The British Royal couple was received by Governor Sanwo-Olu; his wife, Dr. Ibijoke, and some members of the State Executive Council during a courtesy visit at Lagos House, Marina.

Prince Harry, accompanied by his wife, Meghan, is on a three-day visit to Nigeria to promote the Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014.

The couple had a stopover in Lagos on Sunday.

The Invictus Games are aimed at raising funds and supporting serving members of the military as well as veterans to overcome their physical and mental illness or injuries, which would help them to develop a sense of belonging and increased self-esteem.

Speaking to journalists after a closed door meeting with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Governor Sanwo-Olu praised the British Royal couple for the work they were doing with Nigeria’s military men, especially on issues around mental health.

He said: “We are honoured to receive them (Prince Harry and Meghan Markle) at the Lagos House, Marina. We are excited about the ideas and what they are planning to do, especially with the office of the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, and his wife, Mrs. Lilian Musa.

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“For Prince Harry, it has been a very interesting and informative trip to the country. He has seen a lot. And part of the things we are hoping he will take away is the diversity and extent of how big our country is, how we continue to ensure that we live together in peace and harmony, and what role Lagos plays in the whole conversation.

“They have been to Kano, Abuja, and now Lagos. I am sure they have their own experience of what Nigeria looks like. We have extended an additional invitation to them that they can always come back when they want to.

“We are indeed happy for what they are doing, especially for our military men, on the conversation around mental health issues and how they can galvanise their various NGOs to ensure that people who require their support, both in the military and private, can seek that support.

“Mental health issues are all around us. Denial and stigmatisation, are some of the things we talked about. And more importantly, at what point in Nigeria can we have the Invictus Games that Prince Harry is known for so that the true Nigerian competitiveness can also be reflected in those games.”

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The visit, on the invitation of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, was also in relation to the Invictus Games, an international adaptive sport competition for wounded service personnel and veterans, founded by Prince Harry in 2014.

The Duke and Duchess arrived Abuja on Friday, and immediately visited the Light Academy in Wuse, an institution supported by Archewell Foundation before moving to the defence headquarters.

On arrival at the DHQ, they were received by wives of military officers led by the President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association, Mrs Oghogho Musa and top officers of the Nigerian military.

The visitors went into closed door meeting with the defence chief, at the end of which they declined to speak with newsmen.

The royal couple left Abuja for a visit to the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna to interact with wounded soldiers receiving treatment.

They are expected to watch a novelty volleyball match between CDS Invictus and Team Duke on Saturday, hold strategic meetings, and proceed to Lagos on Sunday, before their departure.

Source: NAN

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A statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Director of Communication and Public Relations, NBS, Mr Ichedi Joel, said that Harry died in the early hours of Wednesday after a brief illness.

Harry was born on March 15, 1965 in Lishin – Jengre in Plateau.

He attended L.E.A. Primary School, Tuddai, Kaduna State from 1974 to 1980.

Harry then proceeded to Amo Community Secondary School, Katako Jengre, from 1980 to 1985, from where he obtained his first school leaving certificate and the West African Examination Council, WAEC, certificates respectively.

The late statistician-general was admitted into the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (1987 – 1990) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) honours degree in Economics.

He, thereafter, earned his Post-Graduate Diploma in Statistics from the University of Ibadan in 1997.

Harry later attended the University of Abuja from 2014 to 2017 for his Master of Science degree in Economics and also his Ph.D in Economics.

He started his public career in 1992 when he joined the then Federal Office of Statistics and rose through the ranks to become a director before his appointment as the statistician-general of the Federation on August 26, 2021.

The deceased was happily married and blessed with children.

Harry died seven months after his appointment as       Statistician-General of the Federation.

Source: NAN

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The Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr Simon Harry, made the announcement at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, to announce foreign trade statistics for fourth quarter 2021 and the Consumer Price Index for February, 2022.

According to him, during the fourth quarter of 2021, total trade stood at N11.7 billion with export trade value of N5.7 billion and import trade value of N5.9 billion, which he said, recorded a negative trade balance of N173.96 billion.

Harry said, however, that total trade in Q4, 2021 was 11.79 per cent higher, when compared to the value recorded in Q3, 2021 with N10.4 billion.

“Similarly, export trade grew by 12.27 per cent from N5.1 billion while import trade grew by 11.33 per cent from N5.3 billion in Q3 2021.’’

He said that Nigerian export trade was dominated by crude oil, which amounted to N4, 269.36 billion, representing 74.04 per cent of total exports during the period.

“This was followed by natural liquefied gas with N573.8 billion (9.95 per cent).

“Floating or submersible drilling platforms with N265.33 billion (4.60 per cent) and Urea, whether or not in aqueous solution with N208.05 billion, representing 3.61 per cent.

“On the other hand, major products imported were motor spirit, valued at (N1, 443.91 billion) (24.31 percent), followed by Durum wheat, valued at N397.19 billion (6.69 per cent) and Rolled iron/steal and others with N88.23 billion (1.49 percent).’’

Harry said that India, Spain, France, Netherlands and Indonesia were top five major export trading partners of Nigeria during the period.

“The top five major trading partners in exports during the 4th Quarter, 2021 were India with ₦874.86 billion (15.17 percent), Spain with ₦789.23 billion (13.69 per cent).

“France with ₦485.35 billion (8.42 per cent), the Netherlands with ₦425.85 billion (7.38 per cent), and Indonesia with ₦288.10 billion (5.00 per cent).

“Similarly, the top import trading partners during the period under review were China with ₦1,652.65 billion (27.82 per cent), Belgium with ₦613.28 billion (10.32 per cent) and India with ₦430.38 billion (7.24 per cent).

“Others are the Netherlands with ₦416.52 billion (7.01 per cent) and the United States of America with ₦340.36 billion (5.73 per cent).

“Looking at sectoral classifications, 74.04 per cent of total exports during the period under review was crude oil, followed by other petroleum oil products with 11.90 per cent.

“In terms of imports, 50.51 per cent were manufactured goods, followed by other petroleum oil products with 28.60 per cent,’’ Harry said.

Source: NAN

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Speaking at an event on Sunday evening, Prince Harry said he and Meghan had hoped to continue serving the Queen, but without public funding.

“Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible,” he said.

It was his first speech since the couple said they wanted to stand down from being full-time working royals.

But the prince said he wanted to make it clear he and Meghan were “not walking away”.

“The UK is my home and a place that I love, that will never change,” he said.

Earlier this month, Prince Harry and Meghan said they intended “to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent”.

Beginning his speech at a fund-raising reception in central London for Sentebale, the charity he co-founded which helps children living with HIV in southern Africa, he said: “I can only imagine what you may have heard and perhaps read over the past few weeks.

“So I want you to hear the truth from me as much as I can share, not as a prince or a duke but as Harry.”

During his address, the prince said he would always have “the utmost respect for my grandmother, my commander in chief”.

“Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible,” he said.

“I’ve accepted this, knowing that it doesn’t change who I am or how committed I am.”

As part of a deal finalised on Saturday between the Queen, senior royals, and the couple, Harry and Meghan agreed they will no longer formally represent the monarch.

From the spring, they will stop using their HRH titles and withdraw from royal duties, including official military appointments.

However, the statement by Buckingham Palace said they would continue to maintain their private patronages and associations.

‘Years of challenges’

In the speech, posted on the couple’s Instagram account, the prince said that when he and Meghan were married “we were excited, we were hopeful, and we were here to serve”.

“For those reasons, it brings me great sadness that it has come to this.

“The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly,” he said.

“It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges and I know I haven’t always got it right, but as far as this goes there really was no other option.”

The couple said they plan to divide their time between the UK and Canada, after they spent six weeks on Vancouver Island with their son Archie over Christmas.

The duke told attendees it was a “privilege… to feel your excitement for our son Archie, who saw snow for the first time the other day and thought it was bloody brilliant!”

The duchess is currently staying on Canada’s west coast with her son, after briefly returning to the UK earlier this month.

Source: BBC

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A statement on behalf of Princes Harry and William described the story’s “inflammatory language” as “offensive”.

It comes after a source told the Times the Sussexes felt they had been pushed out by William’s “bullying” attitude.

The brothers are to meet the Queen and Prince of Wales later to discuss Harry and Meghan’s future.

The couple want to step back as senior members of the Royal Family, while also becoming financially independent.

A statement on behalf of Harry and William said: “Despite clear denials, a false story ran in a UK newspaper today speculating about the relationship between the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Cambridge.

“For brothers who care so deeply about the issues surrounding mental health, the use of inflammatory language in this way is offensive and potentially harmful.”

Claims of bullying have been strongly contested by other sources close to the Cambridges and Harry, the Times article reported.

In October, Harry responded to speculation about a rift between the brothers by saying the pair were “on different paths at the moment” but he loved William “dearly”.

It comes as the brothers are set to meet the Queen and Prince Charles, in talks described as “royal history in the making”, by BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond.

Meghan is expected to join the discussion by phone from Canada.

It is hoped the talks will produce a “next step” on the way to defining the couple’s new relationship with the Royal Family – in line with the Queen’s wish to find a solution within days.

However, our correspondent said a deal “might take time” to be agreed and implemented.

Among the issues likely to be discussed are what funding the duke and duchess will receive, whether they will keep their titles and what royal duties they will continue to carry out.

The group are expected to review a range of possibilities for the Sussexes, taking into account plans outlined by the couple.

The final arrangement could provide a blueprint for future royal generations, including the Duke of Cambridge’s younger children Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Monday’s gathering at the Queen’s estate in Norfolk – being described as the “Sandringham summit” – will be the first time the monarch has spoken face-to-face with Prince Harry since the Sussexes’ announcement.

Prince Charles has returned from Oman after attending a condolence ceremony following the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.

Newspaper reports suggested the couple could conduct a potentially damaging television interview if they were unhappy with the outcome of the discussions.

Broadcaster and friend of the couple, Tom Bradby – who made a documentary with them last year – wrote in the Sunday Times: “I have some idea of what might be aired in a full, no-holds-barred, sit-down interview and I don’t think it would be pretty.”

What do Harry and Meghan want?

In their statement on Wednesday, posted on the couple’s official Instagram account, the duke and duchess said they intend to “step back” as senior royals and work to become financially independent.

They also said they plan to split their time between the UK and North America, while “continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages”.

How did we get here?

Meghan is in Canada with her eight-month-old son Archie after flying there amid the ongoing discussions, which have involved the UK and Canadian governments.

She and Prince Harry had been in Canada over Christmas, before they returned to the UK last week after a six-week break from royal duties.

Last October, Prince Harry and Meghan publicly revealed their struggles under the media spotlight.

The couple were already preparing to launch their own Sussex Royal charity, which they set up after splitting from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s foundation in June last year.

And in December it was revealed that the couple had made an application to trademark their Sussex Royal brand across a string of items including books, calendars, clothing, charitable fundraising, education and social care services.

Source: BBC

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The warning comes after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said they were leaving their royal roles as they wanted to become “financially independent”.

The shocking decision is said to have left the Queen ‘disappointed’ and sources close to the Prince of Wales claimed he could stop Harry’s £2.3 million hand out from the Duchy of Cornwall Estate.

Speaking to the Times, a source said that Prince Charles ‘had made clear that he will not be writing his son a blank cheque’.

The source also added that when the couple talk about splitting their time between the UK and North America, that they mean Canada, although they hinted that they could also spend time in the US, where Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland is based.

After Harry and Meghan made their shocking announcement, the Palace said: “Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage.

“We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

Source: NAN

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In a statement posted to the couple’s website, Prince Harry said they were suing the newspaper over alleged misuse of private information, copyright infringement and breach of data protection laws.

In an unprecedented salvo against Fleet Street, the Duke accused the media of publishing “relentless propaganda”, adding that the family had been unable to take action against much of the coverage.

But in an emotional defence of his wife, Prince Harry said he was no longer able to be a “silent witness to her private suffering”.

The lawsuit, which has been filed against the Mail on Sunday and parent company Associated Newspapers, relates to the publication of Markle’s private letter to her father.

A spokesperson for law firm Schillings, which is representing the Duchess, said the publication of Markle’s letter was “part of a campaign by this media group to publish false and deliberately derogatory stories about her, as well as her husband”.

“Given the refusal of Associated Newspapers to resolve this issue satisfactorily, we have issued proceedings to redress this breach of privacy, infringement of copyright and the aforementioned media agenda,” the spokesperson added.

Insisting that the couple believed in “media freedom and objective, truthful reporting”, Prince Harry launched an unprecedented attack on the press for waging “campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences”.

The Duke also made reference to Princess Diana, saying his “deepest fear is history repeating itself”.

“I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person,” he wrote. “I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.”

A Mail on Sunday spokesman said: “The Mail on Sunday stands by the story it published and will be defending this case vigorously.

“Specifically, we categorically deny that the Duchess’s letter was edited in any way that changed its meaning.”

Source:  NAN

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