Category: PM News

Travellers in the United States who need Nigerian visas will now submit their applications directly to Nigerian diplomatic missions after the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) ended its arrangement with a third-party visa service provider.

The service provider, Online Integrated Solution (OIS Services), had previously managed Nigeria’s visa application and submission centres across the United States.

In a statement issued on Thursday, NIS spokesperson Akinsola Akinlabi announced that the company had been disengaged with immediate effect. No reason was given for the decision.

As a result, all visa applicants are required to submit their applications directly at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC, or at the Nigerian Consulates in New York and Atlanta until further notice.

Akinlabi said the embassy and consulates have put measures in place to ensure that visa applications are submitted, processed and issued without disruption.

He advised applicants to regularly check official communication channels of the NIS and Nigerian missions in the United States for updates on visa procedures.

The NIS also reaffirmed its commitment to providing efficient and reliable services to travellers seeking Nigerian visas.

A Federal High Court in Calabar has awarded N100 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force and other respondents over the torture and killing of a 22-year-old man, Onyekachi Mba.

The respondents in the suit were the Nigeria Police Force, ASP Victor Edet, the Police Service Commission, and the Commissioner of Police in Cross River State.

Also in the suit, was the SP Emmanuel Dickson, the Chief Security Officer at the Cross River State Government House in Calabar.

Mba was allegedly beaten and shot by police security personnel at the Government House on Aug. 1, 2025.

He later died at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar, from injuries sustained during the assault and shooting.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu delivered the judgment on Thursday in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the applicant and deceased’s mother, Mrs Victoria Mba through her counsel, Chief Roland Ndubuka.

The suit was filed on Oct. 10, 2025.

It sought the enforcement of the deceased’s fundamental rights as guaranteed under Sections 35, 36, 37 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

It includes the rights to personal liberty, dignity of the human person and freedom of movement.

The applicant also asked the court to determine whether the torture, inhuman treatment and eventual killing of Mba violated his constitutionally guaranteed rights and to award appropriate compensation for the alleged breach.

In her judgment, Ojukwu held that the torture, assault and killing of Mba by a police officer attached to the residence of Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, on Aug. 1, 2025, was unlawful, unwarranted and constituted a flagrant violation of his fundamental rights.

The court described the actions of the officers as an ‘abuse of power and executive recklessness’.

Justice Ojukwu consequently awarded N100 million in damages against the respondents, ruling that the amount could be paid jointly or severally.

The Police Command in Benue has arrested a suspect in connection with the death of Prof. Gabriel Nyityo, and his younger brother, John Nyityo.

The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Udeme Edet, said that the brothers killed on Wednesday at their Makurdi residence around Adaka Community.

Before his death, Prof. Nyityo was a lecturer in the Department of History at Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi,

Edet said operatives of the Delta Patrol Team, alongside Operation Python personnel, found the bodies of Prof. Gabriel Saawua Nyityo, 58, and his younger brother, Iorngee John Nyityo, 19, at the scene.

‘The team of Delta Patrol alongside Python, while on patrol, received a distress call along the Adaka axis. On getting there, they saw two dead bodies killed by some unknown gunmen. One Prof. Gabriel Saawua Nyityo, male, 58 years, and his younger brother, Iorngee John Nyityo, male, 19 years,’ she said.

Edet said the police had arrested one suspect, an indigene of Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, in connection with the killings. She added that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other suspects involved in the crime.

‘Investigation is still ongoing to get the remaining suspects,’ the police spokesperson said.

She assured that further details would be made available as investigations progress. Also, a top executive member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the institution, said the assailants reportedly gained entry into the house through a window before carrying out the attack and fleeing the scene.

As Nigerians continue to excel in education abroad , the story of 2023 Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge AS Examination overall best Oluwabukolami Adeyemi surface against with another outstanding performance as she graduated with first-class in Law from the university in Newcastle, United Kingdom.

Oluwabukolami in 2023 after her performance in the Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge AS examination with over 100 participants from over 100 countries of the world gained recognitions and commendation for her academic excellence performance from prominent Nigerians including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and host of other personalities across the country and beyond.

Oluwabukolami who hails from Yagba West local government area of Kogi State was received by the then governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello in government house in August 2023. Rewarding her academic excellence performance , Yahaya Bello offered scholarship to Oluwabukolami which covered her expenses, school fees, accommodation and up keeps throughout her studies in the United Kingdom.

Justifying the kind gesture of former governor Bello, Oluwabukolami graduated with First-class in law degree from university in UK.

Yahaya Bello who elated by Oluwabukolami academic exploits has offered another Scholarship to the academic prodigy for her masters degree in the United Kingdom.

In her emotional video of appreciation to former governor Yahaya Bello, Oluwabukolami thanked Yahaya Bello while describing him as a ‘God sent to humanity’.

Olumide Adeyemi, the father of Oluwabukolami expressed profound appreciation to the former governor stating that he did not allow the star of his daughter to dim stressing that it would have been difficult for him to guarantee actualisation of his daughter’s dreams of foreign education despite her sterling academic ingenuity.

Engr. Adeyemi also stated that Yahaya Bello’s kind gensture has been extended to many others before and even after his daughter’s, Oluwabukolami and prayed Almighty God to continue to grant the former governor his heart desires,long life with good health.

In September 2023, Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, fulfilled his promise of a private scholarship to Oluwabukolami Adeyemi to support her law studies in the United Kingdom. Oluwabukolami received the Cambridge award after earning the highest scores in the 2022 Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge AS Level Examinations among students in 146 countries.

The Kebbi Hisbah Board has commended Dandi Local Government Area for banning drug trafficking, wild celebrations, and gambling.

The board appealed to other local government areas to emulate such community-based moral reforms to facilitate societal transformation.

Director of Shari’ah, Sirajo Kamba, stated this in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.

Kamba said the board appreciated the council’s decision to uphold morality and sanitise society.

He acknowledged the bold decision of the council to introduce community rules to promote peace, security, and dignity.

‘Key measures include compulsory medical fitness certificates before marriage as well as ban on mixing of men and women at events.

‘It prohibited DJs, dancing, and musical entertainment during social gatherings and reckless motorcycle racing during bridal processions.

‘Also prohibited is indecent hairstyles and fashions contrary to moral values. The council will also combat gambling, drug abuse, and illicit drug sales,’ the director sated.

Kamba praised regulation of engagement ceremonies to curb extravagance.

He commended the ban on obscene language in herbal medicine adverts, adding that the council also prohibited domestic abuse and maltreatment of women.

Kamba prayed to God Almighty to grant the leaders wisdom to implement the measures justly.

‘Let me use this medium to call on other local government areas to emulate Dandi by engaging traditional and religious leaders to morally shape the society,’ he pleaded.

The director appealed to residents to cooperate and obey the new regulations to enable it achieve the desired goals and objectives.

Kamba stressed that the enforcement must follow law, justice, and due process, and prayed for continued peace, unity, and development in Dandi, Kebbi, and Nigeria at large.

The Lagos State Government has commenced registration for the maiden edition of the Lagos Cleaner Energy Schools Innovation Challenge (LCESIC) 2026, inviting secondary school students to develop innovative clean energy solutions as part of efforts to nurture the next generation of energy innovators.

The initiative, unveiled by the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, is designed to inspire creativity, strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, and equip students with practical skills to address emerging energy challenges.

Speaking on the programme, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, described the challenge as a strategic investment in the future of Lagos and a demonstration of the state’s commitment to youth empowerment, innovation and sustainable development.

‘The future of sustainable energy depends not only on infrastructure but, more importantly, on people. Through the Lagos Cleaner Energy Schools Innovation Challenge, we are investing in the next generation of innovators by nurturing creativity, inspiring critical thinking and empowering students to develop practical solutions that will shape the future of energy in Lagos State and beyond,’ Ogunleye said.

He added that the state’s vision is to build an innovation ecosystem where students recognise that their ideas have value and that government is committed to supporting innovation from the classroom to real-world impact.

The competition is open to eligible Senior Secondary School One (SS1) and Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) students in Education Districts I, II and III.

Participating schools are required to constitute teams made up of five students, a supervising teacher and a mentor. The teams will develop practical clean energy solutions within designated technical tracks and compete at district-level contests, with successful entries progressing to the state championship.

Ogunleye said the initiative underscores the Ministry’s determination to identify and nurture young talents capable of providing innovative solutions to Nigeria’s energy challenges while promoting critical thinking, creativity and collaboration among secondary school students.

According to him, the programme is also aligned with the Lagos State Government’s THEMES+ Agenda by strengthening STEM education, advancing youth development, promoting clean energy innovation and reinforcing Lagos’ position as Nigeria’s leading hub for technological advancement.

The Ministry encouraged eligible secondary schools to register for the competition by constituting their teams and appointing supervising teachers and mentors through the official application portal.

It advised interested schools to visit the Lagos State Government’s website, www.lagosstate.gov.ng, for details on eligibility requirements, competition guidelines and the registration process.

Nigeria and Tunisia are working to strengthen their relationship in important sectors such as trade, defence, education and agriculture.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this after meeting with Tunisia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohsen Antit, in Abuja on Thursday.

According to the minister, both countries discussed ways to improve cooperation and revive the Nigeria-Tunisia Joint Commission, which serves as a platform for bilateral engagement.

In a post on her official X account, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the meeting focused on building stronger strategic ties and promoting mutual economic and development interests.

She explained that discussions also covered opportunities for businesses in both countries, educational scholarships, capacity-building programmes, technology transfer, industrial growth, tourism and hospitality.

The minister added that both sides explored measures to improve air travel connections between Nigeria and Tunisia through proposed flight routes.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu further revealed that talks included pending agreements on visa waivers and defence cooperation.

She expressed confidence that continued engagement between Abuja and Tunis would deepen relations and create more opportunities for collaboration in areas that benefit both nations.

The minister said the renewed partnership would help strengthen economic ties and encourage greater people-to-people exchanges between citizens of the two countries.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, has called for stronger global police cooperation to advance global peace, security, and sustainable development.

IGP Disu made the call and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening international policing cooperation while participating in the Fifth United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2026) held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 7th to 8th July 2026.

The summit brought together Ministers, Inspectors-General of Police, Chiefs of Police, and senior representatives of regional and professional policing organisations from across the world to discuss strategies for strengthening international peace, security, and development through enhanced collaboration between national police services and United Nations policing.

Addressing the summit, IGP Disu noted that modern criminal networks increasingly exploit artificial intelligence, encrypted communications, and cyber-enabled platforms to operate across borders with growing sophistication, thereby challenging traditional policing models.

He emphasized that while technology presents significant opportunities for law enforcement through artificial intelligence, digital forensics, and geospatial intelligence, public trust remains the foundation of effective policing. According to the IGP, innovation must reinforce transparency, accountability, respect for human rights, and adherence to the rule of law.

The IGP further advocated greater international cooperation, capacity building, and equitable access to digital policing capabilities for all member states, stressing that the benefits of technological advancement should not be limited to a few technologically advanced nations.

Nigeria’s participation at UNCOPS 2026 underscores the country’s continued commitment to supporting global peacekeeping efforts, strengthening international law enforcement partnerships, and contributing to collective efforts aimed at combating transnational crime, terrorism, cybercrime, and other emerging security challenges.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed that the government revoked the allocation of Jabi Lake Park because the developer failed to develop the site for about 20 years.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Wike said the action is part of the FCT Administration’s efforts to recover abandoned public assets and stop the misuse of parks, gardens, and other public spaces.

According to him, the government can no longer allow individuals or companies to hold valuable public land for years without carrying out any development.

Wike said he personally visited Jabi Lake Park and was shocked by its condition. He noted that the area had become filled with shanties and informal businesses, while the lakefront remained poorly maintained.

He explained that the land had originally been allocated to a company known as Suburban about two decades ago but remained largely undeveloped throughout that period.

The minister said he immediately directed officials to revoke the allocation after seeing the level of neglect.

According to Wike, shortly after the revocation was announced, representatives of the company began reaching out to government officials, claiming they had finally secured funding for the project.

He said he asked the company to provide evidence of the funding and demonstrate its readiness to begin work. He added that any future development would be closely monitored by the Development Control Department to ensure compliance with approved plans.

Wike also announced that the FCT Administration would begin enforcing stricter conditions on land allocations. Under the new approach, developers will be required to complete projects within specified timelines or risk losing the land.

The minister further disclosed that the administration has started reclaiming parks and gardens across Abuja after discovering widespread irregularities in their allocation and management.

He alleged that many operators were using documents that lacked proper approval and had converted recreational spaces into residential buildings, hotels, restaurants, and other commercial businesses.

According to him, several areas originally designated for public recreation have been turned into profit-making ventures, contrary to the purpose for which they were allocated.

Wike revealed that the FCT Administration is currently handling more than 2,000 land-related disputes, with around 1,500 involving parks and gardens.

He blamed the situation on collaboration between some government officials and private individuals, saying the administration would no longer tolerate informal or unauthorized land allocations.

The minister defended the revocation of undeveloped plots across Abuja, insisting that the government was acting in the public interest.

He dismissed allegations of land grabbing, stating that the affected landowners had failed to meet the conditions attached to their allocations.

Wike stressed that any land allocated for development must be put to use within the agreed period.

Otherwise, he said, the property would be returned to the government so it can be used for projects that benefit residents and support Abuja’s development.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned the Federal Government that it will be held responsible if anything happens to its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following concerns raised over his safety.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, said the NDC was deeply disturbed by Obi’s recent claim that he might not even be alive to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Abdulsalam accused the Federal Government of failing to provide adequate security protection for the former Anambra State governor, describing the situation as unacceptable for a politician of Obi’s stature.

According to him, Obi, who has contested the presidency twice and secured millions of votes, deserves stronger protection from the state.

‘It is even looking like the establishment is actually not interested in his security. They have systematically ensured that he does not get adequate security protection,’ Abdulsalam said.

The NDC spokesman warned that the party would not hesitate to hold the government accountable if Obi suffered any harm.

‘We, as a party, will hold the Federal Government responsible if anything happens to him,’ he said.

Abdulsalam argued that threats against opposition figures should not be ignored, noting that political actors can become targets of both state and non-state actors.

He recalled the 2015 attack on former President Muhammadu Buhari during his presidential campaign in Kaduna, saying the then administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan provided Buhari with adequate protection despite being an opposition candidate.

The NDC spokesman questioned why Obi, who is preparing for another presidential contest, was allegedly not receiving similar security attention.

He also referenced an alleged attack on Obi’s convoy during a visit to Edo State, claiming that the incident showed the need for stronger protection around the opposition leader.

The party called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to provide adequate security for Obi, his running mate and other presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election.

The NDC maintained that protecting political candidates was necessary to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic process.

The Federal Government has yet to respond to the allegations.