President Goodluck Jonathan assures Nigerians of safety and happiness in 2013

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians of a safer and happier 2013, as measures have been put in place to checkmate the scourge of terrorist attacks across the country.

The president, in a remark during the year-end Church service at the Ekklisiyar Yaruwa a Nigeria (EYN – Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), Utako, Abuja, on Sunday, December 30, told the congregants that the Federal Government has not only changed its strategy on the anti-terror war, it has also come up with fresh measures to curtail attacks by the Islamic sect.

He said some of the fresh measures had started yielding the desired dividends, adding that the government would do everything possible to ensure that the activities of the Boko Haram do not cause inertia in governance in the New Year.

“Boko Haram planned to carry out a lot of attacks on Christmas Day, but we suppressed their plans during the Christmas holiday and most of their plans were not executed because of the strategies put in place by the security agencies, which aborted their efforts.

“Although we still recorded some incidents, but the extent of attacks which they had planned, we did not allow them to execute them.

“Boko Haram will not push us backwards. If their plans were to stop government from providing the dividends of democracy, they would not succeed because 2013 will be a good year for Nigerians and Nigeria.

“With your persistent prayer we shall defeat them,” he said.

The president expressed appreciation to the clergy and congregation of the EYN nationwide for keeping the faith and remaining calm even in the face of provocation.

The President was at the service with his mother, Madam Eunice Ayi Jonathan; his Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadome; the Executive Secretary, Christians Pilgrims Board, John Kennedy-Opara; Senator Philip Aduda and some presidential aides.

Nigeria First

Processing time for Canadian visas for Nigerians cut from 60 to 10 days

The Canadian High Commission has reduced the waiting period for visa applicants from 60 to 10 days.

A source at the High Commission told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja that the country was now opening up and accommodating more visitors and travellers from across the globe.

"Because of this, a lot of Nigerians are sending their children to study in Canada and this has led to a backlog in the number of visa applications.

"This informed the mission's decision to reduce the waiting period from 60 to 10 days," the source added.

Diplomatic sources told NAN that the Canadian government took the decision following persistent complaints by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru and the leadership of the National Assembly.

Ashiru, at various meetings with Heads of Diplomatic missions assured them of the readiness of Nigeria's diplomatic missions to undertake reciprocal treatment in the issuance of visas.

"Where visas are delivered promptly within three to five days, we shall reciprocate and where there is delay, we shall apply the same measure," he told them.

NAN recalled that late Dr Lateef Adegbite's visa application for his regular medical checkup was turned down by the mission.

The mission cited a new directive from Canada that all visa applications should be thoroughly screened irrespective of the status of the applicants.

Also, some members of the National Assembly were denied visas to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Conference which took place in September in Ottawa, Canada.

Canada and Nigeria, established diplomatic relations 50 years ago, and share a common commitment to freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Leadership

Video - fireworks explosion rips through Lagos

An explosion at a fireworks warehouse has caused a huge fire in Nigeria's largest city, Lagos. At least one person died and around thirty were injured.

6 confirmed dead in fireworks explosion at Lagos

No fewer than 6 persons have died, and a dozen injured as fireworks explosion rocked Lagos Island on wednesday.

The incident which affected three buildings located at Okoya/Ojogiwa, Lagos Island, Lagos, occurred at about 8:00am.

It was gathered that trouble started when a locked-up shop under one of the three buildings stocked with fireworks popularly called 'bangers' suddenly exploded and went up in flames.

As a result of the explosion, it was learnt that the building which had d shop under it and two others adjoining collapsed.

Residents of the three buildings who were still celebrating the Christmas festivity mood but, were still on beds to witness the boxing day, were affected during the explosions.

6 persons, it was said, were feared dead and a dozen others injured.

A score other residents were said to be currently trapped in d debris of the collapsed three buildings.

As at press time, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), fire service, police, Nigerian Security Civil and Defence Corps (NSCDC) and others had visited the scene for rescue operations.

Leadership

Gunmen kill five in church attack on Christmas Eve

Gunmen on Christmas Eve attacked a church in Peri, Yobe State, killing at least five people, including the pastor, and setting the building on fire, residents and police confirmed yesterday.

No fewer than 20 houses were also allegedly burnt down in the attack.

Peri, near Potiskum, is the economic capital of Yobe State.

"A group of gunmen came into the village at midnight and went straight to the church. They opened fire on them (the worshippers) and then set fire to the church," said Usman Mansir, a resident of the village, according to Aljazeera online.

A senior police official in Yobe State also confirmed the incident to the AFP news agency, but declined to be named.

Yobe State Commissioner of Police Sanusi Rufa'i said the attack was "a security issue" and refused to comment further.

It was not clear who was behind the attack, but fighters belonging to the Boko Haram sect have carried out several attacks in the state and environs, which borders Maiduguri state where the activities of the group is most pronounced.

Leadership

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