News

Friday, 14 February 2025 05:01

‘They can go to hell!’ National Security Adviser Ribadu blasts Canada over visa denial to military chiefs

National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has angrily condemned the Canadian embassy's decision to deny visas to Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Christopher Musa and other military leaders. The incident came to light during the inaugural annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja on Thursday, where CDS Musa revealed that he and several top military officers were unable to attend a veterans' honor ceremony in Canada due to visa denials. "Every disappointment is a blessing. Yesterday, I was meant to be in Canada. There's an event to honour our veterans, those that…

Friday, 14 February 2025 05:00

‘Forgive and forget, abeg!’ MTN Nigeria begs customers over data price hike mishap

MTN Nigeria has come out with its hands in the air, begging its customers for forgiveness after a massive 200% price hike on its popular 15GB digital bundle plan sparked nationwide outrage. The telecom giant, known for its catchy slogans and vibrant branding, took to its official Instagram page on Thursday to issue a heartfelt apology, dripping with pidgin English charm, in a bid to calm the storm. The company’s statement, which quickly went viral, was a mix of remorse, humor, and a plea for love during the Valentine’s season. MTN didn’t just apologize; it spoke the language of the…

Thursday, 13 February 2025 04:48

Telecom tariff hike sparks standoff between NLC and operators

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened nationwide action against telecommunications companies over a recent 50% tariff increase, setting up a major confrontation between labor unions and telecom operators. The dispute centers on the telecommunications companies' implementation of a 50% price hike on February 11, despite ongoing negotiations with the government. The NLC claims this increase violates a previous agreement with the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Planned Labor Actions The NLC has announced a two-phase response: 1. Immediate Action (February 13-28, 2025): - Daily service boycott of MTN, AIRTEL, and GLO between 11:00 AM and 2:00…

Thursday, 13 February 2025 04:45

Nationwide blackout as national grid collapses

Nigeria’s national power grid suffered a system collapse on Wednesday morning, plunging many parts of the country into darkness. Reports indicate that the grid lost power shortly after 11 a.m., leading to widespread outages. Sources within power generation companies confirmed a general disturbance in the grid, causing a major drop in electricity supply. According to data reviewed by our correspondent, the grid’s power generation stood at 4,064 megawatts at 11 a.m. but dropped sharply to 1,203MW by noon before completely shutting down to 0.00MW at 1 p.m. Most power plants connected to the grid lost generation capacity during the incident.…

Wednesday, 12 February 2025 05:02

Nigeria Customs halts new 4% import levy implementation

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has temporarily suspended its recently announced 4% levy on import values, seeking more time for stakeholder consultation. The suspension, announced Tuesday by Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwasa, comes just days after the initial February 5 announcement of the Free-on-Board (FOB) value charge. The decision follows discussions with Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. According to Maiwasa, the timing coincides with the expiration of contracts with service providers, including Webb Fontaine, which were previously funded through the 1% Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS). "This presents an opportunity to review our revenue framework…

Wednesday, 12 February 2025 04:59

USAID: Study finds aid money reached terrorist groups

A new report from the Middle East Forum, a U.S. think tank, alleges that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided millions of dollars in funding to organizations with ties to extremist groups. According to the report published February 4, the think tank's multi-year study identified $164 million in approved grants to what it describes as radical organizations, with at least $122 million allegedly going to groups aligned with designated terrorist organizations and their supporters. The report specifically highlights several cases, including: - A reported $900,000 grant to Bayader Association for Environment and Development, a Gaza-based organization that…

Monday, 10 February 2025 04:10

Saudi Arabia restricts multiple-entry visas for Nigeria, 13 other countries

Saudi Arabia has implemented new visa regulations affecting travelers from 14 countries, limiting them to single-entry visas valid for 30 days without the option of an extension. The restrictions apply to tourists, business travelers, and those visiting family members but do not affect applicants for Hajj, Umrah, diplomatic, or residency visas. The affected countries include Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen. Saudi authorities cited the misuse of multiple-entry visas as the reason for the policy change, stating that some travelers overstayed their visas or participated in Hajj without proper authorization. The…

Sunday, 09 February 2025 04:32

US Embassy in Nigeria quietly removes Visa Drop Box facility - Report

The drop box visa processing option is no longer available for US visa applicants in Nigeria, marking a significant shift in the visa renewal process. Nairametrics sources confirm that the service, which previously allowed eligible applicants to renew their visas without an in-person interview, has been quietly removed from the appointment booking system. While the US Embassy in Nigeria has yet to issue an official statement on the change, applicants attempting to schedule visa renewals have reported that the drop box feature is no longer an option on the appointment booking platform. Appointment backlogs Applicants who spoke to Nairametrics stated…

Saturday, 08 February 2025 04:36

USAID claims to have spent $7.8bn in Nigeria over the last 10 years. These are the queries people are raising

Several netizens have raised concerns and called for a systemic investigation into how USAID health funds allocated to Nigeria have been spent amid widespread dissatisfaction. The U.S. Agency for International Development allocated approximately $2.8bn to Nigeria between 2022 and 2024, according to data from the United States Foreign Assistance Dashboard. The platform serves as the primary source for budgetary and financial data from U.S. government agencies managing foreign assistance portfolios. Before President Donald Trump’s second election, USAID faced significant controversy, with critics accusing the agency of inadequate oversight in its funding mechanisms, which could have led to resource misallocation. In…

Friday, 07 February 2025 11:14

Alaperu: A legacy of unity, service, and progress - Kesington Adebutu

PRESS RELEASE It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of His Royal Highness, Oba Idowu Adeleke Basibo, the Alaperu of Iperu-Akesan-Land, who transitioned to join his ancestors on the 6th of February, 2025. The news of his departure has left a deep void in the hearts of the Basibo family, the Iperu-Akesan-Land in Council, the Ruling Houses, and the entire community of Iperu-Akesan-Land. Oba Basibo was not just a monarch; he was a beacon of hope, a unifying force, and a tireless advocate for the progress and development of Iperu-Akesan-Land. His reign was…

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Friday, 07 February 2025 04:20

NPA announces 15% tariff increase a day after Customs imposed new levy. Here’s what these mean

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced a 15% increase in its tariffs. The move, approved by relevant authorities, aims to address aging infrastructure, obsolete equipment, and slow port capacity expansion. Abubakar Dantsoho, the NPA Managing Director, disclosed this during a maritime stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, as reported in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday. Dantsoho, represented by Olalekan Badmus, Executive Director of Marine and Operations, emphasized that the tariff hike is necessary to fund critical upgrades, including infrastructure maintenance, dredging, automation, and the deployment of modern marine crafts. He also highlighted the need for Nigeria to regain…

Friday, 07 February 2025 04:19

Egbetokun directs police officers to ignore PSC retirement order, remain in office

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has instructed all affected police officers to disregard the recent directive from the Police Service Commission (PSC) mandating their immediate retirement. The PSC had ordered officers who have completed 35 years of service or reached the age of 60 to retire without delay. However, a wireless message from the Force Secretary’s office stated that the IGP “strongly directs all officers affected by the PSC’s directive to stay action, pending further instruction.” Officers were instructed to comply strictly with this order. Last week, PSC spokesman Ikechukwu Ani explained that the directive resulted from a…

Friday, 07 February 2025 04:18

Trump signs Executive Order to create task force against ‘anti-Christian bias’

President Donald Trump announced at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Thursday that he will sign an executive order instructing the Justice Department to create a new task force to "eradicate anti-Christian bias." Trump praised new Attorney General Pam Bondi as a "great person," saying she would lead the new task force. "About time, right? Anti-Christian bias. Yeah, I never heard of that one before, right? But there is," Trump said. "The mission of this task force will be to immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the DOJ, which…

Thursday, 06 February 2025 04:51

Imported goods to cost more as Nigeria Customs imposes new levy

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the introduction of a 4 percent levy on the free-on-board (FOB) value of imported goods. The FOB value refers to the cost of goods and transportation expenses incurred up to the point of loading the goods onto the vessel at the port of departure. Under FOB terms, the seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the port, clearing them for export, and loading them onto the vessel. Once the goods are on board, the risk and associated costs transfer to the buyer. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS…

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