Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

U.S. Embassy Introduces New Visa Interview Requirements For Nigerian Applicants. The United States Embassy has announced updated visa interview requirements for Nigerian applicants, with the new measures set to take effect from Monday, 22 April 2025. In a statement released by the Embassy, all applicants attending visa interviews at the U.S. Consular Sections in Abuja and Lagos must now present a DS-160 confirmation page featuring a barcode that begins with “AA” followed by two zeroes (00). This specific barcode format must precisely match the one used to schedule the applicant’s visa appointment online. The Embassy warned that any…

FG Reaffirms Commitment To Fairness In Appointments, Dismisses Claims Of Lopsidedness. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has firmly dismissed allegations of imbalance in the distribution of federal appointments, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to fairness, equity, and national unity. In a statement released on Friday, Akume emphasised that all appointments made under President Bola Tinubu’s administration strictly adhere to the Federal Character Principle, as outlined in Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). This reassurance follows public debate sparked by Senator Ali Ndume of the North East geo-political zone, who accused…

Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Reserves Likely To Finish In 64 Years Says NUPRC. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has projected that the country’s crude oil reserves could sustain national demand for the next 64 years, while natural gas reserves are estimated to last up to 93 years. This projection was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the Commission’s Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe. The figures reflect Nigeria’s official petroleum reserves position as of 1 January 2025. According to the statement, Nigeria’s 2P crude oil and condensate reserves now stand at 31.44 billion barrels…

NERC Fines Eight DisCos ₦628 Million For Overbilling Unmetered Customers. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has imposed a fine of ₦628,031,583.94 on eight electricity distribution companies (DisCos) for failing to comply with the approved monthly energy caps for unmetered customers in the third quarter of 2024. In a statement issued on Thursday, NERC identified the sanctioned DisCos as Abuja, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola. The companies were found to have breached the provisions of the commission’s 2020 Order on Capping of Estimated Bills (Order No: NERC/197/2020), which is designed to align estimated billing for unmetered…

Police Launch Investigation Into Ikeja CCTV Shop Explosion Near Computer Village. The Lagos State Police Command has commenced a thorough investigation into an explosion that occurred on Thursday evening at a CCTV equipment shop located on Kodesho Street, close to the bustling Computer Village in Ikeja. According to a statement released on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the incident was reported at approximately 6:35 p.m. Prompt response teams, including operatives from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit, the Mobile Police Detachment, and other police formations, swiftly arrived at the scene to secure the area…

Former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi Declares 2026 Governorship Bid In Osun State. Former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Benedict Alabi, has formally declared his intention to contest the state’s governorship election slated for 2026. The announcement was made during a special service at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Ile-Ife, where Alabi, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), revealed that his decision to run was inspired by divine direction and deep personal reflection. Alabi, who hails from Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area—part of the Osun West Senatorial District—made his declaration at a time when calls…

Nigeria Introduces Stricter Immigration Rules To Curb Visa Overstays. The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a new set of immigration reforms aimed at curbing visa overstays and strengthening expatriate regulation in the country. Speaking in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced that foreigners who overstay their visas by more than six months will now face a five-year entry ban, while those who overstay for up to a year will be subject to a 10-year ban. Additionally, a daily fine of $15 will apply from the day a visa expires. These measures will come…

Edo Private School Owners Protest Over ‘Outrageous’ Tax Hike. Private school owners in Edo State took to the streets of Benin City on Friday in a peaceful demonstration against what they described as an “outrageous” increase in income taxes imposed by the state government. Operating under the Coalition of Associations of Private Schools (CAPS), the proprietors—carrying placards and banners—gathered in front of the Ministry of Education to voice their concerns. The coalition includes the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), the Association for Formidable Education Development (AFED), the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), and…

Eleven Russians Detained In Tunisia Over Terrorism Allegations Released Without Charge. A group of eleven Russian nationals detained in Tunisia last November on suspicion of terrorist activity have been released and are expected to return home shortly, Russian state media reported on Friday. The individuals were apprehended near Tunisia’s border with Algeria and had been held for several months under suspicion of “involvement in terrorist activities”. However, they were never formally charged by Tunisian authorities. While Tunisian police initially raised concerns over equipment allegedly found in the group’s possession—items which the Russian embassy in Tunis claimed “did not…

First Lady Oluremi Launches ‘Free To Shine’ Campaign To Combat HIV/AIDS In Taraba. Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday launched the ‘Free to Shine’ campaign in Taraba State, a bold initiative aimed at eradicating HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis among women of reproductive age. Speaking at the official flag-off ceremony in Jalingo, the First Lady explained that the campaign specifically targets women and young people, with a key focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission and providing access to treatment for children living with HIV. “This campaign will be carried out across all six geopolitical zones, and what we…

Paramilitary Attack On Displacement Camp In Sudan Leaves Dozens Dead Amid Growing Humanitarian Crisis. At least 25 civilians have been killed in Sudan’s war-torn North Darfur state following a brutal assault on a famine-stricken displacement camp, local activists reported on Friday. The deadly incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as the battle for control of El-Fasher, the last army-held city in Darfur, intensifies. According to the local resistance committee in El-Fasher—a volunteer aid group operating under siege—shelling and heavy gunfire rained down on the Zamzam…

Arteta Confirms Saka And Rice Fit For Brentford Clash. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that both Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are fit and available for Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Brentford, much to the relief of the club’s supporters. The England duo were instrumental in the Gunners’ 3-0 victory over Real Madrid earlier in the week, with Saka winning the free-kicks from which Rice scored twice. However, both players had to be withdrawn from the match after picking up minor knocks, raising concerns over their availability. Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Arteta revealed that the…