U.S. Citizens Will Need A Visa To Travel To Europe Beginning In 2021

United States citizens will be required to have a visa if they
travel to Europe, beginning from 2021, the European Travel
Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) announced on
Sunday.

“The visa will be valid for three years, and will allow a holder
to enter the country “as many times as necessary,’’ ETIAS
added.

Currently, U.S. citizens may travel to Europe for up to 90 days
without a visa.

“Like many other countries, the decision to require a visa comes
in an effort to improve security and avoid any further problems
with illegal immigration and terrorism.

“The requirement includes the European Schengen-zone, a group of
26 countries, 22 of which are members of the European Union,’’ it
said.4

When enrolling in ETIAS, a person’s passport must be valid for
three months after the intended stay.

Passports over 10 years old may not be accepted as valid forms
of documentation for travel.

Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Spain, and
Switzerland are just a few of the countries affected by the new
mandate.

ETIAS is a border control system created by the European
Commission, which works to secure borders around the EU.

report says a full list of countries that will require a visa
from U.S. citizens is available on the ETIAS website. (dpa/NAN)

Nigerian Army Nabs Sponsored Political Thugs in Military
Uniforms

Credible intelligence available to the Nigerian Army (NA) has
confirmed the kitting of political thugs with military uniforms and
arming of same, to impersonate soldiers and perpetrate various
crimes in the furtherance of the activities of their political
bosses.

Sadly, these thugs have severally been wrongly viewed and
addressed as real military personnel on various social and
mainstream media channels including blogs, chat rooms and messaging
platforms thereby bringing the reputation of the NA on several
occasions to disrepute.

The NA understands that most civilians caught in the callous
onslaught of these murderous thugs might not be able to distinguish
between a genuine soldier from an impersonator, especially when
they are armed with military-type weapons.

However, several of such arrested impostors have given useful
information that has led to unravelling the level of criminal
involvement of some politicians in arming thugs for their depraved
selfish gains. Consequently, the NA would continue with the line of
investigations being pursued to bring to successful prosecution,
both the arrested impostors and their sponsors.

In the interim, the NA would continue to advice well-meaning
citizens to avoid been used as tools in the hands of such wicked
politicians who would go to any immoral length, including meeting
out violence, to steal the mandate of the people. “Nobody’s selfish
ambition is worth the life of an innocent Nigerian citizen”.

Additionally, the NA would continue to use every opportunity
available to remined Nigerians of its apolitical, neutral and
non-partisan stance. The NA would continue to execute its
constitutional responsibilities of providing aid to civil
authorities in order to create a safe and secure environment where
real democratic processes would thrive.

To this end, the NA would gladly welcome any information from
the public about known or suspected impostors/armed thugs being
used to perpetrate violence in the society, for the furtherance of
the wicked ambitions of any criminal individual. Please be assured
that every such information would be treated with the highest level
of confidentiality.

SAGIR MUSA
Colonel
Acting Director Army Public Relations