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

A political support group backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced an ambitious plan to secure five million votes nationwide ahead of the January 2027 presidential election. The body, known as the Global Alliance for Tinubu Campaign (GATIC 2027), formally introduced its agenda at a press briefing in Abuja, declaring its readiness to spearhead mobilisation efforts across the country in support of the President’s re-election. Addressing journalists, the group’s Directo

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended  the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s (FAAN) cashless payment policy at airports across the country. The suspension follows widespread complaints from travellers, motorists, and airport staff over long queues, repeated payment failures, and missed flights, particularly at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. FAAN had introduced the “Go Cashless” system on March 1, 2026,

The France chapter of the All Progressives Congress has begun mobilising Nigerians living abroad to back President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the chapter’s chairperson, Amina Suzuki, said members had resolved to intensify outreach efforts across diaspora communities to build support for the party’s ticket. According to her, the group plans to focus on voter awareness, strategic engage

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a long-sought drug trafficking suspect, Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, bringing to a close a manhunt that spanned more than a decade and crossed international borders. Ilomuanya, 58, was arrested in Lagos on February 23, 2026, during what officials described as a carefully executed operation by the agency’s Special Operations Unit. Authorities said he had been on the radar of both Nigerian and United Kingdom law enf

A Nigerian family whose planned removal from Ireland triggered public protests in Dublin has been deported to South Africa. The family’s case had drawn attention in recent weeks after supporters staged demonstrations outside Ireland’s Department of Justice, urging authorities to halt the deportation order. Titilayo Oluwakemi Oyekanmi and her three sons, Samuel, 18, Joseph, 14, and Genesis, 5, were removed from the country over the weekend. The family had been residing in Dub

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has suspended three medical practitioners over findings linked to the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of celebrated author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The decision followed a probe by the council’s investigative panel into allegations of professional misconduct during the child’s treatment in January 2026. The panel ordered the suspension of the Medical Director of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Dr Tunde Majekodunmi,

The United States Embassy in Abuja has issued a security advisory to American citizens, warning of potential protests in the capital today linked to escalating tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran. The embassy urged residents to stay indoors, avoid crowds, and remain vigilant, noting that previous demonstrations have occasionally turned violent. Travelers were advised to monitor local news, keep mobile devices charged, carry identification, and vary travel routines to re

The United States Embassy in Abuja has cancelled all visa interviews scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2026, citing security concerns linked to possible protests in the Federal Capital Territory. In a public notice issued on Wednesday morning, the mission warned of a heightened risk of demonstrations in Abuja amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. American citizens residing in the capital were advised to remain indoors and avoid areas where gatherings ma

The United Kingdom has suspended study visas for nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan following a sharp rise in asylum applications from individuals who originally entered the country through legal migration channels. The decision, described as an “emergency brake,” was announced by the UK Home Office. It will end sponsored study visas for applicants from the four countries and also pause skilled worker visas for Afghan nationals. Authorities confirmed that t

A Nigerian woman, Gloria Makanjuola, has been sentenced to nine months in prison by a UK court for attacking a passenger and attempting to steal from him on a London Underground train. The 35-year-old appeared at Woolwich Crown Court, where she pleaded guilty to assault and attempted theft. The court heard that the incident occurred on the night of March 3, 2023, aboard an eastbound Central Line train heading towards Hainault. Investigators from the British Transport Police r

The Pretoria Magistrates’ Court has ordered the continued detention of six suspects accused of murdering a 22-year-old Nigerian ride-hailing driver, Isaac Satlat, during an alleged robbery in Pretoria West. At Tuesday’s proceedings, the accused, who face charges including murder and robbery, withdrew their bail applications and chose to remain in custody while prosecutors complete their preliminary investigations. The matter was adjourned to June 23, 2026, for further legal p

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has underscored the importance of Migration Studies in shaping effective diaspora engagement and improving Nigeria’s migration management framework. She spoke in Abuja while hosting a delegation from the Centre for Migration Studies of the University of Abuja during an academic visit to the Commission’s headquarters. Dabiri-Erewa described migration research as a cri