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Nigeria marks 48th independence anniversary

Nigerian Ambassador
Desmond Akawor
On this joyous occasion of the 48th anniversary of independence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish to congratulate all Nigerians on another year of celebrating our freedom and liberty as a sovereign nation from Britain on Oct.I, 1960.Let me seize this opportunity to
extend to you the best wishes of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua of the Federal Republic of NigeriaThe government of President Yar'Adua has taken many initiatives which indicate a renewed hope in NigeriaThe President has initiated a platform for electoral reforms, respect for the rules of law, due process, equal opportunities for all, peace and reconciliation in the Niger Delta. These initiatives are to build a steady future for Nigeria at home and in Diaspora. I called on all Nigerians to soberly reflect on our yesterday and ponder on a course for a better tomorrow. We should work together to restore the cherished value of dignity, diligence, honesty, decency, transparency and accountability.Our bilateral relations with Korea continue to be cordial and friendly. There is encouraging growth in economic, political and cultural interactions. The volume of trade between the two countries now stands at $2.4 million. Korea's companies Daewoo Engineering & Construction, Korea National Oil Corporation, Korea Electricity Power Corporation, Pohang Steel Company, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, SK-Energy, KOGAS and others continue to venture into the Nigerian economy. It is hoped that our bilateral relations will continue to grow and expand toward our mutual benefits.
Nigeria's Independence Day - Nigerian Ambassador Desmond Akawor (center) poses with Vice Minister of Knowledge Economy Lee Jae-hoon (right) and Jung Hae-jung, president of M.K. International Inc. and chairman of the Korea-Nigerian Association of Businessmen, during a reception on Wednesday to celebrate Nigeria's 48th Independence Day.

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(H.E. H. Odein Ajumogobia)

Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Henry Odein Ajumogobia (SAN) will visit the Republic of Korea from August 23rd to 25th, 2010. During the time, Korea Chambers of Commerce and Industry will organize a seminar on Investment Opportunities in Nigeria in Oil, Gas, Solid Minerals and Infrastructure development.


On 31st may, 2005, Hyundai Havey Industries company Limited delivered to the Bonny Gas transport Limited, a wholly owned shipping subsidiary of Nigeria Liquefied Natural gas (LNG) Company Limited. The 11th LNG Vessel, the S. S .LNG ADAMAWA at the Hyumdai Shippyard, Ubsan South Korea at colourful ceremony

Picture above taken aboard the Vessel during the tape-cutting ceremony shows 3rd from left Ambassador Abba A. Tijjani, Nigeria's Ambassador to South Korea: his wife Mrs. Maimuna Tijjani: Alhaji Mohammed S.Barkindo, Deputy Managing Director / CEO of Nigeria LNG Ltd: Mrs Zainab Boni Haruna, wife of the Governor of Adamawa State and Sponsor of the event

ANTI-GRAFT BODY REMOVES NIGERIA FROM 'BAD' BOOK
Published: Sunday, 25 June, 2006, 10:27 AM Doha Time

ABUJA: President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday welcomed the removal of Nigeria from the International Financial Task Force (FATF) list of non-co-operating countries in the fight against money laundering. The international anti-corruption body announced in Paris on Friday it had removed Nigeria from a list of countries that do not co-operate in the fight against money laundering. Obasanjo said the move would boost the country's international profile, months after Nigeria settled its debts with the Paris Club. "Nigerians will now find it easier to transact business with foreign partners as existing restrictions on their ability to engage in financial transactions outside the country will be removed," he said. Obasanjo commended members of the inter-agency committee who crafted the national anti-money laundering strategy and worked with the FAFT to ensure that Nigeria met its criteria for removal from the list. "Nigeria was removed from the list of countries and territories that are non-co-operative in the international community's efforts to fight money laundering," FATF had announced in Paris. "It now has an operational financial intelligence unit and has taken steps at the highest levels to fight corruption," it said, adding that "the FATF will continue to monitor the situation of Nigeria over the next year." The 33-member FATF is an inter-governmental body that aims to develop and promote policies to counter money-laundering and terrorist financing.

 
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VISIT OF NIGERIAN ENVOY TO DETAINED NIGERIANS AT THE HWASEONG
IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER, REPUBLIC OF KOREA

        As part of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s foreign policy objective on citizen diplomacy to oversee the welfare of its citizens both at home and abroad, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Desmond Akawor who assumed office at the Mission in April last year, visited fourteen Nigerians detained at Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center, awaiting deportation back to Nigeria on Friday, March 20, 2009.
        The Embassy’s delegation met with the Chief Officer of the Centre, Mr. Son, Jong Ha as well as the fourteen detained Nigerians who were living illegally in South Korea but have not committed any criminal act. Ambassador Akawor stated that the experiences from most developing nations like Nigeria who are most hit by the global economic meltdown were forced to flee their countries of origin for greener pastures but failed to adhere strictly to the immigration policy on their visa status. Akawor therefore appealed for mutual understanding from the Korean government who have equally experienced similar circumstance during the 1997, Korea economic crisis and promised to sensitize Nigerians back home who intend to travel to the Republic of Korea to desist from living beyond the stipulated timeframe on their visa.
        Ambassador Akawor said Nigeria remains an important trading partner to South Korea with a total amount of $2,645,417.000 volume of trade of recorded in 2008 and between 150-200 visas granted daily. He added that, 1,661 Business Visas, 2475(STR) Subject to Regularization, 421 Temporary Work Permit, 137 Tourist Visas, and 93 diplomatic visas were also granted to Korean national in 2008. Despite the negative perception on Nigeria, there has been a steady increase in the number of application for Nigerian visa to South Korean nationals applying for entry permits to come and work in the country. Ambassador Akawor commended the government of the Republic of Korea as a good host to Nigerians living in South Korea.
        During his one on one interaction with the detainees, Amb. Akawor informed them that they were victims of circumstance as they did not commit any serious crime. He admitted that it was due to some economic crises back home that made them to live illegally in Korea. He also informed then that though illegal, they contributed to the growth of the Korean economy and should not consider their deportation as the end of their lives and stated that only the ones who lived could plan for the future.
        It would be recalled that the Embassy has been in contact with the host authority to sign an MOU between the two countries with regards to labor agreement to enable Nigerians work without fear or molestation in the Republic of Korea like other countries that has similar labor permit for employment.
         Finally, Ambassador Akawor was informed that the host immigration authorities treated then without discrimination and noted that out of the fourteen Nigerians awaiting deportation, two of them were unable to afford a return ticket back home. To this end, he had no option than to pay for their flight tickets to enable them exit Korea, having been detained for almost two months. Their response was wonderful as most of the detainees expressed satisfaction that the government of Nigeria was showing interest in their plight and had not abandoned them.