By Mohammed Tijjani

The Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), 1 Division chapter, Kaduna, on Monday presented materials to wounded soldiers, widows, orphanages and prison inmates to enable them celebrate Christmas and New Year with ease.

The Chairperson NAOWA, Mrs Jamila Mukthar, said the gesture was to put smile on the faces of the beneficiaries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries included soldiers wounded in action receiving treatment at the 44 Army Nigerian Reference Hospital, Kaduna.

Others are widows of soldiers within barracks under the division, and inmates of Medium Security Custodial Centre, and Adonai Orphanage Home and Widows Centre, all in Kaduna.

The materials presented included bags of rice and beans, wrappers, detergents, sanitary pads, tissues papers, cartons of Peak milk and Milo.

The rest were cartons of toothpaste, indomie, spaghetti and vegetable oil, as well as sugar, salt and maggi seasoning.

In all the places visited, Mrs Mukthar said the gesture was to show the association’s deep concerns about their plight and its determination to support them at all times.

She particularly told the widows that as members, NAOWA would continue bring succour to them and their families.

To the wounded soldiers, the chairperson said NAOWA was proud of their commitment to the peace and security of the country and will continue to bring relief to them as they recuperate.

She thanked the National President of NAOWA, Mrs Salamatu Yahaya for her encouragement and support to the branch.

“I want to also thank the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division for supporting NAOWA and officers of the Nigerian Army.

“We pray may the God almighty continue to grant our country Nigeria peace and unity,” she said.

In his response, the acting Chief Medical Director, 44 Army Reference Hospital, Col Stephen Onuchukwu said the hospital provides services in major medical specialties for personnel, their families and civilians.

He added that it provides medical services for soldiers wounded in various operations within northern region.

The CMD appreciated NAOWA for the donation, saying it would assist the post recovery rehabilitation of treated soldiers.(NAN)

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UK promises to stick to its travel ban, as Nigeria threatens to retaliate

Jude Egbas

December 13, 2021 10:16 AM

“The UK Government propose sticking to our standard background lines," a spokesperson says.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Business Insider)

The United Kingdom won't be revising the travel ban it has placed on Nigeria and other nations in Africa, in the wake of the spread of the Omicronvariant of COVID-19.

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On Sunday, December 5, 2021, the United Kingdom (UK) placed Nigeria on a travel ban list by suspending visitor visa applications from Africa's most populous nation.

The development arrived just hours after the UK added Nigeria to a travel red list.

Nigeria has threatened to reciprocate by banning flights from the UK, Canada, Argentina and Saudi Arabia.

“As they did to us, if they do not allow our citizens into their countries; who are they coming, as airlines, to pick from our country?

“They are not supposed to come in. I am very sure in the next three days; Monday or Tuesday, all those countries will be put on the red list of COVID-19,’’Nigeria's Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, had fumed.

However, the UK has promised not to move a muscle in the aftermath of Nigeria's threat.

“The UK Government propose sticking to our standard background lines on whether ‘x’ country will put us on the red list and avoid getting into hypothetical situations," a spokesperson for the British High Commission, Dean Hurlock, told Punch newspaper.

Hurlock also stated that Britain had made it clear that travel abroad would be different this year.

The UK spokesperson had also told the newspaper that: “The position stated in our press release of last weekend still stands at present.

“These are temporary measures that have been introduced to prevent further omicron cases from entering the UK and will be examined at the three-week review point on 20 December.”

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, had said her country's decision to place countries on a 'red list' was "evidence-based."

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