Donald Trump set to ban 2-years visa for Nigerians

Well! Only if the federal government takes a proactive visa policy review, Nigerians will no longer be issued with American entry visas which have two-year validity following the Executive Order signed on Friday by President Donald Trump, TheCable can report.

Also, Nigerians who hold dual nationality will be affected if their other passport is from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen — the seven Muslim-majority countries “of concern”.
A lot of attention has been on the temporary visa ban on citizens of the seven Muslim-majority countries, but the impact on Nigerians is far more than previously thought.
An analysis of the Executive Order by TheCable editors shows that at least two sections will affect Nigerians directly.
Nigeria currently only issues one-year multiple-entry visa to Americans, which is a non-reciprocation of the two-year visa the country issues to Nigerians.

Section 9 of the Executive Order states: “The Secretary of State shall review all nonimmigrant visa reciprocity agreements to ensure that they are, with respect to each visa classification, truly reciprocal insofar as practicable with respect to validity period and fees, as required by sections 221(c) and 281 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1201(c) and 1351, and other treatment. If a country does not treat United States nationals seeking nonimmigrant visas in a reciprocal manner, the Secretary of State shall adjust the visa validity period, fee schedule, or other treatment to match the treatment of United States nationals by the foreign country, to the extent practicable…”

By this provision, except the federal government quickly moves to extend the validity of Nigerian visa to Americans, Nigerians too will be issued with one-year visas.
Given that the Trump order takes immediate effect, Nigerians holding valid two-year US visa are most likely going to be affected.
Nigeria is also not reciprocating the fees charged by the American government — despite shorter visa validity.
While the US charges Nigerians $160 for a typical visit visa, Nigeria charges $180, in addition to a $35 “processing fee”.

The section on dual nationality involving seven Muslim-majority countries is not expected to affect a significant number of Nigerians because a second citizenship of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen is not common.
Many Nigerians, including government officials, hold dual nationality with either the US or Europe.

However, Nigerians who have been to Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen in recent times may be subjected to extra immigration control with possible deportation.



(For those interested) ..... Read THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IN FULL

PROTECTING THE NATION FROM FOREIGN TERRORIST ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq., and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and to protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Purpose. The visa-issuance process plays a crucial role in detecting individuals with terrorist ties and stopping them from entering the United States. Perhaps in no instance was that more apparent than the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when State Department policy prevented consular officers from properly scrutinizing the visa applications of several of the 19 foreign nationals who went on to murder nearly 3,000 Americans. And while the visa-issuance process was reviewed and amended after the September 11 attacks to better detect would-be terrorists from receiving visas, these measures did not stop attacks by foreign nationals who were admitted to the United States.

Numerous foreign-born individuals have been convicted or implicated in terrorism-related crimes since September 11, 2001, including foreign nationals who entered the United States after receiving visitor, student, or employment visas, or who entered through the United States refugee resettlement program. Deteriorating conditions in certain countries due to war, strife, disaster, and civil unrest increase the likelihood that terrorists will use any means possible to enter the United States. The United States must be vigilant during the visa-issuance process to ensure that those approved for admission do not intend to harm Americans and that they have no ties to terrorism.

In order to protect Americans, the United States must ensure that those admitted to this country do not bear hostile attitudes toward it and its founding principles. The United States cannot, and should not, admit those who do not support the Constitution, or those who would place violent ideologies over American law. In addition, the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred (including “honor” killings, other forms of violence against women, or the persecution of those who practice religions different from their own) or those who would oppress Americans of any race, gender, or sexual orientation.

Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from foreign nationals who intend to commit terrorist attacks in the United States; and to prevent the admission of foreign nationals who intend to exploit United States immigration laws for malevolent purposes.

Sec. 3. Suspension of Issuance of Visas and Other Immigration Benefits to Nationals of Countries of Particular Concern. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall immediately conduct a review to determine the information needed from any country to adjudicate any visa, admission, or other benefit under the INA (adjudications) in order to determine that the individual seeking the benefit is who the individual claims to be and is not a security or public-safety threat.

(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the President a report on the results of the review described in subsection (a) of this section, including the Secretary of Homeland Security’s determination of the information needed for adjudications and a list of countries that do not provide adequate information, within 30 days of the date of this order. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide a copy of the report to the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence.

(c) To temporarily reduce investigative burdens on relevant agencies during the review period described in subsection (a) of this section, to ensure the proper review and maximum utilization of available resources for the screening of foreign nationals, and to ensure that adequate standards are established to prevent infiltration by foreign terrorists or criminals, pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I hereby proclaim that the immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of aliens from countries referred to in section 217(a)(12) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12), would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and I hereby suspend entry into the United States, as immigrants and nonimmigrants, of such persons for 90 days from the date of this order (excluding those foreign nationals traveling on diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visas, C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations, and G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visas).

(d) Immediately upon receipt of the report described in subsection (b) of this section regarding the information needed for adjudications, the Secretary of State shall request all foreign governments that do not supply such information to start providing such information regarding their nationals within 60 days of notification.

(e) After the 60-day period described in subsection (d) of this section expires, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the President a list of countries recommended for inclusion on a Presidential proclamation that would prohibit the entry of foreign nationals (excluding those foreign nationals traveling on diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visas, C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations, and G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visas) from countries that do not provide the information requested pursuant to subsection (d) of this section until compliance occurs.

(f) At any point after submitting the list described in subsection (e) of this section, the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security may submit to the President the names of any additional countries recommended for similar treatment.

(g) Notwithstanding a suspension pursuant to subsection (c) of this section or pursuant to a Presidential proclamation described in subsection (e) of this section, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security may, on a case-by-case basis, and when in the national interest, issue visas or other immigration benefits to nationals of countries for which visas and benefits are otherwise blocked.

(h) The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security shall submit to the President a joint report on the progress in implementing this order within 30 days of the date of this order, a second report within 60 days of the date of this order, a third report within 90 days of the date of this order, and a fourth report within 120 days of the date of this order.

Sec. 4. Implementing Uniform Screening Standards for All Immigration Programs. (a) The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall implement a program, as part of the adjudication process for immigration benefits, to identify individuals seeking to enter the United States on a fraudulent basis with the intent to cause harm, or who are at risk of causing harm subsequent to their admission. This program will include the development of a uniform screening standard and procedure, such as in-person interviews; a database of identity documents proffered by applicants to ensure that duplicate documents are not used by multiple applicants; amended application forms that include questions aimed at identifying fraudulent answers and malicious intent; a mechanism to ensure that the applicant is who the applicant claims to be; a process to evaluate the applicant’s likelihood of becoming a positively contributing member of society and the applicant’s ability to make contributions to the national interest; and a mechanism to assess whether or not the applicant has the intent to commit criminal or terrorist acts after entering the United States.
(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Secretary of State, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall submit to the President an initial report on the progress of this directive within 60 days of the date of this order, a second report within 100 days of the date of this order, and a third report within 200 days of the date of this order.

Sec. 5. Realignment of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for Fiscal Year 2017. (a) The Secretary of State shall suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for 120 days. During the 120-day period, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Secretary of Homeland Security and in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall review the USRAP application and adjudication process to determine what additional procedures should be taken to ensure that those approved for refugee admission do not pose a threat to the security and welfare of the United States, and shall implement such additional procedures. Refugee applicants who are already in the USRAP process may be admitted upon the initiation and completion of these revised procedures. Upon the date that is 120 days after the date of this order, the Secretary of State shall resume USRAP admissions only for nationals of countries for which the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence have jointly determined that such additional procedures are adequate to ensure the security and welfare of the United States.

(b) Upon the resumption of USRAP admissions, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, is further directed to make changes, to the extent permitted by law, to prioritize refugee claims made by individuals on the basis of religious-based persecution, provided that the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individual’s country of nationality. Where necessary and appropriate, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security shall recommend legislation to the President that would assist with such prioritization.

(c) Pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I hereby proclaim that the entry of nationals of Syria as refugees is detrimental to the interests of the United States and thus suspend any such entry until such time as I have determined that sufficient changes have been made to the USRAP to ensure that admission of Syrian refugees is consistent with the national interest.

(d) Pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I hereby proclaim that the entry of more than 50,000 refugees in fiscal year 2017 would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and thus suspend any such entry until such time as I determine that additional admissions would be in the national interest.

(e) Notwithstanding the temporary suspension imposed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security may jointly determine to admit individuals to the United States as refugees on a case-by-case basis, in their discretion, but only so long as they determine that the admission of such individuals as refugees is in the national interest — including when the person is a religious minority in his country of nationality facing religious persecution, when admitting the person would enable the United States to conform its conduct to a preexisting international agreement, or when the person is already in transit and denying admission would cause undue hardship — and it would not pose a risk to the security or welfare of the United States.

(f) The Secretary of State shall submit to the President an initial report on the progress of the directive in subsection (b) of this section regarding prioritization of claims made by individuals on the basis of religious-based persecution within 100 days of the date of this order and shall submit a second report within 200 days of the date of this order.

(g) It is the policy of the executive branch that, to the extent permitted by law and as practicable, State and local jurisdictions be granted a role in the process of determining the placement or settlement in their jurisdictions of aliens eligible to be admitted to the United States as refugees. To that end, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall examine existing law to determine the extent to which, consistent with applicable law, State and local jurisdictions may have greater involvement in the process of determining the placement or resettlement of refugees in their jurisdictions, and shall devise a proposal to lawfully promote such involvement.

Sec. 6. Rescission of Exercise of Authority Relating to the Terrorism Grounds of Inadmissibility. The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security shall, in consultation with the Attorney General, consider rescinding the exercises of authority in section 212 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182, relating to the terrorism grounds of inadmissibility, as well as any related implementing memoranda.

Sec. 7. Expedited Completion of the Biometric Entry-Exit Tracking System. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall expedite the completion and implementation of a biometric entry-exit tracking system for all travelers to the United States, as recommended by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.

(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the President periodic reports on the progress of the directive contained in subsection (a) of this section. The initial report shall be submitted within 100 days of the date of this order, a second report shall be submitted within 200 days of the date of this order, and a third report shall be submitted within 365 days of the date of this order. Further, the Secretary shall submit a report every 180 days thereafter until the system is fully deployed and operational.

Sec. 8. Visa Interview Security. (a) The Secretary of State shall immediately suspend the Visa Interview Waiver Program and ensure compliance with section 222 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1222, which requires that all individuals seeking a nonimmigrant visa undergo an in-person interview, subject to specific statutory exceptions.

(b) To the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of State shall immediately expand the Consular Fellows Program, including by substantially increasing the number of Fellows, lengthening or making permanent the period of service, and making language training at the Foreign Service Institute available to Fellows for assignment to posts outside of their area of core linguistic ability, to ensure that non-immigrant visa-interview wait times are not unduly affected.

Sec. 9. Visa Validity Reciprocity. The Secretary of State shall review all nonimmigrant visa reciprocity agreements to ensure that they are, with respect to each visa classification, truly reciprocal insofar as practicable with respect to validity period and fees, as required by sections 221(c) and 281 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1201(c) and 1351, and other treatment. If a country does not treat United States nationals seeking nonimmigrant visas in a reciprocal manner, the Secretary of State shall adjust the visa validity period, fee schedule, or other treatment to match the treatment of United States nationals by the foreign country, to the extent practicable.

Sec. 10. Transparency and Data Collection. (a) To be more transparent with the American people, and to more effectively implement policies and practices that serve the national interest, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall, consistent with applicable law and national security, collect and make publicly available within 180 days, and every 180 days thereafter:

(i) information regarding the number of foreign nationals in the United States who have been charged with terrorism-related offenses while in the United States; convicted of terrorism-related offenses while in the United States; or removed from the United States based on terrorism-related activity, affiliation, or material support to a terrorism-related organization, or any other national security reasons since the date of this order or the last reporting period, whichever is later;

(ii) information regarding the number of foreign nationals in the United States who have been radicalized after entry into the United States and engaged in terrorism-related acts, or who have provided material support to terrorism-related organizations in countries that pose a threat to the United States, since the date of this order or the last reporting period, whichever is later; and

(iii) information regarding the number and types of acts of gender-based violence against women, including honor killings, in the United States by foreign nationals, since the date of this order or the last reporting period, whichever is later; and

(iv) any other information relevant to public safety and security as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General, including information on the immigration status of foreign nationals charged with major offenses.

(b) The Secretary of State shall, within one year of the date of this order, provide a report on the estimated long-term costs of the USRAP at the Federal, State, and local levels.

Sec. 11. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE, January 27, 2017

SEC warns against investment in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, Swisscoin, others

THE Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has warned Nigerians against the risk involved in investing in digital currencies such as Swisscoin, OneCoin and Bitcoin, as vehicles of investment.

In a public notice on its website, SEC said that none of the individuals or companies promoting the use of the currencies is recognized by it or any other regulatory agency in the country. Such digital currencies, otherwise known as Cryptocurrency, is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange using cryptography to secure the transactions and to control the creation of additional units of the currency. Bitcoin became the first decentralized cryptocurrency in 2009.

The Commission, therefore, said such investments been promoted by the companies could be risky with possibility of loss of money by investors, while others could be outright fraudulent pyramid schemes.

“Given that these instruments and the persons, companies or entities that promote the digital currencies have neither been authorized, nor any guidelines/regulations developed for them by any of the regulatory authorities in Nigeria, there is no protection available to users or investors in these virtual currencies from financial losses if the virtual currencies fail or the companies promoting them go out of business.
“The public and consumers of financial services are further advised that before making any investment or entering into any financial services transaction they should ascertain that the entity with whom the investment or transaction is being made is authorized by the Commission or other financial services regulatory authority as applicable to provide such services.,” it said.


It would be recalled that the Nigeria Insurance Deposit Commission, NDIC, in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had recently set up a committee to study the trending “digital currency, ‘bitcoin. According to Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, Managing Director, NDIC, the Commission would look at the advantages and disadvantages of the currency and what it means for the payment system in Nigeria as well as safety and security of customers
“We will also look at what it means for money laundering, anti corruption, crime and measurement of money /near money instrument for the economy. But we need a lot of education to do this and I am calling on you (media) to educate yourselves about all of this so you can educate the public,” he said. He said that a lot of Nigerians have already started patronising bitcoin, stressing that ‘it had started to creep in and nobody could stop it.
He said that in Europe and the United States, it has gained ground and some of the leading banks in Europe have also adopted their own versions of bitcoins. “Some of the central banks have also adopted it and are seriously doing everything possible to bring in the emergence of these invisible products,” he added. 

I'll say don't over invest. If you must do this,  trade with care and caution.

Fuel subsidy returns as landing cost hits N145

The Federal Government has resorted to subsidy regime following an increase in the landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol.

This is coming about eight months after the Muhammadu Buhari-led regime stopped the fuel subsidy, which was costing the government millions of naira being paid monthly to oil marketers importing the product then.
Investigation shows that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, now responsible for about 90 per cent of the importation of the product, is currently bearing the latest subsidy cost on behalf of the government.

The Federal Government had on May 11, 2016 announced a new petrol price band of N135 to N145 per litre, a move that signalled the end of fuel subsidy.
The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency explained then that the rise in crude oil price and prevailing high cost of importation had brought back subsidy.
The PPPRA, in its pricing template released following the introduction of a new price band, put the landing cost and total cost of petrol at N122.03 and N140.40 per litre, respectively.

The cost of the product and the freight rate, which are the elements mostly affected by crude oil price and exchange rate, were put at $534 per metric tonne of petrol or N111.30 per litre, using an exchange rate of N280/dollar.
Global oil benchmark, Brent crude, which was trading around $41 per barrel when the petrol price was increased, stood at $55.64 per barrel as of 5.15pm on Friday.
Crude oil price accounts for about 80 per cent of the final cost of fuel, the PPPRA said, in its framework for petroleum products supply, distribution and pricing.

It was gathered that the cost of petrol stood at $560 per metric tonne or N127.36 per litre plus N7 per litre for freight as of Friday.
The addition of the cost of product with freight charge and other cost elements in the PPPRA template result in a landing cost of N145.09 per litre (using the official exchange rate of N305/dollar) or N222.33 per litre (using the parallel market rate of N490/dollar).
The NNPC, in its latest monthly report, said it remained the major importer of petroleum products, especially the PMS, in spite of liberalisation of petroleum products and government’s intervention meant to ease marketers’ access to foreign exchange.
In the past, marketers were importing 70 per cent of the products while the NNPC was importing 30 per cent, being the supplier of last resort.
Most of the marketers have yet to resume importation of petrol and continued to rely on supply from the NNPC, which sells to them at N131 per litre.

An ex-top executive of the PPPRA, who spoke out of anonymity, said, “If the landing cost is more and somebody is bringing the product in and others are not, it means definitely that person, who is bringing it, is running at a loss somehow. So, if you now call that subsidy, it is okay.
“The NNPC is definitely subsidising the product; it is a loss to them also because they get the money from somewhere.”
The Head of Energy, Ecobank Capital, Mr. Dolapo Oni, said, “I believe there is a subsidy, but it is not the subsidy being paid to marketers. It is the NNPC taking a loss so that  marketers can sell at N145. That’s a fair system right now because it is better than paying marketers at the same time.
“But it is not sustainable because oil price could keep on going higher and the cost to the NNPC will increase. So, potentially, we expect a fuel price increase at some point. But to what extent, we don’t know. The ideal thing will be to raise the price.”
Asked if the NNPC was subsidising the product being imported, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, could not comment on it, saying only the PPPRA was in the position to give information about the landing cost of petrol.

Last week, oil marketers under the aegis of the Independent Petroleum Products Importers said they owed some Nigerian banks over $1bn used for the importation of petroleum products, with accumulated interest of N160bn.
According to them, they are unable to pay because the sums they owe the banks form part of what they are in turn owed by the government.

The marketers said the government’s debt arose from the petrol subsidy scheme whereby the Federal Government entered into a contract with the IPPI, mandating its members to import and supply petrol to the market on condition that it would pay to the body the difference between the landing cost and pump price as fixed by the government, provided that the landing cost was higher than the selling price.
It said, “When the selling price of petrol was increased from N97 to N145 per litre in May 2016, it was based on an exchange rate of N285/$1, resulting in a 45 per cent increase. On June 20, 2016, the naira was devalued from N285/$1 to N305/$1, which is an increase of seven per cent, but the fixed pump selling price of petrol has not been increased. This means that petrol must be subsidised.”

Youths in Kogi celebrate the return of MMM

Youths all around the Kogi state capital city of Lokoja on Saturday were at several beer parlours to celebrate the return of the controversial Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM)

The Ponzi scheme, banned in Russia where it originated, froze the accounts of 3 million Nigerian members in December, causing panic and anxiety.

The scam returned yesterday, a day before its initial comeback date of 14th January.

Most of the revellers were students of the state owned polytechnic in Lokoja.

They expressed surprise about the comeback of the pyramid money investment scheme, that promises players 30 per cent return, a day ahead of schedule.

Segun Ademola, a student, said he had invested over N300,000 in his MMM account.

He said he was glad to have the operation bounce back. He has a lot of high hopes, that he would reap his investment.

” I am the happiest person on earth today,God bless Mavrodi,”he said.

Fola Owobo, another student, said she used her school fees to provide help to some other person she did not know at all.

She said she was confused when the scheme was shut down on 13 December 2016.

She was relieved now that the MMM was back in operation.‎

Michael Olubola, another student said he has learnt a lesson. He said as soon as he collects his money, he would ‎never try providing help again.

He said he almost had hypertension in the last four weeks, and urged his colleagues to shun free money and embrace hardwork. He said the free money promised by MMM almost caused him his life.

“Sooner or later it would fold up”, she said, as she wondered where the scheme gets the money it promises members.

Yet another student, Wunmi Atte, said ‎she was convinced that the MMM was a fraud.

BREAKING NEWS - Pastor Adeboye Retires As General Overseer Of RCCG; Appoints New G.O

Pastor E.A Adeboye has retired as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

Pastor Johnson Odesola, Special Assistant to Pastor Adeboye on Administration and Personnel, said that the church’s constitution did not state that anyone above 70 years should not lead the ministry.

He said: “Whereas the constitution provided that the deputy and assistant general overseers are appointed to retire at 70 and enjoy their retirement benefits for life, there is no such provision for the general overseer.”

Pastor J.O. Obayemi has been named as Adeboye’s successor.

Obayemi was a deputy in charge of Finance and a member of governing council, before his appointment.

According to an appreciated reader
Clarification.!!!

Daddy has appointed Pastor Obayemi as overseer of RCCG Nigeria 🇳🇬 while Daddy G. O remains the General Overseer "worldwide". This is based on the law that was just passed by the National Assembly of Nigeria 🇳🇬. Daddy just obeyed the law of the nation which says any General Overseer cannot stay over 20years.

WHAT HAS THE GOVERNMENT POLICY ON LEADERSHIP ROTATION/TENURESHIP GOT TO DO WITH GOD'S CHOICE FOR HIS FOLD.
   The government of the day came up with a policy that all G.O's should now be using specified number of years. Hence, Pastor Kumuyi, Oyedepo and Adeboye have used more than the number of years specified. The question here is what concerns govt. with spiritual organization. God chose for us. It is not an elective post. Pastor Adeboye has now relinquished the headship of Nigeria RCCG but remains the head of the church in other countries of the world. Our Nigeria G.O is now Pastor Obayemi the former Regional Pastor of RCCG Region 2  Lagos.
Pastor E.A Adeboye remains General Overseer, RCCG Worldwide.

It is no longer news that at the RCCG Annual Ministers Thanksgiving this morning, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, announced his retirement as the Overseer of RCCG in Nigeria. ‎

This is sequel to the new legal requirements set up by the Financial Regulations Council, guiding all registered churches, mosques, CSOs. They now have a maximum period of twenty years to lead their organizations. In retirement, they are not permitted to hand over to their families.

RCCG NIGERIA is now to be headed by Pastor Joseph Obayemi, as Pastor Funsho Odesola will serve as the new Church Secretary while Pastor Joseph Adeyokunu, is the new Church Treasurer.‎‎
‎
We would like to inform all members of RCCG to understand this new structure and go about their service to God and humanity in holiness and soul winning. Let us also educate people around us and not spread inaccurate information.

Pastor E.A Adeboye remains the General Overseer of RCCG Worldwide.

Signed: RCCG Pastors Seed Family‎ for clarification purposes. Thanks

#snowdlblog

acid attack survivor walks the runway at New York Fashion Week

The teenager was attacked by four men using industrial strength acid 

Reshma Qureshi suspected the translucent liquid in the plastic bottle was probably acid, yet she believed the best way to protect herself and her sister was to wrestle it from the four men.

As it was, the men held and attacked her, pouring the acid on her arms and back and her face. It ate away the flesh on her left cheek and destroyed her eye. In the aftermath she felt suicidal, and for a year she could think of nothing else.

This week, the 19-year-old flew from India to the US where she walked the ramp at New York Fashion Week, determined to show her quiet defiance as a survivor, and to promote the #TakeBeautyBack campaign.

Ms Qureshi said she wants to finish school and then go to college (Andrew Buncombe)

“This is my first time in New York and I’m very excited,” she told The Independent, the evening before her appearance. “I think it’s important that people hear the story about the survivors of acid attacks and to know they can lead normal lives.”

Acid attacks are commonplace across large parts of the Indian subcontinent and in some South Asian communities in other countries. Frequently, the women are attacked by people they know - relatives who believed they have “dishonoured” the family for some reason or other, or else a man whose advances have been knocked back.

Ms Qureshi, who is from Mumbai, was attacked in May 2014 by her sister’s estranged husband and his friends while traveling to the city of Allahabad in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. She was taken to a local hospital and received the most basic treatment; back in Mumbai she was told there was nothing that could be done to save her eye.
In recent years, campaigners have been demanding action against such attacks, demanding governments in countries such as India better regulate the sale of acid, which is used to clean machinery, and better educating the public about the horror of such incidents.

Ms Qureshi joined the fight against acid attacks a year after she was assaulted. She joined the India-based Make Love Not Scars, a nonprofit organisation that, through its powerful images of acid attack survivors, gives a voice to those who have been assaulted.

She took part in a video posted to YouTube in which she showed watchers how to get perfect red lips. In the video she explained that it is as easy for someone to buy acid as it is to buy a lip stick. The video has been watched by hundreds of thousands of people. 

Watch video below >>

https://youtu.be/-MhbULUd-KE

When she was told she had been invited to take her message to New York Fashion Week, Ms Qureshi said she had been thrilled. She said that just because someone’s face had been destroyed, they could could still carry within them inner beauty and soul. “That is all that should matter,” she said.

The teenager was selected to participate in fashion production house FTL Moda’s #TakeBeautyBack campaign, in collaboration with the Global Disability Inclusion.

The clothes she got to wear were designed by Indian designer, Archana Kochhar, whose outfits are frequently worn by Bollywood stars such as Amrita Rao, Nargis Fakhri and Bipasha Basu.

Speaking from Mumbai, Ms Kochhar said she was delighted that Ms Qureshi was taking part. “I think that beauty should be intrinsic.”

On Thursday morning, Ms Qureshi sat patiently as a crowd of cameras followed her every step backstage in Manhattan. She was filmed as the dress was fitted, she was filmed as her make-up was done by Chika Chan and her hair was piled to perfection by stylist Aubrey Loots. 

Asked if she thought the models around her looked too thin and could do with a decent serving of Indian food, she agreed.

And then it was time for her to walk her way down the ramp. 

Ms Qureshi was the first to emerge, her dress, hair and make-up looking perfect. She beamed and smiled, and the crowd of fashion industry professionals and journalists cheered.

Just In : Governor Okowa of Delta State reportedly slumps, whisked away for medical attention

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, reportedly slumped last Wednesday at the government house in Asaba.

According to Sahara Reporters, an impeccable government house source, who pleaded for anonymity,  told them Mr. Okowa was billed to attend the World Teachers Day celebration at the cenotaph last Wednesday.

However, after all preparations were put in place, Mr. Okowa reportedly slumped at his office
preventing his attendance.

The source disclosed that immediately the governor was whisked away from the office to an undisclosed place for medical attention, his deputy, Kingsley Otuaro, was called to represent him at the event.

“I can tell you categorically that since that Wednesday till today the governor has not attended any public function.

If you watch well, all the public functions, it’s the deputy that is representing him. Though, we can’t tell why he slumped and the illness he is suffering from.

Before becoming the state governor, he has been battling with unknown health challenges. Even when he was in the senate, he was with this unknown illness but some people close to him said what he is suffering from could not be far from some blood related illness,” the source stated.

All efforts to contact the State Commissioner for Information, Patrick Ukah, proved abortive as his mobile line was switched off. However, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to governor, Charles Aniagwu swiftly debunked the story claiming it was not true.

Samsung issues red alert to users: “Turn off your Galaxy Note 7 phone NOW!”

Samsung issued a red alert to customers on Monday, asking users to immediately turn off their Galaxy Note 7 smartphones — which have been spontaneously catching fire. The unprecedented move comes one day after Samsung stopped production of the dangerously glitchy devices.

In a corporate statement, Samsung said it will also “ask all carrier and retail partners globally to stop sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note 7″ while it investigates the cause of the fires.

It also said, “Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note 7 or replacement Galaxy Note 7 device should power down and stop using the device.”

It’s a major setback for the South Korean electronics manufacturer. The company’s stock plunged more than 5% Tuesday morning.

Samsung released the 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 7 device in August in anticipation of Apple’s new iPhone 7. But customers immediately started complaining that their phones were catching fire.

The company explained that faulty lithium-ion batteries were overheating the device and causing it to ignite. In early September, Samsung recalled 2.5 million devices worldwide. Samsung offered replacement phones – but those burst into flames too.

In the past week, a user reported his replacement phone caught fire, even though it wasn’t plugged in. And on Monday, smoke started emanating from a replacement Galaxy Note 7 aboard a Southwest Airline plane before it departed, prompting the flight’s cancellation. Worse still, the owner of the device was arrested with suspicions of being a suicide bomber!!

U.S. safety regulators and Samsung urged Galaxy Note 7 customers in early September to “immediately stop using and power down” the original Note 7 phones. Now, Samsung is issuing a similar warning for the replacement devices that were supposed to be safe.

All airlines have issued a warning to air travelers asking them to keep their Galaxy Note 7 phones turned off, not to charge them and “not to stow them in any checked baggage.” It updated its warning on Monday, saying it applies to the replacement devices, too.

Samsung said that customers who return their phones are entitled to a ‘full refund’

Price Of Rice To Fall From November – FG

The Federal Government has disclosed that price of rice will crash from November this year. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said this in Abuja yesterday while addressing members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.

More Nigerians have returned to their various farms and by the next harvesting season next month, the price of rice would start to crash.

“We will not encourage rice importation and there is no way our ministry or government can be involved in importing rice when we are working hard to be self-sufficient in local production. By November when the full-scale harvest starts, rice prices will fall,” the minister said.

Senate president Bukola Saraki in court on corruption charges

Abuja (AFP) - Senate president Bukola Saraki on Monday kicked off his corruption trial by denying he falsified parliamentary rules to get elected.

The influential Nigerian politician has been charged with two counts of criminal conspiracy and forgery and was in the dock alongside his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, at the high court in Abuja.

The clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and his deputy, Benedict Efturi, are also facing the same charges.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants "with fraudulent intent forged" parliamentary documents and used them to get Saraki and Ekweremadu elected in June last year.

Conviction carries a maximum 14-year jail sentence.

Judge Yusuf Halilu granted all four men bail and adjourned the case until July 11.

Saraki, from Buhari's governing All Progressives Congress, became president of Nigeria's upper chamber of parliament unopposed after securing backing of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

But he was not the APC's first choice, which led some to claim the charges against him are politically motivated.

Saraki is also facing charges of failing to disclose assets in a separate case relating to his time as a state governor from 2003 to 2011. He has denied wrong-doing.

WOW! I Wish Our Governor's Wives Could All Be Like Her.’ Maine Governor’s Wife Takes Up Waitressing Job

Instead of spending her husband's money on expensive clothes shoes and bags, the wife of Maine Governor Paul LePage chose to wait tables at a local restaurant. Guess what Her goal is: to buy a new SUV.

Ann LePage is working part-time as a waitress at McSeagull's Restaurant in Boothbay Harbor three days a week at lunchtime to save enough money to purchase a new Toyota Rav4, CNN reports. Gov. Paul LePage said she also took the job to “supplement” his $70,000 salary, the lowest of any U.S. governor, according to the Associated Press.

“Because of who I am and who I’m married to, I want to work extra hard just so I can show them I can do the job,” Ann LePage told the AP, adding that being a waitress is something she’s “always, always wanted to do.”

Maine’s First Lady for the last five years has already proven her worth at the restaurant, Jackie Barnicoat, McSeagull’s general manager, told CNN. “It’s not just all fun and games,” Barnicoat said. “There’s a lot of grueling side work that comes with it and she doesn’t stop. I wish they could all be like her.” I'm in love with this woman. 

Texas Mother with Mental Illness History Shot Daughters before being put down by Police

After receiving 911 reports of shots being fired over an alleged family dispute, police arrived at the Sheats’ home shortly after 5 p.m. to find Taylor Sheats, 22, and Madison Sheats, 17, lying on the street. The mother was shot dead after she refused to drop her weapon. One daughter died at the scene, and the other after arriving at the hospital.

The Texas mother who was killed by police after fatally shooting her two daughters on Friday reportedly had a history of mental illness and actively supported gun rights on Facebook.

While Sheats’ motive is still under investigation, People reports that her Facebook posts indicate that she was an active gun-rights supporter. In January, People says, Sheats uploaded a meme ridiculing Obama’s views on gun control. In March, she reportedly posted an anti-gun-control video with the message, “It would be horribly tragic if my ability to protect myself or my family were to be taken away, but that’s exactly what Democrats are determined to do by banning semiautomatic handguns.”

The Fort Bend County Sheriff spokeswoman Caitilin Espinosa told People that Christy Sheats’ “mental crisis” had brought the police to her home “for previous altercations.” Further details were not provided.

“We’re still trying to put the pieces together,” Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls told the Houston Chronicles.

ISIS targeting Nigerian children through mobile app

THE Federal Government, on Thursday, alerted citizens to a newly-launched mobile application which the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) developed for propagation of Jihad in children.

It said the app teaches children Arabic alphabets with the aid of guns, military tanks and cannons.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the mobile application is tagged ‘Huroof’ (Arabic alphabets or letters.)

According to him, the application utilises colourful illustrations that attract and engage the attention of young children.

The minister urged members of the public in general and parents in particular to be vigilant and prevent their children and wards from being indoctrinated?

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army, on Thursday, said Boko Haram terrorists now evade drones and aircraft surveillance by hiding in makeshift camps covered with shrubs.

Colonel Sani Usman, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, revealed this new tactic in a statement in Maiduguri.

Usman said in the statement that the discovery was made during a clearance operation in the North Eastern area of Kumshe in Borno.

“Troops of 7 Division Strike Group Team B, attached to 21 Brigade have braved harsh climatic conditions to clear seven villages of Boko Haram terrorists’ presence in the North East of Kumshe village.

“The villages are Mulfuta, Baibawa, Jenere, Bembem, Maksamari, Bula Kafie and Bula Bodi.

“The troops discovered that the Boko Haram terrorists have evolved new tactics of evading surveillance by drones and aircraft. They now hide in makeshift camps covered with shrubs,” said the statement.

It added that the troops recovered some motorcycles, two Dane guns, large quantity of foodstuffs stored in a well constructed storage facility and solar panels.

It stated that the troops proceeded to Bembem, “where the suspected Boko Haram terrorists also laid an ambush for them.

“It was, however, cleared successfully although a soldier sustained gunshot wound during the clearance. He has been evacuated and receiving treatment.

“The team discovered and rescued some hostages held by the Boko Haram terrorists in the area.’’

CBN hopeful naira will stabilise at 250 naira per dollar

Nigeria’s central bank is “reasonably optimistic” the naira will settle at around 250 to the U.S. dollar after an initial period of weakness following a flotation on Monday, the bank’s governor has said in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria’s central bank said on Wednesday it would begin market-driven foreign currency trading next week, abandoning the peg of 197 naira per dollar that it has supported for 16 months.

Foreign investors and economists have called for months for a devaluation as chronic foreign currency shortages choked economic growth and deterred investment.

The naira is expected to fall sharply when interbank trading begins on Monday, but the central bank said it did not have a target for the currency and the price would be “purely” market-driven. The naira was trading on the black market at around 370 to the dollar on Thursday.

Giving the first indication of a target, Governor Godwin Emefiele said in a June 3 letter to Buhari -- seen by Reuters -- that the central bank hopes the naira will eventually trade at around 250 per dollar, a level the president has “approved”.

“I must assure Your Excellency that we are indeed reasonably optimistic that at some point the rate will settle around 250 naira,” Emefiele says in the letter.

The letter, which briefs Buhari on the foreign exchange plan announced on Wednesday, says it could take three to four weeks to clear a $4 billion backlog of foreign exchange demand.

Buhari has for months said that he does not want the naira to be devalued, but backed a more flexible exchange rate policy when the central bank outlined its plans in May, without elaborating.

The presidency has not commented on the new regime, with Buhari’s spokesman declining to comment when Reuters called on Wednesday.

The central bank could not be immediately reached for comment.

Africa’s biggest economy, which contracted by 0.4 percent in the first quarter, faces its worst crisis in decades after the decline in oil prices since 2014 and last year’s introduction of a currency peg, which prompted a large-scale capital flight.

With a likely sharp fall for the naira, Nigerian products will become relatively cheap and imports more expensive, which should stimulate the domestic economy but also lift inflation.

Buhari has previously raised concerns about the inflationary impact that a weaker currency will have on Nigeria’s poor.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest crude exporter, has resisted devaluing its currency for more than a year despite other major oil producers, including Russia, Kazakhstan and Angola, allowing currencies to fall after crude prices collapsed. 

The Naira on Thursday dropped against the United States dollar as it sold for N370 to a dollar on the parallel market.

This is even as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) did not do any new dollar-naira trades on the interbank market on Thursday.

Reuters quoted a CBN official as revealing that the apex bank did $13.6 million of carryover trades at about the pegged rate of N197.5 to a dollar.

CBN, on Wednesday, said it would begin open-market foreign currency trading next week, abandoning its 16-month-old peg against the dollar.

Dealers said they expected no interbank currency market activity until the new trading regime starts on Monday.

Meanwhile currency dealers at the unofficial market confirmed that the new policy has had an adverse effect on the Nigerian currency already as new rates have emerged.

“With the new policy now, there are going to be fluctuations but we are sure that the CBN has done what it considers the best for the country,” a source informed.

In the same vein, Nigerian Interbank Treasury Bills True Yields (NITTY) increased across the maturities on low level of activity as yields on one month, three months, six months and 12 months rose to 2.73 per cent, 7.55per cent, 9.82per cent and 12.53 per cent respectively.

Also, the Nigerian Interbank Offered Rates (NIBOR) increased across most of the tenor buckets on liquidity strain – NIBOR for overnight and one month, three months and six months rose to 8.38 per cent, 12.05 per cent and 13.66 per cent respectively.