The first group of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos following growing concerns over the safety of foreign nationals amid recent anti-immigration unrest in the country. A government-coordinated flight carrying 262 Nigerians and three accompanying officials landed in Nigeria on Thursday. The evacuation exercise follows reports of attacks linked to anti-foreigner demonstrations that have taken place in parts of South Africa in recent months. Nigeria's M

The Coroner’s Court sitting on Lagos Island has suspended further proceedings in the inquest into the death of Nkanu Adichie-Esege, the young son of renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr. Ivara Esege. The matter, which was scheduled to proceed before the coroner, was halted after legal representatives informed the court that the Lagos State High Court had issued an order directing a stay of proceedings pending the determination of a judicial review applicat

President Bola Tinubu on Monday received the President of Benin Republic, Romuald Wadagni, in Lagos, marking the first official meeting between the two leaders since the Beninese leader assumed office. Wadagni arrived in Lagos for a brief working visit and was welcomed by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu before proceeding to the President’s residence in Ikoyi for talks with Tinubu. The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, lasted for about 30 minutes. Neither go

Roseline Ogunro has officially been inaugurated as the new Mayor of Islington, marking another milestone in the increasing presence of Nigerians in British local government. Her elevation follows closely after another Nigerian-born figure, Jason Jackson, previously made history as the borough’s first Nigerian-born mayor, underscoring a continuing trend of diaspora representation in UK civic leadership. Ogunro, who has been active in local governance and community service, ass

Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have entered into a new partnership aimed at expanding cooperation in the mining and energy sectors following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding during the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit. The agreement, signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, is expected to strengthen collaboration in mineral exploration, technical devel

Nigeria’s newly appointed ambassador to the United States, Kayode Are, has formally assumed office in Washington after presenting his diplomatic credentials to US President Donald Trump at the White House. The presentation ceremony, which took place in Washington, DC, marked the official recognition of Are as Nigeria’s representative to the United States government. The event featured diplomatic formalities involving American protocol officials, security personnel, and repres

The United States government has announced a temporary waiver of visa bond requirements for football fans from five African countries attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The decision affects supporters from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia who have secured official match tickets for the global football tournament. Under previous immigration measures introduced by the administration of Donald Trump, visitors from several countries considered high-risk for v

The United States has resumed processing visa applications for foreign-trained medical doctors, including Nigerians, following a policy adjustment that had previously slowed immigration procedures for healthcare professionals. The earlier directive temporarily affected several categories of immigration applications, including work permits, visa renewals and residency requests, creating delays for doctors already contributing to the American healthcare system. Authorities have

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly criticised the resurgence of xenophobic violence in South Africa, warning that such acts undermine the country’s democratic values and history of solidarity. In a statement released to coincide with Freedom Day, Guterres expressed serious concern over reports of intimidation and attacks targeting foreign nationals. He pointed specifically to recent incidents in provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape. The

President Bola Tinubu has instructed Nigeria’s newly appointed ambassadors and high commissioners to aggressively pursue foreign investments while projecting a stronger national image abroad. Speaking at the opening of an induction programme for the envoys in Abuja, the President said their appointments reflect trust in their ability to advance Nigeria’s interests in an increasingly complex global environment. Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,

Lagos State government has forged a sister-state relationship with the California State Assembly, United States through the Assembly Concurrent Resolution 129 (ACR 129) The resolution was sponsored by Assembly member, Matt Haney, and unveiled at the California/Africa Climate and Economic Forum 2026, establishing one of the most significant Africa–California diplomatic ties in recent history. At the gathering were government officials, business leaders, and Nigerian diaspora

Kenyan President William Ruto is facing sharp criticism after comments he made about Nigerian-accented English triggered widespread reactions online. Speaking during an engagement with Kenyans in Italy, the president praised his country’s education system and English proficiency, but drew controversy when he suggested that Nigerian English can be difficult to understand, joking that it sometimes requires interpretation. The remarks, which drew laughter from the audience at th

New data released by the International Organization for Migration has revealed that more than 8,000 migrants were reported dead or missing worldwide in 2025, highlighting the continued dangers of irregular migration despite shifting global patterns. The figures bring the total number of migrant deaths and disappearances recorded since 2014 to over 82,000. Behind these numbers, the agency estimates that at least 340,000 family members have been directly impacted, many left wit

Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has said he prays daily for Nigeria’s progress, warning that challenges in the country could have direct consequences for neighbouring states, particularly Ghana. Speaking at a major continental gathering, the Ghanaian leader emphasised that Nigeria remains central to West Africa’s stability, noting that developments in the country often shape the region’s economic and security outlook. Mahama stated that Ghana’s fortunes are closely ti

Former Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has rejected bribery and corruption allegations during proceedings at a UK court, insisting she never abused her office. Testifying before the Southwark Crown Court, the 65-year-old stated that she consistently resisted corrupt practices while in office and maintained transparency in her dealings Prosecutors allege that certain Nigerian businessmen financed luxury expenses on her behalf, including high-

The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Office of Diaspora Affairs, Jermaine Sanwo-Olu, has been formally recognised on the Senate Floor at the Georgia State Capitol during an official visit focused on strengthening diaspora engagement and international partnerships. The recognition was facilitated by Georgia State Senator Donzella J. James, who honoured Jermaine Sanwo-Olu in acknowledgment of his role in advancing diaspora relations and fostering stronger connections betw

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled plans to grow diaspora remittances to $1 billion monthly by the end of 2026, positioning inflows from Nigerians abroad as a key pillar of the country’s foreign exchange stability. CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso disclosed this during the first Monetary Policy Forum of 2026 held in Abuja, where he outlined the bank’s ongoing economic reforms and their impact on the financial system. He explained that recent restructuring of the forei

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday received the Vice President and Foreign Minister of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis, along with members of a high-level delegation in Abuja. The Swiss official arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where he was formally welcomed by Nigerian government representatives. According to official sources, the visit is aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and

The Nigerian Presidency has addressed confusion surrounding the recent migration agreement signed with the United Kingdom during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit. Officials emphasised that the deal does not require Nigeria to admit foreign nationals. The agreement, formalised through a 12-page Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), is aimed at enhancing cooperation on migration management and combating irregular migration between the two countries. Signed by Nigeria’s Minister

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the significant role of Nigerian-trained doctors in the United Kingdom’s healthcare system, noting their strong presence within the National Health Service (NHS). Speaking during a state banquet at Windsor Castle hosted by King Charles III, Tinubu said Nigerian medical professionals rank among the largest groups of international workers supporting the NHS. He described their contribution as vital to healthcare delivery across the UK. Th