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Open Grazing: CSO Writes Obaseki, States Position

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The Edo Civil Society Organisations, EDOCSO, has called on governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to promulgate a law prohibiting open grazing of cattle in the state and that there should be stiff punishment for violators.

The civil society organistion further called on the state government to, as a matter of urgency, facilitate training on cattle husbandry with startup capital for the teeming unemployed youths, graduates and non graduates respectively, advising that such trained youths should be formed into clusters to operate the ranches that will be built in all the local government councils.

An open letter addressed to the Edo State Governor, which was jointly signed by EDOCSO’s Interim TEC Chairman, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, Interim Deputy TEC Secretary, Comrade Keshi Lawrence, said cattle business is a private business hence government is not expected to provide land for cattle owners.

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The letter which states that all cattle owners must ranch their cattle, noted that provision of colony to cattle owners should be discouraged, and that “every cattle owner should purchase/lease land for the purpose of ranching and/or any other farming operations.”

The letter reads in part: “Our positions and recommendations are contained herein under:

1. Edo state should promulgate a law to prohibit open grazing of cattle with stiff punishment for violators.

2. All cattle owners must ranch their cattle.

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3. It is not the business of government to provide lands for cattle owners.

4. The Edo state vigilante network should be duly trained, paid and deployed in the enforcement of the law with support from the Nigeria Police Force.

5. Any cattle owner that allows his cattle to graze on a farmer’s land or destroy any property should be made to serve a jail term not less than six months and pay compensation to the farmer whose farm is destroyed. He should stand the chance of forfeiting the cattle to the state government.

6. The provision of colony to cattle owners should be discouraged. Every cattle owner should purchase/lease land for the purpose of ranching and/or any other farming operations.

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7. Edo state government as a matter of urgency facilitates training on cattle husbandry with startup capital for our teeming unemployed youths, graduates and non graduates respectively. The trained youths should be formed into clusters to operate the ranches that will be built in all the local government councils.

8. Implementation of number 7 above will create chains of employment which will lead to drastic reduction in crime, tax generation increment with a projection of 16 months of consistency will cover for the high demands for beef by our people.

9. There is also need for the government to seek for security assistance with countries with technology to combat crimes like kidnapping and banditry that has crept into Edo state.

We believe the adoption of the above recommendations would address the worries and challenges open grazing has brought to our dear state. The issue of food security would be addressed and government should also make deliberate efforts in investing in the agricultural sector.

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70 Passengers Fall Ill, Vomit Bug During Flight From Mauritius To Frankfurt

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About 70 passengers fell ill with a vomiting bug mid-way through their flight from Mauritius to Frankfurt.

According to Mail Online, Condor airline Flight DE2315 was travelling on Thursday, May 2, from Mauritius to Frankfurt when it became clear that many passengers on board were suffering from the bug.

The aircraft landed in the German city at around 5.33pm where it was greeted with a large contingent of emergency services.

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Crew had called ahead to alert officials on the ground of the unfolding emergency.

READ ALSO: Teenager Jailed For Life For Murder Of 16-year-old Boy At House Party

It was found that 70 of the 290 passengers onboard had suddenly reported symptoms including nausea and vomiting.

A spokesperson for the Germany airline confirmed the incident to the country’s Bild tabloid, adding that the crew was not affected by the illness.

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‘She [the pilot/crew] is also educated and trained for special situations like this,’ the statement to the newspaper said.

‘After carefully examining the overall situation, the flight continued. The aircraft landed safely in Frankfurt, where medical professionals were available to care for the affected guests.’

READ ALSO: How Flight Engineer Saved Us From Disaster — Ex-DG, Bureau of Public Service Reforms

The airline, however, did not confirm the cause of the sudden illness, but noted that the food onboard would have been prepared in Mauritius.

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‘Condor has already initiated an investigation into the case to get to the bottom of the cause and to derive possible measures from it,’ the spokeswoman added.

Condor is working closely with all responsible partners and authorities. There is currently no result available.

‘We generally do not participate in speculation about the cause, for example about individual menus on board that were prepared in Mauritius,’ the statement added.

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UK Clears The Air On Categories Of Students Eligible To Bring Dependants During Studies

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The United kingdom (UK) says only international students coming in for their Doctor of Philosophy.(PhD) studies were eligible to bring in dependents to the country.

Dr. Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria made this known in an interview with the Newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

He said that, the educational system policy changed earlier this year for international students in higher education not to bring dependents into the UK was to curb the increase of foreign student bringing in dependents.

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He explained that the huge surge in dependence was putting an unsustainable pressure on many universities, adding that, it was the reason these changes were introduced.

Montgomery added that before his posting as High Commissioner to Nigeria, he had spoken to some of these universities on the policy change, which had been in the pipeline for some time.

He noted that the universities Chancellors had complained of the huge student populations’ highlighting that accommodation was a huge challenge, access to medical services under the National Health Service and access to school if they brought in dependents.

READ ALSO: Categories Of Jobs Under UK Skilled Work Visa With 48% Wage Increase [FULL LIST]

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According to him, the restrictions do not apply to all categories, adding that those doing a long term research degree, like a PhD, or doctorate were not affected.

“Those coming to the UK for doctorate can still bring their dependency but if you are coming to the UK with a study visa for an undergraduate degree, or short term master’s degree am afraid the rules have been changed.

“People need to understand why this change was brought in, and it is a sensible change because we have a large higher education sector and most of these universities are in towns across the country.

“There has been a surge recently, in demand for British education and I can give you the macro figures and there has also been a huge increase in foreign students bringing their dependants.

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“In the case of Nigeria, in 2019, before the Coronavirus pandemic, there were only one and a half thousand dependents being brought in from Nigeria, with those on study visas,

“In 2022, that figure had increased to fifty two thousand dependants so that’s a thirty fold increase in dependence. And it’s not just about Nigeria by the way.

READ ALSO: Japa: Types Of US Visa Available To Nigerians, Other Foreigners

“It is also about all foreign students, we saw similar rises, for example amongst Indian students coming to study in the UK,” he added.

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Speaking on the policy initiation it is early to ascertain the impact of the policy on undergraduates because these changes were announced in 2023, but came into effect early this year and we would have to wait until September 2024, before we get the next run of academic tickets, he said.

I think what your wider audience needs to hear is that the demand for UK education is really strong, in 2022, 65,000 study visas was approved to Nigerian applicants, 65,000, while in September 2023 we received about 115,000 Study visa applications from Nigeria.

“Of which 95 per cent were approved and over 110,000 study visas were issued last September compared to 65,000 of the previous year, there’s almost a doubling of Nigerian study visas in 2023 which means the demand is really high.

READ ALSO: All You Need To Know About UK New Visa Rules

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“And it is something which I am genuinely pleased and proud about that the UK has such a good higher educational sector and we are still at the six economy, and is still one of the biggest economies but we are only 2.5 per cent of the global economy.

“So we have 17 of the top 100 universities in the world. We have 17 per cent of the top universities, so it is one of our units.

“I really like the demand but there are other factors at play in terms of schooling in the UK , the value of the Naira in the coming months will also determine how easy or hard it will be for many people to afford our education.

“But I really hope that the number of people who bring dependants in UK may actually not be a majority, but a minority of people have tried to study in the UK so am hoping that the demand will be sustained.”

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Drama As Russia Adds Ukrainian President, Zelensky To Criminal ‘Wanted’ List

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Russia has added Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to its list of wanted criminals, a move Kyiv dismissed as a sign of Moscow’s “desperation”.

Zelensky’s name appeared on Saturday on the Russian interior ministry’s “wanted” list, an online database of alleged criminals sought by the Russian authorities.

It said the Ukrainian leader was wanted “under an article of the criminal code”, without providing further details.

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There was no immediate comment from Russian officials as to why Zelensky had been added to the list.

READ ALSO: Knocks, Kudos As Senator Donates Clay Pots, Burial Materials To Constituents

Ukraine’s foreign ministry said the decision demonstrated “the desperation of the Russian state machine and propaganda, which are at a loss for what else to invent to garner attention”.

Moscow has targeted Zelensky since the start of Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine in February 2022.

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The Ukrainian president said last year he was aware of at least “five or six” assassination attempts against him that had been foiled.

READ ALSO: Police Bar Lawyers From Reaching Journalist Allegedly Detained On IGP’s Orders

The day after sending troops into Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave an address to the nation in which he urged the Ukrainian army to overthrow Zelensky.

Russia has placed several foreign politicians and public figures on its wanted list, which has tens of thousands of entries.

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The commander of Ukraine’s Land Forces, Oleksandr Pavliuk, and former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko also appeared in the online database on Saturday.

In February, Moscow said it was seeking Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for what the Kremlin said was the “desecration of historical memory” over the Baltic country’s move to destroy Soviet era monuments.

Last year the International Criminal Court ordered the arrest of Putin on war crimes charges related to the abduction of Ukrainian children — accusations rejected by Moscow.

 

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