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Passport Backlogs To Be Cleared In Two Weeks, Says Minister

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The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says clearing all passport backlogs shouldn’t take more than two weeks, adding that there is no excuse for passport delay in Nigeria

Tunji-Ojo made this known during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday.

He also said “clearing all backlogs shouldn’t take more than two weeks”, adding that the scarcity and delay around fresh passport issuance and renewal fuelled corruption in the sector.

“After clearing these backlogs, no Nigerian should wait for more than two weeks,” he stressed.

The minister said owning the green passport is a right of every Nigerian and not a privilege.

He said, “It’s a right and not a privilege, Nigerians want that right to be actually theirs, not by somebody offering you your right.”

According to him, it is not excusable for any Nigerian to be treated with disrespect because of passport application.

“What Nigerians want to see is solutions and that is what the President has constantly told us… No excuses.

“In line with the directive of Mr President, it can no longer be business as usual. We have critically analysed all these scenarios – from the point of going online to fill the form to the point of payment, to the point of picking a date, to the point of biometrics, to the point of issuance of passports. And we understand the service providers involved and we have been able to see one or two things to put right,” he said.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says clearing all passport backlogs shouldn’t take more than two weeks, adding that there is no excuse for passport delay in Nigeria.

Tunji-Ojo made this known during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday.

He also said “clearing all backlogs shouldn’t take more than two weeks”, adding that the scarcity and delay around fresh passport issuance and renewal fuelled corruption in the sector.

“After clearing these backlogs, no Nigerian should wait for more than two weeks,” he stressed.

The minister said owning the green passport is a right of every Nigerian and not a privilege.

He said, “It’s a right and not a privilege, Nigerians want that right to be actually theirs, not by somebody offering you your right.”

According to him, it is not excusable for any Nigerian to be treated with disrespect because of passport application.

“What Nigerians want to see is solutions and that is what the President has constantly told us… No excuses.

“In line with the directive of Mr President, it can no longer be business as usual. We have critically analysed all these scenarios – from the point of going online to fill the form to the point of payment, to the point of picking a date, to the point of biometrics, to the point of issuance of passports. And we understand the service providers involved and we have been able to see one or two things to put right,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo also said he is in talks with service providers and the Nigeria Immigration Service to digitise and decentralise the process of fresh passport issuance and renewal.

“We have to digitise and we also have to decentralise the whole enrolment system and make it (possible) for people to walk into the nearest post office, people can walk into may be financial institutions and some many other ways. We are still playing with so many ideas,” he said.

Source:- Channels Tv

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If you can’t afford it, don’t ask him – Toke Makinwa tells ladies

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Toke Makinwa says women should stop asking men for things they cannot buy for themselves. In a chat with Iyabo Ojo, Toke averred that having the disposition that a man will buy a woman anything is the reason why men do not respect women anymore.

 

Toke during the chat expressed her displeasure at women who are in the habit of asking men for money to buy wigs, bags, shoes and other mundane things.

‘’If you can’t buy it for yourself, don’t ask him. Don’t do it. And they are the reason why men insult women. As a women, when you now have standards, then they look at you as if you are asking for too much. Just because the bare minimum has asked you to buy her a wig”

“As a woman, you’re living in Mushin, and you’re putting pressure on a guy to buy you a house in Banana Island. I’m sorry. Make it make sense. Can you buy it? Can you even move yourself out of where you are small?

“If he meets you maybe like halfway and you are saying to him that ‘Bros, I worked hard to get halfway but I’ve a dream. My dream is not to be here where you met. And I’m not lazy. For me to leave this point to get to that point, you can see the triat of hard work. Are you going to join me to move there or are you going to be there?’ Period.”

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Rema, Yemi Alade, Tayc, Davido… Here Are All The Winners Of The First-Ever Trace Awards

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Global music powerhouse and Afro-music tastemaker, Trace held its inaugural Trace Awards 2023 on October 21, 2023, at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, to celebrate the creativity, talent, and influence of African and Afro-inspired music and artists. More than 150 artists were nominated in the awards ceremony, which showcased the excellence and diversity of Afro-centric music in genres such as Afrobeat, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Afro-pop, Mbalax, Amapiano, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava, Soukous, Gospel, Rap, Rai, Kompa, R&B, and Rumba.

The awards ceremony, which was hosted by Nigerian music veteran D’Banj alongside Angolan global supermodel Maria Borges, featured a star-studded lineup of performers, including DavidoYemi AladeBlack Sherif, Kizz Daniel and more.

This year’s nominees included stars like Davido, Burna BoyBlxckie, Yemi Alade, Libianca, and DJ Maphorisa, among others. If you weren’t able to tune in, here are the winners of the Trace Awards 2023.

  • Best Music Video – “Baddie” Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
  • Best Artist France & Belgium – Tayc (France)
  • Best Producer – Tam Sir (Ivory Coast)
  • Best Artist North Africa – Dystinct (Morocco)
  • Best Artist UK – Central Cee
  • Best Artist Indian Ocean – Goulam (Comoros)
  • Best Artist Francophone Africa – Didi B (Ivory Coast)
  • Best DJ – Michael Brun (Haiti) 
  • Best Gospel Artist – KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
  • Best Artist The Caribbean – Rutshelle Guillaume (Haiti) 
  • Best Artist Anglophone Africa – Asake (Nigeria)
  • Best Global African Artist – Rema
  • Best Newcomer – Roseline Layo (Ivory Coast)
  • Best Collaboration – “Unavailable” – Davido (Nigeria) with Musa Keys (South Africa)
  • Best Dancer – Robot Boii (South Africa) 
  • Best Artist Lusophone Africa – Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde)
  • Changemaker Trace Award – Mr Eazi (Nigeria)
  • Best Live – Fally Ipupa (DRC)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award – 2Baba (Nigeria)
  • Album of the Year – “Love Damini” – Burna Boy (Nigeria)
  • Best Female Artist – Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
  • Best Male Artist – Davido (Nigeria)

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Davido and Chioma Have Welcomed Twins – Pastor Gospel Agochukwu Confirms

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According to Evangelist Gospel Agochukwu, Nigerian famous artist Davido has given birth to a pair of twins.

On Tuesday morning, the man of God announced the information.

On the church’s official Facebook page, the cleric posted a recording of his conversation with Davido.

The chat claims that Davido told the cleric the prophecy he made last year had come true.

In November of last year, Agochukwu said that God had promised him Davido and Chioma would welcome twins after Ifeanyi’s passing.

Despite neither Davido nor Chioma having made an official announcement, congratulations have kept coming in on social media.

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