Senate approves new CBN governor

ABUJA The senate unanimously approved the appointment of Zenith Bank chief Godwin Emefiele as the new central bank governor of Nigeria to replace Lamido Sanusi, who was suspended on charges of "financial recklessness and misconduct" on Wednesday in Abuja.

The proceedings was was broadcast live on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).
Senate president David Mark said it was a key appointment, adding: "Emefiele will ensure the prerequisite responsibilities of the central bank governor without fear or favour."

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan suspended Sanusi on February 20 just days after he had accused the state oil company of embezzling $20 billion (14.5 billion euros) of public funds.

Sanusi had been well-regarded among international economists and was credited with overhauling a crumbling and deeply corrupt banking sector and stabilising the currency.
He had been due to step down at the end of his five-year term in June and some saw his suspension as politically motivated for blowing the whistle on top-level graft.
One of his deputies, Sarah Alade, has been acting governor in the meantime. On Tuesday, she oversaw her first monthly monetary policy committee meeting.

She kept the key interest rate unchanged at 12 percent, holding true to a pledge on February 21 that the change at the top would not alter Sanusi's plan for tight monetary policy.
Emefiele had almost no profile outside the banking sector until his name was put forward, surprising market watchers who said he was a low-profile, conservative figure who was unlikely to rock the boat.

Pope Francis to visit Nigeria, says Goodluck

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan hinted on Saturday that Pope Francis is promising to visit Africa's most populous nation.

A statement from the office of the presidency didn’t give any timing for the visit proposed when Jonathan and his wife Patience met the Roman Catholic leader at the Vatican City.

It says they discussed poverty alleviation and inter-faith dialogue.

Nigeria's population is divided almost equally between Muslims and Christians who periodically clash in deadly confrontations. Catholics make up about a quarter of Christians, an estimated 21 million Nigerians. 

Many Christians belong to evangelical churches that have been winning converts from traditional churches.

Pope Francis has committed to travel to the Holy Land and South Korea in 2014 and said he wants to visit the Philippines and Sri Lanka in coming years. His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, visited Africa twice.

Eye witness say 25 died in Abuja stadium

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A eye witness at the Abuja National Stadium said 25 people died and over 50 persons were injured as panicked job-seekers stampeded during Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment exercise on Saturday.

"It was up to fifty persons that were injured and 25 were dead. Al though there has been no official list of casualties yet but I witnessed the incident, said Abayomi, a professional photographer in Abuja.

Saheed, a Nigerian based in Lagos said, "Unfortunately those that will get the jobs are not in the crowd. One day the table will turn to favour the poor. My their innocent soul res in peace, may God reward those put us where we are accordingly."

"I weep for this innocent fellows....God please guide our leaders right, help our youth the truth to know. Amen!, says Austin in Port Harcourt.

Idris Farouk, a Nigerian in France said, "It is shameful and sad to see thousands of Nigerians scramble for jobs in a football pitch. It is unacceptable and the authorities responsible should be brought to book. They must tell us why they invited that large numbers of applicants on the same day."

"This is an opportune time for the government of the day to atone for his recklessness and do things right. First the Comproller General of the immigration must tell Nigerians the meaning of the recruitment exercise holding in football stadium across the county.

"Government should please create jobs and make life meaningful for Nigerians, I am tired of doing unbefitting jobs to eke a living in Finland. I am a qualified civil engineer and would return home if there  are openings at home. But stories like this scare me and I don't think I can make it home soon, said Francis.

The sheer size of the crowds was a testament to the large numbers of unemployed youths in Nigeria, most of whose 170 million citizens live on less than two dollars a day, while the country lags behind in key development indicators such as health. Unemployment is a particular challenge, with an estimated 37.5 percent of under-25s out of work, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.


There are so many questions to be asked by the relevant government authorities. Here's a few:

1. What is the rationale for organising a recruitment test in a football stadium?

2. What's there due process in the release of the Abuja stadium to the Nigeria Immigration?

3. Why was there only a single entrance opened for the exercise knowing-fully the expected applicants attending the event?

4. The Nigeria Immigration should inform the public what's the total number of applicants expected on the fateful day?

5. What's the available job opening in the immigration service?

6. What security and safety measures was in place for the recruitment exercise?

7. Is the exercise a regional, state or federal recruitment exercise ?

We await an official response from the authorities as to the happenings on March 15 at the Abuja National Stadium.

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India is a great country to stay: Africans in Delhi

Putting behind them a "raid" on their residences in south Delhi earlier this year, many Africans say the Indian capital is still their "home" and offers them an environment unlike anywhere else in the world. "India is indeed a great country. The people here are much better than in other countries, where discrimination against people from African countries is severe," James Okumurah of Johannesburg in South Africa said.

A doctoral scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Okumurah lives in south Delhi's Khirki Extension, where many other Africans stay. Khirki was where Somnath Bharti, then the law minister in the short-lived Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi government, led a midnight raid, alleging that Africans staying there were involved in drugs and prostitution.

"Certain Africans may be involved (in illegal activities), but doesn't make every African the same," Okumurah asserted. Peter Masai, who works with a multinational company in Gurgaon, said after the Khirki Extension episode, more than 25 percent of the people opted to to move out of the area and reside in other parts of the city. Admitting that the episode clearly signified the rise in discrimination against the community, Masai was, however, quick to add that there were quite a few Indians who offered them help and solidarity.

"A controversy like the Khirki Extension was unexpected and shocking, and especially the way the (then) law minister alleged our people of running a drugs and prostitution ring. But it was nice to see that though a majority of the people in the area wanted us to vacate, there were still many who didn't have any problems in renting us their houses," said Masai, who belong to Zimbabwe. He added that it all depends on people's "perception" of the community.

Ebre, from Nigeria, said India is comparatively a better country to live in - and he even has plans to settle here. "I am here because the people are good. I am even planning to open a school here and develop my business in the education sector," said Ebre who lives at Arjun Nagar, also in south Delhi. He also brushed aside suggestions of racial discrimination. "People here cooperate and understand things. Following Bharti's raid, I have not faced any racial discrimination," said Ebre.

Agreed James Uhuru, and said that after the controversy, police have been more attentive to the problems of the African nationals.
"I have seen police personnel suggesting our girls not to be out late in the night, so as to avoid any kind of problems," Uhuru, who belongs to Nairobi, said. "It is very clear that India will always be a great country, but some people need to change their perception towards the people from Africa," he said.

The majority of Africans come here to study, they feel that education is one that drives them to the city. For many, the city is an area of opportunity that helps them get everything at an affordable rate. "Be it education or accessing health services, for us it is very cheap here compared to the US or European countries," said Infunanya Onyeke, who is from Kenya.
"Once you are away from home, a few things happen but that doesn't mean we will leave here and go," said Onyeke, a student at Delhi University.

IANS

French court acquits British couple of human trafficking

A British couple have been acquitted of human trafficking by a French court which rejected the accusations by their former Madagascan au pair, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

Robert and Sharon Moses went on trial in December after their former employee, Sahobilalaina Vonintsoa, accused them of making her work around the clock, confiscating her passport and preventing her from leaving their home.

The couple faced charges of human trafficking for non-existent or inadequate payment to a vulnerable or dependent person and for not declaring an employee but prosecutors said these were "not sufficiently established" and were "disproportionate with the reality of the case."

The couple's lawyer said Vonintsoa, 28, only made the accusations when the couple, who lived in southern France, refused to renew her contract after she stole money.

The complaint "allowed her to extend her residency permit after the expiry of her one-year visa," Ariane Fatovich said.
The au pair had been seeking 24,000 euros ($33,000) in compensation for unpaid wages and an additional 15,000 euros in damages.

Africans migrants protest Israel detention law

May the Almighty God deliver Africans from the anomaly of being illegal immigrants in other people's country as a controversial law in Israel allows authorities to detain people without valid visas for up to three years.

With the increase in detention and as much as 300 Africans detained in the last three weeks after the detention law was implemented by the Israeli Parliament, Africans have been targets of police. However, on Sunday about 10,000 African migrants protested the detention law allowing Israel to detain people without proper documentation. Many of the demonstrators held banners demanding the release of fellow migrants who were jailed for being in the country illegally.  

Over 60,000 migrants have crossed into Israel since 2006 across an Egypt border, mostly from Eritrea and Sudan. Many live in poor areas of Tel Aviv and are seeking asylum in the country. Israeli authorities see these African migrants as threat to their national security and social fabric.

Migrants who are arrested are taken to a facility, in which detainees can leave during the day but must report back by nightfall. Migrants can be held there indefinitely pending voluntary repatriation, implementation of deportation order or the resolution of their asylum requests. Many migrants who take refuge in Israel are fleeing from war or persecution in their countries of origin, but very few are granted official refugee status by the government. Many live on temporary visas and subsist on menial jobs.

Hotline for Migrant Workers, an organisation that advocates for Africans, accuses Israel of pressuring hundreds in its jails to accept payouts and leave. More than left for Eritrea earlier this year, having won release from prison.

The poverty in Africa is so much that our very best brains have fled to search for greener pastures abroad. Unfortunately the governments have not  helped with their .unfriendly policies and corruption.

Please share your African stories on life abroad and leave a comment.

Nigerians in Qatar cry for their passports

--> About 400 Nigerians residents in Qatar are in dire need of their passports that is yet to be delivered since the passport intervention team of the Nigerian Immigration Service took their details and data in September 2013.

The arrival of the NIS was received with applause as some Nigerians especially kids haven't gotten the passport. What was celebrated as a sign of good things to come has now turned into a nightmare and regret for those that applied for the passport.

In October, the NIS produced about 93 passports mostly for new born babies and children. The bulk of the passports are yet to be delivered to the applicants. Consequently it has truncated the holiday plans of so many who intended traveling home or elsewhere. For some it has affected their job, because they can't renew their resident permit. Of significance is a man whose wife has threatened to walk away from their Holy Matrimony if the husband doesn't return home on 31 December.
Efforts have been made to reach the Immigration office in Abuja and it is the same story that their technical partners are the ones delaying the production. Even the Nigerian Embassy in Qatar are helpless as are not sure giving a realistic date to Nigerians.

"Please I am sick of this situation, what have I done wrong to Nigeria Immigration to hold my passport since September," says Samson Olakunle.

"I need to renew my license and am stuck here, my family has been waiting for me to travel home but I cannot. I have called the embassy and nobody is answering my call, please help me," says another Nigerian Frank.
This is a clarion call to the authorities in charge to please be considerate and save the situation. Apart from paying over 20,000 Naira for the service, it is unfair and unjust to make Nigerians go through this pains abroad.