Category: Diplomatic Channel

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched two new visa issuing centres at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The Immigration Service has also increased the counters at the Lagos International airport from its initial three to eight. The policy also targeted growing foreign direct investment into the country’s aviation and tourism industry. The government in an attempt to attract more foreign investment had ordered the NIS to create two  visa-on-arrival counters at the Lagos airport.  So far, about 20,000 visas had been issued at these points to expatriates, tourists, exhibitors, academics, and other visitors to the country following the order. 

An official reported in his words that:

“The immigration authorities in Abuja ordered that there should be an increase – from one to two – on the number of visa counters at the Lagos airport in order to facilitate movements, particularly by investors into the country and abolish the usual man hour loss due to immigration processes.”

Another source stated:

“Visas are now issued to foreigners on arrival at both E and D wings of the Lagos international airport from its initial D wing while no fewer than 20, 000 visas have been issued at the airport since the policy came on stream in June. Indeed, the issuing of visas on arrival, has reduced the number of foreigners going to the home offices of Nigeria abroad, as many of them now prefer to get their visas on arrival at the command.”

United States of America increased it’s import of Nigeria’s crude oil by 32.1 percent to 52.36 million barrels in the first half of 2017, compared to the same period in 2016.

The US Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the Energy Department, revealed in its latest data that the country bought a record 10.24 million barrels from Nigeria in March, the highest monthly import since July 2013. It imported 9.78 million barrels in January; 5.96 million barrels in February; 9.16 million barrels in April; 8.69 million barrels in May and 8.53 million barrels in June [2017].

With Bonny Light, Nigeria’s main export grade, averaging $51 per barrel in the first half of the year, the 52.36 million barrels imported by the US translate to an income of about $2.67 billion for the country.

The USA almost tripled the volume of crude oil bought from Nigeria last year, with the biggest monthly import of 8.43 million barrels in July. It imported 76.9 million barrels of Nigeria’s oil in 2016, up from 19.9 million barrels in 2015.

Nigeria saw significant reduction in the US imports of its crude in recent years, starting from 2012, it fell to 6.17 million in June 2013 from 10.115 million barrels in May and about 40 million barrels in March 2007.

In 2014, when global oil prices started to fall from a peak of $115 per barrel, Nigeria saw a further drop in the US imports of its crude from 87.4 million barrels in 2013 to a record low of 21.2 million barrels. For the first time in decades, the US did not purchase any barrel of Nigeria’s crude in July and August 2014 and June 2015, according to the EIA data.

Meanwhile, a handful of cargoes had traded in November so far though October cargoes of Angolan and Nigerian were still lingering as demand for that month had slowed due to limited arbitrage and stronger outright prices. There was still no sign of the Nigerian Bonny Light or Erha loading programmes for November. Bonny Light exports were still under force majeure but are expected to resume later this week as repairs on a pipeline are nearly finished.

ExxonMobil sold a cargo of Qua Iboe loading November 27-28 and a November loading cargo of Yoho, one trader said, without giving further details.

 

The Federal Government of Nigeria has donated $2 million in cash, food, medical supplies and other relief materials for victims of the recent mudslide in Sierra Leone.

A high-level Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, comprising: the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Engr. Mustapha Maihaja, and Hajiya Zainab Sharif from the Federal Ministry of Health, amongst others were received at the State House in Freetown by President Ernest Bai koroma.

Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama who said he was sent by President Buhari expressed profound sadness.

In his words:

“On behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and the people of Nigeria for the August 14 tragedy. The history of the two countries goes far back and the blood of both countries runs through the same veins. Nigeria would stand by Sierra Leone.”

President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, while thanking President Muhammadu Buhari whom he referred to as a brother noted that President Buhari was “One of the first Heads of States to call and sympathize with us when the incident occurred.” He added that support from Nigeria to Sierra Leone is not new and recalled support provided during the eleven year civil war, the support during the unprecedented ebola epidemic and now during this mudslide and flood disaster. He also expressed delight over President Buhari’s return to Nigeria after successful medical treatment in the United Kingdom.

The items presented on behalf of President Buhari were $1 million cash donation, as well as 315 metic tones of assorted food and other relief items, and over 4,000 medical supplies all amounting to another $1 million.

The Minister explained that owing to the large volume of relief materials, there is the possibility of sending some by sea. So far, 4 flights conveying about 60 metric tonnes of relief materials have been undertaken with another 16 flights planned.