World News

UAE declares three-day mourning period over death of Queen Elizabeth II

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The United Arab Emirates has declared three day period of mourning over the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

In a statement, the Presidential Court said that the flags will fly at half-mast for three days, starting Friday, September 9, to Sunday, September 11.

Her Majesty passed away on September 8, 2022, surrounded by her closest family members at her Scottish estate. She was 96 years old and had served as the Queen of England for 70 years.

The UAE President and Vice-President were among the first to pay tributes as the country mourns the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE President, called Queen Elizabeth a “close friend of the UAE” and added she was a “beloved and respected leader whose long reign was characterised by dignity, compassion and a tireless commitment to serving her country”.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, wrote, “We join the world in mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, a global icon who represented the finest qualities of her nation and people.

Her incredible lifetime of service and duty to the United Kingdom is unparalleled in our modern world.” HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, also shared a message, calling the royal a “Queen of love, wisdom, and humanity. The world will miss you”.

Lifestyle

Emirates Airlines resumes operations as Nigeria, UAE resolve differences

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The Federal Government on Friday announced that the suspension of flights by Emirates Airlines into and out of Nigeria had been officially lifted.

According to the government, the suspension was halted following the resolution of differences between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates after the UAE lifted some of the restrictions imposed on travellers from Nigeria as part of measures to contain COVID-19.

The development was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Aviation on Friday night in Abuja.

Sirika said, “We are all aware of the situation of Emirates Airlines operations in Nigeria. So today we received communication removing some of the conditions for travel which we had concerns about.

And having done so, and being the only impediments to their operations, we also accept to lift the ban on the operations of Emirates to the country beginning from today. This is a product of lengthy negotiations between us and them.”

Sirika said the ban was lifted unconditionally, adding that going forward, Nigerians could fly directly to the UAE and back into Nigeria without restrictions.

It would be recalled that in July this year, the UAE had insisted on travellers from Nigeria undergoing several other COVID-19 tests after the initial test in Nigeria.

“In line with government directives, passengers flights to and from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) are suspended with immediate effect from June 21, 2021, until further notice,” Emirates Airlines had announced in a statement.

However, the aviation minister said on Friday that the issues had been resolved and that Emirates had officially resumed operations in Nigeria.

Lifestyle

9mobile reacts as executive director’s name ‘appears’ on UAE list of terror financiers

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Following a report from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that one ‘Abdulrrahman Ado Musa’ was part of terrorism sponsors from Nigeria, 9mobile has exonerated its executive director from the allegation.

Musa’s name was mentioned alongside Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad as Nigerian terror financiers identified by UAE.

The name strikes a resemblance with 9mobile’s executive director of regulatory and corporate affairs, Abdulrahman Ado, but the teleco claimed that its “purely coincidental”.

In a statement released on Tuesday to douse the speculation, 9mobile said it was a case of mistaken identity, and that its executive directive was not involved in the criminal act

“The Management of 9mobile wishes to inform the general public that its Executive Director of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Abdulrahman Ado is not the same as ‘Abdulrrahman’ Ado ‘Musa’ purportedly designated along with others by the United Arab Emirates as terror financiers.” 9mobile said.

The Nigerian network provider added, “Some Nigerians were included on the list said to have been ratified by the Emirate Federal Capital. One of the names on the list and that the media has latched on is Abdurrahaman Ado Musa.

“We, however, wish to clarify that the so-named individual is not 9mobile’s Executive Director, Regulatory & Corporate Affairs, Abdulrahman Ado. The resemblance in names is purely coincidental, and our Director does not bear ‘Musa’.

“Our Director, Abdulrahman Ado, is a respectable law-abiding Nigerian. He served the country diligently in public service for over three decades before transferring his services to the private sector.

He served in various capacities and was Pioneer Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and Executive Commissioner, Licensing and Consumer Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission.

“As a law-abiding company that believes in the greatness of Nigeria, and the well-being of all its citizens, 9mobile would never accommodate any undesirable element within its management and staff.”

World News

UAE includes six Nigerians on terror watch list

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Cabinet has included six Nigerians in its terror watch list in a new release on Monday.

In a resolution the Cabinet issued with the number 83 for 2021, 38 individuals and 15 entities were placed on the list of persons and organisations supporting terrorism.

According to the release, “the Resolution underscores the UAE’s commitment to target and dismantle networks that finance terrorism and its related activities.”

The UAE Resolution also “demands that regulatory authorities monitor and identify any individuals or entities affiliated with or associated with any financial, commercial or technical relationship and take the necessary measures according to the laws in force in the country in less than 24 hours.”

The six Nigerians included in the UAE terror watch list include Abdurrahaman Ado Musa who is number 27 on list.

Others are Salihu Yusuf Adamu, 28, Bashir Ali Yusuf, 29, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, 30, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, 31, and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad, who made the list at number 32.

Top on the list is a national of the UAE and a terrorists figure who is also on the watch of the US and other international bodies, Ahmed Mohammed Abdulla Mohammed Alshaiba Alnuaimi.

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