President Muhammadu Buhari has officially presented to the public the Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP) for the year 2020.

He presented the document at the State House in Abuja, on Tuesday. The document is a revised version.

President Buhari said the review of the visa policy is intended to attract innovation, specialised skills and knowledge from abroad to complement local ones.

The 2020 visa policy is to enhance business opportunities and achieve African integration through the visas on arrival for holders of passports of African Union countries.

There are 79 visa classifications in the revised policy, one of which is the Visa on arrival.

The revised policy is a sequel to Buhari’s pronouncements in November 2019 that a new policy of visas on arrival would be granted to all African travellers starting from January 2020.

The new policy favours Africans with a valid passport who wish to come into the country for a short visit, for businesses and for tourism, as the Visa grants them legal stay for up to 90 days.

See photos from the launching of the visa policy below

Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) on Tuesday advised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State not to reverse the ban on commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (Keke) which is in operation in the state.

He, however, faulted the state government for not putting measures in place to alleviate the pains of the masses that depend on these as their mode of transportation before the enforcement of the ban.
While faulting the timing, Sagay said the state government should have first cleared the buses which are still lying at the ports, put them on the roads before the announcement on the restrictions was made.

Speaking in a chat with Daily Independent, Sagay who lives and has his office in Lagos said though painful, the state government must have taken the decision in the interest of Lagosians as the Okada riders have constituted themselves to menace to other road users.

He said the state government must have considered the security of the state before embarking on the decision based on the nefarious activities of the Okada riders.

“The ban is right on principle. Lagos state government is not telling us everything. I always say that the government knows more than we do. It is not every information available to them they will reveal to members of the public. Lagos state government must have seen some danger signals which makes them act before it is too late. That is my impression on the ban”.

“But I blame them that they did not take little more time to prepare for the consequences. Now they are saying that they have about 600 buses at the ports, they should have cleared those buses first before initiating the ban”.

“ They are a government body, they can accelerate the clearance of the buses within a week, put them on the roads and then go ahead with what they want to do”.

“I support the ban on principle. Apart from what I do not know and I am sure it has to do with the security of Lagos state people. Apart from that, those Okada people are a threat to our existence. They don’t obey any law, they cross red lights”.

“On many occasions, I have had cause to complain to the Commissioner for Transport that Okada riders confront me every time on Eko bridge when I am going home. They are so indiscipline, dangerous and reckless in terms of the injuries and pain they cause”.

“They are riding against the traffic, threatening those of us who have the right of way. We have to move aside for them to rush through. As they are doing it, that encourages yellow buses (Danfo) and they too will join them in going against traffic”.

“Right now on Eko bridge, there is no division between the road that takes you into Lagos and the one that takes you out. They are using it as they like and it is so dangerous to other road users”.

“So, I think the ban is a good idea. Let us clear it and remove that danger from our existence. Maybe the timing was a bit abrupt, maybe they should have brought in alternative vehicles to cushion the effect but as far as I am concerned, there should be no going back.

“They should now rush to provide the alternative buses to cushion the pains of the people” Sagay advised.

The Government of Jersey, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of the United States of America have entered into an Asset Recovery Agreement to repatriate over US$308 million of forfeited assets to Nigeria.

This was contained in a press statement published on the website of US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria on Tuesday.

The funds were laundered through the US banking system and then held in bank accounts in Jersey in the name of Doraville Properties Corporation, a BVI company, and in the name of the son of the former Head of State of Nigeria, General Sani Abacha.

In 2014 a U.S. Federal Court in Washington DC forfeited the money as property involved in the illicit laundering of the proceeds of corruption arising in Nigeria during the period from 1993 to 1998 when General Abacha was Head of State.

This case is a result of extensive co-operation between the Jersey authorities, the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with crucial assistance from other governments around the world.

At the time the case was filed as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative in 2013, it was the largest U.S. kleptocracy forfeiture action ever commenced.

In 2014 the Attorney General of Jersey applied for, and was granted, a Property Restraint Order over the Jersey bank account balance of Doraville.

This was challenged in the Royal Court of Jersey and Court of Appeal, and an application for permission to appeal to the Privy Council by Doraville was refused. France and the United Kingdom restrained additional funds at U.S. request.

General Abacha and his associates stole and laundered many hundreds of millions of dollars of public money during his military regime, doing vast harm to the futures of Nigerians.

The monies were laundered by his family, including his sons Ibrahim and Mohammed, and a number of close associates.

The laundering operation extended to the United States and European jurisdictions such as the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Lichtenstein and Luxembourg.

In 2018, Governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, United States of America and the Bailiwick of Jersey commenced the negotiation of the procedures for the repatriation, transfer, disposition and management of the assets.

The tripartite agreement signed this week represents a major watershed in international cooperation in asset recovery and repatriation, and will provide benefit to people throughout Nigeria.

The projects on which the funds will be expended will be administered by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and independently audited.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria will establish a Monitoring Team to oversee the implementation of the projects and to report regularly on progress.

The Nigerian government, in consultation with the other Parties, will also engage Civil Society Organisations, who have expertise in substantial infrastructure projects, civil engineering, anti-corruption compliance, anti-human trafficking compliance, and procurement to provide additional monitoring and oversight.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected a call for the evacuation of Nigerians from China as coronavirus spreads from the country to other parts of the world.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Benjamin Kalu, had moved a motion praying that Nigerians stranded in China over the health crisis be brought back to their home country.

The lawmakers, however, voted against consideration of the motion.

Several efforts made by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, to make the lawmakers listen to the content of the motion proved abortive.

Getting a new International Passport in Nigeria is an uphill task as one has to contend with middlemen all through the process of application if one is not armed with the relevant information.

As a result of the numerous middlemen’s involvement in passport application process, Nigerians end up spending much more than the stipulated amount of money to get their passports.

Some Nigerians don’t even know where to go get their International Passports.

In view of these, we have highlighted the step-by-step process for you to deal with all your passports problems below:

Fresh (First) Passport Application

1. Complete passport application form online, make payment and obtain Application ID and Reference Number.

2. Print out Guarantor’s form (using Application ID and Reference number) to be signed by a guarantor and commissioner of oath in a competent court

3. Submit completed passport application form with other requirements in person at passport office selected during online payment process for further processing.

4. Applicants are required to appear at chosen Immigration Office for photograph and biometric data capturing.

Renewal (Expired Validity/Unexpired Validity)

1. Complete passport application online, make payment and obtain Application ID and Reference.

2. Submit application letter with other requirements in person at the passport office chosen during online application.

3. Nigerians in the Diaspora are to submit application at the nearest Nigeria Embassy/High Commission or Consulate.

4. Applicants are require to appear at chosen Immigration Office for photograph and biometric data capturing if current passport is more than six (6) months old.

Exhausted Visa Pages

1. Complete passport application online, make payment and obtain Application ID and Reference.

2. Submit application letter with other requirements in person at the passport office chosen during online application.

3. Nigerians in the Diaspora are to submit application at the nearest Nigeria Embassy/High Commission or Consulate.

4. Applicants are required to appear at chosen Immigration Office for photograph and biometric data capturing if current passport is more than six (6) months old

Damaged

1. Complete passport application online, make payment and obtain Application ID and Reference.

2. Submit application letter with other requirements at the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters Abuja

3. Nigerians in the Diaspora are to submit application at the nearest Nigeria Embassy/High Commission or Consulate.

4. Applicants are require to appear at chosen Immigration Office for photograph and biometric data capturing if current passport is more than six (6) months old.

Lost

1. Complete passport application online, make payment and obtain Application ID and Reference.

2. Submit application letter with other requirements in person at the passport office chosen during online application.

3. Nigerians in the Diaspora are to submit application at the nearest Nigeria Embassy/High Commission or Consulate.

4. Applicants are required to appear at chosen Immigration Office for photograph and biometric data capturing if current passport is more than six (6) months old.

Change of Data due to Change in Marital Status

1. Complete passport application online, make payment and obtain Application ID and Reference.

2. Submit application letter with other requirements in person at the passport office chosen during online application.

3 Nigerians in the Diaspora are to submit application at the nearest Nigeria Embassy/High Commission or Consulate.

4. Applicants are required to appear at chosen Immigration Office for photograph and biometric data capturing if current passport is more than six (6) months old.

Correction of error(s)

1. Complete passport application online and pay non refundable administrative charge. (1 alphabet correction and re-arrangement of names attracts no administrative charge)

2. Submit application letter with other requirements in person at the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters, Abuja for further processing.

3. Nigerians in Diaspora are to submit application at the nearest Nigeria Embassy/High Commission or Consulate.

4. After approval, proceed to pay online for passport booklet.

5. Applicants are required to appear at chosen Immigration Office for photograph and biometric data capturing if current passport is more than six (6) months old.

Others: Replacement of name(s)/ Addition of name(s)/ Deletion of name(s)/ Rearrangement of name(s)

1. Complete passport application online and pay non refundable administrative charge.

2. Submit application letter with other requirements in person at the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters, Abuja for further processing

3. Nigerians in the Diaspora are to submit application at the nearest Nigeria Embassy/High Commission or Consulate.

4. After approval, proceed to pay online for passport booklet. 5. Applicants are required to appear at chosen Immigration Office for photograph and biometric data capturing if current passport is more than six (6) months old.

THISDAY Newspaper said it has suspended two of its editors over a report about general overseer of Living Faith Church Bishop David Oyedepo which turned out to be false.

“The management of THISDAY Newspapers Limited has suspended two of its deputy editors, Mr. Yemi Ajayi and Mr. Olawale Olaleye, over the story: “Drama as US Embassy Denies Bishop Oyedepo Visa,” published last Friday,” ThisDay said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The story, which claimed that Bishop Oyedepo was denied visa by the US Embassy, was subsequently refuted by the embassy to be false.”

The report published and later deleted on THISDAY website early on Friday claimed the embassy denied the pastor visa renewal.

The reports claimed that while the embassy did not give any other reason for the now fictitious visa denial, it said that Oyedepo did not qualify for visa renewal in its assessment and urged him to reapply.

“David Oyedepo in anger created a scene while querying the grounds for his refusal, stressing that he had been travelling to the states as far back as 1980s and had not violated any rules or committed any crime to have warranted being denied a renewal of his visa,” the report said.

But the US Embassy said the report was false and ‘manufactured’.

“Be advised, the reports making the rounds about a visa being denied to Nigerian Bishop Oyedepo are false,” US Embassy tweeted on Friday.

“If you have seen this manufactured item in the media, help defeat this #misinformation by communicating to everyone that it is completely false.”

The newspaper company said also “investigated the publication and found that the two deputy editors failed to follow its well-established traditions of carrying out the necessary checks and confirmations expected of personnel of their status in a sensitive story of that nature.”

The newspaper apologised to Oyedepo for the embarrassment the story might have caused him.

My Empty Flight Experience: What Is The Emptiest Airline Flight You've Flown On?

Good afternoon, I'm here sitting and reminiscing while going through all my travel photos, I saw some photos of myself on EgyptAir from Cairo to Athens on July 30th, 2019, I was the only passenger at the economy back seats with a Chinese girl at the front. I was happily jumping from seat to seat.

Why was the flight not cancalled?

Though some aircraft has been reported carrying a single passenger on a flight before.

I read that flight with just one passenger may still fly because the airline needs that aircraft at the next leg.

The aircraft may still be making money by carrying cargo that is contracted for delivery

Scheduled and the aircraft is traveling a final series of routes on its way to the facility. It can still earn some revenue hauling passengers & cargo as it gets closer to that facility.

A flight is about moving four things:

An aeroplane
A flight crew
Cargo (often filling up the hold)
Passengers

Below is a photos and video of the aircraft, 747 I was flown on.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emtWdp_XX5k&feature=youtu.be

Bandits have become unstoppable, turning the country into a massive graveyard. Mourning, anguish and lamentations, therefore, have become routine to a lot of hapless citizens, compelling them to wonder what became of the government, whose statutory responsibility of protecting lives is a constitutional guarantee.

So unbearable is the situation that the Christian Association of Nigeria staged a nationwide protest march on Sunday. Instructively, the usually optimistic Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, in Lagos, led the church’s faithful in the march with a placard, “All souls are precious to God.”

Changing this horrific situation was one of the three campaign issues of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in 2015, for which Nigerians trusted and voted him to office, given his military background. But it beggars belief that he seems to now be all at sea. 

According to the Nigeria Security Tracker, 25,794 people were killed during the General’s first term.

This helplessness was shown in his recent retort that the level of insecurity was surprising to him.  He said: “I was taken aback by what is happening in the North-West and other parts of the country. During our campaigns, we knew about the Boko Haram. What is coming now is surprising.  We have to be harder on them.”

But such presidential undertaking had been made before to no avail. In a recent interview, Onyema Nwachukwu, a Brigadier-General and acting Director of Information, Defence Headquarters, said “the hands of the Armed Forces are full with several operations across the country.” He is right. And according to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, the operational strength of the police is 301,737 personnel for about 200 million population. From this, only 20 per cent are engaged in core police duties while 80 per cent are attached to VIPs.

The result? “Mere anarchy” is let loose. Niger, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Benue, Plateau, Kaduna and Taraba states in the North-West and North-Central zones have become a haven for bandits, forcing the President to periodically deploy the military in these areas without the desired result.

Last Thursday, the people of Kwatas in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State buried 20 of their own massacred early January by Fulani herdsmen. Their village was invaded by herders wielding AK 47 rifles. Benue State had in January 2018 similarly buried 73 people slaughtered by the herders. The same year, in April, two Catholic priests and 17 others were murdered inside the church in an early morning raid. More than 100,000 persons have been killed by Boko Haram since its murderous campaign began in 2009, according to the former Borno State Governor, Kashia Shettima. Nigeria’s northern land borders with Chad, Niger and Cameroon are major suspected routes of the inflow of illicit arms and ammunition into the country, which fuel this orgy of bloodbath.

In Zamfara State, Babban Rafi villagers are in grief following last month’s killing of 31 persons by bandits in two separate attacks. These atrocities came in the wake of the so-called amnesty the Governor, Bello Mattawale, had granted the bandits. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Usman Nagoggo, on January 8 said no fewer than 6,319 people were killed by bandits in the state in 2019 alone. In Katsina State, the General’s home state, begging bandits for peace, instead of routing them, has become an awkward attribute of governance.

Unnerved by the General’s admission that insecurity was worsening and the Service Chiefs seemingly at their wits’ end, the two chambers of the National Assembly last week erupted in disapproval of the status quo. While the Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, during an impassioned debate at plenary, asked Buhari to resign, the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, said the present central policing system could not guarantee security anymore and, therefore, required restructuring. In the House of Representatives, the consensus was that the Service Chiefs should be sacked.

Even the soldiers, police and other security personnel are as unsafe as the general public. It is a state of hopelessness that should have provoked new initiatives, but the regime appears impervious to change. This barbaric epoch can only change if the fundamental issues that underpin Nigeria’s abysmal failure in security are well dissected, appreciated, and a modern governance template put in place for remedial action.

The Federal Government should mount a serious campaign against the proliferation of arms and ammunition. Where non-state actors are in possession of weapons superior to what the police and other security agencies have, the reign of terror will not abate. This is why Nigerians feel petrified of travelling on the highways. Because of kidnappers, the Abuja–Kaduna Highway has largely been abandoned. Passengers are now hauled through the new Abuja–Kaduna railway transport, whose passengers recently came under bandit attack, just as there are always ambushes on the Damaturu–Maiduguri Highway.

A post-graduate student of the University of Maiduguri, returning to school, was beheaded by Islamists. Terrorists blew up the Gamboru-Ngala Bridge in Borno State; this left 30 persons dead on January 5. The Emir of Potiskum, Yobe State, Umaru Bubaram, escaped by a whisker when his convoy was attacked on the Kaduna–Zaria Highway but six people were killed including his security details.

At the heart of this pervasive lawlessness is the inappropriate security apparatus for a federal system. In the true sense of the word, Nigeria is not a federation. In the classic sense, sovereignty is shared between federal and constituent governments. But sovereignty without the instrument of coercion is a ruse. Those who are notoriously impervious to restructuring should, therefore, have a rethink before it is too late.

There must be a comprehensive strategy to effectively curb lethal violence. It should include balancing crackdown and prevention priorities. Promoting better cooperation among security forces, prosecutors, and penal authorities is essential. But so are public policies directed at poverty reduction and job creation.

Most importantly, our political structure should enhance security by balancing shared rule with self-rule. There should be a proper division of constitutional and institutional responsibilities and the identification of mechanisms that will facilitate effective intergovernmental cooperation in public security for the good of all.

Therefore, state policing has become inevitable in line with every federal polity. Policing should be devolved as recommended by the 2014 National Political Conference.

The Embassy of China has said that it has not suspended visa issuance to Nigerians.

The Press Officer, Embassy of China, Sun Saixiong, explained on Tuesday that the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian, only advised those who wished to travel to China “not to be in a rush if the trip was not urgent.”

The diplomat said the government had reached out to about 60 Nigerians living in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak.

Giving an update on the epidemic in Abuja on Monday, Pingjian had disclosed that China had found a cure for the epidemic, adding that 475 persons had been discharged from the hospital after recovery.

He also said that the Coronavirus infection had risen to 17,205 from 14,380 confirmed cases while 361 persons had died from the disease which originated from Wuhan in China.

About 21,558 individuals were also suspected of being infected with the virus in the Chinese mainland.

He revealed that Chinese scientists are working to develop a vaccine for the virus which the World Health Organisation had declared as an international public health emergency.

According to him, scientists have assured that the epidemic would lose its momentum in the next two weeks.

The envoy said, “As of 7am Abuja time today (Monday), the total number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection climbed to 17,205 and 21,558 people were suspected of being infected with the virus in the Chinese mainland, according to China’s National Health Commission.”

“A total of 361 people had died, 475 people had been discharged from hospital after recovery. These are not numbers, these are lives, families, communities. This is going to be an unforgettable Spring Festival for the Chinese as families are separated but united to stand together in the face of the disease “he said”

Pingjian stated that the Chinese Premier, Xi Jinping had repeatedly given important instructions on prevention and control work and personally held a meeting on redeployment and remobilization.

The ambassador said China was willing to work with other countries, including Nigeria, to respond to the epidemic effectively.

“We have informed the World Health Organisation, relevant countries and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan about the latest epidemic situation, and have shared information on virus gene sequences with all parties at the first time,” Pingjian pointed out.

He stated that there was no need for restriction of international travel and trade over the disease, adding that under the current circumstances, “solidarity is what the world needs.”

Lagos begins Commercial Water Transportation, as Sanwo-Olu launches new Speed Boats

...Gov Calls For Private Sector Participation

...Commissioner Unveils LAGFERRY’s Six Routes Of Operations

Lagos State Government has formally kicked off commercial waterways transportation, with the official launch of eight newly acquired speed boats by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday.

Sanwo-Olu unveiled the speed boats, which will be operated by the Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY), at a ceremony held at Badore Ferry Terminal in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

The event marked the commencement of commercial operations in waterways transportation by LAGFERRY. The Governor also launched a mobile application designed to facilitate easy access to the water transportation services.

Sanwo-Olu said the intervention represented a “great leap” in his administration’s strategy to deliver an effective and integrated inter-modal transportation system in addressing the perennial issue of traffic congestion on the roads.

He said: “The narrative of transportation in Lagos is about to change for good, as we are set to take full advantage of the water bodies to decongest our roads and substantially reduce travel time for commuters.

“Today, we are launching eight units of additional ferries to complement the existing six ferries in the fleet of Lagos Ferry Service. It is glaring that for Lagos to be a functional smart city that we desire, there must be diversification of the mode of transportation. There must be interconnectivity of the rail, road and water transportation systems.”

The design and fabrication of the new boats were totally worked out by two local boats manufacturers in line with Sanwo-Olu’s promise to exploring local capacity in providing solutions to various challenges.

The Governor observed that the commencement of commercial operations on waterways would promote a healthy living and restore aesthetics of environment through reduction of carbon emission.

He charged private investors to move in and harness opportunities in the value chain, noting that the Government had solved the teething problems associated with the mode of transportation and infrastructure.

“We are fully committed to increase investment in the development of more routes on the waterways. To consolidate on infrastructure we have provided on the waterways, we will embark on the construction of more jetties and provision of more modern ferry boats to create opportunities for more private sector participation in water transportation,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The Governor said the State would drive full compliance on measures put in place to ensure the safety of commuters using the waterways, adding that the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) was being strengthened to effectively discharge its monitoring and regulatory duties in line with best practice.

He said: “We are going to spread the efficiency of the LAGFERRY services to meet the demand of the people at various times of the day. Before the end of the year, we will double the capacity in the LAGFERRY’s fleet from 14 to 30 boats. This is to enable the agency discharge its mandate to ease the movement of Lagosians from various parts of the city to another through the waterways.”

Sanwo-Olu promised that modern jetties would also be built in Badagry, Lekki, and Ajegunle, pledging that the one being built in Ijegun would be completed.

Chief Executive Officer of LAGFERRY, Hon. Abdulbaq Balogun said the launching charted a new course for water transportation in the State.

The agency, Balogun said, remained fully committed to exploring the capacity of waterways to strengthen mass transportation in line with transportation blueprint of the Sanwo-Olu administration.

With over 30 jetties across the State, the LAGFERRY boss said Lagos had provided infrastructure to boost water transportation, adding that the commencement of commercial operations by the agency would reduce persistent gridlock on the highways.

He said: “With our global water transportation licence, LAGFERRY will operate on all the waterways routes in Lagos, starting gradually according to the available capacity. We will be deploying all our 14 available ferries to cover the three senatorial zones immediately.

“Our well developed and properly coordinated water transportation is also helping in haulage across the State, moving trucks, containers and goods, thereby relieving the roads of heavy duty trucks which contribute in no small measure to failure of roads.”

Before the fourth quarter of the year, Balogun said LAGFERRY would extend its services to all 40 water routes licenced for Lagos.

Also, Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Frederic Oladehinde, described the event as another giant stride in Transport Sector Reform embarked on by the Sanwo-Olu administration, saying the standard of the boats would meet the transportation need of residents in an emerging Smart City.

Oladehinde announced the six routes of LAGFERRY’s operations, which include Ikorodu to Falomo; Ikorodu to Ebute Ero and Marina; Ebute Ojo to Ijegun Egba, Apapa and Marina; Bayeku to Oke Ira Nla and Falomo; Mile 2 to Marina, and Badore to Ijede.

Three of the boats deployed for operations by LAGFERRY have the capacity to carry 60 passengers, two were built to carry 50 passengers, while another two had capacities of 40 passengers. Also, three of the boats will carry 30 passengers, four will carry 25 passengers and two will carry 25 passengers.

All the boats are built with comfortable seats, in-built Wi-Fi and modern technological devices that will aid smooth operations and safety.

The Enugu State Government has commenced the distribution of the 260 motorcycles and 260 bicycles it procured for the 260 electoral wards in the state, to complement and facilitate the operations of the Forest Guards.

It would be recalled that the state government engaged 1,700 Forest Guards and purchased 260 security vehicles, which were distributed to the 260 electoral wards in the state for their operations.

The state government also purchased 100 units of Innoson patrol vans equipped with communication gadgets, which were distributed to the security agencies in the state to aid their operations.

Announcing the distribution of the motorcycles and bicycles, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortunaya, disclosed that the deployment of automated drones for surveillance is underway.

Prof. Ortuanya stated that the exercise, which was in furtherance of the state government’s commitment to effective operations of the Forest Guards and community policing in the state, is aimed at ensuring that the state remains secure and peaceful for people to live, work and do business.

The state government commended the security agencies in the state for their dedication to duty and reassured the residents of its unflinching commitment to the security of lives and property.