Thursday, 2 March 2017
British PM envoy commends FG on new visa policy, wants naira strengthened
Abuja, March 2, 2017 (NAN) The UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria, Mr John Howell, has commended the Federal Government on the review of its visa policy, which he said would enhance doing business in Nigeria.
Howell said in Abuja on Thursday that the new visa policy would boost the country’s economy.
In its efforts to boost the economy and open up business space, the Federal Government in February reviewed visa processes for prospective foreign investors and tourists.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that the essence of the new visa policy was to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks and encourage business travellers and tourists into the country.
He added that the measures were part of the action plan to ease doing business in Nigeria and boost tourism.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service has reviewed the requirements for Nigerian visas to make them more customers friendly.
“Types of visas currently reviewed include Visa on Arrival (VoA) processes, Business Visas, Tourist Visas and Transit Visas,” the minister said.
Howell told NAN that some of the changes made by Nigerian Government would make life better for visitors coming into Nigeria.
“For example the change in visa regulations that allows companies to buy visa at the airport will enable visitors buy visa at your country’s airport, ‘he said.
The envoy, who observed that obtaining Nigerian visa used take a long process, said, “making it easier will make more businesses to visit Nigeria.’’
He also lauded some measures being taken by the Nigerian Government to redeem its economy and stressed the need to strengthen the naira.
“Nigeria is at a cross road and it is going down on the root of substantial reform and that is good. I personally believe that will make it quicker.
“I think the issue of the value of naira is a challenge and there is need to overcome the difficulties of the naira of not being too convincible.
“It is a major problem and that has to be dealt with sooner than later,’’ he said.
Howell said there was need for the Nigerian government to make the naira stronger, adding that it would continue to pose as challenge to doing business.
“My advice to the government is to be bold with this and to fulfill what they themselves set out with the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2016.
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Judge decries absence of DSS in Sen. Kashamu’s suit
Abuja – Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has decried the altitude of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the suit filed by Sen. Buruji Kashamu against the Inspector-General of Police and others.
When the case came up for hearing on Thursday, the DSS counsel, neither sent a representative nor gave reason for his absence.
Dimgba, however, ordered that a letter be written and hearing notice be forwarded to the DSS to formally intimate it of the next hearing date fixed for March 21.
The suit was filed against the Inspector- General of Police and the Director- General of DSS by Kashamu to restrain them from extraditing him to the U.S. to face charges on drugs related offences.
Kashamu, representing Ogun East in the Senate, also joined a serving House of Representatives member, Oladipupo Adebutu in the suit.
Kashamu claimed that the summon issued to him to appear before a special investigation panel of the I-G on the strength of a petition by Adebutu, on alleged assassination attempt was a ploy to abduct and transport him to the U.S.
He also claimed that the petitioner had been boasting that he would cause his extradition to the U.S. with the assistance of the Police and DSS.
Kashamu pleaded with the court to restrain DSS and Police from inviting him to appear before any panel.
The DSS, Police and Adebutu had asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to compel Kashamu to honour invitation extended to him by the DSS and Police on alleged assassination attempt on Adebutu.
They had asked the court to disregard and reject the claim by Kashamu that the invitation of the security agents was a ploy to forcefully abduct him and extradite him to the U.S.
They said in their counter affidavits that the claim of extradition raised by the senator was speculative.(NAN)
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7 ways to make interesting
Small talk, it’s ironic how there’s really nothing ‘small’ about making small talk. It requires a level of intellectual exertion to maintain and keep from becoming boring. A good number of people dread it, but the reality is that it is a skill everyone eventually needs to develop. This is because small talk, to a large extent, is the pillar of social interactions.
Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 7 ways to help you make interesting small talk.
Make the Person Feel Comfortable
Before you initiate small talk with a person(s), make the person(s) feel comfortable. The best way to do this is to have an ‘open stance’, and direct your body towards the person without overdoing or being forceful or stiff about it. Give a friendly greeting, smile and politely introduce yourself to the person.
Make eye contact with the person, and if the person isn’t comfortable with eye contact, tailor your mien to make the person feel like you are giving him/her attention, even without making much eye contact. You should also remember to maintain the right distance from the person and not lean in too close to the person. Respect the person’s personal space, and don’t seem too eager to talk. Everything should be done in moderation.
Small Compliments Can Go a Long Way
After politely introducing yourself, another way you can make the person even more comfortable is to give small compliments, here and there, to the person. Compliments have a way of disarming people and helping them relax and feel more comfortable.
Simple compliments that wouldn’t come off as being flirtatious or offensive are fine. Simple compliments done in moderation so as not to make the other person uncomfortable are fine. But be careful with this however, not everyone likes compliments. For some, it makes them uncomfortable, and for some others it makes them defensive. You should therefore, be sensitive to the reaction of the other person and use your discretion when giving these compliments.
Pay Attention and Be Sensitive To the Direction of the Conversation
To make great conversation and small talk, you should be attentive and focus on the conversation without letting your mind wander. Peradventure, your mind does wander, politely ask the person to reiterate what has just been said. You should be careful not to request for this too often, after a while it becomes cliché and upsetting to the one having to reiterate repeatedly.
Initially, try to keep the conversation light, fun and positive. Loosen up and be ready to smile, exclaim and laugh over things, even over things you might not necessarily find funny but are ideal for you to react to in that context. In the process, if the other person(s) gets comfortable and decides to share things, more or less on a deeper level, with you, you should be open to hear it.
Be a listening ear and a shoulder for them to lean on. If you by chance connect with that person(s) on this deep level, you can share your stories and experiences too. However, if you do not, simply give opinions you might have about the issue and if you are in a counseling mood, give advice. But be as open as you can with this advice, so you are not blamed if anything goes wrong because of your advice.
Find a Common Ground
Once introductions are over, the small talk begins but that is nothing to worry about. Simply, begin by exploring subjects or things that you and the person(s) might relate to. When you find a common ground, you can then use this to establish a connection.
For example, if you are at a book signing and want to start small talk with someone, a good way to begin is to ask questions and share experiences on writing and literature. At this juncture, the person can either respond by sharing his/her own experiences or confess that they are just there for the food! In that case, you laugh at the joke and use that to begin another conversation on the person’s likely love for food!
Try Not To Ask Too Many Questions; Instead Share Your Experiences Or Stories
Asking too many questions when trying to make small talk can make the whole thing seem like an interview instead of a conversation; to avoid this, you should ask fewer questions and share more experiences or stories you have about that subject. Try to avoid sharing too many facts, figures and information about the subject of the conversation, as that might make the conversation boring.
Know When It’s Time to End the Conversation
Remember that it’s a conversation, not a consultation. You should remain sensitive and know when enough has been said and exchanged. At this juncture, when you sense the conversation is coming to a lull, you can politely end with an offer to call the person(s) or see each other again. The person(s) can either ask for your contact details or share theirs with you. You then say goodbye to the person(s) nicely and go your separate ways.
Not Everyone is Ready For a Conversation, Don’t Force It
If you try to make small talk with a person(s), and no matter how hard you try they refuse to loosen up and open up to you, don’t force it. It isn’t your fault that they don’t want to talk, and you should see it this way and move on to another person who is willing and ready to talk.
If your attempt to make small talk with a person is not forthcoming, and the person remains rigid in their responses – sharing little or no information, politely end the conversation when you sense the next lull and move on to another person. But be careful not to overdo this, moving from one person to another in a social gathering should be done in moderation so as not to draw unnecessary attention to yourself.
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Monday, 30 January 2017
NDLEA pushes for Kashamu’s extradition to the US (Read full details)
Buruji Kashamu
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said Monday it was pushing to extradite a lawmaker to the United States on drugs charges which is said to have inspired the hit television show “Orange is the New Black”.
Buruji Kashamu has been wanted for years in connection with a heroin smuggling operation but maintains he is a victim of mistaken identity.
The senator, who represents Ogun state in the Nigerian Senate, claims his dead brother whom he reportedly resembles ran the international drug ring in the 1990s.
In 2015, Kashamu sued the US government to prevent an “imminent illegal abduction in Nigeria”, according to court documents.
But last week, the US Court of Appeals in Chicago tossed out his lawsuit, opening the door for extradition proceedings to continue in Nigeria.
NDLEA is now working on overcoming its own domestic legal hurdles to arrest and extradite Kashamu.
“He has a court order restraining the NDLEA from arresting him, we have also instituted a suit to vacate that order, and the process is ongoing,” NDLEA spokesman Mitchell Ofoyeju told AFP.
“We’ll definitely proceed with the extradition proceedings, and once the court has ruled that he can be extradited then we have no choice to enforce the court ruling.”
Kashamu was reported as telling Nigeria’s Punch newspaper that “there is no extradition that can be brought against me again” and that he would not allow himself to be seized.
“Orange is the New Black” is a hit series based on a best-selling autobiography by Piper Kerman chronicling her time in prison for money laundering after working for a “West African drug lord”.
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