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US, Nigeria Meet Over Visa Ban, Today

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As millions of people continue to react to the visa ban on Nigerians by the United State Government, the Fifth Session of the Nigeria/United States of America Bi-National Commission will kicks off today in Washington, D.C., with the ban expected to top the agenda of the meeting.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, would lead the Nigerian delegation to the meeting with the theme, ‘Mutual Prosperity through Innovation and Ingenuity.’
Deliberations at the session will focus on areas of mutual interest, including good governance and anti-corruption; trade and investment; development and food security; and security and counter-terrorism efforts.
The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ferdinand Nwonye, in a statement, at the weekend, said the BNC had continued to serve as a veritable mechanism for sustained bilateral high-level dialogue to promote and coordinate diplomatic, economic, military, technical cultural and social cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
The Nigeria-US Bi-National Commission was established in April, 2010, in Washington, D.C. as a platform for closer cooperation between both countries.
It would be recalled that the presidential action, titled, “Proclamation on Improving Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry”, signed by President Donald Trump, had read, “Now, therefore, I, Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, hereby find that, absent the measures set forth in this proclamation, the immigrant entry into the United States of persons described in section 1 of this proclamation would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and that their entry should be subject to certain restrictions, limitations, and exceptions.
“I, therefore, hereby proclaim the following: Section 1 Suspension of Entry for Nationals of Countries of Identified Concern. The entry into the United States of nationals of the following countries is hereby suspended and limited, as follows, subject to section 2 of this proclamation.
“(a) The entry suspensions and limitations enacted by section 2 of Proclamation 9645 are not altered by this proclamation, and they remain in force by their terms, except as modified by Proclamation 9723.
(e) Nigeria (i) Nigeria does not comply with the established identity-management and information-sharing criteria assessed by the performance metrics. Nigeria does not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information, which is necessary for the protection of the national security and public safety of the United States.
“Nigeria also presents a high risk, relative to other countries in the world, of terrorist travel to the United States. Nigeria is an important strategic partner in the global fight against terrorism, and the United States continues to engage with Nigeria on these and other issues.
“The Department of State has provided significant assistance to Nigeria as it modernizes its border management capabilities, and the Government of Nigeria recognizes the importance of improving its information sharing with the United States. Nevertheless, these investments have not yet resulted in sufficient improvements in Nigeria’s information sharing with the United States for border and immigration screening and vetting.
(ii) The entry into the United States of nationals of Nigeria as immigrants, except as Special Immigrants whose eligibility is based on having provided assistance to the United States Government, is hereby suspended.
“Section 2 Scope and Implementation of Suspensions and Limitations (a) Subject to the exceptions set forth in section 3(b) of Proclamation 9645, any waiver under section 3(c) of Proclamation 9645, and any enforcement provision of section 6(b) through (e) of Proclamation 9645, the suspensions of and limitations on entry pursuant to section 1(b) of this proclamation shall apply to foreign nationals of the designated countries who: (i) are outside the United States on the applicable effective date of this proclamation; (ii) do not have a valid visa on the applicable effective date of this proclamation; and (iii) do not qualify for a visa or other valid travel document under section 6(d) of Proclamation 9645.

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Retirement: Ignore PSC’s Directive, Remain In Office, IGP Tells Officers 

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The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has instructed all police officers affected by the recent directive from the Police Service Commission (PSC) to disregard the order.

The PSC had directed officers who have served 35 years or reached 60 years of age to retire immediately.

A wireless message from the office of the Force Secretary, dated February 11, 2025, stated that the IGP “strongly directs all officers affected by the PSC’s directive to stay action, pending further instruction.” Officers were told to comply strictly with this order.

Last week, PSC spokesman Ikechukwu Ani, explained that the commission’s order followed a review of its previous stance from the 24th plenary meeting in September 2017, allowing force entrants to use their enlistment date rather than their initial appointment date.

The commission cited inconsistencies with Public Service Rule No. 020908, which mandates retirement after 35 years of service or upon reaching 60 years of age.

However, the PSC clarified that it does not have the constitutional authority to determine the appointment or retirement of IGP Egbetokun.

 

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Be Consoled, God Who Gives, Also Takes, Fubara Tells Principal Secretary 

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has extolled the sterling motherly virtues of late Mama Ayebadieye Edward Igbeta, and urged the children not to deviate from those valuable lessons she had taught them.

 

Late Mama Ayebadieye Edward Igbeta (79 years) is the mother of Dr Ayebaesin Jacob Beredugo, the Principal Secretary to Governor Fubara.

 

The Rivers State Governor, who described Dr Beredugo as a brother,  trusted ally and key stakeholder of his administration, urged him to be consoled in God and bear the loss with fortitude.

 

Governor Fubara gave the advise at the funeral service in honour of late Mama Ayebadieye Edward Igbeta at the Cathedral Church of St Luke, Anglican Communion in Nembe City, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State yesterday.

 

The Rivers State Governor said: “We are here as a government to show that in this difficult time, we stand with him. We know that there is no consolation here that can fill the gap of this loss, more especially the loss of a mother.

 

“But, we want to draw his mind to the good Book: that it is the Lord that giveth, and it is also the Lord that taketh. And he takes for a reason.

 

“We live in a corrupt world, and when you are a saint in the world, when it pleases the Almighty and He believes that He doesn’t want you to be corrupted, He takes away the soul to a better place where death is no more, where you don’t have to look for food again, where you have peace.”

 

Governor Fubara expressed strong belief that given the way Mama had lived and the good virtues that had been read out and said about her, there is no doubt that she will be in a good side in heaven.

 

The Governor decried the current condition of the cathedral where the funeral service held and committed the support of the Rivers State Government to ensure the completion of the building in memory of late Mama Ayebadieye Edward Igbeta

 

“We have been made to understand that the Cathedral needs strong support. We are willing to support the completion of the Cathedral. We will support the building in memory of Mama with the sum of N50million”

 

Delivering the sermon on the topic; “Hope in the face of death”, Bishop of the Diocese of Western Izon, Rt. Rev. Victor Okporu, said those who are confidently expecting positive future must also believe in Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, and be prepared to spend eternity with Him.

 

Reading the biography of the late Madam Ayebadieye Edward-Igbeta, brother of the decreased, Mr Godwin Ekine, said his late sister was an embodiment of love, care, peaceful and kind-hearted, and touched lives through her generosity and compassion.

 

Friends and well-wishers from Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states, some of whom shared fun memories of the late matriarch, were later hosted to a funeral reception at King Koko’s Square in Nembe Town.

 

Also at the burial were the State Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu; Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo; member representing Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Boniface Emerengwa; and Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Edison Ehie.

 

Others are Head of Service, Dr George Nwaeke; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Israel Iboroma, SAN, Dr Tamunosis Gogo-Jaja; Chief Hanny Woko; Amaopusenibo Fubara Hart; Chief Theodore Georgewill; members of the State Executive Council; Special Advisers; top politicians, leaders and stakeholders in the State; among others.

 

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Old Boys Plan Rehabilitation Of GSS, Okehi

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The Chairman of the Old Boys Association of Government Secondary School (GSS), Okehi Etche, Rivers State, Prof. Sir, Umunna Offor, has stated that the association would soon visit their alma-mater and rehabilitate decayed infrastructure and facilities in the compound.
The chairman made this assertion while speaking with some newsmen after an extensive meeting of the Old Boys in Port Harcourt, recently.
Sir Offor stated that since they left the secondary school, some years ago, most of the facilities and infrastructure built by then Rivers State Government had decayed and worn out.
“ However, being responsible ambassadors and Old Boys of the college, we would not fold our arms and expect government to rebuild everything in the school compound, hence, we have decided to come together and graciously assist our alma mater’, he said.
“The meeting was basically for like-minds to gather to find a way to help the school, it is a thing of joy to see and receive old school friends and comrades who have gone far in life and have excelled in their respective chosen fields”.
Speaking in the same vein, Engr, Lasbrey Amadi; (FNSE), who is also an old boy and former member of the House of Representatives, said the association would be working in synergy with the administrators of the school to ensure that in no distant time; there would be a massive face-lift in the physical infrastructure in the school compound.
Veering into politics in Nigeria of today, Engr, Amadi, said that god-fatherism in politics had seriously killed the gains and beauty of democracy in Nigeria and quickly urged politicians to always play-down the issue of god-fatherism in politics and ensure good governance in the country.
In his comment, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Association, Mr Goodluck Nwaobilor, said the door of the association is still wide open for new members who finished from the school to join and work towards taking the association to higher level.

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