News
Nigerian Passport Falls By 38 Places In Global Ranking
Published
1 year agoon
By
EditorThe Nigerian passport has fallen by 38 places in a global passport ranking in the last 17 years.
This is according to the Henley Passport Index reports between 2006 and 2022 collated by The PUNCH
The Henley Passport Index ranks passports according to the number of countries their holders can access visa-free or with a visa-on-arrival programme.
Although the Nigerian passport gained 11 more destinations, it fell from 62nd in 2006 to 100th in 2022.
This shows a steady decline in strength amongst the 199 countries and 227 travel destinations studied.
READ ALSO: Immigration Releases Three Easy Steps To Fast-Track Passport Renewal Process In Two Weeks
While the green passport now grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 46 countries, up from the previous total of 35 in 2006, Nigerians cannot access over 181 travel destinations without a visa, visa-on-arrival or e-visa arrangement.
As of September 2022, travelers with Nigerian passports can only traverse 25 countries visa-free.
However, that number rises to at least 46 destinations when visa-on-arrival or e-visa programmes are added to the mix.
Countries offering visa-free, visa-on-arrival and e-visa access to Nigerians as of the time of this report include: Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Cabo Verde, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique , Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
READ ALSO: Why Passport Applicants Face Challenges – Aregbesola
Others include: Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Timor-Leste, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Fiji, Micronesia, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
According to the Henley Passport Index which is based on data from the International Air Transport Association, a fall or improvement in ranking is the result of several factors.
They include the country’s efforts to strengthen its diplomatic relations with other nations and its efforts to modernise its visa processes and improve security measures at its borders.
However, experts reasoned that the strength of the green document is only reflecting the internal challenges bedeviling Nigeria.
In an earlier interview with our correspondent, Research Director, Centre for China Studies, Abuja, Charles Onunaiju, argued that the measly visa-free access Nigerians enjoy globally reflects the internal woes the country is experiencing under the present government.
He said, “We have a challenge. Since Nigeria is becoming inhospitable, especially for young people with no opportunities, there is desperation to go abroad.
“Almost all embassies are now enforcing regulations on Nigerians they don’t impose on other nationals. That is very clear. People feel that almost every Nigerian wants to leave here. That’s partly true because the nation has mishandled the potential in it. Our leaders have not harnessed the vast human resources available to us.
“If we want to earn respect from outside, we must begin from home. If we want the world to take us seriously, we must get your acts together.”
But Nigeria’s passport issuing agency, the Nigeria Immigration Service, reasoned otherwise.
It said visa-free mobility is largely a reflection of bilateral agreements between countries and within regional blocs.
The spokesperson of the NIS, Amos Okpu, who earlier discussed with our correspondent on the issue said, “This ranking is based on passport admissibility. And that is largely a function of mutual understanding, reciprocity among countries which does not necessarily reflect the true strength of a passport. A good example is the European Union and the ECOWAS.
“While we appreciate the work done by Henley & Partners, we are more concerned with deepening our passport technology to meet up with the standards of the ICAO; ensuring that our passport complies with ICAO guidelines.”
READ ALSO: FG Dismisses Report Of Shortage Of Passport Booklets
Okpu argued that Nigeria has been a public Key Directory of the ICAO since April 2009 and, therefore, sits in a respectable position in the comity of nations.
The Public Key Directory is a central repository for exchanging the information required to authenticate electronic Machine-Readable Travel Documents such as e-Passports, electronic ID cards and Visible Digital Seals.
Asserting the NIS’ position, Okpu said, “What we put more emphasis on here is our standing in the ICAO. When ICAO alerts us of any lapses with our passports, we get to work. Nigeria has been part of the Public Key Directory since 2009 and it took us complying with several passport security specifications to be reflected on that directory.
PUNCH
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News
BREAKING: ALGON Accuses Fubara Of Withholding LG Funds, Backs Impeachment Call
Published
35 mins agoon
May 8, 2024By
EditorThe Rivers State chapter of the Association of Local Government Areas of Nigeria has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of witholding its funds meant for the 23 LGAs in the state.
The state ALGON said the action had denied them of their functions in the administration of the third tier of government.
The LG chairmen said the action of the Governor is tantamount to proscribing local government councils in the state, even as they backed the call by the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Tony Okocha, for the State House of Assembly to commence impeachment procedings against the Governor.
READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: Again, Amaewhule-led Assembly Overrides Fubara, Passes LG Bill Into Law
The State ALGON Chairman and Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Allwell Ihunda, stated this at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
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Ihunda stated, “It has come to the notice of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, that the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has neglected, failed, and deliberately refused to hold the statutory Joint Account Allocation Committee Meeting which is the prerequisite for the release and disbursement of funds due to the local government in the State Joint Local Government Accounts.
“And has continued to withhold the statutory allocations due to the 23 local government councils of Rivers State since April 2024.
“And in the case of Emuoha LGA since March 2024 till date for no just course, thereby starving the third tier of the government of the funds required to discharge its statutory functions in the administration of the local government areas.”
Details later…
Veteran actress, Madam Elizabeth Evoeme, who starred as Ovularia in the 80s TV sitcom ‘The New Masquerade’, is dead.
Born on December 1, 1942, Ovularia’s demise was confirmed by a family member who stated that she died surrounded by loved ones.
According to the statement, the actress died in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
The statement read, “Friends, fans, colleagues, the family of the legendary actress, Elizabeth Lizzy ‘Ovularia’ Evoeme, would like to notify the public, all those who loved her and her work in ‘The new Masquerade,’ of her passing.
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“Elizabeth ‘Ovularia’ Evoeme will be dearly missed and was extremely loved by her family and also by you, her fans.
“We thank you all for your support and for respecting our privacy at this time. God bless you all and may our dear Elizabeth ‘Ovularia’ Evoeme rest in perfect peace, now and always.”
However, details of her death were not revealed.
READ ALSO: ‘I’m Considering Having 4th Child’ – Mother Of Three Who Breastfeeds Husband , 3 Kids [PHOTOS]
Ovularia’s daughter, Justina Ngozi Evoeme, based in London, described her mother’s death as painful and shocking, stating, “I need to get my head around what has happened.”
Her death comes four and a half years after she was rumoured to have died on November 5, 2019.
The rumour was disputed by Chika Okpala, known for his portrayal of Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwaogbe, also known as 4.30 in the sitcom.
A lifeless body of a man, said to be a father of 12 children has been found in a brothel at Tombia-Amossoma road axis of Yenagoa, Bayelsa.
According to the residents of the area, the deceased is a 40-year-old man from Delta, though his name was not known as at the time of filling the report.
The deceased was said to be suffering from partial stroke, before engaging in a sex rump that led to his unfortunate demise.
They said he was one of the customers of the commercial sex workers, who left home around 8 am on Tuesday to meet a prostitute, but was later found dead in the quarters.
It was gathered that the lifeless body was found naked in the apartment while all the commercial sex workers had deserted the said apartment.
At the time of visiting the scene, people living around the area were trying to get the identity of the deceased to contact the relative to evacuate the corpse for burial.
It was gathered that security operatives had previously raided the brothel and earmarked it as a red-light zone.
The Commander of Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) in Bayelsa State, Mr Tolumobofa Akpoebibo Jonathan, told Nigerian Tribune at the scene that the deceased is a 40-year-old father of 12 from Delta state.
Police spokesperson in Bayelsa, ASP Musa Muhammed, told Nigerian Tribune that he was trying to reach out to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area to get accurate information about what happened while promising to get back on the cause of the incident.
Tribune online
BREAKING: ALGON Accuses Fubara Of Withholding LG Funds, Backs Impeachment Call
The New Masquerade’ Actress, Ovularia Is Dead
Father Of 12 Found Dead Inside Brothel In Bayelsa
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