Mega Mode World: Why Nigeria Was Blacklisted From DV 2015 Green Car...

Mega Mode World: Why Nigeria Was Blacklisted From DV 2015 Green Car...: 2015 Diversity Visa Program Registration  Nigeria has sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the last five years. This wa...

Why Nigeria Was Blacklisted From DV 2015 Green Card Lottery

2015 Diversity Visa Program Registration

 Nigeria has sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the last five years. This was the reason behind the removal of the country  from the list of countries that can participate in the 2015 DV Lottery For DV-2015 as related by Jeffrey Hawkins, the US Consul General, an hour ago.

Nigeria joins BANGLADESH, BRAZIL, CANADA, CHINA (mainland-born), COLOMBIA and DOMINICAN REPUBLIC in this category. others similarly blacklisted are: ECUADOR, EL SALVADOR, HAITI, INDIA, JAMAICA, MEXICO, PAKISTAN, PERU, PHILIPPINES, SOUTH KOREA, UNITED KINGDOM (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and VIETNAM.

The 2015 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2015) will open at 12:00 p.m. EDT (GMT-4), Tuesday, October 1, 2013, and will close at 12:00 p.m. EDT, Saturday, November 2, 2013.  Applicants must submit entries electronically during this registration period using the electronic DV entry form (E-DV) at dvlottery.state.gov.  Paper entries will not be accepted.  All entrants must print and retain their online confirmation page after completing their DV entries so that they will be able to check their entry status.  We strongly encourage applicants not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter.  Heavy demand may result in website delays.  No entries will be accepted after 12:00 p.m. EDT on November 2, 2013.

 The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered on an annual basis by the Department of State and conducted under the terms of Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).  Section 131 of the Immigration Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-649) amended INA 203 and provides for a class of immigrants known as “diversity immigrants.”  Section 203(c) of the INA provides a maximum of 55,000 Diversity Visas each fiscal year to be made available to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.  Fifty-five thousand immigrant visas are set aside for DV immigrants; however, since DV-1999, Congress has set aside 5,000 of this annual allocation to be made available for use under the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA).

 The annual DV program makes visas available to persons meeting the simple, but strict, eligibility requirements.  A computer-generated, random drawing chooses selectees for Diversity Visas.  The visas are distributed among six geographic regions, with a greater number of visas going to regions with lower rates of immigration, and with no visas going to nationals of countries sending more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States over the period of the past five years.  No single country may receive more than seven percent of the available Diversity Visas in any one year.

 A “native” ordinarily means someone born within a particular country, regardless of the individual's current country of residence or nationality.  Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.   

  The Department of State implemented the electronic registration system beginning with DV-2005 in order to make the Diversity Visa process more efficient and secure.  We utilize special technology and other means to identify those who commit fraud for the purposes of illegal immigration or those who submit multiple entries.

 For DV-2015, the Department of State will once again implement an online process to notify entrants of their selection, and to provide information about the immigrant visa application and interview.  Beginning May 1, 2014, DV-2015 entrants will be able to use their unique confirmation number provided at registration to check online through Entry Status Check at dvlottery.state.gov to see if their entry was selected.  Successful entrants will receive instructions for how to apply for immigrant visas for themselves and their eligible family members.  Changes in U.S. immigration practice as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act also apply to DV-2015 applicants.  U.S. embassies and consulates will adjudicate visa applications that are based on a same-sex marriage in the same way as applications for opposite gender spouses.

 Confirmation of visa interview appointments will also be made through Entry Status Check.

For detailed information about entry requirements, along with frequently asked questions about the DV program, please see the instructions for the DV-2015 Diversity Visa program available at http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html.

 

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT: Queen Latifah And Her Boo

In 2010, Jeannette Jenkins, a top fitness trainer highly sought by Hollywood celebrities, purchased a home in the Hollywood Hills, an upscale area of California, with Queen Latifah. The two moved in and has been living together thereafter.

This incident renewed speculations over Queen Latifah's sexual orientation, often touted to be same-sex. It intensified the whispers swirling since Jenkins started training Latifah, a rap, television host and actress, that they were both in a relationship. Undeterred, the two women bought the house and refuses to acknowledge or confirm the rumour. Latifah even stated she would not discuss her sexuality on her new television show which debuted in September 2013.

It seems she loves dropping baits occasionally though. September 19 is Jenkins' birthday. And Queen Latifah sent a birthday message: "Happy birthday to @JeanetteJenkins! You are the most amazing Vibrant caring person I know!! Love u!"    Hmmmm...

Hilton Hotel Arrives in Lagos

 

Building on its successful years of partnership with the Hilton Worldwide, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), a publicly quoted conglomerate, today announced a new premier hotel development in the upmarket suburb of Ikoyi in Lagos.
 

The proposed Transcorp Hilton Lagos, a full service, 350-room hotel on Glover Road, Ikoyi, will be the Hilton Group's second hotel in Nigeria by Transcorp, following the award-winning Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja, which is one of the leaders in Hilton's global network. The new hotel will be jointly owned by Transnational Hotels and Tourism Services Ltd, Transcorp’s hospitality arm, and Heirs Holdings, the pan-African proprietary investment company chaired by African business leader, Tony O. Elumelu, CON.
 

Speaking at the official signing of the management contract between both parties, which took place at Heirs Holdings’ offices in Lagos, Elumelu said, “This agreement marks another milestone in our long-standing partnership with Hilton Worldwide. The Ikoyi development, along with the extensive refurbishment and upgrade of our existing hotels in Calabar and Abuja, demonstrates Heirs Holdings’ commitment to driving growth in real estate and hospitality, a strategic sector for Nigeria’s economic development. The new Transcorp Hilton Lagos will not only present an additional world-class venue for the increasing numbers of investors, businessmen and tourists to Nigeria, but is creating much-needed jobs for our citizens, enabling their social and economic development.”
 

In his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of THTSL, Valentine Ozigbo, asserted that the Transcorp Hilton Lagos will finally grant the many Hilton Honors customers who visit the city their desire to see a world-class establishment under their preferred brand in the Lagos.
 

Full construction works for the new hotel will commence early next year. The hotel will boast of full conference facilities, meeting rooms, gym and spa, and a swimming pool in an iconic design that will certainly add verve to the Lagos landscape.

 

 

Boxing Judge Steps Down After Scoring Draw For Mayweather-Alvarez

The judge who scored the fight between Floyd Mayweather and Saul Alvarez a draw has taken indefinite leave.

CJ Ross

 

CJ Ross stepped down from scoring professional fights in the aftermath of criticism over the way she handled the big bout in Las Vegas last weekend.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Wednesday that Ross had emailed Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer to request an indefinite leave of absence.

Ross scored the super-welterweight title match 114-114 even though the undefeated Mayweather dominated for the most part en route to a majority decision.

The other scores were 117-111 and 116-112 in favour of Mayweather.

Ross gave six rounds to Alvarez and was the only one of the three judges to score the eighth round in favour of the Mexican.

She also penalised Mayweather heavily for his inactivity in the first few rounds and for not throwing many punches in the final rounds. Her score attracted criticism from Mayweather's team.

Ross has been judging fights for 22 years. And it was not the first time the 64-year-old came under heavy scrutiny for the way she scored a championship fight.

She was one of two judges who enabled Timothy Bradley to earn a split decision over Manny Pacquiao last year when many observers felt the Filipino star had won.

The newspaper said Ross's judging licence would expire at the end of the year.

 

Source: Supersport

THE TRASHING OF FASHOLA

I do not, as a philosophy of life assume, I love being sure. That explains why I took the pains to ask around, dig deeper and find out the real issues in the Lagos “Deportation” saga. In doing so, i played the Devils’ advocate to really press for answers to all sensitive sides of the story.
Let’s reason together. Friends’ rejoinders are welcomed. Zero-tolerance for insults and name-calling.

My findings:

 

TRIBALISM AGAINST IGBOS

 Some Igbo feels persecuted by this action. No, it is not a continuation of any war. It is solely a government policy designed to pave the way for Lagos’ emergence as a megacity.

Igbo people have been warmly welcomed in Lagos for decades; it is the only place in the country where they met their properties intact post-Civil War. Unlike in other parts of Nigeria.

This assimilation is evident in street names in highbrow Government Reservation Areas (GRA), there are many roads named after the Igbo in Lekki Scheme 1 & 2, Magodo Phase 1, 2 & 3, Omole 1 & 2. These were not because of the federal structure of Lagos, such christenings happened after Lagos ceased being the Nigerian capital.

It is the only Yoruba place where freedom reigns: where Igbo pressure group can aspire to have an Igbo as Lagos’ deputy governor and not get shouted down. Unlike in anywhere in Nigeria, there is an Igbo occupying a key position in Fashola’s government.

FACTS

1.     Gov. Fashola did not “deport” anyone, the affected people were sent back to their states of origin based on understanding with the affected states at commissionership levels in order to re-unite them with their respective families.

2.     Many of these beggars were discovered to have fled from their homes to come to Lagos and BEG. Hence, the action.

3.     Lagos government officials basically liaised with their counterparts in the affected states for identification and confirmation of indigeneship of the affected states, and then the affected persons were taken by mutual written consent, between Lagos and the states, to escort them from the state’s rehabilitation centre in Owutu, Ikorodu, to either their states’ liaison offices in Lagos or back to their states.

4.     Akwa Ibom state had actually sent back a few “Lagosians” found to be beggars to Lagos state.

5.     Political intrigues. Attempt to taint APC in Anambra’s elections after Peter Obi’s exit. Chris Ngige plans to run on APC’s platform in the election. Fashola is an APC governor.

 

WHY DID LAGOS “DEPORT”??

Majority of those affected refused rehabilitation.
Some embraced rehabilitation but need to be reconciled with their families because they fled from their families in the first place to Lagos to beg and invariably, ended up destitute.

Some pose high social and health risks to the populace with exposure of ulcerative sores in places like genitalia, breasts, etc. defeacating on highways, roads and parks, child abuse with exposure of infants esp.twins to harsh sunlight and so on. Surprisingly, these people refused free healthcare for farfetched reasons bordering mainly on selfishness and distrust of medical science.

Above all, beautification, land reclamation from the ocean, economic zone planning, light rail projects and so on are not accidents. Lagos is being gradually transformed into a megacity and for it to be so, there are best global standards it must adhere to. Re-settlement of these destitute is one effort to make this objective realisable.

Let’s face it, how many megacities in the world do you travel to and see such behaviour? Homeless people exist globally but they don’t throw it in your face like done in Lagos.

STATE VS. FEDERAL LAW

Some friends argued that it is illegal and unconstitutional, that the Nigerian constitution enshrines the rights of all Nigerians to move freely within Nigeria without fear of molestation. Remember though, there is no absolutism in Law, exception reigns too. Police can allow you to demonstrate for instance without fuss but they can also demand that you must get a permit before doing so yet, there is freedom of movement and assembly.

In US, world’s prominent example of democracy,  regardless of state laws to the contrary, there is no such thing as “medical” marijuana under Federal law; Marijuana continues to be a Schedule I substance meaning that it has no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Yet, almost 15 states have legalised marijuana use in America. Likewise, US has not legalised same-sex marriage but there are states recognising homosexuality. It is the nature of federating units under a federal system of government that states are more powerful than the centre.

In this case, Lagos did not breach the Nigerian constitution. I enjoin everyone to look up the legal definition of “person” as described in the constitution. It does not refer to the destitute. Or generally, criminals. A LEGAL definition of "person" is not just the literal "living being" explanation. According to the Black's Law Dictionary (used by lawyers), a "person" is "A man considered according to the rank he holds in society, with all the rights to which the place he holds entitles him, and the duties which it imposes. 1 Bouv. Inst. no. 137. A human being considered as capable of having rights and of being charged with duties."

Still, Lagos felt that everyone of them is redeemable. That was why attempts were FIRST made to rehabilitate them from criminality and laziness. Yet, many of them ran away from such centres.

Before Gov. Fashola “deported” them, they followed due process as laid down when they made begging illegal in Lagos. The states went overboard with taxpayers money to get this right. Rehabilitation, further rehabilitation with NGOs, communication to their government, receipt of letters of mutual agreement on need for re-settlement were obtained from the affected states and then handing-over to the personnel of the states. Anambra state received letters from Fashola on the development, agreed that Lagos should transport them to Onitsha and do the transfer but the officials did not show up for the exercise as earlier agreed.

Now, if there is conflict between the federal and state statues, the federal law take precedence. True. But, it applies to specificity; there must be a specific aspect of the Law by the federal government that would overwrite a state law.  Is there any existing federal statute against begging for it to nullify that of Lagos? No. So, Lagos law stands.

The moralists fault it for its immorality. There is a difference between morality and legality. Something may be legal but immoral or vice versa. Such issues are eternally thorny because it is subjective and government cannot succeed at its duty on sentimental reasons. Roe Vs. Wade is still a hot debate in America for pro-life and pro-choice people on abortion. Homosexuality is legal in some climes, is it moral? That is another complex one. Or sex with animals passed by President Obama for the US army? Legal, yes. Moral? Most people  know the answer to that one. Lagos’ re-settlement of destitute to their states of origin is legal. Is it also moral? Yes. I cannot see rehabilitation efforts and the re-settlement of destitute with their families as requested by their states of origin as anything more than altruistic.

Let’s not forget, the law is an ass. It is not in this instance but it is in some cases. O.J. Simpson? Diallo in New York? Awolowo’s suit against election (“My hands are tied”)? Gore Vs. Bush in 2000 election? Trayvon Martin?

People often view these examples as miscarriages of justice. Nevertheless, we all agree that law is vital to uphold homo sapien’  civilisation above lesser animals and uphold order in the society despite any ill that often arise in the justice system. Are laws made for man or man made for laws? Similar to the chicken and egg secenarion-Were chicken here before the egg or egg before the chicken? In the end, laws are enacted and acted on for the common good.

When all is said and done, Babatunde Fashola took this action for the common good of society. Posterity will objectively judge so.