An explosion was reported near Dubai International Airport  on Saturday, sending a plume of smoke into the sky and prompting concerns among travellers and residents in the area. Witnesses said a loud blast was heard around the airport, which is one of the busiest international aviation hubs in the world. Shortly after the incident, flight tracking data indicated that several aircraft were circling in the air, suggesting that incoming flights were temporarily held while the si

The Iranian government has assured that Nigerians living in the country are safe despite the growing military tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Iran’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, gave the reassurance during a briefing in Abuja on Saturday, noting that no Nigerian citizen in Iran has been reported injured or killed since the conflict escalated. According to the ambassador, Nigerian nationals reside in different parts of the country, inc

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the country will stop launching attacks on neighbouring states unless military operations against Iran are carried out from those territories. The president made the announcement on Saturday, stating that Iran’s leadership had reached the decision during a meeting of the country’s interim governing council a day earlier. According to him, the new directive aims to prevent further escalation with Gulf states that have recently been

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has released emergency hotline numbers for Nigerians residing in or travelling through parts of the Middle East as tensions linked to the Iran–Israel conflict continue to escalate. The commission said the numbers are intended to provide quick consular assistance to Nigerians who may face emergencies or security concerns in the affected region. In an advisory shared through its official communication channels, NiDCOM urged Nigerian

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans to stage a protest at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 10, citing concerns over the treatment of Nigerians in India. The student body claims that Nigerian citizens and students in India have faced harassment, discrimination, and inhumane treatment. NANS accused the ministry of ignoring a petition submitted earlier, which requested urgent diplomatic engagement with Indian authorities and c

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has been conferred with the distinguished title “Emperor of Yoruba Kings in Africa and the Diaspora,” acknowledging his role in promoting Yoruba culture and unity across the globe. The honour was presented at the Ooni’s palace in Ile-Ife by Yoruba traditional rulers affiliated with the Apapo Oba Yoruba in Africa and the Diaspora (AOYAD) from the Republic of Benin. The event marked a significant milestone in the recognition of Yoruba lead

The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman , has accused Iran of supporting Shi’ite groups in Nigeria and spreading activities that could undermine security in the country and across West Africa. Freeman made the claim during an appearance on The Morning Show on Arise Television, where he alleged that Tehran has a long history of sponsoring militant organisations in different parts of the world. According to the envoy, Iran has provided support to groups such as Hamas

The United States government has authorised the sale of military munitions worth about $151.8 million to Israel, a move that comes as tensions intensify across the Middle East amid ongoing hostilities involving Iran. Approval for the deal was granted by the United States Department of State through its Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. The package includes approximately 12,000 bomb bodies weighing 1,000 pounds each, according to details released by the agency. Officials i

Portuguese authorities have arrested a 25-year-old man in Lisbon over his alleged involvement in the 2020 killing of a Nigerian teenager during a violent gang clash in Manchester, United Kingdom. Investigators said the suspect was part of a group involved in a confrontation between rival gangs in the Moston area of Manchester in November 2020. The clash reportedly involved the use of dangerous weapons including knives, machetes, sabres, and baseball bats The Nigerian teenager

A court in Dublin has sentenced a Nigerian national, Edward Evbagharu, to one year in prison after he was found guilty of facilitating a romance scam that defrauded a victim of nearly €49,000. Evbagharu, 46, admitted to allowing his bank accounts to be used for money laundering linked to the fraud. The offence occurred between February and June 2021 and was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Investigations revealed that the victim, a French national, had been deceive

A High Court in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru has directed immigration authorities to deport two Nigerian nationals who remained in the country for more than a decade without valid visas. The court instructed the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to initiate deportation procedures against Emeka Iwoba and Uderike Fidelis after determining that they had overstayed their legal stay in India for over ten years. Iwoba, who is also known as Austin Noso Iwoba, a

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Africa (NIDO Africa) has intensified its campaign against human trafficking and drug abuse by sensitising secondary school students in Benue State on the dangers of illegal migration and exploitation. The awareness programme was held at Padopas Harmony Secondary School in Makurdi, where students were educated on how trafficking networks operate and the risks young people face when lured with promises of better opportunities abroad. Speak

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors-designate and high commissioners to represent Nigeria in various countries and multilateral organisations worldwide. The list includes a combination of 34 political appointees and 31 career diplomats from the foreign service. The appointments were confirmed in a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who explained that the envoys would serve in strategic diplomatic missions across Euro

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for stronger collaboration between African governments and citizens in the diaspora, urging leaders across the continent to embrace values-based governance and build institutions capable of sustaining long-term development. Speaking at an international leadership colloquium held in Abeokuta to commemorate his 89th birthday, Obasanjo emphasised that Africa must harness the expertise, investment capacity and global influenc

A total of 179 Nigerian migrants stranded in Sudan have been safely evacuated and returned to Nigeria through a humanitarian operation coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The returnees arrived at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano after departing from Port Sudan under the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programme supported by the European Union. Officials described the operation as the first organised repatriation of

Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs have pledged to push for improved funding for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in the next federal budget cycle. The assurance was given during an oversight visit by the committee, led by its chairman, Chinedu Tochukwu Chikere, to the headquarters of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission in Abuja. The lawmakers met with the commission’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, to re

The Federal Government has announced plans to begin a nationwide operation targeting irregular migrants, supported by a new artificial intelligence–based system designed to track travellers who have entered Nigeria over the past decade. Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, revealed the initiative on Thursday in Abuja during the 2026 Sectoral Performance Review Retreat of the ministry. He explained that authorities now possess sufficient digital records to identify fo

The trial of Bellarmine Mugabe, son of the late former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, was postponed on Thursday after a power outage disrupted court proceedings in South Africa. The hearing, scheduled to take place at the Alexandra Magistrate's Court, could not continue after the facility was suddenly plunged into darkness, forcing officials to halt the session. Court authorities subsequently adjourned the matter to March 11, 2026, when proceedings are expected to resume on

The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced the temporary suspension of routine activities at its embassy in Abuja, citing security concerns linked to possible protests in the Federal Capital Territory. In a notice released on Thursday through its official X account, the Mission stated that the embassy would remain closed for routine business until Monday, March 9, 2026. According to the statement, visa appointments earlier scheduled for March 4 and 5, along with Ameri

The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) has called on civil society organisations to strengthen community-based strategies aimed at tackling human trafficking and violence against persons in Nigeria. The appeal was made during the opening of a three-day training workshop organised in Asaba, Delta State, in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The programme is designed to equip partner CSOs wit