Nigeria's US Visa Applications Increase By 11% In 2012

The number of applications by Nigerians applying to go to the United States America (USA) for various reasons this year alone has risen to almost 40,000, signifying an 11 per cent increase from 2011. This development has made Nigeria a priority country for the US alongside Brazil and China.

The Consular Officer of the US Embassy in Abuja, Ms. Patty Neary, made this disclosure in Abuja yesterday at the monthly briefing of the US mission where she added that approximately 75 per cent of the visa applications are for tourist visas while the remaining 25 per cent are a combination of student, business and official visas.

She advised applicants to plan ahead for their trips to accommodate the current six-month wait time for visa interviews by applicants. Neary disclosed that the embassy in Abuja currently has only three consular staff but hat she is expecting more to join them soon, a move which would ensure the reduction of the six month wait time.

“We have had some interns join us temporarily during the summer to work on the back log of applications; we are expecting at least two more people soon. But we also work on some Saturdays,” she disclosed.

“The embassy allows for emergency appointments in some instances such as medical reasons, but the applicant must first secure a regular appointment,” she added.

According to her, “Student visas are given priorities, but they have to prepare ahead. Now they can apply 120 days before they have to be in school and they must have done all the paperwork and paid the service fee. During interviews, we do not want to hear them talk about the school, but tell us why they choose the school instead,” Neary advised.

She called on the public to join hands with the embassy to eliminate the activities of touts by making their applications themselves.

Fielding questions from newsmen, the Information Officer of the US Mission, Ms. Debra MacLean, said the consideration of a five-year visa policy for Nigerians instead of the current two-year policy is a designation of the government of the two countries.

She added that it would be determined by the host country (Nigeria) and would also be an issue of reciprocity in visa issuance.

Ignore Boko Haram’s Threat, JTF Advises

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State, “Operation Restore Order,” Wednesday advised the people of the state to ignore the threat by members of the Boko Haram sect that they should desist from divulging information of their hideouts. The JTF said it was a sign of panic and that it was getting closer to arresting the insecurity situation in the state.

A release signed by its spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, read: “The attention of the JTF Operation Restore Order has been drawn to leaflets and posters printed by Boko Haram terrorists threatening and warning people not to pass information to the JTF on their hideouts, modus operandi and any other information about their activities.

“In the publication, the terrorists warned the public not to divulge any information to security agents or criticise their dastardly activities as doing so will attract maximum punishment from them.”

Musa said: “The task force wishes to inform law-abiding members of the public to totally disregard such publication and consider it as part of the terrorists’ propaganda strategy to keep the civil populace in captivity and perpetual fear with a view to unleashing more terror on innocent citizens.”

He said the JTF was determined to ensure the maintenance of law, order and safety of lives and property of all law-abiding citizens in the state.

He reminded the people of the state that security is a collective responsibility rooted in information sharing and collaboration, urging members of the public in possession of the said publication to disregard or destroyed it. Musa also reminded them that the JTF hot lines are still active and that information can be passed to security agencies through them.

Similarly, the security outfit warned members of the public against donating money to the sect, warning that any donor to the group under any disguise would equally be treated as terrorist.

The JTF lamented that the successes recorded in the interception of some arms and ammunition from the sect has been made nonsense of as some traders in the town have continued to give money for replenishment with the claim that they were threatened.

The JTF however warned individuals or group to desist from “such unpatriotic acts as both the giver and receiver of such monies would be treated as terrorists and be seriously dealt with.”

Embrace Zero-Tolerance For Corruption, AIG Tells Policemen

Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Mr. Hashimu Salihu, on Wednesday warned policemen against bribery and corruption.

Salihu, who addressed officers at the Bayelsa State Police Command Headquarters, Yenagoa, said the authorities would no longer condone corruption.

He said the police would not claim to be fighting corruption while harbouring officers with corrupt tendencies, insisting those indicted for corruption would be shown their way out of the force.

Salihu, who toured police formations in Yenagoa, maintained that policemen must obey the law. He said no officer should hide under the challenges facing the force to extort money from members of the public. Salihu said policemen were expected to be effective by utilising resources at their disposal.

He said, “The current regime cannot tolerate corruption. We cannot continue to fight corruption with corrupt tendencies.” The AIG urged officers to stop demanding “mobilisation fees” from complainants before investigating any case.

He also warned against illegal detention, saying policemen found wanting would be dealth with. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kingsley Omire, said the challenges facing the command included a dearth of manpower.

He said there were less than seven officers in some stations, adding that the population of female were higher than their male counterparts in some stations.

He commended the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, for deploying three gunboats in the state, and Governor Seriake Dickson for enhancing policing in the state through a special police force codenamed, Operation Doo Akpo.

Save Debbie Latest: Treatment Already Started, Still Needs Money

The latest coming from the camp of Idiagbonya Osarere Deborah better known as Debbie, who is suffering from breast cancer, is that she has started her treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

A source confirmed to Nigeriafilms.com that Debbie has started treatment with the 'Chemo-Therapy' at the hospital. We learnt that the chemo treatment would precede the main surgical operation to remove the cancer.

However, sources say that she still needs money to complete her treatment, but she had to start treatments because of the time frame she has to complete the surgery in order to survive.

She has begged Nigerians to pray for her to survive the surgery.

Donations can still be made here.

Bank Name: Access Bank
Acct Number: 0000216933
Acct Name: Idiagbonya Osarere