8 Killed, 101 injured in Jos Chemical explosion

Confirmed reports from Plateau state indicates that eight people have died while 101 others injured in the gas explosion at the Plateau State Water Board early Saturday.

In a statement made available by the  Plateau state government on Saturday through Mr. Emmanuel Nanle, the director of press and public affairs to Governor Simon Lalong confirmed the incident, but said it has been controlled.

According to him: “One hundred and one (101) people are receiving treatment at OLA Hospital, Evangel Hospital (Jankwano), Plateau Specialist Hospital and Airforce Hospital, some of which have been discharged,” the statement said. “Eight (8) people have been confirmed dead as a result of the inhalation of the contaminated air.”

National Assembly Crisis: APC Summon Dogara, As Lasun Set To Step Down

Speaker Yakubu-Dogara

The governing All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday summoned the Speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara and his deputy Yusuf Suleiman Lasun, as part of efforts making to resolve the leadership crisis at the National Assembly. It was however gathered that the deputy Speaker may have agreed to step down for the party candidate so as to allow peace to reign at the 8th Assembly.


Hon Lasun who came to the party secretariat around 12pm in company of his governor, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state, held a closed door meeting with the party National Working Committee (NWC) led by its chairman, John Odigie Oyegun.

The ruling APC has been swimming in crisis water following the controversial emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker, House of Representative respectively, contrary to the choice of the party.

Osinbajo, NGF chairman meet over CBN loan

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Alhaji Abdulazeez Yari, on Tuesday met behind closed-doors to discuss the modalities of the bailouts recently approved for states by the Federal Government.

Their discussion, according to Yari, centered on the Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The measures recently approved by Buhari to deal with the problem of unpaid public sector salaries in many states included the sharing of the $2.1billion dividend paid to the Federation Account by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company and a CBN-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging from N250 billion to N300billion.

Buhari Meets US Chamber of Commerce & Corporate Council on Africa (Photos)

Agenda sets: Joint Press Briefing by Presidents Buhari, Obama

Security, economy, employment especially of youth, fighting corruption dominate the agenda!

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, it’s a great pleasure to welcome President Buhari and his delegation here to the Oval Office for his first visit since the historic election that took place.

Nigeria is obviously one of the important countries in the world and one of the most important countries in the African continent. Recently, we saw an election in which a peaceful transition to a new government took place. And it was an affirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to democracy, a recognition that although Nigeria is a big country and a diverse country with many different parts, nevertheless the people of Nigeria understand that only through a peaceful political process can change take place.

President Buhari comes into office with a reputation for integrity and a very clear agenda, and that is to make sure that he is bringing safety and security and peace to his country.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY 21st JULY 2015; THEME : THE PRINCIPAL PERSONALITY BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY 21st JULY 2015

THEME : THE PRINCIPAL PERSONALITY

Memory Verse: Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.


Read: Proverbs 4:5-9

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Breaking: Jonathan’s CSO reportedly dies in DSS underground cell

Former Chief Security Officer to immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Gordon Obua has reportedly died in the custody of the Department of Security Services (DSS). 

According to a report of The Trent online newspaper , Obua died hours ago in Yellow House, the National Headquarters of the DSS in Abuja, where he had been detained since Thursday, July 16, 2015.

An insider source at the DSS Headquarters, however, denied the story saying : “The man is not dead but in our custody.”

If the reports of his death were to be true, Obua was arrested when he honoured an invitation by the DSS and had been in solitary confinement until his death. Obua, who was being detained by the DSS in an underground dungeon for undisclosed reasons was being denied access to his lawyers, family, and his doctors on the orders of the new Director General of the DSS, Lawal Daura. The DSS (also called SSS) serves as Nigeria’s secret police.

WASHINGTON POST: Nigeria committed to good governance and fighting terror - Buhari

I SEEK OBAMA’S ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING AND RETURNING $150 BILLION

This month, the world moved a step closer to the defeat of Boko Haram, the jihadist group that has terrorized hundreds of thousands in the northern states of Nigeria. In one of my first acts since taking office as president six weeks ago, I have replaced the heads of Nigeria’s army, navy and air force. Our new military leadership has not been chosen because of their familiarity with those in government, as was too often the case in the past, but on their track records and qualifications alone.

These new military leaders will be based in Borno State in northern Nigeria, where the headquarters of the armed services has been relocated. This shift of resources and command directly to the front line, in addition to the replacement of the head of the State Security Service, Nigeria’s intelligence organization, and a new emphasis on working in partnership with our neighbors, has equipped us to take the fight directly to Boko Haram.

Already we are beginning to see a degrading of Boko Haram’s capabilities as a fighting force. In recent weeks, it appears to have shifted away from confronting the military directly to an increase in attacks on civilian areas, as we saw only last week when an elderly woman and 10-year-old girl blew themselves up at a Muslim prayer gathering in northeastern Nigeria. We should not be confused by this change, hateful as it is: It does not mean that Boko Haram is succeeding in its aims — it shows that it is losing.

DSS Full Statement On Former NSA Sambo Dasuki

PREVENTING ATTEMPTS TO COMMIT TREASONABLE FELONY: THE SEARCH ON THE RESIDENCE(S) OF MOHAMMED SAMBO DASUKI (COL RTD), IMMEDIATE PAST NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER (NSA)

1. Gentlemen of the Press, good evening.

2. On 16th July, 2015, about 1650 hours, based on credible intelligence linking the immediate past NSA, Mohammed Sambo DASUKI (Col Rtd) with alleged plans to commit treasonable felony against the Nigerian State, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) conducted a search on the properties belonging to the former NSA, Mohammed Sambo DASUKI (Col Rtd). The properties are on Nos. 13, John Khadya Street, Nos. 46, Nelson Mandela Street, both at Asokoro, Abuja, and Nos. 3 Sabon Birni Road, Gwiwa Area, Sokoto, Sokoto State.

PHOTONEWS: President Buhari with members of the Nigerian delegation Arrive Washington DC

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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR MONDAY 20th JULY 2015; THEME : REGRESSION AND REPRESSION BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR MONDAY 20th JULY 2015

THEME : REGRESSION AND REPRESSION  - BY PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

Memory Verse: Isaiah 65:21

And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.


Read: Judges 6:1-6

1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;

4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

Senators Saraki And Ekweremadu's Elections Are A Nullity By Jiti Ogunye

 This is a very interesting take on the State of NASS Union .... 

Since the National Assembly (NA)  erupted in crisis during the  "inauguration" of the 8th NA and the "election" of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday, the 9th of June, 2015, a lot has been said and written about the issues in dispute in the crisis.  Unfortunately, rather than subject the "election"  in the NA, in particular  in the Senate, on that day, to a rigorous legal examination, in order to determine the legality of that election, many of the principal actors in  the NA leadership crisis or in the All Progressives Congress (APC) imbroglio, and a host of other  interveners have been discussing the  politics of the crisis and its  "mishandling" by the APC leadership, who, according to these interveners,  was hell bent on foisting a leadership on the NA. Many simple-minded gloaters have even reduced the serious issues thrown up by the crisis to a  celebration of the  " political defeat of  Bola Ahmed Tinubu", as if that alleged defeat was all that was needed to make the aberration that occurred in the NA acceptable.  In this intervention, we seek to redirect the discourse. We argue that the NA leadership crisis primarily should be discussed and resolved on the basis of enquiries as to whether there had been a violation of the  rule of law and the provisions of  the Constitution.   -    Jiti Ogunye

What transpired in the NA on Tuesday, 9th June, 2015 was a coup d'état. If it was merely a  coup d'état by  the treacherous members of the APC against their party's choices  for  the offices that constitute the leadership of the NA, we would not have been bothered. We are bothered because it  was also a coup d'état against the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the rule of law.

On that day, while Senator Bukola Saraki of the APC, who has confessed that, like a typical coup d'état leader, he sneaked into the premises of the NA at dawn, was "elected  unopposed" as the Senate President, by 57 Senators, in the absence of 51 Senators, who were "ambushed" into a fence-mending and ranks-closing meeting that eventually turned out to be a hoax, Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the People Democratic Party ( PDP) "defeated" his opponent, Senator Ali Ndume of the APC by 50 votes to 24 votes  ( with one abstention)  to clinch the post of the Deputy Senate President. Instructively, the APC controls the Senate with 59 ( now 58)  Senators, while the PDP has 49 Senators, meaning that 108 members ought to have congregated on the Senate Floor on the said date to constitute the leadership of the Senate. Alas, only 57 senators and 75 senators took part in the elections into the two offices.

NIGERIA - A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE

I do not favour a divided Nigeria for numerous reasons. However, Nigeria seems to be naive about the present trend of events in Eastern Nigeria and the monstrous risk it brings to the table. The call for a breakout State is getting louder and more desperate especially among the youth, who in most countries always constitute the engine of successful uprising. They are more reachable on all variations of social media and have the energy and drive. The movement is getting organized worldwide with branches in many countries as seen on the internet. Let’s remember Tunisia, Georgia, Ukraine, Egypt, Libya, Yemen etc.

I have inquired directly from some moderate and educated activists, on the root cause of these sentiments in favour of a breakout or Biafra. Of all voices, the single common reason I heard from all was the hate-like attitude gaining popularity mainly among our Yoruba brothers and sisters. There were less complains of such slant directed towards the Hausas. It is alleged that an average Yoruba adult attaches strong negative sentiments to the phrase “Igbo man”. The remonstrance goes that Yorubas see Igbos as dominating the real estate business nationwide, trying to dominate commerce in the country and trade only in fake goods. However, the same Igbos I spoke to hold that the terms “Oluwole” and “Tokumbo” are not of Igbo origin and claim that the Yorubas are more fraudulent but louder. In all, this is a very unhealthy strapping debate for citizens of “one nation”. I will be immensely delighted if all I heard from these activists is false.

OSUN IS NOT READY FOR RENEGADES' SUMMIT---- SPEAKER

Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, having inaugurated an investigative panel to investigate petition forwarded to the parliament under his watch by a serving judge of the state, Justice Olamide Folahanmi Oloyede on allegation of financial recklessness leveled against Gov. Rauf Aregbesola set the ball rolling for another dimension to the wage crisis resulting from unpaid workers' salaries in the state. He spoke to selected journalist in which our reporters is one of them on different issues ranging from the unpaid salaries, Justice Oloyede's petition and the summit being proposed by a group among other issues. Excerpt:

Q: Osun state appears to have been at a standstill now for lack of fund to pay workers' salaries and complete the abandoned projects, what is your take on this?

Salaam: Osun is passing through a phase, not standstill, and it is so, because Osun just like others is a constituent unit of a troubled nation which was raped badly by the ousted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regime, and if President Muhammadu Buhari could describe the country as at present as Augean stable that must be cleaned up for forward march, what do you expect Osun as an integral part to do?

Look, let us face the reality here, the predicament we are in is not about the making of an individual, governor or poor economic planning; it is a structural problem and not until the top gets it right, the federating units would still be contending with epileptic mode of economy and financial topsy-turvy, because the kind of federalism we practise is what I call 'feeding bottle' federalism. For no state could access her resources to surge up her finance, everything belongs to the federal government, and the federal government may not be ready to tap your own resources now, because there is one laying the golden eggs already.

Sallah Youth Encounter: Only God Protects Leaders - PMB

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday spoke of how he was besieged by youths who almost overwhelmed the security immediately after the Eid-el-Fitri prayers in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

“I had to hold tight to my gown to get to my car; I was advised to enter the car from the ADC’s side and I refused; I went across trying to hold my hand to the wild youth who wanted to see me,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes him as telling the Muslim faithful who paid him a homage at the State House, Abuja, after the Eid El-Fitri prayers.

Buhari then remarked that on an occasion like this, “it shows that after what happened to President Ronald Reagan of the U.S., it is only God Almighty that protects leaders, because in a mob like this, anybody with a sharp knife can get access and do a lot of damage.

U-23 Championship Qualifiers: Congo must fall says Samson Siaisa

Head Coach of the U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia, has expressed confidence that his team will overcome their Congolese counterparts in Sunday’s African U-23 Championship final round, first leg qualifier at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday.


Siasia, who led the Under-23 team to runner-up position at the Men’s Football Tournament of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, said this in a chat with the media at the Hotel Presidential abode of the team. “I am very confident that Nigerians who will troop out en masse to see our match on Sunday will see one of the best displays ever by the Dream Team.

Tinubu’s FirstNation aircraft collide at Lagos Airport; 250 passengers escape death

Two of the aircraft belonging to FirstNation Airways yesterday collided at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) in Lagos, South-West Nigeria. 

FirstNation is owned by former Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu, currently the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). A report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that yesterday’s incident happened at about mid-day and involved two Airbus 330 conveying not fewer than 250 passengers.

The two aircraft had their bodies partially damaged as a result of the collision.

A source at the airport told NAN that one of the aircraft was taxiing from the runway to MMA2, to disengage passengers while the other aircraft was preparing to take off to Port Harcourt Airport from the same terminal.

REVEALED: DSS invasion of Dasuki’s house has nothing to do with Buhari

*The multi-billion dollar terror fund link
* $40,000 cash, 3 guns, travel documents recovered in DSS search

Contrary to in­sinuations that President Mu­hammadu Bu­hari ordered the arrest of former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Da­suki because he was the Army officer who led sol­diers to arrest him (Bu­hari) on the day he was overthrown as military Head of State in August 1985, facts emerging from the security circle indi­cate that the retired Army Colonel is wanted in con­nection with multi-billion dollar funds domiciled in his office as NSA.


Operation against Dasuki was two-pronged as a team of DSS operatives were also deployed in his family house in Sokoto. Between Thursday eve­ning and 6pm yesterday (Friday), Department of State Security Service (DSS) operatives had been searching for Dasuki in his Abuja and Sokoto homes. Though, he was believed to be in his Abuja home. He eventually allowed the DSS detectives to enter his house to execute a search warrant. At the end of the search, it was learnt that items recovered from the house included $40,000, three automatic rifles and his travel documents. The operatives thereafter va­cated the house.

PMB celebrate Eid el ftr in pictures

PMB celebrate Eid el ftr in pictures

PMB celebrate Eid el ftr in pictures

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PHOTONEWS: Vice President Yemi Osibanjo Visits Gombe bomb blast Victims

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Jonathan enlists Anyaoku to beg PMB not to probe his administration

I just heard with one ear that former President Goodluck Jonathan has enlisted the good offices of Elder Statesman, Emeka Anyaoku, to beg President Buhari not to probe his administration.

If - and this is a very big if - my employers at Sahara Reporters are right, that it is to say if this news is true, then President Jonathan has made an excellent and a commendable move at two levels.

Level 1 Commendable move: President Jonathan is a study in personal development after office. I like what I have been seeing in terms of his resumption of ordinary citizenship and humanhood. He has learnt to stop listening to the marionettes who deified and destroyed him. I keep saying this: no history of the Jonathan presidency would be complete without chapters written on the rise and evolution of the most irresponsible followership ever known to the African continent - especially his social media caterwauling hordes who are even still at it, claiming superhuman infallibility for their hero as I write.

Multiple Blast: Suicide Bombers kill 100 in Northeastern Nigeria

The Boko Haram Suicide bombers killed at least 100 people in multiple blasts in the northeastern towns of Gombe and Damaturu, officials said Friday.

Nigerian Army have confirmed that 50 people lost their lives in two bomb explosions that rocked Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, on Friday.

Hours earlier two bombs killed 50 people buying goods for the holiday at the market in Gombe, according to National Emergency Management Agency spokesman Sani Datti. Another 75 wounded are being treated in two hospitals there, he said.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Friday that 43 persons died in the first explosion which occurred at 7.40am and seven others in the second explosion. Several other people were also said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries from the two explosions.

Jonathan's NSA Houses in Abuja and Sokoto Under DSS Siege

The Operatives of the State Security Service, also called  have confirmed that the immediate past National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, and all persons at his residence, are under house arrest. 

The two houses of the former NSA, one in Abuja and another in Sokoto, have been under siege by SSS operatives since Thursday.

It has been confirmed that among those inside the Abuja home of the former NSA is a retired Colonel, Bello Fadile, who worked as an aide to Mr. Sambo while he served as NSA. Premium Times reports that Mr. Fadile was visiting Mr. Sambo when the SSS personnel took over the property.

PMB replaces Ade Abolurin with Abdullahi Muhammadu as new Civil Defence commandant

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved the appointment of Mr. Abdullahi Muhammadu as the new Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. 

Muhammadu succeeds Dr. Ade Abolurin, who has retired from service. According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the new NSCDC boss, who was an Assistant Commandant-General of the NSCDC before his new appointment, hailed from Muye in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.

Muhammadu holds a B.Sc in Sociology from the University of Sokoto, and a Masters in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

PhotoNews: Gov. Aregbesola Acknowledges Cheers During Eid-el-fitri Celebration, Promises Osun greater Development Despite Challenges

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola a‎cknowledging cheers from the Muslim faithful, during the 2015 Eid-el-fitri Celebration, at Praying ground, Oke-Baale,
Osogbo ... on Friday

Nigerian Army: We’ll tame Boko Haram, restore peace to North-East

CHIEF-OF-ARMY-STAFF-VISITS-SOLDIERS-IN-BORNO

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Kenneth Minimah, on Saturday said the Nigerian Army would put in check the Boko Haram terrorists and restore peace to the North East region of the country.

The Army chief made the commitment at the passing out parade of Direct Short Service Commission Course 22/2015, held at the Nigeria Army School of Infantry, Jaji, Kaduna State.

He said that the insurgents ``have been seriously degraded'', and pledged that the army would not relent until it ensures peace and stability in the region.

PMB sacks Chief Security Details with immediate effect

Abdulrahman-Mani

President Muhammad Buhari has sacked his Chief Security Details, Abdulrahman Mani, with immediate effect. He has been replaced with Abubakar Bashir Usman.

Mani was said to have prevented many people who genuinely needed to meet the president, from meeting him. He is also being linked with the leakage of President Buhari’s journey to the United Kingdom, days before his inauguration, to the former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Alison-Madueke suddenly emerged in the first class compartment of the British Airways flight, and booked a seat, right behind Buhari.

Federal High Court Clears Fani-Kayode of Corruption Charges

A Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged and acquitted a former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, of corruption charges.

In her judgment, the judge​, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia,​ said the prosecution’s case was “feeble” and failed to provide “copious evidence” linking Mr. Fani-Kayode to money laundering.

Mr. Fani-Kayode, whose trial began in 2008 before Justice Ramat Mohammed, was arraigned by the E​conomic and Financial Crimes Commission, E​FCC​,​ for allegedly laundering about N100 million while he was minister of culture and tourism and subsequently, aviation minister.

PROPHETIC DECLARATION FOR THE MONTH OF JULY - Pastor (Dr) E. O. Abina

PROPHETIC DECLARATION FROM THE GENERAL OVERSEER,

Pastor (Dr) E. O. Abina

GOFAMINT

FOR THE MONTH OF JULY

Welcome to July, Our Month Of Deliverance
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (Ps. 34:19)
You will be delivered from your afflictions

PHOTO: Comm. Amina B. Zakari Appointed INEC Acting Chair, See Her Profile

Amb. Ahmad M. Wali handing over to Comm. Amina B. Zakari following her appointment by the President.



Profile of new Chairman of INEC, Mrs Amina Bala Zakari

President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Mrs Amina Bala Zakari as the Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the conclusion of the term of Office of Prof. Attahiru Jega.

Amina Bala Zakari, a pharmacist by profession hails from Jigawa State. She completed her Secondary Education from the prestigious Queens College Yaba, Lagos. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.sc) degree in Pharmacy with Second Class upper (Best Graduating Student) in 1980 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.



After completing the National Youth Service, she worked as a Professional Pharmacist in various hospitals from 1983 – 1996. She then moved into the consultancy field to serve in various capacities as a consultant in Health and Social Services from 1997 up till her appointment as National Commissioner, INEC. She has also served as a Special Assistant to the President and was posted to FCT where she served as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Social Development and Agriculture and Rural Development from 2004 – 2007.

Her Consultancy services covered Federal MDAs (FMWH, NAFDAC, NPHCDA etc) MDGs and the Private Sector.

Amina Bala Zakari is a registered Pharmacist and Member Pharmacist’s Society of Nigeria as well as Member of Nigeria Institute of Management (MNIM).

Other qualifications obtained include, Certificate in Managing Drugs Supply for Primary Health Care from MHS Amsterdam in 1997, Certificate in Project Management 1998, Certificate in Senior Management from Crown Agents London in 2005 Certificate in Executive Education in Business Management from Harvard Business School.

Mrs Zakari, Nee Husaini Adamu, was born on the 23rd of June 1960.

US and Cuba formally agree to open embassies and restore diplomatic relations

After 50 years of diplomatic standoff, the U.S. and Cuba plan to announce Wednesday that they will establish formal diplomatic relations and open embassies in each other’s capitals, a senior U.S. administration official said. This will be the most significant move toward normalizing relations between the U.S. and Cuba, as Obama administration said Tuesday that the two had agreed to open embassies in each other's countries.

The diplomatic development is the most authoritative move the Obama administration can make unilaterally without an act of Congress, which still holds the power to lift or retain the Cuban economic embargo that has been in place for decades. It comes six months after President Obama ordered the opening of relations, ending more than half a century of Cold War standoff as he promised to “cut loose the shackles of the past.”