Amid fears that the number of Nigerians seeking asylum in gay-friendly countries would rise, the Royal Embassy of the Netherlands in Nigeria has confirmed that it has received some applications for asylum by some Nigerians who fear persecution and a backlash following the signing into law the anti-gay bill by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The embassy in an email to THISDAY, however, said it was neither involved in processing any application for asylum seekers nor does it have the power to grant asylum to applicants.
Since late last year when Jonathan assented to the Same-sex bill, Nigeria has come under criticisms from the United States and some European countries for criminalising same-sex unions.
Responding to concerns of a possible upsurge in the number of applicants seeking to flee Nigeria in the wake of the anti-gay clampdown, Netherlands said it could not predict whether there would be a rise in the number of those who want to flee Nigeria because of the new dispensation, adding that doing so would be mere speculation.
It however noted that even if there was an increase, it was expected to decrease as applicants become more aware about the modalities for asylum seekers in the Netherlands.
The email, which was received from the embassy, read: “The embassy has received a small number of applications for asylum by Nigerians. It is not possible to apply for asylum at the embassy. We inform the applicants likewise but we do not register the number of applications made.
“At this stage, it is not possible to make predictions. That would be speculation. However, when people become increasingly aware that it is not possible to apply for asylum at the embassy, one could expect a decrease. The embassy is not involved in the asylum process, neither in the application nor in the determination of the authenticity of claims.”
Also, a diplomat at the Canadian High Commission told THIISDAY that although there had been no significant increase in visa applications to Canada in recent times, asylum seekers could only obtain such privileges in Ottawa, on arrival in Canada.
“We cannot grant asylum to anyone here on any grounds, that is the prerogative of Ottawa. Such a Nigerian must have already satisfied regular visa requirements and must have travelled to Canada, he or she as the case may be, can now apply to stay back for fear of persecution upon return to Nigerian.
“But there would be investigations to ascertain if the person is gay and not just making claims,” the diplomat said.
Canada was one of the most vocal countries to condemn Nigeria's anti-gay law.
The Head, Political Section of the British High Commission in Abuja, Mr. Paul Edwards, also told THISDAY that it was too early to determine whether the law would have any impact on the number of asylum seekers.
In an email responding to THISDAY enquiries, Edwards said: “We cannot say at this stage whether the Act will have any impact on asylum claims. Asylum applications are assessed on whether a person can demonstrate that he or she faces genuine persecution in their country of origin.”
The Information Officer of the US Embassy in Abuja, Ms. Rhonda Ferguson-Augustus, said it was the duty of the US Department of Homeland Security to review asylum applications on a case-by-case basis.
“... and due to privacy concerns, we cannot comment on these cases,” she added.
An official of the embassy also confided in THISDAY that there was no truth in reports that the embassy was already experiencing an increase in visa applications from asylum seekers on such grounds.
“The law is relatively new, so we have not experienced such increase, but we expect to have applications from asylum seekers who wish to escape the hostilities soon. People seek asylum for matters less serious than this, so we expect that the increase would happen,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Government has accused western nations of double standard over the new law banning same-sex marriages.
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, said such criticisms stem from the “double standard” of the West.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the sidelines of the just concluded AU summit, Onwuliri said the president signed the law in the interest of Nigerians and democracy.
“What happened in Nigeria is democracy in action and it will really be unfortunate that people who are talking about democracy when they now see democracy work, they want us to go against democracy,” she said.
“Is democracy for picking and choosing? When it suits them, they want us to have good governance and democracy, but when it does not suit them, they want us to go against the democracy that has been put in place.
“The National Assembly took a decision, the National Assembly is the face of democracy in Nigeria, they are the representatives of the people, they form the voice of the people and they have spoken,” she added.
On the situation in South Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR), the minister said Nigeria strongly backs the AU and regional groups’ role in demanding the return of peace and stability in the regions.
“Nigeria has taken a position on the need for peaceful resolutions in conflict situations in Africa, safety of lives and property and ensuring that women and children are safe in conflict areas,” she said.
The minister acknowledged that there had been demands for Nigeria to contribute troops to the African-led International Mission (MISCA) in CAR.
“The decision (to deploy troops to CAR) is for the president and commander-in-chief, but it’s not something new to us because Nigeria has been involved in peacekeeping since the 1960s,” she said.
This Day
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Monday, February 3, 2014
Video - Nigeria determined to provide support for local farmers
Nigerian farmers have said they are suffering major losses because of illegal rice imports.But the government has developed a scheme to stave off the country's reliance on imported rice.It will supply farmers with improved seeds and fertiliser and hopes to phase out imports in three years.Up to 60 percent of the country's agricultural land is currently untouched due to a lack of farming skills, access to fertiliser and money to cultivate crops.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Nigeria fines shell $11.3 billion for damages caused in Bonga oil spill
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the National Oil Spill Response and Emergency Agency, (NOSREA), have ordered Shell to pay N1.84 trillion, as fines and compensation for the 2011 Bonga oil spill incident.
The Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi said at the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Environment, that NIMASA calculated a total of $6.5 billion, about N1.04 trillion, as compensation to be paid to the communities affected by the spill.
The Director General of NOSREA, Mr. Peter Idabo, also said the agency fined Shell $5billion, which is about N800 billion, for the oil spill incident.
The NIMASA boss alleged that Shell tried as much as possible to frustrate the agency’s moves to get to the site of the spill, adding that the agency had to step in immediately after the spill by providing some stop gap measures such as relief materials to some of the communities.
Daily Times
The Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi said at the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Environment, that NIMASA calculated a total of $6.5 billion, about N1.04 trillion, as compensation to be paid to the communities affected by the spill.
The Director General of NOSREA, Mr. Peter Idabo, also said the agency fined Shell $5billion, which is about N800 billion, for the oil spill incident.
The NIMASA boss alleged that Shell tried as much as possible to frustrate the agency’s moves to get to the site of the spill, adding that the agency had to step in immediately after the spill by providing some stop gap measures such as relief materials to some of the communities.
Daily Times
Thursday, January 30, 2014
PDP senators make exodus to APC
Eleven Senators in Nigeria, elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A formal letter to this effect has been delivered to the Senate President, David Mark, on Wednesday and it is expected to be read on the floor of the Senate.
The Senators that defected to the APC are; Umaru Dahiru from Sokoto South, Magnus Ngei Abe from Rivers South-East, Wilson Asinobi Ake from Rivers West, Bindawa Muhammed Jibrilla from Adamawa North and Mohammed Danjuma Goje from Gombe Central.
Others are Aisha Jummai Alhassan from Taraba North, Mohammed Ali Ndume from Borno South, Mohammed Shaba Lafiaji from Kwara North, Abdulahi Adamu from Nasarawa West and Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir from Sokoto East.
A list attached to the letter sent to the Senate president contained 16 names but only 11 signed, indicating their intention to defect.
The other Senators in the list that did not sign are; Ahmed Muhammed Maccido from Sokoto North, Saidu Ahmed Alkali from Gombe North, Basheer Garba Mohammed from Kano Central, Ahmed Zanna from Borno Central and Ahmed Hassan Barata from Adamawa South.
There are chances that more Senators will defect to the APC as it was not clear why the five Senators did not sign.
Thinking Of What To Gain
A political analyst and lawyer, Osahon Ihehene, said there was no ideology behind the defections, as they were all triggered by selfish interest.
“The politicians are defecting for their personal interest they are selfish people. It has practically nothing for the Nigerian electorates.
“The man feels his interest would not be protected in the party he is at the moment and he decides to move. All they are doing is trying to protect their own interests.
“There is no difference between PDP and APC. The only thing that joined them is just selfish interest and corruption and nothing more,” the lawyer said.
He said that section 68 of the Nigerian Constitution stipulated that a lawmaker can only defect to another party where there is division in a party or merger of two political parties.
Mr Ihehene insisted that what the lawmakers were playing out was selfishness, saying that “everybody is just thinking of what he can gain”.
CHANNELS
A formal letter to this effect has been delivered to the Senate President, David Mark, on Wednesday and it is expected to be read on the floor of the Senate.
The Senators that defected to the APC are; Umaru Dahiru from Sokoto South, Magnus Ngei Abe from Rivers South-East, Wilson Asinobi Ake from Rivers West, Bindawa Muhammed Jibrilla from Adamawa North and Mohammed Danjuma Goje from Gombe Central.
Others are Aisha Jummai Alhassan from Taraba North, Mohammed Ali Ndume from Borno South, Mohammed Shaba Lafiaji from Kwara North, Abdulahi Adamu from Nasarawa West and Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir from Sokoto East.
A list attached to the letter sent to the Senate president contained 16 names but only 11 signed, indicating their intention to defect.
The other Senators in the list that did not sign are; Ahmed Muhammed Maccido from Sokoto North, Saidu Ahmed Alkali from Gombe North, Basheer Garba Mohammed from Kano Central, Ahmed Zanna from Borno Central and Ahmed Hassan Barata from Adamawa South.
There are chances that more Senators will defect to the APC as it was not clear why the five Senators did not sign.
Thinking Of What To Gain
A political analyst and lawyer, Osahon Ihehene, said there was no ideology behind the defections, as they were all triggered by selfish interest.
“The politicians are defecting for their personal interest they are selfish people. It has practically nothing for the Nigerian electorates.
“The man feels his interest would not be protected in the party he is at the moment and he decides to move. All they are doing is trying to protect their own interests.
“There is no difference between PDP and APC. The only thing that joined them is just selfish interest and corruption and nothing more,” the lawyer said.
He said that section 68 of the Nigerian Constitution stipulated that a lawmaker can only defect to another party where there is division in a party or merger of two political parties.
Mr Ihehene insisted that what the lawmakers were playing out was selfishness, saying that “everybody is just thinking of what he can gain”.
CHANNELS
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