAleese
A message of condolence from President Mary McAleese was read out at the rally.
The Nigerian ambassador Dr. Kemafo Nonyerem Chikwe also attended the rally.
Local MP Joan Bruton said the incident was out of character for the community and she praised the “excellent relation” between Irish and non-Irish nationals that reside in the area.
Shocked local Fine Gael councillor Kieran Dennison said while this incident was rare, there was an undercurrent of racial tension:“Racism is something people have in their hearts.”
Bobby Huti is a friend of the victim and he told the Irish Times that the victim was subjected to “loads” of racist abuse in the past.
“This is were we live. He had been living here 11 years. We thought we were safe here. It is not like we went to some mad place where we weren’t supposed to go. It has gone too far,” said Huti.
Congo-born Patrick Kabangu said, “Racism is hiding everywhere. It is in the schools. Everywhere in Ireland is racist, it is just being hidden. This country is crazy.”
Blanchardstown community liaison police officer Sgt. Vincent Connolly appealed for witnesses to come forward with information.
“I just wish to say to the people, if they have anything to say to us, please call us. We cannot do it without you.”