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Twitter dumps Nigeria —–sites African operations headquarters in Ghana

The Internet giant, Twitter, has chosen Ghana ahead of Nigeria as the headquarters of its African operations.

The preference for Ghana was despite the over 2.5 million users of Twitter in Nigeria, which is about the third-largest in the continent after Egypt and South Africa.

The Twitter Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Jack Dorsey, confirmed this on Monday, saying, “Twitter is now present on the continent. Thank you, Ghana, and Nana Akufo Addo.”

“The choice of Ghana as Headquarters for Twitter’s Africa operations is excellent news. The government and Ghana welcome very much this announcement and the confidence reposed in our country,” Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo also tweeted on Monday.

In a release, Twitter reinstated that its mission is to serve the public conversation, and it’s essential, for the world and for Twitter, to increase the number of people who feel comfortable participating in it.

It said, “Today, in line with our growth strategy, we’re excited to announce that we are now actively building a team in Ghana.

“To truly serve the public conversation, we must be more immersed in the rich and vibrant communities that drive the conversations taking place every day across the African continent.

“As a champion for democracy, Ghana is a supporter of free speech, online freedom, and the Open Internet, of which Twitter is also an advocate.

Furthermore, Ghana’s recent appointment to host The Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area aligns with our overarching goal to establish a presence in the region that will support our efforts to improve and tailor our service across Africa.

“Whenever we enter new markets, we work hard to ensure that we are not just investing in the talent that we hire, but also investing in local communities and the social fabric that supports them.

“We have already laid foundations through partnerships with Amref Health Africa in Kenya, Afrochella in Ghana, Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) in Nigeria, and The HackLab Foundation in Ghana

” As part of our long-term commitment to the region, we’ll continue to explore compelling ways we can use the positive power of Twitter to strengthen our communities through employee engagement, platform activation, and corporate giving.

“We still have much to learn but we are excited to listen, learn, and engage. Public conversation is essential to solving problems, building shared ideas, and pushing us all forward together. We can’t wait for the next step on that journey.”

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Implementation and Disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund

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Five passengers of crashed off- shore helicopter still missing as search and rescue operators pull out wreckage from Atlantic Ocean

—- NIMASA pledges to update IMO on recovery efforts

Funso OLOJO

Over two weeks after the ill- fated helicopter on off- shore contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited(NNPCL) crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, the bodies of three out of the eight passengers on board have so far been recovered.

On 24th of October 2024, about 11:22am, the Helicopter with registration number 5NBQG, engaged by NNPC Limited, took off from Port Harcourt NAF Base en route the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN.

But it lost contact with the base and later found to have crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.

The helicopter was operated by East Winds Aviation.

According to the NNPCL,there were eight persons on board (six passengers and two crew members).

However, recovery efforts coordinated by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA) has produced the wreckage of the ill- fated Chopper.

According to the agency, the Flight Data Recorder (FDR)and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)otherwise called the black box, was recovered at weekend through an inter-Agency collaboration involving NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau NSIB, the NNPC, HydroDive and other local and international search and rescue partners.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola has however pledge that the agency will update the International Maritime Organisation(IMO) on the recovery efforts on the crashed helicopter.

Mobereola, while commenting on the incident, commended all organs of government for the swift, and well-coordinated inter Agency partnership for the search and recovery operations.

He noted that NIMASA will share information on the incident with the International Maritime Organization.

“In line with international maritime safety standards, NIMASA will report the findings about the helicopter crash into the Atlantic Ocean to the International Maritime Organization( IMO) via the Global Integrated Shipping Information System( GISIS).

” By sharing the findings of the offshore Port Harcourt helicopter crash with the IMO, we at NIMASA demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and cooperation within the global maritime community”.

The Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) is an online platform developed by the IMO to support the timely and accurate reporting of incidents, accidents, and other essential maritime data.

This platform enables member states to share information crucial to improving safety protocols, updating best practices, and fostering international cooperation.

According to Mobereola, “NIMASA is committed to working closely with all relevant Agencies to determine the cause of the incident and to take all necessary steps to prevent future occurrences.

“As we mourn those lost, NIMASA reaffirms its dedication to the safety of Nigeria’s maritime domain and the continued strengthening of inter-agency collaboration.

On October 24th 2024, the Agency had received distress signals at the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, (MRCC) and the C4i center of the Deep Blue project and shared same with the Nigerian Navy who immediately deployed NIMASA’s specialized Search and rescue assets to the crash site to locate the downed aircraft and conduct recovery efforts under challenging conditions.

The helicopter crashed in the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, at a distance of 1.4km from the starboard side of the Floating Producing Storage Offloading FPSO, NUIM ANTAN Producing Ltd owned by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Limited.

NIMASA working closely with the Nigerian Navy, The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the NNPC, HydroDive and other local and international search and rescue partners, recovered the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter.

With the recovery of the black box, over 80% of the helicopter wreck had been recovered.

Other items recovered include rotor,3 blades, engine, gearbox, windows, cockpit overhead panels, the Electronic Locator, Transmitter (ELT) and the tail.

All the recovered wreck is on a dump barge.

Meanwhile, the DG NIMASA has extended the Agency’s heartfelt condolences to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, the families of the victims, and all those affected by the tragic helicopter crash.

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, stated, “Our deepest sympathies are with the NNPC, the families, and loved ones of those affected by this unfortunate incident.

” Safety is a paramount commitment for us at NIMASA, and we remain resolute in our partnership with the Nigerian Navy and other stakeholders to ensure effective, rapid response in emergencies.”

Headlines

Bello, Ex Kogi gov.,shuns court proceedings as EFCC seeks his trial in absentia

The Eyewitness Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC)on Wednesday October 30, 2024 asked Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, to proceed with the trial of a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in absentia, arguing that his non-appearance in court for arraignment should not be allowed to frustrate his trial.

The EFCC through its lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, also urged the court to enter a plea of “not guilty” on behalf of Bello.

Bello is facing trial on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.2billion.

The court had summoned him for arraignment six consecutive times.

Pinheiro told the court that the former governor’s refusal to appear for his arraignment was malicious and that the court should not demonstrate helplessness by not trying him in absentia.

“A court can never demonstrate helplessness. That would be an indication of anarchy and society is based on the rule of law.

“The court demonstrating helplessness will negate the basis of the rule of law,” he said.

Arguing further, the EFCC’s counsel reminded the court that a defendant’s refusal to engage the court’s processes should not frustrate his trial, maintaining that justice is a three-way mechanism.

“A criminal trial must not be held hostage, truncated or frustrated by a defendant’s refusal to engage the process.

“Justice is a three-way street: justice to the defendant, justice to the prosecution who has assembled witnesses and justice to the society”.

Earlier in his submissions, he urged the court to enter a not guilty plea for Bello to pave the way for his trial contending that under Section 276 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, a defendant’s physical presence in court is not an absolute requirement for arraignment.

“The right to plead guilty or not guilty is a right that can be waived by the defendant,” adding that Bello’s absence should not impede the case.

“My first application is to formally enter a plea of not guilty to the defendant, even in his absence.

“The second point is, notwithstanding his physical absence, trial can proceed. What prejudice will the defendant suffer if my lord enters a plea of guilty or not guilty in his absence?

” Even if he was in court and pleaded not guilty, the situation would still be the same.

“The entry of a plea of not guilty by your lordship is an invitation to the prosecution to come and prove the veracity of the allegations”, he said.

In response, counsel for the defendant, Michael Adoyi, opposed the prosecution’s motion, citing a previous court order requiring the defendant’s presence before any applications could be entertained.

He emphasized that the application was contrary to the court’s directive issued earlier.

“Our first point of response to the application made by the learned senior counsel to the complainant is that the application is made contrary to the subsisting order of this honourable court, even made this morning, that no application can be entertained by this court in the absence of the arraignment of the defendant,” he said.

Pinheiro rebutted Adoyi’s argument, urging the court to reject the defence’s position and proceed with the plea entry, assuring that it would not infringe on the defendant’s rights or affect the trial’s fairness.

Justice Nwite, after listening to both parties, noted that a ruling on the matter may not be possible within the current year due to court schedules.

“It may not be possible to deliver this ruling this year”

Pinheiro then proposed that the matter be adjourned for ruling and arraignment, which Justice Nwite granted, adjourning the case until January 21, 2025.