Botswana has introduced a $30 tax on tourist in order to raise money to presever its safari.
The levi is termed Tourist Development Levi (TDL).
This was declared by the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) also declared that the fee is to be paid by tourists at the Botswana airport from June.
The organization explained that the tax exclude15 countries which are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“The levy is purposed to support the growth of the industry and broaden the tourism base, resultantly improving the lives of the people of Botswana.
“The objective of the levy is to raise funds for conservation and national tourism development in order to support the growth of the industry and broaden the tourism base,” the organization said.
The Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) had laid a complained in respect to the decision in the last year for not being involved in the charges.
The TDL according to the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) can be paid in cash, debit and credit card.
The organization said a receipt would be issued to the tourist and is to be presented by the tourist to immigration officials, adding that the TDL stamp would be valid for 30 days and could be used for multiple entries.
British visitors to Botswana are allowed to stay in the country for up to 90 days without a visa as 42,000 out of the 1.6 million tourists who visit Botswana are British.
Botswana has one of the best tourist centres in the world and a long history of wildlife conservation and a home to numerous animals including giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas and wild dogs.
Lai Mohammed, Nigeria's Minister of Information and Culture
Lai Mohammed
Nigeria’s Minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has explained that President Muhammadu Buhari’s absent during the Wednesdays’ Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting was on the advice of his doctors to enable him fully recover.
Mohammed while addressing State House correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting, noted that, “The President chose today to rest, he was in his office yesterday, which you all reported.
“He is taking his doctors’ advice so that he can fully recover,” the minister said.
The Information Minister had last week stated that President Buhari was taking the day to rest and work from home. This week makes it the third that the President Buhari was absent at the FEC meeting.
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has said no fewer than 102 journalists paid the supreme price in the course of their duties in 2016, saying, ‘murder remains the most tragic form of censorship.’
Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, made this known in a statement on Tuesday to mark the World Press Freedom Day commemorated on May 3. The theme for the 2017 Day is: ‘Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies’.
According to Bokova, “Far too often, murder remains the most tragic form of censorship – 102 journalists paid the ultimate price in 2016. This is unacceptable and weakens societies as a whole.”
She however noted that, the contributions of journalists to the rule of law, and taking forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically, Sustainable Development Goal 16, to build just, peaceful and inclusive societies.
She also pointed out that, UNESCO is leading this work across the world, starting by standing up for the safety of journalists; stating further it is the reason UNESCO is spearheading the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity with partners around the globe.
While emphasizing the need for Journalists to be objective in their reports, guided by high professional, ethical standards and a quality media education, she said the media must not only be a source of reliable information, it should provide a platform for a multitude of voices and mobilize new forces for tolerance and dialogue.
“We need media education combined with audiences that have the right media and information literacy skills.
“Today, I call on everyone to sharpen their minds to defend the freedoms that are essential for justice and peace. This is UNESCO’s message for the 2017 World Press Freedom Day,” she said.
May 3rd is set aside to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, and also to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the course of doing their work.
For Nigeria to be able to address current massive youth unemployment, Nigerian government and other critical stakeholders must give top priority to entrepreneurial development, Director, Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies and Lifelong Learning, National Open University, Professor Grace Joktham, has said.
The varsity don, who addressed a cross section of participants at a 2-day stakeholders’ workshop for collaborators in entrepreneurship development Tuesday in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria, said, it has become necessary to structurally adjusted the university’s programmes from learning into big time practical by a way of making young entrepreneurs.
According to her, “It is not easy to provide some of the training materials and consumables required for the training. We have been assisted by World Bank in terms of training materials. But we need consumables, these are few of the challenges we faced.
“The management of NOUN under the Vice Chancellor of this great citadel of learning, Professor Amdalla Uba Adamu, is committed to entrepreneurial development which incidentally formed part of the vision of this administration.
“We have been thinking on how to address the unemployment and see that we can actually do to address it because we are present in each state of the federation.
“We are moving from theoretical aspect to practical and we are making progress as we have already made some notable entrepreneurs. We believe there is always room for improvement and that is why we are bringing stakeholders together.”
On her expectations at the end of the workshop, she said, “We want to create entrepreneurs that will put value ahead of money. I want to raise people that will want to head this generation.
“We need people that will provide solutions in terms of creating positive mindset and in terms of capital development to feed the gaps we have in the country.
“We need people that will provide quality skills and be able to gainfully employed and provide employment for others so that majority of people roaming our streets can then be productively engaged.”
In his remarks, Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Job Creation, Afiz Bayero, told the gathering that, the state government had reason to interact with NOUN because the institution has made it possible for the state government to conducted need training for her teachers.
He also hinted that about 16,000 young men and women were undergoing construction training in order to provide the state with readily available workforce in construction instead of traveling to other states before getting professional builders quickly added that, the development is another way of reducing unemployment in the country.
“NOUN has done so much in the past two years from moving from learning to creating centre which is germane to the country at this crucial time and all hands must be on deck to make the process a huge success,” El-Rufai’s aide added.
Some of the participants at the workshop include representatives from financial institutions, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National University Commission (NUC), Nigeria Youths Chambers of Commerce, successful entrepreneurs, academia, National University Commission (NUC) among others.
Barely two weeks after the launch of military operation Harbin Kunama II in Southern Kaduna, northwest Nigeria, Kaduna State government has fully lifted up the curfew in two local government areas in the area.
The Kaduna State Security Council on Tuesday announced the lifting of the curfew in Jema’a and Kaura local government areas, following its weekly meeting. The curfew in Zangon Kataf local government area was earlier removed.
A statement issued at the end of the security council meeting and signed by the Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, said, “Today’s meeting received and reviewed reports from the security agencies which pointed to improvements in the security situation. Therefore the Council upheld the security recommendation that the curfew be removed with immediate effect.
“The State Security Council expressed the hope that all communities in the area will embrace the opportunities offered by the improved security situation to make sustained moves for peace and harmony.
“Speaking at the meeting, Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, tasked security agencies to maintain the tempo by ensuring security of life and property throughout the state.
“The security council meeting, which was chaired by El-Rufai, had in attendance, Commander 1 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen Ismaila Isa, Commander 453 Base Services Group, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Idi Amin, Representative of the Commandant, Nigerian Navy School of Armament, Capt SM Ochidi, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Agyole Abeh, Director DSS, Tijjani Mohammed Wakil and heads of other security agencies.”
Mr. Shehu Sani, Senator Representing Kaduna Central District
By Amos Tauna In solidarity with the plight of Nigerian workers, Senator Shehu Sani, lamented that the workers earned below their input in view of the socio-economic and political stability of Nigeria.
The Senator made this assertion during the 2017 Worker’s Day Celebration at the Nigerian Union Teachers, NUT Secretariat in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria on Monday, said that Worker’s Day Celebration was a day set aside to appreciate the contribution of the workforce to the social and economic development of the entire world.
“On this day, we assembled and gathered to reaffirm our commitment to the struggle for the betterment of our country, the struggle for all Nigerian workers, irrespective of where they are.
“The working class don’t just represent workers, but they represent the downtrodden, the weak, the oppressed, the maginalised and the voiceless.
“The working class has always championed the struggle for freedom, liberty of thier members globally. They have always become a strong tool for socio-economic and political change.
“Nigerian workers are always at the forefront for the struggle of democracy, they are always in the front role agitating for good governance but have not been appreciated by the politicial ruling class. The worker suffered to build this country, to strengthen the economy of Nigeria, but there is no commiserate renumeration for them.
“N18,000, minimum wage is an insult , there is no security man in the house of a politician that earn below N18, 000 . There is no dog in the house of a politician that is fed with N18,000 in a month.
“I think it is high time the Nigerian workers should base their minimum wage in dollar terms, stop saying N56 , 000 naira minimum wage, say $3, 000 dollars minimum wage . $300 dollar minimum wage is over one hundred and forty thousand naira.
“It is unfair for a nation that can afford to sustain a political class from the councillors, Local government chairmen, State governors , State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senators to the Presidency, but can not afford to pay workers as at when due.
“I believe this is the time to tell ourselves the truth, despite the million of dollars made by this country everyday. It is shame on us that we can not take care of our workers.
“I have said it continuously and consistently that there is no elected official that is not well paid. There is non. Member of the state and National Assembly are adequately paid. Some payment are disclosed and some are not buy the workers have no problem in disclosing their pay slip, but the politicians have problem in doing so.
“But I believe on a day like this, is a day to confirm to ourselves that the only way for Nigerian workers is that the struggle continues . We must revoke our laws to give respect and dignity to our workers.
“It is wrong, so many things are wrong with our country. Our country is sick. The amount of money spent to sustain public officials is too much. We don’t need 36 States, 36 Ministers, we don’t need 109 Senator, we don’t need over 360 House of Representatives , we don’t need all those things here.
“There is the need to cut cost, and use the remaining of the money to pay workers. This is what is necessary, the amount of money politicians spend during election is ten times higher than the money that is used to pay the whole of Nigerians workers.
Senator Shehu Sani commended the level of courage been established by the Labour leader in Kaduna State, adding that they should remain firm, resolute and dedicated to always defend the interest of the workers.
Speaking further he says: “We are from the APC, the P there is for progressives, any person that call himself a prograsive and who is opposed to the workers, and is opposed to the increase of minimum wage is not a genuine progressive.”
He called on the Labour leaders to resist all intimidations and any form of harassment.
“Government comes and go, but Nigerian workers will still remain there. It is time for you workers to start seeking political offices, you must move beyond the box of labours activities. We need politicians that are grounded with ideology, ideal and ideas.
”We need a political party that is based on defending the interest of people. Anyone who knows me here can tell you that am not a politician, am an activitist.”
Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, in Kaduna, northwest of the country demonstrated against alleged recent chat governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai had with Channels TV, (Hard Copy), lamented governor El-Rufai’s attempts to blackmail the Islamic Movement of Nigeria and it leadership as one of the worst crime ever committed against humanity.
In a written document issued by Safe Zakzaky’s Life Group of Nigeria on Tuesday, on ‘Re: On The Status of Shi’ites in Kaduna State’ said, “Governor El-Rufai during the chat made this shocking revelation that the act of genocide was not an accident but a calculated plan.”
According to the written document that El-Rufai said, “Before we took the action we took, we study Boko Haram, we study Galtimari report, we know the difference between Boko Haram, the revolution of Boko Haram and this movement.”
The document explained, “It is crystal clear from this statement that the so often referred to blockade of the Chief of Army Staff convoy and the unsubstantiated attempt on the life of Chief of Army Staff wete mere smoke screen.
“Governor El-Rufai and his patners in crime planned their action covertly before the 15-16 December, 2015 massacre in Zaria, those in doubt should watch the video please. This is enough to confirm the truth that the attack was a deliberate attempt to cleanse members of the IMN without any due process of law. The government of Kaduna State also publicly confessed to have partake in the burial of 347 innocent people in a mass grave jointly with the Nigerian Army in addition to demolition of legal structure and discretion of grave yards.
“A sadist governor and his government are not worth discoursing but for the fact that information determines any just decision a normal, reasonable and responsible individual will take in such an important issue as genocide, we shall discourse two or more allegations raised by the self styled super governor, a fascist in a democratic camouflage, governor El-Rufai accused IMN as a group that they do not recognize constitutional authorities with emphasis on himself not been recognized as the bi boss in Kaduna State.
“For the information of the generalpublic, members of IMN have many of their organizations which includes schools, health and other charity organizations are all registered under the Cooperate Affairs Commission, theirmbers work with federal, state, local government and all branches of the Nigerian security forces. Among them are professors, University lecturers, students of public Universities, Secondary schools, Primary schools and most importantly they carry Nigeria Passport as a National Identity, how on earth can the above facts be reconcile with the fabrication of our excellent liar, we advise that His Excellent liar should be educated on his difference between recognition and belief.
“On allegiance to foreign country, here again the ar4ogant in power who is suppose to be learned personnel in international relations is again ridiculing himself and the nation by expressing his ignorance of what is suppose to be a common knowledge, it is crystal clear that all religious organization are affiliated to one forieng sister organization or the other, we know that Catholic Church all ober the world are alien to their headquarters in Vatican, in Italy the Anglicans are alien to the Xhirxh of England, the Muslims (Tarikatul Tijjaniya) to Morocco, the Qadiriyya to Iraq, the violent extremist Wahabist Salafist to Saudin Arabia. How do you expect the IMN to be different or simply because they have their National Headquarters in your state? If there is anything other than this normal tradition relationship between I, N and any other country we challenge you to produce your evidence if you are truthful.
“On Islamization of the country, it is common sense and common knowledge that the wish of any well meaning and serious preacher is to win the heart and trust of people and convince them to convert to his belief because he beliebes it will guarsnty peace on earth and eternity. A Jahovah witness who preach from house to house only desire that we all become Jehovan witnesses, the same with any other religious movement, the IMN is not exception to this rule.
“Our common identy is that we are all human beings regardless of our ethnic, religioudiffetences and if we are to remain a civilised race all act of impunity by whosoever must be brought to book. We must all ensure that governor El-Rufai and all those involved in Zaria genocide are punished accordingly as soon as possible, Justice delayed is Justice denied.
“On his unethnical remarks, “l know tje Animal am dealing with” the general public should be the judge, between an elected Executive Governor who orchestrated the murder of one thousand unarmed citizens within 48 hours including three biological sons of whom he so called the animal, he vandalized properties worth billions, descrate graves, he was officially repredented in an unlawful mass burial and incontrast to a sholar with million of followers eho called for restrain in the face of all these act of provocation just to thwart another effort of vampires to extend the killing spree in the country. I ask you who is the animal and who is the saint?”
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has said that with the present economic recession Nigeria is faced with, it has one of the lowest life expectancies in the world.
Nigeria Labour Congress also revealed that Nigeria was graphically captured in the recently released 2016 ranking of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)and Human Development with the Index showing that Nigeria was ranked 152nd out of 188 countries.
This was revealed during the 2017 Worker’s Day Celebration at the Nigerian Union of Teachers NUT Secretariat in Kaduna, northwest of Nigeria on Monday, in a paper presented by the National President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba.
Represented by the Kaduna State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Adamu Ango, the National President said that with average life expectancy of 54.5 years, Nigeria has one of the lowest life expectancies in the world, adding that Nigeria was ahead of just 8 other countries.
He stressed, ”In the area of infant and maternal health, the United Nations Children’s Emergency fund, UNICEF, found that every single day, Nigeria losses about 2,300 children under five and 145 women of child bearing age.
“This makes our country the second largest contributor to the under – five and maternal mortality in the world.”
While speaking on the recession, he said that the on-going recession had affected and provoked all manners of reaction and responses from various sectors of the economy including organised Labour.
“The change is more of negative than positive, as pensioners are dying in thier respective homes due to failure of government to pay them as at when due. “Our educational sector has continued to decline as a result of poor funding and crisis caused by government’s penchant for not honoring collective agreement.
“It is a well-known fact that our Healthcare delivery system in the country is in a state of shambles. Poor funding by all tiers of government and corruption in the Healthcare system are some of the reasons responsible for the state of things.
“In the last 12 months, we have witnessed serious deterioration in the administration of pension in the country,” he lamented.
By Winifred Bulus
