The Voice mgaazine

ISSN:2588-8807

ISSN:1571-3466

Motto: Actuated towards Africa’s advancement

Volume 21. NO. 190. January 2020

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com www.thenigerianvoice.com

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

First complete African magazine published in The Netherlands since August 1999

Dr. Fatou Ceesay applauds Diasporans

French backed currency for Africa is outdated - President Obiang Mbasogo

HAPPY 2020 TO YOU ALL www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

1

2

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

3

Living positive

Who is Lucy Wanjiku Njenga?

• Founding Coordinator of Sauti Skika, the first network of adolescent living with HIV in Kenya.

• Founder and team leader of Positive Young Women Voices, a grassroot community based organization that works to empower adolescent girls and young women living with or affected by HIV. • African Delegate in the UNAIDS NGO Delegation to the PCB. • Alternate Board Member in the CCM

Lucy

My Circle, My Tribe The other day I had a conversation with a friend from the UK about how our parents took our diagnosis. She was diagnosed in the 90s, so she took her time until there was treatment for her to share her diagnoses with her parents. For me I went public before I could tell them about my HIV status.

One Sunday afternoon, I called for a family meeting, something we never do, to tell them. They had no idea why my son had died and I was exhausted of keeping the tormenting secret when it would probably change the life of a girl like me to make better decisions and have more informed choices.

No one knew how to react to it. I knew I didn’t. I was scared stiff what all this meant for me and my life. And we rarely discussed it. I think it is how we all deal, no one gets uncomfortable and if they have questions they know they can ask. The first time my mum saw me on TV she called me and cried because she could not believe people would now be talking of her daughter who has ‘Ukwimi’ (HIV/AIDS in Swahili). She was scared I would now be called ‘Malaya’ (prostitute as it’s widely referred and not sex worker).

Honestly, this was the last thing on my list.

Would I still have friends was a question I kept asking myself, would I have people to turn myself to and would understand me? I did get my supportive circle, they were mostly people we worked with but they did not behave as if I was tornado.

My previous friends did look like they cared and I will never know what they thought because they never showed and that was comforting.

Though my best friend then told me not to disclose my status when we went on a vacation, that it was okay to not tell people.

I had mixed feelings about this, but one prominent one was that I had a feeling she probably was ashamed of me.

I told people of my status to educate, not to look for attention and not to overshadow my friends.

I now keep people who I want to be in my circle because my story is me and you either like the whole of me or none of me. My mother is now the one who is the support system of some women living with HIV in her community. And I have a supportive partner who I consider my biggest cheerleader and friends who never judge me or my choices. If anything they have helped understand who wants to take advantage of my story which is a new form of stigma that is subtle because I am more than the HIV story. I am a skilful worker, an advocate, an empathetic person, a mother and becoming a better woman every day.

Hiv Vereniging The Dutch Association of People Living with HIV (Hiv Vereniging) represents the interests of all people with HIV in the Netherlands, irrespective of background.

We provide information about living with HIV and organise all kinds of meet-ups.

Servicepunt Our team of expert volunteers can be contacted for any question about living with HIV, by telephone on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 14:00 – 22:00 hrs, or by email: servicepunt@hivvereniging.nl.

See www.hivvereniging.nl

4

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Contents GET MORE ADVERTISING VALUE

FROM THE VOICE MAGAZINE Get fast results by advertising with us.

Call us today on +31684999548 or +31648519292 E-mail: info@thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Page 8- Editorial: China engagement with Africa: Is this a new form of colonialism?

Pages 14 & 15 - Hon. Dr. Mrs. Fatoumata Jahumpa -Ceesay Speech at The Voice magazine 20th Anniversary celebration in Almere, The Netherlands Page 16 - Nelson Mandela’s legacy should inspire African leaders on leadership – President Buhari Page 17 - Equatorial Guinea Leader Says French-backed currency is outdated Page 18 - New E-Visa to Nigeria takes effect from 2nd January 2020 Page 19 - Heavy rains kill 12 in Rwanda on Christmas night: official Pages 20 & 21 - The Gambians get behind a movement to hold their leader to his word Pages 22 & 23- Guineans oppose change of constitution to give the President a 3rd term Page 24 - Car insurance in The Netherlands: Here’s what you need to know......

Page 25 - Lupita Nyong’o admits she hasn’t gotten over the pain of ‘12 Years a Slave’ Pages 26 & 37 - The 20th anniversary of The Voice magazine coverage Pages 38 & 39 - How the ‘Nigerian mafia’ exploits African women in Europe Page 40 - Boeing has sacked its Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg Pages 42 & 43- Donald Trump impeached by House of Representatives in historic vote Pages 44 & 47 – Dutch news in summary including the King message to the Kingdom of The Netherlands Pages 48 & 49 - Kenya places climate disorder at centre of UN Security Council seat bid Page 50 - At last: Britain certain to leave the European Union Page 51 - Nigerian students deported from Croatia had visas to stay Pages 52-53 - Aisha Buhari’s Mercy Mission visits Edo State Pages 63 & 67- Unique film about clean drinking water and hygiene through Foundation Pamoja Kenia in The Hague Page 68 - Liverpool Football Club- World Champions & the best in the world Page 69 - Anthony Joshua regains his world heavyweight belts

The Voice Magazine Volume 21. No 190 January 2020 Edition

BGHS North America new executives Baptist Girls High School Agbor situated in Ika South Local Government area of now Delta State of Nigeria. The school was a brainchild of an American Baptist missionary called Miss Ruth Walden in 1940 and the school was fully established in 1946. The first Girls’ High school in the mid - western region of Nigeria. Last year, 2019, the beautiful women, all ex-students of this great college formed BGHS North America chapter and inaugurated its leadership. Below are the full names of the new executives.

Patience Etareri Isemede- President; Adesuwa Omoruyi Obasohan - Vice president 1; Philomena Dike Nwarueze - Vice president 2; Secretary: Akunna Ifenkwe Tagbo Nwachukwu; Treasurer: Beatrice Ojei Nwabuonwu; Financial secretary: Patricia Omodon Emefiele; PRO: Onyema Diei Ikediashi Akorms; Welfare Officer: Kanyidinma Agwazim; Provost: Maria Osemeha Ekhator; Auditor 1: Ifesonye Osunbor Umunna and Auditor 2: Ngozi Okobi Igbeka.

Thank you all for your assistance and support.

God bless you all.

Best wishes for 2020 to all members Signed: Patience Etareri Isemede President

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

5

Victory Outreach Church Almere is a Pentecostal Church, a Bible based believing people in the trinity of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

What would you like to know? Our vision?

Which activities we organize? Or would you like to hear testimonies about how we follow God? One thing is certain, we would like to get to know you and therefore you are more than welcome to visit one of our services in this new year 2020.

You can visit us every day of the week as there is a Resident Pastor available to your demand.

You may have been a believer for many years already. Or you might still be searching for the meaning of life and asking yourself whether or not there is God. Within Victory Outreach Almere we would like to help you find the answer. We will gladly teach you through the help of the Holy Spirit the exact meaning of “a living faith�.

With us you will truly see and experience the supernatural power of the living God. You can always count on love and comfort when you need it. You will discover that we have a wonderful

6

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

diversity of people with lots of different backgrounds, characters and personalities. But there is one thing we have in common. We all follow the same God, Jesus Christ.

In that diversity and love for God, we are a family where you are more than welcome.

We personally hope to meet you during one of our services.

God bless you as you come in Jesus Christ name.

Amen Signed:

Pastor Roel & Ida van Rooij Senior Pastors Victory Outreach Almere.

Barbeelstraat 12, 1317 PZ Almere The Netherlands.

Telephone: 036-8417007; Telephone: 036-7505571 E-mail: info@voalmere.nl website: www.voalmere.nl

The Voice magazine

THE VOICE MAGAZINE TEAM

The Voice magazine is editorially independent although we enjoys the support of our readers, subscribers, advertisers, non-­governmental organizations and in­ dividuals of like minds; however the magazine publishers are in no way af­filiated to any of these bodies or to any other ­ publishing institution or political interest or group.

The Voice magazine strives to foster awareness among the African audience and bridge the widening gap between Africans and the rest of the world in news gathering and dissemination.

The Voice is published digitally online except on demand, we print hard copy..

If you want to receive a copy, send us your email address.

On the Editorial board are Pastor Amb. Elvis Iruh, Jonathan Mgbejume, Sandra Iruh-Monsels, and Henry Oduenyi READ THE VOICE ON LINE AT www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com Our Affiliate partner: www.thenigerianvoice.com Registration NO: (Kvk. Nr. 34.110.928) TAX (BTW) NO: NL806215809B01 ISSN: 1571-3466 (For Print edition) ISSN: 2588-8807 (For Digital edition)

Publisher: Stichting Paddi Europa

For payments, use these bank details: Stichting Paddi Europa SNS Bank Account No: NL29SNSB0908374372 Swift Code: SNSBNL2A OR Stichting Paddi Europa Knab Bank Account No: NL77KNAB0725202238 Swift Code: KNABNL2H

Editor-in-Chief Pastor Amb. Elvis Ndubuisi Iruh elvisiruh@thevoicenewsmagazine.com Founding/Contributing Editor Edward Idahosa Ogbee apexbest2000@yahoo.co.uk Managing Editor Henry D. Oduenyi (Nigeria Office) henry@thevoicenewsmagazine.com Project Coordinator Ifeyinwa Ezeagabu i.ezeagabu@thevoicenewsmagazine. com BUREAU CHIEFS Gbenga T. Okunlola (London) teejayok@gmail.com Femi Ikutiyinu (London) afpaprint2000@yahoo.com Middle East Vice- President Amb. Laila EL Aftani Rahhall CORRESPONDENTS ABROAD Barrister Eze Eluchie (Nigeria) paddingr@yahoo.com Kehinde Aig-Imoru (Nigeria) aigimoru@yahoo.com Project Editor (Nigeria) Rev. Tammy Abusi (Port-Harcourt) t.abusi@thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Eubaldus Enahoro enabadus2000@yahoo.com Principal Photo Editor: Handy Tims Azeez Badris fatim_26@hotmail.com PA to Publisher Lilian Akintokun (Mrs) raven_lilian@yahoo.com Graphic Designers David Banjoko MEDIA CONSULTANT Jonathan Mgbejume Abeka Salmin Abdallah Mildred Kleinbussink Pastor Duncan Spier Engr. Barry Igbeare You can as well contact our Office Address: Stichting Paddi Europa Inz The Voice Jeroen Boschplantsoen 82 1318 HH Almere, The Netherlands Land Line: +3136-8801341 Tel.: +31 (0)6-48519292 Mobile: +31 (0)6-84999548 E-mail: info@thevoicenewsmagazine.com Websites: www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com www.thevoiceachieversaward.com

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

The Voice magazine is published in the Netherlands by Stichting Paddi Europa and it is p ­ ublished online since 2016 around the world. It is registered at the Chamber of Commerce Amsterdam. The Voice aim to serve as a vital link among African readers in the Diaspora and we ­provide ­objective information and organizes opinion exchange among African people both in the ­continent and abroad. Thus it strives to foster and enhance complete understanding of ­developing c­ ountries problems and bring information to help address those issues. You can support this project now with as much as one euro a month to help keep publishing our digital copy for you.

DETAILS IN THIS EDITION PLEASE. TV MANAGEMENT

Volume 21

NO 190

January 2020

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

7

EDITORIAL

China engagement with Africa: Is this a new form of colonialism?

D

epends of which side of the coin you support, it is obvious that China is after the soul of Africa with the level of engagement in the last few years across the continent. While America and Europe are fighting over unnecessary trade deals, China followed closely by Russia have invaded Africa with the intention re-colonizing the continent all in the name of development. China is offering poor African countries loans they can never pay back in centuries to come. They are buying up lands in many African countries like Kenya, Ghana for example.

Is Africa being re-colonized by China? The experience of the past was through military conquest but now China is not coming with weapons but development, providing cheap labour, cheap materials and embracing governments rather than the people. They promise new industrial revolution for Africa with fast speed train networks but most of these projects are controlled by the Chinese themselves. How is this helping Africa huge youth population who are unemployed?

Not far enough! In Uganda, slowly and surely, they have made the Educational system to introduce the studying of the Chinese language in Uganda schools – if this is not new colonization, we don’t know what to call it.

The promise to lift millions of people out of poverty has not been accomplished yet despite the huge Chinese investment in many African countries.

Since 2010 upward, China’s big move to Africa is raising suspicion and worries with this news, some well-meaning Westerners as well as some wary Africans worry that what’s really happening is a new form of colonialism. This worry especially crops up with respect to China and its large, well-publicized infrastructure projects, but it also sometimes gets applied to independent Chinese-owned factories operating on the continent, or just to foreign investment in general. If foreigners are profiting from Africa’s rise, Pastor Elvis Iruh some reason, that can only Editor-in-Chief mean the continent’s resources 8

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

are being extracted on unfair terms.

This concern is natural, given Africa’s tragic recent history of foreign conquest, occupation and exploitation. And in the case of China’s infrastructure projects, the worry may be justified.

On the other hand, the small scale Chinese family business is helping to create local employment but not in the same proportion as the profits they make and it is taking out of the country back to China.

Skeptics believe that Chinese factory owners’ profit more. Furthermore, wages they pay are low and factory conditions are often harsh or dangerous sadly typical for many African governments, they are not interested in the welfare of their citizens working under this conditions.

Of course, in the long run, Africans stand to lose as they are selling all their lands to these Chinese companies in the name of development and the China government is ensuring very strict conditions for the loans giving out to these African countries who may never be able to pay back.

Our concern is Chinese government infrastructure loans. Chinese government banks are lending African governments large amounts of money to build roads, bridges, ports and so on, often secretly. Although some of that infrastructure will be beneficial for African countries, some projects will not recoup their costs. When that happens, small African countries will be left holding the bag, owing money to the mighty Chinese government.

China will then hold substantial leverage over its African debtors.

African governments should be wary of Chinese stateowned banks offering lavish loans. Instead, they should focus on soliciting private investment in manufacturing industries, while providing infrastructure, education and other public goods on their own. This strategy will ensure that Africa’s road to industrialization is as rapid and smooth as possible without the taint of colonialism. A word is enough for the wise to pick start 2020. Wishing you all a wonderful and successful 2020 in all your endeavors.

ONE EURO A MONTH SUPPORT TO THE VOICE MAGAZINE Since you’re here... Support the Voice magazine so we stay publishing for your reading pleasure…..

Happy New Year to you our readers and our followers. We have a small favour to ask. More people, like you, are reading and supporting the Voice magazine since we stopped the hard print copy in 2016. We have continued to serve you the magazine in the same format with all production cost covered like editing, page designs, photography and digital distribution via online channels. The Voice magazine has been an independent organisation, we do not receive any form of subsidy except the support of our readers and friends. We made the choice to keep our reporting open for all, regardless of where you live or what you can afford to pay.

Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice our own opinions. You are free and welcome to contribute both commercial and political independent articles for our reading audience without bias. We want to continue to give a voice to those less heard, explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in power.

We hope you will consider supporting us today. We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Support The Voice magazine as little as one EURO and it only takes a minute.

FOR NETHERLANDS ACCOUNT NAME: STICHTING PADDI EUROPA IBAN: NL29SNSB0908374372 SWIFT CODE: SNSBNL2A (For payment from abroad) Bank: SNS BANK ADDRESS: UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS Thank you.

TV Management www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

9

Quincy Okorocha, You found the love of your life in Ilhame and you never looked back. It is a choice GOD blesses and approves. On behalf of my family we wish you both a very happy married life Enjoy every moment of this journey together.

Pastor Elvis Iruh & family.

10

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

11

Congratulations to The Voice Magazine 20th Anniversary Umunnem, permit me to inform all that on November 23, 2019, I received a Certificate of appreciation from THE VOICE MAGAZINE for my Patronage & Dedication to the success of the Voice News Magazine in the past twenty years. Join me, my Brothers and Sisters to dedicate this award to the service to/for humanity. My sincere appreciation to the Management/Editor -in-Chief of the Voice News Magazine for their kind gesture, may God remember you for your hard work & Services to Humanity.

Chief Kelvin I. Onyenze Rotterdam, The Netherlands

12

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

THANK YOU BOSS There are big ships and small ships.

But the best ship of all is to say THANK U #BOSS.� This appreciation is not something I should take for granted because the smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.� #Blessusir #ndubuiselvisiruh Don Zubi Rotterdam, The Netherlands

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

Our appreciation to Madam Faith Ehanire as she steps down from The Voice magazine Since 2015 when she joined our Marketing and Advertisement department, she has contributed her quota to the development of the publication that celebrated 20 years last November 2019. It is with pain that we bid farewell to one of our great employee. Your hard work and dedication were an important part of our team. As you turn the page in your life’s story, we join together in wishing you every success in all your future endeavors. I extend our formal appreciation, wishes for your good work over the years in this organization. Your service has been much valuable to us and you are indeed a good employee to be remembered for a long. Thank you so much for your service.

Thank you again and again.

TV Management

Advertorial

HOW BEST TO SECURE YOUR e-VISA TO NIGERIA! Season’s greeting to all our esteemed clients, We would like to inform you of recent developments concerning the processing of visas in The Nigerian Embassy here in The Hague, The Netherlands.

From 2nd January 2020, The Federal Government of Nigeria has made it mandatory for all visa applicants who wish to travel to Nigeria go through biometric processing before visas are granted.

After all visa forms are completed online, the applicant will proceed to the OIS Centre in The Hague, where thump printing and photographing will be made. The OIS will charge you the sum of €90 each, before your application will be forwarded by OIS to The Embassy for visa issuance.

Meanwhile normal online fee and our €40 commission still apply.

For any information, you may contact us with: Mobile +31685113992 Mobile +31646101992 Office: +31(0) 704448767 Thank you very much for your continuous patronage.

Wishing you Happy New Year 2020 Joseph O. OLA Director: Bosola E. Services.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

13

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER Hon. Dr. Mrs. Fatoumata Jahumpa -Ceesay Speech at The Voice magazine 20th ANNIVERSARY celebration in Almere, The Netherlands THEME: International Migration

T

he migration of highly Africans is not new trend from colonization to voluntary migration for different reasons.

One is a fact is that African has lost most of his trained skills and talent to international migration.

Trained Africans are all over to other continents thereby creating shortage of human capital on the continent.

At the same time, African migrations also include the poor and desperate as evident in the loss of lives in the Mediterranean Sea, attributed to lack of prospects on the continent.

While free movement of people have been encouraged across the region because of the belief that educated people, professionals, should be allowed to access a bigger market, there exist some impediments.

Outside the continent, Africans are seen as compatriots, but back at home, the thinking shifts to nation-states and the fight or competition for resources, business, professional positions etc., tends to undermine solidarity.

However, there is some progress with about thirteen countries in Africa now providing visas on arrival for Africans. Such policies to encourage mobility within the continent should be strengthened.

Promoting Sustainable Development Africa is rich in natural resources and there a room for development through our human resources if properly annexed Diaspora Engagement with Africa Engaging in activities that make a difference in the lives of people especially in Africa and how development partners, government, industry and academia, including those in the diaspora can join efforts to develop Africa.

The African diaspora must emulate other successful Diasporas 14

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

that have contributed to the development of their homelands.

An example is the Jewish diaspora and how they worked on behalf of Israel after 1948.

Establishment of a system to capture academic engagement of the diaspora outside the continent and how that knowledge can be harnessed by the African states to develop Africa for improvement and value addition to the continent’s growth.

Initiatives to ensure this happens should be established and institutionalized as a way of internationalizing African institutions and knowledge more effectively.

Role of the Diaspora Majority of African professionals in the diaspora today are there because of education and other opportunities for personal development and economic benefits.

Although some have given back to Africa and serve as an inspiration to others and can mentor young Africans in their individual areas of profession and locations.

There is an outcry that it is too little.

There is promise in the young generation of African leaders and they have the potential to find solutions to African problems, like Patrick Awuah who started Ashesi University.

His efforts have been achieved through partnerships at the personal level.

Governments should view such individuals as strategic assets to their country.

Change can come through individuals but more collective effort should be channel towards attracting Diaspora back to the African continent and even their own countries of origin.

There exist many challenges today not just for Africa including the evidence that over the next few years, two billion jobs could be lost.

This calls for a collective preparation and developing new mechanisms and innovations which can scale up.

The governments alone cannot shoulder the challenges therefor other stakeholders like the business sector must join in and state their needs clearly to attract Diaspora back to Africa.

More creation of employment opportunities or resources for them to start off business of their own with the knowledge gained abroad.

The revitalization of Africa has been discussed for a long time, a perennial process of revitalizing human capacity. It is time to take stock of what programs we have achieved, what challenges exist and what contributions are required to move forward.

Similar discussions had been held at the Dakar Summit in 2015. The emphasis should be to get Africa back to her roots and being grounded.

Grounding should help build the future, not looking back.

Engagement of Diaspora Africans should take Africa into its future and where it wants to go.

And my conclusion was

TENSIONS BACK HOME 1. While most diasporans are welcomed back home to their countries of origin, some scholars would be naive not to acknowledge various tensions back home.

2.Identity polities, you often heard,’ well, you left a long time ago. What are you really coming back with?’

3.Diasporan have a sense of belonging to the country they

came from, and if they want to contribute they should feel free to do so, they should not have to answer to conditions.

We all have a responsibility and we must all play our part.

After all they contributing. And if according to the World Bank-KNOMAD sources, remittances flows are projected to reach $574 billion in 2020 and $579 billion in 2021.Whereas remittances to SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA grew almost 10 percent to $46 billion in 2018, supported by strong economic conditions in high-income economies.

And looking at remittances as a share of GDP ,Comoros, Lesotho, Gambia, Cape Verde, Liberia ,Zimbabwe, Senegal, Togo, Ghana and Nigeria are listed in the Remittance Markets in Africa. We must all collectively challenge our various African governments to take better care of its citizens abroad as well as back home.

Governments like I said earlier on should view such individuals as strategic assets of their countries of origin they call home.

As you will all agree with me that it is often said that “the hidden force in global economic is SENDING MONEY HOME”.

Finally please kindly allow me to thank STICHTING PADDI EUROPA with THE VOICE NEWS MAGAZINE for awarding me this prestigious award THE VOICE HEROINE OF THE YEAR 2019 amongst other African personalities, held today 23rd November in Almere, The Netherlands.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Stay blessed. www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

15

Nelson Mandela’s legacy should inspire African leaders on leadership – President Buhari

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari recently in Abuja said the legacies of former South African President, Nelson Mandela, should continue to inspire African leaders on the need to make sacrifices for the good of their countries, and leave the stage at the end of constitutionally agreed tenure.

The President, who received Letters of Credence from High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, T. D. Mseleku, at the Presidential Villa, said the 27 years imprisonment of the former South African president, the humility and broadmindedness in serving the nation as a citizen and president, and willingness to discontinue after one term in office, was exemplary.

“Late Nelson Mandela was an exceptional leader.

He spent 27 years in prison and served one term in office. His legacy is unprecedented. We are taking a cue from him on the lessons of leadership,’’ he said.

President Buhari said he was impressed with the maturity and passionate manner South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, handled diplomatic issues during his visit in October, 2019, noting that the brotherly meeting and exchange doused all the fears and doubts around relations between both countries.

“I was really impressed with the President’s maturity and diplomatic style of handling issues. I admired his initiative and concern.

“At the end of our visit, all those that were expressing doubts and fears had nothing to say. The visit was spectacular in many ways. Please give my deep appreciation to President Ramaphosa,’’ he said.

The President said South African companies in Nigeria were doing very well, assuring that the economy will always welcome investments.

In his remarks, the South African High Commissioner said he will work hard to ensure all the issues discussed by President Buhari and President Ramaphosa were followed through, and implemented.

Receiving Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Thailand, President Buhari assured the envoy that the trade relations between both countries will be improved, especially in agriculture.

“I congratulate you on your appointment as Thailand’s

16

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Ambassador to Nigeria. We appreciate the trade relations and look forward to stronger relations in agriculture and education,’’ he said.

Responding, the Ambassador of Thailand to Nigeria, Mr Saksee Phromyothi, said Nigeria was one of the highest importers of rice from Thailand, until a policy change that had made the country more food sufficient.

Phromyothi said his country will continue to work with Nigeria to improve technical capacity and expertise in the agricultural sector.

“We have had long time diplomatic relations with Nigeria for over 57 years, and before then there was a strong trade partnership,’’ he added.

President Buhari also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador Netherland, Mr Harry Van Dijk, assuring that the diplomatic and economic relations with Netherlands will be improved.

“As a Petroleum minister in the 70’s, I know about your investments in the country,’’ he said.

The Ambassador of Netherlands said His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, will continue to hold Nigeria in high regard for the warm diplomatic relations over the years, and hospitality accorded the prime minister during his visit to the country.

“We will make sure all agreements are followed up. It’s a blessing that the road map for implementation has been carved out for us from your discussions,’’ he said.

The three envoys congratulated President Buhari on his 77th birthday.

Equatorial Guinea Leader Says French-Backed Currency Is Outdated

P

resident Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea has said the union of Central African states should consider changes to its French-backed currency after eight West African states last month agreed to reforms to their long-standing agreement with France.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, speaking at a joint press conference with Ivorian leader Alassane Ouattara, said that the current agreement between the Central Economic and Monetary Union and France on the CFA franc had become “obsolete.”

Teodoro Obiang Nguema MbasogoPhotographer: Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images “Today we’re capable of managing our own currency without the interference of France,” Obiang told reporters in Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s commercial capital, on Saturday.

The West African Economic and Monetary Union last week agreed with France to keep the currency’s europeg while moving its currency reserve from France, the former colonial power. France will no longer have a representative on the union’s board and the CFA franc will be renamed the “eco.”

“Now that we know West Africa’s decision, maybe we will move to do the same with our French partner,” Obiang said.

The CFA franc is used in two monetary unions: eight West African states and six countries in Central Africa. The member states of the Economic Community of West African

States, with countries from both monetary unions, said earlier this year that they would gradually start adopting a single currency in 2020.

By Katarina Hoije — With assistance by Leanne de Bassompierre

New E-Visa to Nigeria takes effect from 2nd January 2020

N

ew visa regime to Nigeria kicked off on the 2nd of January 2020 through the main service provider authorize by the Nigeria Government Online Integration Solution Service (OIS). www. oisservices.com For applicants, Biometrics of all travelers who wish to obtain a Nigeria visa will be taken.

– Every applicant must report themselves at the biometric centre and the biometrics will be embedded on the visa itself. (It is helpful for the enhancement of security, risks amongst others) – The Biometric service provider Netherlands address are as follows Online Integration Solution Service (OIS) the Nigeria immigration visa service partner. Their office is at Den Haag Central station by OV ticket office, take the escalator or staircase upstairs and you will see Regus Building, then you will see a reception, ask of (OIS) in the Netherlands. A video tutorial can be found on their website on how to make the necessary transaction and process.

– The OIS will be the main agent in charge of the visa services (except issues of urgent services 24hrs services can be done directly at the Embassy) – The normal visa payment online still continues (108 euros +/- or more depending on the type of visa), however, the biometric services will be taken care of by OIS. – The fees for taking biometrics for your visa at OIS is 90 euros (flat fee incl VAT).

15 Euros optional fee for those that want to make use of the POS (Advisable to do so online to avoid the fee on spot).

18

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Some of the questions asked are as follow…

How will the data be handled and processed?

– The Nigerian Immigration service is the custodian of the data, it goes to the National Database in Abuja.

– OIS with their partners are the parties that are involved as data processors that handle such on behalf of the Data Controller (Nigeria Immigration).

Is the price a flat fee or specifically for the Netherlands?

Yes, the price is a flat fee introduced and agreed on by the Nigerian Government and the service provider and is competitive in the market.

As earlier stated, these are key highlights from the meeting, and it was prepared to help create awareness to our members, our constituents and partners respectively.

For further inquiries or questions, please visit their website www.oisservices.com or contact the consular section of the Nigeria Embassy. http://nigerianembassythehague.nl/ consular Courtesy of NIDOE-Netherlands - In Pursuance of National Development!

Heavy rains kill 12 in Rwanda on Christmas night: Official

H

eavy rains that hit Rwanda on last Christmas night (2019) killed at least 12 people, a senior government official said a press statement and condolence message to the nation.

“It’s unfortunate that we confirm that 12 people have died due to heavy rains that hit different parts of our country on Christmas night,” said Rwanda’s Minister of Local Government Anastase Shyaka at a press conference about the aftermath of the heavy downpour.

The heavy rains also destroyed 113 houses, 49 hectares of agricultural fields and several infrastructures such as roads and water treatment plants, said Shyaka.

He called upon Rwandan citizens residing in high risk zones and wetlands to vacate from those areas to avoid flooding and landslides disasters caused by heavy rains.

He also said the death toll could have been more if people residing in wetlands in Kigali had not been evacuated by the government recently.

For three weeks in December, about 6,000 Rwandan

households residing in high risk zones and wetlands in different parts of Rwanda were evacuated and relocated to safe areas, he added.

Floods and landslides caused by heavy rains last year have affected 22 national roads, and 42 district roads and bridges, Rwandan Minister of Infrastructure Claver Gatete said last month.

Official data showed extreme weathers have caused more than 250 deaths in the African country in 2018 alone, and last year have left more than 100 people dead, some 5,000 houses damaged and more than 9,000 hectares of plantations destroyed.

In eastern Africa, at least 280 people have been killed and more than 2.8 million others affected by unusually heavy rainfall and flooding by early December last year, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

19

Gambians get behind a movement to hold their leader to his word

P

resident Adama Barrow reneged on a promise to step down as president after three years and not five. The constitution puts him on fairly firm ground but citizens of postdictatorship Gambia are determined to hold him to his word.

Gambians protest over President Barrow’s decision to renege on his promise and govern for longer than three years.

The public backlash that Barrow is facing for failing to adhere to a memorandum of understanding by the coalition of parties that secured him the top job spilled out on the streets of Banjul on 16 December 2019. Not long ago, speaking out against a president was dangerous business in The Gambia.

Yet today many are determined to assert their right to hold Barrow accountable.

The Gambia was thrown into a constitutional crisis in December 2016 after Barrow unexpectedly defeated Yahya Jammeh in presidential elections but the long-term strong man leader refused to step down. The dispute prompted the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with the support of the United Nations, to prepare for a military intervention.

Barrow and the coalition of several political parties and civil society groups for which he had stood as an independent candidate made a deal to end the crisis, however, and on January 19, 2017, Barrow, with little political experience, was sworn in as president in neighboring Senegal. Days later, Jammeh fled into exile and Barrow returned home.

That coalition deal and Barrow’s refusal to adhere to its provision that he would serve three years as a transitional president before elections and not five years as afforded a president has led to a swelling civil backlash.

“The main concern is that Barrow is perceived to be changing the rules from within his coalition,” says Peter Penar, director of the Leaders of Africa institute and visiting assistant professor at Davidson College in North Carolina.

“The present constitution of The Gambia allows duly elected presidents to serve out their full term. Barrow emphasizes this fact and constitutionally he is on fairly firm ground.”

As the three-year deadline drew near and the legality versus morality debate over Barrow’s tenure deal gained traction, a

20

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

new grassroots movement dawned: ‘Three years jotna’ which translates to ‘three years are up.’

“The premise of ‘Three years jotna’ is based on a promise made by then candidate Adama Barrow. It is of a moral rather than legal premise,” says Nyang Njie, an independent Banjulbased economist and political blogger. “The people behind ‘Three years jotna’ are saying that politicians in the new Gambia must be held to account.”

A handwritten letter to Barrow, in which the movement calls on him to leave office on 19 January, is to be handed over to authorities in Banjul at the 16 December protest.

Njie believes that citizens in the post-dictatorship country are starting to assert their right to express divergent views without state interference. Dissent, let alone protest, was violently crushed during the Jammeh era. The Gambian student massacre of April 2000 arose after firefighters killed a student and a police officer’s rape of a schoolgirl sparked protests. (In both cases the government responded with a crackdown on the protesters).

“On social media there is much talk about a good president gone bad. This is certainly accurate,” says Penar. Many Gambians had high expectations when Barrow came to office. “The post-Jammeh agenda was and is still long.”

The truth about human rights abuses and corruption under Jammeh needed to be uncovered; political prisoners needed to be rehabilitated, the economy had to be put on track.

“In many ways Barrow has made good on several promises.

In particular, the truth commission has been educational and the economy is growing fairly well.”

There are some concerns over The Gambia’s high debt and a lack of transparency surrounding the country’s financial practices, according to Penar. “Another important consideration is Barrow’s apparent interest in centralizing power in the midst of a fluid and fragmented political party system.”

Political analysts point to the three vice presidents Barrow has had and defections from other parties to his faction and the fragmented political landscape this has created.

Barrow fired vice president Ousainou Darboe, who heads the United Democratic Party, the same party he quit in order to contest the 2016 election as an independent candidate for the coalition.

“The critical point is that politics is taking on a personalized character,” says Penar.

The Jammeh era was characterized by personalized politics.

Barrow is seen to have invested very little in building a stable political party or in making the process of partybuilding in The Gambia easy. An Afrobarometer survey in 2018 showed, however, that 54% of Gambians trust their president — a high reservoir of support by African standards.

The question over Barrow’s tenure left him “compelled to engage in politics, rhetoric and divisive activities” rather than development and reforms, says Nyima Camara, a political science lecture at the University of The Gambia.

“The political space is very divided since the coalition started to disintegrate in 2017. The environment has been dominated by claims and counterclaims and intense rivalry among political party leaders with regard to the president.”

Gambians don’t know yet what will ultimately happen. What has become apparent is that civil society is gaining strength, but not without teething problems. “Huge momentum

gathered when ‘Three years jotna’ came out first but it seems as though their influence is dwindling a little. They

are beginning to lose ground and divisions have emerged among them,” says Camara.

Many Gambians have followed the movement with deep

skepticism. That the movement is being led by relatively unknown ordinary citizens without political or social clout is a problem for some of them. There is also concern that if Barrow were to step down after three years, a dangerous power vacuum would arise in period until elections are due.

Barrow’s die-hard supporters simply dismiss the ‘Three years jotna’ movement. “The average Gambian doesn’t vote on a rational, issue-driven proposition package or program but on sentiment of tribal affinity, social orientation or financial inducement,” says the Banjul-based blogger Nyang Njie.

For now, ‘Three years jotna’ is at the forefront of the grassroots groundswell the president is facing. Ahead of the protest, its supporters complained over the desolate strip of land between the capital’s Denton Bridge and Sting corner that was mapped out in the permit issued just six days in advance. There is no fear of repercussions in the vein of the Jammeh era, but the culture of protest is still very new to Gambians, says Njie.

“The majority of Gambians are not afraid that when they go out (to protest) something will happen to them but, I think, it’s more of being ashamed of being part of this,” says Njie. He believes it’s a question of reeducation, creating awareness and reorienting Gambians to understand that there is nothing wrong with protesting and there is nothing wrong with raising your voice, and there is nothing wrong with advocating for your beliefs and values.”

Michael Oti and Omar Wally contributed to this article.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

21

No peace in Africa yet…

Guineans oppose change of constitution to give the President a 3rd term

G

uinea’s president, Alpha Condé, has been in power since the country’s first democratic elections in 2010, winning a second five-year term four years ago.

Under the constitution, a president can serve two five-year terms. But ahead of next year’s election, government officials and allies of Condé have been dropping hints about amending the constitution or writing a new one to let him stand again.

As far back as January, the then Russian ambassador backed a change of the constitution to allow the “legendary” 81-year-old president to “reinvigorate” the country.

Then in May, the Prime Minister, Ibrahima Fofana, publicly admitted the constitution could be changed.

The then justice minister resigned in opposition to the plan. In July, a leaked memo from June, signed by the foreign affairs minister, appeared to advise diplomatic missions on proposed constitutional amendments.

Meanwhile, billboards endorsing a new constitution have erected across Conakry.

Finally, in September, Condé made his first public statement on the subject, though he was careful to avoid specifics. “I instruct the prime minister to initiate consultations to gather the opinions of others in an open exchange,” he said in a national TV broadcast.

For months hundreds of thousands of Guineans have taken to the streets for weekly protests against the prospect of Condé running for a third term. They chant the Susu phrase for “this will not happen”, the slogan of the protest movement, and burn car tyres. Many wear red T-shirts, armbands, hats and bandanas – the colour of the opposition coalition Front National Pour La Défense De La Constitution (FNDC).

Military and paramilitary forces have responded with live rounds and arrests. At least 20 civilians have been killed in the unrest to date, plus one gendarme.

Ten opposition leaders jailed in October for organising mass rallies were temporarily freed earlier this month. On 5 December their case was referred to the constitutional court,

22

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

prompting cries of joy in the Conakry courtroom.

Opposition figures said security forces have been pouring into suburbs adjourning the areas of protest, which are usually opposition strongholds, and indiscriminately killing people.

Nadia Nahman, the chief of staff for opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, said: “Alpha Condé is ready to walk on the bodies of Guineans to take a third term. Killing one’s compatriots to satisfy one’s disproportionate obsession with

power is inhuman and despicable.”

Across West Africa, leaders are tinkering with mandates and wrangling behind the scenes to stay in power for longer. Most recently, Alassane Ouattara, the Ivory Coast president, said he would run for a third term next year if historic rivals Laurent Gbagbo and Henri Konan Bédié were candidates too.

On 22 November, Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, was forced to deny rumours he was preparing for a third term bid. “There are no circumstances – nor set of circumstances – under which President Buhari may seek to amend the constitution”, a presidential statement read. “President Buhari intends to serve his full second elected term in office, ending 2023 – and then there shall be a general election in which he will not be a candidate.”

Dr Christopher Fomunyoh, the regional director for central and west Africa at the National Democratic Institute, said: “After the enthusiastic embrace of democratic transitions in Africa in the early 1990s, some of the continent’s nascent democracies are under assault from recalcitrant autocrats who do believe they are the only individuals capable of running their countries.

“It is quite feasible that civil society organisations, labor unions and political parties opposed to the constitutional manoeuvring succeed in rolling back ongoing attempts in Guinea. We saw similar successes in blocking presidential term elongations in Senegal in 2012, with former president, Abdoulaye Wade, and, more recently, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2016, with former president, Joseph Kabila.”

But resisting the will of the government could come at a bloody cost in Guinea, a former French colony that is rich in minerals but ranks among the poorest countries. “The struggle of the people of Guinea for democracy and the rule of law deserves all the sacrifices,” said Nahman.

“Nothing will stop the people of Guinea from blocking the way of the promoters of a third mandate.”

For Abdourahmane Diallo’s uncle, his nephew’s death won’t discourage the family from participating in the protests.

“We have to keep going,” Boubacar Diallo said. “[Condé] must leave power because what he is doing with his government is not at all good.”

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

23

Car insurance in the Netherlands: Here’s what you need to know......

S

o, you’ve become the proud owner of a car. Here are a few things you need to think about when it comes to making sure it is properly insured. First things first.

To take out car insurance in the Netherlands you must be an official resident, you must have a European driving licence and the car licence plate has to be Dutch. In the Netherlands all cars have to have at least a third party liability insurance, which covers damage caused by your own car to other people and their property. You will also have to pay the first part of any claim yourself (eigen risico) – and the size of this will impact your premiums. Insurance companies take your age and experience into account when assessing your premiums, and your premiums will also go down the more years you drive without making a claim – a discount that can mount up to 70%.

If you do have an accident, do the sums. It might not be worth claiming because of the own risk element, and the impact a claim will have on your premiums. Another thing to remember in the Netherlands is that it is your car which is insured not you personally, so family members and friends can drive it without having their names added to the policy – as is the case in Britain for example. There are three main types of insurance: WA coverage (third-party liability) If you own a car you must have at least WA (Wettelijke Aansprakelijkheid) coverage, which means that if you cause damage to other people or their property, you are covered for the cost. If your car is at least eight years old, you don’t use it very often and if it is not worth much, simple WA insurance is probably your best bet. WA + (beperkt casco) coverage (thirdparty liability + limited cover) This insurance covers both the damage you might cause to other cars as well as damage caused by circumstances beyond your control, such as theft, fire, storm damage and a collision with an animal. All-risk (casco) coverage (third-party liability + comprehensive cover) All-risk insurance covers damage to other cars and almost all damage to your own car. This insurance is recommended

24

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

when you have a new car or when you cannot take the financial risk of having to replace your car. You may also be able to take out some additional protection if you want to be super sure that you have the best cover possible. No-claim protection No-claim protection (no-claimbescherming) is a way of insuring yourself against the increases in premiums that follow a claim. Damage insurance for occupants The damage insurance for occupants (schadeverzekering voor inzittenden) covers personal injury and damage to you and your passengers luggage or clothes caused by a car accident.

Personal accident insurance Personal accident insurance (ongevallen-inzittendenverzekering) will reimburse your medical costs and provide compensation in case of disability

or death caused by accidents. Legal aid insurance Legal aid insurance (rechtsbijstandverzekering) covers unexpected legal fees If you want to take out car insurance because you have bought a new car and are not sure where to begin, you can use a comparison website like Autoverzekering.nl to check out 28 different Dutch car insurance companies. It can also be useful to look at whether your current provider’s renewal quote is still both competitive and meets your needs when it is up to for renewal. For example, the premiums for a WA+ policy for a five year Skoda range from €44 to €120 a month, so it could well be worth shopping around. And to help keep you on the road once you’ve got the insurance paperwork sorted, the ANWB and Route Mobiel both offer breakdown help for a few euros a month as well.

Lupita Nyong’o admits she hasn’t gotten over the pain of ‘12 Years a Slave’

O

n Inside the Actors Studio, Lupita Nyong’o got emotional when speaking about her first ever movie role in 2013’s 12 Years a Slave. Nyong’o won an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her depiction of Patsey, a slave who is raped and brutalized by her master. And it was all too clear that the role of Patsey has stuck with Nyong’o years after filming.

Nyong’o admitted that she’s only seen 12 Years a Slave twice. When asked why, she fought back tears and answered, “Because, you know, that pain.”

Nyong’o fought off the tears as long as she could but was overcome with emotion. She continued, “That pain, I’m so grateful for it because it’s … I never take my time in this country for granted because of it.”

Nyong’o, who was born in Mexico but raised in Kenya, said that the only thing separating her from Patsey’s experience is time, and that the chance to play her was sobering and meaningful.

“To have had the chance to represent a time in history that is so often overlooked is deeply meaningful to me,” Nyong’o said. “And often times people ask me, ‘How did you get over it?’ Of course I didn’t. It’s very clear I didn’t. But I’m the better for it.”

By Stephen Proctor

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

25

List of those appreciated at the 20th anniversary of The Voice magazine. THANK YOU ALL....

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

47.

48.

49.

50.

51.

26

All Round Shipping (Mildred Kleinbussink) Stephen Osei (Trans Africa Travels) Madam Cecilia Achonu Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Eze Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Ekhator Apostle DG Seo Tunji Lanihun Yvonne Stegenga-Obamedo Juliet Ampofo Unidex BV Abada Iwuchukwu Cecilia Eben Bleeker Mr. & Mrs. Ginika Ibeagha Chief Remy Diarra Ojutalayo Lucy Geurtsen Duke Onyeike Charles Onyebuchi Adeyinka Abel Daso Rita Ogbaudu-Olotu Stichting Cultuur Jam Dr. Jones & Beatrice Lukose Dendress Idahosa Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Represented) Stichting Pamoja Kenya Aisha Investment BV (Musty & Shayo Ahmed) Mandy Aley Abubakar Bangura Alex Jebose (Represented) DJbudetee Taiwo Obude Osarorodion Obamedo (DJdonluciano) Ambassador & Mrs. Carmelo Nvono Nca Embassy of Nigeria in The Netherlands Rwanda Embassy in The Netherlands Burundi Embassy in The Netherlands Kenneth Ehigiene KC Services BV Mrs. Elizabeth Okafor Chief Anthony Okechukwu Okah Chief Ransome Ifeanyichukwu Ezeike Irene Lelieveld Kingsley Azubike Osabeyi (Don Zubi) De Cardinals International Club Marc Broere Caroline Pouw Hajara Ozohu Yusuf (Represented) Kadogo Naus-Nyawade Arjen Hinloopen Prince Ezeamama Anayo Daniel (Galaxy) Mr. & Mrs George Owusu Eugenie Arnaud Esther Marfo Vida Manso

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

52.

53.

54.

55.

56.

57.

58.

59.

60.

61.

62.

63.

64.

65.

66.

67.

68.

69.

70.

71.

72.

73.

74.

75.

76.

77.

78.

79.

80.

81.

82.

83.

84.

85.

86.

87.

88.

89.

90.

91.

92.

93.

94.

95.

96.

97.

98.

99.

100.

Harriet Manso Evelyn Manso Kevin Manso Chief Chris Ikechukwu Nwangwu Mama Lizzy Ehigiene Fatou Secka Esther Adegite Jonathan Mgbejume Pastor Dominic Emeh Pastor & Mrs. Samson Okorocha Michael Ogidi Nwankwo Tony Ezebuife Pastor Emmanuel Emeh Cornelius Obot Kingsley Okorocha Stanley Mbelu Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Ogidi Nwankwo Nneoma Emeh Donatus Emeh Mr. & Mrs. Tony Uwalaka Deacon Osayande Decency Amadasun Dr. Deborah Adediran-Adegite Babah Tarawally Patricia Ogazi Margaret Uzoma Suleiman Akanbi Leila Aigbedion Otunba Tony Akinyemi Mr. & Mrs. Martin Adu Mr. & Mrs. Solomon Sesay Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Nwaki Joe Odis Pastor & Mrs. Franklin Ogunnorin Tina Balvert-Osemwegie Saumu E. Muloma Praise Valley Temple Edward Ogbee Honorable Henry Obinna Onwuachu Ikechukwu McDonald Azuatalam Chief Amb. Mrs. Nwanne Campo Chief Engr. Igancio Campo Modika M. Bah Natevca Helberg Mimi David Mimi Chioma David Ngozi Ilogbenu Dr. Angela Unufe-Kennedy Anthonia Smith Xavier ’t Zand

101.

102.

103.

104.

105.

106.

107.

108.

109.

110.

111.

112.

113.

114.

115.

116.

117.

118.

119.

120.

121.

122.

123.

124.

125.

126.

127.

128.

129.

130.

131.

132.

133.

134.

135.

136.

137.

138.

139.

140.

141.

142.

143.

144.

145.

146.

147.

148.

149.

150.

151.

152.

Ricardo Bona Nana Afriyie Ocansey Donald Okeke Sandra Iruh-Monsels Henry Oduenyi George Adegite Veronica van de Kamp Tony Airhenbuwa Evelyn Adjoa Owusuaa Adjei Apostle Larry & Helen Dorkenoo Dr. Max Ese Anderson Apostle Jeff Chuks Ojeile Nkechi Asante Yisa Atanda Olasupo Owuor Jakano Azeez Badris Africa Web TV Joy Onoilu Johnson Adesida Ruth Erondanga Wilson Obomanu Tony Tprhymes Patrick Mr. & Mrs. Handy Tims Hon Dr. Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay Senator Tolu Odebiyi Victoria Nkatha Patience Nyange Aboxan Aila Mbori Pastor Roel & Ida Van Rooij Ifeyinwa Ezeagabu Faith Ehanire Tim Szenjnoga Vereniging Afrika Sports (VAS) Abeka Salmin Abdallah Evelyn Amo Bamfo Rev. Tammy Clarizza Abusi Barrister Eze Eluchie Femi Kuti Faustina Ikedi Mrs. Lilian Akintokun Natalia Leystra Mr. & Mrs. Godwin Ikphia Pastor & Mrs. Ayo Akanbi Maria Richardson Festus Iwerebor Ron Moenesar Harmen & Helen Zwep Comrade Sunny Ofehe Millicent Nancy Scheibner Amb. Laila Rahhal Pere Owonaro Quayson K. Media Ministries

153. Funke Ojo Emessiri 154. HRH Princess Moradeun Adedoyin-Solarin 155. Edith Ejime Olaleye 156. Eliza Kameo 157. Kenneth Gbandi 158.

KC Services BV 159. Beatrice van der Velde 160. Dhr. Anazo J. (Bostik) 161. Anita Hogan Mak 162. Uche African Art Foundation 163. H.J.W. Plusquin (Consul General, The Republic of The Gambia) 164. Emeka Eboh 165. Saskia Spier 166.

Humphrey & Jean Oron 167. Apase Mikky Alade 168. Pastor Harmony Chiedu 169. Pastor Hyacinth Nwosu 170. Julia Campo Eze 171. Chelo Campo Eze 172. Sunday Ejokwu 173. Pastor Ndubuisi Elvis Iruh 174. Vera Arebun 175. Dr. Jude Oboh 176. Duncan Ehigiene 177. Chief & Mrs. Mike Osawe 178. Emmanuel Osei 179. Mrs. Bose Ola Ray 180. Madam Rosemary Obihara (First Lady) 181. Chief & Mrs. Mike Osawe 182. Jerusha Absalom 183. Funmi Oladejo 184. Racheal Raad 185. Kenneth Okolie 186. Olatunji Odagi 187. Kester von Klomegah 188. Olajumoke Olagbemi 189. Emmanuel Amu 190. Kendi Aig-Imoru 191. Joel Savage 192. Gbenga Okunola 193. David Banjoko 194. Racheal Raad 195. Etim Thompson 196. Engr. Barry Igbeare 197. Melvine-Vince A.O. Brown 198. Dr. A.O. Ajayi 199. Ademola Akinlabi 200. Oliver Nwankwo 201. Gabriel Agbagidi 202. Olajide Olaitan 203. Eubaldus Enahoro

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

27

The Voice magazine celebrates 20 years anniversary in style in The Netherlands The city of Almere was agog with people from all walks of life to join the management of The Voice magazine to celebrate their 20 years anniversary pm 23rd November 2019. The event took place at the main auditorium of the Royal Party & Event Center, Transistorstraat 60, 1322, Almere. The Netherlands.

Attendants were from all parts of the world, people came to celebrate with the organizers to celebrate this landmark accomplishments, people from United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland, Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Kenya and many Africans resident in The Netherlands.

The evening celebration was introduced by Her Excellency, Amb. Mrs. Nwanne Campo who doubled as Event Stage manager and introductory personality of the night introducing the moderator and masters of ceremony.

As part of the anniversary was a panel discussion on the theme of the celebration - “The role of the Diaspora in the revitalization of Africa”. Among those on the panel were the following persons; Dr. Angela Unufe-Kennedy - (UK); Patience Nyange - Kenya/UK; King Ken Aide – (Ireland); Victoria Mkatha– (Denmark); Dr. Jones Lukose – The Netherlands and Anthonia Smith- Nigeria/UK. This session was moderated by Abeka Salmin Abdallah.

For nearly two hours, this subject was discussed on how best the African diaspora should be engaged in the revitalization of Africa. There were contributions from the audience and the talks would have continued if not for the main event that needed to start.

The two Masters of Ceremony, Xavier ‘t Zand & Jebi Love from Belgium took charge and immediately started calling out first badge of names for recognition on the night. These are individuals and businesses or organizations who had in the past 20 years supported The Voice magazine at various level to accomplish the height that was been celebrated on the night. The people where full of surprise and excitement for the recognition, some were taken unaware of the recognition which made it more interesting.

He publisher and founder of the Voice magazine, Pastor Amb. Elvis Iruh in his remarks, thank everyone present but most importantly all those who have shared in the nurturing of the magazine from a one man product to a worldwide magazine received globally and continued to be supported by people around the world. He paid tributes to all his past colleagues including those who have departed this world for their immense contribution to making the Voice magazine what it is now.

After his remarks, he introduced the anniversary guest speaker in person of Hon. Dr. Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay, Former National Speaker, The Gambia National Assembly; Former

28

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Deputy Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament; Former President, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and Founder, Family Rights Advancement & Protection (FRAP).

She spoke on the role and expectations of the African Diasporas towards Africa but she did noted that Africa itself has disappointed his Diaspora citizens by not properly engaging them despite the huge remittances each year back to their countries of origin.

She also used the occasion to challenge the Diaspora women to get involved in their various countries politics and let Africa produce more female politicians as they have proven to be better managers.

She was given a special Voice Heroine Award recognition by the publisher, Pastor Elvis Iruh. An award she dedicated to all Diaspora women present at the event. She later took a memorial photo with all the women at the event.

In a similar gesture, Ambassador Mrs. Nwanne Campo presented a thank you award to the Publisher of The Voice magazine on behalf of Dr. Dawn Willis Foundation based in Kampala, Uganda for his contribution to humanitarian activities in Uganda and other parts of the world.

There was live music supplied by East African Sound DJ Crew and Comedian Aboxan Aila from Kenya. The nearly 300 audience were fully entertained, a lot to eat and drink and dance galore. They all went home with goodie bags courtesy of Unidex BV, a Dutch food distribution company in The Netherlands.

Many of the participants spoken to expressed appreciation to The Voice magazine team and which to become a member of the Voice magazine family and how to be a support to the project.

Truly an inspiring event and wishing the Voice magazine all the successes in the years ahead.

The Voice news magazine is the first Pan-African news magazine published in The Netherlands in English language, covering Central Europe, America and Africa spread across the world. The first edition was published on 12th of August 1999.

We recently marked our 20th anniversary.

The publication is the brain child of Pastor Ambassador Elvis Iruh who has put in close to three decades in Journalism practice both in Nigeria and Europe, he has worked for several well-known publications like the West African Magazine, The New Africa Magazine, The Trumpet, all based in the United Kingdom before venturing into his own publication in 1999.

The publication covers general new items, business engagements, interviews, coverage of social and events, advertorial, articles, opinions and feedback from our readers.

For 16 years we circulated as a printed magazine until August 2016 when we started circulating digitally worldwide after physical presence in over 33 countries around the world. In 2017, we fully adopted a new market strategy by starting our digital edition of the magazine, distributed via online, it is faster and cheaper for our clients to participate around the world.

You can follow us via www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com, on Twitter: The Voice magazine; Facebook: The Voice magazine; Instagram: The Voice magazine

The Voice magazine 20th anniversary appreciation ceremony 2019 in pictures

30

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

The Voice magazine 20th anniversary recap........

32

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

The Voice magazine 20th anniversary Appreciation ceremony 2019 in pictures

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

33

The Voice magazine appreciation night ceremony

34

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Preview of what took place at the Voice magazine 20th anniversary celebration and certificate of Appreciation to partners, friends, business associates. We had a full photo coverage by Fatai Badmus, Abeka Salmin Abdallah, NaijaTV, Johnson photos, We are grateful for your contribution to the anniversary ceremony.

TV Management.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

35

Celebration of the Voice magazine 20th anniversary

36

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

37

EUROPE: How the ‘Nigerian mafia’ exploits African women in Europe

N

igerian women make up the majority of African human trafficking victims in Europe, with most forced into prostitution. Numerous secret societies run the smuggling and authorities say they’re increasingly violent.

One of Germany’s largest red-light districts is Vulkan Street in Duisburg, a northwest German city and former industrial stronghold. A growing number of Nigerian women are ending up here, and Nigerian human traffickers are responsible for smuggling in most of them, says Barbara Wellner of Solidarity with Women in Distress (Solwodi). The organization helps victims of human trafficking and forced prostitution. Wellner says many of these women are disadvantaged, young, have received “barely any schooling, and have just a single parent or no parents.”

Such vulnerable women often fall into the hands of traffickers in Africa and get passed along a farreaching network until they eventually land in Germany.

There, they often end up with so-called “madams,” women who pimp them out. Before heading to Europe, these women are told that their journey will be costly, but that this won’t be a problem, since they’ll make good money in Europe.

To place more pressure on the young women to pay up once they’re in Europe, a juju spell from the West African magical tradition is often cast upon them. This can often be accompanied by ritualistic animal slaughter and the drinking of its blood. The women are then forcefully and repeatedly told that their relatives will die or become ill if they fail to repay their debt or tell anyone of this arrangement. Once on European soil, these women often find that prostitution under the “madams” is the only way for them to earn the money that they owe.

In 2018 German police registered 68 women who were the 38

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

victims of Nigerian human traffickers - a significant rise on the previous year. Nigerian women made up the largest share of African trafficking victims at 61%. Last year 41 suspected Nigerian traffickers were also caught, roughly twice as many as in 2017, according to the Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office.

In 2012 Germany joined the EU’s ETUTU project, which in

cooperation with Nigerian authorities aims to crack down on Nigerian criminals trafficking humans around the world. A transnational approach to fighting these criminal is absolutely essential, as most Nigerian women arrive in Europe via Italy.

Over the past three years, over 20,000 Nigerian women, many of them minors, have come to Italy via the Mediterranean. The UN estimates that some 80% are victims of human trafficking or are at great risk of becoming a victim.

Helen Okoro was once a victim of human traffickers. She arrived in Italy 20 years ago and lives there today. She works for Casa Agata, a Catholic women’s shelter, in the Sicilian city of Catania. So many women ask the shelter for help that its workers can barely keep up. Okoro has seen human trafficking change over the past years. She says she is alarmed by how brutal and professional human traffickers have become.

Some Sicilians are starting to refer a new “Nigerian mafia.”

Yet unlike the Italian mafia, both perpetrators and victims are from abroad and often live on the fringes of society. Some Sicilian journalists accuse Italian authorities of not cracking down hard enough on these trafficking organizations.

However, public prosecutor Lina Trovato rejects this accusation. She says authorities have been monitoring the activities of Nigerian organized crime networks for a while.

She explains that Nigeria’s so-called “new mafia” is not a single coherent unit but is instead compromised of numerous secret societies and criminal gangs, such as the so-called Black Axe, Vikingsor Supreme Eiye Fraternity.

In Nigeria, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is out to catch human traffickers, too. Daniel Atokolo, who heads the NAPTIP branch in the metropolis Lagos, says the traffickers are increasingly brutal. According to Atokolo, efforts to dispel juju superstition among West Africans mean the madams in Europe now mainly resort to violence, instead of the psychological pressure of spells, to control the young women forced into prostitution.

Atokolo says that the secret societies active in Europe today, commonly referred to as the Nigerian mafia, “are no longer out to psychologically condition their victims with magic spells. They now use sheer terror. There is a clear relationship between the decrease in juju spells and the stronger presence of these gangs, who demand total obedience from their victims.”

More than 50 secret societies now operate in Nigeria, with

influential lawmakers and businessmen supposedly among their members. Little is known about their organizational structure.

John Omoruan is a former high-ranking Black Axe member.

He says he’s repented and he regrets his past actions.

However, he accuses Europe of being a large part of the problem behind human trafficking.

Omoruan says it’s Europe that wants cheaper, younger prostitutes: “At the end of the day, it’s a question of money. Europe is hungry for prohibited things like drugs, underage prostitutes, everything that’s forbidden.” He says Nigerian gangs are merely meeting that demand. “As long as this demand persists, secret groups like Black Axe and others will continue to be successful and make lots of money.”

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

39

Boeing has sacked its Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg following a year of intense scrutiny and industrial setbacks set off by two fatal crashes of its 737 MAX jetliner.

T

he company announced that chairman David Calhoun would take over as CEO and president from January 13, saying a change in leadership was necessary to restore confidence in the company.

The management shakeup comes as the world’s largest plane maker struggles to win regulatory approval for its grounded best-selling jetliner, while also trying to regain trust with passengers and airline customers.

The US aerospace giant decided to hit pause on making the 737 MAX after a two-day meeting in Chicago last month.

It followed news that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would not approve the plane’s return to service before 2020.

The company said it would stop production of the jets in January.

The 737 MAX has been grounded since March 2019, after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia within five months of each other killed 346 people and cost the plane manufacturer more than $US9 billion ($13.1 billion).

The 737 MAX crisis was the biggest of Mr Muilenburg’s 34-

40

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

year tenure at Boeing, where he started as an intern in 1985, rising through the company’s defence and services ranks to the top job in 2015.

Boeing has also suffered setbacks in space.

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner capsule returned to Earth on Sunday after a software problem prevented it from reaching the orbit needed to dock with the International Space Station as planned.

While it Boeing space chief executive Jim Chilton told reporters the landing “couldn’t really have gone any better”, it was deemed a blow to the company’s effort to launch astronauts for NASA this year.

T

he Netherlands is to establish three new embassies, in Armenia, Niger and Burkina Faso, foreign minister Stef Blok has told MPs. The current diplomatic missions in Niamey and Ouagadougou will be expanded and given full embassy status as part of cabinet efforts to focus more attention on the Sahel region, Blok said. Both offices are currently satellites of the Dutch embassy in Mali. The new embassy in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, means there will also be Dutch representation throughout the region, the minister said. In addition, the current Dutch diplomatic missions in Abuja (Nigeria), Amman, Bagdad, Beijing, Bogota, Brussels, Caracas, Geneva, New York, Rabat, Tirana and Vilnius will be strengthened, Blok said.

The government’s coalition accord included a commitment to spend €40m to strengthen the Dutch diplomatic presence abroad and reopen embassies and consulates. Some €10m has already been spent on adding 29 posts to the Dutch

UN, plan international to copromote women’s rights in Mozambique

T

he United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the non-profit Plan International before the close of last year signed a memorandum of understanding to join efforts to promote and protect the rights of women and girls in Mozambique.

The cooperation aims to focus on the rights of women and girls primarily in emergency situations, according to Marie Laetitia Kayisire, UN Women’s representative in Mozambique.

“The partnership will focus especially on violence and discrimination against women and girls and on climate related disasters,” Kayisire said.

The organizations will develop economic recovery programs and strengthen mechanisms to combat violence against women in times of local emergency, Kayisire added.

According to Anne Hoff, country director for

diplomatic mission south and east of the EU, because of the instability in these regions. In May 2017, the government advisory board for international affairs AIV said €70m to €80m a year needed to be spent to bring Dutch embassies up to scratch following years of cutbacks.

Plan International Mozambique, both sides want to join the commitment to do something concrete together, including co-research, collaborations and advocacy actions, as well as providing accurate data on the impact of natural disasters on women and girls.

In March and May, the country was hit by two cyclones that devastated infrastructure and killed more than 600 people, leaving thousands of women and children vulnerable.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

41

T

Donald Trump impeached by House of Representatives in historic vote

rump becomes third American president to be impeached as two articles approved, mostly along party lines Just shy of the third anniversary of his presidency, Donald Trump was impeached in a mostly party-line vote in the House of Representatives. After a full day of debate, the House voted 230-197 to approve a first article of impeachment charging Trump with abuse of power, with one “present” vote.

A second article, charging Trump with obstruction of Congress, was approved 229-198.

Trump now faces a trial in the Senate, where he is expected to be acquitted. Proceedings in the Republican-controlled body are likely to begin next month, but the exact timing remains unclear as Democrats and Republicans negotiate over the terms of the

trial.

As Wednesday’s vote unfolded, Trump spoke at a campaign rally in Battle Creek, Michigan. “It doesn’t really feel like we’re being impeached,” he said, to cheers. “This lawless partisan impeachment is a political suicide march for the Democrat party.”

But Trump’s fierce efforts to seal himself in a bubble of adulation, and his insistence that Republicans pretend away the existence of facts threatening to pierce that bubble, could not divert the historic reality coalescing on Capitol Hill.

The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, described the proceedings as a “sad day” for the country. “The president’s reckless activities necessitated us having to introduce articles of impeachment,” she said at a press conference following the vote.

42

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Pelosi had opened the debate on the articles of impeachment just after midday, calling Trump “an ongoing threat to our national security and the integrity of our elections”.

Wearing a large pin of the ceremonial mace of the chamber as she rose to speak on the House floor, Pelosi warned that “our founders’ vision of a republic is under threat by actions from the White House”.

“It is tragic that the president’s reckless actions make impeachment necessary,” she said. “He gave us no choice.” The speech was met with sustained applause from her caucus.

Democrats accuse Trump of pursuing a scheme to cheat in the 2020 election by pressuring Ukraine to manufacture bad news about the former vice-president Joe Biden, one of Trump’s main Democrat rivals, and then blocking congressional oversight.

Republican Doug Collins of Georgia, the ranking member on the judiciary committee, said that impeachment had always been an “inevitability” under the Democrats and denied that Trump had committed a crime.

In a marathon and at times painfully repetitive partisan volley, members exchanged one- and two-minute blocks of speaking time over about eight hours of debate. Republicans accused Democrats of having a vendetta against Trump and running what they said was a corrupt process, while Democrats taunted Republicans for not even attempting to defend Trump on the merits.

“They cannot articulate a real defense of the president’s actions,” said Jerry Nadler, the judiciary committee chair.

Trump joined Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998 as the only US presidents to be impeached. Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before he could be impeached.

A two-thirds majority vote in the Republican-controlled Senate would be required to convict and remove Trump from office.

With no Republican senators currently voicing support for impeachment, Trump appeared safe to survive.

“They’re gonna do the right thing,” Trump said onstage in Michigan.

Expected to start in early January, the exact timing of the Senate trial remains unclear as Democrats and Republicans continue to negotiate over the proceedings.

Pelosi on Wednesday night declined to commit to a timeline on when the House would send over the articles of impeachment to the Senate – a prerequisite for the trial – or when Democrats would appoint members to present the case against Trump.

“We cannot name managers until we see what the process is on the Senate side,” she said. “So far we haven’t seen anything that looks fair to us.”

Democrats have questioned the position of the Republican leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, who said on Tuesday he was “not impartial about this at all”.

Zero Republican representatives voted in favor of either article of impeachment, fueling the party’s charges that the proceedings were driven by partisanship. Democrats replied

didn’t lose one Republican vote and three Democrats voted for us,” he said to applause. “The Republican party has never been so affronted, but they’ve never been so united as they are right now.”

Early in the day, the House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy of California, presented a resolution seeking to condemn Adam Schiff, the chair of the intelligence committee, and Nadler for what McCarthy said were abuses of power and violations of procedure. The resolution was tabled without a vote.

Schiff, whose committee performed the bulk of the investigative work in the impeachment inquiry, took to the floor just before 4pm to detail the case against Trump.

“The president of the United States was willing to sacrifice our

that Republicans were hostage to Trump and unable to deliver a sound judgment in the matter.

Two Democrats, including one whose staff said he would soon be switching parties to the Republican side, broke with their party to oppose both articles of impeachment. A third Democrat, Jared Golden of Maine, split his vote. A fourth Democrat, the presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, voted “present”. The House’s sole independent, former Republican Justin Amash, voted for impeachment.

Trump was handed the vote tally onstage during his rally. “We

national security by withholding support for a critical strategic partner at war in order to improve his re-election prospects,” Schiff said. “But for the courage of someone willing to blow the whistle, he would have gotten away with it.

“Instead, he got caught. He tried to cheat and he got caught.”

Trump’s event Wednesday night was billed as a Merry Christmas rally in Battle Creek, Michigan, a shrinking food manufacturing center in a county that swung from supporting Barack Obama in 2012 to backing Trump in 2016.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

43

Dutch King focuses on freedom, urges people to listen to each other in his Christmas message to the Dutch people

K

ing Willem-Alexander’s Christmas speech to the nation focused on the theme of freedom this year. Freedom, the king said, is a flame that burns in the heart of the Netherlands. ‘But that freedom has a price,’ he said. ‘It demands reason, a willingness to give each other space and tolerance. ‘The Netherlands, he said, is a successful country because it is a country in which people work together. ‘Even if emotions can run high, the Dutch have a feeling of togetherness. That is our strength. This contributes not only to a country which performs well, but to a land in which people are happy,’ the king said. At the same time, young people in particular should ‘give yourself space’, the king said, speaking in the hall of the Huis

44

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

ten Bosch palace where the royal family live. Doubt, sadness and insecurity are all part of life, the king said.

‘As free people, we want to get the best out of life, and we blame ourselves if that does not happen. We reflect ourselves in others, we aim too high and we want to present a perfect version of ourselves to the rest of the world… but no-one is perfect.’ ‘Our happiness lies in our connections to others. We should not let each other go. We should listen to each other and show understanding… it helps if you look at someone and say “it is okay”,’ the king said. ‘A listening ear, an outstretched hand or a shoulder to lean on is the best present a person can give, and not only at Christmas.’

Dutch gets new Ambassador for Nigeria The new Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria is Ambassador Henricus Johannes Jozef Dijk. His career started at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992 and worked in Budapest and in other departments.

He also worked from 1998 -2002, as Deputy Chef de Poste / head of Development Cooperation in Bamako, Mali.

From 2002 – 2006, he served as head of development in Colombo, Sri Lanka And from 2006 to 2010, he was head of the South-East Asia Department of the Asia and Oceania Directorate While from 2010- 2014; he was head of Development Cooperation in Accra, Ghana 2014 - 2015 Civilian Consultant United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) 2015 - 2019 Ambassador to Benin from where he has been assigned to Nigeria as Ambassador.

It is expected that he will use his vast international experience to improve working bilateral relationship between the Netherlands and Nigeria

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

45

Tax minister Menno Snel resigns over child benefit scandal

T

ax minister Menno Snel has resigned ahead of a debate on the tax office child benefit scandal, saying he is no longer able to continue in the position. Snel can only count on the support of the four coalition parties in parliament, after GroenLinks and the SGP withdrew their backing for the junior finance minister.

He has been under fire for the way the scandal has been handled since it broke out before the close of 2019.

The decision to send victims heavily redacted files on their own personal position is regarded by many as the final straw. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of parents were ordered to pay back benefits after tax office officials decided they had made fraudulent claims dating back to 2014.

Last month a government committee said all the parents should be given compensation as well as having the benefits backdated. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a reaction that nobody doubted the effort Snel had put into finding a solution for the problem.

‘We are losing a very involved and skilled colleague and that is a real shame,’ he said.

‘The benefit problems have had a major impact on the people involved. It is the cabinet’s duty to come up with a short-term solution that does justice to everyone who has been affected.’ Third minister Snel, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party D66, is the third member of the government to stand down since the March 2017 general election. Foreign minister Halbe Zijlstra (VVD) quit after it emerged he had lied about being at a meeting where Vladimir Putin supposedly set out his plans for a ‘Greater Russia’. Earlier this year, junior justice minister Mark Harbers stood down following the publication of a report about crime involving refugees, in which figures about the number of refugees suspected of violent crimes were ‘hidden’.

46

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Tax office to pay compensation to child benefit families from this year

P

arents hit by the tax office child benefit scandal will receive compensation as we begin a new year, some already received part payment from December 2019, the finance ministry said. Some 300 families were forced to pay back thousands of euros in what the tax office said was wrongly-claimed child benefits, without knowing what they were supposed to have done wrong. Last month, a government committee set up to investigate the scandal said the tax office should pay compensation to the families some of whom faced financial ruin. Most were dual national families, who not only lost benefits but were ordered to pay back money stretching several years. One family faced a €75,000 bill after the tax office said it had wrongly claimed benefits without producing any evidence.

The offer, ranging between €20,000 and €66,000 is only an

estimate and does not include legal costs or compensation to families forced to sell their possessions to meet the tax office demands. The definitive amounts will be paid in the New Year. The families will also receive a letter from the new tax minister in which he tells them that he understands the money can never compensate them fully for everything they have gone through.

More murders in Amsterdam, but rate still low for a capital city There have been 21 murders in Amsterdam recorded in the out gone year (2019), six up on the 2018 total, according to the capital’s Parool newspaper. The number of murders in the city has varied between 15 and 30 per year for more than 10 years now but one trend is clear – the victims and killers are increasingly likely to be young men, the paper said. Nine of last year’s victims were under the age of 30 and disputes between rival gangs and drugs related violence were responsible for the bulk of the deaths, the Parool said. The national statistics office CBS said earlier last year the number of violent deaths in the Netherlands fell by over 25% in 2018 to 119. Last year’s figure, which includes both murder and manslaughter, is down 39 on 2017, reducing the total number of violent deaths by half since the beginning of the century, the CBS said.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

47

Kenya places climate disorder at centre of UN Security Council Seat bid

By Leopold Obi

F

acing internal pressure and trans boundary tensions over water, Kenya says it will progress climate security issues if it wins Africa’s seat Kenya has made climate change a core part of its bid to obtain a seat on the UN security council, making an effort

to “seek lasting solutions to security challenges caused by erratic climatic conditions” one of its 10 campaign pledges.

The country is hoping to become a non-permanent member in 2021 to 2022. Kenya’s ministry of foreign affairs said it was well placed in helping the world deal with climate change-induced threats thanks to its experience of dealing with the impacts of extreme and variable weather.

Kenya is battling for Africa’s UN Security Council seat with Djibouti, which also has experience of dealing with food and water shortages as a consequence of changing weather conditions partially due to climate change.

The African Union recently endorsed Kenya’s candidacy by a considerable 3713 margin over Djibouti. But Djibouti declined to bow out of the race. The election for non-permanent members of the UN Security Council will take place in June 2020, with successful candidates taking their seats in January 2021.

Kenya’s foreign affairs cabinet secretary Monica Juma recently said climate change was negatively impacting global peace and security, with urgent action required to address the intertwined threats.

“Our pursuit for solutions on global challenges convinces us that we are well placed to contribute constructively in the UN Security Council,” Juma said at a conference on environmental governance and diplomacy in Nairobi, Kenya.

Gerphas Opondo, a legal expert on multilateral agreements said climate change is a threat to global security, with weather events such as harsh droughts having the potential to trigger tension between two neighbouring countries sharing a trans boundary water resource.

As droughts become more frequent, many countries consider damming their rivers to boost water, food and electricity security at home, Opondo explained. But such projects deny users in a neighbouring country who may need the resources more the opportunity to share the resource.

Earlier last year, Kenya was forced to shelve plans to construct dams across the River Mara – the only major river supporting Maasai Mara and Serengeti national parks – following protests from Tanzania.

Ethiopia and Egypt are also involved in a long-running diplomatic standoff over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam across Nile River. Egypt fears that the dam threatens its already scarce water supplies.

According to Opondo, “international conflicts over control of a trans-boundary resources can lead to wars, especially when diplomatic resolution fails,” which is why climate change has become a focus for African nations seeking membership of the UN security council.

This article was produced as part of an African reporting programme supported by Future Climate for Africa.

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

49

At last: Britain certain to leave the European Union

F

inally UK lawmakers pass Boris Johnson’s Brexit withdrawal deal, the prime minister has been rewarded for his convincing general election victory by having his deal comfortably overcome a House of Commons vote. Britain’s departure from the EU now seems inevitable.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson managed to secure a majority of 124 as Members of Parliament (MPs) voted heavily in favor of his Brexit deal, paving the way for the UK to leave the European Union on January 31.

The vote was the second reading of the withdrawal agreement bill in Parliament. This sees the UK legally bound to leave the EU at the end of next month and to negotiate an agreement on future relations with the EU by the end of 2020, in a so-called “transition period.”

The bill was supported by 358 MPs, while 234 voted against the proposal.

“Today we will deliver on the promise we made to the people and get the Brexit vote wrapped up for Christmas,” Johnson said ahead of the vote, which comes just a day after Parliament officially reopened.

Johnson’s address to lawmakers before the vote focused on bringing unity to the UK over an issue that has deeply divided the nation.

50

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

“Now is the moment to come together and write a new and exciting chapter in our national story, to forge a new partnership with our European friends, to stand tall in the world, to begin the healing for which the whole people of this country yearn.”

“The sorry story of the last three years will be at an end and we can move forward,” he added. “Brexit will be done.”

The bill passed after last month’s general election saw the Conservative party win an 80-seat majority. The bill was previously backed by the lower house in October, but then withdrawn after lawmakers rejected a three-day deadline for getting the bill through Parliament.

The leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, said the Labour Party would not support the “terrible deal,” saying there was a better and “fairer way” for the country to leave the EU. He accused Johnson of setting the country in a “reckless direction.”

Critics also say that Johnson’s time frame will not allow enough time to negotiate a decent trade agreement.

Now that the bill has passed, lawmakers will have another three days to discuss it further, beginning on January 7. Lawmakers could possibly make amendments to the bill. The final vote will take place on January 9.

The bill will then be passed on to the UK’s upper house to make a final decision on whether the bill passes into law. By convention, the House of Lords does not usually block policies that were in a government’s election policy program.

If these stages at Westminster all go to plan, the European Parliament is expected to ratify the withdrawal agreement on January 29, meaning the UK can leave the bloc two days later.

Charles Michel, the new President of the European Council, tweeted just after the bill passed that “a level playing field remains a must.”

Nigerian students deported from Croatia had visas to stay .....

Documents show pair who were forcibly transferred to Bosnia had right to remain

Two Nigerian student table tennis players wrongly deported to Bosnia by Croatian police who mistook them for undocumented migrants had regular visas granting them permission to be in Croatia at the time of their detention.

Abia Uchenna Alexandro and Eboh Kenneth Chinedu, who arrived in Croatia on 12 November to participate in the fifth World Inter-universities Championships, had visas granting them the right to stay until 18 November.

But police who stopped them in Zagreb on 17 November did not believe them and, without verifying their status, forcibly sent them to Bosnia.

The Guardian obtained an original copy of the visa issued by the Croatian authorities to Alexandro, who, like Chinedu, is a student at the Federal University of Technology Owerri in Nigeria. The Inter-Universities organisation confirmed Chinedu’s visa was also valid at the time of his detention.

The pair, both 18, left Pula for the Croatian capital, Zagreb, after the tournament and were supposed to fly to Lagos on 18 November. “The night before our departure, on the

17th, we checked out from the hostel and went for a walk in Zagreb,” Chinedu said in an interview on Wednesday.

“Suddenly … we were stopped by the police who asked us for our identification documents. We tried to explain that our passports were in the hostel and that we had a regular visa, but they paid no attention to what we were saying.”

The officers allegedly mistook them for undocumented immigrants, put them in a van and transferred them to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina where, that day, Croatian authorities had gathered together a group of

migrants who were intercepted as they were attempting to cross the country.

“I begged them one more time to check our status,” said Chinedu, “but they wouldn’t listen. They kicked me in the back and told me they would shoot me if I didn’t move.”

Last weekend they were transferred to an immigration centre in east Sarajevo where they are currently being held.

The plight of the two students has made the news around the world and sparked a row between Croatia and Bosnia.

“Those people are victims of illegal acts on the Croatian side,” Dragan Mektić, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s minister of security, told Al Jazeera. “It is obvious that Croatian police forcibly displaced them.”

Police in Croatia denied any wrongdoing and raised doubts over the table tennis players’ intentions, suggesting they were lying. According to the police, another Nigerian who participated in the championship had attempted to cross the border with Slovenia from Croatia a few days before.

“Police officers have already witnessed cases of individuals who make an attempt, even abusing their participation in sports competitions in Croatia, to remain in the country or continue their journey illegally to other European countries,” Croatian police said.

However, even after the mistake was evident, Croatian police claimed the two men intended to stay in Croatia and not leave.

The original copy of the visa, issued by Croatian authorities, contradicts the interior ministry in Zagreb’s version of events and confirms the two are the alleged victims of an injustice. .

The students are now begging authorities in Sarajevo to return them to their home country, but only on one condition: “If they take us back to Croatia, we want to have UN escorts with us. We will not go to Croatia without a UN representative. We are scared of the Croatian police after what they did to us.”

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

51

Aisha Buhari’s Mercy Mission visits Edo State

A

s part of her humanitarian activities of bringing succor to less privileged persons in Nigeria, First Lady, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has sent a delegation to Benin City, Edo state to present food items and other nutritious commodities to inpatients and outpatients currently receiving medical attention at various hospitals in the state.

The team were at Benin City on Friday, 20th December, 2019.

Four hospitals where visited by the Future Assured team including the University of Benin Teaching Hospital where the Chief Medical Director. Prof. Darlington Obaseki received and conducted them round the hospital for the distribution.

In what the head of delegation, Zainab Kassim, Special Assistant to the President in the Office of the First Lady described as a mercy mission, the aim of the visit was to identify with the patients and to show them love as well as to give them a sense of belonging.

First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki welcomed the team and commended Mrs. Buhari for remembering those in need, especially at this yuletide. She called for the replication of such mercy missions to spread love and compassion in the nation.

The team also visited Stella Obasanjo

Hospital for a similar gesture and the Medical Director of the hospital Dr. Ifohan Ebohmwonyi expressed appreciation for this intervention describing it as bringing hope to the hopeless. At the Central Hospital Benin where the delegation was received and conducted round by the Medical Director Dr. Moses Imologomhe, he expressed appreciation for the gesture on behalf of both the hospital’s management and the patients.

Faith Mediplex was also visited by the team for the same exercise.

The Medical Director, Dr. Temple Oguike was overwhelmed with the gesture describing it as unprecedented.

About 1000 packs of Future Assured items comprising milk, sugar, noodles and other essential commodities were distributed.

Members of the team included Mrs. Bilkisu Usman Halilu, Madam Rose Audu, Mr. Saidu Suleiman and Adebisi Olumide-Ajayi.

52

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Aisha Buhari’s Mercy Mission visits Edo State

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

53

Jeffangs Beauty

This is a one-stop shopping center for all your hair and body products.

We have sections for all beauty and body care products for men and women at Jeffangs Beauty Supply & Salon in Rotterdam We offer you the latest hair and skin products with fantastic prices.......

You are Welcome always & happy New Year 2020

54

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Supply & Salon

We specialize in Afro & European hair styles

J E F

Weaving, Braiding, Lace wig fixing, Trimming of hair, Washing of hair, Relaxing of hair, Colouring of hair, Barbering of all men styles etc.

A

Contact:

F

1st Middellandstraat 132B

N G S

3021BJ, Rotterdam Centrum

We have many more products for you to select from....

You can purchase Retail or Wholesale

E-mail: jeffang2002@yahoo.com jeffangs@jeffangs.com Tel: +31(0)10-4776062 Mob: +31614471508

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

55

PureCare Sal

Looking for a classic place for your Hair do (For a Woman or a Man)?

Look no further than PURECARE Salon in Almere Buiten We offer the latest hair and skin products and our services are world class.

YOU ARE WELCOME & HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020 !!!!

56

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

lon & Shop Wimper extensions stylist • Mary Kay Consultant • Skin and hair analysis with digital microscope • For appointments Only: 06-86495901 •

P U R E C A R E

We have eye for beauty Contact: Reykjavikstraat 13 1334KG, Almere Buiten Centrum Near Trekpleister E-mail: info@purecare.nl Tel: +31(0)36-5212618 www.purecare.nl Opening times: Monday: 1.00pm – 6.00pm Tuesday: 9.30am – 6.00pm Wednesday: 9.30am- 6.00pm Thursday: 9.30am – 6.00pm Friday: 9.30am – 6.00pm Saturday: 9.30am – 6.00pm

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

57

58

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

KINDLY SUPPORT THE VOICE MAGAZINE Since you’re here... Support the Voice magazine so we stay publishing for your reading pleasure.

Give a DONATION from one time, one-month, each month, quarterly, half a year or a year.

It is your choice...

Make such payment to: Name: Stichting Paddi Europa Iban NO: NL29SNSB0908374372 (Swift code: SNSBNL2A) - For payment from Abroad.

Bank: SNS Bank. Adress: Utrecht, The Netherlands.

TV Management www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

59

60

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

61

62

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Unique film about CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND HYGIENE through Foundation Pamoja Kenia in The Hague

I

n Africa one of 4 people doesn’t have clean water. The dirty drinking water causes often diarrhea and diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery. Foundation Pamoja Kenia finds it very important to do something about this problem. That is why they think of providing secure drinking water and sanitation for people in Kenya.

The Foundation has made a documentary which shows the positive results for the population after 7 years of waterand sanitation projects the foundation have realized so far, through donations from donors, sponsors and working in collaboration with (local) partners in Kenya.

On Monday December 16th 2019 the film was shown for the first time for the public to see and appreciate the efforts of the foundation to execute these projects from Matsangoni, an area in Kilifi county in Kenya.

From digging a water well to building public toilets and showers for the communities.

Through the eyes of the thankful inhabitants, the public was able to appreciate more the positive effect the water and sanitation provision has on their lives and how happy they are with the projects the foundation have realized. Also the invited guests

where able to meet and interact with board members from The Netherlands and Kenya.

The evening was meant to be for donors and supporters of foundation Pamoja Kenia and people who are interested.

Reporters and photographers were on hand to give good coverage of the event. The presenation was held at the premises of Church of Our Saviour in The Hague, Helenastraat 8, 2595 HA The Hague) There was enough to eat and drink as there was good time for networking and catch up. Also an enteratinment by comedian from Kenya, Aboxan added favour to the evening as well as a special muscial performance to mark the birthday celebration of the founder of Stichting Pamoja Kenia, Marion van der Voort.

According to Marion you can in the new year to support them as they have bigger plans to reach more communities with drinking water and sanitation with toilets and showers.

For more information you can contact Marion van de Voort, director of Stichting Pamoja Kenia 06 54 65 89 78 E-mail: info@pamoja-kenya.com website: www.pamoja-kenya.com

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

63

Celebrating success stories of Stichting Pamoja Kenia in The Netherlands

64

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

65

Photo coverage of Stichting Pamoja KENIA

66

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

Video commissioning of projects of Stichting Pamoja Kenia in The Hague....

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

67

Liverpool football Club- World Champions & the best in the world

L

iverpool Football Club – WORLD CHAMPIONS!The best football team in the world now The world media continue to pour praised on the performances of Liverpool Football club from season till now and unarguably the best football club in the world.

They felt Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Flamengo proved the Reds are the best in world football and was a victory for Jurgen Klopp’s approach.

After conquering Europe, the Reds conquered the world for the first time in club history thanks to Roberto Firmino’s extra-time winner. It caps off an incredible 2019 for Klopp

68

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

and his remarkable team, who have seen the rewards of their work arrive with three more trophies added to Anfield’s cabinets in just six months.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he struggled to put his feelings into words after winning the Club World Cup. There had been criticism over the decision to fly all his senior players to Qatar, leaving a youth team to get beaten 5-0 by Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, but Klopp said the result and the celebrations afterwards showed how important it was to the club.

“In moments like this, and from a few moments in the past, I struggle to find the right words not in my native language,” he said. “I struggle to find the words to express my respect for the boys, it was incredible. We did so many good things.

“I saw so many sensationally good performances and I am really happy.

“I think we deserved the win. We were the better side. In the deciding moments we had a really good goalie and in the other moments we were the dominant team so I am really happy.

“It was a very intense game for different reasons; it was not our best game we have ever played but it was enough to win. “This was a wonderful time for the club. I said before I didn’t not know how it would feel.

“Now I know it feels outstanding, absolutely sensational. I am so proud of the boys.”

Klopp said the only “shadow” cloud on the night was an ankle injury to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. “Ox got injured in one situation and we play in five days again and that is a tough deal,” he added.

“When he landed, he got a kick and rolled over on it.

He feels OK, of course it’s far from being perfect, but we have to see if it’s a stretched ligament or partly ruptured. A big shadow on tonight.”

Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus was proud of his players.

“Liverpool are enjoying their best time in their decade.

They played a tremendous match and Flamengo were excellent also,” he said “We were a match for Liverpool. I’m fully pleased with what Flamengo have done.

“Brazilian clubs in future will be contenders to European clubs and we have exhibited that today.”

Anthony Joshua regains his world heavyweight belts

A

nthony Joshua regains his world heavyweight belts by a unanimous decision by three judges last December 2019 in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua put up historic boxing class act, completely out classing and out boxing his opponent who weighed a mountainous 286Ibs. Joshua who came into this fight determined to erase the memories of a shock defeat in the hands of same Ruiz left no one in doubt as to who the master of the beautiful game is.

Joshua also went home with the heaviest price money ever paid in any boxing encounter as the fight lived up to its pres match hype, Celebration continued all night in Heathrow England where all British citizens were enjoined to massively mobilize to ensure that all boxing hardwares return to England, where all Britain awaits the Nigerian born British knock out artist.

Joshua deliberate weight loss as advised by former heavy weight champion Wladsmire Chlinko was to condition him to box rings round his opponent and he did just that, in the words of Mohammed Ali; dancing like a butterfly and stinging like a bee.

Joshua reclaimed his IBO, IBF, WBO, and all the silverware in a winner takes all make or break encounter. www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

69

70

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com

71

72

www.thevoicenewsmagazine.com