U.S. Embassy in Nigeria Receives 220,000 Visa Applications, Approves 143,000 Read more

The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate in Lagos received more than 220,000 non-immigrant visa applications between October 1st, 2013 and September 30th, 2014

The Consular Chief of the embassy, Stacie Hankins, disclosed this while responding to questions from newsmen on the new visa procedures on Tuesday in Abuja.

Hankins said that the figure represented an increase of about 38,000 visa applications when compared with the 182,000 applications in the previous year.

“Between Oct. 1, 2012 and Sept. 30, 2013, the embassy in Abuja and consulate in Lagos received more than 182,000 non-immigrant visa applications, the majority of which were approved.

“Between Oct. 1, 2013 and Sept. 30, 2014, we received more than 220,000 applications.

“Again, the majority of those applications were approved.

“We hope that Nigerians’ desire to visit our beautiful country will continue to grow.

“And we look forward to working with our partners to allow qualified tourists and business travellers to do so,” she said.

According to her, the Consulate in Lagos received 15, 500 immigrant visa applications between Oct. 1, 2014 and Sept. 30, 2014, out of which 4, 900 applications were approved.

Hankins said that there had been increase in the visa application received by the embassy over the last five years.

She added that there was no limit to the visa application the embassy could receive and approve.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the consular official explained that the U.S.-Nigeria partnership remained strong.

According to her, the Bureau of Consular Affairs supports that partnership by facilitating “legitimate travel” to the U.S.

NAN reports that the new visa procedures require all potential non-immigrant visa applicants to include the correct confirmation number from their DS-160 online application form when making an interview appointment.

Hankins also announced the opening of the new DHL Document Collection Centre in Port Harcourt.

According to her, the embassy believes that the change will make application processing faster and more efficient.

“Passport collection via the centre in Port Harcourt will take one additional day.

“Individuals whose visa applications are approved can expect their passports within four days.

“Drop box applicants can expect their passports within seven to 10 days,” she said.

NAN reports that the drop box allows certain visa applicants who have previously been issued U.S. visas to renew them without attending an interview.

Photo Credit: Superbo/Dreamstime.com

How do You Get Dressed in the Morning? See the “Unique” Way Rihanna Does it!

Rihanna is definitely one star who is unapologetic about boundaries.

We got a peek into what it’s like for the pop star dressing up in the morning (without the glam squad and the works), when it’s just her and her girls really – and unsurprisingly, getting dressed for the Bajan singer means having a blunt close by. 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Least Influential People of 2014′ – GQ Magazine lists President Obama, Dwyane Wade, Robin Thicke and More

It’s not only Donald Trump that is coming for America’s President Barack Obama (click here if you missed it). According to GQ magazine, President Obama is one of the least influential people for 2014.

The magazine listed 30 people for 2014 and described their list as this, ‘Another year, another round of people who took up vast clouds of oxygen, gave us nothing back of use, and probably helped accelerate the death of our planet. Here they are, in no particular order, although you’ll probably assume we ranked them anyway, because most of you probably skipped this part’

On the list there – Bono, U2, Shia LaBeouf, President Obama, Woody Allen, Donald Sterling, Carters Bays, Craig Thomas, Zach Braff, Roger Goodell, Stephan A. Smith, Dwyane Wade, CNN, Derek Jeter, Jay Nixon, Eric Cantor, Rick Perry, Johnny Depp, Benny Johnson, the Brazilian soccer team, Cliven Bundy, Suey Park, Tom Wheeler, Chris Christie, John McCain, Robin Thicke, the Secret Service, Sarah Palin, Dinesh D’Souza, Desmond Hague, Mary Barra and Cops.

Check out how each person is described here.

He was a Tall, Dark & Handsome Christian Man – First Lady Patience Jonathan on Falling in Love with the President.Read more

Awww how sweet! First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan recently shared the secret to her maintaining her 21-year marriage to her husband, President Goodluck Jonathan, and the qualities that first made her fall in love with him.

During an interview with City People, Dame Patience revealed that she first met the love of her life while she was a student at Rivers state College of Education where she was pursuing her Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE) and B.Ed, and he was a lecturer at the college’s Department of Biological Sciences.

Here are some excerpts:

On the qualities that first attracted her to Goodluck Jonathan

“My first impression of him was of a tall, dark, handsome young man. I also found that he came from a good Christian home just like I did. His humble and gentle disposition caught my attention and most importantly, his intelligence.”

On the secret to sustaining her 21-year marriage

“Both of us are from Christian homes and our complete trust is in Jesus Christ. We pray together as a family every morning. What keeps us together is that we are each others best friends and soul-mate. We discuss everything that comes up and advice each other accordingly. We depend on each other. We do not let the sun set on our grievances.”

The article also reveals how President Jonathan became attracted to his wife:

…Of his students, a young beautiful light-complexioned lady caught his (Goodluck) eyes. What further drew him to Patience then was that her native Okrika name Ebifaka, shortened as ‘Faka’ was same as that of his field assistant, Faka who usually brought him crab specimens from the riverine Okrika (in Rivers State) for his M.Sc. thesis. Patience’s physical attributes weren’t the only traits that endeared Jonathan to him. She was studious as a student and was conscientious in her academic work.

The couple has 4 children: A son Arewera Adolphus, Daughters Aruabi and Abayola and Faith Sakwe-Edwards, their foster daughter who had got married in April.

3yrs Old son shot her Mother at their home in Oklahoma.See Photo

26 year old Crista Engles (pictured above) was accidentally shot dead by her 3 year old son at their home as she was attending to her 1 year old daughter.

According NBC News, the little boy shot and killed his mother after finding a loaded semi-automatic handgun in their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma yesterday November 25th.

The woman's mother who also lives in the house, but wasn't present when the horrible accident occurred, came home and found the 3 year old and 1 year old covered in blood and crying, this is according to Tulsa police. She found her daughter unresponsive beside her children and thought she'd been killed by an intruder. She immediately called the police.


But while investigating, the police found out that the boy had found the gun under a sofa in the living room and had accidentally fired it. Unfortunately his mum was in the line of fire. Police said when they visited the home, they found a lot of guns there. The woman's husband wasn't home when the incident occurred.

Touchdown SA! Lynxxx, Patoranking, Stephanie Coker, Van Vicker & More Stars Arrive in South Africa for #CHOAMVA

It’s going to be a long weekend in South Africa as a lot of celebrities will be heading over there for the Channel O Africa Music Video awards as well as other commitments – like media personality Stephanie Coker’s birthday plans.

Lynxxx, Patoranking, Stephanie Coker, Van Vicker, Banky W, Iceberg Slim, Adams VJ, Lola OJ, DJ Obi and more arrived in South Africa this morning and it definitely looks like it is going to be a whole lot of fun.

But not to worry, EO will 

surely keep you updated.

Photo Credit: Instagram

Picture: Khloe Kardashian Show Naked butt When jogging This Morning.See more

 

Khloe Kardashian was seen early this morning when jogging arround...her butt wass seen through leggings...

Fake Suicide Bomber Arrested in Kano...See What Happen.

A fake female suicide bomber was arrested in Kano State yesterday.

According to Global Village Extra, the middle-aged woman who had a Burqa on, was seen approaching Kwali Police Division around noon yesterday. When the police guards attempted to stop her for questioning, she refused, and to be stopped. She then said ” “I am ready to die. But mark you, there are two others at large in the city.”

She was then taken into police custody, and it was discovered that “the woman had covered herself with used pomade containers and sundry harmless objects,” states the report.

Pay me back my N5.5 Million – Ex Abia Governor Orji Kalu Tells PDP. Read more

Former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu is asking PDP to refund the N5.5 million he paid for the expression of interest and nomination forms for the party’s Abia North Senatorial District ticket.

He is demanding a refund because according to him, current Abia State governor, Theodore Orji, is planning to handpick PDP aspirants in the state, and so he has decided not to contest, Y Naija reports.

Kalu expressed his displeasure via letter addressed to PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

Here are excerpts from the letter:

…Along the line, however, it became apparent that the Abia State Governor, Chief T.A Orji wants to hand-pick all candidates, both into executive and legislative position. He wants to choose his own successor, fill the 24 House of Assembly seats, the eight federal constituencies and the three senatorial seats.

Governor Orji knew ahead of time that he had a candidate in mind but deliberately allowed eminent Abia citizens, like Dr. Alex Otti, the Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank, to resign from his lofty position, when he should have advised him to remain there…

…Since I was not screened and neither did I go through any of the stipulated processes that lead to the emergence of candidates, I hereby also ask the party, as a measure of honour and good faith, to refund the nomination fees I paid. I will use the money to further empower my constituents in many other ways.

Donald Trump says because of how 'poorly' Obama has done as president, US won't see a black president for generations

He tweeted this while sharing his thoughts on the Ferguson mayhem. But here's what Trump forgets, history will remember Barack Obama for generations. Trump's generation will read and study Obama in school five hundred years from now. Obama is history. Obama is phenomenal. Obama is legend.

 See Trump's full tweets after the cut...

Halle Berry Fight Gabriel Aubry of trying to turn their daughter white

Halle Berry took her baby daddy Gabriel Aubry to court, claiming he's trying to make their 6yr old daughter white. In court documents, Halle said Aubry was straightening and lightening Nahla's naturally-curly hair in an effort to make her appear less Black.

According to TMZ, a judge has ordered Gabriel to stop what he's doing with Nahla's hair. He ruled that neither Halle nor Gabriel could change Nahla's look from its natural state moving forward. The judge is allowing Nahla's hair to grow back naturally.

OMG...Kris Jenner forbids Kim from divorcing Kanye West.Read More

Some of these foreign media outlets have no chill at all, they keep writing that Kim and Kanye's marriage is crumbling. Radar Online now claims Kris Jenner has forbidden Kim from divorcing Kanye over fears another divorce could ruin her career. The report below...

As Kim Kardashian’s marriage to Kanye West crumbles, RadarOnline.com has learned that her momager Kris Jenner hasn’t exactly been a sympathetic ear. According to insiders, she’s forbidden her daughter to divorce the rapper, telling her she needs to keep her fame in focus and avoid another divorce debacle like she had with Kris Humphries!

“Kim told her mom that she and Kanye are arguing and Kris said that she better fix it because her career won’t survive another divorce,” an insider told Radar. “It was kinda of 

threat. Kim’s career is on top now and she doesn’t want her to screw it up.”

But despite Jenner’s best intentions to help her daughter avoid going through that again, the source said the momager is really part of the problem between Kardashian and her man.

“Kanye wanted to take over more of Kim’s career when they got married and he’s started doing that, but Kris won’t allow him to have 100 percent control,” the insider said. “She wants control and so does he, because he’s thinks of himself as a visionary and feels like he sees things differently than Kris.”

Summed up the source, “Kanye and Kris don’t see eye to eye.”    

   

CBN devalues Naira, exchange rate @N168 to a dollar.Read more...

e


Following the dwindling oil price in international market, the Central Bank of Nigeria today announced the devaluation of the Naira, pegging the Dollar to Naira exchange rate at N168 to a dollar as against the N155 it was previously.

Announcing the new exchange rate at the apex bank's Monetary Policy Committee meeting in Abuja, the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele said the devaluation of the Naira against the dollar is to strengthen the Nigerian currency in the face of the falling international oil price. He called on the Federal government and the National Assembly to speed up the process towards the immediate passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, which has been pending passage for the past two years.

 

OMG...An Inside Look At Lekki British School In Nigeria (PICYURES).A Must See

The school is internal standard...
                                         

 


 



 



 



            

US embassy ruins Okagbare’s honeymoon>>>Read More and Photos

The US embassy in Abuja has rocked the boat for African sprint queen, Blessing Okagbare who recently got married to her heart-throb Igho Otegheri.
Blessing Okabere crying
Blessing Okabere crying
Okagbare and her footballer husband, planned to travel to Los Angeles where the double sprint 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist is based. But Otegheri was denied a visa, something that left Okagbare distraught and confused. Okagbare trains with American coach, John Smith in Los Angles and was hoping that her husband who won four caps with the Super Eagles will be around at her weakest moments. Okabgare is billed to resume training for the next years World Championships in Beijing China.
“I feel so bad that America Embassy would turn down the visa request by my husband to travel with me to Los Angeles.
“I have resumed training for the season and I have to go back to my base (Los Angeles) with my husband so that I can concentrate.
“I have sent copies of my documents, including my Resident Permit in Los Angeles to them so as to facilitate my husband’s traveling with me to the States, but they refused. Help me appeal to them to grant him visa because it won’t be easy for me to shuttle between Nigeria and the States every time.
“I have to concentrate on my training and the only way to do so is to have my husband with me in the States. I have been so sad since my husband returned from Abuja with this bad news. They have to do something about it,” she lamented


 
 

Omotola, Genevieve Shame on Haters...SEE WHAT BOTH OF THEM ARE DOING RECENTLY...Read More

For those who thought the lead stars of Nigeria’s highest grossing movie, Ije:The Journey, Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde and Genevieve Nnaji, are not best of friends, they need to bury their heads in shame as the two stars had a good time together in Calabar, last weekend.
Genevieve, Omotola
Genevieve, Omotola
They were in Calabar for the closing ceremony of this year’s Africa International Film Festival, AFRIFF, and it was a reunion of sorts for them after their last meeting on the set of Ije: The Journey. Bubbling with life, Omotola and Genevieve who were present for the screening of the last movie, Hard to Get, joined CEO of Ebonylife TV, Mo Abdul and the entire Ebonylife family to pay their last respect to their late Head of Programming, Pamela Ofoegbu, who passed away recently.
This was followed by a candlelight procession in honour of the deceased. The procession, led by Fuji House of Common stars, Chika Chukwu, Chineze Anyaene, and the CEO of AFRIFF, Ms. Chioma Ude, kicked off from Tinapa and terminated at Ebonylife TV studios within the complex.
Present during the procession, which witnessed a short service were Rita Dominic, Kalu Ikeagwu, Chelsea Eze, Kemi Lala Akindoju, Beverly Naya, Linda Ejiofor, Andy Amenechi, among others. Pamela Ofoegbu was until her demise, the Head of Programming and Director of Reality Programming, Ebonylife TV.